Wolfenstein 3D
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This cardboard Wolfenstein 3D setup invites you to punch Nazis remotely
A smartphone in a cardboard case is driving around punching Nazis, and you can control it over the internet.
Xbox Live Deals with Gold: Wolfenstein, BioShock series
Those that missed out on the final day of the Xbox 360 Ultimate Games Sale yesterday have more deals to look forward to this week on Xbox Live. Both paid and free Xbox Live subscribers can enjoy a 33 percent discount on Wolfenstein: The New Order for Xbox One as well as four XBLA games for Xbox 360 at half price: Quake Arena, Wolfenstein 3D, Doom and Doom 2. Each of these deals are good from July 17 to July 20 only. As for the rest of the week's deals, starting today through July 21 for Xbox Live Gold subscribers only, Xbox One owners can pick up Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare at 40 percent off. The BioShock series received major discounts on Xbox 360 this week, with BioShock and BioShock 2 now available at a quarter of their respective prices and BioShock Infinite slashed by 57 percent. Four pieces of DLC for the latter game are on sale this week as well; both the Clash in the Clouds and Columbia's Finest add-ons are half-off, whereas both Burial at Sea episodes are 33 percent off. [Image: Bethesda Softworks]
Wolfenstein 3D returns to XBLA, PSN
Wolfenstein 3D is back on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network in North America after a brief absence, and is coming to PSN in Europe soon. You can snag id's seminal shooter for $5 on Xbox Live Arcade, PSN or Steam. Activision had originally published Wolfenstein 3D on consoles just a few weeks after Bethesda acquired id Software in 2009. Bethesda's Pete Hines told Joystiq the re-rating was a necessity for both the ESRB and console manufacturers. "No changes. Was originally published through Activision, so now that it's reverted back to us we have to jump through ESRB (ratings go to the publisher, they don't "follow" the game to a new publisher) and console hoops (game has to be "re-certed" by the new publisher)." A new entry in the series, Wolfenstein: The New Order, is currently in development at MachineGames, with a tentative launch window slated for later this year.
Wolfenstein 3D re-rated by ESRB, gets new page on XBLM [update: housekeeping]
There's something odd going on with Wolfenstein 3D on PSN and XBLM. First off, this week the ESRB re-rated the classic game on Xbox 360 and PS3, nearly four years after it arrived on the platforms digitally. Secondly, it's sprouted an additional page on XBLM. Playing Spot the Difference between the two pages, the new one lists the publisher as Bethesda rather than Activision. Developer id Software was acquired by Bethesda's parent company Zenimax in June 2009, just a few weeks after Wolfenstein 3D came to XBLM and PSN. Also, the release date is now listed as May 31 of this year, which is a bit odd. The box art is slightly different too, and once more notes Bethesda's name instead of Activision's. Overall, the whole thing's as curious as Adolf Hitler in a mech suit. The timing's certainly interesting given the recent reveal of Wolfenstein: The New Order. When approached on the matter, a company spokesperson told Joystiq, "No comment on that from Bethesda." Update: Bethesda VP of PR and Marketing Pete Hines told Joystiq there's nothing to see here. "No changes. Was originally published through Activision, so now that it's reverted back to us we have to jump through ESRB (ratings go to the publisher, they don't "follow" the game to a new publisher) and console hoops (game has to be "re-certed" by the new publisher)," Hines said.
Roger Avary back on Castle Wolfenstein movie
Roger Avary resumed his role as writer and director of the Castle Wolfenstein film adaptation, according to Slashfilm. The film, based on id Software's Wolfenstein series, was first announced in 2007.The film met several bumps along its production course, including a halt due to the Writer's Guild strike, during which Avary said he was "almost done with the script." This was before Avary faced legal troubles in 2008 on suspicion of manslaughter and driving under the influence, in which he was released on a $50,000 bail. Avary continued work on the script in 2008, but when his involvement in a Silent Hill movie sequel stopped in 2010, all talk of the Wolfenstein adaptation stopped as well.The Wolfenstein movie's plot is described as follows: "A young U.S. Army Captain and a British Special Agent on a top-secret mission to Castle Wolfenstein where Hitler will be for the unveiling of a new secret weapon."
Wolfenstein 3D celebrates 20 years of machine guns and flag-obscured passages with free web version
To commemorate the big two-oh years since its release, Bethesda has offered up the full Wolfenstein 3D experience to play for free in your web browser. Not only that, you'll also be able to play the id original on iOS devices gratis (at least for today) and creator John Carmack has decided to offer us a director's commentary on the game's development while shooting his way through a few levels. Watch, nod and reminisce right after the break, then hit up the source to play for yourself.
Wolfenstein 3D celebrating its 20-year history by going free on browsers, iOS
Yesterday, Wolfenstein 3D was a measly 19 years and 364 days old. Puh-shaw, we say. Today, however, the game is a full 20 years old, and id Software is throwing the classic FPS a celebration. Rather than sending all the game's fans party hats and individual slices of cake, though, id's ported Wolf 3D to web browsers, making it totally free!But perhaps you're not around a computer at the moment, and you'd prefer to play on the go? id's got that covered too, making the iOS port of Wolfenstein 3D free for today only (the iTunes page still reflects a $1.99 price as of this writing, but Bethesda says it'll flip to free "later today").Or maybe you've already played Wolf 3D more than you'll ever need to? Creator John Carmack recorded a director commentary aimed at superfans of the series, which we've embedded just below the break. Let us know if he talks about rockets at all!
DOSBox ported to BlackBerry PlayBook, brings MS-DOS and Windows 3.11 to QNX (video)
So, BBM and a native email client for the BlackBerry PlayBook would be nice, but what we have today is a step in a completely different direction. DOSBox, everyone's favorite open-source x86 emulator, has been successfully ported to RIM's QNX-based tablet, bringing with it MS-DOS and Windows 3.11 support. A command-line-based OS can certainly be tiring after spending so many years with a GUI, but those ancient games of yesteryear are timeless -- Wolfenstein 3D, anyone? If you happen to live north of the border, where the Playbook just got a massive price cut, a repurposed DOS tablet could be in your future for a mere $200 -- plus a few extra bucks for a Bluetooth keyboard, which naturally you'll need to navigate DOS. Jump past the break for a tease of the action.
id releases source codes for Wolfenstein 3D Platinum and Doom Classic
id Software just released the source codes for iOS titles Wolfenstein 3D Platinum and Doom Classic in the newest batch of updates (2.1). If you're into it, grab the source code for Wolfenstein 3D Platinum right here, the source code for Doom Classic right here, and the trailer for the 2011 sci-fi thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Source Code, here. If you don't care how your games work, so long as they just work, update 2.1 features a revised user interface, remastered HUD, improved framerate for Wolfenstein and the removal of multilayer, which id will integrate later in a "more robust fashion."
Wolfenstein 3D loses two dimensions, becomes Wolfenstein 1D
Cheeky programmer/comedic mastermind Mike Lacher recently added a twist to an old classic by ... um, removing almost all of it. The game in question is Wolfenstein 3D, from which Lacher has stripped the height and depth, leaving only the meager remnants of a 1 pixel-tall line of width. The surprising part of this little project? It's still totally playable. Check out Lacher's minimalistic mod (appropriately titled Wolfenstein 1D) over on his website. We're sure there's probably a message about the lack of real depth in the storytelling of most first person shooters, though it was totally lost on us, because we were busy having such a good time shooting things.
iDOS 2: The return of the emulator
Back in October of 2010, we told you about iDOS, a 99¢ software emulation of good old DOS. The universal app was able to even run an ancient version of Microsoft Windows (3.0), and came with a handful of "freeware / abandonware" applications like Ms. PacMan PC and DigDug. Unfortunately, the app was yanked from the App Store very quickly. It's back on the App Store again, this time for free and with a vastly simplified setup. iDOS now comes with Wolfenstein 3D, the original Duke Nukem I and II, Major Striker, SuperNova and Kingdom of Kroz II. You can apparently move other DOS applications (if you can grab the code from those old floppies) into the /Apps/iDos/documents folder to run them in iDOS. The app features a PC compatible soft keyboard, a virtual mouse, gamepad and joystick, and it's possible to force a 4:3 screen aspect ratio (640 x 480). We don't know if Apple will yank iDOS from the App Store again; the fact that it was allowed back onto the store is amazing in itself, so the developers must have changed something just enough to keep the powers-that-be at Apple happy. In the meantime, if you've got a hankering for some hot DOS action, download this app fast. [Via Engadget]
Wolfenstein 3D recreated (with alarming accuracy) in LittleBigPlanet 2
If you're a game developer who isn't Media Molecule, you should be quivering with fear right now: LittleBigPlanet 2 beta player "RAPHAEL" has created a near-perfect mock-up of Wolfenstein 3D using the game's creation tools. See? We tried to warn you guys. LBP 2 is every game.
Zenimax gets unofficial Doom, Wolfenstein and Quake ports pulled from Android Market
Android and Me points out some ports of popular id games were once available on your snazzy superphone, including Quake, Wolfenstein and Doom. They didn't last long, however, as Zenimax has managed to get the games pulled from Google's Android Market service due to copyright infringement. It's only natural for ZeniMax to want to get the titles pulled and doubly so if the publisher is thinking about releasing id's classics on the platform, though that's just speculation on our part based on id's readiness to work on the competing iPhone platform. Head past the break to check out some footage of what you missed out on, courtesy of the unofficial Android version of Doom. We've asked ZeniMax to comment on any commercial plans for these titles on Android and to clarify the nature of Doom's open source codebase and why it was included in this takedown request. [Update: A ZeniMax spokesperson got back to use, writing: "We did issue a DMCA takedown notice to the Android store to remove the unofficial Doom, Wolfenstein and Quake games as they contain our trademarks and copyrighted assets, including graphics, artwork, storylines and audio. Open source relates to the underlying engine source code, not to a game's content, trademarks and assets, all of which remain proprietary. If the game was a total conversion and did not use any of our trademarks or assets, that would be fine. But none of our data can be repackaged and nobody is authorized to make a Doom, Wolfenstein or Quake product."] [Via Game Politics]
QuakeCon 2009: Doom Resurrection and Wolfenstein 3-D at shareware prices this week
At the QuakeCon 2009 keynote, id CEO Todd Hollenshead, no doubt hoping to start off with some guaranteed applause, announced temporary sale prices for id's iPhone/iPod Touch games Doom Resurrection and Wolfenstein 3-D. Resurrection is $2.99, and the ported Wolfenstein is just 99 cents. Both of these deals will be active until Sunday. If you've been holding off on trying Doom Resurrection, now's the best time to check it out! If you haven't tried Wolfenstein 3-D yet, how young are you?iTunes links: Doom Resurrection; Wolfenstein 3-D%Gallery-67049%
Trophies: Wolfenstein 3D
Now you can kill Hitler in beautiful 3D -- made possible by the PS3!The classic FPS gets re-released onto the PlayStation Network, and is now loaded with Trophies. Check them out here. View Trophy List | Visit Trophy Portal
Wolfenstein 3D confirmed for XBLA and PSN next week
Big surprise, we know, considering the evidence of late, but we're happy to be able to officially confirm that Wolfenstein 3D is in fact coming to Xbox Live and PSN on June 4 and June 5, respectively (no price mentioned). Playing through Wolfenstein 3D will also offer more incentive than the sheer joy of mowing down a gigantic Hitler, as the classic will allow players to "earn accolades and be awarded gold for customizable weapon upgrades" in the new Wolfenstein, which is slated for an August 4 release. We've put in word for clarification on the price of Wolfenstein 3D and will get back to you as soon as we hear something.
Wolfenstein 3D gets Xbox.com splash page
Remember back in March when an ESRB listing hinted at a possible Xbox Live/PSN release for FPS progenitor Wolfenstein 3D? Yeah, that's totally happening. A splash page for the game has appeared on Xbox.com, which is just a hair short of full confirmation, but it still seems like a pretty safe bet.We're not sure if it'll have some extra graphical polish, but if something in that above image doesn't trigger something deep and primal within you, you're in need of more assistance than we can provide.[Via GamerBytes]
The Wolfenstick app can send and recieve data through the iPhone audio port
This is interesting -- Alex Winston, Ltd. has come up with what they call the Wolfenstick, a little iPhone app that can control Wolfenstein 3D Classic with a second iPhone through the audio port. Obviously this isn't a very practical setup, as buying a second iPhone just to control games on the first one probably isn't in anyone's interest. But it does open up a whole slew of possibilities for how a connection like this might be used -- as you can see in the video above, not only are controls and the accelerometer able to be transferred, but even game and app information can be sent across the cable.Of course, the 3.0 update casts a nice large shadow across ideas like this -- we know for sure that there will be more hooks for accessories to work with apps on the iPhone, so having to go through the audio port may end up being more of a novelty, as it'll likely be much easier to go through the connector on the bottom of the iPhone. But if you want to play while the unit is charging (or just want to connect two iPhones with nothing more than an audio cable), there's definitely some promise here.
GDC09: EA quietly announces iPhone versions of major franchises
Of the many GDC 2009 announcements taking place this week, we were most shocked to see EA sneakily introducing some of the company's most popular franchises to the Apple device some are calling the newest gaming platform -- the iPhone. Travis Boatman, VP of worldwide studios at EA Mobile, made the announcement at GDC Mobile, naming SSX, Wolfenstein RPG, Red Alert, FIFA 10, Madden 10, NBA Live 10, American Idol, Spore Creatures, Clue, Risk, Mystery Mania, Connect Four, Battleship, Tiger Woods and Star Trek, according to reports from Patrick Klepek (former MTV Multiplayer writer) and Shacknews. While most of the titles are the to-be-expected EA mutliplatform titles like Madden 10 and NBA Live 10, the SSX series will be getting its first update in two years according to this announcement. Also of note, Wolfenstein RPG is of no relation to the just released Wolfenstein 3D for the iPhone; rather, it makes up half of the two iPhone games id Software is purportedly working on. Details are unfortunately scant at the moment but we've reached out to EA for comment.On a personal note, we'd like to extend our personal "WHAT THE HELL?!" regarding Risk being announced for the iPhone and still not hearing a peep on it coming to XBLA/PSN. Seriously, EA. What the hell?![Via Shacknews]
Wolfenstein 3D comes to iPhone, ESRB reveals possible PSN/XBLA release
id Software has announced that Wolfenstein 3D Classic is now available to download on your iPhone and iPod Touch via the App store (in addition to an open source version, released separately by John Carmack earlier this week). This new version of the game supports touch-based controls, as well as a tilt-based scheme, and a new top-down map that shows where you've been in each level. It's not all new, however, as the game features all 6 original episodes and the weapons we've all come to know and love. Plus MechaHitler. Oh, how we love to shoot Hitler in the face. Wolfenstein 3D Classic will set you back $4.99 in the App store.Classic Wolfenstein 3D isn't done there, it would seem, as a rating for the game just popped up on the ESRB website. The game has been rated for the Xbox 360 and PS3, suggesting a future PSN and XBLA release. With Doom being available for quite some time now, we're surprised it took id so long to get on this.
