QuakeCon-2012
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Looking into the world of Carmack's Doom through the Oculus Rift
"When people have sort of hacked together first-person demos with head mounts before, they usually have to wind up pretending they're a mouse, which gives you this very limited interface," master of the Doom franchise John Carmack told me in a meeting during QuakeCon 2012. "It's like using it as a controller rather than really looking into the world."Carmack would like to fix that, and he is now working with Palmer Luckey and the highly talked about Oculus Rift in order to do so. By combining Luckey's hardware with Carmack's software, they hope to remove a lot of barriers gamers typically experience when trying to immerse themselves in a virtual world.When I put on the VR headset to look into the new and improved world of Doom 3 BFG Edition, I almost lost balance. My brain seemed to be fighting with itself in terms of where my body was, physically. I knew I was standing in a hotel room of the Hilton Anatole and that moving my feet wouldn't have any impact on my gameplay, while at the same time I felt like I was running through corridors on Mars, dodging fireballs from imps as I played Doom.%Gallery-161678%
Unleashing ludicrous gibs in the Rise of the Triad revival
By the late 90s, Apogee Software – the legal name of 3D Realms – was a household name for hardcore PC gamers. The Texas-based studio was responsible for franchises like Duke Nukem and published some of id Software's earliest hits such as Wolfenstein 3D.Years later that partnership continues as Apogee made its return to id's annual QuakeCon event in Dallas to announce the revival of Rise of the Triad – a cult-favorite first-person shooter released in 1995. Though its popularity never reached the same level as Doom, Rise of the Triad gained a niche fan base for its over-the-top nature. It's the kind of game that has a character named I.P. Freely; the kind of game with a gun that shoots a literal wall of flame, because why not?Rise of the Triad's return is being developed by people with at least a little experience in modernizing old Apogee products. Developer Interceptor Entertainment was formed in 2010 to create Duke Nukem 3D: Reloaded, a fan project turned official remake that was put on hold indefinitely in late 2011. Apogee decided Interceptor could be trusted with another of its franchises and supported the development team by adding former Rise of the Triad devs and mod makers to Interceptor's squad.%Gallery-161630%
A game of murder in Arkane's Dishonored
What I learned from playing Arkane Studios' anxiously awaited Dishonored is that playing it like a standard action game isn't the best course of action. You may succeed, but you're more likely to fail or stumble disappointingly to the end of a mission – a far cry from those playing with patience and a plan.The QuakeCon 2012 demo I played was from about halfway through Dishonored's campaign, a section taking place during a dinner party murder mystery. You are the murderer, tasked with assassinating a woman named Lady Boyle during a masquerade party taking place at her estate.The catch is that there are three women who go by the name "Lady Boyle," and you're not sure which one is your target. All are masked and wearing different colored dresses. Which Lady Boyle you are sent to kill is randomized every time you play, so unless you plan on killing all three women, you're going to have to do some detective work.%Gallery-161677%
Rise of the Triad's return will cost $14.99; free DLC planned
The return of the PC classic Rise of the Triad from developer Interceptor Entertainment will be sold digitally for $14.99 and offer all post-launch DLC for free, the dev announced during QuakeCon 2012.Marketing director Dave Oshry told Joystiq the priority was being faithful to the original Rise of the Triad in the core game, with add-on content allowing the Interceptor team to go crazy once the remake is finished.Oshry says that co-op has been one of the most requested additions players at QuakeCon have asked for, so it's now on the minds of the developers as something to pursue in the future. Even weapons came up as a possible addition – such as shotguns, which were not featured in the 1994 original – but part of their inclusion would depend on player interest. As far as Interceptor is concerned, the sky is the limit, and the developer plans to support the game well after launch.As if running down a checklist of oft-requested features from PC players, the game will also be DRM-free, completely moddable, run at 60 frames per second and have plenty of adjustable settings to let the game run on older hardware.An exact release date has yet to be revealed; however, during a QuakeCon panel, the developer promised it would arrive "late this year or early next year ... at the latest, early 2013."%Gallery-161630%
Get your nostalgia to Mars in Doom 3 BFG Edition
It has been a long time since I last visited the imperiled Mars research facility featured in id Software's 2004 shooter, Doom 3, but playing the upcoming HD revamp, Doom 3 BFG Edition, I felt like I hardly ever left.While not as highly regarded as its predecessors, Doom 3 was an enjoyable (and, at the time, graphically impressive) game that garnered a fair following. For fans, Doom 3 BFG is a package filled with memories of the franchise. Along with Doom 3, its expansions, and brand new 'Lost' missions, the BFG pack includes both Doom and Doom 2.Doom 3 BFG itself is not meant to be the original Doom 3 experience with prettier textures and 3D support. "We made some slight improvements to the original game," id creative director Tim Willits told me after I got my hands on Doom 3 BFG's 'Lost Mission' content. "Like the flashlight [which can be used in conjunction with your gun, unlike the original]. We made things a little bit brighter, we improved a lot of the character textures."BFG features tweaks throughout: slightly increased player speed, adjusted ammo and health, new soundscapes, and new auto-save and checkpoint features. "It plays better, it really does," Willits promises.%Gallery-161678%
Steam featuring QuakeCon-inspired bundle, Rage $10 today
To celebrate the festivities of QuakeCon 2012, Valve is slashing prices on select games from id's stable until August 6. Today's deal is Rage at 50% off – down to $9.99.Aside from the daily deals, Steam is also selling a special $100 QuakeCon bundle that includes pretty much everything in Bethesda and id Software's current library. Pre-purchasing Dishonored on Steam will net users an additional discount on the bundle, which features over thirty games, DLC for included titles, and a few special QuakeCon-inspired Team Fortress 2 items.
id taking a break from mobile to work on Doom 4
QuakeCon is happening in Texas this weekend, and id software head John Carmack has been giving interviews to the press on hand. He told The Verge that id software has decided to step away from mobile development long enough to focus on the forthcoming Doom 4. "We did make the decision to close up our mobile development," says Carmack, "which saddens me a lot ... I hope we get back to mobile in various ways in the future, but the big real aim is blockbuster, AAA titles, and for id that means Doom 4, it means that we get the whole company behind that after we get Doom 3: BFG Edition out the door, essentially everybody will be focused on Doom 4 as a project." In the past, id has had some solid success on the App Store, both with ports of old id games, as well as versions of newer games like Rage. But it looks like for the moment, id is done with putting out new releases on the App Store. I wouldn't worry too much about this. Clearly, Carmack knows and loves Apple's mobile platforms, and its a common practice in big studios to focus the team on a sigle project, especially when its as big as Doom 4. For now, the team may be focusing in on an AAA title, but I don't think it'll be long at all before we see some more mobile work coming out of id and its developers. #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
id Software closed mobile department to focus on projects like Doom 4
John Carmack didn't actually show Doom 4 during his QuakeCon keynote yesterday, but he did offer a status update – along with the tautological pronouncement that the shooter will be "done when it's done.""When it's done" will be a little sooner, as Carmack revealed just how devoted id Software is to its development. The mobile games division, responsible for Wolfenstein RPG, Rage HD and other mobile games, has been shut down, to shift focus to big games, including Doom 4. In fact, following Doom 3 BFG, all of id will focus on Doom 4.
Preorder Dishonored during QuakeCon, get Arx Fatalis for free
Dishonored is being shown off this weekend at QuakeCon 2012, and if you can't make it down to Texas, here's the next best thing: Load up the gallery below, and flick through the pictures really quickly. All right, that won't work, but at least you'll get to see some brand-new (and creepy) screens from the much-anticipated game.QuakeCon's also brought a pre-order bonus for Arkane Studios' latest - if you pre-purchase the game on Steam between now and the end of QuakeCon on August 5, you'll get access to Arkane's previous first-person RPG, Arx Fatalis, for no extra charge. Just take your time with that one: Dishonored won't be out until October 8.%Gallery-161677%
The Lost Mission of Doom 3 BFG Edition
QuakeCon kicked off today with a batch of screens and a new video for Doom 3 BFG Edition, showing off The Lost Mission, a pack of new content exclusive to BFG's remastered homicidal action. As you can see in the above video and screens below, the new Doom 3 can be just as jump-worthy as the original, but supposedly with more Bs, Fs and Gs (Blood, Flaying and... Geese?).Doom 3 BFG Edition is scheduled to drop on October 16 in North America, for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.%Gallery-161678%
Skyrim's 'Dawnguard' DLC arrives on PC today, Bethesda 'not yet satisfied' with PS3 version [update]
During QuakeCon, Bethesda announced the release date for the PC version of the Skyrim "Dawnguard" DLC, which lets you fight and/or become a vampire. Said release date is ... today!The DLC will be available on Steam today in English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish, for $19.99, Bethesda says. And wouldn't you know it – Skyrim itself is on sale today, for $29.99! It's also available as part of a massive "QuakeCon bundle."The PS3 version, however, is not out today. "We are not satisfied yet with Dawnguard's performance on the PS3," a representative wrote in an update on the Bethesda blog today. The rep did not offer an estimated time frame on the release, expressing the company's disappointment at not being able to provide all Skyrim content to all platforms at the same time.
Rise of the Triad returns to PC this year, powered by Unreal Engine 3
When it comes to the early days of first-person shooters, names like Wolfenstein 3D and Doom come up a lot. There are some, however, lucky enough to remember Rise of the Triad, a frenetic, gory and occasionally downright goofy shooter from 1994. Now, after over 15 years, Rise of the Triad is coming back, Apogee Software has announced (confirming the rumor from earlier today).Rise of the Triad is being built on Unreal Engine 3 and is under development at Interceptor Software, which includes original ROTT level designer Joe Siegler as one of its members. The game will feature a single-player campaign, online multiplayer and a level editor that will allow players to share maps via Steamworks. And yes, it will include all of ROTT's bizarre weapons and, of course, Dog mode.Rise of the Triad is slated for "late this year."%Gallery-161630%
Hindu group continues to protest SMITE, asks QuakeCon to pull the game from the lineup
Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society for Hinduism, has made a point of protesting the addition of Hindu deities to the lineup of Hi-Rez Studios' upcoming MOBA SMITE. He's now taking that protest to the next level by appealing directly to the organizers of QuakeCon 2012, asking that the game to be removed from the competitive lineup due to its offensive usage of religious figures. Zed asserts once again that making deities (particularly Kali) into characters in a video game hurts the devotees of Hinduism, claiming that Hinduism is the only tradition portrayed by the game that is still active. The Hindu American Foundation has also expressed displeasure at the way the game has handled figures from the religion, although the HAF has also stated that it is working closely with Hi-Rez Studios to ensure that the information contained within the game is at least accurate. The organizers of QuakeCon 2012 have not publicly responded to the request.
QuakeCon 2012 schedule has panels full of Valve, Bethesda, id
QuakeCon 2012 begins Thursday, August 2, with a keynote address from id Software co-founder John Carmack – and then the con gets real. Literally, it will be a real convention with a few interesting panels and people, as announced in the final lineup today.Friday begins with "The Making of Games," featuring Bethesda's Todd Howard and Insomniac's Ted Price. Then comes "Capture the Fan: Making Multiplayer Games That Last" with Chet Faliszek from Valve, Marty Stratton from id Software and Max Hoberman with Certain Affinity. "Looking Back at Looking Glass," and "Talking Shop: Skyrim, Modding and Steam" have Valve and Bethesda representatives, and "Virtual Insanity" closes out the night with Carmack.Saturday has "GameTrailers' Bonus Round" with Michael Pachter and others; "Celebrating id Modding" with Blendo Games, id Software and Double Fine; and the Idle Thumbs Podcast with Double Fine, Telltale Games, Bethesda and The Fullbright Company.Doors are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Check out the full schedule below.
QuakeCon 2012 to have playable Dishonored, Doom 3 BFG Edition
QuakeCon 2012 kicks off August 2 in Dallas, Texas, and details about its sweet gaming offerings are coming in. First, the Quake Live tournament will see professional and amateur players compete for a share of $30,000 in the Duel Invitational Masters Championship, Capture the Flag Open, Duel Open and Free For All, the last of which will be available to attendees at the Quake Live Free Play booth.Registration for the Quake Live tournament is open now through July 31 on the Quakecon site.The annual keynote address will be handled by id Software co-founder John Carmack. The full panel lineup is set to be announced in a few days, but it will include "Marty Stratton from id Software; Ted Price, President and CEO of Insomniac Games; Chet Faliszek and Tom Leonard from Valve Software; and Geoff Keighley, host of Spike's GameTrailers."Minecraft EDU and PVP will also have a presence at QuakeCon. At Bethesda's own booth, QuakeCon attendees can get their hands on both Dishonored and Doom 3 BFG Edition.
QuakeCon 2012 pre-registration opens Wednesday, bonuses announced
Pre-registration for QuakeCon 2012 begins this Wednesday, April 25, with goodies for the early angry birds. General admission is still free, but those looking to lock a seat to bring their own computer or get a "fast pass" for the four-day event will want to plunk down a bit of dough.The three pre-order packages include: the "Swag Pack," which includes the official QuakeCon 2012 shirt (pictured), a Dishonored Tallboy T-shirt and a limited edition poster for $40; the "BYOC Select-a-Seat" is $30, with a limit of 1,500 packages, and includes the QuakeCon 2012 shirt and the ability to select and reserve a seat in the "bring your own computer" (BYOC) room.Finally, "QuakeCon done Quick" is $50, includes the "BYOC Select-a-Seat" package, along with a "fast pass" for BYOC registration and access to every speaker, panel and public event at the show. There is a limit of 350 packages available.QuakeCon 2012 will take place at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas, from August 2 – 5.
Quakecon 2012 shakes up Dallas August 2-5
Grab your LEDs, fans, and whatever else you need to get your gaming rig ready to show off -- you only have until August 2! That's when QuakeCon will once again take over the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, with North America's largest LAN party. This year, expect it to be North America's densest concentration of irritating Skyrim jokes as well.Those of us not taking part will be able to look forward to keynotes and other presentations, along with news and media relating to whatever is happening at iD Software -- which means Doom 4, as far as we know.
