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Quake Wars enters the in-game ad wars
Splash Damage has announced that Quake Wars will feature in-game ads. The reasoning behind this decision, according to Managing Director, Neil Postlethwaite, is that Quake Wars will require ongoing support for things like stats servers, and Splash Damage doesn't want to pass that cost onto gamers. Postlethwaite assures readers that the ads will not be intrusive or interactive in any way. What's more, they will be appropriate to the game and all ads must be approved directly by Splash Damage. In-game advertising is still fairly new, and opinions toward it vary wildly, but we're glad to see Splash Damage taking care not to ruin its game. Hopefully they make good on their promise. Oh, and if you happen to be part of the PC beta, then you'll be among the first to see the ads in action. [Via Joystiq]
Quake Wars to have in-game ads
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars producer Neil Postlethwaite has announced on the community site that the upcoming game will feature in-game advertisement. The ad revenue is to help the developers to "provide a higher level of on-going support to the Enemy Territory: Quake Wars community than would have been possible otherwise," he said. Postlethwaite explains that the ads will be appropriate in content and placement (e.g. the side of container trucks), non-intrusive and non-interactive. The developers have absolute approval rights. "If it's not appropriate or it's distracting, it won't go in," he said. No personal data will be collected. "All they track is if an how long you look at the advertisements." Since we've yet to see any in-game ads in the screenshots, we don't know how well developer Splash Damage will implement them. However, that Postlethwaite is being open about the process is always appreciated, and he keeps to his word and it does mean more substantial support (e.g. free content packs in the future), it doesn't sound like a bad trade-off to us. The first sign of the advertisements will be seen in the upcoming public beta.
Quake Wars public beta keys coming this week
The community site for Enemy Territory: Quake Wars has announced that it plans on doing a public beta of the game soon; no start date has been given, but license keys will start to be given out "in the middle of this week." There will be 60,000 slots available and only one map for testing -- Sewers, according to a dev blog post, which is said to feature "an interesting mix of outdoor and indoor, vehicle and infantry combat, deployables and counter-deployables and good old-fashioned FPS combat." It's likely the map with the most possible situations for bug-testing. All slots will go to FilePlanet users, with half of the slots set aside for those who pay for the premium subscription. The post makes it very clear that this is not a demo. "If you want to just play a game for free you may find it a frustrating experience," it said. It also cautions that the beta will be taking data about your hardware configuration, "so you shouldn't apply unless you're comfortable with that." %Gallery-1618%
Quake Wars shoots for July release, fragged
The latest entry in the Quake series, sporting the title Enemy Territory: Quake Wars has been talked up every now and then, but a true release date was never really set in stone. Activision wants to change that -- kind of. They have come out to say they expect the game to ship out for the PC, PS3, and 360 any time from July through September of this year. We've heard that developers id Software like to polish and tinker with a product until they feel it's good and ready for release, so we're not sure if the release date schedule will properly reflect the release date for this game. September, maybe, but if they go that long, they'll probably just keep tweaking until it's holiday shopping time. Which starts in August, oddly. Stupid holiday shopping lasting five months ... That aside, who's excited for this game? More than Haze? More than Unreal Tournament 3? We'll take 'em in that order: Haze, UT3, then this game. But that's just us.
Some new Quake Wars screenshots seem explosive
Everyone loves the Quake franchise. Even those directly opposed to FPS titles from birth should be able to appreciate the nuances and intricacies the Quake games have brought to the -- oh, whatever. They're a good FPS series, but that's about it. However, with the newest upcoming entry, Quake Wars, they might actually change things up enough to appear fresh and delicious. The action shooter combining real-time strategy elements is showing off some new screenshots today and they look fantastic. Whether in a tank, on foot, or some kind of jet, the game looks intense. The game will hit the PC in mid-June, but a console release is expected shortly thereafter for the 360 and PS3. We don't know if the final result will merit all the hype, but we can hope so! Anyone else pumped for this game?
Quake Wars to rage on Macs in 2007
Multiplatform game publisher, Aspyr Media, will stay current with its Mac roots by publishing that version of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars sometime this year. (Aspyr had previously mentioned those plans but today's statement marks the official announcement.) Aspyr has already released Doom 3-engine games on the Mac, and its port is being developed by in-house coders. Quake Wars will be a tactical- and objective-based first-person shooter instead of the traditional Quake deathmatch. No release date has been named, but assuming that Aspyr is accurate when saying the Mac version will be out this year, PC and console versions may be out by the fall. %Gallery-1618%
Live Anywhere nowhere to be found in Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
As the first game to support Live Anywhere, Shadowrun has erected a rickety bridge between the realms of the PC and the Xbox 360, allowing players to dash across and kill each other using their peripherals of choice. Perhaps it is in the interest of peace then, that id Software has ruled out the possibility of cross-platform multiplayer for their upcoming shooter, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. "Console players will not play against PC players," says id co-owner and creative director, Kevin Cloud, in an interview with GameZone. "Consoles require a certain [adaptation], and that wasn't something that we wanted to take on." While there's no immediate framework to necessitate play between the PS3 and PC just yet, Live Anywhere promises to bring more convergence between Microsoft's Vista and 360 platforms -- but could the $50 Live entry fee for Xbox-PC multiplayer prove to be a turn-off for developers and gamers alike? %Gallery-1618% [Via CVG]
Quake Wars admits: no cross-platform online play
Makers of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, id Software, have come out saying that the title will not feature cross-platform online play. Kevin Cloud said "Console players will not play against PC players...Consoles require a certain [adaptation], and that wasn't something that we wanted to take on." What he means is that it would be difficult to keep a level playing field between consoles and PCs. Because not all consoles support the keyboard/mouse combo. However, don't think the console versions of the game will be handicapped in any way -- they're going to be the same as the PC version. Both will feature the neat action with little bits of RTS features to fight against... you guessed it, maniacal enemy creatures that want to destroy. Look for the game later this year on the PC, PS3, and XBox 360.
No cross-plat play for Quake Wars
CVG reports that id's Kevin Cloud has confirmed that cross-platform play will not be featured in the upcoming Enemy Territory: Quake Wars for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. According to Cloud, the concept is possible, but requires too many tweaks to each platform in order to level the playing field. We imagine Cloud is referring to the advantage of a mouse and keyboard on PC (and potentially PS3). The mouse obviously offers an aim advantage, and the keyboard could provide plenty of shortcuts for the game's RTS like features. Cloud does mention, however, that id is striving to make sure that the overall Quake Wars experience will be maintained across all platforms. Well, thank God. Expect Quake Wars to debut some time this year.
id Software CEO: piracy pushed us multiplatform
At an early session Friday, id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead gave a lecture on the problems of piracy on the internet. During his speech, Hollenshead revealed that, although they are still primarily a PC developer, id Software had begun to look at console game releases as a way to financially combat piracy. "Piracy has pushed id as being multiplatform," Hollenshead said, noting that the current project Enemy Territory: Quake Wars is being scheduled for release on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Hollenshead's rationale is that console piracy is, by a large factor, minimal relative to the rampant PC piracy. In Hollenshead's lecture, entitled "The Videogame Piracy Problem: Fifteen Men on a Dead Man's Chest," was a discussion on the problems of piracy, his company's experiences with the issues, and suggestions to help the diffuse the issue.
Alice now Universal Binary on Mac
American McGee's Alice has been updated into a Universal Binary, and the tens of Mac gamers who both use Intel Macs and enjoyed this title -- or at least its gnarled art direction -- can now run the game natively. (Okay, we jest; there must be at least hundreds of us, including this writer and other Joystiq contributors.)We salute Aspyr for offering a free update to this older title. This sort of support makes us want to keep playing Mac titles, even though the platform's gaming future is uncertain at best. Now excuse us while we dig up old copies of Alice and recite incantations for a Deus Ex update.
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars coming to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
Id Software is rounding up the old gang, or gangs in this case, to develop Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 ports of the highly anticipated (and nebulously dated) PC-shooter, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. Id's fellow Dallasites at Nerve Software, who previously worked on other Id projects like Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides of War for Xbox and DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil for the PC and Xbox, will be responsible for bringing the title to the Xbox 360 platform while Activision's very own Z-Axis, who most notably delivered Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX, will handle PlayStation 3 duties. The press release reveals that the console versions will feature 16-player multiplayer, whereas the PC version is slated to feature 24-players. Nevertheless, we're heartened that the game -- which is being produced by Id Software but developed by Splash Damage -- will be coming to both of the obvious new-gen systems despite John Carmack's rather outspoken feelings on the console wars. It should come as no surprise that there is no date for any of the releases, but we're sticking with Activision's guess of "before Christmas." %Gallery-1618%
Quake Wars confirmed for Xbox 360
Id Software confirmed today that Quake Wars: Enemy Territory will be arriving on the Xbox 360. The 360 version is being developed by Nerve Software, best known for their expansions to games like Doom 3 and Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Quake Wars sets players in an epic struggle between humanity and a malicious alien race known as the Strogg. The game will support up to 16 players and features strategic team play, deployable structures, and both land and air vehicles. Players can choose from five different classes and will enjoy persistent character promotions and plenty of online stat tracking. Quake Wars is expected as early as April 2007 for the PC; hopefully we won't be waiting too long for the 360 version. Keep in mind though, this is an id Software title, so "it's done when it's done®." [Thanks, DarkSaviour69]
Quake Wars by March 2008, as early as April '07
Activision's latest financial reports reveal that Enemy Territory: Quake Wars is now positioned in the broad release window of the "fiscal year 2008." While that could imply a major delay (as late as March 2008), it could also mean that Quake Wars is on schedule for an early, in this case April (2007) launch. A previous, but unconfirmed delay last year pushed the game's release from fall 2006 to spring 2007. An Activision spokesperson told Eurogamer that Quake Wars is expected before Christmas, adding ominously, but "it's an id Software title so it's done when it's done."
Aspyr Media updates, digital distribution plans (Macworld Expo)
Mac games mainstay, Aspyr Media is showing of its latest and upcoming titles at the Macworld Expo. Easily the company with the most Mac game releases in recent years, Aspyr will ship the Mac version of its Best in Show, Prey to retailers next week, with Star Wars: Empire At War next on the company's Mac list. Aspyr also reminded us its PC and PS2 title, The Shield, will also ship to stores next week.In addition to upcoming games, we learned more about the company's Game Agent digital distribution service for Mac gamers. Currently a method of testing Mac hardware to see if new games will run, Game Agent will be relaunched this year to offer a back catalog of Aspyr titles that don't fit on retail shelves.The Mac-only service -- at least initially -- will sell older titles mostly as-is, although some may be updated to work better with the latest version of OS X on a case-by-case basis. OS 9 games, however, will be unlikely to be updated to Mac OS X versions, and Aspyr may not offer those games at all.Aspyr wants to include as many games as possible, but it needs to clear the rights for its older Mac titles, most of which were PC ports. We asked about the potential for small Mac developers to sell games though the service, and we were told that may happen, but that's not the focus. Instead, marketing director, Leah Heck told us Aspyr first wants to "give people access to the back catalog and make it easy to play."
MacBowl charity event raises $24,000 (Macworld Expo)
Aspyr Media and Macworld magazine hosted their seventh annual MacBowl contest Thursday night. The Macworld Expo tradition pits Mac companies against each other while raising money through team fees for the San Francisco Unified School District.This year's competition raised $24,000, while the total -- including previous years -- reached $146,000 donated to local schools. Mac gaming companies have historically been big team sponsors, although this year's limited gaming presence left just Freeverse and Aspyr with event teams, while Microsoft, Elgato, and many others fielded competitors.
Empire at War coming to the Mac
The Mac version of Star Wars: Empire at War won't be ready for Santa's sleigh, but Aspyr Media reports they've entered the testing phase, and the Petroglyph strategy port should be available in February. MacBook and Mini owners with integrated graphics won't have to worry about the game's performance, either. According to lead programmer Brad Oliver, Aspyr's goal is to make sure Empire plays well on ALL Macs. That is, until the expansion pack is ported and Tyber Zann assumes control of your hard disk.See also: Holiday 2006 best bets for Mac gamers KotOR franchise to continue, says LucasArts Star Wars PC collection ships
Gothic 3 demo available tomorrow
Gothic 3 won't be released until Monday, but you can give it a test drive this weekend, courtesy of Aspyr Media and JoWood Productions. According to a post at Blue's News, the North American demo will include the entire beginning area of the game, with all available quests, weapons, spells and NPCs (and no time limits imposed on players). For more details, visit Aspyr's Gothic 3 site, and stay tuned for a metareview next week.See also: Free Gothic 3 soundtrack clips available
Free Gothic 3 soundtrack clips available
Piranha Bytes is treating fans to the musical stylings of composer and sound designer Kai Rosenkranz, with some free MP3 downloads from the Gothic 3 soundtrack. In this new installment of the popular role-playing series, Rosenkranz is backed by a full symphony orchestra, as well as Hollywood vocalist Lisbeth Scott (whose credits include Kingdom of Heaven and Munich). Gothic 3 ships next month and promises to consume hundreds more hours of your life, so hurry up and finish Oblivion.See also: Morrowind soundtrack now available
Gothic 3 updated screens
CVG has snagged a half dozen new screens of Aspyr Media's Gothic 3, showcasing the beautifully rendered environments of Myrtana. The Gothic series has always been praised for its advanced AI and lively NPCs, but the first two installments suffered from poor voiceovers and non-intuitive controls. Hopefully, German developer Piranha Bytes has addressed these issues for one of the most anticipated PC titles of the year.See also: Gothic 3 in-depth preview
