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EA signs on to distribute the Wheel of Time MMO
First announced late last year, the Wheel of Time MMO is not only in the works, but Electronic Arts has just confirmed their involvement in the distribution of the game. This includes more than just the MMO though, as Red Eagle Games will be developing a whole line of products which will launch on "all major videogame platforms," including the PC , consoles, wireless devices and handhelds.This deal will allow EA to publish and distribute these games with other third-party developers such as Valve, Harmonix and id. It will also provide "a blockbuster launch on the global stage" for Red Eagle to promote their games, according to EA Partners senior VP and general manager David DeMartini, and will hopefully help in funding the product down the line. Check out the press release in its entirety just after the cut below.
Industrial design student builds Capella, the portable, unobtainable electric bike
Where most students only go so far as to render their designs, Truong Minh Nhat -- working on his senior project at the Ho Chi Minh City School of Architecture -- made a functional prototype, sourcing the parts from local manufacturers. Dubbed Capella, the lightweight vehicle folds down to a neat "backpack sized" package (well, maybe a large backpack), travels over 30 miles an hour, has a range of about 7.5 miles (on a two hour charge), and in its final, mass produced form it should weigh about 22 pounds. If you're looking for a wilder ride than most electric bike designs offer, and you happen to be reading this in Ho Chi Minh City, keep your eyes peeled.[Via Core 77]Update: This bike has a top speed of 30 km (roughly 18.6 miles) an hour.
id: RAGE hasn't been scaled down due to the Xbox 360
According to id Software the recent reports that its upcoming title RAGE has been drastically scaled down on all platforms due to the Xbox 360's media-size limitation are incorrect."There was NO CONTENT removed from RAGE because of the 360--NONE AT ALL," wrote Willits. "We feel the 360 is a great platform and will provide a fantastic Rage experience," id Software's Tim Willits told Shacknews. The original statement made by Willits mentioned the game had changed from "5 or 6 smaller wasteland environments but later decided instead to have 2 larger wastelands." The change was mostly due to the title shipping on two Xbox 360 discs but Willits claims the change was for the better of the game because it would reduce load times between all platforms.So, RAGE hasn't been scaled down because of the Xbox 360 ... it was changed because of the Xbox 360. Completely different, people!
id: No content cuts made to Rage for 360's sake [update]
Update: Tim Willits has denied earlier reports that content would be trimmed from all versions of id Software's upcoming Rage due to the Xbox 360's more limited storage capabilities. In a statement issued to Shacknews, Willits said, "There was NO CONTENT removed from RAGE because of the 360--NONE AT ALL." In response to his discussion of limiting the game to two explorable wastelands, as opposed to more, Willits said the decision was best for all versions of the game and would eliminate loading. "Moving from multiple wastelands into fewer but larger wastelands was a far better decision and is actually giving us more gameplay in the game. We feel the 360 is a great platform and will provide a fantastic Rage experience."The original story can be found after the break.
id's Hollenshead: Piracy 'hidden benefit' for PC manufacturers
Oh, those sly PC hardware manufacturers. As if it wasn't bad enough that they keep building better, more powerful rigs every six seconds, id Software's Todd Hollenshead believes they also secretly benefit from software piracy. No stranger to the public flogging of the illicit C:\ scourge, the CEO candidly told GamesIndustry.biz that manufacturers typically "line up on the wrong side of the argument." "They have lots of reasons as to why they do that," he said, "but I think that there's been this dirty little secret among hardware manufacturers, which is that the perception of free content - even if you're supposed to pay for it on PCs - is some sort hidden benefit that you get when you buy a PC, like a right to download music for free or a right to download pirated movies and games." Hollenshead believes that this is what motivates manufacturers to stick up for the law-abiding minority when it comes to issues like peer-to-peer sharing."I think that if you went in and could see what's going on in their minds, though they may never say that stuff and I'm not saying there's some conspiracy or something like that - but I think the thing is they realise that trading content, copyrighted or not, is an expected benefit of owning a computer." Heck, the only reason we got one was to steal quotes from Tom Bramwell's interviews.
Wolfenstein movie still in the works
Although we'd think Roger Avary's work would have been put on hold in light of his recent legal issues, he is still apparently hard at work on the script for a big-screen Wolfenstein film.id's Todd Hollenshead told Eurogamer that, though the recent writer's strike slowed things down, progress on the feature is being made, "I've recently been in contact with Roger and he's actually working on the script right now." Hollenshead did state progress is going slower than they'd like, but then again we don't think Avary would like to be implicated in a manslaughter case either. So, who wins that argument?
Quake creator repeatedly turned down MMO opportunities
John Carmack, co-founder of id Software and lead programmer of the historic first-person-shooter games Doom and Quake, told Shacknews that id has been approached by multiple publishers interested in releasing an MMO version of Quake. Each time, the company turned them down.It was implied that id has not pursued (and will not pursue) the idea because of the etreme challenges of developing a triple-A MMO.There's a good point here. It's not as if Carmack and friends were throwing a money printer in the trash compactor by passing on the opportunity. The concern seems valid: MMOs are expensive, risky endeavors. Even with a team of experienced developers and a well-known intellectual property, there's always a risk that id could get in over its head.[Via Joystiq]
Carmack turned down Quake MMO offers
So, according to John Carmack, id has turned down offers from publishers who wanted to create massively multiplayer version of Quake. Why? Well, to put it pretty bluntly, Carmack (and, by extension, id) doesn't have any interest in making one.So, what do you think the biggest news here is? Is it that this a Quake MMO isn't going to happen? We don't think so. We're far more concerned that some publisher somewhere thought that making a Quake MMO was a good idea. Dearest game publishers, please don't think that "MMO" actually stands for "Tons of Free Money." It's because of that kind of thinking that Richard Garriott had to pick up a second job at Toys 'R' Us.
Carmack says Rage will look worse on 360 on 2 DVDs
During the QuakeCon keynote, id Sofware's programming wizard John Carmack made it known that the Xbox 360 version of id's upcoming Rage will look worse than it's PC, Mac, and PS3 counterparts. The reason, according to Carmack, is purely a compression issue and "has nothing to do with the power of the Xbox 360 hardware." The compression needed to squeeze the game onto two DVDs will apparently affect the visual fidelity, and Carmack noted that the royalty fee that a third disc would require is too high. Carmack added that he hoped Microsoft would "make a concession."Given that Rage is likely to be a very high profile title and that Microsoft has been known to give assistance to developers -- specifically, working with Capcom to accomodate Street Fighter II HD -- it's at least possible they may do the same for id. We're fairly certain the company probably isn't too keen to see a multiplatform title look noticably worse on its platform either. Here's hoping MS sees the light.[Via Joystiq] Gallery: RAGE
Carmack says iPhone is "more powerful than a Nintendo DS and PSP combined"
We already knew that Id Software co-founder John Carmack was on board with the iPhone to some extent, but at the now-happening QuakeCon 2008 in Dallas he's revealed just how impressed with the device he really is. According to Apple Insider, while Carmack admits that graphics memory could be a limiting factor, he describes the phone's hardware as equivalent to a Dreamcast and almost on par with a PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox. He also sees it as far superior, at least in terms of raw specs, than the two big dedicated handheld consoles out there, saying that is "more powerful than a Nintendo DS and PSP combined." Unfortunately, he didn't have any actual games to show off, but he did at least confirm that Id has two "tentative titles" in the works, including a "conventional mobile game," and one that pushes the iPhone's graphics capabilities.
First official RAGE screens feature marvelous mutants
click to enrage After months of teasing us with crummy off-screen snaps of its forthcoming "post-apocalyptic open-world shooter," id Software has evidently heard us shouting "Show us your RAGE!" (in our best Raging Raven impersonation) and caved in. Behold: two nice, high-res screens of the game. Yep, two. But at least they're really purty.Some on staff are wowed by the textures. Others are happy to see that Sloth from The Goonies is still getting work. Still another faction here at Joystiq HQ is frantically checking Pricewatch in hopes of scoring some good deals on the hardware upgrades they'll need to play this beast at 2 billion x 1 billion resolution on their PCs.%Gallery-28861%
John Carmack says Blu-ray offers better graphics
Right now, the PS3 version of id's upcoming shooter, Rage, will offer superior graphics performance on PS3 than Xbox 360. Not because of sheer horsepower, but because of storage. The game is shaping up to be a three disc game, a costly proposition due to Microsoft's licensing fees. Textures would need to be compressed "to fit the game's assets on two DVDs."Microsoft may have to rescind any fees for additional discs, as it's becoming evident that more developers will require more space in the future. For example, how much compression will Square Enix use for the 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII if making multi-disc games becomes too costly? In the future, we're likely to see more games take advantage of the sheer space offered by Blu-ray disc.[Via Joystiq; Thanks, stoo!]
Video: Nazi evaporation in a new Wolfenstein
Embedded above is a brand new trailer for id and Raven Software's Wolfenstein (just Wolfenstein, no subtitle) showing off what Nazi killing and the second World War really looks like. You know, if the Nazi war machine was eradicated with both "conventional and supernatural weapons" that make bodies evaporate into an explosive blue cloud of electric death. It's Wolfenstein ... just watch and enjoy.
Doom IV getting name change operation
Whatever form the next game in the Doom saga takes, it will do so with a name other than simply Doom IV. id's Tim Willits told Big Download during this week's QuakeCon that the previously revealed Doom sequel will still have Doom in the title, but will adopt some form of hellish subtitle instead of a number, roman numeral or otherwise.The designer noted that the decision was made, at least in part, because the fourth game in the series will not be a continuation of the events seen in Doom III and its expansion. As for what we can expect from the forthcoming Doom something something, who's to say, though it'll probably involve demons, a shotgun and -- if Doom III was any indication -- us wetting the bed.
John Carmack planning a "graphical tour-de-force" for the iPhone
Ah, game developers (especially EA game developers, of which id software's John Carmack is now one, after their announcement at E3 that they'd work together to publish games). They thrive on hype, and live, it seems sometimes, off of speculation. That's probably why Carmack has told Forbes that not only does he love his iPhone, and not only does he not want to "announce anything specifically," but id wants to make a game for the iPhone and "it would be," according to Carmack, "a graphical tour de force." See what we mean? Ah, game developers.Anna Kang, who's the president of id Mobile (no relation), says that any id game they might be working on for the iPhone wouldn't be a new IP, so that puts it very much in the range of a Doom, Wolfenstein, or Quake game, and considering that another Wolfenstein sequel is being worked on right now, that probably makes it the most likely.For his part, Carmack sounds really excited to have the iPhone as a platform (especially since he hasn't always seen eye-to-eye with Apple) -- he equates it in terms of power to a PS2 or Xbox, and says that a company could easily shell out $10 million on an iPhone game, be it a first person shooter or a deep MMORPG. But he admits that the 99-cent sales in the App Store can't support that yet, and it probably wouldn't be the best thing for id Mobile to pour their resources into something like that quite yet. Nevertheless, we'll wait and see what they come up with.[via Joystiq]
Quake Arena trailer shakes up web games
First it was Quake Zero, then it became Quake Live, and now we have a fresh new look at Quake Arena, id's free-to-play, browser-based iteration of Quake III Arena. As you'd expect, the visuals are decidedly simple, but still stylish nonetheless. We noticed a few instances of gameshow-like billboards peppered throughout levels; while they simply read "Quake Live" in the video, it's likely these are placeholders for in-game advertising.The trailer beckons viewers to QuakeLive.com for more info, but the site is still serving the sole purpose of a gateway for beta signups. From what's shown in the footage, it will eventually become a very robust matching and ranking component of the game. With QuakeCon kicking off in just a couple of weeks we expect to find out more details soon.
A better look at Wolfenstein (and yes, it's hitting PC)
click to Wolfensize Hot on the (wolf?) tail of the ever-so-brief debut trailer for the game, Activision has unleashed a pack of first-ever Wolfenstein screens. Well, technically, they're of the new Wolfenstein ... not the original, although they share the same title (minus a "3D"). But we figured you'd guessed that after taking a gander at it above. Oh, and to clear up any confusion, Activision has confirmed that the game will hit PCs as well as PS3 and Xbox 360. The only thing we need now is a date. (Our eagerness to crack some nazi skulls remains more than sufficient, thankyouverymuch.)%Gallery-27813%
Activision reveals Wolfenstein details, teaser trailer
Considering id Software isn't supposed to be at E3 this year (since they left the ESA) the company is making quite a splash. First, id announced plans to partner with Electronic Arts for its upcoming title Rage and now they're busy dropping new details for an upcoming Wolfenstein title. Publisher Activision (another E3 no show) released a handful of screenshots for the latest entry of the famed first-person shooter and showcased the game with a gameplay trailer during their press conference. Co-developed by Raven Software, Wolfenstein will once again feature hero B. J. Blazkowicz against Nazi and supernatural enemies. As the Nazis attempt to open a dark dimension known as "The Shroud," B. J. is called into action to halt their evil plans. The new Wolfenstein game will once again feature team based objective multiplayer, also seen in Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides of War. More information is expected at id's annual QuakeCon which takes place later this month.%Gallery-27817%
Achtung! Activision shows Wolfenstein for PS3, 360
We've known about it for a while years, but it was nonetheless nice to see the next Wolfenstein formally announced for PS3 and Xbox 360 tonight. Activision, id, and Raven Software have finally shown a trailer showcasing the fruits of their collective labor – one that's over rat-a-tat-tat fast.It was revealed that the game's most intriguing hook will be the ability to enlist the aid of underground resistance in combating a nigh-endless flood of nazis. Nazis who are attempting to rip open a hole between our dimension and one called "Shrell," which we assume is Raven's way around officially licensing "Hell."id's Todd Hollenshead, who was on hand to introduce the quick clip, announced that more footage (and, we hope, details) will be dished out at QuakeCon on July 31.
Rage trailer, now with EA logo
EA pimped its partnership with id Software today by debuting a (somewhat) new trailer for Rage, the first spawn of the id Tech 5 engine. This is only the second brief glimpse we've caught of the shooter-with-wheels (and the first in nearly a year!), so it's a bit disappointing to see some of the same imagery being recycled these many months later. But damn, when a game is dripping with this much butter, we don't really mind the double dips.
