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NeXT crucial to PC game history
John Romero, pausing from his CPL project, recently updated his weblog, reminiscing about the tenth anniversary of Apple buying NeXT; id used NeXT machines to develop some of its most iconic games. Doom, Doom II, and Quake were created on NeXT boxes, and Romero also says Raven Software developed Heretic and Hexen on the same platform. Romero's post delivers lots more geek love, with more specific notes about the development process; we almost forgot that developers have platform allegiances even if their products are made for other operating systems.[Via TUAW]
A decade of NeXT and Apple
In the summer of 1989, I had a really, really tough assignment: I had to evaluate the NeXT Cube for a publishing company. What a hardship to have that black box on my desk, along with that 400-dpi laser printer! I don't know how I ever managed.It's hard to believe that it was ten years ago, on 12/20/1996, that we welcomed Steve Jobs and NeXT Computers back into the Apple family. Legendary game developer John Romero remembers, and he's got a fascinating post up about the role of NeXT in bringing his babies to market.According to Romero, the original development environment for both Doom and Quake was NeXTSTEP; in fact, the first four years of id Software's efforts were on NeXT. He fondly remembers the days of simultaneously building for three different architectures, and side-by-side map editing across the LAN with cofounder John Carmack.Romero ends his post by noting that he spent the 15 years prior to 1996 working on computers built by Steve Jobs, and that "maybe someday I'll get one of those kickass iMacs." Cue the salivary glands of Mac gamers everywhere...[via IMG]
Japan Meteorological Agency develops earthquake warning system
Okay, so JMA's newest pre-quake warning system doesn't cover as much ground as SMS alerts, but with only 10 to 20 seconds of available panic time before an earthquake hits, we'd probably be toppling over one another before we could even find our cellphone anyway. Japan's Meteorological Agency is currently testing a prototype system which detects the oh-so-subtle "P Waves" that precede the destructive "S Waves," and alerts major operations to halt their hustle and take cover. Since the primary waves travel more quickly than the comparatively sluggish secondary waves, the system picks up on the magnitude and speed at which the quake is approaching, and beams the data over fiber optic networks to emergency relay stations setup in corporate towers, governmental buildings, hospitals, and transportation venues such as railways. The typical alert allows under half a minute to shutdown operations and dash for safety, but the agency claims this crucial shred of time can be enough to scurry away from any treacherous hazards nearby. The government plans to expand a fully-featured system to provide alerts via television, radio, and "wireless communications" by March 2007, but until then, we suspect the ole "ear to the ground" method is the best you've got.[Via Pink Tentacle]
Carmack's QuakeCon keynote highlights
On Friday, John Carmack gave his keynote address at the annual QuakeCon, devoting much of the presentation to id Software's next project. This new 3D action title will support multi-processor systems, and employ an updated version of the megatexture technology for the game's expansive outdoor environments.Carmack also reaffirmed his company's commitment to the PC, which involves fragging software piracy. For additional highlights, check out GameSpy's breakdown.See also: Quake Wars pushed back to 2007
Aspyr finally gets a clue, releases Quake 4 demo
Forgive the bitter headline, but I'm sick of Mac game companies releasing games, especially ones as massive and significant as Quake 4, without a demo. This gripe is further compounded by the fact that the current state of Mac gaming is so demanding of hardware; yes, it's certainly improving, but many of these games require a PowerMac G5 or, now with the Intel switch, at least an iMac or a MacBook Pro to run them with any decent amount of detail and frame rate. Releasing $50 games without the ability for users to test them first is shooting oneself in the foot, and apparently, companies like Aspyr seem to have no shortage of feet.With that small bit of editorial out of the way: Aspyr has (finally) released a demo of Quake 4! Hooray! Both a torrent and a direct download link of the 536MB Universal Binary demo are available from MacGameFiles. Enjoy.[via MacMinute]
Quake Wars pushed back to 2007
The Strogg invasion originally planned for this holiday season has been postponed. Activision has confirmed that Enemy Territory: Quake Wars will not be shipping in 2006, which supports a comment made earlier this week by Splash Damage lead designer Paul Wedgewood. In a GameSpy developer diary, Wedgewood wrote, "Unfortunately, sometimes effort isn't all you need -- sometimes you just need more time. To ensure the quality we want, we've decided to push the release out of 2006 to allow for extended testing, feedback and game balancing." We were impressed with the Quake Wars LAN demo at this year's E3, so it should be pretty solid by the time it ships.
Visor
Love Quake? Love the Terminal? Visor is just the app for you! Brought to you by the good folks behind Quicksilver (and you know how much we like that), Visor is a cool Terminal mod that creates a hot key enabled Terminal console available no matter what you're doing.Hit one button and from the top of your screen slides a terminal window. It is pretty cool, though it isn't ready for Bob and Jone Mac User.[via Infinite Loop]
Quake coming to a DS near you
When we received a tip that a clever individual was trying to bring Quake to the DS, we were fairly intrigued. We wondered how it could be callibrated for use with the touchscreen and also if the game would feature multiplayer. The above video shows that the project is coming along nicely and features the same control scheme as Metroid Prime Hunters (a game that can easily be mistaken for Quake).
Make your own Quake Papercraft
If the Wii controller and Katamari Prince papercraft projects didn't suit your gaming preferences, then try making your own Quake-themed papercraft models of the Shambler and/or Marine. Captain Nod's site has links to models and instructions to build your own DIY nerd sculptures.[Via Cathode Tan]
John Carmack talks Cell and PS3 development
During E3, the saint of first person shooters sat down to talk with G4TV and discuss the PlayStation 3's development strategy. Seeing as how he pioneered the modern day shooter and single-handedly codes some of the most cutting-edge graphics engines, people listen when he has something to say about this sort of thing. During the interview, he admitted that the PS3 will have more power backing it than the other guys. That's exactly the way Sony wants it though, and the price reflects that. However, the most interesting part came when Mr. Carmack said Sony made a mistake with the PlayStation 3. The mistake wasn't with the price though, it was with the Cell architecture. We're months away from launch, and it's still no secret that the PS3 is hard to develop for. Okay, so this isn't the first time John has said this. But he reiterated that the fragmenting of code which developers are going to have to do for development is an unnecessary evil. Even so, he still thinks the PS3 will bank on Sony's core following, despite these issues. We'll have to wait and see how much the price affects that following though.
Quake II X goes Universal
Thanks to an independent developer, Quake II has perhaps become the oldest game to have been updated as a Universal Binary on Mac OS X. In order to use this software to play Quake II, you will still need a full copy of the game to grab some of the core game files, and I think the full source from id Software themselves (scroll down about two thirds of the way) might do the trick. While the source code there is listed as a PC version, I think the core game files you need to use this UB enabler for Mac OS X will work just fine. If anyone else knows better, feel free to sound off and list a link, if you could be so kind.Either way, it sounds like setting up this software is pretty simple, and in no time you too could be fragging aliens circa 1997!
Hands on with Quake Wars: Enemy Territory
Activision had a huge LAN set up on their floor space showing off Quake Wars: Enemy Territory that let attendees get a taste of the multiplayer mayhem. Players assume the role of either the devious Strogg or the GDF. The campaign we played involved the Strogg going on the defensive and the GDF attempting to re-take the region that they've been contaminating.
Quake 4 Universal Binary shipping
Quake 4, a game that could literally destroy my productivity in one swooping install, is now shipping as a Universal Binary for Mac OS X. Getting back to its first-person storyline roots, this latest installment picks up after the events of Quake 2, in which you are part of an elite marine force whose mission is to stop an Earth invasion and blow a ton of stuff up. Check out Aspyr Media's Quake 4 product page for more storyline details and system specs, as a PowerPC G4/G5 at 1.67 is required (which we've mentioned before), but they recommend a G5 or Intel-based Mac.Quake 4 is priced at $49.99 and is available from Amazon.[via Macworld]
Quake 3 in 10240x3072
This setup might be enough to make any hardened gamer weep with envy. Especially hardened gamers who've just splashed out on a new monitor themselves (we're not bitter). Running Quake 3 at a resolution of 10240x3072, this custom multi-panel display consists of 24 monitors powered by 12 Linux servers, created as part of a wall-based user interface research project. Warcraft II has also made it big, but at 3840x2160 it looks positively tiny next to the Quake 3 setup.[Via Opposable Thumbs]
Pro gaming more attractive than pro tennis
A Scottish gamer has traded in his racquet for a railgun, with a change of career from professional tennis player to pro gamer. David Kinnaird, a new recruit for UK pro gaming team 4Kings, comments in this BBC article that "pro-gaming is bigger than tennis in a way" thanks to the sponsors involved.Whether David's decision was a wise one will become clear in time, but comparing professional gaming to traditional sports throws up interesting parallels. The abundance of sponsors available to the top players, the hours of training and the fact that many people see it as just a hobby are all common factors, yet people are more likely to take tennis players seriously than those who play computer games all day. This could be thanks to the accessibility of games -- anyone can pick up a racket, but quickly realise they have no skill, whereas video games are designed so that the player eventually wins.
Quake 4 requirements revealed
At last, Aspyr has finally released the system requirements for the upcoming Quake 4. So, without further ado, you'll need: Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later a PowerPC G4, G5, or Intel-based chipset a 1.67GHz or faster CPU 512MB or higher of memory 64MB or more of video memory (VRAM) Quake 4 is built on the Doom 3 engine, and the game's storyline is set just months after the events of Quake II. Aspyr is currently taking preorders for $50.00US.[Via MacNN]
Homebrew WADs and mods
With the advent of DOOM being ported to the PSP, homebrew hackers have been busy at work tricking out mods for the popular shooter. One such gamer at DCEmu has managed to fix up Counter-Strike and Quake 1 that runs from the original doom2.wad file. There are all sorts of mod files cropping up for the PSP, but make sure you know how to get them running before diving into it. Check the thread for some great images and information. [Thanks, Wraggster]
New Enemy Territory: Quake Wars details
The creators of Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory are hard at work on their next project, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, based on the upcoming Quake 4 game. The online tactical shooter will take advantage of both the Doom III engine and a new "megatexture" technology developed by John Carmack. With this new technology, the Splash Damage team will be able to render environmental terrain all the way out to the horizon and also assign different physical properties to the various types of terrain. For example, asphalt will be louder to walk on but offer better traction for land vehicles, while sand will make your footsteps quieter but at the same time will bog down vehicles. And don't expect every map to be located in the desert. Quake Wars is set to take place across Earth, so we should see some temperate and jungle environments in the mix. We'll keep you posted.
E3: Enemy Territory - Quake Wars is a sight to behold
Every developer makes their in-development game look better to the public than it actually is. The Killzone 2 discussion going on in the community right now is that the "gameplay" footage is questionable. Is the hardware really able to deliver that kind of gaming quality? If not, is it it false advertising? My bottom line is that all three consolers had a chance to put their best foot forward and Sony's stride was stronger. Even compared to MS' best cutscenes, Killzone is a killer. But there are other titles wowing the crowd now. Enemy Territory is one of them. The game clip is, once again, playing on an obscenely beautiful screen the size of my apartment. It stops you in your tracks in a room where everyone is trying to get you to stop in your tracks. The Quake spin-off is being developed by Splash Damage, using id's MegaTexture engine. It's a tactical shooter with 40 vehicles and enough character classes to kill your buds seven ways to Sunday. Details are a little sketchy right now. We all know that means it's early in development. Of course, that didn't keep them from releasing one of the true must-see clips of E3 2005.
