wolfenstein
Latest
Doom Resurrection on the iPhone now, lots more id games to come
Fellow shooter fans rejoice -- id software's John Carmack has begun delivering on his love of the iPhone with a brand new game made just for the platform called Doom Resurrection, available right now on the App Store for the price of $9.99. There's nothing small about this game at all -- it offers up 76 mb of original id shooter, including eight levels total, six on Mars, and two more (spoiler?) in Hell, all set in a graphics and control engine designed just for Apple's handhelds (you control aiming with the accelerometer while the game runs you around on rails, and hit the various on-screen buttons to shoot or jump into cover). Unfortunately, there's no lite version to test out (though we can probably expect one eventually, considering Wolfenstein Classic got one), but early reviews say that if you like Doom, you'll enjoy the game.And that's not all -- besides this original version of Doom, Carmack and id continue to have big plans for the iPhone: Quake and Quake 2 are headed there for sure, and Quake 3 probably isn't far behind, as well as a RAGE-related title. And that doesn't even include the rest of the mobile stuff they have planned: apparently Wolfenstein RPG is ready to go, and Carmack hints that they've got even more original titles like Doom Resurrection here up their sleeve. Good to see a major, established developer like id is really committing to delivering new games for the iPhone.
Wolfenstein includes comprehensive Nazi death stat tracker
Stat tracking is nothing new for FPS games, but we have to hand it to Raven for being thorough. According to MTV Multiplayer, the upcoming Wolfenstein keeps track of not only how many Nazis you kill, but the manner in which they died. Multiplayer asserts that it saw a stat screen at 36 percent completion, which noted that 639 kills had been made. Using some simple math, the blog calculated that a total of 1638.4 Nazis will meet their doom by the end of the game.Now, we hate to criticize, but that's assuming the rate of Nazi influx is constant, which it almost assuredly is not. Still, regardless of exactly how many have fallen by the end, we take comfort in the fact that we'll know exactly how many were dissolved, dismembered, burned and electrocuted. Strangely, the game doesn't appear to keep track of the number that have killed the old fashioned way: with a bullet.
id Software bringing external development back in-house
When Raven Software's long-in-development Wolfenstein (remember when it was an Xbox 360 timed exclusive back in 2005?) finally hits store shelves this August, it'll mark the end of an era ...... oh no! Not of Wolfenstein games – there are plenty more of those coming – but of outside developers working on id Software's hallowed franchises. John Carmack told Joystiq today that bringing external development back in-house at id is "exactly what's going to be happening." Carmack says that while id's had some hits (Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory springs to mind) and some misses (Enemy Territory: Quake Wars springs to mind) the externally developed titles haven't "had the same record that our internally developed titles have." We'd have to agree with him there.With the lead team cranking on Rage for EA Partners, they created a second development team to work on Doom 4, with a still-formative third team currently toiling away on Quake Live. "We'll have three teams," Carmack told us. "We'll have Wolfenstein, Doom, Quake, and Rage and one of them will be taking a vacation each cycle and that will depend on what we want to be doing each time." So don't worry, you'll have plenty of all of the above to go around.
ZeniMax's id buyout doesn't affect Wolfenstein and Rage
We're just one day into the freshly forged relationship between id Software and publishing powerhouse ZeniMax, and we may well be on our way to a bona fide lover's squabble. See, though yesterday's press release from ZeniMax boasted that the company's "library of powerhouse franchises will include DOOM, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, QUAKE, Wolfenstein and RAGE," Electronic Arts and Activision have announced that they're retaining their publishing duties for Rage and Wolfenstein, respectively.ZeniMax referenced these two parties in the same press release, stating that it would publish all of id's future games "other than upcoming releases previously committed to other publishers." Though both EA and Activision's partnerships with id Software are limited to the aforementioned games, and will effectively end when said titles are released, the temporary presence of these two concubines should make things pretty awkward in the newly built idMax household.
Architect's Journal ranks top 10 gaming worlds
Before you start furiously clicking through the source link to see where on the list of Architect's Journal's "Top 10" gaming worlds Second Life falls, we're just going to tell you upfront that it's number seven. That's three full spots ahead of the (apparently) FAT-inspired Super Mario World! Outrageous, we know, we know. The list is rounded out by some rather ... interesting choices -- from Jet Set Willy's house to Halo's ring world, and everything in between, which are all discussed in highfalutin terms that we simply can't wrap our heads around. "Gemutlich?" "Miminalism" (note: not "minimalism")? We're sticking with the video games, thank you very much. [Via Kotaku]
Latest Wolfenstein trailer looks at what lurks in the shadows
Assassins are usually very discreet and very deadly, and those found in upcoming Wolfenstein appear to be no different. In the trailer above, we get a good glimpse at what these near-invisible, blade-wielding stalkers can do (see: stab you silly). Thankfully, BJ has his trusty Veil Sight to help him spot what's hiding around him, and lots of guns to put these baddies down.And because we couldn't waste this gem of a one-liner: Assassins do it in the dark.
E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup
E3 was brütal! If you blinked, for a split/second, you missed something. Even if you were trine to keep up, it was a blur -- staying a.wake like that, you only pushed yourself to the brink of your own dark void. That's where Joystiq comes in; to crackdown on the madness; to reach out ... with conviction -- phew! Crysis averted. We've scoured the dark corners and survived the inferno to piece together this roundup of all things Xbox at E3. Why? Just 'cause we love you. So, draw nier and shift your eyes past the break.
Wolfenstein E3 trailer returns to familiar territory
Admittedly, there are plenty of new things in Wolfenstein. Veil Sight, a bigger, badder Nazi opposition, and new, destructive weapons are just a few of these things. But, as much as things change, some things stay the same, including protagonist BJ Blazkowicz and his penchant to shoot first and ask later. You know, if BJ tried to talk it out instead of resorting to violence at the drop of a Nazi helmet, he might have less problems in his life. But, then again, if that was the case, you wouldn't be reading this amazing post on Joystiq.com.
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.
Crash the castle, 'Wolfenstein' ships August 4
Activision has announced the first-person shooter Wolfenstein will hit store shelves on August 4. As is customary, Wolfenstein will put players behind the gun of American soldier BJ Blazkowicz as he battles a horde of horrific monsters (also known as Nazis) as well as actual supernatural beasts.Originally announced as an Xbox 360 timed-exclusive at Microsoft's X05 event in Amsterdam, the Raven Software developed sequel to the classic franchise will be made available for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. A World War II-era cameo from Wolverine (also developed by Raven) has yet to be confirmed.%Gallery-27813%
Rumor: Wolfenstein RPG goes up on App store, then pulled
Japanese site AppBank managed to grab some video of what is allegedly Wolfenstein RPG, which apparently leaked early on the App store. From the video, which we've placed after the break, it looks like the iPhone version is graphically improved from its original mobile incarnation.We've reached out to EA Mobile for an estimated launch date. If Wolfenstein RPG did actually launch on the AppStore in error, it would appear the game is "finished." We'll update if we hear anything back.Update: A representative for EA Mobile let us know that the company hasn't announced an official release date for Wolfenstein RPG on iPhone.[Via PocketGamer]
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]
Composer Bill Brown returns to soundtrack Wolfenstein
Those of you who've played through Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides of War and found enjoyment in the BGM will certain also love the soundtrack for the upcoming (and modestly titled) Wolfenstein. Composer Bill Brown will be returning once again to work on a fitting score for the action-packed, Nazi-punishing shooter.If you haven't played Tides of War before, then maybe you've heard Brown's work in these other well-known games and shows: Command & Conquer: Generals, CSI:NY, Ali and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. No? Well then, get out from under your rock and listen to some of Brown's samples at his official website to get a taste of what to expect.
Disintegrate bad people with Wolfenstein's particle cannon
If destroying Nazis is on your agenda, nothing quite gets the job done like a particle cannon. Why futz with bullet-riddled corpses or, even worse, exploded viscera? With the particle cannon, enemies simply disintegrate, making for vary little mess and easy cleanup. You can see it in action in the latest trailer for Wolfenstein. This particular particle cannon is fairly effective, though it does seem to harbor one small design flaw: it disintegrates everything but hats.We're guessing the Allies probably consulted with the ACME Corporation on the particle cannon's design.
id Software promises 'new stuff' at E3
id Software's Todd Hollenshead has told Gamespot that E3 attendees should expect to see some surprises from the developer. "... What I expect is," Hollenshead said, "I expect that we'll be showing Wolfenstein at E3, I expect that we'll have some new stuff at E3 that we haven't announced yet." Because id is no longer an ESA member, there won't be an "official" id presence -- rather, "It'll be games that will be there in other publishers' booths."In the same interview, Hollenshead offers some new information about two id projects that seem likely for E3, in addition to the unannounced games. Rage is apparently going to be super-massive, at least in terms of file size: "The game, ultimately, when it's done on our servers, will be huge. I don't know, 100GB?" id expects the game to fill a Blu-Ray, and span multiple DVDs on 360 and PC. Doom 4 is "not a sequel to Doom 3, but it's not a reboot either." Despite the 4 in the title![Via Big Download]
GDC09: Wolfenstein hands-on
During our Activision GDC preview, we got a closer looks at id Sofware's Wolfenstein reboot and the game's supernatural aspect, "the Veil" -- or as we like to call it, "turning on the HUD." This new Wolfenstein features mystical powers that are learned during the course of the game and activated through the d-pad or button combos. It's an element that's fairly common in many games today, but it's still the only feature of Wolfenstein that makes it anything more than a ho-hum World War II shooter.The drawbacks we noted in our Comic Con preview are still present in the current build, especially the poor enemy AI. There were times when enemies were clearly looking at us and tracking our movements, yet weren't firing their guns. It was almost as if they were saying, "Just go ahead and shoot us. We're Nazis. We deserve it."%Gallery-48833%
GDC09: Upcoming EA iPhone game list fully revealed, screens and info on Tiger
Just before the deluge of GDC 2009 news started this week, Travis Boatman, VP of worldwide studios at EA Mobile, confirmed the upcoming release of a veritable smörgåsbord of EA franchises coming to the iPhone. Today, we have confirmation from Meghan Rathman (representing EA) of the exact titles on the way to the iPhone/iTouch as well as a handful of screens from Tiger Woods PGA Tour. Unfortunately, according to Ms. Rathman, the rest of the games in development are "still too early" and don't have screens. Considering the turnaround time on iPhone/iTouch games though, we're willing to bet you'll see those shots by the end of the week pretty soon!The full list of games we received from EA is as follows: Tiger Woods PGA Tour, The Sims 3, FIFA, Madden NFL Football, Spore Creatures, Mystery Mania, Wolfenstein RPG, American Idol, Connect Four, Battleship, Need for Speed, RISK, Monopoly and Clue. Differing from reports at the GDC Mobile event earlier this week, we're seeing the addition of The Sims 3 and Need for Speed. In turn, we're losing the first SSX in two years, Red Alert, NBA Live 10, American Idol, Star Trek. But hey, Tiger Woods!The press release from EA on Tiger Woods PGA Tour tells us that the game is of the "touch" rather than of the "shake" variety, comes with achievements and offers a way to compare achievements with your friends. Of the key features listed, notably missing is "playing against friends wirelessly," though it does promise the ability to "affect your ball spin direction" using your finger. Those are comparable features, right? We'll keep on EA and let you know as soon as we find out more on their upcoming iPhone/iTouch assault.%Gallery-48706%
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.
GDC09: iPhone gaming roundup
The Game Developers Conference is on in San Francisco, and game companies are starting to pull out the major announcements on what's coming to the iPhone in the next year. Here's a roundup of all the titles we've heard mentioned already. EA announced a huge lineup of ports from their already popular games: everything from Command and Conquer: Red Alert to SSX to FIFA, Madden, and NBA are all coming in some form to the iPhone. They're also working on bringing over the Wolfenstein RPG and Spore Creatures (which was the DS port of Spore), as well as a big list of casual board games (Scrabble is only the beginning), and versions of Need for Speed: Undercover, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour. And most amazing? All of these are due out before the end of the year. Someone's lighting a fire under iPhone developers at EA. id software announced that they're bringing Wolfenstein 3D Classic to the iPhone in an official form -- that one's already been submitted to the store and should be out soon. Click the link below to read on.
