« Igniq.com Gaming News - Bookmark this site Advertisements  In the latest Steam news update Valve announce 2 new maps will be available with the next update to Counter-Strike: Source, de_port (view a sketch of the layout) and a completely re-done de_inferno. As promised last week, Valve also provided a glimpse of the new Half-Life 2 episode, Aftermath, which will take place directly after the events at the end of Half-Life 2 - view the full-scale screenshot. The scene in the screenshot is one of the Citadel corridors Gordon Freeman passes by (but doesn't explore) in the cinematic centrepiece of Half-Life 2. Valve also announced that a Day of Defeat: Source tournament will be held at the Cyberathlete Professional League games in Texas this summer, with a $30,000 prize going to the winning team. Related: Half life 2: Ending Extended With Aftermath Expansion Xbox Half Life 2 To Outshine Pc Version? Half-Life 2: The Lost Coast The Half-Life Saga Story Guide Half Life 2: Capture The Flag Beta 1.3 Released Discussion >>  Ubisoft have released an impressive list of games they'll be showcasing at next month's E3 Expo in Los Angeles.Included will be a preview of Ghost Recon 3 on a "next-generation console", a glimpse of Peter Jackson's King Kong, Prince of Persia 3 and the next installment of MYST: AND 1® Streetball [PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system]: Experience the jaw-dropping moves of genuine streetball legends or establish your reputation by creating your own unique moves and signature style. IGN Posts Extensive Games List for E3 E3Expo.com Speculation on Under-Wraps E3 Games Discussion >> A contract the Screen Actor's Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have with a group of video games publishers concerning movie actors supplying their talents for games will expire today, and negotiations are still underway to renew it. Because the system of employing top actors for games is still fairly new, the guild members have been receiving a once-off fee for their work without residual earnings, which is the main stumbling block for the movie business. With the reality of hugely successful games like Halo 2 capable of earning more on its day of release than the opening day of any movie in history, the actors may even start demanding royalties as well. According to a Variety magazine source, the negotiations could go either way: The current contract has no provision for any residuals, just a set of minimum pay rates. Games may be losing their voice EA Bring Connery Back For One More Bond Role (6 April) Caan, Duvall join Brando to voice Godfather Discussion >>  A biopic detailing the creation of id Software has been announced in Variety magazine.Showtime will partner with Naren Shankar, the executive producer of CSI to adapt a screenplay from the 2003 book Masters of Doom by David Kushner; the highly acclaimed book focuses on the relationship between two of id's founders, John Carmack and John Romero: "It's such a classic American rags-to-riches story. I really suck at the game, but the story of these two twentysomething guys is pretty incredible," Shankar said. "In the spate of a few years, their idea and technology launched an entire industry based around these first-person shooter games." Related: Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture Showtime to produce film on id's Carmack, Romero? Masters of Doom Movie In The Works DavidKushner.com DOOM Feature Film to be released 21 October Doom 3 XBox & Resurrection Of Evil expansion Ships (4 April) Doom Boardgame Reviewed Discussion >>  New in-game screens have surfaced of Lara Croft's next Tomb Raider adventure. Spong are reporting that instead of tackling new gameplay modes and such that developers are sticking to what worked in the previous Tomb Raider series. The screens are small and somewhat smudgy but you can make out a nice lush environment and clearly looking back at the old Tomb Raider games, Lara's apearance has greatly improved. In news that reads more like a press release than perhaps it should, Ms Croft will stick to doing what she does best: stealing the ancient artefacts of downtrodden third world civilisations, and avoiding various death traps. And sticking her bum in the air. A lot. Update: New high-res screens here (thanks Tomb Raider Chronicles) Related: Tomb Raider: Legend Site Launched Tomb Raider Revived Discussion >>  Yet more Xbox 360 rumours today, this coming from gamesgossip where they point to a website which posted word that the next-generation Xbox will have 512 MB of UMA system memory. Apparently they have obtained some system documents which claim:the system software will reserve six percent (32 MB) of the total memory for components, including visible features of the Xbox 360 HUD, and other non-visible system tasks Xbox 2 Coming In White? Xbox Half Life 2 To Outshine Pc Version? IGN Posts Extensive Games List for E3 Xbox 360 To Retail At $249 In October? Xbox 360: Project Gotham Racing 3 Image Discussion >>  An article in The New York Times reports on a new liquid-crystal display unit that can be fitted to the PS2. This will allow gamers to take the PS2 with them on long car journeys to play their favourite games (as long as they're not the driver)The display which carries the name "Game Glass" measures 7 inches diagonally and attaches to the PlayStation 2 with thumbscrews and is reported to be selling for $140 Dollars on the U.S. Because the PlayStation 2 does not have its own power source, playing it in the car requires an adapter for the auxiliary power socket. Pelican encloses a coupon with the Game Glass to get an adapter for $4.95, the cost of shipping and handling. PS2 Used To Combat Obesity PS2: God of War Gets Rave Wired Review NZ Man Sentenced for Selling PS2 Game Discussion >>  According to an article over at Games Industry, New York police have seized over 60,000 bootleg Nes consoles. Among the games seized by the FBI in both New York and New Jersey were Donkey Kong, Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt.So forget your Doom 3, Half Life 2, latest graphics cards and your fastest ram as Duck Hunt is apparently the way the wind is blowing these days.
Nintendo squashes pirates like Mario does a mushroom New Nintendo Revolution Mock-Up Images Nintendo Quiz Reveals Revolution Details Nintendo Revolution Speculation Revolution vs. PlayStation Discussion >>  Aussie-Nintendo.com have the Web's latest mock-ups of the Nintendo Revolution, and they're pretty decent, featuring a sleek chrome on black design and a detailed graphic of the controller from different angles: New Revolution Mock-Up Via Prodigious Gaming Related: Nintendo Quiz Reveals Revolution Details Nintendo Revolution Speculation Revolution vs. PlayStation Nintendo squashes pirates like Mario does a mushroom Discussion >>  Computer And Video Games have a two-part interview with Greg Street, the lead designer on Age of Empires III. He answers questions about graphical effects like realistic lighting, the progression from previous "Age" games and the new features: Our "killer feature" for this game is the Home City. It works like a persistent tech tree - an upgrade you choose in the Home City sticks with your civilization for many games (we also have a more traditional tech tree in the New World that you re-research every game). At low levels, a civilization has fewer buildings and units than an Age of Kings civilization has. Related: Official Age of Empires III website Age of Empires III rewriting history - No, no, WRONG GamePro Get First Look at Age of Empires III (4 April) Discussion >>  UniversalPictures.com includes a coming soon section for the new movie adaptation of DOOM, and a release date of 21 October.The movie will be directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak (Thirteen Days, The Devil's Advocate) and will star Karl Urban (Eomer of The Lord of The Rings) and The Rock; according to the IMDb.com trivia for the movie, it will also include minor characters named for id software developers like Dr. Carmack and Dr. Willits. From UniversalPictures.com: Set countless years in the future and told in the hyperkinetic, kamikaze style that made its gaming predecessor a global phenomenon, the science fiction adventure Doom takes the viewer to the far corners of the galaxy with a fully-realized vision of a dark and disturbing future. Related: Doom (2005) on IMDb.com DOOM Movie Details (Dec 2004) Doom Movie Scriptwriter Chat (Oct 2004) Doom 3 XBox & Resurrection Of Evil expansion Ships (4 April) Doom Boardgame Reviewed Discussion >>  CITY interactive have announced a sequel to Terrorist Takedown, last year's current-events focused first person action game. Terrorist Takedown: Payback is due for release in Q1 2005, will include 10 new missions and should run smoothly on older PC's thanks to low system requirements: In TT: Payback you will find 10 adrenaline-pumping missions featuring five different weapon platforms, improved replayability with a new high score system and a choice of difficulty levels. Terrorist Takedown: Payback screenshots Terrorist Takedown Playable demo of original Terrorist Takedown on 3DGamers Discussion >>  The winners of Valve's Half-Life 2: Deathmatch contest have been added to Steam, and will download automatically if you have Deathmatch installed.The new maps are: Winner: dm_underpass by Scott M Jordan, USA 1st Runner Up: dm_resistance* by Jonathan Linker, Germany 2nd Runner Up: dm_powerhouse by Michael Schulz, Germany Winning Maps and Source Games Update Available Now Discussion >>  Following the cancellation of Ghost Recon 2 for the PC, Ubisoft have officially announced on the Ghost Recon website, an expansion pack for Ghost Recon 2 on the Xbox.This might not instill any joy inside the minds of PC fans but the Xbox expansion will build on both single and multiplayer modes, including new skins and objectives but as of yet is still a working title.
Ghost Recon 2 for PC Cancelled GHOST RECON 2 ON PC SPIRITED AWAY Discussion >>  Ah, another day brings more Xbox 2 chatter and swirling rumours to entice and excite the gaming world. Todays speculation is on the design of the next-gen console but more to the point, the actual colour. Eurogamer have claimed an inside source has confirmed the machine's colour is probably white and its name is definately Xbox 360 amid previous speculation towards the name Xbox 2.
Xbox Half Life 2 To Outshine Pc Version? IGN Posts Extensive Games List for E3 Xbox 2 To Retail At $249 In October? Xbox 360: Project Gotham Racing 3 Image Discussion >>  Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have announced the latest Harry Potter game will be released concurrently with the fourth movie based upon the fourth Harry Potter novel "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fifth Harry Potter videogame we have created, and we are incredibly excited with the fresh innovations that the team has brought to the game," said Harvey Elliott, Executive Producer at EAUK. "With high anticipation for the film and our strong relationship with WBIE, we have been able to develop a game that complements the film in this exciting addition to the Harry Potter franchise Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire will release November 2005 for PS2, PSP, GCN, GBA, PC, DS, and Xbox.Via Yahoo Games Domain Discussion >>  For those of you on the road with your PSP or just out with friends and using up the battery's life before you are fully satisfied, lay down those worries and let Hack a Day bring a ray of hope into your low-battery PSP world.If you (like me) grew up with an Atari 2600, there is a nice little guide that shows how you can convert the legendary 2600 joystick into an external battery pack for your PSP. Just think of the possibilities and convenience. jason and I were thinking of this idea for awhile before we acted upon it. with his precise expertise in the field known as electronics, i was able to create a 5V circuit easily and cheap too. i chose an atari 2600 joystick because aside from housing everything well (especially the button for the on/off switch), it’s nostalgic which is awesome Check the guide out hereRelated: Use PSP to Play with Aibo PSP Car Mount 20-30 Dollars For Movies On PSP PSP Cake PS2 Used To Combat Obesity Discussion >>  A PC demo is now available for the 3D adventure game Psychonauts. The PC, XBox and PlayStation 2 game is from the mind of Tim Schafer, who was behind previous adventure games Full Throttle and Grim Fandango for LucasArts: Yes now you can play a small sliver of Psychonauts on your own PC at home. Majesco and Double Fine have put out a demo containing an early portion of the game - a game repeatedly assumed by many to be the second coming - making all things right in the world. Reports that the full version will also contain "flying cars and robot butlers for everyone" remain unsubstantiated. Added: Double Fine have announced the PS2 version of Psychonauts needs "to cook a bit longer" and its release will be delayed, though no new date was included in the announcement. - Gamespot link Related: Psychonauts official website Double Fine - Company founded by Schafer Top 10 Most Anticipated Xbox Games of Q2 2005 - Psychonauts Discussion >>  1UP.com have a long feature profiling all the cartoons they could find that were derived from computer/video games; the obvious ones like Super Mario Brothers and Sonic are included, but I had no idea Street Fighter or Pac-Man had gotten their own toons.Game-based cartoons through the years link via Waxy.org Related: 1UP's 50 Most Important Games Ever Made Discussion >>  EA Games have announced that the next installment in the Need For Speed series will be called Most Wanted, is under development and is scheduled for release this November. The game will be available for PC, XBox, PS2, GameCube, DS, GameBoy advance, PSP and an unnamed "next-generation console". From the press release: Need for Speed Most Wanted delivers a unique, fast-paced and gripping ride in the racing genre as players build up their Rap Sheet and street cred to move their way up the Black List to become the most wanted racer on the streets. Players will go head-to-head with the top drivers on the scene as well as strategically evade more than half dozen cops at any one time. Add in a dynamic open world, new gameplay and customization as well as tuners, supercars, muscles and sports cars and Need for Speed Most Wanted will be on every gamer's "must-have" list. Related: EA revs up Need for Speed: Most Wanted EA GAMES: Need For Speed Underground 2 EA GAMES: Need For Speed Underground Discussion >>  I read an interesting article over at ferrago which has some news on Half Life 2 for the Xbox. Half Life 2 was one of the biggest selling pc games of the last few years and as its release to the Xbox nears, people are concerned that the game will be a paired-down version of the PC due to aging architecture inside the current Xbox. These fears may yet be laid to rest, ferrago are reporting that the levels and gameplay will be identical to the PC version. It has to be said that the Source engine behind the classic Half Life 2 can pretty much be played on any half-decent PC, so the Xbox may hold some hope for non-pc Half Life 2 fans. Also the Xbox version is purported to have some enhanced lighting effects which will outshine those seen on the PC version.
Half-Life 2: The Lost Coast Half Life 2: Aftermath First Pictures HL2 XBox This Summer, Aftermath Sneak-Peek Next Week Half life 2: Ending Extended With Aftermath Expansion Half Life 2: Capture The Flag Beta 1.3 Released Discussion >> With the main focus on the new consoles at this years E3 Expo, IGN.com reminds us of the massive amount of games that will be unveiled, posting an extensive list of the official titles that have been confirmed, and not including surprises or secrets:
 Wireless Watch Japan reports on a feature of the Japanese PSP that lets you control your Aibo robotic dog; the feature may be an intentional addition by Sony since it requires no hacks or other modifications to the handheld:Japanese entertainment weekly Famitsu put the PSP through its paces in their 15 April issue and sure enough: pressing combinations of buttons on the PSP will make Aibo do different tricks -– no hacking necessary! Aibo on the Wikipedia PSP 101: Everything you need to know about the PlayStation Portable 20-30 Dollars For Movies On PSP Gold and Diamond-Encrusted PSP Chat on IRC With Your PSP Discussion >>  In a bid to compete with the rival PSP and DS, the British-made Gizmondo handheld is now available for £129, a full £100 cheaper than the standard version, which will remain on sale.The cheaper unit contains all the functionality of the standard, but includes "Smart Adds" - TV quality advertisements transmitted to the device up to three times per day via the built-in Global Positioning Satellite service. The ads will be highly targeted, using the information taken from a sign-up process, and will delete themselves periodically: The Smart Adds themselves will feature anything from new trainers, to video clips of new albums, movie and game trailers, DVD previews, even advi-games direct to the device. Most importantly they’re non-interruptive, i.e. a movie or a game will not be interrupted by the Save £100 off of the Gizmondo…if you can deal with some ads Tiger to shred Gizmondo price Gizmondo.com Gizmondo Irish Launch - 19 April PSP, DS Rival Gizmondo Launches in U.K. (19 March) Discussion >>  The Nintendo Road to E3 Van dropped by at the house of Kotaku editor Brian the other day, and he has some writeups and pictures of the previews he saw: I got a chance to watch previews of Geist and Nintendo Pennant Chase Baseball. I also got some time to play Killer 7, and Donkey Konga 2 on the GameCube. Nintendo Quiz Reveals Revolution Details Speculation on Under-Wraps E3 Games Hand-held Nintendo 64? Discussion >> According to an article in Forbes Microsoft is likely to discontinue production of its Xbox console with the launch of the Xbox 2.A researching firm suggests that the Xbox console would cater to the lower-end of the consumer segment and that it expects Microsoft to ship about 3 million units of the Xbox 2 worldwide in the December quarter. The article also expects the new console to go on sale this coming October or November at a retail price of about $249 to $299. This at first glance does definately not reflect the potency of the hardware that we were earlier informed would be in an Xbox 2. Sony is expected to debut the PS3 at E3, "although the product is not expected to be available in the U.S. until mid-2006 (perhaps a Japan launch in the fourth quarter of 2005 although more likely in the first quarter of 2006)," Goldman said. Full articleRelated: Xbox 360: Project Gotham Racing 3 Image Microsoft In Massive Xbox 2 Giveaway HL2 XBox This Summer, Aftermath Sneak-Peek Next Week Microsoft: XBox Games To Continue Through To 2007 Quake 4 And Other Xbox 2 Titles Emerge Alternate Reality Game for the XBox 2? Discussion >>  People are in somewhat of a stir over an image recently found over at ourcolony.net. The image is of a flashy red sports car but the interesting thing about it is the images binary code on the website, which translates to: "C.a.r.R.e.n.d.e.r.3.6.0._M.a.g.a.z.i.n.e._.C.o.v.e.r".The ourcolony.net website is (as of yet an unofficial) ad campaign from Microsoft for their latest console but what makes this latest Xbox 2 chatter significant is the fact that they have clearly mentioned "360" to suggest that this will be the name finally given to the next-gen Xbox upon it's release later this year. Related: Microsoft In Massive Xbox 2 Giveaway OurColony.net Counting Down to Xbox 2? Microsoft: XBox Games To Continue Through To 2007 Speculation on Under-Wraps E3 Games HL2 XBox This Summer Discussion >>  Eidos Interactive, only one week after releasing screenshots of the new Lara Croft, have unveiled her new website. People who register with the site will be treated to 3D visuals of the new Tomb Raider Legend. Although the site is bare-bones right now, Eidos have said that it will be fully unleashed this Summer and that VIPs who take the time to register will be given preferential treatment when new news is available regarding Tomb Raider: Legend and Lara Croft. Check the new site out here Related: Tomb Raider Revived Discussion >>  GameSpot have a handy 5-minute video review of BioWare's new martial-arts RPG Jade Empire, along with a lengthy written review.The XBox-only game is a surprising departure from BioWare's previous RPG's, taking only about 20 hours to complete on first sitting, and featuring a much pared-back character building element compared to the likes of Baldur's Gate. They give it an 8.4 out of 10 and it gets points for a good story, lots of replay value and unique characters, but loses some for long load times and a repetitive system of combat. A special limited edition of the game is available to pre-order now, and the regular edition will hit retail on 14 April. Video review - Written review Related: Official website Screenshots and preview movies Pre-order the Limited Edition Featuring Bonus Content Discussion >>  Ain't it Cool News have a very good interview with David Jaffe, the creative director of the game of the moment, PS2's God of War. He talks about the influences that helped shaped the game, whether there's the possibility of a God of War II and the dedication that saw the development time stretch out to three years: I didn’t care if this failed or not. I didn’t care if this was a success. I didn’t care if this was the last game I ever worked on. At the age of 33, I just wanted to do something that really speaks to the stuff that I love. If it works, great. If it sort of works, great. If it doesn’t work, great. But I don’t just want to make product. I want to make something that really moves people and myself. Related: God of War official site David Jaffe's blog God of War No False Idol God of War - PS2 Avg Ratio: 95% Discussion >>  Joystiq report on Ben Heckendorn's success in taking a Nintendo 64 console and giving the inner hardware a new home inside a cosy portable. Via joystiq Related: PSP Car Mount 20-30 Dollars For Movies On PSP PSP Cake Discussion >> |
