Escape from Monkey Island will be slightly later but rest assured gamers, you don't have to wait too long. EA NZ have told us we can expect to see it in local stores by the middle of next week.

Emperor: Battle For Dune Video Available
Posted by samoht @ 1:58 p.m. NZDT

Westwood Studio's have release the promo video for their recently announced Emperor: Battle for Dune.

The video features some very impressive in-game footage as well as some clips from the cut-scenes that show off the next generation of 3D Real-Time-Strategy game play.

The movie is available for download from Gameplanet Downloads now.

Rune Demo Available
Posted by samoht @ 1:52 p.m. NZDT

The demo for Human Head's Unreal engine based hack'em'up, RUNE, has been released and is now available from the Gameplanet Download section.

In RUNE, players assume the role of Ragnar the Viking, mightiest warrior of a bygone age. In an age when might makes right, it is Ragnar who doles out justice on the blade of his massive battle-axe. RUNE is a third-person perspective game of intense action and adventure steeped in a blend of Norse mythology and high fantasy.

Emperor: Battle For Dune Site Launched
Posted by samoht @ 10:31 a.m. NZDT

Westwood have launched the official Web site for their new RTS title Emperor: Battle for Dune.

The site has the usual array of screenshots, promo movies and assorted game info. Westwood have also provided two different versions of the site. A high speed version with all the usual Flash fun and games and an optimised version for the bandwidth impaired.

Keep an eye out for the Gameplanet Emperor: Battle for Dune preview coming soon.

300,000 Subscribers For Everquest
Posted by samoht @ 9:59 a.m. NZDT

Sony Online Entertainment has reported that there are now over 300,000 active subcribers for their online RPG Everquest. With a substantial number of the Gameplanet team having fallen victim to this titles fiendishly addictive powers, this comes as no great surprise.

The massively multiplayer title is approaching it's second birthday and a new expansion pack entitled Everquest: The Scars of Velious is due out in December. Check out the Gameplanet preview for more information.

No announcements regarding which platforms will be supported have been made as yet. The full press release has some comments from expert financial analysts.

Tribes 2 Release Update
Posted by BS @ 9:05 a.m. NZDT

The local Sierra distributors have given Gameplanet an update on the expected release date for the highly anticipated Tribes 2. The latest release date has Tribes 2 shipping on December 18th -- just one week before Christmas. However this date is could slip at any time meaning it may not be a merry Christmas for Tribes players just yet.

The most innovative first person action franchise takes team-based warfare to new heights. With unprecedented innovations to team-based play and in-game communications, massive multiplayer support (50+ players) and new vehicles and weapons, Tribes 2 is the ultimate team-based action experience. Check out the official Tribes 2 site for the full details.

Escape from Monkey Island Goes Gold
Posted by @ 9:04 a.m. NZDT

LucasArts have posted on their official website that the fourth title in the venerable Monkey Island series has gone gold. Escape from Monkey Island continues the story from the previous three releases, but in a fully 3D environment and with all new backdrops and puzzles.

From the official site:
"Gold, it's every pirate's dream! With great fanfare and the distant sound of squealing monkeys, the development team for Escape from Monkey Island steered this highly anticipated title into the harbour ... this is a swashbuckling adventure loaded with side-splitting humor and more monkeys than the three previous Monkey games combined!"

Escape from Monkey Island once again puts the adventuring gamer in the shoes of the hapless Guybrush Threepwood, who is set to return to Melee Island with his new wife, and Governor of the island, Elaine Marley-Threepwood. Unfortunately for the pair, an old adversary has declared Elaine dead and taken over her job as Governor.

Visit the Gameplanet Downloads section for a full demo of Escape from Monkey Island, and watch our news department for release details. LucasArts titles are now distributed by Electronic Arts here in NZ, so we should see the game hit shelves around mid-November.

PlayStation 2 Production Problems Revealed
Posted by BS @ 9:03 a.m. NZDT

Sony Corp. officials revealed Friday that one problem causing component shortages for the Playstation 2 stems from process-migration problems at its Nagasaki fabrication facility. Production of the Graphic Synthesizer, a key chip in the console, was slowed by a migration from 0.25-micron to 0.18-micron production, company officials said.

At the same time, Sony revised its revenue forecast for its games business, projecting a loss instead of a profit. The Tokyo stock market reacted to the announcement by pushing down Sony's stock price to its lowest level in the last five months. The stock closed Friday down 7.5 percent for the day.

Last month, Sony Computer Entertainment America was forced to slash its Playstation 2 launch plans from a million units to 500,000 because of component supply shortages.

Further shipment delays for Playstation 2 and possible shortages for the upcoming holiday season in the USA have been widely reported.

There is still no word from Sony Computer Entertainment NZ regarding the expected allocation of units for the NZ launch.

Quake II Builds in Cambridge
Posted by @ 8:48 a.m. NZDT

The graphics engine from Quake II has found yet another use, this time in creating buildings of the future. The popular first person shooter has been adapted into architecture software by Microsoft and the University of Cambridge.

The 3D graphics engine allows people to create a building and wander around inside to get a feel of what it would be like if it was really built. It also means customers who are asking for a building or room to be built or refurbished can see the finished product well before they have shelled out the money to pay for it.

The hilarious aspect of the software was that originally it was a direct port of the Quake II software, including all the weapons that players have used to frag each other over the years. Naturally all these weapons have been removed from the finished product, but even with the fun bits taken out the software still provides an extremely cost effective software package for architects.

Capcom Bring Worlds Together
Posted by @ 8:46 a.m. NZDT

Capcom are planning to publish videogame titles that can be played over the internet, no matter which console or gaming system you own. This will include Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Nintendo Gamecube, Microsoft Xbox and of course the PC.

With this move Capcom are intending to unite gamers from around the world with games they can all take part in, rather than the usual separation we get from all the consoles competing with each other. At the moment no actual titles have been announced to utilize this concept, but Capcom are looking to get things rolling as soon as possible.

Speedball is a fast-paced sport wherein teams of twelve muscle-bound gladiators attempt to throw a solid metal ball into their opponents' goal. Players select one of 16 Speedball teams and are charged with leading them to victory in a series of tournaments and leagues. Anything goes as players weave intricate passes together, use the walls to deflect long passes to the attacking line and attempt to slam the ball past heavily armoured goalkeepers. We are hoping that we will be able to bring you a review shortly.

Red Alert 2 Is Shipping
Posted by BS @ 12:51 p.m. NZDT

Westwood Studio's Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 has begun shipping to retail outlets throughout New Zealand today. The latest real-time strategy game in the Command & Conquer universe should start to appear in Auckland stores today, with widespread distribution expected over the weekend.

Wielding strange new technologies and hungering for revenge, the Soviet Army invades America. Overwhelmed Allied forces, unprepared for the surprise attack, are decimated. Will freedom be crushed under the heels of Communist aggression? Find out in our full review coming soon.

Midnight Club To Miss PS2 Launch?
Posted by BS @ 10:56 a.m. NZDT

Midnight Club: Street Racing is being heralded by many as the best of the early racing games on the PlayStation 2 and was expected to be a launch title. Well the bad news for PAL PlayStation 2 gamers is that Midnight Club is probably going to miss the launch. The latest Take 2 release sechedule has Midnight Club down for a release in January 2001.

Angel Studios Midnight Club brings to the PlayStation 2 the action of high speed driving and adventure through two major cities in the world. The concept behind this game derives from the real world 'Midnight Clubs', in which illegal races actually take place on urban streets. Along with the racing action, colorful characters give faces, personalities, and unique driving styles to your opponents.

Aftershock: Round 2 Progress
Posted by DAB 18 @ 9:46 a.m. NZDT

The first week of matches for Round Two has been completed. We've seen some interesting games and most teams are starting to show their colours. We are starting to see who's dominating and well... who isn't.

The weeks games ended with a couple of excellent games. X^ defeated M in a very close game and in a clash of apparent titans, D2D just came out on top of xD (Aust) in another great game.

The full results from this week are as follows:

M vs RD
MAP8: RD win 5 - 0
MAP3: RD win 5 - 2

e| vs X^
MAP8: e| win 5 - 3
MAP3: e| win 5 - 0

NME vs D2D
MAP8:D2D win 5 - 0
MAP3: D2D win 5 - 2

xD vs ABOM
MAP8: xD win 5 - 3
MAP3: xD win 5 - 2

NME vs RD
MAP4: RD win 5 - 2
MAP1: RD win 5 - 0

e| vs ABOM
MAP4: e| win 5 - 0
MAP1: e| win 5 - 1

M vs X^
Map4: M wins 5 - 4
Map1: X^ wins 5 - 4
Map2: X^ wins 5 - 3

D2D vs xD
Map4: D2D wins 5 - 4
Map1: xD wins 5 - 4
Map2: D2D wins 5 - 2

Here's how the standings are looking after two out of the seven round-robin games have been played:

e| (Aust) - 10 points
D2D (NZ) - 10 points
RD (NZ) - 10 points
xD (Aust) - 8 points
X^ (NZ) - 6 points
M (NZ) - 4 points
ABOM (Aust) - 2 points
NME (NZ) - 2 point

Its still early days and teams like ABOM and NME have both played two very tough matches and can't be discounted just yet. Remember the top four teams make the finals. All the teams will need to perform well if they are to stay in the race for a finals berth.

Next week sees some great match ups: On Monday evening RD meet xD (Aust) in what should be a great game. Tuesday sees D2D out to avenge their first round loss against e| (Aust). Wednesday sees the two current "bottom" teams clash in a game that is going to catapult one team right back into the running. Thursday sees RD taking on the currently undefeated e| (Aust) in what should be a great clash. D2D will be hoping that e| (Aust) have been defeated by the time Thursday comes around. Good luck to all.

Final Fantasy XI is still set to be an exclusive title for the PlayStation 2, and we'll let you know if this proves to be otherwise.

Half-Life v1.1.0.4 Patch
Posted by Egor @ 12:37 a.m. NZDT

Valve Software have released a patch for their top selling game Half-Life. The patch adds three new scenarios to Team Fortress, as well as an assortment of new features and bug fixes. Gamespy rates Half-Life as the most popular multiplayer first-person shooter game on the Internet.

The patch is available as an upgrade, which requires an existing installation of Half-Life at version 1.1.0.1, or as a full installation which will work with any previous version of Half-Life.

Visit the official Activision site for more details, and watch for a full Gameplanet review.

Sudden Strike May Grace Xbox
Posted by @ 9:37 a.m. NZDT

PC developers CDV have stated that if sales of the PC version of Sudden Strike are good enough, the excellent-looking real-time strategy game may be converted to Xbox and maybe even PlayStation 2.

As Sudden Strike is looking particularly awesome, sales should hopefully be very high. The game sees the player taking the part of the Russians, Germans or the Allies who will all be fighting for global supremacy. The game has been referred to in many flattering reviews as being the best of its genre.

An Xbox version can be expected if the game sells nicely for PC, but a PlayStation 2 version, while possible, has not been confirmed at this stage.

Check out Gameplanet's Sudden Strike preview for a glimpse at what the PC version will be like.

Gamecube Demo Hides Real-time Footage
Posted by @ 9:29 a.m. NZDT

Mix Core has recently spoken out on its Gamecube demonstration entitled, "Rebirth." It was originally thought that parts of the demo had been rendered in real-time and now Mix Core claims that not only is a part of the Rebirth demo running in real-time, but the entire cinematic sequence would have been made entirely in real-time if the team had more time to produce it.

IGNcube has both of the two Rebirth clips. The first simply shows the companies logo and the creation of the tree-man, while the second shows the tree-man walking about and interacting with other forest creatures. The real-time scene is hidden inside the second clip and starts at around the 0:22 mark.

Now for the bad news, Mix Core has also confirmed that this was only a demonstration and is not a game. The response towards this demo has been outstanding but because Mix Core is an effects and computer graphics house and not a software development team do not expect the Rebirth game anytime soon.

One thing this demo does show is the capabilites and even the standard of what we can expect from 1st generation Gamecube games.

The team at Electronic Arts New Zealand have also told us that Red Alert 2 is looking good for its New Zealand release this Friday. Gameplanet will have a full review up shortly.

Combat Flight Sim 2 Arrives
Posted by samoht @ 3:51 p.m. NZDT

Combat Flight Simulator 2, the sequel to Microsoft's award winning flight simulator has arrived in stores across the country.

The game is set in the Pacific during World War II and contains campaigns for both the American and Japanese forces. It also features a vastly improved visual engine and a number of new features.

Check out the official site for more information.

EA Xbox Development Rumours
Posted by samoht @ 11:43 a.m. NZDT

A number of rumours have been circulating online regarding Electronics Arts and their future plans for next-gen console development.

The producers of the Knockout Kings titles (Black Ops), have apparently been freely discussing an Xbox version of the previously mentioned boxing license. EA currently own the publishing rights to the Knockout Kings series.

So far none of the parties involved have made any official comment. Expect some form of announcement near the end of the week when the PlayStation 2 launches in the USA.

New Half-Life Update Coming
Posted by @ 10:47 a.m. NZDT

Valve Software will be releasing an extensive new update for Half-Life in the next few days, taking the FPS to version 1.1.0.4. A number of fixes for the team-based online game Team Fortress Classic will be included, as well as several new maps and server adjustments. Here's the lowdown (courtesy of Blue's News):

General Fixes:

• All map resources can be downloaded from the game server.
• Linux security issue resolved.
• Counter-Strike proxy cheat fixed.

Competition closes midnight Friday the 27th of October and is open to New Zealand residents only.

Combined with the original Baldur's Gate, which was released in late 1998, the franchise has now grossed over NZ $25m in total revenue. For more information on Baldur's Gate II, read Gameplanet's extensive review.

Recent Gold Announcements
Posted by @ 10:59 a.m. NZDT

It has been a golden week for PC gamers with numerous announcements of titles reaching gold master status. Here is a summary of the latest games to receive the golden touch, along with quotes from the press releases or websites :

No One Lives Forever (Fox Interactive)

"No One Lives Forever is a first-person action-adventure, which takes gamers through the distinct style and locales of the fabulous '60s in a captivating story of espionage. Taking on the role of Agent Cate Archer, a beautiful but deadly female operative working for an international anti-terrorist organization called UNITY, players are challenged to complete intense assignments in foreign locations throughout the world. Agent Archer must use her charm and espionage training to find a way to stop the outlaw megalomaniacs of the H.A.R.M. terrorist group. In this thrilling spy adventure, Agent Archer must ingeniously use her killer gadgets and weapons to navigate and survive."

Read the full Gameplanet preview for more information.

The Devil Inside (Talonsoft)

"The Devil Inside is a unique first/third person action shooter, placing you as the star of a live Hollywood television show investigating paranormal activities. A freeze frame panning camera allows you to experience every possible angle of the action. Hubert Chardot, author of the Alone in the Dark series, creates the foreboding backdrop for the evening's activities. The live television setting combined with the eerie atmosphere make for a suspenseful action thriller that is sure to keep players glued to their screens!"

Jetfighter IV: Fortress America (Talonsoft)

"JetFighter IV: Fortress America is a combat flight simulation that harnesses super-sleek hardware-accelerated graphics, the easiest flight control system available, and the thrill of piloting billion-dollar jet fighters, delivering a heart-pounding, fevered defense of American soil. Fly as the first line of defense above one of the best known cities in the USA! Downtown San Francisco and the 50,000 square miles surrounding it are meticulously recreated in jaw-dropping detail! Pilot vaunted American aircraft - such as the F-14 TomCat, the F-22 Raptor, and the F/A-18 Hornet, defending the U.S.A. against an insidious surprise attack. Choose your ordinance from a variety of payloads - from AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles and GBU 24 2000 lb Laser Guided Bombs to the electrically driven M61-A1Vulcan Cannon and more!"

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (Activision)

"With the most comprehensive roster of pro skaters, an intuitive control scheme, and enhanced skating physics, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 delivers the most authentic and cutting-edge skateboarding experience. With an increased number of tricks and combinations -- including new grabs, grinds, inverts and lip and nollie tricks -- players will be challenged to master new skills as they work their way up the skateboarding ranks."

Watch Gameplanet News for NZ release dates for these titles.

Munch's Oddysee For PS 2 Canned
Posted by samoht @ 9:46 a.m. NZDT

Oddworld Inhabitants and Microsoft announced yesterday that Munch's Oddysee will no longer be released on Playstation 2.It will instead be an exclusive Xbox launch title.

Lorne Lanning - of Oddworld Inhabitants - has been very vocal in declaring his frustrations with developing for Sony's latest console and highly complentary of Microsoft's new hardware. His justification for the switch was that the Xbox provided greater power to deliver their vision and that Microsoft were more eager to release "redefining titles on their system".

Aftershock: Round One Final Standings
Posted by DAB 18 @ 9:46 a.m. NZDT

Week three has just ended which also means the end of Round One. Half of the teams have now been eliminated and each team must now play two games a week in round-robin play. Round Two will begin early next week with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.

Congratulations to the eight teams that have made it to Round Two and Gameplanet would like to thank all the teams that competed. The games were played in a good spirit and we hope you all had fun.

The points standings after Week Three of Round One are:

Pool 1
E|(Aus) - 15 points
D2D(NZ) - 11 points
X^(NZ) - 9 points
H20(NZ) - 5 point

Pool 2
M(NZ) - 15 points
xD (Aus) - 10 points
TBR(Aus) - 9 points
WHC(Aus) - 4 point

Pool 3
RD(NZ) - 15 points
ABOM2(Aus) - 11 points
WIZ(NZ) - 7 points
LOA(Aus) - 2 point

Pool 4
NME(NZ) - 15 points
ABOM(Aus) - 9 points
~RD(Aus) - 7 points
ASY(NZ) - 7 point

The top two teams in each pool have advanced to the next round.

Note: "Abom2"(Aus) have withdrawn from the competition since they don't think they can manage two teams in Round Two. So the next two highest scoring teams are X^ and TBR(Aus) who both scored 9 points in Round One. These two teams will play off for the right to replace Abom2 in Round Two.

You can view next weeks draw on the Aftershock competition page.

Special thanks to our Aftershock sponsors for their support and competition prizes: D-Link, EA Sports and GameZone Online.

Gameplanet will have a full review of the Sidewinder Game Voice up shortly.

Xbox's Look Launched With PS2
Posted by @ 11:38 a.m. NZDT

It would appear that Microsoft are intending to unveil a finished version of the Xbox at the same time the PlayStation 2 is launched in America. This tactic resembles the same one Sony used when the Dreamcast was released (although that did nothing to stop extremely high initial DC sales admittedly).

According to insiders the Xbox will be modelled after a very sleek DVD-style player, but will still consist of a large green light and an enormous X located somewhere on it's frame. PlayStation 2 launch aside, it'll finally be nice to actually get a visual on Microsoft's console after so much speculation on how powerful it is.

Sega Still Strong In Europe
Posted by @ 11:34 a.m. NZDT

All of the first year sales targets of Sega Europe have apparently been reached, with an incredible 1 million Dreamcast console sold through all of Europe, and high sales of games such as Dead or Alive 2 and Virtua Tennis.

This makes the Dreamcast the most popular gaming machine in the PAL market at this time (there are still more PlayStations about, but Dreamcast sales have been much higher overall this year through software sales too). Though this success has not been mirrored in the New Zealand Dreamcast market, it at least shows the PAL DC scene shouldn't be disappearing anytime soon.

JF Cecillon, the CEO of Sega Europe, had this to say: "'These results pay credit to everyone who has helped make Dreamcast such a success. The ongoing support of the development community means gamers can look forward to some stunning new games over the next few months and beyond. Our timing is perfect, we have a stack of top quality games and new peripherals launching in the next two months. Sega are poised to take advantage of short supply by the competition". With games such as Half-Life, Metropolis Street Racer and Shenmue still on the way, the Dreamcast's immediate future still looks rather good.

Westwood Announce Dune Sequel
Posted by @ 10:44 a.m. NZDT

In a press conference in Las Vegas today, Westwood Studios have announced a third title set in the legendary science fiction world of Dune. In Emperor: Battle for Dune, Westwood are finally set to make the jump to a fully 3D real-time strategy engine.

As noted, Emperor: Battle for Dune is an RTS set in a 3D environment. The single-player section will include a totally non-linear approach known as the Planetary Campaign, which will comprise 33 distinct maps and allow the gamer to choose between three factions -- the evil Harkonnen, the traitorous Ordos and the noble Atreides. Within these major factions there will also be a number of sub-groups with which to ally, each with their own distinct advantages and disadvantages. Multiplayer options will be extensive, including support for Westwood Online, the company's own online service.

As in other Westwood titles, the game's story will be told through a sequence of high-quality cutscenes starring notable actors, including Michael Dorn (Star Trek:The Next Generation), Vincent Schiavelli (Ghost, Batman Returns) and Musetta Vander (The Cell, Wild Wild West).

"We wanted to take the fun and playability of a Westwood real-time strategy game and combine it with a robust 3D engine that delivers stunning graphics," said Chris Longpre, producer of Emperor. "To do that, we're revisiting the fascinating universe of Dune, which gives us a rich setting and an incredible story to tell."

Emperor: Battle for Dune is currently slated for release in 2001. Visit the official website for more details.

Features include new single and multiplayer modes with additional terrain and environments, and a third faction with unique playable units.

AMD Ships 1.2 GHz Athlon
Posted by @ 8:19 a.m. NZDT

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) announced today that their latest Athlon and Duron processors are heading to stores. The newest Athlon processor now clocks in at 1.2 GHz, while the budget-priced Duron range moves up to 800 MHz. These releases now see AMD moving ahead of competitor Intel, who were forced to recall their 1.13 GHz Pentium III in August because of technical problems.

David Somo, AMD's vice president of marketing, comments: "The AMD Athlon architecture has been enabling award-winning system performance for PC users since its introduction. AMD now extends its industry leadership position with the launch of the 1.2 GHz AMD Athlon processor, offering the fastest processor for the performance PC space, bar none. The 800 MHz AMD Duron processor likewise extends its peak performance in value PCs."

The 1.2 GHz Athlon is priced at approximately US$612 (NZ$1530), while the 800 MHz Duron will retail for US$170 (NZ$425).

Blair Witch Vol. 2 Goes Gold
Posted by @ 8:16 a.m. NZDT

Human Head Studios and the Gathering of Developers have announced in a press release today that the second title in their Blair Witch game trilogy has gone gold. Blair Witch Volume 2: The Legend of Coffin Rock is based upon the smash hit movie which terrified audiences last year. As with the other titles in the series, Volume 2 is a third-person action/adventure game using an enhanced version of Terminal Reality's Nocturne engine.

"Gameplay is divided between the present, of 1886, and a series of flashbacks to 1863, at the height of the Civil War. Taking on the role of Lazarus, players piece together clues of who he is, as well as the greater mystery of what is going on in the dark woods of the Black Hills. Using a variety of interactive flashbacks, Blair Witch Volume 2: The Legend of Coffin Rock interweaves sequences that take place in both the present and the past. The events of the game build upon themselves as the plot thickens in the woods of the infamous Blair Witch and culminates in the horrific exploits that occur at Coffin Rock, where the bodies of five townspeople were discovered eviscerated and bound together as if in some ritual."

Watch Gameplanet News for a NZ release date. The third and final release in the trilogy, subtitled The Elly Kedward Tale, is scheduled for December.

Quake 3: Arena is scheduled for an NTSC release on the 19th of this month, with the PAL release to follow sometime in November.

Team Fortress 1.5 League Underway
Posted by Fink @ 12:56 p.m. NZDT

The Team Fortress 1.5 League has kicked off with results going as most predicted. In round one each team plays two maps, "2fort" and "CZ2." Sunday night saw one of New Zealand's oldest clans [NBR] defeat new clan on the block [ALN]. The sportsmanship shown was excellent, with NBR offering to practice with ALN to prepare them for future matches in the tournament.

Monday night pitted one of New Zealand's top clans [DSX] against [HATE]. Although playing with one man down for the match, [DSX] were able to take both maps comfortably.

The first round has a few matches to play but already it's quickly becoming the focus point for the community. The competition is scheduled to be around 15 weeks long, and the NZ TFC community will be battling it out with some excellent "grudge matches" being thrown up each week. Stay tuned for more results as they come in.

Metal Gear Solid Arrives On PC
Posted by samoht @ 9:07 a.m. NZDT

Microsoft's port of the classic PlayStation title, Metal Gear Solid, began to arrive in stores across the country yesterday.

The PC version contains improvements to both graphics and gameplay as well including all the VR Missions that were sold as a seperate add-on for the PlayStation version. Gameplay improvements include the option to play from 1st person view through the entire game and being able to quick save at any stage.

Gameplanet will have a full review up shortly.

Heart of Winter is currently scheduled for a late 2000 or early 2001 release.

New Legends XBox Only?
Posted by samoht @ 10:26 a.m. NZDT

Despite receiving many accolades at E3, New Legends (developed by Infinite Machine) was without a publisher for some time. Recently THQ have stepped in and picked up the rights to publish the title. They have also announced that the title is now intended to be an Xbox exclusive.

Infinite Machine was founded by Justin Chin and Che-Yuan Wang, 2 ex-employees of Lucasarts who were key members of the Jedi Knight Team.

New Legends has been described as "a 3rd person action title with an Asian flavour". It has been designed using the Unreal engine. For more information, screens and concept art check out the official New Legends site.

Metropolis Street Racer Completed
Posted by @ 9:24 a.m. NZDT

An announcement has been released from Sega of America that Metropolis Street Racer for the Dreamcast has been completed. The title has been delayed a number of times in its development, but is a stunning racing game and well worth waiting for.

A Sega spokesman has commented: "It's a blinder; the depth of the game is huge. Anyone who's into cars can't fail to appreciate the aesthetic quality. Gamers who are familiar with London, for instance, will be able to find their way around Piccadilly. The same goes for Tokyo and San Francisco. People will get what they're expecting with this game."

Metropolis Street Racer promises to be one the best racing games released for Dreamcast, and could possibly turn more eyes than the ever-popular Gran Turismo. The game is expected to be released in PAL format late October, and NTSC format early November.

Tomb Raider for PS2
Posted by @ 9:20 a.m. NZDT

Core Design are intending to develop the next Tomb Raider game for PlayStation 2 in such a way as to allow episodes to be added via downloads from the internet as the story line develops. If that sounds kind of weird, here's an official comment from a Core Design spokeswoman on the new development:

"We have spent eight months designing and writing the Lara Croft book, which features several different characters, levels, stories and adventures. Players will buy the full original game from the shops and then we will offer new episodic instalments over the internet via PlayStation 2. The game will pan out much like a soap opera, with new characters, levels and situations being introduced at regular intervals. Tomb Raider Next-Gen will be an epic game."

The new Tomb Raider game for PlayStation 2 is yet to be given an official title.

Expect to see these titles in-store for the middle of this week.

Final Diablo 2 Figure Winner
Posted by samoht @ 9:01 a.m. NZDT

Last week we asked: Diablo is the Lord of Terror and Mephisto is the Lord of Hatred. What is Baal the Lord of?

The correct answer is: Destruction

Patrick Moniaga was our winner for this competition and his Diablo figure is now on its way to him. Congratulations to all three of the winners in our Diablo 2 figure competition.

Warcraft III is the third title in the highly successful Warcraft line of RTS games. In contrast to the first two games in the series, however, Warcraft III will feature a 3D environment and strong role-playing elements, which has lead Blizzard to describe the game as "Role-Playing Strategy". Five unique races will be included, all with their own special magical abilities and waepon types. Visit the official site for more details.

Links 2001 and Squad Leader Gold
Posted by @ 11:14 a.m. NZDT

Two more titles have passed to gold master status today -- Links LS 2001 from Microsoft and Squad Leader from Hasbro/Microprose.

Links LS 2001 is the latest version in a long line of golf simulations from developers Access Software. The Utah-based company signed a deal with software giants Microsoft in the past couple of years and Links LS 2001 is expected to be a major upgrade from last year's edition, which was also published under the Microsoft label.

Links 2001 will feature a long-awaited course designer to allow fans to create and upload their own courses to the Internet, as well as a totally new graphics and physics engine. Included in the package as player animations are international golfers Sergio Garcia, Annika Sorenstam and the legendary Arnold Palmer. For full details visit the official website, and watch Gameplanet News for a NZ release date.

Also gold today is the WWII squad-based strategy game Squad Leader from Microprose and Hasbro Interactive. Based on the Avalon Hill boardgames of the same name, this computer version uses a turn-based, isometric approach similar to the SSI release Soldiers at War. Multiple single-player campaigns are included based on historical events, such as the Battle of the Bulge and the Normandy Invasion. Look for a release at the end of October.

Quake III: v1.25y Beta Update
Posted by BS @ 9:30 a.m. NZDT

ID Software have released another beta update for their Quake 3 Arena 1.25 Point Release. Version 1.25y includes: New and revised commands and variables; Diagnostic tools (like the lagometer) that were broken in the original 1.25 release have all been restored; and tonnes of miscellaneous bug fixes.

The Movement Physics have been restored to the "feeling" found in 1.17 and earlier releases. The bug fix in v.1.25 relating to number rounding variations depending on operating system remains fixed.

If you do not wish to participate in the process of refining and debugging these additions to Quake III Arena, it is suggested you do not download this point release. The update is available from the Gameplanet Downloads section.

Eidos Remain Independent
Posted by @ 9:19 a.m. NZDT

British-based game Design Company Eidos will be remaining an independent entity after they have dropped discussions with prospect buyers. Apparently even French Company Infogrames, who were a favourite to buy the UK firm, have been turned down.

Based in Wimbledon, Eidos is well known for their Tomb Raider license, as well as a number of other games that have spawned using similar 3D technology. It has been noted for some time now that the company could be sold to any number of foreign competitors, but now it appears that they will be staying British for some time yet, which serves as a great relief to many gamers who live in the UK.

F1 Manager 2000 Ships
Posted by BS @ 9:11 a.m. NZDT

EA Sports new Formula One management game hit the stores on Thursday in what was a low key release. F1 Manager 2000 is officially endorsed and includes all the Teams, Drivers, Sponsors, Suppliers and Tracks from the full FIA Formula One World Championship.

Players get to design, manufacture and assemble the most advanced formula one machine on the grid. Compete against the likes of Ron Dennis and Eddie Jordan to secure key personnel, suppliers and sponsors.

The current standings and next weeks crucial draw have been posted on the Aftershock page. Good luck to all!

EA Sign Kevin Garnett
Posted by @ 11:47 a.m. NZDT

In more EA Sports news today, the company has signed a deal with Kevin Garnett, star of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the U.S. Olympic Basketball team, to appear in the upcoming basketball title NBA Live 2001.

Garnett, the current captain of the Timberwolves, scored 10.8 points per game in the recent Olympic finals and played a leading part in the U.S. team's gold medal winning performance. He was also named in the NBA First Team and the All-Defensive team in the last NBA season.

Garnett will appear in all NBA Live 2001 marketing and promotion material, and will also be featured on the game's packaging.

FIFA 2001 Goes Gold
Posted by @ 11:32 a.m. NZDT

EA Sports have confirmed today that this year's version in their FIFA soccer franchise has gone gold and been passed on for manufacturing and duplication.

FIFA 2001 will add a host of new features to the tried and true gameplay of past editions, including both graphics and gameplay improvements:

• Improved graphics with more realistic player animations and facial models.
• More dynamic stadium environments -- animated linesmen, enhanced crowd textures, new weather effects and ambient sounds.
• Gameplay changes, with smarter Goalie AI, defensive marking, as well as a variety of improvements in realism and authenticity.
• All of the latest players, teams, uniforms and stadiums from around the world.

PlayStation 2 Release Update
Posted by BS @ 9:13 a.m. NZDT

Squaresoft have delayed the Japanese release of their heavily-anticipated PlayStation 2 game The Bouncer until first quarter 2001. Squaresoft's ambitious PS2 action battle game combines a four-person fighting system with an adventure component. It promises to deliver a cinematic action experience like no other. NZ will almost certainly not see The Bouncer until spring 2001.

F1 World Grand Prix from Konami is not expected to be a PAL launch title as originally announced by SCEE. We can expect it to appear on NZ shelves around March 2001.

Disney's Dinosaur from Ubi Soft has also slipped, but only slightly. Expect to see Disney's Dinosaur in time for Christmas.

Interplay have issued a tentative release date in November in the U.S., but we are unsure of NZ release details at this time.

Duke Spots Possible Xbox Flaw
Posted by @ 10:23 a.m. NZDT

The Xbox is set to gain it's very own Duke Nukem title as 3D Realms are currently converting over Duke Nukem Forever to the Microsoft console. The PC version of the game will be release early next near.

The information of this new title in development came directly from Scott Miller of 3D Realms, who also expressed some concerns about the ease of porting PC games to Xbox.

"The fact that the Xbox and PC are kissing cousins means that a game made on one can generally be easily ported to the other." stated Miller, "It's hard for me to imagine any top developer making a hit Xbox game and not wanting to also make a PC version to capitalize on that already established and huge customer base. Thus, it's going to be very, very hard for Microsoft to get exclusive hit games on the Xbox, and that is the only way a console can become a leader, by having exclusive superhits."

Features include the ability to summon Gods from the Greek Pantheon to aid your building tasks, shorter scenarios which can be completed in under an hour, and the option of hosting the ancient Olympic Games! Visit the official site for details, and watch for a New Zealand release in late October.

Shenmue Sequel MIA
Posted by @ 9:57 a.m. NZDT

Sega's latest overseas release schedule has been notable for the conspicuous absence of the sequel to Shenmue. Although we haven't seen the English release of Shenmue either in PAL format or even as an NTSC import yet, the sequel has been well in the works since the original was released in Japan.

Now the title has vanished mysteriously from all release lists for Japan. As usual no official word from Sega has been received about any delays of the product. However, seeing as the developers are dragging their feet in order to get a perfect translation of the first game it can be assumed that the sequel may have been put back slightly to accommodate more development time (so no need to worry just yet!).

At this time Shenmue is scheduled for a PAL release in December.

US State Seeks Jet Set Radio Cancellation
Posted by @ 9:56 a.m. NZDT

The United States has been the scene for yet more controversy surrounding the popular skate boarding graffiti title Jet Set Radio. The problem has arisen due to the game's overall objective; to skate around a city and tag a number of walls, signs and property with graffiti.

Due to the irresponsible content within Jet Set Radio the occupants of Milwaukee have declared their wishes to have the game banned from the country. Believing that it promotes vandalism, which Milwaukee has a major problem with at the moment, the cities' Common Council has demanded that Sega cancel the US release completely. Although Sega have not officially commented in depth in the debacle, they do not look like they are going to comply with the request.

The PAL release is currently unaffected by these latest actions, and there has not yet been any similar requests from any other states or countries.

Rune, from Human Head Studios and Gathering of Developers, is a 3D action game using the Unreal Tournament engine. Played from a third-person perspective, gamers adopt the persona of Ragnar the Viking, a mighty Nordic warrior who must tackle the evil Sark Amen, the warrior-masters of the netherworld. Based on the myths of the Vikings, Rune will feature 25 unique levels, 15 weapon types and extensive multiplayer capabilities. The PC version is due for release at the end of October.

Sanity: Aiken's Artifact Released
Posted by @ 11:43 a.m. NZDT

Monolith Productions' third-person action/adventure title Sanity: Aiken's Artifact has been released in NZ today. Published by Fox Interactive and distributed by Electronic Arts NZ, Sanity is set in a future world of science-fiction and fantasy.

The game tells the story of Agent Cain, a powerful Psionic on a secret mission to save mankind from the consortium of rogue Psionics. As part of an experiment into a mysterious artifact excavated from the Middle East, Cain and his twin brother Abel are created with special Psionic powers granting them magical abilities. While Abel falls into a life of crime, Cain is a law-abiding citizen who must prevent the experiment's rogue psionics from terrorising the populace.

Download the demo of Sanity: Aiken's Artifact, or read Gameplanet's full preview.

Red Alert 2 is due for release in NZ on the 24th of October. In the meantime, read Gameplanet's extensive preview of the game.

Empire Building For EA
Posted by BS @ 11:05 a.m. NZDT

Electronic Arts and Empire Interactive have recently signed a new distribution agreement. The agreement grants EA the right to distribute select future PC and console titles from Empire in New Zealand.

This news will be welcome relief for New Zealand gamers as Empire Interactive has been without an official NZ supplier since previous local supplier, Lincoln Playcorp, went into receivership.

As a result of this deal, NZ can expect to see Speedball 2100, Cricket Captain 2000 and Sheep all being released on the Playstation format this year. On the PC we can expect to see Cricket Captain 2000 (finally), Rowans Battle of Britain and Sheep hitting NZ stores over the coming months.

"EA looks forward to distributing and marketing an exciting range of Empire products and licences in New Zealand." says Mike Wynands, General Manager of EA NZ.

Diablo 2 Competition Part 3
Posted by samoht @ 9:05 a.m. NZDT

Gameplanet and Total Interactive are proud to present the third installment in our Diablo 2 Figure competition. This week we are giving away the Lord of Terror himself, Diablo.

The question is as follows: Diablo is the Lord of Terror and Mephisto is the Lord of Hatred. What is Baal the Lord of?

If you know the answer then e-mail tmahoney@gameplanet.co.nz and you will go in the draw to win the Diablo figure.

Competition open to New Zealand residents only.

Competition closes midnight Friday the 13th of October.

Soldier Of Fortune Gold Patch
Posted by BS @ 9:03 a.m. NZDT

Ravensoft have released a patch for Soldier of Fortune. The patch upgrades the Soldier of Fortune retail game to the Gold Edition v1.06.

This new patch adds new single and multiplayer features with bug fixes, bots, skins, new maps and two new deathmatch modes. The patch includes 18 new multiplayer maps. 11 for Conquer and 7 for Control. Standard Deathmatch, Assassin, and Arsenal are also readily playable on all of the new maps.

The patch requires you to have the Full version of the Soldier of Fortune version 1.03, 1.04, or 1.05 game installed on your computer. Custom maps and saved games from version 1.06 (patched version) may not be compatible with a NON-patched version.

The patch can be downloaded locally from the Gameplanet Download section.

Gamecube Tops T3 Poll
Posted by @ 9:02 a.m. NZDT

T3 (a technology magazine) have recently released the results of a poll which asked the public which next generation game consoles people are most looking forward to. As the Dreamcast is already out it didn't factor into the survey, so it was down to the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Nintendo Gamecube.

The results were rather startling as the Gamecube came out on top, which isn't surprising considering the amount of good press it has received lately since it was unveiled. What wasn't expected was the sheer landslide victory for Nintendo's console in the poll. Here was the result:

Nintendo Gamecube 85%

PlayStation 2 7%

Microsoft Xbox 7%

Now if that's not an interesting result which would suggest that Nintendo isn't quite out of this whole console war just yet, then we don't know what is. Overall it's good news for game lovers though, with Nintendo still showing a heap of promise with the Gamecube our software collections can only get bigger and better.

The map pack weighs in at a modest 4.8 MB, and is available from Gameplanet Downloads.

Diablo 2 Competition Winner
Posted by samoht @ 10:45 a.m. NZDT

Last week we asked: In Act 2 of Diablo 2 your first quest is to destroy a horrid creature that hungers for human flesh. What is this creatures name?

The correct answer is: Radament

Alan Watson was our winner for this competition and his Diablo 2 Unraveller figure is now on its way to him. Stay tuned for part 3 of the competition on Monday when Gameplanet and Total Interactive will be giving away a figurine of Diablo himself.

Some form of compensation is expected, but details are yet to be confirmed.

Superbike 2001 Ships For PC
Posted by BS @ 3:59 p.m. NZDT

EA Sport's Superbike 2001 has today shipped to stores through out New Zealand. Superbike 2001 is the officially licensed game of the World Superbike Championship. The game features a full championship mode across all 13 tracks that make up the real Superbike World Championships -- all accurately modelled down to the last detail. Included in the game are world famous riders such as Carl Foggarty and our very own Aaron Slight.

Gameplanet will have a full in-depth review of Superbike 2001 shortly. In the meantime you can download the demo from Gameplanet Downloads.

New EA PlayStation Pricing
Posted by BS @ 12:15 p.m. NZDT

Electronic Arts(EA) have announced new price points on their upcoming PlayStation One (PSone) titles. PSone new release titles from EA will be released at either a $79.95 or $59.95 RRP price point.

"This initiative ensures that EA titles are priced according to market expectations in time for the launch of the new Sony PSone console... Rest assured that Electronic Arts will continue to develop strong products and licenses for the new PSone console." said Mike Wynands, General Manager of EA New Zealand.

Below is a summary of the new release price points on PSone titles due pre Xmas.

$79.95 RECOMMENDED RETAIL:
FIFA 2001; due October
Alien Resurrection; due November
James Bond - The World Is Not Enough; due November
Medal Of Honour - Underground; due November

$59.95 RECOMMENDED RETAIL:
Madden NFL 200;1 due October
NBA 2001; due October
NHL Hockey 2001; due October
Speedball 2100; due October
Knockout Kings 2001; due November
Tiger - USA Tour 2001; due November
Simpsons Wrestling; due November
Bond Racing; due December

Dreamcast Delays Confirmed
Posted by samoht @ 9:25 a.m. NZDT

Dreamcast gamers have started to get use to a rather uncertain future so it should come as no surprise that delays for three key titles have recently been announced.

The Dreamcast port of Half Life is now being slated to ship around December the 1st although there seems to be a degree of confusion regarding this date. Havas and Sega do not seem to agree on a particular date.

Metropolis Street Racer will also be delayed with the PAL version expected to arrive here around the 10th of November. It was previously expected to arrive around the 27th of October. Sega has blamed problems with packaging for the delay.

Finally the port of Quake 3 Arena has had its expected PAL release date shifted back a full month to the 10th of December.

Aftershock: Week One Results
Posted by DAB 18 @ 9:22 a.m. NZDT

The second half of the Aftershock week one matches were played last night. Unfortunately the match between RD and LOA had to be rescheduled, as some of the Australian players were experiencing high latency. The other three matches were completed as scheduled.

The results from last night were:

NME beat ASY, 2 - 0 (5-1 and 5-1)
ABOM2 beat WIZ, 2 - 0 (5-2 and 5-3)
ABOM beat ~RD, 2 - 0 ( 5-2 and 5-3)
RD vs. LOA - rescheduled.

The Aftershock Competition page has been updated with the current standings, and next week's draw.

The Round One: Week Two matches are scheduled to start on Monday, with a local must-win NZ derby between "D2D" and "H2O". Monday night will also see the two Pool 1 winners, "e|" (Aus.) and "X^" facing off in a match that should send the winner onto the next round. These will be two crunch games.

Special thanks to our Aftershock sponsors for their support: D-Link, EA Sports and GameZone Online.

New Detonator 3 Drivers
Posted by BS @ 9:21 a.m. NZDT

NVIDIA have released new Dentonator 3 drivers for their TNT, GeForce, and Quadro families of graphics processors.

"NVIDIA's Detonator 3 (D3) instantly increases the processing power of your NVIDIA-based graphics accelerators by up to 50%. You'll be amazed at how much faster and better your games, multimedia, and other 3D applications will run. In addition to significant performance increases, D3's feature set includes: improved DVD and HDTV playback, an advanced Digital Vibrance Control (DVC) user interface (for products that support DVC), a robust TwinView multimonitor feature set (for products with TwinView enabled), an easy-to-use anti-aliasing control user interface, and optimizations for Intel i815 and Pentium 4 processors and AMD Duron and Athlon processors. "

Check out the nVIDIA drivers page for the details.

The second half of this weeks matches are playing tonight. A quick special thanks to our Aftershock sponsors for their support: D-Link, EA Sports and GameZone Online.

Child Safe XBox?
Posted by @ 8:36 a.m. NZDT

Microsoft have decided to try and make their Xbox console child-friendly with an innovative feature that will allow parents to control what their youngsters will be able to do with it. The console's designers have built what they call the 'V-Chip', which they intend to install into the box next year just before launch.

The Senior Director of Sales for the Xbox, Alex Kotowitz, has stated that the console can be programmed to restrict certain content within games, so young children may have finally seen the last of swearing, gore, violence and blood in their videogames.

New PlayStation Titles Shipping
Posted by BS @ 8:35 a.m. NZDT

Sony Computer Entertainment have shipped two new PlayStation games to stores today.

The first title is the yearly version of Psygnosis's F1 game -- this year its Formula One 2000. With Formula One 2000 Psygnosis once again teams up with the talented codeshop Studio 33, the developers behind the 99-version of Formula One and the recent Destruction Derby Raw. Formula One 2000 is an official product of the 2000 FIA Formula One World Championship and features all of the 17 Grand Prix circuits and all the teams and drivers of the 2000 season. Expect to see it in stores by Friday.

Also shipping today is Cool Boarders 3 on the PlayStation Platinum label. Cool Boarders 3 boasts unparalleled 2 player action in both split-screen and full-screen link cable modes. Plus there is a range of new gameplay modes, with tracks being unveiled as rewards for surfing achievements from a brand new range of radical new stunts including: big air stiffies, fakies, melancholies and indy nose bones. Cool Boarders 3 should be in stores this week.

Midtown Madness 2 Now Available
Posted by samoht @ 8:33 a.m. NZDT

Midtown Madness 2 is now available in New Zealand.

Microsoft's sequel to its mad-cap racer offers all the features of the original plus two new locations, nine new vehicles and a new single-player "crash course" mission mode.

Screens and videos are available at the Midtown Madness 2 Web site.

When connected to the specially designed PS One LCD monitor that is planned to be available next year, it is possible to take the world of PlayStation entertainment; from room to room, house to house and out and about in a car (with the appropriate AC Adapter).

Aliens vs Predator Sequel Announced
Posted by Fink @ 9:33 a.m. NZDT

Fans of the original will be happy to hear Rebellion Software has started production on the the sequel to the fiendishly difficult Aliens vs Predator. Although news is rather scarce at the moment we can tell you some new elements that are being introduced.

The game takes place on a planet populated with aliens and med lab humans. After an outbreak the Aliens run amok and soon the Predators arrives to engage in a little "sport".

It's possible to play all races as before, with parallel stories and character interaction. A good number of new and destructive weapons have been added and players will be able to save in-game. The game will be developed using the LithTech Engine 2.x and is scheduled for a late 2001 release.

DOA2 Loses The Hardcore
Posted by BS @ 9:27 a.m. NZDT

Sony have announced that Dead or Alive 2 is losing the "Hardcore" tag from its name. The good news is -- DoA2 will still have all of the enhanced features that we were expecting -- it is only the name that has changed.

Many were surprised that the word "hardcore" was used with a game with such well "formed" ladies. Any confusion with top-shelf adult entertainment should now be avoided.

On a similar note, the eagerly-awaited Gran Turismo 2000 has been renamed to Gran Turismo 3. The "2000" tag would have made the game sound dated when it is released in 2001. The new name implies that the game is going to be a true sequel not a rehashed game for the PS2 launch.

Visit http://www.flanker2.com for more information.

Eidos Puts Hitman Rumours To Rest
Posted by Fink @ 12:43 p.m. NZDT

Last week rumours that the highly anticipated title from Eidos Interactive had been cancelled made their way around PC gaming circles. The source is believed to have been EB world.

Luckily for all of you would be assassins these rumours have turned out to be incorrect. A representative of Eidos has gone on record and stated that the game has definitely not been cancelled.

Hitman is promising to be one of the bigger titles of the summer so make sure you check out our upcoming preview.

Crimson Skies Available Now
Posted by samoht @ 12:31 p.m. NZDT

Microsoft's latest title Crimson Skies is now available in New Zealand.

Crimson Skies is described as an airborne action/adventure title that is set in an alternate history.The year is 1937 and the United States is fractured into squabbling nation-states, brought about by the weight of the Great Depression, regional prohibition and mounting isolationism. Giant Zeppelins crisscross the skies carrying both passengers and cargo, and airborne bandits are a constant threat.

For more information check out Gameplanet's preview or try out the Crimson Skies demo.

Euro PS2 Rollout Unaffected
Posted by BS @ 10:52 a.m. NZDT

Sony UK promises that the European PAL rollout won't be damaged by the supply problems in the USA.

Overnight, a Sony Computer Entertainment Europe spokesman promised that the UK would get its full allocation of 200,000 PlayStation2 (PS2) consoles. There may even be more as Sony is hinting that a promised second shipment might arrive in 2000, rather than January 2001.

The North American rollout of the PlayStation2 was recently halved from one million to 500,000 units, due to a shortage of high-tech components. Sony's share price took a dive Thursday amid concerns over PlayStation 2's availability.

"The European rollout is unaffected by problems in America," explained a Sony spokesman. "There will be a units available for each of the 200,000 people who pre-ordered a PlayStation2. There will certainly be more stock available soon after 24 November. This second shipment will certainly have arrived by early 2001, and there's a very slight chance of a delivery before Christmas,"

Sony Computer Entertainment NZ has not yet confirmed the number of PlayStation 2 consoles that will be shipping day one in the New Zealand market. However, based on the UK rollout numbers not being cut back, hopefully any PS2 shortage will be minimised. We continue to wait for the official word from SCENZ on the console numbers.

EA PS2 Release Schedule
Posted by BS @ 7:43 a.m. NZDT

Electronic Arts have updated their PlayStation 2 release schedule. For the PS2 launch here in New Zealand we can expect to see FIFA 2001, NHL 2001, SSX Snowboarding, Madden 2001 and X-Squad. But the good news doesn't stop there -- due within a week after the PS2's launch are Kessen and Theme Park World, and F1 Championship is due mid-December.

EA also have several strong titles lined up for the first quarter of next year. NBA 2001 and Tiger 2001 are due in Janaury, Knockout Kings is due in February and Quake 3, Undying and The World Is Not Enough are due in March.

Naturally enough -- all release dates are subject to change.

Project Flashpoint is set during the Cold War of the mid 1980s. Gamers adopt the alter-ego of Ian Gastovski, a former Soviet soldier who has defected to the West, and is now set to return as a special agent on combat and espionage duties. The game will feature real-life military weaponry, including usable equipment such as helicopters, armoured and civilian vehicles, as well as the ability to control squads of soldiers in large 3D environments.

Diablo 2 Competition Part 2
Posted by samoht @ 10:58 a.m. NZDT

Gameplanet and Total Interactive are proud to present the second installment in our Diablo 2 Figure competition. This week we are giving away the Unraveller figure.

The question is as follows: In Act 2 of Diablo 2 your first quest is to destroy a horrid creature that hungers for human flesh. What is this creatures name?

If you know the answer then e-mail tmahoney@gameplanet.co.nz and you will go in the draw to win the Unraveller figure.

Competition open to New Zealand residents only.