Don't get too excited at the moment, however. Star Wars Galaxies isn't expected to go into testing until late 2001.

EQ: The Scars of Velious Finished
Posted by @ 4:46 p.m. NZDT

The second expansion to Verant Interactive's immensely popular online game Everquest has gone gold. The Scars of Velious adds a new continent to the already extensive gameworld, and is designed for experienced EQ gamers with high-level characters.

From the Gameplanet preview:

"Everquest is nearly a year and a half old and shows no signs of waning in popularity. A second expansion, Everquest: Scars of Velious .. is aimed squarely at existing players. The expansion introduces an entirely new continent for the world of Norrath called Velious. The official site contains a detailed history of the origins of Velious. The new continent is situated south of Antonica and is a frozen land made up of 16 new adventure zones. Some of the places that those brave enough to explore Velious will discover include an ancient dragon citadel, a frost giant stronghold, as well as new ethereal plain area."

Read the full preview for more information, or visit the official Everquest website. Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm any release details at this stage, but we'll keep you posted.

B-17 Flying Fortress Lands in NZ
Posted by @ 4:46 p.m. NZDT

Gameplanet has learned that Hasbro's shipment of the WWII bomber sim B-17 Flying Fortress has arrived in the country. This should mean that the game will appear on store shelves by the end of this week, or early next week at the latest. Watch Gameplanet News for confirmation.

B-17 Flying Fortress puts gamers in the heart of the most famous American bomber of WWII. The single-player campaign takes place over the skies of the Third Reich, as the Allies attempt to pound the Nazi war machine into submission. Multiple stations in the plane are modeled, allowing the player to switch between various roles, such as pilot, bombadier, navigator, or gunner.

For more information and screens, or to download the opening video sequence, visit the official website.

Battle of Britain Demo
Posted by Borris @ 2:30 p.m. NZDT

Empire Interactive have today released a demo of Rowan Software's absolutely fabulous looking WW-II flight combat simulator -- Battle of Britain. The demo is around 43MB in size and is available for local download now. Expect Rowan's Battle of Britain to hit New Zealand shelves around the 13th of December.

Get the chance to fly in the Spitfire, or Ju87 Stuka dive bomber and more, flying in simulations of Luftwaffe's 1,000 air-raids. Fly for the RAF or Luftwaffe as either a pilot or commander in a game that recreates some of the most decisive air battles of the Second World War, including over 800 miles of airspace.

NOLF to PlayStation 2
Posted by Borris @ 2:03 p.m. NZDT

Fox Interactive have confirmed that No One Lives Forever (NOLF) will make an apperance on the PlayStation 2 console sometime during 2001. The PS2 version will be a complete and direct port of the PC version released in New Zealand on the 24th.

"No One Lives Forever is a story-driven, first person adventure delivering over-the-top action, tense subterfuge, outrageous villians and wry humour in the tradition of 1960s spy-films and TV shows.

Combining a submersive storyline, next generation technology and intense action, an exciting espionage adventure, set in the rich,colourful world of the 1960s is created."

You can pick up the full NOLF PC technology demo from Gameplanet downloads, or a smaller demo with reduced content for quicker downloads.

Retailers Report Rapid PS2 Sales
Posted by samoht @ 2:02 p.m. NZDT

Retailers across the country have reported that the PlayStation 2 is flying off shelves as expected. Many stores opened for a midnight launch with the GameZone PlayStation 2 Release Party being covered by both the NZ Herald and TV 3 news.

Gary Wright, store manager for GameZone, described the sales as "beyond expectations". He also went on to state that while demand was high, machines were still available.

Stay tuned as Gameplanet brings you more coverage of what is undoubtedly the biggest and most succesful gaming hardware launch in New Zealand's history.

Summoner PS2 Delay
Posted by BS @ 10:26 a.m. NZDT

The word coming through the grapevine is that the NZ release date for Summoner on PS2 PAL format has slipped. The latest official word points to a January 2001 NZ release, although rumours suggest February may be more realistic.

The official Summoner Web site describes the game as:

"A role-playing fantasy epic for PC from Volition, creators of the award-winning Descent series, Summoner evokes a rich, complex universe with unique characters, spells, and monsters. The legend of the Summoner unfolds in a journey to the lost empire of Ikaemos, the island monastery of Iona, and the forest labyrinth of Liangshan, while questing for the Summoners' rings."

We will keep you posted on Summoners progress.

Giants is expected to make an appearance on New Zealand store shelves around the middle of December.

PlayStation 2 Launch Tonight
Posted by samoht @ 12:46 p.m. NZDT

After months of waiting, New Zealand gamers will finally have the chance to get their hands on the PlayStation 2, perhaps the most eagerly awaited piece of gaming hardware in the history of humankind. The console goes on sale at stores throughout the country on the stroke of midnight tonight.

The Gameplanet team will be covering the countdown to the launch at the GameZone PS2 Release Party in Auckland tonight.

For more information visit the Eidos website, or download the 46MB demo from the local Gameplanet server.

Read our preview or visit the official Microsoft site for more details.

Front Line Force Site Up
Posted by samoht @ 1:41 p.m. NZDT

The Front Line Force New Zealand site is now up and available for business. Along with being THE place to go for local info and discussion on this most enjoyable Half Life mod it is also the newest addition to the Gameplanet Network.

Those of you who have yet to experience the joys of Front Line Force should head to the official site for your education session.

Ultima Online Week Two Winners
Posted by samoht @ 11:55 a.m. NZDT

Last week we asked 5 questions regarding Ultima Online in our giveaway and today ... we have our winners.

Congratulations to: Wertbag, R Pentney, D Robinson, M Lepper, P Davies, Mango, Carl Cutler, Robert Gatward, Billy Love, and T Wilson.Your copies of Ultima Online should be with you very soon.

Stay tuned for the final week of our competition and the opportunity to win an Ultima t-shirt signed by Lord British himself!

Stay tuned for Gameplanet's coverage of the impending PS2 NZ launch.

Aftershock Is Over
Posted by DAB 18 @ 3:36 p.m. NZDT

The Grand Final of the Aftershock competition was played yesterday evening with D2D coming out victorious defeating xD in a very close final. The score was as follows:

MAP3: D2D wins 5 - 3
MAP1: xD wins 5 - 3
MAP8: D2D wins 5 - 4
MAP7: D2D wins 5 - 3

1st - D2D
2nd - xD
3rd - RD
4th - ABOM

This competition has run for the past 2 months with lots of exciting matches and lots of enjoyment for everyone involved. I have enjoyed running the comp for everyone and I hope you've all enjoyed it too. Thanks to all the teams that have participated in the games, it couldn't have gone as well without your patience and support. Thanks.

(Editors note: Big round of applause for Dab please)

Sonic's 10-game Anniversary
Posted by @ 3:31 p.m. NZDT

Sonic the Hedgehog fans could be in for a treat next year as Sega's popular blue mascot reaches his ten game anniversary. Sonic fans are currently anticipating the delicious looking Sonic Adventure 2 and a new game called Sonic Shuffle which has recently appeared on release schedules for 2001.

That's not all however as Sonic Team's anniversary could prompt the release of a special compilation of classic gaming moments. Given the huge storage capacity of the Dreamcast's GD-ROM format it is possible to imagine an entire 16-bit back catalogue of Sonic games appearing on 1 disc (although we're probably likely to see something more along the lines of the Midway classic series with certain games split into different volumes).

No One Lives Forever Released
Posted by @ 11:33 a.m. NZDT

No One Lives Forever, an FPS set in the world of '60s spy stories, has made a covert entry into NZ stores today. Published by Fox Interactive and created by Monolith, NOLF uses the new LithTech 2.5 engine to bring to life the world of the '60s with retro environments and characters.

Gamers take on the persona of Cate Archer, an ambitious British spy agent who is keen to make her mark in the international spy organisation UNITY.

From the Gameplanet preview:

"No One Lives Forever is an FPS with mojo. Think Austin Powers and you're pretty close to summing up this promising new title from Monolith/Fox Interactive. You play the role of Cate Archer, a super spy working for UNITY, an international agency charged with combating terrorism around the globe.

UNITY doesn't usually recruit women for its more dangerous missions, but Ms Archer soon becomes entangled in a web of deceit involving an assassin hired by the evil corporation HARM. It seems there is a UNITY agent giving out information about other members, so it's up to Ms. Archer to get to the bottom of the conspiracy".

Check out the official website or the full Gameplanet preview for more info. A demo is also available (small or large versions).

Sacrifice Demo Available
Posted by samoht @ 9:45 a.m. NZDT

Sacrifice is likely to be a bit of sleeper hit as people slowly become aware of its (admittedly rather strange) charms. If you haven't heard anything about Sacrifice or have and are unsure of whether it is your cup of tea Shiny have kindly released a demo for you.

The demo features three tutorial levels and three single player game levels. You can grab it now from Gameplanet Downloads. We also have a preview up for those seeking more information. Stay tuned for the full review.

Ultima Competition Week Two Day Five
Posted by samoht @ 9:36 a.m. NZDT

Well the second week of our Ultima competition has come to a close. We still have two copies of Ultima Online to give away though. Thanks again to Electronic Arts New Zealand for providing us with the prizes.

Todays question is: Cove is a tiny settlement located between two larger towns. What are these two towns?

Send your response to tmahoney@gameplanet.co.nz with Ultima Competition in the subject field and the question and your answer to it in the body of the email. The competition is open to New Zealand residents only and answers to this weeks questions must be received by midnight on Sunday the 26th of November.

Quake 3 Team Arena Demo Available
Posted by samoht @ 9:19 a.m. NZDT

As download servers take a pounding all over the globe why not take advantage of a fast local download from Gameplanet. The Quake 3 Team Arena Demo is now available at Gameplanet Downloads.

The Gameplanet staff are too busy giving it a decent play test to provide much detail at the moment so here is the official blurb: "While the focus of gameplay in Q3A was deathmatch and the individual player, the focus of this mission pack is team play. Players will select from five different teams, each with their own pre-designed logo and skin. Q3A Mission Pack also features twelve new arenas (8 team and four tourney arenas), several new game types, and a revolutionary AI that simulates live opponent play characteristics."

Send your response to tmahoney@gameplanet.co.nz with Ultima Competition in the subject field and the question and your answer to it in the body of the email. The competition is open to New Zealand residents only and answers to this weeks questions must be received by midnight on Sunday the 26th of November.

Sacrifice in Stores
Posted by @ 11:46 a.m. NZDT

Interplay and Shiny Entertainment's real-time strategy game Sacrifice has been released to NZ stores today. Using an updated version of the Messiah graphics engine, Sacrifice mixes RPG elements into a 3D environment and real-time strategy gameplay.

From the Gameplanet preview by Editor Thomas Mahoney:

"Sacrifice is a combination of real-time strategy and action similar to the idea that was pioneered in Activision's Battlezone. You take on the role of a powerful magic user who can summon and control strange beasts and wreak havoc with destructive spells. However this power comes at a cost. To tap into it you need the favour of one of the five gods featured in the game and a heap of souls. Souls are one of the two resources that feature in the game (the other being mana) and can be obtained by sacrificing your opponents creatures at your chosen god's altar.

While some elements of resource management do feature in the game, Sacrifce leans very heavily towards the action side of things. In play, the view is locked to a third person perspective of your central character as he or she traverses the battlefield summoning fiendish creatures and hurling magic. Your army of summoned beasts provides the main component of your offensive weaponry, but Shiny have designed Sacrifice with the goal of keeping the central character in the thick of the battle. An intuitive interface allows you to control your forces easily -- but keeping close to them to provide more appropriate orders and back them up with your magical arsenal is the key to success. Sacrifice also has some RPG elements to further spice up its genre blend. As your character gains success in combat, more powerful spells and creatures become available."

For more info, check out the full preview or the official website.

Visit the official site for more details.

Cinemaware Announce Robin Hood
Posted by @ 11:56 a.m. NZDT

'80s game developer Cinemaware, who recently re-opened their studios in California, are set to head back into the development fray with a sequel to one of their all time classics. Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown is a follow-up to the original Defender of the Crown title which was first released for the Commodore Amiga in 1986. It sold over a million units worldwide.

"Through a fresh and compelling blend of strategy and high-action, Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown puts players in the boots of the legendary Robin Hood. As Robin, players must use strategy, cunning, and quick reflexes to defeat Prince John, rescue King Richard, and reunite England.

Together with the help of Little John, Friar Tuck, Maid Marian and the band of merry men, Robin Hood must use his mastery of archery, swordsmanship, jousting, and siege warfare to lead the people of England to victory".

This description from the Cinemaware site seems to be very similar to the basis of the original release of the '80s, and it seems that this updated version will be very much in the same style. This means a turn-based strategy core with real-time combat, not unlike the recent Shogun from EA.

Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown is in development for the PC, Xbox and PS2, and is currently scheduled to ship in Autumn 2002.

Ultima Online Competition Week Two Day Three
Posted by samoht @ 11:48 a.m. NZDT

What better way could their be to pick up the middle of your week than trying your luck in our Ultima Online competition. We have another two copies to give away today thanks to Electronic Arts New Zealand.

Today's quiz question is: Where do the bones used to make bone armour come from?

Send your response to tmahoney@gameplanet.co.nz with Ultima Competition in the subject field and the question and your answer to it in the body of the email. The competition is open to New Zealand residents only and answers to this weeks questions must be received by midnight on Sunday the 26th of November.

Obi-Wan Cancelled For PC
Posted by samoht @ 11:20 a.m. NZDT

Very disappointing news today as Lucasarts have announced that they have decided to cancel the release of Obi-Wan on PC. The game has been in development for nearly two years and its cancellation is sure to be a blow to fans of Dark Forces and Jedi Knight.

The official announcement reads as follows:

"Following an extensive review of the project and a great deal of deliberation, LucasArts Entertainment Company has ceased development of Star Wars: Obi-Wan for the PC. The expected breadth and scope of the Obi-Wan project could not be met given limitations of technology and the company's recently heightened quality standards. LucasArts is now planning to bring the game and its assets to a next-generation console platform. Further announcements will be made in this regard next year.

LucasArts remains fully committed to developing games for the PC platform, as evidenced by its current development alliances with Verant Interactive, BioWare Corporation, and other soon to be announced projects. We wish to thank our fans for their continued support through this process and assure them that our number one goal is to provide them with high quality, fun games."

Lucasarts have stated that the game will potentially be released on a "next-gen" console but have yet to specify which one.

Microsoft Look To Take Over The World
Posted by @ 11:19 a.m. NZDT

Microsoft are looking to break all records when it comes to the launch of the Xbox next year. Microsoft are taking a different approach to selling and marketing the Xbox, learning from Sony's mistakes. Apparently, Microsoft are asking retail chains that best possible way that they can sell the Xbox, a far cry from the allocation system that Sony have implemented. Microsoft also incredibly asked the retail chain how many units they could take.

The rumoured number of units being produced by Microsoft has ranged between five times and fifty times as many as Sony had. In a further move, which is being seen by some in the industry as arrogant, Microsoft are asking for twice as much floor-space as Sony at next year's E3 exhibition.

D2D's win moves them into the Grand Final to face their nemesis -- xD(Aust). The Grand Final is scheduled to be played this Thursday (23rd of November). Keep an eye on the Aftershock Forum for comments and good luck to both teams. It will be a hard fought encounter...

Ultima Online Competition Week Two Day Two
Posted by samoht @ 11:49 a.m. NZDT

Once again we are giving away another two copies of Ultima Online: Discovery Edition if you can answer today's quiz question. Thanks Electronic Arts New Zealand!

Todays question is: Where will Air Elementals seek refuge if left to their own devices?

Send your response to tmahoney@gameplanet.co.nz with Ultima Competition in the subject field and the question and your answer to it in the body of the email. The competition is open to New Zealand residents only and answers to this weeks questions must be received by midnight on Sunday the 26th of November.

Star Trek Deep Space Nine: The Fallen Goes Gold
Posted by Fink @ 11:37 a.m. NZDT

Using the Unreal Tournament engine you take control of various characters from the hit T.V show, solving puzzles, fighting alien races and discovering new technologies. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine The Fallen is sure to be a hit with Trekkies and action fans alike and should be heading for New Zealand shores within a few weeks.

Check out the Official Site

Sega Denies DVD Rumours
Posted by @ 11:18 a.m. NZDT

Sega are denying rumours that they are developing a Dreamcast with a DVD facility. They have pounced on these rumours that a new Dreamcast is to be created with a DVD player to rival the PlayStation 2. The company said that such a move would be only 'a Japan thing' if it ever happened, but nothing is in the works at the moment.

Sega are enjoying healthy sales of the Dreamcast at the moment in overseas, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom.

3dfx Cease Manufacturing Own Chips
Posted by @ 11:10 a.m. NZDT

3dfx have decided to close down their card manufacturing plant in Mexico and concentrate on supplying chips to third-party manufacturers. The graphics card specialists had decided to start manufacturing their own 3D cards a few months back, but it seems that the company have made a U-turn and gone back to supplying third-party companies with chips to distribute separately.

The decision is due to a large drop in revenue, but 3dfx have announced that they plan to branch out and begin manufacturing chips for such systems as mobile phones, consoles and set-top boxes.

Send your response to tmahoney@gameplanet.co.nz with Ultima Competition in the subject field and the question and your answer to it in the body of the email. The competition is open to New Zealand residents only and answers to this weeks questions must be received by midnight on Sunday the 26th of November.

Alice Is Gold
Posted by samoht @ 11:35 a.m. NZDT

Jim Molinets of Rogue Entertainment has updated .plan with the news that American McGee's Alice has gone gold. Heres what the man had to say

"Gold! Well I've got some good news and some bad news. Good news is that we have someone that we'd like you to meet. A teenage girl who doesn't back away from trouble, shoulders a bit of an attitude and is definitely not one to hide in the shadows. Her name is Alice and you will be able to meet her on December 5th.

The bad news is: The game is gold. It's been a long road getting here and it's very unusual to let something this near and dear to go, but it was time. You have all been extremely patient and supportive and we cannot thank you all enough for the support and excitement that has been communicated to us. We hope that you enjoy the game as much as we have making it and that Alice finds her way through the twisted passages of Wonderland with your help!"

Alice is expected to be available in New Zealand very close to its US release (on or around December 5th). Check out the EA Games Alice site for more information.

Ultima Competition Week One Winners
Posted by samoht @ 10:29 a.m. NZDT

Last week we had ten copies of Ultima:Online to give away if you could answer our quiz questions. The winners are:

Aaron Brown, Graham Jones, John Smith, Danny, Phillip Warren, Robbie Haines, Segeta, Thomas Colle, Sam Dowsett, Eric Clough.

Congratulations people. Your copies of Ultima:Online will be with you soon.

DSX Edges Out LAH In Close Match
Posted by Fink @ 10:15 a.m. NZDT

DSX defeated LAH by 2 maps to nil in a nail biting matchup. Well proved to be one of the better games seen in a long while. DSX took an early lead with LAH trading caps until 3/4 of the way through the scores were tied 20-20. DSX managed another cap and looked safe to take the win, however in the last 2 minutes LAH dropped the flag to the bridge. Some tough DSX defence made it hard for them to tie the match with the screenshot below showing how close LAH were to tying up the match. Very good game! A big welcome to DSX's new recruit Shrimp, it was her first TFC clan match and what a way to start!

Well 30 - 20 DSX

Openfire was close also with scores even throughout. DSX managed to pull away and stopped a late LAH rally. DSX now hold a good lead at the top of the table but with games in hand BBQ and NZP are close behind. This makes the BBQ vs NZP matchup that more important. LAH's loss is good news for NBR or SHOCK, who can move up to 3rd spot with a 2-0 win tonight.

Openfire 50 - 20 DSX

Sacrifice Today
Posted by samoht @ 9:16 a.m. NZDT

We have just been contacted by the local supplier for Shiny Entertainment and he has come forth with the great news that the eagerly anticipated (understatement) Sacrifice should be arriving on New Zealand store shelves this afternoon.

Sacrifice was voted best PC game at ECTS 2000 and puts a bizarre new spin on the RTS genre. For more information check out the Gameplanet Preview or the official site.

Jeff Smith, director of public relations for G.O.D has stated emphatically that they have no current plans for releasing an Xbox version of Oni.

Aftershock: Semi-Final Update
Posted by samoht @ 2:11 p.m. NZDT

On Thursday night RD(NZ) went up against ABOM(Aust) in an elimination game to see who has a chance to make the final. Unfortunately, half way through the game the Australian team's pings reached a level that effectively made the match unplayable. The rest of the game will be played on Sunday night at 9PM NZ time and will pick up from where it was left off. RD have won 2 maps and ABOM have zip.

The 3rd semi will be played stright after that game at 10PM NZ time where D2D will play the winner of this game to see who makes the final. Check out the forum for more information.

Half Life Heads To PS 2
Posted by samoht @ 12:22 p.m. NZDT

Sierra and Havas have stated that Half Life will be making its way to the PlayStation 2.

The critically accaimed FPS will be released with a number of updates according to its publishers. Gearbox Studios (who worked on the Opposing Force expansion and Dreamcast version of Half Life) will be taking responsibility for the port.

The PS 2 version will supposedly be the most advanced version of Half Life available and will include new gameplay options, new characters, new levels and weapons, and improved graphics.

The game is scheduled to ship in the second quarter of next year.

Devil May Cry Movie Available
Posted by samoht @ 11:28 a.m. NZDT

Capcom announced yesterday that they would be releasing a new action/horror game called Devil May Cry.

A trailer was released which displays what seems to be some very stunning gameplay elements. The trailer is now available at Gameplanet Downloads.

Devil May Cry is scheduled for release in New Zealand around the end of next year.

Gunman Chronicles Goes Gold
Posted by @ 11:25 a.m. NZDT

Rewolf Software and Sierra have announced that the stand-alone Half-Life conversion Gunman Chronicles has gone gold.

Based upon the Half-Life engine, but playable as a stand-alone product (does not require Half-Life), Gunman Chronicles is set in a world fused with science fiction and Wild West elements. The single-player game takes place amidst ancient ruins and dinosaur infested areas, as well as jungles and wastelands. Numerous original weapons are available, as well as usable vehicles and AI characters.

"Trouble is brewing in this sleepy western spiral of the galaxy. It's been five years since the infestation of the alien Xenomes started - five years since The General, leader of the Gunmen, fell in battle leaving you to take command. Now, a mysterious presence has tinkered with the DNA of these Xenomes, making them bigger and stronger than before, and the scourge is spreading once again. As leader of the Gunman, the only law in this area of the galaxy, you must set things right. Find the source of this hostile invasion, and clear these alien scum from the rim or the galaxy!"

Check out the official website, and watch Gameplanet News for NZ release information.

Devil May Cry was originally intended to be a spin-off from the Resident Evil series but has taken on a life of its own. Daily Radar reports that the game "...centers on the investigation of supernatural sites and creatures, including cases of poltergeist and demon possession. The goal is to avenge a wrong committed 2000 years ago."

GOD Announce Stronghold
Posted by @ 11:21 a.m. NZDT

The Gathering of Developers have announced in a press release today a new real-time strategy title set in medieval Europe. Designed by FireFly Studios for the PC platform, Stronghold will combine city-building and resource management with a real-time combat system. Gamers will be able to build and fortify their own castles and territories and protect them from rival invasion, or attempt to conquer new lands and expand their Kingdom.

"Only the expert minds of Simon Bradbury, Eric Ouellette and David Lester could design an ingenious and original title like Stronghold," said Mike Wilson, CEO of Gathering of Developers. "This game allows players to reach back in time to recreate and experience medieval life."

Stronghold will deature over 30 types of walls, towers and siege equipment, 50 different buildings and numerous types of military units. "The game's simulation element offers players the opportunity to design and run a castle and fortress complete with lords, court jesters, village peasants and town drunkards. Decisions, such as the types of materials produced by various tradesmen throughout the village, and the class of army troops that will be trained and assembled, are all determined by how players build their castles."

Over 20 single-player missions will be included, along with extensive multiplayer capacities, in which gamers will be able to compete with each other, or form alliances against rivals.

"We are very pleased to have Gathering of Developers as Stronghold's publisher," said Simon Bradbury, lead programmer and co-founder of FireFly Studios. "Just as Stronghold goes beyond a typical sim game by adding real-time strategy elements into the mix, Gathering of Developers goes beyond the traditional role of publisher with its commitment to and support for the independent developer."

For the full scop on this interesting looking game, read the entire press release. Stronghold will be developed by FireFly Studios, and published and distributed by the Gathering of Developers and Take Two Interactive.

Correction: Retail Counter-Strike
Posted by @ 11:02 a.m. NZDT

In a news item reported yesterday (Thursday, 16th November), Gameplanet reported that the retail version of the Half-Life mod Counter-Strike had been delayed until next year. This information came to us directly from Havas NZ, who have now corrected their earlier statement with the news that the pack will indeed reach stores next week.

Gameplanet apologises for any confusion regarding the Counter-Strike expansion. Watch our news section for a confirmation of the NZ release.

Ultima Online Competition Week One Day 5
Posted by samoht @ 9:08 a.m. NZDT

Its the end of the week and we have another two copies of Ultima Online to give away thanks to the team at Electronic Arts New Zealand. Thats if you can answer today's question of course.

It is: What does the skill Spirit Speak allow you to do?

If your struggling to find the answer a good place to start looking is the Ultima Online site.

Send your answer to tmahoney@gameplanet.co.nz with Ultima Competition in the subject field. The competition is open to New Zealand residents only and answers to this weeks questions must be received by midnight on Sunday the 19th of November.

For the full scoop check out Gameplanet's own preview, or download the demo from our local servers.

Retail Counter-Strike Delayed
Posted by @ 11:36 a.m. NZDT

The retail version of the hit Half-Life mod Counter-Strike has been delayed and will now hit NZ stores in January 2001. This announcement comes direct from the local Havas distributors, and unfortunately no explanation for the disappointing delay has been given.

The retail version of Counter-Strike updates the popular online game to version 1.0, bringing it out of an extensive beta phase. For those of you who already own Half-Life and have a good Internet connection, the good news is that version 1.0 is also available as a free download. Visit the fast Gameplanet Downloads section to grab the 80MB full install, or check the updates to upgrade from an earlier version.

As always, watch Gameplanet News for any further announcements from Havas regarding the retail Counter-Strike pack.

UPDATE: It now appears that the Counter-Strike pack will reach NZ stores next week (20 - 25 November). Please see the following news item.

Gold Announcements
Posted by @ 11:16 a.m. NZDT

They keep coming thick and fast ... three more titles have been announced as gold today. Read on for details and links to the official sites.

MechWarrior 4 (Microsoft)

The fourth title in this superb series of giant mechanised combat is to be published by Microsoft, who obtained the rights after the third title was released under the Microprose label.

"Developed by the creators of the BattleTech Universe and original MechWarrior game, MechWarrior 4: Vengeance portrays the players' epic struggles to reclaim their birthright as they command an awesomely armed, 40-foot tall, 80-ton, 90 mile-per-hour war machine across the remote battlefields of a hostile world.

Packed with intense action, MechWarrior 4: Vengeance places you in command of a legion of BattleMechs in a heroic struggle to liberate an oppressed planet. If you survive, you will have saved the planet. If you die, you die a hero."

Tomb Raider Chronicles (Eidos)

Ok, so Lara's back in the next Tomb Raider release from Eidos and Core Design.

"Tomb Raider: Chronicles reveals four newly discovered, and previously untold adventures, taking you on a journey from the ruins of Rome, to the bowels of a German U-boat, to the rooftops of a hi-tech city in a search of four ancient artifacts.

In light of Lara's recent disappearance, those closest to her gather together at the Croft Estate on a gray, rainy day for a memorial service in her honor. Afterwards, the friends sit quietly together in the study of the Croft Mansion and provide new insights about Lara's past exploits; exploits that have until now remained a secret..."

Blair Witch Volume 3: The Elly Kedward Tale (GOD)

"This tale reaches to the heart of the Blair Witch myth, recounting the events of 1786, when Elly Kedward was accused of witchcraft and banished from the Blair Township. Now, children are disappearing and the citizens are fleeing in horror. Jonathan Pyre, once a Pastor, but now in conflict with his own shattered faith, takeson the role of witch hunter and journeys to Blair, where he must master all forms of magic- white and black- if he is to save anyone, including himself.

The Elly Kedward Tale focuses on action and will feature a spell-based combat system."

Watch for all three of these titles to hit NZ stores in late November or early December.

Aftershock: First Semi-Final Upset
Posted by DAB 18 @ 9:22 a.m. NZDT

The Aftershock Semi-Finals kicked off last night with a tough match between D2D(NZ) and xD(Aust), the top two place-getters from the round-robin play. The winner of this match goes straight into next weeks grand final.

In something of an upset, xD won the match three maps to zip. The scores over the three maps were:

MAP5: xD wins 5 - 2
MAP7: xD wins 5 - 2
MAP1: xD wins 5 - 3

xD have now advanced through to the final. Check out this forum thread for comment on last nights game.

Tonight's game sees RD(NZ) play ABOM(Aust) in a sudden-death match. The winner goes on to play D2D for the other spot in the grand final -- the loser is out.

Gameplanet would like to thank Electronic Arts New Zealand, D-link and Gamezone for making the Aftershock competition possible.

Ultima Online Competition Week One Day Four
Posted by samoht @ 8:09 a.m. NZDT

Two more copies of Ultima Online are up for grabs today ... if you can answer our question that is.

Today's is: How did the town of Yew receive its name?

If your struggling to find the answer a good place to start looking is the Ultima Online site.

Send your answer to tmahoney@gameplanet.co.nz with Ultima Competition in the subject field. The competition is open to New Zealand residents only and answers to this weeks questions must be received by midnight on Sunday the 19th of November.

Final Fantasy Trailer Available
Posted by samoht @ 8:04 a.m. NZDT

The news that Square (developers of the Final Fantasy series) were branching out into feature length movies came as welcome news to most gamers. Since the official Final Fantasy movie site went live Square have been teasing the punters with very short clips of the fully computer generated film. Recently they released a 50 sec trailer which provides far more of an idea of the quality of the animation we can expect to see in the completed film. This trailer is now available from Gameplanet Downloads.

The trailer is in Quicktime format and available in three different resolutions.

• Low-Res (240x128)
• Medium-Res (320x172)
• High-Res (640x480)

MegaDrive Updates Headed for Dreamcast
Posted by @ 8:01 a.m. NZDT

Sega are working on 128-bit versions of old-school classics Shinobi and Streets of Rage. Yuzo Koshiro, one of the founding members of the original development team for the aforementioned MegaDrive titles is to start working on an 128-bit update of a classic (as yet unnamed by Sega) MegaDrive game. However, gamers may be more interested in the rumoured updates of both Shinobi and Streets of Rage games for the Sega Dreamcast. Koshiro is not designing them himself, but he has commented that other Sega development houses are already working on them.

Anyone who remembers classics like Streets of Rage will remember the intense simplicity of the game ie. move right, punch, kick, move right etc. However, a 128-bit update would definitely be popular, and should be far better than the previous Fighting Force efforts for the PlayStation.

Crazy Taxi 2 Looking BetterThan Original
Posted by @ 7:58 a.m. NZDT

Crazy Taxi 2 is on the horizon and it looks a lot better than the original. Sega have confirmed a release for Crazy Taxi 2 in the second quarter of 2001 and according to reports, it is to have slightly more attitude. There will be a lot more emphasis placed on missions this time around, and Crazy Taxi 2 will be set in New York so you can expect plenty of taxi drivers with a enormous lack of manners and decorum.

On-line play is currently being tested for the game, but has not yet been confirmed so don't get too excited just yet. Crazy Taxi 2 is an excellent prospect for Sega, who have an already jam-packed year ahead.

Send your answer to tmahoney@gameplanet.co.nz with Ultima Competition in the subject field. The competition is open to New Zealand residents only and answers to this weeks questions must be received by midnight on Sunday the 19th of November.

B-17 Flying Fortress Goes Gold
Posted by @ 12:07 p.m. NZDT

It has been a good week for flight sim fans. Following on from EA NZ's announcement of a December 1 release date for Rowan's Battle of Britain, comes the news that Microprose's WWII bomber sim B-17 Flying Fortress has gone gold. The latest info we have from Hasbro NZ points to a release here in either late November or early December, so Kiwi simulation gamers can look forward to a Christmas spent high over the skies of the Third Reich!

B-17 Flying Fortress is set in the later stages of WWII, with hordes of American and British bombers dropping their payloads on German territory. The game lets simmers take up any position in a B-17 from pilot to navigator, bombadier or gunner, so all types of gamers, even those who would generally not play a WWII sim, are catered for.

For more information on what could well be the last ever sim from Microprose, read the extensive preview at CombatSim.com. Also, watch for a Gameplanet preview soon.

Rowan's Battle of Britain Date Announced
Posted by BS @ 11:47 a.m. NZDT

Electronic Arts NZ have announced the expected release date for Rowan's Battle of Britain. The game is expected to be released on December 1st.

Rowan's Battle of Britain recreates some of the most decisive air battles of the Second World War. Players will get to fly for the RAF or Luftwaffe as either a pilot or commander using the game's advanced dynamic campaign system. "With over 800 miles of airspace and 5 different flyable aircraft 'Rowan's Battle of Britain' brings to life the skill and courage required to battle against a seemingly invincible enemy. "

Check out the official BOB site for more details. Expect to see a Gameplanet preview shortly.

Sidhe Interactive Announces The Druid King
Posted by samoht @ 10:33 a.m. NZDT

SIDHE INTERACTIVE ANNOUNCES NEW LICENSED TITLE, THE DRUID KING, FOR THE SONY PLAYSTATION 2 AND MICROSOFT XBOX

Wellington, NZ - November 14, 2000 - New Zealand game developer Sidhe Interactive has announced work has commenced on a new game entitled The Druid King. Based on the upcoming movie and novel of the same name by author Norman Spinrad, The Druid King focuses on epic struggle between Vercingetorix, the King of Gaul, and Roman Emperor Julius Caesar.

The third person action adventure game is being created for the Sony PlayStation™ 2 and Microsoft Xbox™ and is due for completion in first quarter 2002.

"We are very excited about working with both the PlayStation™ 2 and Xbox™," stated Tyrone McAuley, Sidhe Interactive's Technical Director. "Having recently completed a PlayStation™ project, the team have taken extremely well to the new, more powerful technology."

Key aspects of the title include large immersive environments, engaging gameplay, advanced surfacing effects, and a unique battle system that always keeps the player in the thick of the action.

Sidhe is working with US based game agents Octagon Entertainment to find a publishing partner for the project. "We are very pleased to have gained access to such a powerful license through Octagon", said Mario Wynands, Executive Producer at Sidhe. "This is a major boost for our company and we look forward to developing a great game based on the property."

###

Sidhe Interactive develops games for the Sony PlayStation™, Sony PlayStation™ 2, and Microsoft Xbox™. You can find out more about Sidhe Interactive online at http://www.sidhe.co.nz

Octagon Entertainment arranges financing, publishing, licensing, and distribution agreements for game developers worldwide. Octagon also develops and promotes interactive entertainment packages, merging top quality properties with leading developers to create games that extend into all entertainment sectors. You can find out more about Octagon Entertainment online at http://www.octagon1.com

Delta Force: Land Warrior Slips
Posted by BS @ 10:31 a.m. NZDT

Electronic Arts have advised that the release date for Delta Force: Land Warrior has slipped. The release date is now expected to be the 24th of November. No shipping details have been received yet, so this new date is yet to be confirmed.

"You command the most advanced strike team ever assembled. You work in the shadows of your enemys nightmares. To a terrorist you are the executioner, to the rest of the world you are Delta Force. "

While we wait... check out our Delta Force: Land Warrior preview or download the Demo from Gameplanet Downloads.

Send your answer to tmahoney@gameplanet.co.nz with Ultima Competition in the subject field. The competition is open to New Zealand residents only and answers to this weeks questions must be received by midnight on Sunday the 19th of November.

NOLF On The Way
Posted by samoht @ 3:17 p.m. NZDT

The team at Electronic Arts New Zealand have told us that No One Lives Forever, the 1960's based "FPS with mojo", should be arriving on store shelves next Tuesday.

NOLF, from Monolith Productions, is receiving rave reviews in the States and looks set to be one of the years biggest sleeper hits. If the positive reviews aren't enough to tempt you the newly announced $69.95 RRP tag might be.

Check out the Gameplanet preview for more information.

Red Alert 2 v1.02 Patch
Posted by BS @ 2:46 p.m. NZDT

Westwood Studios have released the latest patch (v1.02) for Red Alert 2. The patch includes a number of general fixes, single player fixes and multi-player tweaks.

The new patch weighs in at just 1MB and is available for download from the Gameplanet Download section now.

Mechcommander 2 Site Goes Live
Posted by samoht @ 12:45 p.m. NZDT

The sequel to highly regarded Mechcommander now has it's own Web site.

The official site for Mechcommander 2 has the usual swag of screenshots, game info, movies and story details. Also featured on the site is an interview with program manager Mitch Gitelman.

Mechcommander 2 is due out in the second quarter of next year.

Battle of Britain Site is Live
Posted by @ 11:52 a.m. NZDT

Rowan Software have unveiled their new website for the upcoming WWII flight sim Battle of Britain. Alongside the usual descriptions of the game, Rowan are promising that a demo will be released soon. Visit the site at www.empire.co.uk/BOB.

As the title suggests, Battle of Britain recreates the epic air war fought over southern England and the English Channel in the summer of 1940. The RAF faced wave after wave of attacks from the Luftwaffe, eventually staving off the Nazi invasion of Britain.

Rowan are bringing this battle to life using the same graphics engine from their hugely successful MiG Alley. This means that not only will we see up to a thousand planes in the air at once, but a full dynamic campaign of this incredible battle is included. Of course, you can jump straight into the action on either side, or direct the campaign from the strategic maps.

Visit the website for full details.

Aftershock: Semi-Finalists Found
Posted by DAB 18 @ 11:19 a.m. NZDT

Round Two is over and the round-robin play has come to an end. After a tough three and a half weeks the competition is now into the semi finals stage with only four teams remaining in the competition.

Results from the last of the round-robin games are as follows:

X^ vs RD
MAP2: RD win 5 - 2
MAP7: RD win 5 - 4

D2D vs ABOM
MAP2: D2D win 5 - 3
MAP7: D2D win 5 - 0

NME vs xD
MAP2: xD win 5 - 1
MAP7: NME win 5 - 4
MAP3: xD win 5 - 0

The final standings for Round Two are:

D2D(NZ) - 35 points
xD(Aust) - 33 points
RD(NZ) - 27 points
ABOM(Aust) - 19 points
X^(NZ) - 17 points
NME(NZ) - 17 point
M(NZ) - 15 points
e|(Aust) - 13 point

The top four teams in BOLD advance to the semi finals. Well done to those teams and a "thank you" goes out to all those teams that have participated in the competition. We hope you have enjoyed playing.

Semi-Final Delay:
With the Southern Cross Cable going operational on Wednesday -- we have decided to push the semi's back to Wednesday to give the Australian teams a fairer chance. The new Semi-Final draw is as follows:

Game 1 (Winner goes to the grand final)
Wednesday 15th November
10pm = D2D vs xD

Game 2 (Losing team is eliminated)
Thursday 16th November
10pm = RD vs ABOM

Game 3 (Loser of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2)
Friday 17th November
10pm = winner of game2 vs loser of game 1

Game1&2 Map is RA3MAP5
Game3 Map is RA3MAP8

If you wish to find out more about the semi's or post a comment please feel free to check out the Aftershock Forum.

The last round of Round Two matches will be played tonight with X^(NZ) needing to win over RD(NZ). Meanwhile Abom(Aust) will be hoping they can snatch just one map from Round 2 leaders D2D(NZ). If Abom fail to win any maps, then X^ will just need to win one map to force a play off for the 4th semi-final spot.

Ultima Online Competition
Posted by samoht @ 11:12 a.m. NZDT

Gameplanet and Electronic Arts New Zealand are kicking off a three week long Ultima Online competition today. Over the next three weeks we will be giving away two copies of Ultima Online:Renaissance away each day (Monday to Friday).

When this period of the competition is over we will be asking one very tough question and giving away the grand prize of an Ultima Online t-shirt signed by Lord British himself!

Todays question is: Is a Mong Bat a herbivore or carnivore?

If your struggling to find the answer a good place to start looking is the Ultima Online site.

Send your response to tmahoney@gameplanet.co.nz with Ultima Competition in the subject field and the question and your answer to it in the body of the email. The competition is open to New Zealand residents only and answers to this weeks questions must be received by midnight on Sunday the 19th of November.

Which Metal Gear for Xbox?
Posted by @ 11:07 a.m. NZDT

Confusion is in the air over which version of Metal Gear Solid is to appear on the Xbox. A couple of months ago, Microsoft announced a small number of games in development for the Xbox. The most anticipated title was undoubtedly Metal Gear X, but it was not made clear which version of the PlayStation classic it was.

After the uproar made by Sony, claiming that Metal Gear Solid 2 was a PS2 exclusive, it was assumed that Metal Gear X would be the original with knobs on - after all, Metal Gear Solid had just been released on PC. However, Kevin Bacchus - head of third-party support at Microsoft has revealed that Metal Gear X will be 'Metal Gear Solid 2 with extras'. He did also mention that it 'wasn't really his place' to be talking about what Konami will do with the game, so even he might be wrong.

Microsoft Hint at Launch Plans
Posted by @ 11:05 a.m. NZDT

Kevin Bacchus, head of third-party support for the Xbox has unveiled Microsoft's plans for the launch next year. The Xbox will hit store shelves around the world in late 2001, although Bacchus is cagey about the amount of launch games. He admits that even though the Xbox has over 150 developers and publishers on board, a mammoth first day launch just won't happen.

Bacchus quoted "Although we announced over 150 developers and publishers getting behind the machine, there's no way we can put out hundreds of titles at launch, we simply won't have the install base in the early days - compared to what we will have in the coming period - to move that sort of software. We're likely to launch with around 20 titles, about five of which will be first-party, with about another 20 to appear before Christmas 2001." A list of confirmed titles will emerge at the beginning of the new year, but as of yet, no games are known. "I'd love to tell you everything we're working on," said Bacchus, "but we're still a year away from launch, rest assured we have plenty of surprises for the coming 12 months."

The beta testing for Third Dawn is expected to begin soon and will be only open to current Ultima Online players.

Aftershock: Week 3 Roundup
Posted by DAB 18 @ 11:53 a.m. NZDT

We are nearing the end of the round robin play and only the top 4 teams will make it through to the semi-finals.

The results from week three are as follows:

NME vs M
MAP8: NME win 5 - 1
MAP2: NME win 5 - 1

X^ vs ABOM
MAP8: ABOM win 5 - 1
MAP2: X^ win 5 - 2
MAP7: ABOM win 5 - 4

e| vs xD
MAP8: xD win 5 - 2
MAP2: xD win 5 - 2

D2D vs RD
MAP8: D2D win 5 - 1
MAP2: D2D win 5 - 1

D2D vs X^
MAP4: D2D win 5 - 1
MAP7: D2D win 5 - 2

xD vs M
MAP4: xD win 5 - 5
MAP7: xD win 5 - 1

e| vs NME
MAP4: NME win Default
MAP7: NME win Default

RD vs ABOM
MAP4: RD win 5 - 1
MAP7: RD win 5 - 3

The semi's will be played next week and the draw will be posted ASAP. Clan update: e| have withdrawn from the competition due to their leader leaving and no-one wanting the responsibility.

The points standings after Week Three of Round Two are as follows:

D2D(NZ) - 30 points
xD(Aust) - 28 points
RD(NZ) - 22 points
ABOM(Aust) - 18 points
X^(NZ) - 16 points
NME(NZ) - 14 point
e|(Aust) - 13 points
M(NZ) - 10 point Six out of the seven round-robin games have been played. The top 4 teams qualify for the semi-finals.

The final round of matches sees X^(NZ) vs RD(NZ) in a must win game for X^ (although a one map victory will see them tie with Abom(Aust) if Abom lose). The good news for X^ is that Abom are up against the current leaders D2D(NZ) -- who are undefeated in Round Two. The other match sees xD(Aust) vs NME(NZ) while M(NZ) has a bye.

DirectX 8.0 Released
Posted by Fink @ 11:51 a.m. NZDT

Check the DirectX Home User Web page for the download.

Some of the improvements include:

- Consolidated interfaces for DirectDraw and Direct3D simplify application development and improve performance.
- Improved graphics authoring tool integration eases development of optimal 3D characters and environments.
- Vertex shaders and pixel shaders improve image realism.
- Consolidated DirectSound and DirectMusic interfaces simplify application development.
- DLS2 audio synthesis support improves instrument realism.
- DirectInput device mapping provides simplified device support. - DirectPlay performance and scalability for massively multiplayer games has been improved.
- DirectPlay IP voice communication support is provided.
- DirectShow Editing Services APIs provide real-time compositing and editing of audio/video timelines.
- DirectShow supports reading and writing Windows Media Audio and Video (WMA and WMV).
- Microsoft TV Technologies support digital television

Baldur's Gate 2 Demo Available
Posted by @ 11:01 a.m. NZDT

For those of you still undecided about Bioware's latest RPG Baldur's Gate 2, the company has released a demo to allow you to sample some of the 200 hours of gameplay on offer. This is the good news.

The bad news is that the demo weighs in at an incredible 650MB! Needless to say, Gameplanet will not be hosting such a massive file on our servers, so if you have a fast Internet connection and want to grab the 7 files which make up the demo, visit the Fileplanet site.

Here's the quote:

"The Baldur's Gate II demo covers chapter one of the game in which you must find a way out of your captor's prison. This demo uses a complete version of the game engine so you will be able to create your character, watch the movies, talk with non-player characters and fight. You can import your character and saved game into Baldur's Gate II if you decide to purchase the game. The demo does not have multiplayer enabled."

For more information on the game, read Gameplanet's extensive Baldur's Gate 2 review.

B-17 Flying Fortress Before Xmas?
Posted by @ 5:49 p.m. NZDT

Flight sim fans have received some welcome news from Hasbro NZ. It appears that the WWII bomber simulation B-17 Flying Fortress is likely to ship in NZ before Christmas, and may even reach stores later this month.

Confusion over the game's release date has reigned since the announcement from Microprose that the U.S. will not see the sim until January 2001. However, due to the fact that B-17 is being developed by a British company, the U.K. will see a release in late November. It now appears that the NZ shipment will come from the U.K., meaning a pre-Christmas release downunder.

As always, watch Gameplanet News for any further announcements. We'll keep you posted. For more information on B-17, visit the unofficial Bombs Away website.

Starship Troopers, Squad Leader Released
Posted by @ 5:30 p.m. NZDT

Following on from this morning's news that Sudden Strike has been released, Hasbro Interactive have also announced that two of their Microprose titles have hit our shores today.

Starship Troopers: Terran Ascendancy is a real-time strategy game based upon the book and film of the same name. Gamers take control of a platoon of troops against the invasion of the Arachnids.

"On September 7, 2268, a guided meteorite has destroyed the Terran paradise of Buenos Aires. This tragedy has propelled the Terran Council into a state of emergency. Federal Intelligence established that the source of the meteorite was Klendathu, the home world of the Arachnids. Therefore, the Terran Council has announced that it is declaring war on the bugs! The Mobile Infantry (MI), the elite fighting force of the 23rd century, needs specialists in order to succeed in this battle. Specializing in ground-based combat, the MI are the proud defenders of Terran heritage. Join this elite fighting force and help defend the Terran way of life!"

Visit the official website for full details, or download the demo from our Gameplanet Downloads section.

Also released from Hasbro today is the turn-based WWII tactical strategy game Squad Leader. Gameplay takes place from a 2D isometric viewpoint, with both stand-alone missions and three campaigns to choose from (Normandy, Arnhem and the Ardennes).

Alongside the usual actions of squad-based strategy games, Squad Leader offers options such as using vehicles, setting demolition charges, throwing grenades, hand-to-hand combat and even opportunity fire.

Call to Power II Goes Gold
Posted by @ 11:35 a.m. NZDT

Activision have announced today that Call to Power II has gone gold. The empire building game, which derives its gameplay approach from the venerable Civilisation series, is expected to hit New Zealand stores soon.

Call to Power II builds on the original in a number of ways. Alongside the core gameplay, which challenges the gamer to build a flourishing civilisation in an economic and military sense, the game features a new module allowing the historically-minded player to recreate famous battles from the past. A map and scenario editor are also included.

In addition, a new diplomatic model has been constructed to allow more complex negotiations with opposition players in both single and mulitplayer modes. AI play has been enhanced to support this feature.

Visit the official Activision site for all the details, as well as screens and a short FAQ.

Sudden Strike in Stores
Posted by @ 11:20 a.m. NZDT

CDV's much hyped real-time strategy game set in WWII, Sudden Strike, has finally arrived in NZ today. Unlike most traditional RTS titles, Sudden Strike takes a wargame approach and eschews the usual base-building to concentrate on combat and tactics.

From Gameplanet's full preview:

"There are numerous World War II strategy games on the market today and only a handful of those are RTS based. German based developers CDV have produced a game which already has gamers around the world scrambling to pre order a copy. Why the hype? Well it seems people have grown tired of turn based titles and are looking for a quick fix of action. Presentation is similar to the Command and Conquer series making the game immediately playable for new and experienced players alike ... You can take control of the Russian, German, French, American, or British forces, leading them on daring raids on enemy command points or taking a beach in a scene reminiscent of Saving Private Ryan. CDV have strived for realism and it shows in the vast array of WW2 weapons and vehicles available to you."

Visit the official Sudden Strike website for more details.

Check out the official Microsoft Sidewinder Web site for more product details. The Force Feedback 2 joysticks are rumoured to retail around the $250 mark and should be in all good gaming stores now.

Escape From Monkey Island Released
Posted by Cam @ 12:36 p.m. NZDT

For those of you that have been waiting to get your hands on the latest title of the ever popular Monkey Island series, you'll be pleased to hear it has at last been released.

"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. It 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."

The Escape from Monkey Island demo is available for download from Gameplanet Downloads. Gameplanet will also have a full in-depth review posted shortly.

PS2 Price Rise
Posted by Matt @ 9:08 a.m. NZDT

Sony have confirmed that the PlayStation 2 retail pricing has increased from $899.95 to $999.95 (incl. GST).

"The price rise is a response to recent currency fluctuations, which have dramatically weakened the NZ dollar and subsequently increased the cost of imported goods." Sony will be issuing a full press release regarding the price rise later this week.

WWF Titles Planned for Next-Gen Consoles
Posted by @ 9:03 a.m. NZDT

WWF games are definitely going to appear on both the PlayStation 2 and the Microsoft Xbox. Japanese developers Yukes (the company behind WWF Smackdown and the upcoming WWF Smackdown 2: Know Your Role) are hard at work on the next game in the series. At the moment, PlayStation 2 and Xbox are the only platforms confirmed for the next WWF title, but there's a very good chance a Gamecube version will be making an appearance too.

Insiders on the project say that the graphics are just stunning, and the character models have approximately 5000 polygons each. Publishers THQ are keeping the details to themselves, so as not to detract from the release of the upcoming WWF Smackdown 2 on the PlayStation and WWF No Mercy on the N64. Nevertheless, a next generation of WWF games will be very welcome, and if the playability can match the supposed quality of the visuals, well then we are all in for a very big treat indeed.

Half Life Dreamcast Delayed
Posted by samoht @ 9:30 a.m. NZDT

Sierra has confirmed that Half Life for the Dreamcast will not ship in any territories this year. They have stated that the expected released date will now be early 2001. Sierra have said that the delay is due to the developers adding finishing touches to a variety of different game elements.

Sony Involved In Another Court Battle
Posted by @ 9:20 a.m. NZDT

Sony is threatening a legal battle with the European Commission over the classification of the PlayStation 2. Some of you may remember a bit of fuss being made over the shipping of PS2 development kits as their power led some to consider them 'super-computers', therefore subject to some restrictions on exports.

Now however, Sony's claims that the PS2 is a 'computer' rather than a 'videogame player' have been rejected by the EC. This classification of the PS2 as a 'videogames player' would add another 2.2% to the duty paid by Sony on PlayStation 2s imported into Europe. This extra cost has made Sony furious, as it claims that the PS2's DVD playback and future Internet compatibility should qualify it as a computer. The giant Japanese corporation may yet seek to over-rule the EC's decision in a court of law.

Gellar Spoons Nintendo Once Again
Posted by @ 9:18 a.m. NZDT

Spoon-bending "psychic" Uri Geller is once again on the warpath over the "evil" Pokemon, Kadabra. Geller made complaints about the character last year claiming that he was a debasement of his character and profession. He now seems to have decided that his case is strong enough to launch a lawsuit against Nintendo, claiming millions of dollars in damages and the removal of the character from all Pokemon related products.

The character is known as 'Yun Geller' in Japan and is generally seen carrying around a spoon. The psychic creature uses 'mind-waves' to give its victims bad headaches. "Nintendo turned me into an evil, occult Pokemon character" moaned Gellar in a statement, which claimed that Pokemon's violent characters have a negative effect on children. Israeli born Gellar also made some surprising allegations of offensive symbolism, claiming the character depicted the Jewish Star of David on his forehead and the lightning bolt on his chest resembled the symbol of the Nazi SS.

BAFTA Awards Deus Ex Game of the Year
Posted by Fink @ 9:15 a.m. NZDT

Winning the BAFTA for PC Game of the Year is just unbelievable," said Warren Spector, the game's project director. "I've been associated with award-winning games before but none of those awards were as prestigious as this. What makes the award especially meaningful is that, during development, we didn't really know how people would respond to what we were doing. The Deus Ex team worked incredibly hard to give players an experience unlike any they'd had before. I can't tell you how great it is to know that all that work paid off, that people recognize the value of what we were trying to achieve. And it was very much a 'we' effort. Lead Designer Harvey Smith, Lead Programmer Chris Norden, Lead Artist Jay Lee and the entire dev team did an incredible job bringing the world of Deus Ex to life. Thanks also have to be extended to the marvelous folks at Ion and Eidos, who got behind us, helped us and encouraged us every step of the way -- I couldn't bear to leave any one out but there are just too many to name. Suffice to say Deus Ex could not have existed without a lot of behind-the-scenes support -- support we got in spades. Finally, thanks go to all the Deus Ex players around the world who've voted, in their own way, for a new and different kind of gaming experience."

TF League Grudge Match
Posted by Fink @ 9:12 a.m. NZDT

Sun 8:30pm From the start of Rock2 NBR showed that practice pays off and with an unfortunate drop from DSX, NBR were able to capitalise and score. When DSX were back to full strength they launched an attack that forced the NBR squad to stay back more and defend. DSX scored 3 times to pull out a victory.A real wake up call for the squad. Rock2: 45-15 Win to DSX.

NBR started off strong on Shutdown 2 also and managed to grab a quick cap. DSX defence weren't even aware that the security was down! This map was very intense with both sides capping one after another until NBR sacrificed more defence for extra strength on offence allowing DSX to grab a few more. NBR moved the flag down the ramp however it was too late. Great game by NBR! Shutdown2 80-40 Win to DSX

Check the official Kessen Web site for more details on the PS2's first real time strategy game.

Recent Gold Announcements
Posted by @ 1:16 p.m. NZDT

As is always the case at this time of year, a flood of titles have gone gold in the past week. Here are the latest announcements, along with quotes from the official press releases and links to the official websites.

Virtual Pool 3 (Interplay)

"The ultimate pool simulator arrives with enhanced graphics and a brand-new career mode! The only pool game that guarantees to make you a better player is still the best pool game in town."

Sea Dogs (Bethesda)

"Bethesda Softworks Inc. is pleased to announce that Sea Dogs has gone gold and should be in retail stores in a few weeks. Sea Dogs is an epic RPG-at-sea that brings gamers the first true pirate experience in over a decade. Players join one of four sides (French, English, Spanish, or Pirates) in a group of islands called the Archipelago, and can change between sides during the game. Each side has its own unique storyline, missions, and ending, and players can choose to follow the storyline or sail off an enjoy free-form roleplaying as a pirate or trader. Plunder treasure ships, duel enemy captains, and fight epic battles with enemy ships and forts and you choose your own path and destiny."

Championship Surfer (The Learning Company)

"Available for the Sega Dreamcast, Sony PlayStation game console and Windows 95/98, Championship Surfer is the first arcade-action game that looks and feels like real surfing. Choose from eight Team O'Neill surfers, including Cory Lopez, Rochelle Ballard and Shane Beschen along with over 30 O'Neill boards and surf ten selectable beach locations, each with it's own unique breaking style and characteristics. Select from seven modes (six for PlayStation), including Championship, Arcade, Rumble, Freesurf and Training that combine for a huge variety of game play. Learn to perform up to 50 tricks such as Rios, Snaps, 360s and Arials just like today's champion surfers. Championship Surfer uses a true 3D wave generation engine to produce realistic waves that swell, curl and break just like the real thing and all beautifully rendered in real-time on your PC, Dreamcast or PlayStation."

Westwood Respond To Earth And Beyond Rumours
Posted by samoht @ 10:19 a.m. NZDT

Westwood have responded to the rumours that they have been working on a sci-fi MMORPG for the last 4 years.

They have confirmed that they are working on a persistent world but did not divulge any details of the themes involved. The rumours that the title would be multi-platform were also denied with a Westwood spokesman stating it would be PC only.

Westwood also responded to the rumour that Tiberian Sun and Red Alert 2 were "buffer games to keep EA happy" stating that "They were the result of hard work and millions of dollars. They were not created to make EA happy. They were created to make gamers happy. They did so."

Conquest Publisher Wanted
Posted by samoht @ 9:55 a.m. NZDT

After the announcement that they would not be publishing Conquest:Frontier Wars Microsoft has allowed developer Digital Anvil to find a new publisher.

Microsoft decided to can the release of the game due to their belief that it's development was not proceeding as expected. The game seemed to be near completion and was generating postive feedback from those who had played it. Digital Anvil are intending to make a demo available soon.

Visit the official site for more details.

Battle Isle: The Andosia War Demo Available
Posted by BS @ 11:45 a.m. NZDT

Blue Byte have released the demo for their next installment in the Battle Isle series -- Battle Isle: The Andosia War. The demo is available now for download from Gameplanet Downloads.

Battle Isle: The Andosia War is an entirely new kind of conflict simulation, combining elements of real-time and turn-based strategy in an action-packed mixture. The player is immersed in a complex world where both economic finesse and military expertise are essential. Powered by a revolutionarily new engine, the game is presented completely in 3D with an unprecedented richness of detail. For the first time it will be possible to see the planet Chromos with its beautiful landscapes and dazzling colors, and to move freely in the 3D world of Chromos with its units and characters.

Read the official site for more details on The Andosia War . The latest rumours suggest a release late in November.

Dreamcast Online Officially Canned
Posted by samoht @ 9:25 a.m. NZDT

New Zealand Dreamcast owners have started receiving letters from the local Sega supplier confirming that there will be no official support for the console's online capabilities.

The letter offers Dreamcast owners the option of a free game or a refund of the purchase price in return for them waiving any claim against Ozisoft NZ or the retailer they purchased the console from.

This news will not come as a surprise for the majority of Dreamcast owners but is still very disappointing considering the quality of future titles with online features.

Westwood Do MMORPG?
Posted by samoht @ 9:13 a.m. NZDT

It is rumoured that Westwood will soon announce that they have been working on a massively multiplayer online RPG title for the last five years. The game is apparently called Earth and Beyond and uses themes and concepts similiar to those in Star Wars and Star Trek.

Computer and Videogames News claim to have spoken to a source at Westwood who stated that the game is multi-platform, features 200 worlds to explore, and will be released in November 2001. The source also claims that the Tiberian Sun and Red Alert 2 were "buffers to keep EA happy" while development resources were focused on Earth and Beyond.

Stay tuned for the inevitable "no comment" from Westwood and EA.

Next weeks draw has been posted on the Aftershock Competition page.

Conquest: Frontier Wars Canned
Posted by samoht @ 11:31 a.m. NZDT

It seems that Microsoft will not be releasing the space-based RTS title Conquest: Frontier Wars after all.

The team at Blues News noticed that all references to the title had been removed from the Microsoft Games Web site and approached MS for a statement. They got the following:

"Microsoft has decided not to publish Conquest. Microsoft had high aspirations for the game, and it simply did not progress as they had hoped it would. Keeping in line with their goal of delivering only top-quality games that deliver a fresh and immersive experience, they decided to stop work on Conquest and place the development team on other projects."

Driver 2 Done
Posted by samoht @ 10:59 a.m. NZDT

Infogrames have announced that work on Driver 2 is complete and the game has been sent away for mastering.

Martin Currie, Director of Marketing for Infogrames, has stated that the title has already received over 1.2 million pre-orders. Gameplanet will have a preview of an early version of the game up soon.

Sony Return To World Domination
Posted by @ 10:41 a.m. NZDT

Worldwide sales of the PlayStation 2 have reached a staggering 3 and a half million units. The Sony console was always expected to have huge sales, but to have soared to 3.5 million sales by the end of September is stunning, even for them. To make it seem even more impressive, that figure doesn't actually take into account the PS2 sales that are currently flooding through from the United States. Who knows what the sales figures will be like when PlayStation 2 hits the European and Australian Markets.

Including the original PlayStation, the new PSone and the PlayStation 2, Sony have now grabbed an amazing 75.92 million sales of the PlayStation brand worldwide.

Eidos Chairman Resigns
Posted by @ 10:01 a.m. NZDT

Charles Cornwall, the Chairman of Eidos Interactive, has resigned from the company, starting up new rumours of a possible takeover. Just a week ago, Eidos were happy to admit that they were fine, and that the talk of a buy-out was merely a rumour. However, the resignation of Cornwall throws fresh doubt on Eidos' future.

Chairman Charles holds a three percent stake in the company, and it is expected that he will quit his losses and unload his stock. Possible buyers being bounced around include French giant Infogrames, but currently, Eidos and Infogrames are making no comment. Charles Cornwall is the second high level executive to leave Eidos in the last five weeks, the other being take-over financial officer Jeremy Lewis.

Fifa 2001 is available on PlayStation and PC and contains the usual array of features that have established it as one of the most popular sports series ever. The official site contains detailed product information and the demo is available at Gameplanet Downloads.

TF1.5 League Hotting Up!
Posted by Fink @ 11:03 a.m. NZDT

The Gameplanet Team Fortress 1.5 League is on fire with some nail biting finishes and dominant gameplay from the big clans. After a few weeks of play, following are the table standings and latest round reviews.

The LAH vs NZP match was played with great intensity. A high scoring round of 2Fort saw NZP take a 1-0 lead in maps, and then with a slowly dwindling advantage managed to hold out LAH's final burst on CZ2.

BBQ defeated TECH quite comfortably in the week's big match. Both sides' lack of experience on Bam showed early in the game, but eventually BBQ's offense started taking its toll and nabbed four flags. Well was pretty much a rout, after TECH lost a player half way through and struggled to compose their defense from there onwards.

	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	Points
LAH	4	2	0	2	6
NBR	4	2	0	2	6
NZR	4	2	0	2	6
TECH	4	2	0	2	6
BBQ	2	2	0	0	6
DSX	2	2	0	0	6
NZP	2	2	0	0	6
HATE	4	1	0	3	3
HSV	2	1	0	1	3

QWTF players LAH took on NBR in what was predicted to be a close game. On the first map, Bam, NBR offense couldn't crack LAH's tough defense, while LAH's offense on Well saw them chain cap many times to take the match easily. LAH looks like a legitimate challenge for one of the top three spots by the end of the season. NBR are still top of the table but have a tough match against DSX coming up, so the pressure is on them.

HATE and NZR duked it out in one of the closest matches ever seen. Although a last second cap by NZR in Bam put the underdogs one up, HATE won Well comfortably. Great play from both [NZR]JP and [HATE]Fly Boy.

Clan ORA disbanded, but their last match to be played was against TECH. The more experienced clan TECH were able to outplay them and took a deserved win, amongst some controversy.

HSV was resurrected last week and took its rightful place in the competition. Their opponents were clan NZR (RAGE) who were looking for some match experience. HSV suffered from low numbers yet managed to win 2fort. However, CZ2 (a map where full strength is vital) saw them lose by a large margin.

No Giants Demo Before Full Release
Posted by samoht @ 8:22 a.m. NZDT

Planet Moon and Interplay have stated that they will not be releasing a playable demo for Giants:Citizen Kabuto until after the game has shipped to stores.

Giants is a visually stunning blend of strategy and action that has been high on many gamers want lists but unfortunately seems to have taken on a 'Daikatanaesque' characteristic with its forever slipping release date. For the record Planet Moon have stated that they intend to release Giants:Citizen Kabuto before the end of this year.

For more information on Giants:Citzen Kabuto check out the official site.

Red Alert 2 Global Figures
Posted by samoht @ 8:01 a.m. NZDT

EA Games has reported that the latest installment in Westwood's venerable RTS series seems to be selling very quickly worldwide with more than one million copies shifted to stores across the globe.

Our initial impressions of the title are very positive and a full review will be up shortly. In the meantime take a look at the Red Alert 2 TV commercial available from Gameplanet Downloads.

Jack Of All Games Are Coming
Posted by BS @ 8:41 a.m. NZDT

Jack Of All Games, a subsidiary of Take 2 Interactive, have announced today that they are setting up a permanent presence here in New Zealand.

Adrian Harvey, formally of GT Interactive NZ has been appointed as the companies Country Manager for New Zealand. Mr Harvey commented today that "From today onwards, Jack Of All Games a subsidiary of Take 2 Interactive will have a direct and permanent presence here in New Zealand. We will be utilising the resources of Australia and shipping direct to stores in NZ. Outside of our software publishers we will be focusing on Prima hint books and Joytech Accessories."

Gameplanet understands the office will be open for business as early as next week. Jack of All Games will distribute titles such as Smugglers Run and Midnight Club on PlayStation 2. Some of the developers Jack Of All Games are expected to distribute include: Take 2(naturally); 3DO Company; Rockstar Games; Talonsoft; Gathering of Developers; Ritual; Bungie; Terminal Reality; and Psygnosis(PC).

Take Two's Jack of All Games subsidiary is a global value added distributor of entertainment software with distribution offices in Cincinnati, New York, London, Paris and Sydney. Bertelsmann, one of the world's largest media companies has a 10% equity interest in Take-Two.

LucasArts Compile X-Wing Series
Posted by @ 8:38 a.m. NZDT

LucasArts have announced in a press release today that a new compilation pack, featuring previous releases in the X-Wing space combat series, is in the works. The pack, official titled Star Wars: X-Wing Trilogy, will include the original X-Wing, the sequel Tie Fighter, and the more recently released X-Wing Alliance. Also in the package is a "bonus sampler" of X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter: Flight School.

"The X-Wing Trilogy is a high-value, premium collection that offers outstanding content and value," says Mary Bihr, marketing for LucasArts. "Fans of Star Wars games will be especially pleased with this outstanding collection of X-Wing series favorites at such an affordable price."

The titles in the pack have collectively sold millions of copies around the world. For more information on the individual titles, visit the LucasArts website, and keep your eyes peeled on Gameplanet News for NZ release and pricing details.

Let us know what you think in the Gameplanet forums!

Aftershock: Round 2 Week 2 Progress
Posted by DAB 18 @ 10:10 a.m. NZDT

Here's a progress report after the first wave of Round 2: Week Two matches:

The longest game of the competition so far was played on Monday night between "xD" from Australia and NZ's "RD". There were a few tied rounds here and there -- but mostly the teams were sticking to there side of the maps (how do you spell camp?). Finally xD beat RD 5-3 on MAP5 and then 5-4 on MAP3. This match took around two hours to complete and could have gone either way.

Mondays other match saw X^ come out on top of NME. X^ won both maps 5-3 and took the match two to zip. Any final hopes are fading fast for the NME boys.

Last night saw the rematch of one of Round One's big upsets. Locals lads "D2D" were out to avenge their surprise Round One defeat to Australain clan "e|". The Australians were undefeated going into last nights match, but things didn't go their way. D2D pulled out the big guns and won the first map comfortably 5-2. The 2nd map was a lot closer, but D2D once again prevailed to win 5-4. Good game.

Last nights other match saw local lads "M" play the Australian clan "Abom". The first map went to M 5-3. Abom came back to win the 2nd map 5-0 and then also took the deciding map 5-3. M now will have to fight hard to make the finals.

Freedom: First Resistance Movie Showing
Posted by BS @ 8:37 a.m. NZDT

Red Storm Entertainment have released a sneak peek at the opening movie of First Resistance -- a 3rd person single player action-adventure game inspired by Anne McCaffrey's best-selling Freedom novels.

Due for release late in 2000, the adventure begins about nine months after the powerful alien Catteni race has completed its invasion of Earth. You will join the human resistance, led by young freedom fighter Angel Sanchez, in their fight to rid the Earth of its alien overlords. Check out the official Freedom site for more game details.

The Freedom: First Resistance movie is available from Gameplanet Downloads now.

EA Sports FIFA 2001 Demo
Posted by BS @ 8:34 a.m. NZDT

EA Sports have released the demo for FIFA 2001 overnight. Step out of the stands on onto the pitch with EA SPORTS' latest incarnation of the best selling FIFA Soccer Series, FIFA 2001.

The demo weighs in at just 19MB and is available for download from the Gameplanet Downloads server now.

Pocket Xbox A Possibility
Posted by @ 8:28 a.m. NZDT

After the release of the Xbox Microsoft have revealed they may also release a handheld version of the upcoming console. This information came from an official statement from the Senior Vice President of Microsoft, who commented that "the concept of a companion gaming device is a very interesting thing" and "we could potentially leverage a lot of what we've done in the richness of a Pocket PC, with an integrated radio and a form factor dedicated to gaming". Anyone who can let us know what he's talking about may be richly rewarded (or not).

Considering how successful the Nintendo Gameboy has been in previous years (and indeed it has kept Nintendo alive) this is a rather smart move on the part of Microsoft. They appear to be onto a good thing this time, as long as it remains bug-free of course.

The End of Sega Arcade.
Posted by @ 8:10 a.m. NZDT

Sega of Japan has announced that it has shut down its Yaguchi office. The Yaguchi office was responsible for the assembly and manufacturing of Sega's amusement equipment, but given Sega's more heavy reliance on outside subcontracting for the process (as much as 70% of late) and the huge loss Sega have currently been hit with, it will be shut down as a cost-cutting means.

All assembly and manufacturing of amusement equipment will be handled exclusively through subcontracting. Sixty employees at the office have been given a severance package and will be assisted in finding new jobs.