New Games Tagged 'Windows, sci-fi' on The Great Games Experiment New Games on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/css/logo.jpg New Games Tagged 'Windows, sci-fi' on The Great Games Experiment en-us Techno-Drone Alliance
]]> 06 Oct 2008 02:42:42 Insecticide
]]> 04 Aug 2008 12:06:01 Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers
]]> 14 May 2008 04:27:40 Tribulation Knights
]]> 07 Apr 2008 09:16:25 Earth Under Fire Earth Under Fire is single player space shooter game.
Originally created as entry for PGD Big Boss Competition 2006
It ended up on the third place. Since then it has been upgraded.

Current version is 0.80 Beta 2 from 19th June 2007. Game campaign
consists of 9 missions connected by story.
It is still beta so I would appreciate any comments or bug reports.

More information about the game is in the Doc directory of the downloadable game archive and on in-game help screens.
]]> 19 Jun 2007 12:24:54 GearHead GearHead is a science-fiction post-apocalyptic anime roguelike/crpg, with mecha, guns, and extreme customization. Mecha can be customized with more parts, and design files are human-readable. Three dimensional turn-based strategy, open source, and plenty of game-play with randomly generated plots.
]]> 14 Jun 2007 02:06:48 Ufo: Extraterrestrials The year is now 2108 and on the colonized planet Esperanza our space devices have not just been approached by alien machines but attacked. The player controls a squad of soldiers, light and heavy support combat vehicles, robots and air units located in a base on the planet Esperanza that had been colonized by the spaceship Magalhaes in the year 2023. This squad was brought together by the Esperanza government to face a threat that comes from deep space. In case the player succeeds in averting an alien impact on Esperanza, the story will continue on the planet Earth which has been subdued by alien forces. Battle against the alien opposition in a game that combines global strategy with small, squad-based tactical combat against an alien invasion.
]]> 13 Jun 2007 07:36:53 Wing Commander: Standoff Standoff is a fan made add-on to Origin's Wing Commander Secret Ops, a space combat game which was distributed freely over the internet a few years ago. It needs the original SO files to run, but does not replace them, so you can easily switch between using the original SO game content and the Standoff game content.
]]> 04 Jun 2007 10:13:46 Fierce Talon Fierce Talon is a classic adventure game that draws heavily in style, setting and mood from old film-noir movies and science-fiction. You play Preston, a low-class private detective in the lowest part of the three layered Dome City. You haven't been very successful with your own investigation office, so you end up doing the cases of paranoid wives or husbands who wants more information on the doings and whereabouts of their significant others. Not really what you thought it would be...
]]> 02 Jun 2007 01:06:02 Wing Commander: Secret Ops Wing Commander: Secret Ops was the first game to be distrubted in episodic form over the internet. It is a continuation from the storyline told in Wing Commander: Prophecy.











"Intense Battle Scenarios: Multi-stage capital strike missions create larger, more intense battles.
New Weapon Technology: Command the galaxy with new rapid fire weapons such as the Dust Cannon, Cloud Burst and Mosquito Missiles.


Powerful New Starships: Introducing Cerberus, Confed's first "Quick-Strike" Carrier, new Cruiser, Destroyers and civilian cruiseliners.


More Intense Story: Continuing where Prophecy left off, join the Confederation Intelligence Services and fight for mankind's very survival."











Wing Commander Secret Ops was a bold experiment in episodic internet distribution. Beginning in August 1998, one episode was released each week for eight weeks. New fiction and backstory was released on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and a corresponding mission pack came out on Thursday. Depending on their perfomance, players were given a password which would influence the fiction they read the following week. After the experiment was concluded, Secret Ops was bundled and sold in the Prophecy Gold collection. The story put Lance Casey and his squadron aboard the TCS Cerberus Quick Strike Cruiser. They fought the alien Nephilim menance once again, but this time the point of incursion was in the inner core of the Confederation. Along the way new revelations about the insectoid race were uncovered and Confed appeared resolved to take the fight to enemy in the near future.











Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 28 May 2007 10:39:06 Wing Commander Privateer 2: The Darkening Privateer 2: The Darkening is the sequel to the original Privateer. However it does not coninue from the original story. Privateer 2 is set in an all new and unseen part of the Wing Commander universe - The Tri-Systems.



"You regain consciousness, and the unfamiliar faces around you inform you that you've lost your ship in an accident. You're new to this cutthroat world of Tri-System privateers, and now your only order of business is survival. You've got just enough credits to afford a new ship, but it's going to need upgrades if you expect to live for long. The sector is full of people willing to do business, but who can be trusted? Legal or not, it's time to trade, travel and battle your way through a place where high risk means high yield and those with the brass reap the rewards. "







Wing Commander Privateer 2 was created in the wake of Wing Commander III as the cinematic video step up for the Privateer subseries. Erin Roberts developed the game with a more modest budget in the UK. The main character, Ser Lev Arris, was played by Clive Owen. He was supported by Christopher Walken, David Warner, Jurgen Prochnow, Mathilda May and John Hurt. The game took place about 120 years after Wing Commander IV in an isolated pocket of space known as the Tri-System. Planet Anhur was been home to humans for some two thousand years, and the locals independently developed faster-than-light drives from the Confederation. The futuristic setting lets players utilize advanced jump gates, short-range time travel devices and massive cargo haulers. In addition to the traditional build-up phase and story portions of the game, Privateer 2 peppers the experience with random cinematic mini plot missions. Certain upgrades are only available once these subplots have been completed, and entire character arcs are explored with recorded video cutscenes separate from the main story.










Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 28 May 2007 09:59:46 The Kilrathi Saga The Kilrathi Saga is a compilation that contains the first three Wing Commander games in a package that is playable in Windows. It is extremely rare and valuable...The Kilrathi Saga was a grand compilation of the initial Wing Commander trilogy and its four expansion packs. Dropaway cockpits, remastered audio and improved joystick options were among the list of improvements. The biggest selling point was native speed-limited support for Windows. Initial sales were low because many fans still readily had computers running DOS to play older Wing Commander games.




The game received a second printing in 1998, but many fans were still hesitant to rebuy games they already owned. By the turn of the century however, a huge shift from DOS to Windows had occurred and everyone was scrambling to get a copy. Although the July 2000 edition of PC Gamer included the Kilrathi Saga version of Wing Commander I on its cover disc, auction prices on eBay soared to well over $300 for the full set. Wing Commander fans struggled to find copies until 2005 and the improvement DOS emulation. Although Kilrathi Saga has exciting extras, minor glitches and the solid performance of the original Wing Commander games in DOSBox has relieved the intense price pressure on the game.



]]> 28 May 2007 09:26:51 Wing Commander Privateer: Righteous Fire Wing Commander Privateer: Righteous Fire is an add-on pack for the original release of Privateer.







"So you think you're a hotshot pilot. A clever entrepreneur. A notorious pirate. You've destroyed the Steltek Drone, secured the alien artifact, and outfought and outsmarted everyone in your way. Now, you're taking a well-deserved break on one of Gemini's pleasure worlds. But relaxation will soon be the last thing on your mind...


In Rightous Fire, you're once again transported to the seamy side of the universe, where you discover a fiendish plot that threatens the order and prosperity of Gemini Sector. Whether you're a merchant, pirate or mercenary, plenty of action awaits if you're willing to risk all you earned in Privateer."







Wing Commander Privateer: Righteous Fire continued with the protagonist Burrows on vacation. While away from his craft, cultists steal his prized Steltek gun to study and replicate it. The Church of Man cult used these replicas aboard ships supplied by the Kilrathi to mount a campaign against technology in the Gemini Sector. The player must make the rounds, check with all his various contacts and discover clues in order to bring the Retro plot down.







Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 28 May 2007 08:19:38 Wing Commander - Armada Wing Commander: Armada is a multiplayer action-strategy game set in the Wing Commander universe.





"The life of a seasoned starfighter pilot isn't all glory and adventure. After years of following orders and losing ships and friends, you are now the sole commander, responsible for heading up a momentous strike against your enemy's homeland - either the Empire of Kilrah or the heart of the Confederation. This war requires real strategy, not just hotshot piloting, and you have to determine where to fight, how to fight, and what ships to build to get the job done. In Wing Commander Armada, you have the freedom to construct your own universe, your own missions and your own campaign."









Wing Commander Armada was at least half a decade ahead of its time. In the summer of 1994 it incorporated turn based strategy with 3D fighter combat. Armada was the testbed for the WC3 engine and therefore the first WC game to deploy fully three dimension ship models in flight. The strategic mode had eleven elaborate sectors to conquer, and the game could randomly generate sectors for unlimited gameplay options. Players mined ore, built shipyards and reinforced strategic systems. When clashes occured, the game could compute the possible results or pilots could pilot the fighters firsthand. All of this could be done over a modem or network with fellow fans. Hot seat and split screen options were also available. Players could even record taunts, send them to opponents and have their own voices key in during combat. The game had a fifteen mission storyline describing the TCS Lexington's desperate mission to circumvent the Kilrathi borders and destroy the Kilrathi homeworld. On top of all this, players could turn it around and play as the Kilrathi from start to finish. The narrated manual that was included describes the war from the Kilrathi perspective in some depth. Because of the immature state of the internet when it was released, Armada's multiplayer options don't yet live up to their full potential, but efforts are under way to discover ways to play online.




Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 28 May 2007 07:26:58 Wing Commander: Academy Wing Commander: Acadamy is a mission builder based on the Wing Commander II engine. No major storyline was part of the game - it's a pure blast-fest.



"As a student at the TCSN Academy, you custom-design and fly unique combat, rescue, and search and retrieval missions from the CyberSchool's holographic simulator. In the Wing Commander tradition, the game features a dynamic musical score, improved bit-mapped graphics, and a dazzling array of customizing options. But Wing Commander Academy is not another cinematic extravaganza -- it's an intense dogfight marathon."





Wing Commander Academy was a mission simulator built on the Wing Commander II engine. Before there was a world wide web where modders created and shared tools to manipulate their favorite games, Academy let Wing Commander fans easily play around and create custom scenarios on their own. The game had an addictive high score gauntlet mode and introduced the fastest Confed fighter to date, the Wraith. Academy also gave people their first look at the insides of the Kilrathi cockpit since the Dralthi II in Secret Missions 2. Oddly enough, the Dralthi VIIs pictured on the box cover were not featured in this simulation or any of the games based upon the WC2 engine.





Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 28 May 2007 12:14:55 Wing Commander II: Special Operations 2 Wing Commander: Special Operations 2 is the second mission add-on pack for Wing Commander II."The Confederation's electronic grapevine is running amok with rumors that vital intelligence has been withheld from the High Command. Luckily, Special Operations has its own sources of information, and they say the waiting game just won't cut it any longer. Someone has to lead the way, and you're getting the call!"

Special Operations 2 brought Blair into contact with Maniac's Wild Eagles Squadron and their prototype Morningstar fighters. The special ops team had to also contend with mounting pressure from the traitorous Society of the Mandarins seeking to sell out the Confederation to the Kilrathi. Secrets were revealed and Blair engaged in a final showdown with Jazz Colson.





Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 27 May 2007 11:52:56 Wing Commander II: Special Operations Wing Commander II: Special Operations is a continuation from the storyline told in Wing Commander II.

"If you thought you could snatch a few Zs after that victory at K'tithrak Mang, you'd better look for another line of work!


The cats are restless and rebellion is brewing throughout Kilrathi slave worlds. As a show of force, the Emperor plans a brutal assault on the rebel populations. Millions of lives are in jeopardy until you and the Special Operations team can blunt the attack."





Having had great success with the Secret Missions distribution model, two expansion packs were planned out for Wing Commander II. Blair, Paladin and Hobbes were engaged in covert operations when they became entangled in the mutiny aboard the TCS Gettysburg. They meet up with ace pilot Jason Bondarevsky and begin to learn about the rival factions that have developed among the mutineers. To make matters worse, the Gettysburg was testing an experimental new bomber. The special ops team must defeat ruthless Kilrath and bring the rogue members of the Gettysburg crew to justice. Bondarevsky later goes on to become one of the main characters in several Wing Commander novels.





Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 27 May 2007 11:36:29 Wing Commander I: The Secret Missions 2: Crusade Wing Commander I: The Secret Missions 2: Crusade is the second mission add-on pack for Wing Commander I.





"The Secret Missions 2: Crusade, another exciting chapter in the saga of the Tiger's Claw! In this campaign, a huge Kilrathi fleet maneuvers toward a planet of peaceful, primitive natives. After a Kilrathi renegade defects with the crew of a small destroyer, you'll fly one of their fighterships in undercover missions.


In these new secret missions, you must discover the truth behind the Kilrathi "holy war" before the Warriors of Kilrah can destroy you and the Tiger's Claw!"





Wing Commander I was a huge success and Wing Commander II was in development during 1991. Origin used their experience with The Secret Missions to craft a second expansion pack, The Secret Missions 2: Crusade. WC2 was shaping up to be a huge story driven adventure, so the developers took this opportunity to establish a backstory with SM2. Characters such as Tolwyn, Thrakhath, Hobbes, Jazz and Doomsday were introduced. The TCS Austin appeared as a method for characters such as Angel to survive the impending doom facing the Tiger's Claw in the WC2 intro. In each Wing Commander game the character must face the potential death of wingmates, but in SM2 the first major scripted loss occurred when Bossman died. The tension and emotions were ratcheted up another level for this expansion, and the game created a great environment for Wing Commander II to launch into.





Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 27 May 2007 10:15:10 Wing Commander I: The Secret Missions Wing Commander I: The Secret missions is the first mission add-on pack for the hugely succesful Wing Commander I.





"Wing Commander: The Secret Missions is another thrilling chapter in the continuing saga of the TCS Tiger's Claw. A human colony has been obliterated by the Kilrathi. Now they challenge the defenders of humanity to a deadly game of hide and go seek. You must cross into enemy space in pursuit of the Kilrathi strike fleet, only to face their latest secret weapon....a weapon capable of destroying an entire world."





With the incredible success of Wing Commander, Origin pioneered the concept of game expansions with the Secret Missions add-on disk. Fans of the first title in the series were treated to an intense campaign where the pilots of the Tiger's Claw were tasked with an important covert operation. A new Kilrathi superweapon was being tested aboard the Sivar Dreadnought. Although the Claw hurried in response to its distress call, the populous Goddard Colony was annihilated before help could arrive. The Claw was the only ship in position to penetrate deep behind enemy lines, pick apart the fleet that attacked Goddard and ultimately destroy the Kilrathi secret weapon.





Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
]]> 27 May 2007 09:26:37 Transformers Transformers: The Game is a video game based on the 2007 Transformers movie. Activision and Traveller's Tales are currently developing the game, which allows people to play as either one of nine Autobot or Decepticons including characters not in the film.

The gameplay consists of "free roaming action adventure which draws upon racing, flying, combat, shooter and exploration elements."

Peter Cullen and Frank Welker will reprise their roles as Optimus Prime and Megatron.

There may be different play styles and abilities depending on the platform of choice.
]]> 11 May 2007 04:26:56 Final Exodus You must defend Sol and expand your army outward by taking nearby systems and killing any hostile presences.

This game was entered into and won the TheGameCreators nVidia compo.
]]> 04 May 2007 12:55:00 Strange Adventures In Infinite Space (from http://www.digital-eel.com/sais/):

"In the 22nd century, colony ships were programmed to search for earthlike planets along trajectories calculated to visit stars with the best likelihood of habitable worlds. One such ship with its crew and passengers in cryostasis traveled over 2300 light years before a suitable planet was found.

Hope is a temperate world located in the Glory system on the edge of a vast nebula some refer to as the Purple Void. The nebula is unique in that it contains many unusual star types and other peculiar phenomena.

Over 100 years have passed since the colonists first arrived. It is a new beginning of deep space exploration. Technology has improved and mankind is no longer dependent on slow cryoships and robot probes. This is the setting of Strange Adventures In Infinite Space.

  • ***********

    • Sail the high sea of stars in your own deep space exploration vessel. Discover exotic star systems; seek out new technologies, artifacts and lifeforms; boldly blow up stuff where no one has blown up stuff before!

    SAIS is different every time it is played. Stars, planets, black holes, nebula mass, alien patrols, items, lifeforms and other encounters are randomized for each new Strange Adventure."

    --

    Strange Adventures, or SAIS as commonly known is based around the idea of "bite-sized gameplay" where an individual game may only last a few minutes, allowing a player to have a complete experience in time period that would usually render play sessions of most games useless. The interface is smooth, the visuals pleasing, the atmosphere light (no pun intended) and the gameplay simple, replayable, and designed as the epitome of a Casual game.

    SAIS was a finalist in the 2003 Independent Games Festival and received numerous accolades from various press sources.
    ]]>     29 Mar 2007 04:36:43     Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed Jump to Lightspeed is the expansion which adds space to the MMORPG, Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided. Choosing one of nine career paths in three pilot professions: Rebel, Neutral or Imperial, the player advances through a combination of experience points and quest-completion as a Star Wars starfighter pilot.
    ]]>     18 Mar 2007 12:36:07     QWERTY Warriors QWERTY Warriors is a typing game. Enemies will come at you from all directions, but you cannot move. The only thing you can do to survive is to type the word that is below the enemy. If you type the word correctly, you will shoot and kill whatever is coming after you. Powerups such as full health or a bomb will show up. To use the powerups, you must type the name of it correctly.
    ]]>     13 Mar 2007 04:58:18     Earth 2140 As its name suggests, Earth 2140 takes place in the year 2140 AD. Previous wars have left much of the Earth a nuclear wasteland, forcing most of the world's population into underground bunkers. Tensions rise between the Earth's two major factions, the Eurasian Dynasty (ED) and the United Civilized States (UCS), as both sides vie for the world's steadily dwindling resources. A UCS raid on an ED base is enough to ignite the rivalry into full-scale war as the ED fails in its bid to control Mexico and the UCS counterattacks Scandinavia, Great Britain, France, and the Iberian Peninsula.

    Two little known expansion packs were released for this game:
    Earth 2140: Mission Pack 1
    Earth 2140: Mission Pack 2 - Final Conflict

    A package named Earth 2140 XP was released in August 2006 , it included the game, both expansions and was redone to work under Windows XP.
    ]]>     08 Mar 2007 09:25:43     Alien Abduction II Visit www.probehumanity.com for news, tips, cheats, and tricks.

    Alien Abduction II follows the never released Alien Abduction game where you must abduct people for probing while avoiding the ever pesky MIB agents. Using your tractor beam, you can pick up a variety of objects, and even drop them on enemies to keep them from escaping or firing at you.

    If you have a Bagunk account, you can link your score to your account.

    You can cheat and jump to a level by holding shift+[level #] where the level # is a number key cooresponding to the level you want to jump to. Cheating, however, forfeits your ability to submit a score.
    ]]>     02 Mar 2007 02:15:11     Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri is a science fiction first-person shooter, squad combat computer game developed and published by Looking Glass Studios (known then as Looking Glass Technologies) in 1996.

    The game is set in the year 2327 â€â€
    ]]>     01 Mar 2007 08:10:08     The Legion In this intense action game, you must wage war against the demonic legion, who reproduce tons of pedes(foot soldiers)through generators to keep you from advancing. Fortunately, you'll have plenty of firepower since you can choose between nine weapons, use tanks and machine guns, and absorb the souls of fallen foes to fire right back at the legion with your soul bomb. You can also team up with a friend, and a level editor is included so you can design your own custom maps or change any of mine.
    ]]>     27 Feb 2007 01:21:39     Laser Squad Nemesis Laser Squad Nemesis is a great multiplayer strategy game. The game is a turn based strategy where each player sets up their moves before a turn and then watches the fight play out.

    There are four races to choose from, the Laser Marines, Machina, Spawn, and the Greys. All four races are well balanced and the tournaments are very addictive.
    ]]>     21 Feb 2007 10:26:47     Wing Commander III Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger is the second sequel in the Sci-Fi Space Simulation series created by Chris Roberts.







    "Professionally scripted and filmed in Hollywood, ORIGIN's multi-million dollar production combines the entertainment of film-making with the interactivity of computer gaming. The result is a spectacular spaceflight adventure.


    Adrenaline, romance, danger -- Wing Commander III has all this and more. This sequel completes the turbulent chronicles of the Terran-Kilrathi war. The final showdown takes place on one of the homeworlds -- Earth or Kilrah. But only you can write the ending..."









    Released in 1994, Wing Commander III was the first game to be marketed as a true "Interactive Movie". It was received with much critical-acclaim due to its high playability, state-of-the-art in-game graphics engine plus well scripted, produced and acted FMV sequences, all of which contributed to the games deep and absorbing atmosphere.


    Wing Commander III was the first game in the series to use Full Motion Video as the primary story-telling device and is considered to be one of the best and successful examples of FMV use in a video game. The interactive element takes form during conversation cut-scenes where the player is asked to make a choice on how to proceed. This is done by either by giving a positive or negative response when prompted and this in turn affects the mood of the characters involved, altering theyre behaviour during missions and future conversations.


    This was the final game in the Wing Commander series to deal with the Terran-Kilrathi conflict. As with the previous games, it is possible to play a winning or losing path, depending on the players performance during space-combat. The destruction of Earth or the Kilrathi's home planet of "Kilrah" is at the end of one of these two paths. However the series does continue with Wing Commander IV and Wing Commander: Prophecy.






    Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
    ]]>     19 Feb 2007 09:11:53     Wing Commander II Released in 1991, Wing Commander 2 is a sci-fi space simulation that is a continuation of the storyline that was told in the original Wing Commander.






    "Ten years ago, you were the Hero of Vega Sector, idol of millions - the starfighter pilot who single-handedly turned the tide of a major Kilrathi invasion. Then something went wrong.


    You were disgraced, court-martialed and transferred to a backwater outpost. For years, your lightning-quick reflexes and instinctive dogfighting tactics went to waste while the Kilrathi killed your closest friends on the front lines.


    But Mankind still needs a hero, now more than ever before. And you're still the best pilot in the Galaxy. You've got just one chance to prove yourself, just one chance to keep the Terran homeworlds from falling to the massed armada of the Empire of Kilrah."



    Think you can handle it, flyboy?"





    Again most of the game is spent flying missions in space for the Confederation in the continuing war effort against the fearsome Kilrathi Empire. When not flying missions, the player is also able to explore the "TCS Concordia" and talk to fellow crew-mates. A greater emphasis has been placed on storytelling, which gives the player a greater scope on the people fighting this war. The mood is darker than the original, mainly due to the fact that the Humans are in fact losing the war.


    Wing Commander 2 bettered the original in every regard, from the updated graphics engine to the detailed script. It is considered an all-time classic within the gaming world.








    Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
    ]]>     18 Feb 2007 11:05:29     Band of Thieves 2190. Man has created two space colonies and a third is on its way. Man hasn’t gotten into any conflicts between other species. Earth has [mostly] gotten over its civil warfare. Because of new technology, man is no longer destroying his environment. In fact, he’s doing the exact opposite. New cars emit gases that are repairing the centuries of abuse the atmosphere had to undergo when fossil fuels were still used in cars and other “necessitiesâ€
    ]]>     15 Feb 2007 11:44:41     Tex Murphy: Overseer Tex Murphy: Overseer is the fifth and last instalment in the long running and critically-acclaimed "Tex Murphy" adventure game series. It was developed and published by Access Software.

    The game is actually a clever re-telling of the first game in the series, "Mean Streets". At the beginning of the game, Tex and Chelsee finally end up on a date after the events of "The Pandora Directive". Chelsee is concerned about Tex's apparent inability to commit to a relationship and quizzes him over his why he still wears his wedding ring from his previous marriage. This leads Tex to recount the story from his first case in which he meets his first wife, Sylvia Linsky.


    From the Microsoft Games Studio site:

    "Your client is drop-dead gorgeous. Her father is just plain dead - of an apparent suicide. She's certain he was murdered and is willing to do anything to prove it. You are Tex Murphy, P.I. - willing to do anything to make rent. Your 3D virtual reality investigation leads you into the heart of a dark secret. An elite team of specialists has created something unspeakable, and each of them is marked for death. Now, only you stand between freedom and the reign of the Overseer...

    The emphasis in Tex Murphy: Overseer is on adventure. The story is a twisting, turning joyride, full of danger, espionage, ingenious escapes and, of course, plenty of humor. The designers paid extra attention to game play this time around, packing the adventure with dozens and dozens of riddles, puzzles and hair-raising cliffhangers, all intended to keep players glued to their computers until the mind-bending finale.

    Tex Murphy: Overseer is the ideal vehicle for the new DVD format. The explorable 3D environments are presented in High Color (which uses up to 65,536 colors), making them richer, deeper and more photorealistic. Players will feel they are actually in real locations. And the movement--as in Under a Killing Moon and The Pandora Directive-- is completely unrestricted, allowing players to search every nook and cranny, as opposed to the limitations of rendered paths or slide-show presentations.

    The interface has been updated and streamlined, allowing the 3D environments to be presented full-screen. And, in keeping with Access Software's commitment to customer service, Tex Murphy: Overseer comes with an extensive Help system, as well as complete hints, so players will never have to call in for a clue or purchase a hint book. Also, in response to an extremely favorable reaction, there will be two levels of gameplay, as there were in The Pandora Directive, one for players who want to get on with the story, and one for puzzle fanatics.

    The cast of actors, headed by Michael York (Logan's Run, The Three Musketeers, etc.) is experienced and excellent. The script, written by Aaron Conners, is feature film-quality and was the primary draw for the major actors. Adrian Carr follows up his stylish direction of The Pandora Directive by utilizing the new technology and giving Tex Murphy: Overseer a truly cinematic, rather than computer game look.

    With the very latest technology, a riveting script, a stellar cast, stylish direction and a finale that will blow the audience away, Tex Murphy: Overseer is the most exciting edition yet in the popular and critically-acclaimed Tex Murphy series."


    Two more sequels called "Chance" and "Polarity" were planned by Access Software. However due to a buyout by Microsoft and the declining sales of the adventure game genre, the series was put on permanent hold. Fans are dismayed...
    ]]>     14 Feb 2007 10:05:11     Under A Killing Moon The game takes place in the post-apocalyptic city of San Francisco in the year 2042. Radiation has flooded most parts of the Earth and the red skies have brought upon the world many changes - one of which is mutation. While mutants are prevalent, the remaining humans are considered to be the upper-echelon of remaining society. Tex Murphy, a Private Investigator who's a normal human or "norm", doesn't mind be-friending the mutants that he lives with on Chandler Avenue, Old San Francisco - In fact, he prefers it...


    From the Microsoft Games Studio site:

    "Enter the virtual world of Under a Killing Moon in December 2042 where you, as Tex Murphy, must stop the forces of evil before they destroy mankind and rob you of your next unemployment check.

    This interactive movie allows you to explore every square inch of your 3-D environment. Crawl under desks, open drawers, and scrutinize every stain on the floor as you unravel the mystery that consumes you.

    The unparalleled graphics, complex characters and complete freedom of movement will convince you that you are the main character in this intriguing mystery movie.

    Under a Killing Moon stars Brian Keith (Hardcastle & McCormick, The Parent Trap), Margot Kidder (Superman I, II, III), Russell Means (The Last of the Mohicans, Natural Born Killers) and features the voice of James Earl Jones (Star Wars, Field of Dreams, The Lion King)."


    The plot revolves around Tex Murphy, a broke and recently divorced P.I who has just landed a job investigating a robbery down at the local mutant-owned pawn shop. Upon solving this little quest and finally feeling a little better about himself, Tex is then contacted by Countess Renier who has offered to pay Tex a huge amount of cash if he can locate a missing valuable statuette. With dollar signs in his eyes Tex accepts the gig, but little does he know that he's about to risk his life by unwittingly getting involved with the affairs of a dangerous doomsday cult.

    Released in 1994, Under A Killing Moon was the third game in the "Tex Murphy" adventure game series created by Aaron Conners and Chris Jones of Access Software. It followed the 1989 release of "Mean Streets" and its sequel "Martian Memorandum" in 1991. UAKM's sequel "The Pandora Directive" was released in 1996 to great critical-acclaim.
    ]]>     13 Feb 2007 07:10:09     Earthsiege 2 The Cybrids were thought to have been destroyed in the first Earthsiege, but this is not the case. Prometheus, the main Cybrid computer, has built a base on the moon and is constructing a massive army. He is launching an assault on the Earth, and you must put a stop to it.
    ]]>     13 Feb 2007 06:31:22     The Pandora Directive From the Microsoft Game Studio website:

    "The Pandora Directive takes Interactive Movies to the next level. Access' previous release, Under a Killing Moon, won rave reviews and hundreds of thousands of fans by blending a futuristic detective story with sci-fi, humor and interesting, challenging game play. The Pandora Directive features a tight, riveting script, professional direction and cinematography.

    The production is enhanced by strong acting performances from an excellent cast that includes such stars as: Barry Corbin (Northern Exposure, War Games), Tanya Roberts (View to a Kill, Beastmaster), Kevin McCarthy (Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Twilight Zone: The Movie, Just Cause), and John Agar (Tarantula, Fort Apache, Sands of Iwo Jima).

    One of the improvements The Pandora Directive has over other Interactive Movies, is that it can be replayed several times. The preceding storyline is just one way in which the plot can develop. There are 3 different narrative paths through The Pandora Directive, each with its own unique scenes, plot twists and character developments. And, depending on how you choose to move through the story, there are 7 different endings. This allows you to replay the Interactive Movie several times, each time coming across new conversations, locations and puzzle solutions.

    The Pandora Directive offers two levels of game play. Level One is for those users who play games to see the story, not tackle the challenging puzzles. It has a complete on-line hint system that assists them if they get 'stuck'. Level Two is the Expert Gamers' Level. This level provides some extra puzzles, slightly more gameplay, more challenging solutions, and rewards the users with more points. In the beginning of the game, users can select which level they would like to play. All three paths and seven endings are accessible on both levels of play."


    This game is considered by fans and critics as being the best in this high-quality series. Good reviews were given despite the backlash the "Interactive Movie" genre was experiencing at the time. It spawned a sequel (which was a prequel of sorts) called - Tex Murphy: Overseer
    ]]>     12 Feb 2007 01:23:29     Wing Commander I Set in the year 2654, Wing Commander tells a tale of mankind's struggle for survival in a ferocious war between the Human Confederation and the warmongering Kilrathi Empire, a fierce bi-pedal feline race.





    "You're a starfighter pilot, the best of the best, but nothing in your training prepared you for action this hot. Deep space dogfights against Kilrathi aces are deadly, and the future of humanity is on the line each time you fly!


    Wing Commander puts you in the middle of the most intense starship action you've ever experienced outside of a movie theatre. But in Wing Commander, you're the star!"





    The majority of the game takes place within the cockpit of various space fighters. Depending on how well one performs while in action, the player may find themselves on the winning or losing path thus altering the plot accordingly. Medals and the respect of your wingmen are gained if performance is exemplary, in turn leading to a more effective attack wing. In between space-flight missions the player is free to roam the legendary carrier "TCS Tiger's Claw" and have conversations with their fellow crew mates, learning more about the horrors and triumphs of the bloody war that is now being fought.


    When Wing Commander was released in 1990, the in-game graphics and space-combat engine were a step above all other products during that period. The game was even one of the first to use the new Sound Blaster for PC's, adding to the already cinematic feel of the game.


    The strong script and characters which has been a staple through out the series are the primary reason why the Wing Commander has gained such a strong following over the years. That combined with movie-like presentation and strong gameplay has made the venerable Wing Commander a classic among gamers and critics.





    Want to learn more about Wing Commander? Visit WCnews.com or Wing Commander Universe.
    ]]>     11 Feb 2007 07:47:45     VoiD.net

    - What is it?

    VoiD.net is a 2D platformer that tries to take advantage of current technology for revisiting and expanding the platformer genre. It's being developed with Blitzmax.

    - What is it... not?


    • It's not retro or a remake. No "classic" control or feel.
    • It's not all about jumping down on enemies and collecting coins or rings. No random items floating around. It tries to make the player feel inside a (somewhat) coherent world.
    • The objective of the game is not get to the end of the level to find out the princess is in another castle. As the story develops, the player will have to adapt to each plot-driven situation.
    • There's no destined all-good hero trying to save the world. You control a group of characters that have their personalities, lives, and motivations.

    Note: I love oldies like Mario Bros and Sonic! - It's not that they're not great games, but this game isn't aiming at that!

    - Features?

    At this point you'll have figured out VoiD.net has a big adventure component, and this heavily influences the gameplay. It has some RPG aspects (character levelling, skills / "magic") and even tactical wargame or fighting games ones.
    Let's say I try to mix what I liked most of each (2D) genre into a platformer. This is the result:


    • High-res 32bit, hardware accelerated graphics (supporting OpenGL & DirectX currently; probly DX support will be discontinued).
    • VoiD Engine scripting language for developing customizable campaigns.
    • Deep immersion in the sci-fi world of Void through ingame narrative, playable cutscenes, "alive" game maps and npcs...
    • Up to 5 selectable characters at the same time in the player party.
    • Fast paced control system, designed for heavy action scenes.
    • Vehicles, some controlable by the player.
    • Levelling system for characters. Character classes & subclasses, skills (including some kind of magic), buyable equipment, award system a la Tactics Ogre...
    • Fluid character animation, thanks to VoiD Engine 2D Skeletal Animation System.
    • Ambient, weather and cinematic effects (graphic effects via shaders, when available).
    • Lots of developer love :)

    - Personal note

    I've been into development (on my own) for more than 2 years, and I know I still have long ways to go. The game has evolved a lot since its first form and has become somewhat complex.
    This may sound crazy for just one dev, but I have my reasons. It's a very personal project, because I see it as my "ultimate freeware game" before starting to think more... commercial.

    If you have any comment, ... well, just leave it, or mail me or whatever you want!

    Void does not forgive.
    ]]>     11 Feb 2007 12:38:40     Tabula Rasa Tabula Rasaâ„¢ is a massively multiplayer online action game that takes you into the heat of battle at the frontlines of an epic war between a xenophobic alien race bent on galactic conquest and the coalition of rebel soldiers who've traveled across the galaxy to stop them.

    Combining fast-paced action with the immersion of a role-playing game, Tabula Rasa takes the player on an intergalactic adventure where the individual has an opportunity to significantly impact the pace of battle on a global scale. Players enter the game as rebel soldiers wielding a variety of futuristic weapons, potent demolitions and the mystical power of “Logos.â€
    ]]>     09 Feb 2007 10:54:31     MissionForce: Cyberstorm You are in charge of an army of Bioderms (genetically enhanced clones) fighting against the Cybrid army controlled by Prometheus. You must travel to different planets to mine resources and take out any Cybrid forces. As you move up in rank, you are granted better Bioderm pilots, more powerful HERCs (Humaniform-Emulation Roboticized Combat Unit with Leg-Articulated Navigation), and more powerful weapons to outfit them with.

    Cyberstorm is a turn based strategy game. The HERCs are fully customizable with different weapons, shields and engines to put into them. The Bioderms are also customizable, with the ability to genetically enhance them at the risk of their well being. As your pilots complete more missions without dying, they will gain experience and become more powerful.
    ]]>     01 Feb 2007 06:00:57     Cyber Gladiators Cyber Gladiators is a 3D fighting game similar to Virtua Fighter or Battle Arena Toshinden. There are 8 characters to choose from that each have around 50 moves to execute. There are a few features that make the game different from others, however. The game will keep tack of your fighting styler, and computer opponents will change their style accordingly. So if you repeatedly punch your enemies in the face, they will eventually learn your style and counter you in the future. There are also certain weapons that you can use depending on what arena you are fighting in. For example, in some of the levels there will be spears thrown into the ring that you can pick up and throw.
    ]]>     30 Jan 2007 05:43:08     3-D Ultra Pinball 3-D Ultra Pinball ventures where no pinball table has gone before. The basics of the game are like any normal pinball table. You have flippers and you have to hit the ball into bumpers and certain areas to get points. However, 3-D Ultra Pinball goes beyond what a standard pinball table can do. Lasers will shoot your ball, ships will pick it up and take it places, and tanks will attack it. There is also a goal for you to eventually build a spaceship by completing certain parts of the tables.
    ]]>     26 Jan 2007 05:28:28     Galcon Galcon is an awesome high-paced multi-player galactic action-strategy game. You send swarms of ships from planet to planet to take over the galaxy. It's arcade action risk with planets! Anyone can play - only takes 30 seconds to learn. Multi-player network game for up to 12 players with teams. 15 different single player missions against 7 different computer players. Attack planets with thousands of swarming ships! Short battles, epic warfare - only 5 minutes per round. Net ranking of all net players. Good times guaranteed!
    ]]>     23 Jan 2007 06:58:24     Heresy War Currently in development, Heresy War is a combat space simulator that focuses on delivering a completely immersive experience for both casual and hardcore gamers alike. The player plays a role of a space fighter pilot that gets thrown in the middle of a raging civil war. While trying to put an end to the civil war, a third ,mysterious force gets involved in the conflict and threatens to destroy everything that the humanity stands for.
    ]]>     23 Jan 2007 12:53:58     The Corona The Corona is based int he distant future. It stars the hero, Jordan Kade, as he searches to reclaim stolen memories on the database of "The Nexus". It is here that he will come face to face with several enemy factions seeking to gain the power of "The Corona" for themselves. What the Corona is capable of...nobody but Jordan knows.
    ]]>     21 Jan 2007 12:27:32     Space Quest Collection Roger Wilco. Ladies man, hero, man about town, Janitor.

    If you've ever touched adventure games back in the late 80s you'll know about the brilliant work that Sierra did with the genre. Sadly, those days are long gone. However someone did something right and released the Space Quest Collection.

    Contained on the DVD are episodes 1 to 6 of Space Quest, all of which follow our intrepid janitor hero as he gets into one (PUN)messy situation(/PUN) after another.

    The games are all designed with the standard Sierra adventure game engine(s): AGI (SQ2), SCI (SQ1 VGA, SQ3, SQ4, SQ5). Space Quest 1, 4, 5 and 6 all use the later icon driven interface whilst 2 and 3 use the classic text parser to direct our gallant mop jockey.

    The brilliant use of nerd (i.e. sci-fi, computer, etc...)humour blends perfectly with the game play/puzzles. The outlandish situations, and locales will remind you of less formal science fiction movies/tv shows as will the many pot shots at the established sci-fi franchises such as Star Wars, Star Trek and Aliens.

    If you like aliens, if you like adventure games and if you like mops then I highly recommend picking up the Space Quest collection.
    ]]>     20 Jan 2007 08:22:02     Outpost 2: Divided Destiny Outpost 2 is a real-time strategy game developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra, released in 1997. Outpost 2's relation to the original Outpost is little more than a namesake.
    ]]>     16 Jan 2007 06:24:38     Halo: Alpha This is a game i decided to make because i like playing Halo 2 via LAN, and wanted to translate that into 2d. Its a work in progress, so dont be surprised to see some small bugs here and there.
    ]]>     06 Jan 2007 10:02:36     Tron 2.0 Twenty years have passed since Kevin Flynn defeated the MCP with the help of his Tron program. In doing so, he also destroyed the technology he'd used to digitize himself. He's long since left ENCOM in the hands of Alan Bradley, who is raising a family of his own.

    Now ruthless global corporate powers want to send humans into the digital realm once more in order to control world finances, and only Alan knows the answer to perfecting their faulty code. Alan encrypted his secrets in time to prevent their theft, but now he's been kidnapped, and the search for the code is on.

    You enter the fray as Jet Bradley, Alan's brilliant but rebellious son, who finds himself enlisted by Ma3a to fight the now viral corporate security officer within the digital realm and prevent global domination.

    The Tron series of games are based upon the 1982 Walt Disney movie of the same name, beginning with a Tron arcade game and arcade sequel. Tron 2.0 is the first game of the series to be produced for the PC, and subsequently was released for Mac. A related title, "Tron 2: Killer App" was later released for the Xbox, but with significantly altered content.

    Additional Game Features:

    • Single player campaign entirely in the digital realm (excepting some cutscenes) immersing you into story-driven, first-person action.

    • As Jet Bradley you will combat digital opponents using guns, rods, grenades, missiles, and the iconic TRON disc, gaining abilities and new weapons as you overcome various challenges to go deeper into the system.

    • Defrag and disinfect your inventory or live with the unpleasant consequences (You're in a computer after all!)

    • Intense action, intense and deadly battles, and the trademark high-speed light cycle races, featuring a new light cycle design by Syd Mead, who developed the cycles for the original film.

    • Musical score by Wendy Carlos, the composer of the original Tron film score.

    • Vocal performers include Bruce Boxleitner, Rebecca Romijn, Ken Boynton, Cindy Morgan and many more, and featuring Jason Cottle as the voice of Jet Bradley.

    • Multiplayer includes some campaign scenarios and light cycle mode.

    • Rendered with the Lithtech Triton engine (specially enhanced version of their Jupiter engine)

    Developer: Monolith Productions
    Publisher: Buena Vista Interactive
    Designer: Frank Rooke
    Released: August 26, 2003 for the PC, April 21, 2004 for the Mac.

    Minimum System Requirements
    WIndows: 500 MHz CPU, 256 MB RAM, 2.4 GB hard disk space, 32 MB GPU
    Max: 700 MHz G4, Mac OS X 10.2.8, 256 MB RAM, 32 MB GPU, 2.5 GB disk space
    ]]>     01 Jan 2007 11:33:32     Ground Control Note: Don't fail to notice that the full Ground Control game is now a free download!

    Speedy3d said,
    At the beginning of every mission the units are pre-selected before play so that concentration can be put on the battle rather than the base. This opens up a whole new can of possibilities and ways of expanding just the gameplay itself rather than the management. The need for detailed battle plans and increasingly deceptive and cunning tactics suddenly grows tremendously.

    Two political factions have gone to war over a distant world and the secrets it holds in Ground Control, a visually stunning and frenetically paced action/real-time strategy game from Sierra and Massive Entertainment.

    By combining strategic combat with fast-paced 3D action elements, Ground Control promises to deliver a fresh experience that will appeal to a wide audience, including online gaming enthusiasts.

    At its core, Ground Control is a frenetically paced RTS played out in a visually stunning 3D world. During the course of the game, players will be challenged in an intense arena of battle- effectively managing tactical squads of foot soldiers, mobile units, air craft and support units as they vie for control of a distant planet.

    In addition to the epic single-player game, Ground Control's extensive multiplayer component features several unique multiplayer modes including deathmatch-style drop-in games - a first for RTS.


    Additional Game Features:

    • Command your squads in a variety of formations, across rugged terrain, and to victory in several different mission objectives.

    • Focus on the strategy and action. Ground Control eliminates many of the tedious aspects of typical RTS games and focuses its gameplay on tactics, strategy, and the art of battle.

    • Choose your troops. Various types of tanks, hover bikes, airplanes, and soldiers will be at your disposal, delivered to the battlefield by orbital dropships. However once you are in battle you won't be able to make more, so proper troop selection will be key to success.

    • Arm your troops. Each unit type has special weapons, abilities, and armor. Players can choose to custom fit each unit or let the game auto-select the proper load out for each mission. Special equipment can include medikits, repair kits, image intensifiers, afterburners, various stationary turrets, or repair stations. Most specials can usually be used two or three times during a level, although the most powerful special abilities, such as the bomber's tactical nuclear warhead, are limited to a single use.

    • Advanced artificial intelligence makes your troops and your enemy's troops act and fight realistically.

    • A gripping story line will unfold as you command your troops through 30 single-player missions.

    • Take the battle online. Battle your friends or enemies via the Internet or LAN in traditional RTS multiplay, as well as in multiplayer modes new to the RTS genre.

    • Control the camera to get a better view of the action. A free-floating camera allows you to zoom in and out and view the action from any angle.

    • Ground Control completely does away with resource and economic management, expanding the conventional focus from real-time strategy into real-time tactical combat.

    • Ultra high quality 16Bit textures and amazingly detailed units and buildings. Ground Control employed relatively new 'Rendering Distance' code features that control the level of polygons you can see by the distance at which they are. A character seen at great distance may consist of only a few polygons, but zooming in reveals gorgeous detail.

    • Hands-on tutorial gets you up to speed for your role as a battlefield commander by tasking you with various and comprehensive objectives and enemy engagements.

    Developer: Massive Entertainment
    Publisher: Sierra
    Released: June 1, 2000

    Minimum System Requirements
    233 MHz CPU, 32 MB RAM, 4 MB video card RAM, 4X CD-ROM drive, DirectX 7.0a, 306 MB available hard disk space, Windows 95.
    ]]>     01 Jan 2007 09:10:23