Catapult V1.31b will be (finally!) released at the end of this week. It is a major update and includes these changes :
- Distributed project development through the internet (i.e. similar to CVS built-in)
- Brand new level editor (heaps of features, fully integrated), unlocked in the freeware version
- Image management system (through TileLists)
- Sound editor (create, edit or transform sound effects)
- Improved palette and image processing tools
- Full music/sound support in our GBA engine (…
Gamespot has an interview with Irrational's Jonathan Chey about the Freedom Force sequel in the works...
"Freedom Force vs. the Third Reich. In the new game, the Freedom Force team must travel back in time to World War II to battle a new supervillain named Blitzkrieg.... The new game includes an enhanced 3D-rendering engine, as well as improved artificial intelligence."
Find out more at Gamespot!
Homelanfed has an interview with Jonathan as well.
Xbox Australia has thrown its support behind the Australian development community by announcing the XDK (Xbox Development Kit) programme, a joint venture with the Victorian Government, aimed at fostering the advancement of world class interactive entertainment in Australia.
The programme will see Xbox Australia provide 18 Xbox developer kits available for use by the State?s growing games development community. Managed through the Game Developers? Association of Australia (GDAA), the kit will…
New to our list of known Australian game developers is Viva La Mobile..
"Sydney based Viva La Mobile have stormed onto the wireless game scene developing both single & multiplayer games for next generation java enabled devices. With a MOTOROLA award for their first strategy/action game "Privateers" and the global launch of their game distribution channel (www.mobilegamecards.com) the mobile gaming revolution is truly here!"
You can see what Viva La Mobile are up to at the Australian Games…
New pictures, new weapon info, and new vehicle revealed by Michael Johnston from Irrational Games, and Alex Rodberg from Sierra.
"Tribes: Vengeance is about 65 percent complete, which means we're on target for a release in Q4 2004."
Read all about it at Gamespot.
The fourth Installment of Infinite Interactive's Developer Diary on Warlords IV is up on Avault. It's Janeen Fawkner's turn, as producer and art director, to give an insight to her role on this title.
"Warlords IV presented a unique set of challenges for us, as we had to pick up an existing, incomplete game that had been in development for a number of years, and bring it to completion within nine months (sort of like having a baby, but a lot more painful)."
Jump on over to Avault.
Nominations are Now Open for the 2003 Australian Game Developers Awards (AGD)
Who Can Nominate?
Nominations are now open to Australian and New Zealand residents.
What do the Winners Receive?
The winner (individual or team) of each category will receive Discreet 3D Studio Max 6 with Character Studio valued at approximately $9,000 each.
When do nominations Close?
01 November 2003
New Award Categories
Award for Best Unsigned Game (Professional)
For more Information click here
Award for Best…
Australia's First Electronic Games Academic Summit
Thursday, 20 November 2003
Melbourne Convention Centre, Australia
The Australian Game Developers Conference is proud to present the inaugural Playing with our Minds Australia's First Electronic Games Academic Summit on Thursday 20 November 2003 at the Melbourne Convention Centre, Australia.
Come along and share your opinions on video game theory, the impact of interactive technology on Australian society and hear Jason Della Rocca, Program…
www.smh.com.au has an article on Tantalus and their successful porting niche. It tells how Tantalus scored the job for the Unreal II port on the Xbox, how they approach game ports, and also a bit of history on other ports done by Tantalus over the years..
"Unreal II conversion lead programmer Stephen Bennett, ... says the first thing he does when considering a conversion is to "trim the fat". Original code, especially for the PC, is often hurried out the door and is far from optimal, he says."…
