AVault News (29-Mar/Wed at 1:26pm)
Eugeny Ivanoff
> The official Alundra 2 strategy guide, featuring 160 full-color pages of
> strategies and secrets to Activision's release, has hit stores.
BRADYGAMES has released the official Alundra 2 strategy guide, featuring 160
full-color pages of strategies and secrets to Activision's release. Alundra 2
is a one-person 3D action RPG that features real-time battles, hundreds of
puzzles, and adventure elements. In a struggle between good and evil, gamers
must navigate a myriad of different locations while battling a host of
monsters and bosses. People encounter unusual characters, hundreds of puzzles,
and mini-games such as darts.
Filled with secrets and game-winning tactics, Alundra 2 Official Strategy
Guide reveals everything people need to help them on their quest, the
publisher said in a press statement. With a complete solve of the game, the
guide navigates people through the story, and includes essential strategies
for defeating the bosses. Item, weapon, and magic lists are also included to
give users stats on every useful article. In addition, a complete bestiary
details hit points, attributes, location, and fighting strategy for every
monster in Alundra 2. Comprehensive maps call out important items and
locations in every area. Alundra 2 Official Strategy Guide is available now.
>> 1:48 pm CT - *Announced: KISS Psycho Circus for Dreamcast*
> Gathering of Developers today announced it would publish KISS Psycho Circus:
> The Nightmare Child for the Sega Dreamcast.
Gathering of Developers today announced it would publish KISS Psycho Circus:
The Nightmare Child for the Sega Dreamcast. Game developer Tremor
Entertainment will bring Third Law Interactive's game to the system with its
online capabilities intact. The Gathering will showcase Psycho Circus at this
year's upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo, and will release Psycho Circus
this summer.
Based on Todd McFarlane's best-selling comic, Tremor's Psycho Circus will
thrust people into a demonic world of horror where they must battle monsters
spawned at the hand of an unborn evil called the Nightmare Child. Gamers begin
as a no-name band member, then enter the world of the Psycho Circus and step
into the role of each KISS character to acquire the powers of the supernatural
Elder. The Elder, manifesting all four KISS characters, possesses the power to
destroy the dreaded Nightmare Child and save the universe from doom. Psycho
Circus will include deathmatch levels exclusive to the console version.
>> 2:04 pm CT - *Sega Release Dates Announced*
> Sega of America has released an updated release date list for its
> forthcoming Dreamcast titles.
Sega of America has released an updated release date list for its forthcoming
Dreamcast titles:
- F1 World Grand Prix on April 25
- Maxen X on Apil 25
- Space Channel 5 on June 6
- Ecco The Dolphin on July 11
- Seaman on July 11
- Virtua Tennis on July 11
- D2 on Aug. 15
>> 2:14 pm CT - *Atari Greatest Hits Released*
> Hasbro Interactive today announced the PC release of its classic arcade
> games compilation--Atari Greatest Hits.
Hasbro Interactive today announced the release of its classic arcade games
compilation--Atari Greatest Hits. Two CD-ROMs full of video game history,
Atari Greatest Hits includes a collection of the most popular arcade releases
of the '70s and '80s with authentic versions of Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe,
Battlezone, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Gravitar, Millipede, Missile Command,
Pong, Tempest, and Warlords. Also included is a multimedia supplement of video
interviews with the original designers, Atari memorabilia, and mouse pointers,
system icons, fonts, screen savers, and wallpaper for each game. The
compilation also contains previews of new 3D-oriented revivals from Hasbro,
and the ability to post high scores on the Internet. The Windows 95 and 98
product is available in stores at a suggested retail price of $19.95.
>> 2:29 pm CT - *Top Selling PC Games March 12-18*
> We have the list of the top-selling PC games for March 12-18.
Here are the top-selling PC games for March 12-18:
- Who Wants To Be A Millionaire from Disney
- The Sims from Electronic Arts [ *review* (1)]
- Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun Firestorm from Electronic Arts
- Roller Coaster Tycoon from Hasbro Interactive [ *review* (2)]
- Age of Empires II: Age Of Kings from Microsoft [ *review* (3)]
- Lego Island from Mattel Interactive
- Roller Coaster Tycoon Corkscrew Follies from Hasbro Interactive
[ *review* (4)]
- Starcraft from Havas Interactive [ *review* (5)]
- Unreal Tournament from GT Interactive [ *review* (6)]
- Half-Life from Havas Interactive [ *review* (7)]
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1) http://www.avault.com/reviews/review_temp.asp?game=sims
2) http://www.avault.com/reviews/review_temp.asp?game=rctyc&page=1
3) http://www.avault.com/reviews/review_temp.asp?game=aok
4) http://www.avault.com/reviews/review_temp.asp?game=corksc
5) http://www.avault.com/reviews/review_temp.asp?game=starc&page=1
6) http://www.avault.com/reviews/review_temp.asp?game=ut
7) http://www.avault.com/reviews/review_temp.asp?game=half&page=1
>> 3:16 pm CT - *PC Games In Stores: March 29*
> Three new releases for action fans have hit stores: Messiah, Soldier of
> Fortune, and Codename Eagle.
3D shooter fans might as well throw in the towel today! Three new releases for
action fans have hit stores: Messiah, Soldier of Fortune, and Codename Eagle.
For more information on each of these titles, select the following coverage:
- Messiah [ *more info* (1)]
- Soldier of Fortune [ *more info* (2)]
- Codename Eagle [ *more info* (3)]
- Atari Greatest Hits [ *more info* (4)]
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1) http://www.avault.com/previews/preview_temp.asp?game=messiah&page=1
2) http://www.avault.com/articles/getarticle.asp?name=sof&page=1
3) http://www.avault.com/previews/preview_temp.asp?game=ceagle
4) http://www.avault.com/news/displaynews.asp?story=3292000-141440
>> 3:35 pm CT - *Infogrames Reports Fiscal 2000 Boon*
> Infogrames Entertainment, the French parent of Infogrames North America,
> today reported a strong gain in sales and earnings for the first half of its
> fiscal year 2000.
Infogrames Entertainment, the French parent of Infogrames North America, today
reported a strong gain in sales and earnings for the first half of its fiscal
year 2000. For the first half, ended Dec. 31, 1999, the company's consolidated
revenue rose 65 percent to $276.8 million from the same period last year,
while consolidated net income increased 81 percent to $18.1 million. According
to a company press statement, this performance bears witness to the success of
Infogrames' multi-platform strategy.
This improvement in performance is attributable to the successful launches of
Test Drive 6 and Mission Impossible on the PlayStation in the U.S. during the
second quarter, as well as to the ongoing strength of titles launched from
Infogrames' catalog, the company said. Through reduced production costs and an
improved product blend, including higher sales of CD-ROM titles, Infogrames
had a 79 percent gain in gross profit. This enabled the company to maintain
its earnings growth rate while absorbing a doubling in promotional expenses as
well as research and development for the next generation of consoles, such as
the PS2.
During the first half of fiscal 2000, Infogrames acquired Accolade, Gremlin
and Beam; the product development teams of Infogrames Melbourne House and
Infogrames Sheffield House were integrated into the group's internal research
and development function; and Infogrames acquired a controlling investment in
GT Interactive.
>> 3:45 pm CT - *Dreamcast Titles Coming to Blockbuster*
> Blockbuster announced today that Sega Dreamcast video games would be
> available for rent in participating stores nationwide April 7.
Blockbuster announced today that Sega Dreamcast video games would be available
for rent in participating stores nationwide April 7. "We've been testing
Dreamcast rentals in 534 of our U.S. stores since its introduction last fall,"
said Steve Lundeen, vice president, interactive merchandising. "Consumer
response to these tests was very positive, and now that the format has caught
on across the nation, we have decided to roll it out to participating
stores."Industry data shows that Sega has sold 1.9 million Dreamcast units in
the U.S. to date. Participating stores will carry 45 to 50 Dreamcast titles
for rent. The titles will vary from store to store, depending on customer
demand.
>> 4:35 pm CT - *Havas Announces Flipside-com*
> Havas Interactive today announced an agreement for the acquisition of Prize
> Central Net, an online entertainment property.
Havas Interactive today announced an agreement for the acquisition of Prize
Central Net, an online entertainment property. In a move to strengthen its
position in the expanding online games sector, Havas will merge its online
games unit, Won.net, with PrizeCentral.com to form a new community that will
operate under the name of Flipside.com, located *here* (1). Flipside.com will
offer more than 50 games covering all content categories of online interactive
entertainment, from action, strategy, and simulation titles, to casual
entertainment games such as card, casino, and board offerings. Flipside.com
will also integrate Prize Central's "PointsForPrizes" rewards system
throughout its games.
Havas said that at its inception, Flipside.com would be the second largest
property in the online gaming business based on the total number of minutes
spent. The community will have about four million registered users from over
80 countries. It had a combined reach of 4.1 percent of the total Internet
audience in February, according to Mediametrix. The transaction is expected to
close in mid-April. Flipside.com will have a combined staff of 150, located in
San Francisco and Bellevue, Wash., as well as in Germany, the UK, and France.
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1) http://www.flipside.com
>> 4:47 pm CT - *Apple Preparing OS for PCs*
> EFront is reporting that Apple is preparing a new operating system designed
> to run on x86-based machines.
EFront is reporting that Apple is preparing a new operating system designed to
run on x86-based machines. However, the OS will still be able to perform on
Macintosh systems as well. Called Darwin, it is said to be a stripped-down
version of the MacOS X Server introduced in Jan. 1999. Apple's new Darwin OS
may be recognized as an alternative to Microsoft's Windows.
EFront said Apple fans are excited that Apple could use Darwin to develop
future versions of the OS that could run on cost sensitive Intel-based
machines, rather than expensive Macintosh hardware. Some discussion groups on
the Internet seem to be fueling the idea of the new Darwin OS becoming an
alternative to Microsoft's Windows operating system. It is also rumored that
Apple is discussing license ideas with PC manufacturers. The new MacOS will
feature a new graphical user interface, dubbed Aqua, with the
application-programming interface entitled Carbon, eFront said. These new
features may also be implemented into the Darwin OS.
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Source: http://www.avault.com/news/
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