I'll probably have more questions for you, but I'll take a good look at the code first. Well, one curiosity. If you were just starting FitzQuake would it make more sense to ditch the glQuake code altogether, and build an enginge that is 'Quake capable' but is in essense a different engine taking advantage of CPU hardware that wasn't available when Abrash was optimising handmade assembly, or is it preferable (perhaps time constraints are a big concern)to use as a bases the flawed (but functional) glQuake? 

Well, I started fitzquake for 2 reasons: first, I played quake and wasn't satisfied with the engines available, and second, it was a great way to learn about engine coding. Since now I play less quake, and I know that stuff, the situation is different.

Of course, one of my aims is to keep fitzquake compatible with any computer that can run glquake. I seem to have broken 3dfx support, but otherwise it's mostly true.

If I was just starting out now, I would rewrite the renderer from scratch to use all the nice features of modern video cards. But, the rest of the engine would pretty much be what it is now -- the original, with modifications. 

Dude, doom3 runs on a voodoo2, and you can't even keep fitzquake up? for shame. 

..but have any of you guys in the US bought a DS yet? I might be getting bought either a DS or PSP for my birthday (I'll be on holiday in Japan, where they will both be out) and want to know what people think of the DS so far.

I've read some slightly disheartening comments on the DS, which is annoying, because the PSP doesn't seem to be particularly novel - it just looks like a nice gadget with good potential. 

http://www.artificialstudios.com/screenshots.php 

I got a DS and Mario 64, which it seems is the only decent launch title here. I'm totally loving the hell out of it. The system itself is slick and responsive, and the displays are very visible, thanks to being backlit. Comes with the charger for the battery, two styluses (stylii?), a thumb strap that has a small plastic bit on it so you can use the touch screen without getting you grubby fingers on it and making dirty. When you use the system without a game, you get pictochat, which is a text/drawing messaging thing the communicates over the system's wireless adapter. Also comes with a demo of Metroid: First Hunt, which does allow multiplayer and has a few training levels. I've played some, I'll report more once I really get into it.

Using the touch screen with the thumb pad for Mario 64 feels very much like using the stick on N64. I've been completely impressed by how easy it is to get into moving around.

The game itself is basically a quick update of Mario 64 with the art and geometry cleaned up a bit, and a few extra levels. Also added is the fact that you start controlling Yoshi, and eventually find Mario, Luigi, and Wario to use, each with their own specialty. Having never seriously played the original, I've been really enjoying myself so far.

One big feature added to the game as well is the addition of minigames that are accessible from the title screen and within the game. You start with 8 differant ones, and I guess there's a total of 30 to find. The games really show off the system's strengths, using the touch control for tons of differant things, simple card match games, roll a ball down a hill by 'pushing' it with the stylus, and one of my faves so far, using a slingshot that you pull back and lauch cannonballs at bom-bombs parachuting down from the top screen.

So obviously, I've very happy with my purchase and can't wait for some more titles to be availible. 

awesome, I've always wanted a game in which I fight giant soda cans 

Some amazing photos:
http://www.g-cans.jp/photo/index.html 

http://celephais.net/board/view_thread.php?id=870&start=161

Maj > Tig

;) 

omg - what engine is that? o_O 

Suddenly Doom 3 sucks. 

l33t 

I think it's God's Actual Reality engine. 

Never heard of it, but it does look almost pre-rendered. Just imagine Half-Life 3 in that.

/drools 

The ray tracing is obviously at a quantum level of precision. That engine God's Actual Reality is fucking phenomonal. I have heard industry rumours though that (obviously aping Carmack) He plans to scrap it all together for a Next Gen engine overhall. 

 

...no, and where's my patch, dammit? 

lol, try hitting them with a crowbar - it's well funny! 

It looks as if PS2 got itself a new and good-looking FPS game, KillZone:

http://www.darkstation.com/images/media/ps2/killzone_e3_04.jpg
http://www.darkstation.com/images/media/ps2/killzone_e3_01.jpg
http://www.darkstation.com/images/media/ps2/killzone_e3_02.jpg
http://www.darkstation.com/images/media/ps2/killzone_e3_12.jpg 

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I've played the demo. Brilliant art style, and generally very polished and "solid" feeling. Pity it plays more like Dragon's Lair than an FPS. 

Although there are these keyboard/mouse adapters out recently... 

In the demo I thought that the controls were bloody terrible and unresponsive, and the thing where your head/POV looked all over the place when you reloaded was annoying. It took about half an hour to ready and throw a grenade, which always seem to bounce off doorways back into the room you are standing in even if you are standing smack in the middle of said doorway being shot to bits. The PS2 pad does not lend itself well to FPS games obviously, but this is a fairly weak attempt at coping with the dubious positioning of the sticks and their big "dead zone". Other games have managed far better.

It did look great for a PS2 game, although the Helghast (bad guys) are just anonymous black shapes with glowing eyes unless you're standing right next to them. And the art is a wasted effort when the gameplay is below par.

Apparently the full game has chronic framerate issues, especially in multiplayer. All in all, it's a bit of a shame, I was really looking forward to it until playing the demo. I'll probably still buy it eventually, but most likely only when you can pick it up second hand for a tenner.

It's out this Friday in the UK... I think it might have already been released in the US, any of you crazy kids played it? 

If it weren't for Hitler and Orwell, war games would look quite a bit different. 

There would be more Zeppelins dropping bombs and Kaisers as end game bosses.