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Apple's Game section has taken a closer look at Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, the latest adventure game from Core Design featuring the legendary Lara Croft. In the new game, Core has added several new gameplay additions that will add more depth to the experience.

From the article:

Angel of Darkness introduces new gameplay features, such as the opportunity to beef up Lara’s abilities. Every leap across a perilous gap, for example, incrementally enhances that ability and lets her jump further the next time. If she falls short, she can hold onto the ledge on the other side, but a new grab meter only allows her to do so for a brief period before she must climb up or fall off.

Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness is currently in duplication and will ship from the publisher Aspyr Media shortly.

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Apple Games: Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness

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The OpenKnights Cconsortium, the focal point for development of Mac and Linux open source Neverwinter Nights tools, has released a new version of their Mac NWN Auto-Updater. The Auto-Updater is a helpful tool for everybody that is afraid of doing something wrong when installing any of the patches for Mac, or when installing and updating the PC versions of the expansion packs for Mac NWN. The new version supports the new 1.61 patch as well as the second expansion, Hordes of the Underdark.

Please note that running any of the expansions on a Mac is completely unsupported from both the developer BioWare and the Mac publisher MacSoft since the expansions not have been officially announced or tested for Mac.

To find the installer as well as some information about it, head over to the NWN Mac Forum thread linked below.

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OpenKnights

NWN Forum: NWN Auto-Updater for 1.61/HotU released

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Aspyr today announced that Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness for Macintosh has begun shipping. The game is expected to be in retail and online stores shortly. Aspyr licensed the game from Eidos, and Macintosh conversion was done by Beenox.

Here's more from the official press release:

This time around Lara is darker, harder and more intense than ever. Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness is the latest game from the most popular computer and console video game series of all time.

In The Angel of Darkness, a series of grisly murders brings Lara into conflict with a secret alliance of powerful individuals shrouded in mystery. At the center of these mysteries are the Obscura Paintings; 14th century pieces of art that the alliance is desperate to repossess. Accused of the murder of her one time mentor, Werner Von Croy, Lara becomes a fugitive on the run. Pursued by the police, she follows the villains into a dark world of blood, betrayal and vengeance where it is up to her to defeat this unholy alliance, and prevent them from releasing their incredible powers on the world.

Lara's abilities are much improved from previous Tomb Raider games and she can adapt to how different players play the game. Rewards are given for puzzle solving and exploration in the form of improvements to Lara's jumping ability, brainpower, upper body strength and much more.

For the very first time in a Tomb Raider game, Lara has the ability to talk to characters. Conversational choices made by players affect Lara's route through the game. The game also introduces a never before seen playable character, Kurtis Trent, who works with Lara to help clear her name from a murder suspicion.

Core Design (add to watch list)

Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (add to watch list)

Buy Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness

GameRanger today announced the addition of Rainbox Six 3: Raven Shield to the growing list of games now supported by on the popular online gaming service.

Here's more from the official press release:

Command an elite, multinational squad of special operatives against a hidden terrorist foe. In Raven Shield, the third installment to the wildly popular Rainbow Six series, RAINBOW races against time to stop terror and unravel a mystery. In locations around the world, from London to the Caribbean to Rio de Janeiro, lead team RAINBOW in a desperate effort to battle a madman and foil his doomsday plot.

GameRanger provides hours of entertainment for interactive game players around the world, supporting online multiplayer gameplay for over 100 game titles, with highlights including Age of Empires II, Age of Mythology, Dungeon Siege, Ghost Recon, NASCAR Racing 2003, Risk II, Scrabble, and Warrior Kings.

GameRanger (add to watch list)

Yesterday Apple Computer released an update to Mac OS X 10.3, also known as Panther. The 10.3.2 update features plenty of changes, a few of which are of interest for gamers.

Excerpts from the list of changes

Addresses issues that could keep a disk image from appearing in the Finder when you open its file.

Addresses an issue in which a PowerBook G4 computer may stop responding when a Classic application's window is moved.

Improves compatibility for CH Products' joysticks and flight yokes.

new ATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers

Improves reliability of third-party FireWire audio hardware devices.

More reliably recognizes some FireWire devices, including the iSight camera.

previous standalone security updates

Apple (add to watch list)

Apple: About the Mac OS X 10.3.2 Update

Apple: Mac OS X 10.3.2 Installer

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MythDevelopers, who've been responsible for the maintenance and development of the classic real-time strategy Myth lately, has announced that they have ceased all future development and that the task for future maintenance has been transfered to Contraband Entertainment.

From MythDevelopers site:

Effective immediately, MythDev has ceased development on the Myth series of games. We've handed things off to Contraband Entertainment for future work and development. You should consult with them regarding any future work on these games. Current and future releases will no longer be available via these pages.

It was a lot of fun for a long time, but it's time to move onto other things. We wish the future developers of the Myth series the best of luck in their future pursuits.

MythDevelopers

Contaband Entertainment

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According to an article at GameSpot, WarBirds III, the online multiplayer flight sim, is now available for European gamers. Licensed for use by Tiscali Games, WarBirds III allows players to experience air combat in a World War II setting alongside and against a multitude of other human players.

A free 14 day trial is currently being offered via the WarBirds III Europe site. A contest, scheduled to take place on December 20th, is also being offered, with the prize being a Saitek Flight Joystick.

Those interested in more information can find it at Tiscali's official WarBirds site. It should be noted, however, that the site appears to be offered only in German.

GameSpot - WarBirds III Lands in Europe

Tiscali Games - WarBirds III Europe

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WarBirds III (add to watch list)

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Action Vault has posted the third part of their Q&A series with the developers at S2 Games regarding their unique strategy/shooter hybrid game Savage: The Battle for Newerth. This time round the question focuses on what maps they prefer when playing the game.

From the interview:

When I play as a ground troop I find smaller sized maps to be a bit more entertaining. Savage has a variety of maps that range from small to medium and large. Each contains its own strategies as a player. Crossroads is one of my favorites because of the crucial point in the middle where everyone must pass. My favorite situation on this map is when both commanders build a garrison/sub lair in the center, just feet from the opposing team. From then on, it's constant action until one side overcomes and claims victory.

Savage was shown running on a Mac for the first time back in October and since then we have been told they are optimizing the game to run as good as possible on our favorite platform. We will keep you updated on this game as more information is revealed.

Savage: The Battle for Newerth (add to watch list)

ActionVault: Savage Q&A Part 3

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