Famed Macintosh porting house Westlake Interactive updated their Project Status Page over the weekend with news regarding two of their projects currently in the works.

First off, Brad Oliver's work on the editor for Civilization III has reached Beta and is currently being bug tested. No word yet on when work on the editor is expected to be completed.

Secondly, the project code-named Finest Hour has reached final candidate, meaning the project has been or is about to be sent over to the publishers for final approval. The game may even hit the shelves before the Holiday season, depending on the approvals process.

In usual Westlake fashion, Glenda and gang have done a good job of keeping the real name of this project a secret, however enthusiastic Mac gamers are sure to find out the identity of this mystery game soon. IMG is currently running a contest for anyone who can correctly guess the identity of the code-named project. Click on the link below to submit your entry before it's too late!

IMG's "Finest Hour" Giveaway

Westlake Interactive

Westlake Interactive's Project Status Page

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Inside Mac Games has posted a review of Pangea's recently released third-person adventure game, Bugdom 2. Although similar in theme to the original, Bugdom 2 features a new protagonist, new baddies, and new varieties of gameplay, all wrapped in the spit and polish similar to larger-budget AAA titles. The end result is sure to entertain kids young and old for hours on end.  

Here's a clip from the review:

Bugdom 2 puts players in control of Skip, a young grasshopper who has the misfortune of having his satchel stolen by a Bully Bee. Skip’s quest to retrieve his worldly goods sees him running, jumping, flying, and swimming through numerous engaging and colorful levels, all the while dodging enemies and collecting four-leaf clovers as he fulfills the numerous tasks assigned to him by his friend Sam the Snail. Progress through the game is tracked by a series of checkpoints planted by Skip’s other animal friend, Sally the Chipmunk, who also occasionally dispenses level maps in exchange for acorns.

IMG Review: Bugdom 2

Pangea Software

Bugdom 2

Buy Bugdom 2

Fans of the hit TV series, Alias, will be happy to know that the 3D game based on Alias is on its way to the Mac. Apple has posted a trailer of the game, along with the information that the Mac version will be out in December. The game allows you to download different missions to play, and even gives you the chance to win some prizes.

Here's the official description of the game:

Play the game. Be an agent. Can you handle it? Help double-agent Sydney Bristow Infiltrate the deadly organization SD-6 during a series of covert missions when Alias Under comes to the Mac in December. This 3D game won't cost a dime, and you may just win something in the process.

'Alias; Java 3D Game Coming to the Mac

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Shareware developer Spiderweb Software, maker of such recent hits as Avernum 3 and Genoforge, has put together some holiday gift packs. These gift packs give gamers the chance to buy these recent hit role-playing games at specially reduced prices.

Here's the release from Spiderweb's website:

Need a gift for a gamer in the family? Know someone who loves fantasy role-playing games? Until the end of the year, we will mail that lucky person our hottest fantasy rpgs on CD, for cheap.

For $30, we will mail a full copy of Geneforge or Avernum 3 on CD with the hintbook to whoever you say, and that's one gift taken care of. Geneforge is a fantasy rpg with a science fiction twist, where you can choose to fight an evil conspiracy (or help it) and follow your goals with your own custom-made horde of mutant monsters.

Or you could give Avernum 3, an enormous role-playing game set in a world where things change as time passes. Don't feel like saving the world? Then just kick back, get a job, buy a house, and watch the world crumble around you.

Spiderweb Holiday Gift Packs

Spiderweb Software

Geneforge

The Gamesome Mac, the weekly Mac gaming radio program, is taking a break tonight from its regular schedule to observe the Thanksgiving week holiday in the United States.

In the meantime, of course, complete archives of past broadcasts remain available at The Gamesome Mac's web page.

Hosts Sean Smith and Omaha Sternberg will return next Monday, December 2, from 6 to 8 pm Pacific Time, when Carlos Camacho of iDevGames will announce the winners of the uDevGame 2002 Awards live on The Gamesome Mac.

uDevGame 2002

IMG News: uDevGame 2002 Coverage

Codo Technologies recently announced their tactical e-mail warfare game, Laser Squad Nemesis, is now being ported to both Macintosh and Linux. In Laser Squad Nemesis, players choose from three differant factions: Marines, Machina, and Spawn. Players plan out their moves, which are sent to a central server and then back to opponents as e-mail attachments.

Codo Technologies are pleased to announce the development of LSN to Linux and MacOS operating systems. Although not as widespread as the PC Windows environment these ports should help broaden its appeal. "We have received many requests to convert LSN to Linux and the Mac, and we would very much like to give as many people access to LSN as possible", said Julian Gollop. The port is being handled outside of Codo and whilst no specific release dates have been confirmed you can be sure we will report any developments as soon as they occur.

Mac Laser Port Nemesis

Laser Squad Nemesis

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Developer Total Sims recently released an open beta Mac OS X 10.2 version of their popular Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) flightsim Warbirds III. The new version, sharing the same featureset as the Mac OS 9 version 11.06.02, will be in open beta status until the game is updated again.

Warbirds III is a pay-for-play game allowing players to engage in aerial, land, and sea combat throughout Western Europe during World War II. Along with pure dogfighting, the producers periodically schedule predetermined scenarios allowing dedicated gamers to battle under more controlled situations.

iEntertainment Network

WarBirds III

Warbirds III 10.2 Open Beta

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Brian Greenstone's Pangea Software updated their latest release Bugdom 2 to version 1.0.4 over the weekend.

The 300k update, which is available from Pangea's website and IMG sister site MacGameFiles, updates all previous versions of the game, and addresses minor issues:

1.0.4 Fixed a rare problem where game would freeze for a few minutes when launched. Other minor maintenance tweaks.

Bugdom 2 is targeted for junior Mac gamers. The full game and a thirty meg demo are available over the internet; users can pay a $29.95 US registration fee for access to the full game. Pangea is also offering the game on CD for $34.95 - details are available at the Bugdom 2 website.

MacGameFiles: Bugdom 2 1.0.4 Update

MacGameFiles: Bugdom 2 Full Game & Demo

Pangea Software

Bugdom 2

Buy Bugdom 2

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Just in time for the holidays buying rush, Blue Line Studios is offering a ten dollar rebate to their Mac-only adventure game The Castle.

The Castle is a pre-rendered 3D environment adventure game featuring an unusual plot:

When Noemi suddenly finds herself in a dreamlike world, and two men from her past unexpectedly appear, she would never have thought it would all soon turn into a nightmare. As the three people explore the enigmatic castle world in which they are trapped, they encounter an oracle. Its predictions seem to become fulfilled every time.

But really every time?

And when one of the men suddenly disappears, it is the beginning of great passion--and a wicked plot. A plot you can unravel if you put together Noemi's destroyed diary, solve strange puzzles, find hidden secret passages, and--remember--prepare to confront the evil before it's too late....

MacGameFiles: The Castle Demo

Blue Line Studios: The Castle

Blue Line Studios

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This week's offering from Custer's Desktops features the upcoming Freedom Force. Centering its storyline around the Silver Age of comic books, MacPlay has announced their intent to release this title for the Mac by the end of this year, just in time for the holidays.

This particular desktop, titled "Patriots," features team leader Minuteman in all his glory, complete with a shot of his sidekick Liberty Lad:

I was so inspired by that I wanted to create another desktop for the upcoming release. This time I wanted focus on an individual hero and who better than Minuteman himself. I tried to capture the Silver Age feel of the official desktops with the help of the art CDs from MacPlay and the internet. I simply entitled it "Patriots" and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it.

IMG - Custer's Desktops

Omni Group

MacPlay

Freedom Force

Buy Freedom Force

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BioWare's development page for the Mac version of it's D&D-based RPG Neverwinter Nights recently received another update featuring both news and shots. This update focuses on the Dungeon Master (DM) Client, which is reported as now working, even as development and testing on the overall Mac client continues.

The slew of new screenshots included with the update feature the DM client in action, a few images of players versus some very large rats, and some shots of a fan-created module titled "Penultima" running on a Mac. The DM shots show both creation options and what appear to be NPC options, including one for "take control."

Those interested in the latest batch of screenshots as well as the development log of NWN can find both at BioWare's site. There's no word yet on a solid release date, but BioWare has expressed interest in running a beta testing period before its release. More information on that can be found in IMG's interview with them.

BioWare - Neverwinter Nights: Mac Version

IMG - Interview: BioWare

BioWare

MacSoft

Neverwinter Nights

Buy Neverwinter Nights

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