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UK publisher Virtual Programming has announced X2 - The Threat is through testing and into duplication for those looking to purchase it on a standard media format. Additionally, the company has made the game available now via their digital download service, for those with the bandwidth.

X2 is an impressive looking space simulation, which requires you to work out a strategy to build a futuristic empire through trade and combat. Here's more from the game's page:

• Trade and manufacture a huge variety of commodities within a truly dynamic and evolving economy
  
• Discover lucrative trading routes and defend them at all costs
  
• Acquire and command over 70 different ships from single-seat fighters, through cargo freighters to 2km-long destroyers
  
• Become an admiral of your own fleet, directing ship movement through an innovative scripting system
  
• Employ a myriad of offensive and defensive weaponry, including lasers, missiles, mines, remote droids, shields, self-repairing hulls and intercept rockets!

X2: The Threat in Duplication and available as digital download

Virtual Programming

X2 - The Threat

Freeverse X2 Site

Pre-Order X2 - The Threat for $39.95

Buy X2 - The Threat

Macologist has noted the recent release of an update to Strike Force 2004, a modification for Unreal Tournament 2004. Macologist has also taken care of making the build, set at version 2.1 b5, Mac-friendly, including converting it and including an installer.

Some of the listed changes area s follows:

- SFStaticMeshActor class added in game, it has an optional bBulletproof boolean.
- Sniper rifle kills with one shot to head, spine & shoulders
- Sniper rifle's vertical recoil reduced and accuracy increased
- 3x/6x/9x/12x Zoom modes for Sniper rifles, diffent ones for Unzoomed Aim & Zoomed Aim buttons + 2 Weapon modes (Weapon mode 1: 3x/6x Zooms, Weapon mode 2: 9x/12x Zooms)
- Reload sounds of other players can be heard
- Pistol's rate of fire increased
- Pistol clip bug fixed
- Incendiary Grenade's lifetime decreased
- Radar implemented (Serverside option), 3 modes: Disabled/Team/Both Teams. In general it's made for one other gametype than I'm working on, but can be fun in TDM as well
- Shells added

Macologist - Strike Force 2004 update

Strike Force 2004

A preview of an upcoming campaign for Alien Swarm has been posted at the Black Cat Games site. The first entry into the fan-made maps section, the Phalanx Campaign will feature 6 new missions, with locations including infested living quarters and a Greenhouse facility.

We know very little about the research operations here, but we do know they have been experimenting largely with organic life forms, including Plants, various Earth-found animals, and even specimens from the Swarm.

Alien Swarm - News

Gamasutra reports that, while talks have been going on for some time with various parties about the financial future of French developer Ubisoft, recent comments by CEO Yves Guillemot have shed some new light on the situation. Until recently, Guillemot has be adamant about keeping Ubisoft out of the hands of Electronic Arts, who has been gobbling up third-party developers left and right lately.

"If someone comes with a very good offer, that will be very interesting... I'm going to consider it," said Guillemot, according to a Reuters report, though he tempered his comments by reiterating his stance that EA's earlier purchase of close to 20% of Ubisoft's stock had been a hostile move. "That tactical 20 percent does not help. It's a very bad start. It would be wrong to go with the first guy who wants to buy the company."

Gamasutra - Ubisoft Continues Talks With Potential Buyers

Ubisoft

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Spiderweb Software has released a patch for Geneforge 3. The patch fixes many glitches and bugs and corrects many typos. The installer is not yet updated, so you will have to download both the installer and the patch if you haven't installed Geneforge 3. The changes include:

* Tweaks made to the pathfinding algorithm, which should result in less movement problems in combat.

* Quicksave and Quickload moved to F13 and F14 to keep from interfering with volume controls on iBooks.

* Improving Greta's attacks with Khyryk should work.

* The quest to kill Orois Blaze has been fixed.

* An error in the script of the spawner bosses on Harmony island was fixed.

* Many more typo fixes.

Geneforge 3 Patch Page

Spiderweb Software

Geneforge 3

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Blizzard has released the Warcraft III Ladder Tournament report. The report covers the location of the event, the competitors involved, and the details of the finals matches.

The tournament took place in the Cologne MediaPark, with two rooms set aside for each of the teams playing. There was also a large room to accommodate the many fans watching the event and a place for the press to broadcast the action in German, French, and English. Most of the rooms were packed to capacity, and what initially sounded like a fight or riot emanating from the press room turned out to be the high-octane German shoutcaster Khaldor broadcasting the action to a thousand Internet listeners at 300 WPM.

Warcraft III Tournament Report

Blizzard Entertainment

WarCraft III

Buy WarCraft III

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Blizzard has released a new map for Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. The map features a frozen lanscape with six starting locations and multiple snow creature groups.

Hidden deep within the wintry crags of Everfrost is a realm of dark Nerubian horrors, protecting their frozen crypt from those that seek gold and wealth. Only when working together can these chilling nightmares be defeated and vanquished under ice forever.

Warcraft III Expansion Maps

Blizzard Entertainment

WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne

Buy WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne

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