Apple-X.net has a scoop this morning. They have an extensive set of screen shots of Apple’s new iWork application. Lots of looks at templates for Keynote2 as well as Pages. No big surprises, but the apps look good. I’m glad I’ve pre-ordered mine ;-).
Brothers in Arms Preview
Among the games I want to get my hands on this year, Brothers in Arms tops this list. Combining the best of the scripted action in Call of Duty with the type of ‘squad commander’ tactics seen in Full Spectrum Warrior, this game should be amazing. Your mission begins as you parachute behind enemy lines on D-Day and lead your team throughout the campaign.
Gamespot has a great preview of the multiplayer version of the game up today. The multiplayer scenarios sound great – not your usual ‘capture the flag’ abstract b.s., but more sensible missions. Nice.
I saw a preview of the game when it was being shown by Katscratch of the Frag Dolls at the Microsoft Digital Entertainment Everywhere event iin Los Angeles in October, and the early build she was playing looked every bit as good as this screenshot. Judicious use of soft light bloom lends a very nostalgic feel to this one, and surprising visual effects like dirt which splashes onto your character’s ‘glasses’ when you happen to be too close to explosions lend to the mood here. And from what I hear, anyone who might have seen these settings in real life under fire might have a flashback or two seeing this game – the dev team did extensive work on-site for accuracy.
Release is set for February 22nd.
Marathon is Dead, Long Live Marathon!
MacSlash reports on the public release (for free download, but not to the open-source community) of the seminal Marathon Trilogy by Bungie. You know them – makers of Pathways into Darkness, Myth, Oni — and a little game called Halo/Halo2?
Way back in the day, when we had a couple of bad-ass Quadra 900s and CX’s networked in our design office at The Augusta Chronicle, my buddies and I would stay after work until close to dawn chasing one another around with flamethrowers, shooting BOBs with dual pistols, and making myself motion sick. Ah, those were the days.
Now, with this release by Bungie.org we can experience these games on the latest and greatest hardware!
My, My, Macintosh!
Okay – you’ve probably heard all of this by now, but here goes. iLife, iWork, iShuffle and the Mac Mini are all here!
Completely new app suite called iWork – featuring souped up Keynote, revved to v.2 AND ‘Pages’, Apple’s first word processor since AppleWorks. Includes MSFT Word compatibility. $79, available 1/22/05.
New iLife – every application with major revisions except for iTunes. iPhoto gets RAW support, iMovie is now HD, iDVD now has instant import from tape to DVD. $79, available 1/22/05.
New iPod Shuffle – flash-based iPod is a reality. Those ThinkSecret guys DO have street cred. Basically, an elegant flash drive. Good stuff. 512MB/1GB versions at $99/$149. Available now, if the Apple Store can get back up and running – it’s swamped by traffic right now.
And best of all – the new Mac mini! Like a slice of the old cube (about the height of an iPod mini), this baby is sweet. Measuring 6 x 6 x 2.5-inches, it features the following specs: 1.25/1.42GHz G4, 256MB RAM (upgradable to 1GB), ATI Radeon 9200 32MB, 40GB/80GB Ultra ATA, Combo Drive (DVD-ROM, CD burner), Firewire 400, two USB 2.0, Audio out (but no audio in, unfortunately) DVI and VGA output, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet and a 56k modem. Built-to-order options include Bluetooth and Airport. Ships with OSX Panther and iLife ’05. Looks like I know what my Mom’s getting to video conference and see the baby.