Brothers in Arms Preview

920310_20050113_screen003.jpgAmong 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!

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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!

  • Grab the files here.
  • 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!

    promoiwork20050111.gifCompletely 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.

    promoilife20050111.gifNew 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.

    promoipodshuffle20050111.gifNew 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.

    promomacmini20050111.gifAnd 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.

    iPresident

    041221_bush_ipod.jpg
    Who knew that a member of the red states might be an iPod user. Well, Christopher Morris’ excellent black and white photo essay of the private life of our fearless leader (cough) shows that, in fact, said President likes to exercise with his iPod. Obviously, this specific photo could be of anyone holding the iPod, but take a look at the entire picture story, and you’ll see. I wish we could make out what he was listening to in this photo, however. George has taken advantage of what has to be a very large gadget budget. MacDailyNews reports that he’s sporting a pair of those high-end Etymotic Research ER-6i Isolator earphones and that he’s listening to Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl (from Moondance). Too bad I don’t care for any of his other choices, but that’s a killer album. Sigh.

    That makes both top members of the executive brance iPod users. The Washington Post reported that Dick Cheney’s kids bought him an iPod for Christmas in 2003. This news sparked an ugly squabble on MacDailyNews boards. Can’t we all just get along?

  • Link to Chris Morris picture story
  • Link to Whitehouse.org parody site with list of Bush’s iPod playlist
  • Link to MacDailyNews story

  • Photos, musings and miscellany – New and Improved!