Name: Timothee Besset
Email:
Description: Programmer
Project:
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Wed Apr 13 10:08:55 CDT 2005

Wolfenstein Enemy Territory 2.60 SDK & misc D3 1.3 / ROE information
====================================================================

The SDK for ET 2.60 has been uploaded to our ftp:
ftp://ftp.idsoftware.com/idstuff/et/sdk/
ef938347cf8ac9cbd1e2b6fabf29c204 ET_2.60_SDK_Setup.exe
51f929a7b24e5def093fcec1922e542f et-linux-2.60-sdk.x86.run
9784720e9d5904a86fe46b62fa1e5394 et-sdk-2.60.dmg

Also, regarding the next Doom 3 patch ( version 1.3 ):
- Resurection of Evil will be supported on Linux
- release 1.3 has EAX HD support, PunkBuster and bunch of other goodies
- we will release an updated SDK shortly after the patch release
- it's not done yet

Mon Mar 21 14:00:38 CST 2005

Updated Mac OS X setup
======================

The initial setup had some permission bugs. We've put together a better one:
b4f1ea8f8502ce7ad86bd64195724ed5 Wolfenstein Enemy Territory 2.60-2.dmg

Wolfenstein Enemy Territory 2.60
================================

An updated version of Wolfenstein Enemy Territory [1] is available.

We'd like to thank the ETPro mod team [2] for all the work they did helping us getting this release out. We also have a Mac OS X client thanks to Brad Oliver at Aspyr [3].

A quick incomplete summary of the changes ( fully detailed information is available in the patch documentation ):
- minor optimizations in server and client engine for lower cpu usage
- demo recording and playing fixes. sound recording
- server can redirect clients to other servers when full
- mods menu
- anisotropic texture filtering is now supported in renderer
- fixed http download crashes
- various server engine crashes fixed
- fixed Antilag (it was dependent on client fps, and headshots weren't delagged)
- upped the number of servers in the browser

Downloads:
----------

MD5 checksums:
a7ba6fdee3de6150b887068d58e91729 ET_Patch_2_60.exe
94a7036471b90955a88339d677e467c2 et-linux-2.60-update.x86.run
2d2373f29f02e18d365d7f1860eee435 et-linux-2.60.x86.run

Where can you download the files? You can get them from id's ftp [4] or from the BitTorrent tracker [5]. Many websites will carry the files within a few hours too.

--

[1] http://games.activision.com/games/wolfenstein/ - Enemy Territory
Wolfenstein Enemy Territory is a free, stand-alone, downloadable multiplayer game in which players wage war as Axis or Allies in team-based combat.
[2] http://bani.anime.net/etpro/
[3] http://www.aspyr.com/
[4] ftp://ftp.idsoftware.com/idstuff/et/
[5] http://zerowing.idsoftware.com:6969/

Mon Mar 14 15:51:46 CST 2005

http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/03/20050314150811.shtml
congrats to Aspyr on shipping DOOM 3 for Mac today!

Fri Nov 26 11:55:45 CST 2004

Linux Doom III 1.1.1286 build:

There are new GNU/Linux binaries for Doom3 on the ftp[1] and the BitTorrent tracker[2]. This build is compatible with the previous release, brings a number of bug fixes and new sound code. Alsa[2] and multichannel sound output are now supported.

No GUI changes were made in order to remain compatible with the first release, you will need to set some cvars on the command line to configure your sound:

set s_driver to best, alsa or oss. (best will just try alsa and fallback to OSS otherwise )
set s_numberOfSpeakers to 2 for stereo, 6 for multichannel sound ( whatever your actual number of speakers may be ).

For instance:
doom3 +set s_driver alsa +set s_numberOfSpeakers 6
will start doom3 using the Alsa sound backend in multichannel mode

notes about OSS:

The Linux kernel comes with the OSS/Free API, which works great in most cases but lacks multichannel support. You can download a binary OSS/Linux implementation from 4Front Technologies[4]. To sum up, the drivers are 'free for non commercial use'. You can use them to play Doom III. They have great multichannel support, and that's the drivers I used to develop the OSS backend.

Thanks to everyone who helped testing this build .. and thanks for the positive Linux feedback emails we've been getting..

TTimo

[1] ftp://ftp.idsoftware.com/idstuff/doom3/linux/doom3-linux-1.1.1286.x86.run
[2] http://zerowing.idsoftware.com:6969/
[3] http://www.alsa-project.org/
[4] http://www.opensound.com/

==============================

Tue Nov 16 15:52:29 CST 2004

There is a new release of the DOOM3 SDK available. See http://www.iddevnet.com/ for details. This release is compatible with the Linux 1.1 release ( and includes scons build scripts ).

"The level design and lack of lighting is used to create the fearful atmosphere, part of it is psychological, generated by the hostile environment, and your willingness to survive where all others have been hideously killed.

Instead of security cards like in the original doom to access locked rooms, you carry a PDA which stores all new security clearances, maintains a log of emails, voice, and video discs, and gives you access codes to 30 locked storage cabinets that contain health, weapons, and ammo.

As you go through the game, audio logs push the think storyline along. Often you encounter the horrific bloody remains of the person who recorded the log listening to their concerns and fears at times amusing ramblings."

"Obviously, with the addition of a new expansion, the addition of new guns was also inevitable. One of the big weapons that reappeared from the Doom franchise is the classic double-barreled shotgun which holds a special place in the hearts of many old-school fans. It's every bit as destructive as you may hope, but the reloading is somewhat hampering. You use up lots of shells and have to reload after every shot. There's also a physics-based weapon called the Ionized Plasma Levitator (also known as "The Grabber"), a device that can move, catch and throw objects or small enemies, as you battle through the onslaught of evil sent to hunt you down. Its main difference from Half-Life 2's gravity gun is that it can capture and redirect large projectiles (like fireballs and plasma balls, as opposed to bullets and grenades)."

UGO - A-/A+
GameZone - 9.3/10.0
Action Trip - 79/100
Yahoo! Games Domain - 8/10
Game Chronicles - 9.8/10.0
Telefragged - 90%/100%

"That honor goes to the gameplay throughout the first half of the expansion, which takes place in the Erebus Labs of the UAC facility. At a glance, it's the same basic concept as DOOM 3: starting in an archeological dig, you make your way through the complex, with demons teleporting in from every direction. However, little time goes by before new mechanics are introduced to keep things from feeling stale.

The first new addition is the 'grabber,' a weapon that will undoubtedly be compared to Half-Life 2's gravity gun. Taking advantage of DOOM 3's advanced physics, you can pick up many items (and even some small demons) and toss them around. Suddenly, you can grab fireballs out of the air and fling them back at enemies for one-shot kills, saving precious ammo in the process. Half-Life 2 may have done it first, but it's still a useful option to have in your arsenal."

"As an expansion pack, you'd expect Resurrection of Evil to look a lot like Doom 3. And it does. That's alright, though, considering Doom 3 is still one of the best-looking games around. As mentioned, the expansion spends more time in the archeological sites, which we didn't get to see enough of in the original. And even in the Mars base levels, the designers and artists have done a good job of differentiating this add-on from the base game. The new enemies and weapons are all just as realistically modeled and animated as those in Doom 3, again adding to the impressive quality of the visuals. As with the graphics, the sounds are almost all lifted straight from Doom 3-- though the new voice actors are good--and the new shotty packs a serious punch. Like its forebear, this expansion puts forth an exceptional audiovisual effort."

"There is one significant improvement from Doom 3, however, in that the environments are a lot more varied. Some people liked wandering around the enormous but mostly claustrophobic and very dark scientific/military complex for hours on end. I thought it got kinda monotonous after a while. Well, RoE features much more wide-open spaces, more varied locations, and just plain cooler locations. Unfortunately, I can't be too descriptive without giving away spoilers. But, for those of you who were disappointed by Doom 3's level architecture, you'll be pleasantly surprised by what RoE has to offer. It will also probably take you 12-15 hours to wind your way through it, so this is a impressive large level addition."

"In terms of content, the co-op campaign is basically similar to the solo campaign, though there are additional enemies and power-ups to give two players their fills. And, in a decidedly caring touch, some of the dialogue is changed to reflect there being two marines trying to thwart evil, instead of just one. You'll notice a few other twists, such as doors that can only be opened when both players are present, and how a lot of the peripheral story stuff is stripped out to keep the game moving along. The gameplay is more fun in co-op than it is in solo (particularly if you toggle on friendly fire), even though it's functionally identical and easy as hell. Whenever you get killed, you just pop right back into the level and can run over to wherever you died and grab a backpack with all your weapons in it. Yet having a friend (or even a stranger) along for the ride will naturally make the journey more interesting, and having to pick off targets in narrow corridors while staying out of your buddy's way--and not mistaking him for a threat in all those dark shadows--adds a much-needed bit of depth to the action, not to mention an appreciable chunk of value to the entire package. Fans of the PC version might not be able to justify paying full price just to play Doom 3 again in co-op, but yes, it would be well worth their while to check this out."

"The first thing I noticed when entering the world DOOM 3 creates was the nearly seamless presentation. When the game starts, you'll find yourself walking through the halls, interacting with other employees and learning a bit about what went on before you landed on the planet. You're presented with a PDA at the beginning, and this will act as your information center as you play through the game, accessible by a quick press of the black button. There, the game's surprisingly deep story unfolds through a series of company emails, video footage, and audio recordings."

"GI: How long is the expansion in terms of overall gameplay?

BJ: We had a bunch of testers in the office to figure this out. But, I think it’s really going to come down to your play style and whether you’re really going to try and get into every nook and cranny or if you’re just going to blast your way through it. It probably averages out to nine or ten hours, but like I said, it really depends on your play style. There was this one tester in the office and they sat down at 10 in the morning and at midnight she had gotten to this one part in the Hell level of the expansion that is pretty intense. She was having so much fun in there that she kept replaying the area over and over again and kept trying it out with very specific weapons. After about an hour, I heard this scream and it was this girl shouting out in glee because she had finally beaten it.

GI: When we think of the early Doom titles, we think of run and gun action. Why the shift to the slower and more atmospheric experience?

TW: When developing the technology, John Carmack looked at the potential of what it could to. He looked back at what he wanted to do with Doom and Doom 2 with that type of gameplay that had stuff scaring you or jumping out at you, and really felt that the current technology could bring that initial vision to life. So that was the overall direction that we had when we started the project and we felt that making it a more paced out game was the game that we wanted to make and play ourselves. That was basically the reason behind it."