July 2000
FNF Beta 1 Now Available Posted by EvilGreg on Monday, July 31, 2000
You can grab yourself the first beta of the Friday Night Firefight mod. Just go to their download page and pick it up. The file size is 543k and is only available for Windows at the moment.
Three More Exclusive SoF Gold Shots! Posted by wmull on Monday, July 31, 2000
We've got 3 exclusive new SoF Gold screenshots of our own for you! Click on the thumbnail to see them in their full (1152x864) glory!
SoF Gold Shots Posted by EvilGreg on Monday, July 31, 2000
SoFnews has gathered two exclusive screenshots from the upcoming SoF Gold addition. See them here.
New SoF Mod Announced Posted by EvilGreg on Sunday, July 30, 2000
I received word that a new Soldier of Fortune mod is coming of age. This one is entitled MechMod. Currently their site is at http://www.geocities.com/tmwhag, but that will change soon as they are going to be hosted at sof.org. So keep your eye out for this mod and if you want to join a mod team they are looking for the following:- modellers/skinners
- mappers
- coders
Anyone interested should e-mail TMWHAG.
Hostile Intent Screenshots Posted by wmull on Sunday, July 30, 2000
There are four new screenshots up on the Hostile Intent site, showing off the facility. Be sure to look for their first alpha release of this class-based realism mod for SoF very soon.
Vote For SoF on Gamespot's Top 40 Game Poll Posted by Demolisher on Friday, July 28, 2000
Be sure to go vote for Soldier of Fortune on Computer Gaming World's Top 40 Games Poll. You can also vote for 9 more of your favorite games that are listed, like Unreal Tournament and Quake 3.
Soldier Of Fortune Linux Patch Posted by Demolisher on Thursday, July 27, 2000
Loki Software has released an upgrade for the Linux version of Soldier of Fortune.
Interview With Foyleman, SoF Mapper Posted by Demolisher on Thursday, July 27, 2000
Z-Axis, a great map review site for many FPS games, reports that there is an interview with the talented and popular mapper, Foyleman. He has made maps for Half-Life for a while and has recently started making Soldier of Fortune maps. A review of his popular Soldier of Fortune map, Casino, can be found here.
Hostile Intent Mapping Update Posted by utopia on Tuesday, July 25, 2000
Hostile Intent has updated their site with some info on their mapping progress. Here's a piece:I wanted to give everyone an update on what I was doing, I have my part of Facility almost complete and the map should be ready within a week or two (if all goes well). SOF Radiant must be the most unstable software I have ever used. That and my 2D card is old, so it also runs slowly. Worldcraft and HL Radiant never ran slowly for me, so I don't know why SOF Radiant is chugging. If anyone out there knows of a solution, please email me. Anyways, I'll try to throw up some screenshots by the end of the week.
FAKK2Central.com Goes Live! Posted by utopia on Monday, July 24, 2000
Our very own Mindless Games Network has just finished up the latest site in our network. FAKK2Central.com has gone live! Be sure to make it your first-stop for any news related to Ritual Entertainment's Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.².
SoF Gold Screenshots Posted by Demolisher on Monday, July 24, 2000
Shugashack has some new screenshots from Soldier of Fortune GOLD right here.
Update At Hostile Intent Posted by utopia on Monday, July 24, 2000
The Hostile Intent site has been updated with a bit of clarification on ideas, and a progress report here's a piece:After reading things, 'light functionality' seems too vague. Basically, I've assured the ability of a mapper to have light switches, and other light-ey type stuff(in multiplayer). It's entirely possible that this is something that shouldn't be available in a multiplayer situation(engine-wise, not gameplay wise), but from the tests we've run, everything seems to work just fine(and should add some killer situations to 1v1's. Imagine night vision goggles with an actual use ;). Once again, if my adding this functionality is gonna snap something in the engine, then I would appreciate word from raven. Otherwise, things are gonna be interesting from a mapping perspective. I don't think vision has ever been an issue in a deathmatch game(except perhaps AVP). I figured I would stir things up a bit more then I have already, and throw that into the mix.
SoF Developer's Diary - Part 18 Posted by utopia on Monday, July 24, 2000
Still going strong, the SoF Center's 'Developer's Diary' has reached Part 18 this week. The issue is written by Keith Fuller and comments on how hard it is to please gamers today. Here's a clip:My quick little rant for today is this: you have no idea how hard it is to please gamers. I can say this because (a) I spend a lot of time trying to do it and (b) I’m a gamer. Let’s take one simple example…Elite Force multiplayer. Yes, yes, this site is called “SOF Center”, but I haven’t been working on SOF much lately so give me a break. Anyway, in multiplayer you’ve got all of these weapons, each of which has a main fire and an alternate fire. And each of these attacks has attributes like range, speed, beam vs. projectile, lag-friendliness, accuracy, ease of use, ammo consumption, straight damage vs. armor-piercing, and rate of fire. Then you’ve got various amounts of armor and health in the form of some eight or nine pickups. Don’t forget the powerup items scattered throughout the game, some of which make you harder to hit, some of which allow you to absorb more damage. Oh, yes…and player speed. The dreaded, awful, no-one-is-ever-totally-happy-with-it player speed. Not to mention the presence or lack of special abilities based on what type of model you chose to represent your character.
Future Teamplay Mod For SoF? Posted by Demolisher on Thursday, July 20, 2000
Wankeroo, one of the primary creators and heads of the popular THF teamplay mod for Heretic II, brings this news in his Raven-games plan file:Ummm, q3THF is nearing completion but, I just got a job and Cyb is going on vacation - I think it'll be 2 weeks before it comes out. I wanted to put it out a while ago but, life is a bunch of distractions, no? I will definately get into moding for SoF after q3THF and I have a cool idea for a new kind of gameplay that will I think I might throw into Her2THF first. For those of you unfamilar with The Heretic Fortress for Heretic II and Quake3, check out the THF site for more info on this great popular mod.
New Hostile Intent Version Posted by EvilGreg on Wednesday, July 19, 2000
This May. be a bit late but better late than never. Our hosted mod, Hostile Intent, has a new version out. They have made some changes which include:
- Getting rid of the HUD
- Magnum and sniper rifle can now slice through armor
- Message tells you what item you switched to
- Added light functionality
SoFFiles.com Will Not Be Down Posted by EvilGreg on Wednesday, July 19, 2000
As you all have heard, SoFFiles.com, will be shutting down for awhile as they relocate their servers...or so it seemed. Now they have been graciously hosted by sof.org and should see no down time in their switch to different servers. This also means that SoF50.com and SoFclans.com will remain functioning as well.
SoF Soon To Be Illegal in Germany! Posted by EvilGreg on Monday, July 17, 2000
I got some bad news for ya all. It seems as though Soldier of Fortune is going to be made illegal in Germany. This, according to SoFFiles.com is going to happen in the next few days or so. It isn't official but Pro-Filer got a call from his server, which is located in Germany, telling him the information. This means that not only will Soldier of Fortune be banned in Germany, but SoFFiles.com will be taking some time off to relocate their servers out of harms way.
MindlessGames.com Needs News Helpers! Posted by wmull on Monday, July 17, 2000
As some of you May. have noticed, our new, in-progress Mindless Games Network has been growing at a phenomenal rate! We'd like to take the MindlessGames.com site itself to the next logical step, and begin covering general gaming news -- but we can't do it without you!
If you'd like to join our very talented and passionate staff, now's your chance! Be sure to let us know any info about yourself you think May. be relevant, including any previous experience you May. have! Quite honestly, we are addicted to this online gaming stuff, and we love the experience of doing something meaningful and fun online!
Does this sound like you? Interested in joining our team? Get in touch!
New Site Redesign Posted by utopia on Monday, July 17, 2000
Take a look at the site and you'll notice it's a lot different. Of course! We have a new redesign courtesy of DraX. We hope you like it even better than our old one.
Be sure to look around the site. Head over to the Message Boards, hang out in our Chat Room, or visit one of our quality hosted sites. We hope we're your first stop for anything Soldier of Fortune related. If we're doing something wrong, or if we're doing something you like, drop us a letter and tell us!
Developer's Diary - Part 17 (!) Posted by utopia on Friday, July 14, 2000
Another week brings in another Developer's Diary. Reaching #17 so far, this week's issue is written by Keith Fuller. Might I add he has made a very large .plan update into the Developer's Diary this time, so be sure to read it!
Item And Weapon Guide At Soldier Center Posted by utopia on Friday, July 14, 2000
Soldier Center has updated their site with a couple of new resources for Soldier of Fortune players. These being the Item Guide and the Weapons Guide. These are an invaluable resource to new, and veteran SoF players alike. Check it out.
Banning In British Columbia - Correction! Posted by utopia on Friday, July 14, 2000
It seems that a lot of sites, including our own, have been reporting Soldier of Fortune being given an 'Adult' Rating in Canada and banned from stores. Although this is not entirely true, it was still given an 'R' rating, meaning it cannot be displayed with all other games and must be in a separate 'Adult Only' section. Sorry for the slip!
Anti-Ban Protest Posted by utopia on Thursday, July 13, 2000
Since the recent banning of Soldier of Fortune in British Columbia, there has been a slew of controversy surrounding the issues of whether or not video games should be reviewed such as movies, and get Adult ratings.
With this in mind, a few folks have gathered a protest group to sign a petition and try to un-ban SoF. Here's a piece from the e-mail I received:As this is an important matter affecting us all, we encourage you to join the protest. Drop by the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery at noon on Saturday the 15th of July say hello, give your support and sign the petition. We ask you please to put the power of the net into action by forwarding this email to every Ufie, Geek, Gamer, colleague and friend on your contact list. If you can, bring your laptop to assist in the demonstration. If you can attend, or can assist in further planning, please contact us. Nonetheless, do join us in demanding our right to choose for ourselves back. If you're interested and want some more information, stop by the site for the protest, or contact Natalie Lynn or Darren James. Also be sure to post any thoughts you have on the MessageBoards. Good Luck Natalie, and Darren!
SoF Gold Interview! Posted by wmull on Thursday, July 13, 2000
Eric Biessman took some time to answer some questions we had about Raven Software's recently announced Soldier of Fortune Gold, an upcoming free add-on for Soldier of Fortune owners. Included are two exclusive screenshots. Enjoy the interview!
New UK SoF Servers Posted by utopia on Wednesday, July 12, 2000
PanZer, from http://www.jolt.co.uk, sends word that there are some new servers in the UK for SoF. Here's the email:http://www.jolt.co.uk have added some SoF games to their range of blisteringly fast servers, they're great for guys in the UK/Europe. The IPs range from 195.112.0.35:28910 - 28930. The selection includes DM, CTF and realistic. Also jolt are looking for somone to admin their SoF section and be responsible for keeping these servers bang up-to-date.
Ubi Soft To Acquire Activision Posted by utopia on Wednesday, July 12, 2000
It seems as though, according to the business publication MCV UK, the French publisher Ubi Soft is going to aquire Activision and Red Storm Entertainment. A rumor says senior executives had a meeting with Ubi Soft's management in Paris. We'll keep you posted on any news that comes up.
Great SoF Article On Slashdot.com Posted by utopia on Wednesday, July 12, 2000
Slashdot.com has posted a great article concerning the banning of Soldier of Fortune in British Columbia. One of the reasons of the banning there concerns the issue of "animal violence" (come on). This article is really a piece of art, it clearly contrasts what is violent and not. Here's a piece:How horrible that 17-year-olds might be able to pretend to kill cows in a virtual slaughterhouse. Of course, the real slaughterhouses in British Columbia pump well over $100 million annually into the economy, 15% of which comes from resources owned by the government.
Want to kill real cows? The government will be glad to subsidize your job. Want to kill virtual cows? Sorry, son, you're too young; we can't have you exposed to such violence.
So to the Attorney General and to the so-called "film classification" office of British Columbia, who are so concerned about violence, take a look in the mirror. What have you done for animals lately, besides double the rate at which you slaughter them?
More On SoF Banned In B.C. Posted by utopia on Wednesday, July 12, 2000
ABC News has written an article entitled: 'For Mature Audiences Only'. This following the recent banning of Soldier of Fortune in British Columbia. It is the first time in Canada that a computer game has received the adults-only rating and could trigger further efforts to limit availability of computer games with violent themes.
Called Soldier of Fortune, the game depicts a mercenary who kills and maims humans and animals on a series of armed missions. It is distributed on CD-ROM.
Mary-Louise McCausland, the provincial director of film classification, said in a report issued Tuesday that her review followed a parent’s complaint about violence on the game...
New SoF Gold Shots Posted by utopia on Tuesday, July 11, 2000
GA-Source has a couple of new shots from SoF Gold. It also mentions the added 15-20 Multiplayer levels that come with it. Check it out.
Rich Whitehouse Interview Posted by twisted on Sunday, July 9, 2000
Richard 'TheFatal' Whitehouse, mastermind behind the hidebot which will be included in SoF Gold, was interviewed by Stomped. The interview discusses wide range of topics such as the origin behind the bot's name. Here's a Q&A from the interview:Stomped: What are some of the features of the hidebot?
Whitehouse: I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to talk about at the moment relating to that, but I can say that the bot has the ability to play all of the game modes intelligently and each bot is very configurable.
SoF Gold Screens Posted by twisted on Sunday, July 9, 2000
The Adrenaline Vault has posted 4 exclusive screenshots of SoF Gold. Also, Kenn Hoekstra of Raven Software sent along two new in-game pics of SoF Gold to Stomped. Kenn mentions that one of the pics shows off a new DM character named "Brick" which bears a very close resemblance to Rick Johnson, another Raven Software employee. The Stomped pics can be found on the main news page for today.
SoF Screens & Stuff Site Redesign Posted by twisted on Thursday, July 6, 2000
Looking for the perfect desktop wallpaper that shows you're a fan of SoF? Look no further because SoF Screens & Stuff has been redesigned with a brand new layout! The new site update is complete with new wallpapers! Expect more wallpapers and screenshots there in the following days.
Walkthrough & Newbie Guide Posted by twisted on Thursday, July 6, 2000
The newly launched SoF site, Soldier Center, has released a complete walkthrough and a newbie guide for those who are new to SoF. The walkthrough consists of 30 pages chocked full of info and pictures to help the player complete the single player game. The newbie guide is self-explanatory but is worth checking out if you think your game needs some help.
Kenn Hoekstra .Plan Update Posted by twisted on Thursday, July 6, 2000
In his .plan today, Kenn mentions a little Soldier of Fortune news. Here's what he had to say:Today's edition of USA Today has a four star (****) review of Soldier of Fortune.The best line? "Soldier of Fortune is one of the most explosive tours of duty in gaming history." Nice. =) Check out the rest of the .plan here.
Still Coming In; Another SoF review Posted by utopia on Thursday, July 6, 2000
The reviews still haven't stopped for this game yet, and here's another one. Electric Games has posted their reviews of Soldier of Fortune. Here's a piece:Very violent, very realistic, Soldier of Fortune finally depicts the real horrors of armed combat. While still an action game at heart, it provides more strategy than your typical 3D shooter (although less than Rainbow Six or SpecOps). Missions are intelligent and well laid out. A lockup bug plagued me until I patched the game. Mouse control is not as precise as I prefer, even though the sensitivity is adjustable.
More On SoF Gold Posted by wmull on Wednesday, July 5, 2000
And on the heels of the SoF Gold announcement, Raven Programmer Jake Simpson updated his .plan with even more info:Now that the news about SOF Gold is out of the bag I want to take this opportunity to mention to those out there that have been sending us bugs on the original SOF release that we have fixed most of these, and you'll see the results in GOLD. Some people where a bit upset that the bug fixes didn't make it into 1.05 - here's what happened.
We got word about SOF GOLD happening just when Rick Johnson went on vacation. He didn't have time to split the code, and rather than wait a week, we just got on with adding in the new deathmatch modes and bot code. Lots of the bug fixes we implemented came after this. Given the quantity of code we changed Rick didn't have much chance of just taking the bug fixes and trying to implementing them in the original 1.04 code base - especially since some of the fixes were affected by the new stuff that's coming in. A nasty situation here, and one that we couldn't do much about.
1.05 went out without some of the newer fixes in it that we would have like to have seen. 1.05 did fix alot of stuff, but those bug reports that came in late and from the internet weren't reflected in it.
Gold, however, has everything. And the kitchen sink as well. Well, it feels like it anyway:) As Brian R., our glorious leader mentioned, there are two new deathmatch modes - both teamplay related. There is a new way of handling team selection, bots, new AI and other new stuff. Never let it be said we rest on our laurels.
And best of all, it's FREE:) - well, the update to SOF retail is anyway. For those that have been holding off buying SOF, here is your reason to rush out and grab it.
Soldier of Fortune Gold Announced! Posted by wmull on Wednesday, July 5, 2000
Stomped got word from the guys at Raven with details on Soldier of Fortune Gold! This will be a free add-on for Soldier of Fortune owners, and will be bundled with the retail version of the full game:Stomped has learned that Activision and Raven Software will soon be releasing a large multiplayer update to their first person shooter Soldier of Fortune. Raven Software's Brian Raffel told Stomped today the update will not only contain new multiplayer levels but also new team play modes, new multiplayer character models and also a bot that will be able to give players a multiplay experience while offline.
The mutliplayer bot was created by outside mod maker Richard Whitehouse, and according to Raffel the folks at Raven liked his work so much they decided to incorporate his work in the official update. There will be between 15 and 20 new levels in the update, Raffel told Stomped. The new team-play multiplayer modes will be revealed at a later date.
In addition to all the new content, the update will also include the new patch, which will bring Soldier of Fortune to version 1.06. One of the big parts of the patch is an improvement for character AI in the single player game. Raffel said players who play the single player game again after the update should notice a difference in how the characters react in the game.
The update will be available as a free download for owners of the originial Soldier of Fortune and will also be available in a Soldier of Fortune Gold product that is currently scheduled to be in stores around the end of August. Raffel said the update will be available for download around the time the Gold edition of SoF will appear in stores.
Newest 'Keith's Got Code!' Online! Posted by wmull on Tuesday, July 4, 2000
The newest edition of our exclusive Keith's Got Code! feature is online. Raven programmer Keith Fuller answers your questions submitted, this time concerning creating a light-gun type mod, adding the zoom feature to all weapons, getting rid of different parts of the HUD and modifying the C4 so it's more like a proximity mine. Interesting, if techie, stuff to be sure! Check it out!
SoF Dreamcast Shots Posted by twisted on Tuesday, July 4, 2000
GameSpot UK has posted 6 screens of the Dreamcast port of Soldier of Fortune. For those who don't know, Crave Entertainment is doing the Dreamcast version which will remain true to its PC counterpart. Check out the pics!
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