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Vice 1.17 released

By Robert, October 7, 2005

* Changes in VICE 1.17
======================

** General
----------

- Compiling for QNX 6.x works now (binary package is available).
- Binary packages for Solaris machines are available.

** C64 changes
--------------

- Added full GeoRAM memory expansion support with sizes from 64KB to 4MB.
- Added full RamCart memory expansion support.
- Added full +60K memory expansion support.
- Correct REU values after reset.

** C128 changes
---------------

- Added full GeoRAM memory expansion support with sizes from 64KB to 4MB.
- Added RamCart memory expansion support without the read-only option.
- Fixed some C64 mode bugs.
- Correct REU values after reset.

** Unix changes
---------------

- New dutch translation.
- Language support has been extended to include commandline-options.
- BSD platform problems with using the sounduss and soundsun driver have been fixed.
- Problems compiling with older versions of libpng have been fixed.
- Problems with MAXPATHLEN and PATH_MAX when compiling have been fixed.
- New ALSA sound driver.
- Fixed some compile errors if GCC4 is used.
- Added support for more analog joysticks.

** MS-Windows changes
---------------------

- Added international language support (experimental, disabled for now).
- The Wine Resource Compiler is now required to compile using gcc for proper international language support.
- Added support for recent ffmpeg libraries.
- Fixed some directory lister bug.

** MS-DOS changes
-----------------

- Added ethernet support using the wattcp stack and libpcap library.

** Miscellaneous changes
------------------------

- Compiling without C++ or ReSID works now.
- Added support for more 3rd party basic extenders to petcat.
- Userport RS232 emulation should work as expected now.

>> Get it HERE

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Seiken Densetsu using HAVOK

By Wizard, October 7, 2005

October 6, 2005 - The true nature of Square Enix's Seiken Densetsu 4 is coming to light -- slowly. We now know that this latest entry in the Mana series -- and the first numbered entry in 10 years -- will make use of the Havok physics engine. That's right, Square Enix is giving Mana real world physics, in addition to 3D visuals.

In speaking about the game in the latest issue of Famitsu, producer and series father Koichi Ishii reveals that both of these changes are a result of a goal he and his development team set forth for the series long ago. Back before a team was created to make Final Fantasy XI, Ishii recalls, he was thinking about creating a team to make Seiken Densetsu. At that time, his first objective was to create a goal for the series -- what he wanted to do with it. He came up with the idea of exploring how one goes about adding the feeling of touch to a game.

Legend of Mana ended up being a 2D game because Ishii felt that the PlayStation did not have the technology required to do a 3D version of the world that he had in his mind. He didn't want to use basic 3D to make his world. However, with current technology, he feels that he'll be able to offer the world that he's imagined. He seems to be imagining a real 3D space where you interact with the world through characters and objects. And not a flat world comprised of walls and floors, but a world with curved, natural surfaces.

Ishii states that this feeling of 3D space was achieved in part with Final Fantasy XI. However, he wants to take it one step further with Seiken Densetsu 4, and that's where real world physics comes into the picture. Half Life 2, which uses the Havok 2 physics engine, was Ishii's inspiration. After seeing the game at E3 2003, he felt that by using the game's physics engine, he could make his world. Ishii is hoping to create a world where players utilize a variety of actions to alter the world and the objects contained within.

This talk about real physics and changes to the world mirrors the interviews Mistwalker's Hironobu Sakaguchi has been giving regarding two of his projects, Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey. While those two games are known to be next generation titles in development for the Xbox 360, the platform for Seiken Densetsu 4 has yet to be revealed, and is somewhat of a mystery. The use of a physics engine would suggest a next generation machine (although there have been a few examples of the original Havok engine on the current generation PlayStation 2). The few screenshots of Seiken Densetsu 4 that we've seen, however, look like current generation stuff, at the upper levels of PS2 visuals.

So, we're left with a general picture of what type of tricks we can expect from Seiken Densetsu 4, but no solid details on the game itself, and still no clarification on the game's platform. The World of Mana project has just kicked off, though, so we hope to find out more in the not-so-distant future.

>>PS2.IGN

Classic series revitilized.

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360 HD Content Revealed

By Wizard, October 7, 2005

J Allard reveals the packed-in hard drive content. What could it be?

October 5, 2005 - In a behind-closed-doors session with Microsoft Corporate Vice President J Allard(News Poster Note: Allard looks like Micheal Stipe ), IGN learned the specialized Hard Drive peripheral will come bundled with special content.

Don't get your feathers too ruffled, it's not Perfect Dark Zero. The Hard Drive contains a custom soundtrack, a few videos, one of which is "The Making of Xbox 360," a few gamer tiles, and the arcade puzzle game, Hexic.

Now before you run away whining, as if this weren't enough, consider the material. First, Allard confirmed the content is the same on every single hard drive, whether you buy it bundled or separately.

Second, Hexic is created by Alexy Pajitnov, the original creator of Tetris. You know, one of the greatest games of all times? I have played this game, and it is as addictive as candy is to a kid. Before you even slip a disc in the 360, give this game a whirl and you'll spend the next two hours playing it.

Third, the packed-in content is designed to show consumers what they can do with their new sophisticated game unit in addition to playing games. They can instantly play a free soundtrack (though who knows what this soundtrack will sound like), stylize their GamerTag with the bundled Gamertiles, dress up the interface with wallpapers, tune their settings, and watch a video offering insight into just how this crazy machine was made. The content is in itself a roadmap to the system's other uses, besides games.

Does it come with the backward compatible data necessary to play Halo or Halo 2? Ha, well, Allard wouldn't say, but Microsoft long ago confirmed Halo 2 will be backward compatible, so whether it's on the hard drive or not, that shouldn't be a worry. If there was one "best selling game" on Xbox, Halo 2 was never in question.