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Daily News
By Gail Helmer

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Friday August 02, 2002

PC News
DF:Black Hawk Down MP Beta Test Demo
Novalogic has announced the open multiplayer beta test demo for Delta Force – Black Hawk Down This demo will be available for download for one week only from Friday August 2nd through Friday August 9th. The demo will EXPIRE on Friday August 16th, 2002.

This test demo includes:

  • 1 level team deathmatch, day mission.
  • Maximum players per client hosted game = 16
  • Maximum players per NovaLogic hosted game = 32
  • Internet or LAN play available
  • Play in 1st person. Play with keyboard and mouse.
Check the readme.html file for basic controls and instructions on how to play this beta test demo. As this is a beta test, the code is not optimized to its fullest extent and does not include a full feature set. Therefore, some people may experience compatibility or performance issues. These specs do not relate to the specs for the final retail product.

Beta Demo Target Specifications:

  • PIII 1.2 GHz
  • 256 MB RAM
  • GeForce 3 card


New Screens: R6: Raven Shield
We have 3 new screenshots from Rainbow Six: Raven Shield, the latest in squad-based tactical shooter series. Developed by Ubi Soft's Montreal studio, in close collaboration with Red Storm Entertainment, Rainbow Six: Raven Shield features a brand new Tom Clancy storyline in which Team RAINBOW is led all over the world in a string of dramatic operations. The game will utilize graphics technology provided by the next-generation Unreal engine to power 15 new single-player missions that include the discovery of a cache of biological weapons and stopping an armed gang from terrorizing a London bank. For more on Raven Shield, check COMBATSIM's interview with the development team.

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Movie
Valve Software has released a movie trailer of Counter-Strike: Condition Zero, showing the upcoming team-based tactical shooter by Gearbox Software in motion. The high-res movie features a minute and a half of mostly gameplay footage. Download

Team Factor Mission Pack 02
The second mission pack for Team Factor is now available, expanding the team-based tactical shooter by 7FX with a pair of new maps. These missions are called Desert Camp and Railway, and they offer more of the outdoor-style environments known from the retail game. Download

Take-Two Snaps Up Barking Dog
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. has acquired Vancouver-based game developer Barking Dog Studios Ltd. Barking Dog has been renamed Rockstar Vancouver and its 50 employees are already working on a currently unannounced military video game. Take-Two ponied up $3 million in cash, along with 242,450 shares of restricted common stock, for the developer, whose past credits include Counterstrike Beta 5, Homeworld: Cataclysm and Global Operations.

Take-Two also announced that its Oakville, Ontraio studio, formerly known as Rockstar Canada, will now be branded Rockstar Toronto. Further news was issued that the Toronto development house is creating a videogame based upon Paramount Pictures’ 1979 gang movie, The Warriors.

Military News
Raytheon Awarded STANDARD Missile Contract
Raytheon Company has been awarded a $117.7 million contract from the U.S. Navy for STANDARD Missile-2 fiscal year 2002 production.

Under the firm fixed-price contract, Raytheon will deliver to the Navy 96 Block IIIB missiles; 58 Block IIIB ordnance alteration kits to upgrade SM-2 Block II/III missiles to the SM-2 Block IIIB configuration; 80 warhead compatible telemeters; and spares, shipping containers and handling equipment. The contract also includes 64 Block IIIA missiles for foreign military sales.



Work on the contract will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., (73 percent); Andover, Mass., (23 percent); East Camden, Ark., (3 percent) and Farmington, N.M., (1 percent), and will be complete in December 2004.

The primary role of STANDARD Missile-2 is to provide area defense against enemy aircraft and anti-ship missiles. The SM-2 Block IIIB, which entered the fleet in 1998, incorporates a side-mounted infrared seeker to aid in endgame guidance. SM-2 is operational on guided missile cruisers, destroyers and frigates in the Navy and is in operation with more than 13 allied navies.

General Dynamics to Build New DDG 51-Class Destroyer
The U.S. Navy today awarded a $464 million contract to Bath Iron Works, a unit of General Dynamics, to build DDG 102, an Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) Class destroyer. Bath Iron Works is the lead designer and builder of the DDG 51-class destroyers.



DDG 102 had previously been awarded to Northrop Grumman Ingalls Shipbuilding, but has now been awarded to Bath Iron Works as part of an expected seven-ship DDG multiyear contract for Bath. This is part of an exchange of DDGs and LPD amphibious ships between the two shipyards announced by the U.S. Navy on June 17, 2002, to focus efficiencies in both programs and promote shipyard stability with the addition of ships at both yards. Prior to the award, Bath Iron Works had a backlog of seven DDG 51-class destroyers.


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