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In addition to KQ9, SQ7 may also be next to come under the axe, although they are apparently in talks with VU and Phoenix Online Studios about this new turn of events. All this being said I hope that VU will come up with a slightly better reason than 'because we said so' since it only encourages people to see VU as another namless corporation that is more concerned with grinding out endless titles for the sake of money. At the end of the day however VU is, as VU does, and it seems it will continue to follow the Microsoft creed of 'if its original, buy it up and make more money'.

I'm not much of an online gamer, but I've seen one instance of the Massive ad stuff already.
The 1.1 patch for SWAT 4 has "Added Massive Streaming Ad Support" according to the changelog.
More discussion of it on the Swat 4 forums, here and here.

I'm not much of an online gamer, but I've seen one instance of the Massive ad stuff already.
The 1.1 patch for SWAT 4 has "Added Massive Streaming Ad Support" according to the changelog.
More discussion of it on the Swat 4 forums, here and here.

If you haven't already played it, give SWAT 4 a try. It's got all the things you're looking for in a game (except a DVD edition, I believe).

The demo can be found here: http://www.vugames.com/downloads.do

Also in that building: Square Enix

Vivendi Universal Games

Newmark Realty Capital

Some lawfirms

1-800-DENTIST

The Simpsons: Hit & Run is generally considered the superior sequel to Road Rage, and I agree. Plus, EA didn't publish it. :) I've got both games on the GameCube, and they really are the best Simpsons games ever made (along with the old beat-em-up).

Anyways, no problems whatsoever with my install via Steam, the only way of getting that game that doesn't involve the publisher taking the product given to them by the developer and packaging it. BTW, VUG's site has an update on the install issues:

Vivendi Universal Games would like to notify you of two important updates regarding the product installation for Half-Life 2. The issues identified below are easily addressed.

1. Half-Life 2 - CD Installation error when Counter-strike: Source is not selected The following has been identified as a known issue with Half-Life 2 Standard Edition (not Collector's or European DVD editions):

Problem: If during the initial installation process the option to install "Counter-strike: Source" is NOT selected, an error may occur during installation. The message will be: cabinet file error, fatal disk error, or something similar.

Solution: Cancel the current installation process and reinstall the game from the beginning, starting with Disk #1. Make certain to select the option to install both Half-Life 2 and Counter-strike: Source.

Note: If you prefer not to retain the Counter-strike: Source program on your system AFTER INSTALLATION, you can remove it using the following procedure:

* After HL2 has been successfully installed, open up the Steam client.
* Select the Play Games list
* RIGHT click on Counter-strike: Source and select Properties
* Select "Delete Local Content."

2. Product Authentication Delay When Installing Half-Life 2 Some consumers may experience delays in authenticating Half-Life 2 during the installation process. This is due to the high volume of consumers who have purchased Half-Life 2 and are installing the game, which is causing high traffic on the Steam authentication servers. Please inform any Half-Life 2 customers that encounter this situation to keep trying, as this is a temporary delay.

Anyways, no problems whatsoever with my install via Steam, the only way of getting that game that doesn't involve the publisher taking the product given to them by the developer and packaging it. BTW, VUG's site has an update on the install issues:

Vivendi Universal Games would like to notify you of two important updates regarding the product installation for Half-Life 2. The issues identified below are easily addressed.

1. Half-Life 2 - CD Installation error when Counter-strike: Source is not selected The following has been identified as a known issue with Half-Life 2 Standard Edition (not Collector's or European DVD editions):

Problem: If during the initial installation process the option to install "Counter-strike: Source" is NOT selected, an error may occur during installation. The message will be: cabinet file error, fatal disk error, or something similar.

Solution: Cancel the current installation process and reinstall the game from the beginning, starting with Disk #1. Make certain to select the option to install both Half-Life 2 and Counter-strike: Source.

Note: If you prefer not to retain the Counter-strike: Source program on your system AFTER INSTALLATION, you can remove it using the following procedure:

* After HL2 has been successfully installed, open up the Steam client.
* Select the Play Games list
* RIGHT click on Counter-strike: Source and select Properties
* Select "Delete Local Content."

2. Product Authentication Delay When Installing Half-Life 2 Some consumers may experience delays in authenticating Half-Life 2 during the installation process. This is due to the high volume of consumers who have purchased Half-Life 2 and are installing the game, which is causing high traffic on the Steam authentication servers. Please inform any Half-Life 2 customers that encounter this situation to keep trying, as this is a temporary delay.

Heh. I emailed the on-duty editor, saying that this was old news. In fact, I mentioned the VU press release that was edited into the article. The press release is from October 18th. Abort the story instead of making a nonsensical edit, /., this is old stuff.

From the FAQ

Be cautious with the base alert settings - if it is set to red alert, minions will automatically attack all agents; if it is set to yellow, minions will arm themselves, and an armed minion is regarded as more of a threat by the agents.

If the minion escorting the thief (for interrogation) sees an agent at red alert, he'll abandon the interrogation in favour of attacking the intruder.

How about online proof? Numerous game outlets (including EBGames) had moved the game back to the end of November for release. This morning, a brief search of sites (including EBGames and Vivendi's online store have the game shipping on November 1st!

That is just crazy talk. There are some great games but hollywood and corps have gotten too involved. It is all about branding and not about creativity. I am only a disgruntled game because I saw this today:

Have they no mercy?

unscrewed link

One half of your worst fears have come true: http://www.vugames.com/product.do?gamePlatformId=7 87/

#1 Lets see...Austin, TX or LA, CA? Score one for Cali.

#2 Activision, THQ, Vivendi, and a host of studios both publisher owned and independent are located there.

LA is the place to be in you are a video game maker who likes to buy all the talent, suck it dry as fast as possible and then fire that talent and start again. Whoa, did I just hear someone describe EA?

Alright! After about 3 years of no new info about TF2, here's some rather interesting changes to the game (looks like it may very well be shipping with HL2 as the multiplayer surprise!)

Thanks to the official vivendi universal tf2 message board, enjoy!

Team Fortress 2:

TF2: Here are some classes: Chooser (maybe not a class), Commando, Defender, Escort, Infiltrator, Medic, Pyro, Recon, Snapper, Sniper, Support.

Some words found in TF2 source: Burst rifle, Charged Plasma, Laser Rifle, Base Shield, Plasma Grenade Launcher, Combat Shield, Drain Beam, Flamethrower, Gas Can, Grenade Rocket, Limpet Mine, Mortar, Harpoon, Infiltrator, Laser Designator, Minigun, Repair Gun, Rocket Launcher, Shield Grenade, Two Handed Container.

TF2 Vehicles: Battering ram, Flatbed, Motar, Motorcycle, Siege Tower, Tank, Wagon, Teleport station. 'Walkers': ministrider, strider.

Other interesting words: Armor Upgrade, meteor, gasoline, vehicle bay, Builder, Hole, and Warrior 'bugs'. Shield wall, Four Wheel Vehicle, Barbed wire, buff station, dragons teeth, emp generator, manned missile launcher, power pack, rally flag, vehicle boost, mobile shield.

TF2 'objects': Manned gun, Base Driver Gun, Base Upgrade, Driver Machine gun, Manned PlasmaGun.

Actually mod up, Vivendi Corporate Bio. No where on this page does it mention them owning Valve, however it lists the other companies it owns. Also on the About Valve Page does it mention Vivendi owning them. Show me some proof or mod me up.


Whoops, forgot the links
Valve Bio
Vivendi Bio

There might (not) be a linux client

Their corporate overview mentions Sierra Entertainment, as does their list of studios. The only time Valve is mentioned is on the articles reporting this. And Sierra says on their own corporate info page that they have a partnership with Valve, they don't own it. So don't sweat it yet, Half-Life 2 could still be released for Linux.

Their corporate overview mentions Sierra Entertainment, as does their list of studios. The only time Valve is mentioned is on the articles reporting this. And Sierra says on their own corporate info page that they have a partnership with Valve, they don't own it. So don't sweat it yet, Half-Life 2 could still be released for Linux.