December,
2001
Happy
New Year!
Maddox has disappeared! Well, we don't
know where he is.
I finally figured out how to get in to
post news so...here is news, sort of. Those of you who are
familiar with Maddox being on ICQ should now realize he
isn't. Myself, I have uninstalled the hacker's wet dream
due to a major system invasion and ICQ's incompatibility
with Windows XP. Yes, I got XP. For anyone out there needing
help or general info on Z:SS or even XP, talk to me. Look
me up on MSN Messenger as magic_gangsta@hotmail.com and
I'll be happy to help!
Still no news from BB on the editor.
If anyone from BB is reading this, give us the editor! Please!
Fastest
game ever?
Not
that I really like publishing this type of screenshot, but
CV urged me
to post this:
..insisting
that it was the fastest online game ever. I'm not sure 'coz
I'm a structured progress player, but that's probable. And
since the defeated publicly declared on the forum that he
was unbeatable, I think it's fair proving otherwise ;)
On
a side note, we're still waiting for any official info about
WWII: D-Day to Berlim. Anxiously!
New
Z:SS Team Project Unveiled
It's
not 100% accurate info, according to our sources, but word
has been spread out about the new game under development
by the Bitbros' RTS division: WWII - D-Day to Berlin.
This is the info we've got:
The
veteran coders turn their attention away from combat of
the future to
the battles of the past with a brand new World War II-based
title.
World War II: D-Day To Berlin is described as a "real-time
action
strategy" game, which naturally puts us in mind of
the Bitmap Brothers'
other entry in this neglected genre, Z - Steel Soldiers.
Whether the two
games will share a visual style or not is yet to be confirmed
as the game's
publisher, Codemasters, is being very tight-lipped about
details.
Nonetheless, our man at today's Codefest 2002 event - Codemasters'
annual
champagne and twiglets get together in London's swanky Docklands
area -
managed to prise a few details from Michael Hayes, the Britsoft
publisher's
marketing director, in between cornering the waiter for
more drinks.
As the title indicates, the game is set during the closing
months of the
war, with around thirty single-player missions taking you
from the D-Day
landings at Normandy through to the final push on Berlin.
Set in stone as
the historical background is, the game is unlikely to feature
much in the
way of dynamic campaign branching, the gameplay more likely
to take the form
of a linear series of battles.
The title also seems to indicate an emphasis on large-scale
conflicts, with
your role in the single player game being the allied commander
in charge of
each theatre. Add to this mix multiplayer support for up
to eight armchair
generals and it's safe to assume that each game is likely
to take on almost
epic proportions.
WW2 represents the first time the two 'giants' of the Britsoft
scene have
worked together and could be a much needed boost for the
Bitmaps' profile,
various console incarnations of the Speedball licence failing
to give the
team the same levels of recognition they enjoyed in the
16-bit era.
The
Bitmaps promissed us some more accurate info on the following
days, so stay tuned on Steel Planet for all new info on
this exciting new Bitbros' release!
November,
2001
Z:
Steel Soldiers Team changes
We've
finally got news about Z:SS! The Z:SS team undergone some
changes: Graham Sergeant is now a Reflections' employee
and should be replaced really soon; Jamie Whitworth and
Antony Bowler are the Bitmaps recent acquisitions, for junior
level designer and junior programmer respectively. Neil
Jones-Rodway is now lead level designer and is working hard
on the new updated editor. Apparently Bitmaps have some
unresolved release issues for the editor, but they're really
interested on getting it out. Even better news is that they're
working hard on a new and unannounced project which should
be made public at the end of november. As always, you'll
find all info on Steel Planet first!
EON
on the way out!
Erm..
can't say I'm sad for it. Actually I'm relieved! Sorry for
the sincerity guys, but your distribution and support work
for Z:Steel Soldiers was lame and pitifull. I say that out
of the frustration of a player who loves a fantastic game
that was severely hurt by release pressures and then abandoned
by EON like a ripped-off safe. Thanks god the Bitmaps stood
by their players' side as good as a small company can.
Check
this
link. And if you're still not sure about it after you
read the thread, let me tell you I have an actual insider
info: it's true! [Don't worry man, I won't quote you ;)
]
Unit
Guide Update
While
there's no sign of anything new Z:SS-related from their
creators (hope Speedball Arena is really good to justify
all the suffering you guys are causing us), I've updated
the robots Z:SS unit guide section
of the site. It had important enhancements with some minor
but not widely known details, improving what it's certainly
the best Z:SS unit guide on the net. So read and enjoy it!
