[Gloriano]

What do the Master Chief, World War II, and Chris Toshok have in common?


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There was no shortage of tall tales on the Web this week. In fact, today's roundup of unverifiable stories climbs in number from last week's three to five. Read it, and see if you can find the kernel of truth buried in the chatter. We did.


RUMOR #1: The FBI has made several raids in San Francisco looking for the Half-Life 2 hackers.

Source: Seminal tech-info wellspring Slashdot.

The official story: "This is an ongoing investigation. As such, I am unable to comment." -- Valve's ever-patient Doug Lombardi. "No comment." -- FBI agents Marie Gilliam and Catherine Warma.

What we heard: According to a blog entry by Chris Toshok, a member of the Hungry Programmers open-source collective, a group of FBI and Secret Service agents served him a search warrant at 6:30am last Wednesday morning. Toshok recounts the raid in vivid detail, including one agent's attempts at intimidation and another's gallows humor ("You'll definitely have one unique experience more than most people," the agent reportedly told him.) He also posted official-looking scans of a warrant he was served with (see above graphic), as well as an evidence receipt for the staggering amount of computer hardware the feds confiscated. However, Toshok did not respond to repeated attempts to contact him.

Bogus or not bogus?: According to the BBC, it's legit. Then again, they spell color with a "u."

RUMOR #2: Electronic Arts and Microsoft are planning an Xbox Live version of Battlefield 1942.

Source: Throw a dead cat and you'll hit one. A live one works too.

The official story: "We continue to talk. Hopefully, the chatter on the boards continues to indicate a strong demand for EA Product on Xbox Live, which only works to continue conversations" -- EA vice president of marketing Chip Lange


What we heard: Originally, BF1942 was supposed to come out on the Xbox, but about this time last year, EA told GameSpot that it was canceling the title. However, given the subsequent success of both Microsoft's Xbox Live (750,000 subscribers at last count) and the enduring popularity of EA's online shooter, it looks like the two companies are considering rekindling their online romance. Given their flirtatious compliments to one another, you'd think they were already having hot make-up sex. "Microsoft is a great partner, and we've got roughly 20 titles in development for the Xbox," EA corporate communication veep Jeff Brown cooed to GameSpot. "EA is a great publishing partner," gushed Molly O'Donnell, senior manager of Xbox PR.

Bogus or not bogus?: The two involved parties obviously want to do the deed, so kiss and make up already! Those Nazis won't shoot themselves! Eventually not bogus.

RUMOR #3: Microsoft is readying Age of Empires III, Zoo Tycoon 2, and Combat Flight Simulator 4 for Q3 2004 releases.

Source: A post on some crazy Czech Web site sent to the news desk.

The official story: "There's nothing in the hopper right now," according to a Microsoft spokesperson.

What we heard: Off the record, several sources related to the three games' development said that it's not a question of if they are coming out but when. Given the game market's appetite for tycoon titles, flight sims, and bloody conquest--not to mention Microsoft's penchant for making money--a holiday release would be perfect timing.

Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus.

RUMOR #4: Blizzard founder Allen Adham quit the studio he started out of frustration with its owner, VU Games.

Source: Similarly irked but significantly more chatty Blizzard staffers.

The official story: According to an internal e-mail he sent, Adham exited Blizzard to pursue a career in the "finance sector."

What we heard: While company spokespepople denied any connection between Adham's departure and VU's management techniques, several Blizzard employees told GameSpot a different story. "Allen was finally sick enough of the French to leave," said one source. Other employees saw the move as a sign of rough seas ahead for the highly regarded developer. "I think this represents a huge loss to Blizzard," lamented one staffer. "Adham is one of the best designer minds I have ever met."

Bogus or not bogus?: All that anger has to come from somewhere. Not bogus.

RUMOR #5: Halo 2 is being delayed until summer 2004.

Source: EBGames and GameStop have changed their release dates to June 1.

The official story: "We're going to ship it when it's ready." -- Xbox Xecutive Robbie Bach

What we heard: The Bungie folks stopped responding to e-mails long ago, and Microsoft isn't too keen on revealing the day the Master Chief will touch down. Reliable sources tell GameSpot that the Halo 2 news blackout is so real that Microsoft PR staff have long been under strict orders to stay clear of Bungie's work area. And while online stores sometimes post ballpark figures for release dates, they will often quietly blow the lid off of the information that tight-lipped developers have worked overtime to conceal.

Bogus or not bogus?: Unfortunately, not bogus.


_[GameSpot]_

[mikhael]

Dude, the FBI raids on the Hungry Programmers is kinda old news.

[aldo_14]

Wish I'd remembered to cut and paste some websites today.

wish i'd remembered to check my spelling, too......

[Singh]

*reads that Halo 2 is coming out late*
*shakes his head*
*goes to get a cookie*
*eats cookie and comes back*
*sits around being bored for the next 10 minutes*
.......................
*is finally hit with the realization that Halo 2 is going to be delayed.........*
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*runs around, and then into a wall and collapses*

[redsniper]

Those hackers will PAY for delaying HL2.
we needs it preciousss, we needs it

[adwight]

Is Halo 2 ever going to come out???  I thought it was supposed to be out in like December or something, and they keep moving it back...

[01010]

Let them, I'm prepared to wait for the game that is going to stop me playing anything else.

[Carl]

Originally posted by Holy Imperial Gloriano
RUMOR #3: Microsoft is readying Age of Empires III, Zoo Tycoon 2, and Combat Flight Simulator 4 for Q3 2004 releases.

[TheVirtu]

Originally posted by Carl

I don't know, I kinda want to play Age of Empires III.

[Corhellion]

It's a plot...Bungie is just pushing back the release date of Halo 2, to around where the HL2 release date is...so they can see which one the masses like better...HL2 no doubt...

Cor

[aldo_14]

HL2 will most likely trounce Halo2, i reckon.

[Gloriano]

Originally posted by Corhellion
It's a plot...Bungie is just pushing back the release date of Halo 2, to around where the HL2 release date is...so they can see which one the masses like better...HL2 no doubt...

Cor

I think Halo2 wins reason because it's coming to Xbox and there is no plans for PC reales..yet (read from one site) and fans of course

[adwight]

Man HL2 would own its ass, sheerly because its on pc, and the first one was way more kickass than halo.

[01010]

Originally posted by aldo_14
HL2 will most likely trounce Halo2, i reckon.

For me Halo2 will be better purely for the multiplayer aspect. I've never really got on with multiplayer gaming on a PC, too much of a pain in the ass and too many people who talk ****e.

I like Xbox live because it has this great community feel and I've got two real life friends on there. Which is great when you want to participate in a little bit of team killing fun in Rainbow Six 3 at five on a saturday morning.

[Gloriano]

http://www.gamespot.com/all/news/news_6087254.html



edit:fine

[aldo_14]

ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v, ctrl-c, ctrl-v............

[Zarax]

Well, what about Duke Nukem Forever?
Some shops still lets you preorder it...
BTW, i liked both HL and Halo, i'm likely to buy both when they will come out for PC...

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Zarax
Well, what about Duke Nukem Forever?
Some shops still lets you preorder it...

I think Rockstar have picked up the publishing rights and are touting an xmas 2004 release date.  

Can't remember the source for this, though - I think PCGamer (uk).

[Dough with Fish]

Guys, what about Doom 3? Huh? Don't you think that has any chance of standing up against HL2 and Halo2?

And, I think, that the sales between HL2 and Halo2 will be actually pretty even... Because, most everyone I know, is going to be getting both of them whenever they come out, and I think that is how a majority of the gaming community is going to go about purchasing those games, after all, they are the sequels to the two best FPS games ever.

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Dough with Fish
Guys, what about Doom 3? Huh? Don't you think that has any chance of standing up against HL2 and Halo2?

And, I think, that the sales between HL2 and Halo2 will be actually pretty even... Because, most everyone I know, is going to be getting both of them whenever they come out, and I think that is how a majority of the gaming community is going to go about purchasing those games, after all, they are the sequels to the two best FPS games ever.

halo?  Hope it was much better in full than the Pc demo, then.

Doom3, to be honest, I don't really care about.  i have to admit that i'm not particularly excited about most games these days... although I am looking forward to playing a game where I can fly a dropship  Hopefully Breed will turn out well.

Either that or look into modding UT2K4