News in the world of Quake today from both creator id Software and independent developer Fruitz of Dojo; Quake 3 and some of the games based on it have had exploits fixed and Quake 2 has been updated to be a universal binary compatible with Intel Macs.

Macologist notieced the Quake 2 update from Fruitz of Dojo should allow users of the new Intel-based Macs to run the game at full speed. It's based off the open-sourced version of the game released by id Software and requires the full data files from the game in order to run.

Quake 3 has been updated, along with Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Enemy Territory, to patch holes in a couple of potential malicious exploits. While there is no Mac version of an updated RtCW yet, the other two are available for download from the id site.

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Platypus, the ingenious clay world, shooter action game is now available as a digital download from Macgamestore.com. A free demo version is available for download. The full version costs $19.99 to register via the store.

• Blast your way through four jaw-dropping worlds of incredible shooter action!
• Clay graphics that are nothing short of incredible. Every graphic was hand-molded with real clay!
• Two player simultaneous action.
• Platypus is a rather large download at 14 megs, but it's worth it! It's one of the best looking games ever created!To check out Platypus, follow the link below.

Macgamestore: Platypus

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Civilization IV has recently received a bump Aspyr's project status page, and is now at Alpha status. As indicated in a recent chat with Glenda Adams, Civ IV currently occupies much of Aspyr's time, with it being in "the heart of testing" as of last week.

Making the jump to 3D, Civ IV continues the venerable turn-based strategy series.

With Sid Meier's Civilization IV, history as you know it, is history. Rule throughout time and create your own legacy as you guide your civilization from the dawn of man through the space age and beyond.Implement new technologies,conduct diplomacy or wage war to grow your society and become the most powerful leader the world has ever known.

Aspyr Project Status Page

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A recent article by The Hollywood Reporter confirms the rumblings that occur every now and then in the world of Blizzard: a Warcraft movie is currently in the works. A joint effort between Blizzard and Legendary Pictures, the movie will use the Warcraft mythos, though none of the specific storylines from any of the games will be followed.

Blizzard's Chief Operating Officer Paul Sams, who has wanted to make a Warcraft movie for years, notes how Legendary's philosophy agreed with his views:

"(Legendary) didn't say, 'We want to make a great "Warcaft" movie.' It was, 'We want to make a great movie in the "Warcraft" universe.' That was really important to us."

Hollywood Reporter - Legendary enters world of 'Warcraft'

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The Slacker's Guide has posted a review of Rake in Grass' new arcade shooter, Jets 'n' Guns. The 2D overhead action game gives players the chance to blast a host of colorful enemies while collecting items to improve their ship. The Slacker's Guide found the game to be as feature packed as a commercial title and recommended it for fans of arcade shooters.

It's easy enough to pay homage to something tried and true, but the creators made the effort to add in some realistic elements that make the game that much better. Certain limitations, such as capacity and heat load, prevent the player from advancing too quickly. Yes, it's possible to turn your ship into an all-powerful death machine by the third or fourth level, but restrictions such as weight, an insufficient cooling system and the need for higher grades of armor come into consideration. With each upgrade that can be purchased for the ship come new choices that alter necessary play styles and make the title more than a hold-down-the-fire-button-at-all-times game.

Finally, it's the little things that make Jets'n'Guns work. Take down an approaching spaceship and a dozen astronauts in space suits may emerge from the explosion, each firing weapons at your ship. Additional details like this keep the player on their toes and make the title fun while level bosses provide both drama and an additional challenge throughout the game.

The Slacker's Guide: Jets 'n' Guns Review

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Macjoy has announced the release of Spin & Play, a collection of carnival sideshow inspired minigames. Spin & Play features 16 mini game attractions, and a customizable main entrance area which players can decorate.

Claim your free ticket at a theme park packed with crazy carnival attractions!

Play Smack The Rodent, Pop 100 Balloons, Seesaw Frog, Conveyor Catch and much more - there are 16 thrilling attractions in all!

Spin & Play

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IGN has posted an interview with Mark Rein and Jeff Morris of Epic on their upcoming shooter Unreal Tournament 2007 for PC and Playstation 3. The extensive interview covers differences in the computer and console versions of the game, gameplay, vehicles, weapons, and everything in between.

GN: As long as we're on the subject of Onslaught and it's a vehicle based mode, what are some of the new vehicles we'll be seeing? Any more mega-machines like the Leviathan in 2004?

Jeff Morris: Yeah! That's really the focus is that we're going to have two completely different sets of vehicles this time around. The original vehicles in the retail box, which was six, and the extra three in the Editor's Choice expansion comprise the Axon side which is the traditional high-tech sci-fi side. If you look at the Goliath, you know it's a tank. The flip side is the Necris, featured prominently in Unreal Championship 2, are the other team and throughout the Onslaught it's set up to be Axon vs. Necris, though it could be Axon vs. Axon or Necris vs. Necris.

One thing that we wanted to do with these two vehicle rosters is not make them direct parallels of one another. But our match-ups across the roster divide aren't one to one parallels. The vehicles will all be unique and individual. Having that kind of match-up is a challenge from a balancing point of view, but at the same time it's giving us some great opportunities to have some really specuatular combat.

IGN UT2007 Interview

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