New Zerg unit revealed - Baneling

After over two months of waiting here is a new Zerg Unit - Baneling. This is not the first time we saw this unit. It was shown in gameplay videos but that was about it.

Now we know more about this unit. Here is official brief about it:

At first the baneling was identified as an unstable zerg mutation of an unspecified genus. Subsequent observations have revealed it to be a morph of the zergling, the most numerous zerg subtype.

This is a good, very good news for Zerg players. Zerglings are cheap unit and can be produces in large numbers. This is giving a great opportunities for some aggressive gameplay.

As expected there has to be a downside.

Zerglings have been seen entering a brief chrysalis phase before emerging in their new form.

I guess during this phase chrysalis will be reasonably vulnerable and they will have to be defended by units like Hydralisk.

Banelings can be exploited as very effective offensive unit. Since they are produced from Zerglings potential numbers can be huge. Of course they have to be used wisely since they self-destruct and in the process produce a lot of damage to units and buildings. Combine this with burrowing and you are in for a treat. Just imagine a choke point with dozen or more baneling burrowed and second after a convoy of Terran tanks passes Bunelings pop up from ground and waste all tanks... 

These living bombs are highly effective against both structures and ground forces; in fact, a clutch of them is capable of wiping out a group of vehicles and infantry in the blink of an eye. The banelings' lethality is further enhanced by the zerg predilection for burrowing. An apparently safe area can soon turn into a deathtrap as these monstrosities emerge and roll into the midst of their foes, giving them virtually no time to react.

Modeling for Unreal Tournament 3

UT3 is very good FPS game based on very powerful engine. Unreal engine 3 is driving a lot of games and few of these you may be playing yourself. It provides highly detailed models, textures, effects and everything in between. More about is available at Unreal Technology site.

 

Games like UT 3 come with smaller or larger number of maps with very detailed and crafted meshes and models. Creation of meshes or models can be is very demanding and creative process. Unreal Editor is quite good editor but it can get you only to a certain level in map/character design. To release your full potential use applications like Maya or 3D Studio Max.

Guys at 3D Buzz have always been great in providing detailed tutorials for a whole range of applications and among these are Maya and 3DS Max.

 

Now they have released a brand new 6 part tutorial how to create an AT-AT walker for Unreal Tournament 3. Videos are available here.

 

If you are interested in modeling in 3D Studio and UT3, grab a cup of coffee (you'll need more than one if you are going to watch all of them) and keep your eyes peeled.

Oh, there is one more thing -you need to register to see videos 2 - 6.  Registration is free and I believe you won't regret it, so go on and register.

Lengths of videos are:

• Part 1, Getting Started - 26 min
• Part 2, Base Foot Shell - 57 min
• Part 3, Toe and foot pad   - 33 min
• Part 4, Underside of foot - 26 min
• Part 5, Ankle track - 49 min
• Part 6, Foot/Ankle details - 35 min

This shows how to create a attractive model that can be placed in the game and with good textures used it's a sure thing!

Doom IV is coming

Two days ago id Software has announced that the work on Doom IV has begun. The news is quite short (read it here) but if you are high caliber programmer or an artist and have a passion for first person shooter horror games you can apply for a position at id Software. 

 

In some of earlier interviews (released when id Tech 5 engine was demonstrated - see my earlier post) John Carmack said that id will stay away from horror/shooter games. Therefore they started working on Rage. I don't know if Rage is still in the works but definitely id wants to cash in on the legendary Doom series.

I have do doubt that Doom IV will look amazing and feature plenty of new features from modern games like very high poly count for player models, world textures (mega textures used in Quake wars), dynamic lighting (maybe radiosity and ray tracing) and something new John Carmack is hiding in his sleeve.

 

Let's hope Doom IV will not be repetitive as Doom III was. I did enjoy playing it in the beginning (first several levels) but then it became quite predictable - dark corner means there is an imp hiding, shoot him, another monster behind you, shoot him, few more from the front, etc. Also, levels close to the end of the game were to gruesome for my taste. 

Starcraft story - Brood war

Second part of the Starcraft - Brood war is here. This is a complex storyline with allies between Protoss and Kerrigan and their search for long lost crystals, traitor among Protoss.

You'll also read about a weapon that could block Zerg communications. What happens with PSI Disrupter?

Well, this is a relatively long read and I don't want to spoil too much.

The whole story is here.

 

"New" Terran unit - Tauren Marine

They did it again! A new super unit for Terran is revealed. It is Tauren Marine. Short blurb about it says:

The obscure planet of Azeroth was found to harbor a dizzying selection of humans, mutants, and aliens in a state of perpetual superstition and conflict. The most physically imposing of these warrior races were the so-called 'tauren,' an anthropomorphic bovine genotype with super-human stamina, overpowered racial combat abilities, and bizarrely well-developed horticultural skills.

While most tauren were satisfied with their agrarian culture and primitive existence, the Confederacy was able to lure away large numbers of young bulls for a life of adventure and violence along the galactic rim. Other tauren referred to these adventurers as 'mad cows,' and they were ostracized from the rest of their kine. The newly created tauren marines didn't care--they got neat-looking armor and big guns to own everyone else with. These beefy new soldiers are now an integral part of the Confederate military, and have managed to horn in on the roles traditionally filled by firebats and other infantry units.

 

See them in action against Terran

or against Zerg

 

For the real gems check the link and watch the moovies. Some serious butt kicking there!

 

 

No, this is not a spelling error or typo. They wrote moovie...

 

P.S. Did you really  believe them? On April 1st news?

Starcraft II gameplay video

There is a new gameplay video available on GameTrailers. It if focused on the Protoss (the player) fighting both Terran and Zerg. The nice feature is commentary of old units with new abilities and new units as well.

Here is the video (standard resolution). Be patient, it is about 21 minutes long.



If you want to see this in HD head over here.

The real treat is at the very end of the movie (if you like Zerg)...

First Zerg units in Starcraft II revealed

Finally, after a long wait first units for Zerg are here. There is a brief description of the Zerg race which I'll quote:

The zerg are a race entirely unlike the terrans or the protoss. They are composed of many different species integrated into the Swarm via zerg infestation. These creatures are rapidly and selectively evolved into deadly and efficient killers to further the driving zerg imperative of achieving absolute domination. The zerg make no use of technology to create their weapons, armor, or starships. Instead, these functions are efficiently fulfilled through biological adaptation and planned mutation of the zerg strains. Even zerg buildings are in fact specialized organs within the living, growing organism of a zerg nest.

When the zerg first arrived in the Koprulu sector, they were unified by their absolute obedience to the zerg collective sentience known as the Overmind. The Overmind ultimately directed the actions of every zerg creature in the Swarm, functioning through a hierarchy of lesser sentiences. The first and most important tier of these consisted of the cerebrates, each entrusted with direct control of a sizable section of the Swarm. The cerebrates' commands were disseminated in turn by the overlords, which directly ordered and controlled the mass of zerg creatures both in their nests and on the battlefield.

Although the Overmind was primarily driven by its desire to consume and assimilate the advanced protoss race, it found useful but undeveloped material in humanity. Taking a powerful terran psionic, Sarah Kerrigan, the Overmind evolved a new and unique creature: the Queen of Blades. When the protoss destroyed the Overmind during the invasion of Aiur, the Queen of Blades manipulated the dark templar into eliminating the surviving cerebrates. As a result, she came to dominate the Swarm.

After this I guess you want to see the new Zerg units. Now, back to the units. Not surprisingly, first two units are Hydralisk and Mutalisk.

Hydralisk

The origins of Hydralisk are from planet Slothien. Before the Zerg assimilated them they were peacefull herbivores. Now they have a reputation. A one as vicious killers... Main "weapon" is the armor piercing spine. Hydralisk is using great deal of muscle power (total of 4000 muscles) to launch spines. A single spine will go through 2 cm of solid neosteel at maximum range. Recommended defense for Terrans - siege tank. A very handy feature of Hydralisk is burrowing ability (I've been using that a lot). Hydralisk is known for getting convoys by surprise or waiting for slow and vulnerable units to come close and then destroy them.

Mutalisk

This is the flying force of Zerg. Mutalisk can attack targets both on land and in the air. This makes them quite versatile unit capable of good defence or attack. The primary attack is glave wurm - voracious symbiote that can rapidly strike at several opponents as it explosively disintegrates. In large numbers they can devastate a moderately defended base.

Now we have some videos to see how new units actually look like and how they operate.

Zerg vs Protoss gameplay

From GameTrailers here is the video of Zerg fighting Protoss. First half of the movie shows more or less standard destruction and burrowing of Hydralisk. In the second half you will see how Protoss got tricked into chasing remaining Zerglings just to find their own destruction by some new awesome powerful and self-destructing Zerg units.

Zerg vs. Terran

Here is how to trash the Terran army, again from GameTrailers. In the beginning there is a new unit, travelling underground and undetected by Terran infantry. They infect the barracks and then the carnage begins... Mid section of the movies shows another new unit defending the base -very efficiently against Marines and Vikings. Next, there is a new flying unit infecting several Battlecruisers.

From other source (GameVideos) comes a shaky cam of new Zerg trailer.

That is all for now. We expect a lot more soon...