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DEFCON Released Today 84

Posted by Zonk from the open-the-silos dept.
VVrath writes "Independent developers (and bedroom programmers), Introversion are releasing their third game, DEFCON at 6pm GMT today. As the successor to the sleeper hit Uplink and the IGF award winning Darwinia, this is one of the most eagerly awaited indy games of this year. Based on the game of thermonuclear war played in the film WarGames, DEFCON gives you the opportunity to nuke the hell out of your friends (and enemies), with the player who loses the least crowned victorious. With this being Introversion's first game for sale by download only (it's available on Steam as well as through their own website), does this mark the end of indy games being sold in shops?"
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DEFCON Released Today More

DEFCON Released Today

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  • I know this (Score:4, Funny)

    by Eightyford ( 893696 ) on Friday September 29, 2006 @12:18PM (#16246729) Homepage
    This is about a criminal with bad hearing right?

  • Not download only (Score:5, Informative)

    by Nuskrad ( 740518 ) on Friday September 29, 2006 @12:19PM (#16246751)
    You can buy it by mail order from the Introversion site aswell, and there is a possibility it'll be in shops at a later date (Darwinia's US retail release was a lng time after game release)
    • And hopefully not just download only via steam.

      I bought Darwinia for OS X via download through their site and seeing that there is not Steam on OS X...

      I'm just hoping they are supporting an OS X native again because I can't dual boot with my PPC macs. But these guys have a fairly good track record for supporting Linux and OS X.
      • They have repeatedly stated that Mac and Linux will be supported. The Mac port will probably (once again) be published by Ambrosia Software. According to the roadmap, the Mac and Linux versions will be done in "November" (which could, realistically, mean anytime from October to January).

        xander

  • 23 years. (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Tackhead ( 54550 ) on Friday September 29, 2006 @12:21PM (#16246801)
    > Is it a game, or is it real?
    What's the difference?

    23 years since Stanislav Petrov [wikipedia.org] decided not to play.

    And 23 years since I saw the movie WarGames.

    Thanks, Stanislav. Because you chose not to play, we all get to play!

    • Re:23 years. (Score:4, Funny)

      by Control Group ( 105494 ) on Friday September 29, 2006 @12:25PM (#16246891) Homepage
      Drat. Beaten to the WarGames punch by 2 minutes.

      How about a game of chess?

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Oh great. Now we're going to have easily-influenced world leaders who are allowed to play the game due to their irresponsible legislative bodies. Then they'll go out and nuke people for real because they've been desensitized to it.

      I demand a lawsuit against Introversion for the safety of the world! Where's Jack Thompson when you need him?
    • Speak for yourself! I would've survived.
  • Are they on the DVD version? I know they said they were making them. I emailed introversion and got no reply.

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by Nuskrad ( 740518 )
      The Linux beta testing should start in the next couple of months, and the Mac version at some point in the future. Unfortunatly, this is the first IV game that's Windows only on release. See the roadmap [everyone-dies.com] for more details.
    • If Introversion handles Defcon like they did Uplink and Darwinia, the Mac version will be released by Ambrosia at a later date. I'm not sure about the Linux version. There's a chance that might ship on the same disk, but there's not a mention of any version other than the Windows version on the games site.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Aladrin ( 926209 )
        No, it has been confirmed that there will be no Linux version on the shipping date.

        There was hope that it would be available for download soon, though. (I believe they even named the programmer that was working on it.)

        • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

          by the phantom ( 107624 ) *
          That would be John Knottenbelt. He is in charge of porting IV's games to other platforms (Linux, Mac, XBox Live Arcade).

          xander

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by Aladrin ( 926209 )
            XBLA... Hmm... I bought Uplink and Darwinia already... Uplink gets pretty boring, though. I wonder if they'll release Darwinia free to those who have already paid? Or reduced price, since I'm sure MS wouldn't let them do it for free. Still, I may buy it for the 360 if/when it's released for that... Darwinia was a pretty neat game.

  • Don't buy it!! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Control Group ( 105494 ) on Friday September 29, 2006 @12:23PM (#16246849) Homepage
    The only way to win is not to play!

  • Unfair Advantage (Score:3, Informative)

    by Ford Prefect ( 8777 ) on Friday September 29, 2006 @12:40PM (#16247143) Homepage
    The manual [steampowered.com] is available on the Steam website - usefully, it also contains information on building your very own fallout shelter, survival kit and fallout suit, and on surviving a nuclear blast if caught out in the open.

    Duck and cover, everyone!

    Now, to stock up on Jammie Dodgers. Do Jaffa Cakes count as a viable alternative?

  • Now if there is a nuclear war... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Facekhan ( 445017 ) on Friday September 29, 2006 @12:53PM (#16247387)
    Now if there is a nuclear war Jack Thompson has someone to sue for 600 million dollars.

  • Demo? (Score:1, Redundant)

    by ShadowsHawk ( 916454 )
    I wish steam would allow you to demo games before purchase. I would assume that since it's supplied by steam, it would be pretty easy manage. It's actually been getting harder to find demos for the last couple of years.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Hiigara ( 649950 )
      There will be a demo released on steam. ;P

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by WNivek ( 839434 )
      There will be a demo available at some point after release.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by antdude ( 79039 )
        Yep, like Darwinia. Just wait. I would like a demo early too, but I doubt that will happen.

    • Re:Demo? (Score:5, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 29, 2006 @01:01PM (#16247529)
      We are almost ready to release the demo version, Paul is working it as we speak. It will be out most likely by the end of October, and the Linux version will follow about a month or so after that. However, we are so sure you are going to like DEFCON that we offer it with a money back guarentee!
      • Wow.. I really have to give you guys credit then. To be honest, that kind of customer orientation makes me want to purchase even without a demo. I will definitely check it out tonight.
      • What I really want to know is if we are getting multiplayer code for Darwinia.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Nuskrad ( 740518 )
          Darwinia already has multiplayer code in it, and the basis for the Defcon multiplayer was cannibilised from Darwinia. Developer Chris Delay has stated in an interview that the problem with multiplayer in Darwinia isn't technical, it's purely a gameplay issue - they're working on trying to make Darwinia fun to play multiplayer.
      • No need for a demo. I downloaded a version from a handy ftp server. I liked the game, I like to support small developers and I liked the message they've written (politely asking yarrr pirates to buy the game) when checking online servers within the game. So I'll buy the game asap/donate the amount to the developers and continue to use the "pirated" version, without the "steaming" crap.
      • Demo version? End of October?

        How about now [steampowered.com]?

        I suspect the demo version is simply the retail version without a key - the emergency-download-mirrors email I was sent by Introversion a few minutes ago has FileFront [filefront.com] as one of the mirrors. Download from there if you like - I guess the other mirrors are equally public...

      • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

        by VVrath ( 542962 )
        The anonymous coward is lying! The demo was released at the same time as the full release (just type in your authorization key and it upgrades the demo to the full version). Also, the Introversion web site does not mention any staff member named Paul, nor any details of a money back guarantee...

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by someguy ( 23968 )
      There will be a demo available at www.everybody-dies.com soon. It just hasn't been created by the developers yet.

  • Yes, but... (Score:4, Funny)

    by hcdejong ( 561314 ) <hobbes@@@xmsnet...nl> on Friday September 29, 2006 @12:58PM (#16247483)
    Does it run on the WOPR?
  • Damn! I was about to order, and now the store is slashdotted (10 AM PST).

    You can still buy it through Steam, but I'm sad that I missed my chance for a boxed version.
  • Mighty inconsiderate of you guys to help slashdot introversion's servers into a smoking wreck, at exactly the same time everyone who pre-ordered is trying to download their damn game...
    • Hah! Thanks to Steam's preload button, I already bought and downloaded the game last night!

      Couldn't play it though because it wasn't released at that point.
    • Hey, we do what we can!
    • Anyone who preordered should have pre-loaded it as well from Steam. I did that days ago, can just hop in and play now. ;)
    • There's an alliance mode in DEFCON, where everyone starts on the same team at first, and the team gradually falls apart as players attack each. Near the end of the game, strong, stable allies tend to launch nukes at allies that they consider weaker, destroying them utterly. I just thought that would be relevant for this particualar thread.

  • Mac? (Score:2)

    by Tom ( 822 )
    I own their other two titles, but the site is down and I can't check - does anyone know if there's an OSX version? Or a Linux? Who'd want to have their armageddon interrupted by a blue screen? :)
    • There will be Mac and Linux versions of the game. They are both expected in "November." Normally, I would direct you to IV's roadmap, but the servers seem to be smoking wrecks.
    • The Linux and OSX versions will come later. Their site mentioned that a random guess would be November or so for both. Owners of the Windows version can use a downloadable Linux binary...

  • I Think I've Played This Before (Score:3, Interesting)

    by vjmurphy ( 190266 ) on Friday September 29, 2006 @01:42PM (#16248237) Homepage
    On the Amiga: http://amigareviews.classicgaming.gamespy.com/nucl earw.htm [gamespy.com]

    and on the tabletop (for you youngsters, we used to play games using playing surfaces made from compressed paper products that involved actually having people in the same room):

    http://www.flyingbuffalo.com/nucwar.htm [flyingbuffalo.com]
  • Sorry about that download only thing, I bought Uplink a few weeks ago and said "I don't really want the CD, so don't send it unless it'd be a big deal not to." And they never sent it.
    I imagine that sparked a huge internal debate with one side finally saying "If they don't want the CDs we work so damn hard for, then FINE! They can't HAVE the CDs!"
  • Some good one liners from this movie, even though watching it now is pretty comical, here's a fun one:

    Mr. Liggett: All right, Lightman. Maybe you can tell us who first suggested the idea of reproduction without sex.
    David Lightman: Um, your wife?

    Nice

    fak3r
  • Is there a non-steam, non-DRM version? The site is slashdotted, so I cannot find out from the site. I would love to purchase this game, but I refuse to install Steam!

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Zerth ( 26112 )
      Yes, there is a downloadable non-steam version, as well as a cd version.

      And if you bastards weren't /.ing the server, I'd be downloading it right now.
    • there is but you need the back door password to get to the system there the files are.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Fongboy ( 712864 )
      If you can bring yourself to tolerate steam you can get it cheaper right now... I just took a look and steam has a prelaunch price of $9.95. ... hmmm... save money... or anti-steam sentiments... tough choice! =)
      • It isn't a tough choice. I don't have the luxury of having a seperate "gaming PC", which means that the rare occasions I install a game on my laptop, I take copy protection somewhat seriously. If the game requires any sort of installation that may compromise the functionality or security of my computer, I cannot install the game, for any price! I have a PC first and foremost for non-gaming, and so if a company wants to sell a product to casual gamers such as myself, they must forgoe any sort of copy protect
        • I'm a beta tester. There is no DRM, just an authentication key. Plug it in to the demo, and it becomes the full game. All authentication is done through Introversion's metaserver.

          • Re: (Score:1)

            by Tofof ( 199751 )

            There is no DRM, just an authentication key. Plug it in to the demo, and it becomes the full game. All authentication is done through Introversion's metaserver.

            Yes - and the minute the game launched, the metaserver melted and is currently still a pile of slag. As a result, everyone who purchased the full version is currently forced down into demo mode, Steam and direct Introversion purchases alike.

            Defcon seems to reauthenticate on each load and when trying to create a new game - I have gotten succes

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

          It isn't a tough choice. I don't have the luxury of having a seperate "gaming PC", which means that the rare occasions I install a game on my laptop, I take copy protection somewhat seriously. If the game requires any sort of installation that may compromise the functionality or security of my computer, I cannot install the game, for any price! I have a PC first and foremost for non-gaming, and so if a company wants to sell a product to casual gamers such as myself, they must forgoe any sort of copy protect

          • but no incidences of spyware (that I could see). But it seems to have been resolved now. I haven't opened any ports on my firewall, that's for certain (not that it proves anything), nor has Windows Firewall bugged me about it wanting to open ports. So all traffic is steam-initiated.

            Just to clear up potential confusion, There has been incidents of spyware/badness, but they were unfounded.
            Some silly people were digging around some of steams files and found LOTS of their personal data in them. Ended up just be

  • Ive found this works perfectly well (minus slightly annoying sound pops) on the latest version of wine http://winehq.org/ [winehq.org]

    That should get me over until I can get a linux version :)

  • I mean, I have played all the Silent Hill games, and this has NOTHING on them...

    Is it the music choice?

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