The year is 2552. Thats how Bungie representatives began their brief demonstration of the companys upcoming first-person shooter, Halo 2. The demo, which took place at Microsoft annual pre-E3 press conference, focused on some of the titles multiplayer capabilities as well as some of the physics modeling that is going into the game.

Here you can find more information on halo 2 at gamespot.com

       The demo started with a brief look at the Spartan soldier. The Master Chief model is looking as shiny as ever. Halo 2 will contain some customization features for multiplayer, including custom emblem design for your armor as well as an array of different color choices.

        Firing on a Covenant elite was up next. The game’s dual-wield functionality was shown. Basically, Halo 2 appears to have some of the same weapon-carrying limitations as Halo 1, but if you hit Y when standing over a weapon you can place that weapon into your off-hand for some serious akimbo action. Dual-wielding appears to be possible with any pistol-style weapon, and you don’t need to pair up two weapons of the same type. When packing a double punch, the two triggers work independently, letting you fire each weapon individually.

        The game will also contain some melee weapons in the form of a Covenant energy sword. The energy sword has a basic swipe attack, as well as a more advanced lunge that really does some serious damage. When the Spartan attacked the elite, the elite was sent flying from the force of the blow.

        The demo then moved on to vehicles, showing off the Warthog and the Ghost. You’ll be able to execute boosts in some of the vehicles, making for a nice dash in the Ghost. In a Grand Theft Auto-like twist, you’ll also be able to steal vehicles from other players by approaching a slow-moving or stopped ride and hitting X. The animations for the carjacking were pretty solid, showing the Spartan hopping on top of the Ghost and kicking the elite off.

      Vehicles can be destroyed in Halo 2. In fact, they can also be damaged. Shooting up a vehicle will cause pieces to fly off of it, and that damage will also reduce a vehicle’s handling ability. When destroyed, players will have to flee from the wreckage, because vehicles blow up with a satisfying blast shortly after they’re damaged beyond repair.

Click to enlarge.

         A large segment of the demo was devoted to showing that the Halo 2 engine could handle some of the same physics-based reactions as other modern first-person shooters. When hit with rocket launchers--which now have a new target-tracking feature for lock-on shots--Warthogs go flying. Large boulders and other parts of the scenery can be blasted around. At one point the Spartan soldier even pushed the wheel of a broken-up Warthog around with the butt of his gun.

       The entire demo took place on a map located in Zanzibar. The level was outfitted for one-flag capture-the-flag, and the level looked like it was set up for the Spartan troops to storm a beachfront base that was populated by Covenant players. A quick flyover the level showcased some of the other destructible objects. Turret emplacements and other strategic points of interest can be destroyed by sustained fire. Once inside the base, Spartan troops can activate a terminal that opens the front gates, making the siege a little more vehicle-friendly. There’s also a secret spot in the map that can only be found by blowing up a portion of the level and causing a large platform to fall into place, forming a bridge that leads to the ever-popular energy sword.

         The level--located in a futuristic Zanzibar and referred to as Hell on Earth--appears to take cues from Unreal Tournament’s assault mode, or the objective-based multiplayer of Return to Castle Wolfenstein, in that there seems to be a definite progression for moving through the levels and into the base. Also from Unreal Tournament, the game calls out players for killing sprees after you kill a specific number of enemies without dying.

        Graphically, Halo 2 looked as sharp as ever. The models looked impressive, reacted to impacts well, and had that same generally shiny look that you’ve come to expect from Halo. The environment seemed large and looked more like a natural environment than a standard first-person shooter multiplayer map. Finally, things appeared to blow up really well--the destruction of vehicles was truly a sight to see.

         Halo 2 is currently scheduled to hit the Xbox on November 9. Gamespot's Jeff Gerstmann will have more on this game as it becomes available. I obtained my info at www.gamespot.com

         "My opinion is" that any true Halo combat evolved lover should not have a problem parting with .99 to get a hold of this sweet game.

       As you may no Rockstar games  has made many odd, but interesting games such as their gangster "simulator" trilogy Grand Theft Auto. Featured in systems ranged from the original Playstation an X Box and even on the Playstation 2. But I've got some info here to tell you about the newest addition to the "Gangstafied" trilogy "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."

        A trio of images on the official San Andreas Web site seemed to confirm what many who have been following the game suspected. It will be set in modern times (not in the 1970s, as some had said) and will have a heavy West Coast gangsta flava.

        The first image could be taken from any one of the many late 1980s/early 1990s gangsta films, such as Menace II Society or Colors. It depicts a quartet of cornrowed, Uzi-toting OGs performing a drive-by shooting from a car from the same period.

        Shot number two shows a young hood, also with an Uzi, squatting in front of a tricked-out old-school convertible, often called a "hooptie" or a "hoo-ride." He is wearing what looks like a Carhartt jacket and Timberland boots--the de facto gangsta uniform circa 1994.

        The last shot shows the same character riding a bicycle down a neighborhood street straight out of Compton, with single-level homes set against a smog-colored sky. No information was released on whether bicycles can be ridden in the game.

        The Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas site also has a new splash page, which changes each time the site is loaded. One shows a blond woman bending over to show the tattoos on her décolletage. Another features a baseball-cap-wearing gangsta sporting what could be called "mad bling." A third shows a scantily clad Latina in a bandana halter top, and a fourth shows a snarling thug with tattoo sleeves and a shaven head.

       [UPDATE] Early this morning, Rockstar released the first plot summary of GTA: SA, which confirmed its early 1990s millieu. Here it is verbatim:

       "Five years ago Carl Johnson escaped from the pressures of life in Los Santos, San Andreas...a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs and corruption. Where filmstars and millionaires do their best to avoid the dealers and gangbangers.

       Now, it's the early 90s. Carl's got to go home. His mother has been murdered, his family has fallen apart and his childhood friends are all heading towards disaster.

       On his return to the neighborhood, a couple of corrupt cops frame him for homicide. CJ is forced on a journey that takes him across the entire state of San Andreas, to save his family and to take control of the streets."

       All the information released by Rockstar indicates that the controversial Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has not lost the rough-and-ready nature of its predecessors. GameSpot will have more details on this highly anticipated title--which is due in Q4 2004--as they become available.