Xfire 1.104 – IM for Gamers

Xfire 1.104 (Windows, Freeware, 5.9MB) [alt DL] is the instant messenger for gamers. See when your friends are playing online games; See what game they are playing; See where they are playing; and join their game with just one click. Plus, unlike existing Instant Messengers, this one lets you receive IM's without disrupting your game.

Changes:

• Added tabbed browsing to the web browser in Xfire In-Game. Hit Scroll Lock + W while playing any of dozens of games to use it
• Added new default sound pack
• Fixed problem with saving the window location of Xfire on multi-monitor computers
• Added the ability to capture sound in Vista using the Xfire Video Capture system (while playing a game press Scroll Lock + V)
• Fixed problem with Call of Duty: World at War server info
• New games supported

IceRocket: xfire instant messenger gamer, windows freeware

Xfire 1.102 – IM for Gamers

Xfire 1.102 (Windows, Freeware, 5.7MB) [alt DL] is the instant messenger for gamers. See when your friends are playing online games; See what game they are playing; See where they are playing; and join their game with just one click. Plus, unlike existing Instant Messengers, this one lets you receive IM's without disrupting your game.

Changes:

• Long-time users running the Xfire skin will be switched to the Shadow skin, in the old-colors Xfire theme, during this update. You may switch back if you so choose
• Added the ability to change sounds through sound packs, which are zip files containing .wav files
• Improved server information for Call of Duty: World at War
• The Xfire In-Game web browser is now available in *beta* quality in Guild Wars, Dawn of War: Soulstorm, and Unreal Tournament 2004
• Live Video broadcasts now let you chat with the broadcaster directly from the broadcast web page
• New games supported

IceRocket: xfire instant messenger, windows freeware

Mumble 1.1.5 - Improve Voice Communication in Games

Mumble 1.1.5 (Windows, Open Source, 9.8MB) [alt DL] was made to improve voice communication in games. This program features shorter delay and better implementation of Speex than most other free clients. Plug-in support for positional audio in games has been implemented, and it comes with a plug-in for Battlefield 2. Installer includes the client Mumble and the server Murmur.

Also available for Linux.

Changes:

• Murmur can be controlled with ZeroC ICE, meaning it's easy to create webscripts in PHP and ASP.NET
• Shortcuts can now be suppressed, so that you can use Ctrl-Alt-M to mute Mumble without having triggering the 'M' key ingame
• Additionally, a number of bugs and minor features have been added

Technorati: mumble, voice, communication, game, windows, open source

WoWus 1.09 - Keep Up-to-date with World of Warcraft Updates

WoWus 1.09 (World of Warcraft Updating System) (Windows, Freeware, 822KB) [alternate DL] helps you keep up-to-date with the latest add-ons by scanning your add-ons folder and displaying any relevant updates that are required.

Changes:

• Added: Delete Crash Dumps to the Management - Tweaks area
• Added: DownloadThreadPriority, DownloadTimeout to Settings - Advanced
• Fixed: Bug introduced in v1.08 that results in addon installation failures on some systems
• Fixed: Problem when trying to access the .toc file for some addons
• Fixed: Problem when backing-up addons just before upgrading
• Fixed: Delete Cached Data and Delete All Settings in Management - Tweaks area
• Other: Tweaks to the downloading core

Technorati: wowus, world, warcraft, update, utility, windows, freeware

NeonDS 0.2.1 - Nintendo DS Emulator

NeonDS 0.2.1 (Windows, Freeware, 324KB) [alternate D/L] is a Windows-based Nintendo DS emulator. Currently, there is a lack of touch-screen and sound support. However, preliminary tests show that its emulation is fairly advanced already, producing reasonable speeds.

Changes:

• Fixed ATI card rendering problem
• Auto frameskip when limit60fps options is enabled

Technorati: neonds, nintendo, ds, emulator, windows, freeware

Xfire 1.94 - IM for Gamers

Xfire 1.94 (Windows, Freeware, 4.6MB) [download via FileForum] is the instant messenger for gamers.

Changes:

• Video capture in Xfire In-Game (Scroll Lock + V) is now enabled by default for everyone. Please try capturing and sharing some videos
• Unified voice overlay/configuration window in Xfire In-Game
• Fixed several opacity and drawing errors with the voice overlay in Xfire In-Game
• Fixed display problem when editing voice chat settings in a chat room
• Fixed several performance issues on Windows Vista 64-bit
• Fixed corruption problem when taking a screenshot (Scroll Lock + S) in a full-screen game, changing to windowed mode, and then taking another screenshot
• New games supported

Technorati: xfire, instant, messenger, im, game, gamer, windows, freeware

WoWus 1.06 - Get Your World of Warcraft Game Up-to-date

WoWus 1.06 (World of Warcraft Updating System) (Windows, Freeware, 833KB) [download via FileForum] helps you keep up-to-date with the latest add-ons by scanning your add-ons folder and displaying any relevant updates that are required.

Changes:

• Added: Change Location Registry Key to the Settings General area
• Added: Ping Server to Settings Mirrors area
• Added: Categories to Compilation Lists
• Fixed: Save List wasn't working correctly
• Fixed: Foldernames and Dependencies columns were displaying incorrect information
• Fixed: Crash when downloading certain corrupted addons
• Fixed: Crash when column sorting if the Updated date column wasn't visible
• Fixed: Corrected Exclude Addon window to look correct in Windows Vista
• And more.

Technorati: wowus, world, warcraft, update, system, windows, freeware, game

PCSX2 0.9.5 SVN Revision 343 - Playstation 2 Emulator

PCSX2 0.9.5 SVN Revision 343 (Windows, Open Source, 678KB) [download via FileForum] is a Playstation 2 emulator. Rather than concentrating on the whole PSX2 system, the emulator focuses on a few public domain demos.

Also available for Linux.

Technorati: pcsx2, playstation, emulator, windows, open source

PCSX2 0.9.5 SVN Revision 330 - Playstation 2 Emulator

PCSX2 0.9.5 SVN Revision 330 (Windows, Open Source, 678KB) [download via FileForum] is a Playstation 2 emulator. Rather than concentrating on the whole PSX2 system, the emulator focuses on a few public domain demos.

Also available for Linux.

Changes:

• Fixed a bug in the recompiler causing corrupted text on King Kong, may effect other games also with distorted textures/text
• Changed 1 op to interpreted on the MMI, it was actually slower being recompiled! videos seeing 10-30% speed increases

Technorati: pcsx2, playstation, emulator, windows, linux, open source

Arasan 10.3 - Free Chess Program with Opening Book

Arasan 10.3 (Windows, Freeware, 2.2MB) [download via FileForum] is a chess program that includes an opening book with about 32,000 moves.

Also available for Linux.

Technorati: arasan, chess, multiple, moves, windows, linux, freeware

WoWus (World of Warcraft Updating System) 1.05 - Keep Up-to-date with the Latest Add-ons

WoWus (World of Warcraft Updating System) 1.05 (Windows, Freeware, 934KB) [download via FileForum]helps you keep up-to-date with the latest add-ons by scanning your add-ons folder and displaying any relevant updates that are required. You can choose which updates to apply and WoWus will then download and install them for you - all with the click of a button. It also has add-on management features and back-up support for updated add-ons.

Changes:

• Other: "Name, Description" is now again the default search field in the Search Pane
• Fixed: Corrupted addon downloads will not result in the addon being removed from WoW
• Fixed: A somewhat rare startup exception problem

Technorati Tags: wowus, world, warcraft, update, windows, freeware

Mumble 1.1.2 - Improve Voice Comm in Games

Mumble 1.1.2 (Windows, Open Source, 6.1MB) [download via FileForum] was made to improve voice communication in games. This program features shorter delay and better implementation of Speex than most other free clients. Plug-in support for postional audio in games has been implemented, and it comes with a plug-in for Battlefield 2. Installer includes the client Mumble and the server Murmur.

Also available for Linux.

Technorati : communication, freeware, game, mumble, open source, voice, windows

Zamby and the Mystical Crystals Released

Kristanix Games has just released Zamby and the Mystical Crystals, a new fantasy puzzle game for Mac OS X. The goal of this non-violent game is to use logic, stealth, guile, and imagination to guide Zamby through a wondrous world of light crystals, monsters, and obstacles.

Like all Qwonks, Zamby needs light crystals to illuminate his underground cave. He sets out to explore his vast world, and collect as many crystals as possible.

The game's simple interface allows children and adults to begin playing the game immediately. Guiding Zamby through the game's 150 increasingly difficult levels, however, requires moving objects, building bridges, trapping monsters, and using logic to solve each level of the journey. Throughout the exciting encounter, Zamby discovers new things about his mystical terrain, and the challenges in his path.

At any point in the game, you can ask for hints, watch a movie on how to solve that level, or undo any number of moves that you've already made. The game's clever logic, intricate puzzles, and professionally produced artwork and music make your journey exciting.

In addition to the huge library of puzzle levels, the program's built-in level editor lets you build your own challenges. With all of the objects and monsters that the game offers, you can create custom levels that are tailored to your family and friends' tastes. In the coming months, game players will be able to share their custom game levels with each other, on the Zamby web site.

Whether you're a casual game player who is bored with mindless shoot-em-up games, a parent who wants an intelligent game that the entire family can enjoy, or an educator who wants to find more ways to use the computer to develop your kids' problem-solving skills, Zamby and the Mystical Crystals will provide you with hours and hours of challenging fun.

Pricing and Availability:

Zamby runs on Mac OS X 10.3 and up, as well as Windows, costs $19.95(US) for a single user license, and is available now from kristanix.com. A Linux version will be available later in the year. You can download a free trial version of Zamby that includes 16 levels designed for adult puzzle-solvers, and 12 levels designed especially for kids.

Thanks to Vidar Kristiansen for the news.

Technorati : commercial, crystal, fantasy, game, mac, mystical, puzzle, windows, zamby