CVG: Will there be an Xbox version?
Warren Spector: No comment [laughs].

CVG: You’re already working on the sequel for PC, right? Warren Spector: We’re already working on the sequel, Deus Ex 2, as well as Thief 3. We were able to bring on many of the members of the Looking Glass crew [the original developer of the Thief series, now defunct]. They’re working down in Austin with me now, so there’s the Looking Glass connection already, which is really great. All we’re saying right now is that Deus Ex 2 and Thief 3 will be multi-platform. I don’t believe it’s possible just to be a PC developer any more and survive, just in the same way I don’t believe it’s possible to be just a PlayStation 2 or Xbox or Gamecube developer and survive. Costs are going up, team sizes are going up, sales, guess what, are not. We’re going to be on every platform we can without compromising the experience we want to give players. Multi-platform. We’re not going to be any more specific than that right now.

Back to Deus Ex, at this point we have a functioning interface and we now have months to go. We know the gameplay works because it won 35 Game of the Year awards. We know the story works, and we didn’t have to compromise that at all, because we won heaps of story awards. It’s not me bragging, it’s you guys; you like the game.

Huh uh...Now are you all putting the pieces of the puzzle together? :) The whole interview can be found right here.

If you were like me and put two and two together quickly after first reading the news of Ion Storm Dallas shutting down, then I know that thought was lingering in the back of your mind. I'm just trying to help you all, including myself, sleep a bit easier tonight :)

You must save your brother from the evil police man. Download the map and save your brother now!

Joystick101.org: At GDC this year, there was a lot of talk about giving players the tools to modify or create their own gaming environments. With the success of The Sims, and the buzz around Multiplayer gaming, some critics seemed to downplay the importance of authorial control in gaming. Where do you see single-player gaming headed?

WS: It drives me nuts every time I hear someone talk about multiplayer gaming as The Future! We've barely scratched the surface of single-player gaming. Having said that, I HOPE the future of the single-player experience involves downplaying the importance of the author. What I mean is simply that gaming is unique among media in its ability to allow users to interact with the author, as much as with the author's creations. But we have to be careful how we exploit that unique capability. Developers can bound player experience but we often go too far -- determining player experience as we would if we were writing a novel or making a movie. Developers shouldn't abdicate all authorial responsibility but we have to find ways to allow player choice and player action -- for genuine collaboration between players and authors. We have to leave as much room as we can for players to express themselves through their interactions with the worlds we create. The art in gaming lies in the tension between the elements we put in our gameworlds and what players choose to do with those elements. The developers who get that -- the ones who aren't just making expensive, sophisticated pick-a-path books or movies where you get to determine what the next shot is -- are the ones who will expand the boundaries of this new art form.

Can anyone say, "Harvey Smith"? He's definitely got my vote. You can get the whole interview here.

It's the year 1916. You're James Monroe, a detective working for a secret paranormal investigations branch of the Scotland Yard. There have been reports of some paranormal activity taking place in London...

We talked to a representative of the company today and received this response: "Just like Deus Ex shipped on the PC and Mac concurrently, Deus Ex 2 and Thief 3, will ship simultaneously on multiple platforms." So that pretty much puts all of that to rest, and we're actually quite happy about seeing as how we're PC folks and all. Take that, console-freaks!

The Taffer's Post - Reflections of a Blue Sky

The topic meanders from work to school to CoSaS to D&D to TTLG and back again. I hope you enjoy the insane ramblings of the chap who thinks psychoticness is a talent rather then a serious mental handycap. If you'd like to comment on this post, and please do so, run over to the forum version instead..

Deus Ex While in Development
Interview with Warren Spector

At the restaurant McCormick and Schmick, our waiter overheard us say, "...the industry" and assumed that Warren was a film producer bigwig. After that, the waiter was drooling and dropping all these little hints, like, "I'm an actor! Want to see my headshot photos? I was in an episode of Star Trek once!" It was amusing. Ah, LA.

Might as well post this, i'm making it for Quake 3, but I give permission to everyone for use in a mod if they want to. It's not skinned, but I provided a 384x384 wiremap, and a .3ds file for those wanting to use it. Hope ya like it!

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly rumors spread in this business and how willing people are to accept rumor as fact.

Right now, there are rumors circulating on the net that Deus Ex 2 and Thief 3 will ship on console first, with PC "ports" coming later. That is simply not true. Let me assure you that we have no plans to release a console version of DX2 or T3 before a PC version or to compromise one version to accomodate the needs of any other version we might develop.

Both DX2 and T3 are a ways off -- making immersive simulations takes time! -- and official announcements regarding these projects will be made in the future. Until then, let me just say that the members of the DX2 and T3 teams, many of whom helped create the original Thief and Deus Ex, are determined to meet and surpass your justifiably high expectations.

Everyone in this studio is as committed to making games like Underworld, System Shock, Thief and Deus Ex as you are committed to playing them. The vehemence with which you've expressed your concern is ample evidence that you love these games as much as we do. All I ask is that you trust us now as you always have in the past. You won't be disappointed...

DeusMax will be joining us as our resident Animator/Scenery Modeler. He has worked extensively with mods contriubuting to a number of projects out there, both commercial and personal. We are very excited to have him aboard and adding his expertise to our team.

Froggie will be joining us as a texturist. We have been in sore need of another for a while now and I can hear Danimal's sigh of relief all the way from here. He shows great promise. Representing France in all it's glory he is taking us a step closer to possibly becoming DX's most politically correct mod out there. ;-)

The Deus Ex community was dealt a devastating blow yesterday with the announcement that Deus Ex 2 was being created primarily for consoles then being ported to the PC. The community strongly disagrees with the actions of both Eidos and Ion Storm, believing that the game should be developed for PC's first then ported to consoles at a later date. As a result we have created an online petition in the hope Ion Storm and Eidos may change their decision. We are doing this for the good of the game; we want to see it being of a quality as high if not higher than the original, we don't want business decisions and money to influence people's decisions.

I also plan to use the sites as real life datacubes! I mean, the wireless web is the closest thing we have to the Deus Ex datacubes, so people can now view the redsun site like they would if they were really IN Deus Ex! I will put goodies like "E-Mails" from Redsun 2020 characters, and maybe even some games... we will have to wait and see.

I am looking for a fan. I am looking for the most enthusiastic and dedicated fan of Ultima Underworld there is. I need someone who is waiting with tremendous anticipation for the game Arx Fatalis, pouring over every preview and interview, and studying each screenshot in minute detail.

As you should know if you have read today's previous post (on TTLG.com) Arx Fatalis will be shown at E3 tomorrow (and this weekend) and there will undoubtedly be a great deal of media released surrounding this game. This would be the best time to open TTLG's Arx Fatalis fansite.

But I need a webmaster for this site. I would much rather the person who will be running this site take part in its finishing and opening. The Arx website will be located at www.StygianAbyss.com, which will also be host to all of our Ultima Underworld content. As you can see, the website design is already there, as well as some structuring. However it is not finished. (I had attempted to make it into a general fantasy gaming news site, but I have changed my mind.)

I would prefer that the webmaster for this site be someone who is already involved in the TTLG community and forums, but I am open to anyone. HTML skill is a requirement for the webmaster, and until the news script is coded (we'll have to update it by hand until then) so will the entire staff. I would also prefer someone who is familiar with Ultima Underworld, but again, that is not a requirement. I would like to get at least three people for the webmaster position. I'll decide which of you is the "leader" of the group after I have worked with you all for a bit. :)

Time is of the essence. I'd like to get this site fully operational as close to E3 as possible. Please contact me!

And just become I love to show this game off, here's a list of my very favorite screenshots:

• Bartering with a Goblin
• Some People Call These "Nagas"
• Chapels, Always Chapels
• Return to Undead
• Certanly a Deadly Beast

This will be a collaboration between any coder from any mod team out there who would be interested in joining the combined brilliance of the DX community. While we will be hosting the site it will not be our property, we're merely a means to an end on this one. Any work that is produced from this project will be available to all mods, similar to the work of TeamUC.

4 story, 12 room hotel, looking over a little grove for perfect sniper shots and endless fun. Along with 4 cameras and turrets, 4 other buildings, great showdow hiding, and much much much much more. All from Panik.

Developed by Ion Storm-Austin, Deus Ex wraps gamers up in a deep, surprising action thriller, replete with RPG elements, that provides the ability to build and personalize a complex alter ego during the course of the game. Slated for a winter 2001 release on PS2, this revised, refocused version of the game offers several alterations, modifications, and improvements over the PC version.

What part of Deus Ex's level design do you find extremely noteworthy? Share your comments with us in the TTLG Deus Ex forums

It's simply the PS2 version of DX. I was told that the PS2 version looks even better than the original PC version due to the higher poly count and newly coded animations put into it. I will keep you all updated as news about DX on the PS2 rolls out.

On another note, Ion Storm Austin is currently working on Deus Ex 2, Thief 3, and a rumored 3rd project. None of these will be shown at E3. Deus Ex 2 and Thief 3 are still in pre-production stages. Besides, I was also informed that they're going to keep tight lipped about both projects...they don't want any secrets about the games to be leaked.

• Interview with the main writer of Deus Ex 1 and 2, Sheldon Pacotti
• A followup interview with the Deus Ex team that will discuss even more of the references and fascinating things contained within Deus Ex 1 (see: original article)
• Secret project 1: Something very special and interesting regarding our newly added Quiz section
• Secret project 2: Preview of Deus Ex 2 based on stolen beta code (just kidding!)
• Continual site tweaks, additions, and maintenance.

Okay, guys, since I still haven't heard from KGB, it looks like I'll have to get with the program. I'm updating now to tell you that there's a lot of new content ready for viewing, and it'll be up on the site within the next few days. From there, I'll only have about a month of work to do before you guys get to see a playable demo of Counterfeit. And after that, it'll be smooth sailing until the project is 100% done. So hold on to your pants - there will be something playable out soon, and there will be some new eye candy up on the site even sooner. And things are looking great so far. There's plenty of playing time available in the beginning UNRC HQ level alone, so don't expect this mod to fall short on playability. Anyway, you can do little more than take my word for it for now. I guess the lot of you just need to hurry up and wait for that demo!

Ok, sorry I haven't updated the site for a while. Been busy with school (and will be until the term ends), but a new site design is under construction as well as updated info on the MOD. I've received mails from lots of interested mappers, artists, a sound guy and even a composer, but nothing's certain yet. The new design also includes a team-page, so expect to see more details on the team members along with the new site.

If you don't have a Best Buy in your area, but would like to get the game for $29.99, then go to this web page right here.

Deus Ex: Convergence is now up and running! We have completed our website and just recently uploaded it to our new domain name. We were formerly known as Covert Operations and have since scrapped that old project and begun on somethign completely new and a hell of a lot mroe interesting. We will have frequent updates and we already have a preview of some of the music that we have been developing for our mod. So check out the webpage and see if you have the stuff to join Deus Ex:Convergence.

I bring to you PDX fans a shocking new display of action, drama, romance, and twelve-fingered people. And cheese. And sporks. And rats. And everything else I'm starting to get known for obsessing over around here. So read it! Smack this link with a cinder block to gouge into its fleshy existence. And watch your back! The weird factor can be lethal.

Accomplishing what was once thought to be out of the question, Ion Storm managed to get the boats in the game to execute sweeping cinematic turns - which anyone who's ever wrestled with the Unreal editor's rudimentary pathing scheme knows to be damn near impossible

You're an operative. You're interviewing an NPC named Anna Navarre. You finish the discussion, and Agent Navarre tells you to get the hell out of her sight. She must be kidding, right? She must be, because you can walk right by her, hack her computer, and begin collecting data - and she just stands there and stares into space! In fact, all the NPCs in this game are incompetent. So much for union labor.

The halo were set out tho start a revolution, they were to bring the Illuminati to the surface, to show the people of the world what controlled them the lie they had been told and the intentions of this secret order. You come in. The Illuminati have the right idea. It is time for the people to evolve another level and Halo are just holding us back, - your mission (being part of the IO) is to become part detective and part hardass soldier and find 'The three kings'- the original hackers, and stop the up and coming revolution!

There are TONS of new features and characters that we have in store for you, in fact some of these features are already coded. The amount of changes pretty much makes this a total conversion now. The changes made take into account the work already done so there won't be much of a delay from our original timeframe of completion, and our changes will speed things up quite a bit in the future.

On some of the major gaming sites yesterday (Gamespot), they were posting that the suggested retail price of Deus Ex GOTY edition was $44.99. Sorry, but that's too much money for me to spend, especially since I already own the original. So I ventured over to Electronics Boutique and saw that they had it for $39.99. But that's only a $5 savings...I need a drastic price drop to actually go out and get this edition. If you're like me, then keep reading.

Here's what you do. I've noticed over the last two years that my local Best Buy always puts new releases on sale within the first three weeks of the game being shipped. I've bought all of my games from them for the past two years because of this small fact. For instance, I got Baldurs Gate 2 Collector's editon for only $37.99, when it was selling for $59.99 at other locations. Heck, Best Buy even sold it for that price once their one week sale was over. That's the catch here...when Deus Ex GOTY goes on sale at Best Buy, it will only be for one week, then the price will go back to the original price. I don't know exactly what Best Buy will drop the price to, but rest assured, it will be in the twenties. If you can't get to, or don't have a local Best Buy in your area, then just hit up their website at www.bestbuy.com.

Alright, it's me again. You've probably noted that even though I said this project isn't dead and would be updated soon, it still hasn't been updated. KGB, Counterfeit's webmaster, that silly Russian man, has gone and vanished on me. I haven't heard from him in weeks, and unless I do sometime soon, I guess I'll have to spearhead site updating myself from now on. So, KGB - Where are ya, buddy?

On May 25th, 2001, we celebrate the past, present, and future.

I hereby declare that from 12:00am until 11:59pm on May 25th (EST) , the official TTLG chatroom, #thief on irc.starchat.net, will be hosting a celebration to commemorate how far we have come since that day. I implore all former member of Looking Glass Studios, and all friends of Looking Glass Studios, to show up at some time during that day and share memories of the past and aspirations for the future with your good friends and fans. There will also be a special thread opened on the forum for Glassers to post messages to eachother and the fans.

I also implore everyone who sees this post to spread the word to the four winds. I want to make sure everyone who would be interested in being there has a chance to. Everyone who wants a chance to meet some of the makers of the Looking Glass games needs that chance, and every person who was part of Looking Glass Studios needs to know where to meet.

Try to get into #thief now so that you know how when the time comes. :)

Set your IRC Client to irc.starchat.net (or one of their other many servers you can select from at www.starchat.net) and /join #thief.

If you have no IRC Client, please take advantage of our java chat client on The Circle.

Here's the thread that Grundbegriff started, and here's one of many articles talking about Bush assigning FEMA 'Terrorism Duty'.

I would say that I'm returning in some type of glitzy manor, but would that really be the truth? I mean, I'm writing my own damn come back letter...how glitzy is that?

Getting to the serious side of things...I am now officially back and ready to bring you (the DX community) some great journalism, opinionated writing columns, interviews and future coverage of DX2. I would like to apologize to everyone out there for my sudden, abrupt disappearence, but some things went haywire in my personal family life, and I needed to take some time off to get myself and my family back in order before I returned to the online community.

I would like to graciously "Thank" Lee (aka Eberon) for holding down the fort and understanding why I had to take some time off. I would have been back last week, but work took me out to California, and I was extremely busy. I would also like to "Thank" Dan and Saam (The fathers of the TTLG Network) for understanding and not pressuring me to come back.

From the makers of Echoes of the Past comes the new mod Deus Ex: Vampire. Set in a world where vampires hide in the shadows of the modern world, feeding off of the helpless, you play the part of Sarah Christian, lead researcher of the nano-augmentation project for FEMA and UNATCO. Her life was turned upside down the day that Simian Malakai, third brother of the Malakai family of vampires, sank his teeth into her.

The story takes place aproximately one hudred years after Return of the Jedi. Fifteen years ago the Jedi master on Yavin found you as a small child, crying for help in the burning remains of a crashed shuttle. He took you in and taught you the ways of the Jedi. You don't know why you were on the shuttle and why it crashed, and you probobly will never know.

Now skip ahead fifteen years... you are a powerful Jedi, just about ready to graduate from the academy. Then one day you become delusional and try to kill your step-father. He was going to send you to represent the acedemy at the Jedi Council but now he has doubts. You beg for him to send you, and he does; only because something in the force tells him to.

The goal for this tutorial is to show how a NPC can be triggered to RUN to a certain location within a level.

This version is for the map "Cathedral" and goes into vivid detail about different places and how use them advantageously. The guide suggests different weapons and augmentations that are sure to increase your frags and ensure your success.