Hey, if you preordered Hellgate, servers are up :)

I wanted to post up some benchmark numbers for comparison.
Coming directly from This post

Sorry if you don't think this is Cblog material. To be honest though, I've seen worse entries.

You can add your own results, if you want to.
The benchmark file can be found in C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\Crytek\Crysis SP Demo\Bin32\Benchmark_GPU.bat

The results can be found in C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\Crytek\Crysis SP Demo\Game\Levels\island\benchmark_gpu.log

Test rig:

ASUS Striker Extreme Nforce 680I
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 Processor - 2.66GHz, 8MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB
Mushkin XP2 PC2-8500 2GB 2X1GB
EVGA E-GEFORCE 8800 GTX 575MHZ 768MB
Western Digital Raptor X 150GB in Raid0
Samsung SyncMaster 226BW 1680x1050 native
Windows Vista Home Premium, (legit) patched to the tits.

Benchmarking anomalies:

I let the test run through twice each time, when the demo starts the average FPS starts at 0 and ramps up from there. At the end of the Demo and into the second loop, there is a whiteout effect that is easy to render(100~fps), altering the Average FPS from the outset of the second test.

Other information:

Tests were all done at native resolution 1680x1050
Directx10 was used for all tests,
Video drivers are the 169.01 beta. There are a couple of earlier results from my testing you can compare the 163.69 drivers against.

Testing results.
(simplified below)

=====================Single Card, Very high, 163.69=================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 2000, Recorded Time: 111.86s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 190.27s, Average FPS: 10.51
Min FPS: 5.55 at frame 138, Max FPS: 13.25 at frame 67
Average Tri/Sec: -4052093, Tri/Frame: -385503
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -2.38
=====================Single Card, High, 163.69=================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 2000, Recorded Time: 111.86s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 89.07s, Average FPS: 22.45
Min FPS: 14.54 at frame 137, Max FPS: 28.59 at frame 1760
Average Tri/Sec: -16704094, Tri/Frame: -743903
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -1.23
!TimeDemo Run 1 Finished.
Play Time: 85.26s, Average FPS: 23.46
Min FPS: 13.60 at frame 1945, Max FPS: 28.59 at frame 1760
Average Tri/Sec: -17122150, Tri/Frame: -729936
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -1.26
=====================Single Card, Very high 169.01=================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 2000, Recorded Time: 111.86s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 128.48s, Average FPS: 15.57
Min FPS: 10.28 at frame 138, Max FPS: 18.61 at frame 868
Average Tri/Sec: -7235383, Tri/Frame: -464808
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -1.97
!TimeDemo Run 1 Finished.
Play Time: 125.01s, Average FPS: 16.00
Min FPS: 10.28 at frame 138, Max FPS: 19.07 at frame 870
Average Tri/Sec: -7286292, Tri/Frame: -455427
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -2.01
=====================Double card, Very high 169.01=================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 2000, Recorded Time: 111.86s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 110.43s, Average FPS: 18.11
Min FPS: 9.01 at frame 145, Max FPS: 25.23 at frame 172
Average Tri/Sec: -8137320, Tri/Frame: -449306
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -2.04
!TimeDemo Run 1 Finished.
Play Time: 98.49s, Average FPS: 20.31
Min FPS: 9.01 at frame 145, Max FPS: 25.55 at frame 87
Average Tri/Sec: -8950239, Tri/Frame: -440760
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -2.08
=====================Double Card, High, 169.01=================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 2000, Recorded Time: 111.86s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 58.41s, Average FPS: 34.24
Min FPS: 14.98 at frame 143, Max FPS: 46.48 at frame 85
Average Tri/Sec: -26694134, Tri/Frame: -779627
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -1.18
!TimeDemo Run 1 Finished.
Play Time: 48.77s, Average FPS: 41.01
Min FPS: 14.98 at frame 143, Max FPS: 60.06 at frame 102
Average Tri/Sec: -32065622, Tri/Frame: -781955
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -1.17
=====================Single Card, High, 169.01=================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 2000, Recorded Time: 111.86s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 70.80s, Average FPS: 28.25
Min FPS: 18.51 at frame 155, Max FPS: 35.69 at frame 992
Average Tri/Sec: -28421416, Tri/Frame: -1006156
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -0.91
!TimeDemo Run 1 Finished.
Play Time: 66.96s, Average FPS: 29.87
Min FPS: 18.51 at frame 155, Max FPS: 37.60 at frame 79
Average Tri/Sec: -29793620, Tri/Frame: -997549
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: -0.92

Simplified

That's a bit hard to look at and gather information from. Posted for the enthusiasts. Below we'll cut the extras out, and what ill focus on is the Average FPS statistic

First, lets have a look at what the difference between 163.69 and 169.01 is.

Single Card, Very high, 163.69
Average FPS: 10.51

Single Card, Very high 169.01
Average FPS: 15.57
Average FPS: 16.00

So a 5 FPS bump.. not bad, but its still sub 30fps , which is abysmal. What happens if we lower all settings to High?

Single Card, High, 163.69
Average FPS: 22.45
Average FPS: 23.46
Single Card, High, 169.01
Average FPS: 28.25
Average FPS: 29.87

Ah, nice. We're getting closer to 30 now and we see the 5 fps increase again. Keep in mind that these results are all from a single card. And im out of numbers for the old drivers. So why dont we investigate what a SLI setup will do in these benchmarks.

Single Card, Very high 169.01
Average FPS: 15.57
Average FPS: 16.00
Double card, Very high 169.01
Average FPS: 18.11
Average FPS: 20.31

Not that impressive to be honest a 16.3% increase on the average FPS on the first run through, and a 26.9% increase the second run. and still Sub 30 , which is again , abysmal. How about we lower the settings down again , like we did in test 2, and see if that helps get us closer to 30 fps.

Single Card, High, 169.01
Average FPS: 28.25
Average FPS: 29.87
Double Card, High, 169.01
Average FPS: 34.24
Average FPS: 41.01

Ah! here's what we've been looking for! 21.2% increase in Average FPS the first run through, and 37.2 increase on the second.

Summary

Takes quite a bit of horsepower to get to this point. Is it worth it? I'd like to think so, we (enthusiast) gamers finally have a game that can put our computers through the paces we designed them for. Maybe 3 or 4 years down the road the average computer user will be able to enjoy this game at 60FPS as well.

Just wanted to toss a couple more numbers in here to contrast the diffrence between the two setups

Single card, very high, 163.69 =10.51
Double card, high, 169.01 =41.01

Thanks for reading, or skipping to the bottom and reading the thanks :)



Bonus Kun presents a quick CPU benchmark! :)

Double card, 169.01
Very high - Average FPS: 17.95
High -Average FPS: 38.89

Source

Above link mentions that there's a new UT3 trailer out, which confirms the release date as "November 2007"

More internet matlockery reveals the numerical value to be the 19th of november.
Another Website mentions the 15th as being the Australian release date.

DO want? or are you too busy with the metric-shit-ton of other games that have been released ?

Edit: [url]ftp://ftp.unreal.ie/unreal.ie/UT3/movies/t_unrealtournament3_e32k7_h264.mov[/url] link for movies, until i can find a video to embed

Don't ask where I found them :P

The Orange Box Achievements

Acid Reflex
Kill an acid antlion worker.
--
Bone Breaker
Kill 30 enemies with thrown physics objects.
--
Deadly Harvest
Kill an enemy by planting a hopper mine.
--
Hack Attack!
Kill five enemies with a Manhack.
--
Hot PotatOwned
Kill a Combine soldier with his own grenade.
--
Conservationist
Kill five enemies with the same energy ball.
--
Think Fast!
Kill an Elite Soldier with his own energy ball.
--
Grave Robber
Steal a Zombine's grenade.
--
Zombie-que
Use flares to light 15 zombies on fire.
--
Malcontent
Escape the apartment block raid.
--
What cat?
Break the mini-teleporter in Kleiner's lab.
--
Trusty Hardware
Get the crowbar.
--
Barnacle Bowling
Kill five barnacles with one barrel.
--
Anchor's Aweigh!
Get the airboat.
--
Heavy Weapons
Get the airboat's mounted gun.
--
Vorticough
Discover the hidden singing vortigaunt cave in chapter Water Hazard.
--
Revenge!
Destroy the hunter-chopper in Half-Life 2.
--
Blast from the Past
Find the HEV Suit Charger faceplate in Eli's scrapyard.
--
Zero-Point Energy
Get the Gravity Gun in Black Mesa East.
--
Two Points
Use DOG's ball to make a basket in Eli's scrapyard.
--
Zombie Chopper
Play through Ravenholm using only the Gravity Gun.
--
OSHA Violation
Kill 3 enemies using the crane.
--
Targetted Advertising
Pin a soldier to the billboard in chapter Highway 17.
--
One Man Army
Destroy six gunships in Half-Life 2.
--
Keep Off the Sand!
Cross the antlion beach in chapter Sandtraps without touching the sand.
--
Bug Hunt
Use the antlions to kill 50 enemies.
--
Flushed
Kill an enemy with a toilet.
--
Warden Freeman
Survive the second turret standoff in Nova Prospekt.
--
"Radiation Levels Detected"
Get through the toxic tunnel under City 17 in Half-Life 2.
--
Plaza Defender
Survive the generator plaza standoff in chapter Anticitizen One.
--
Counter-Sniper
Kill all of the snipers in City 17.
--
Fight the Power
Shut down the supression device by disabling its generators.
--
Giant Killer
Survive the rooftop strider battle in the ruins of City 17.
--
Lambda Locator
Find all lambda caches in Half-Life 2.
--
Watch Your Head!
Make it to the bottom of the Citadel's main elevator shaft in one piece.
--
Containment
Contain the Citadel core.
--
Pacifist
Contain the Citadel core without killing any stalkers.
--
Car Crusher
Use the cars to squash 15 antlions in Episode One.
--
Elevator Action
Survive long enough to get on the parking garage elevator.
--
Live Bait
Help Alyx snipe 30 enemies in Episode One.
--
Attica!
Destroy the gunship in the hospital attic.
--
Citizen Escort
Don't let any citizens die when escorting them to the escape train.
--
Escape From City 17
Escape City 17 with Alyx.
--
The One Free Bullet
Beat Episode One firing exactly one bullet. Grenade, crowbar, rocket, and Gravgun kills are okay!
--
Get Some Grub
Squish every antlion grub in Episode Two.
--
Pinata Party
Find and break every web cache in Episode Two.
--
Into the Breach
Help Griggs and Sheckley hold off the antlion invasion inside the mine shaft.
--
Hit and Run
Run over 20 enemies with the car in Episode Two.
--
Puttin' On a Clinic
Defeat the chopper in Episode Two without any misses.
--
Cache Checker
Find every radar cache in chapter Under The Radar.
--
Gordon Propelled Rocket
Unlock the rocket launcher lambda cache in chapter Under The Radar.
--
Pedal to the Metal
Beat DOG in a race to the White Forest base.
--
Little Rocket Man
Send the garden gnome into space.
--
Neighborhood Watch
Save all buildings outside the missile silo from destruction.
--
Payback
Kill a Hunter with its own flechettes.
--
Lab Rat
Acquire the fully powered Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device.
--
Fratricide
Do whatever it takes to survive.
--
Partygoer
Make the correct party escort submission position decision.
--
Heartbreaker
Complete Portal.
--
Terminal Velocity
Fall 30,000 feet.
--
Long Jump
Jump 300 feet.
--
Cupcake
Beat two Portal advanced maps.
--
Fruitcake
Beat four Portal advanced maps.
--
Vanilla Crazy Cake
Beat all six Portal advanced maps.
--
Basic Science
Earn bronze medals on all Portal challenges.
--
Rocket Science
Earn silver medals on all Portal challenges.
--
Aperture Science
Earn gold medals on all Portal challenges.
--
Turret
Accumulate 10 turret kills with a single turret.
--
Nemesis
Get five revenge kills.
--
Hard to Kill
Get five kills in a row without dying.
--
Master of Disguise
Trick an opposing medic into healing you.
--
With Friends Like these...
Play in a game with seven or more players from your friends list.
--
Dynasty
Win 20 games.
--
Hardcore
Accumulate 1000 total kills.
--
Powerhouse Offense
Win 2Fort with a shutout.
--
Lightning Offense
Win Well in 5 minutes or less.
--
Relentless Offense
Win Hydro without giving up a capture.
--
Impenetrable Defense
Successfully defend Dustbowl without giving up a capture.
--
Impossible Defense
Successfully defend Gravel Pit without giving up a capture.
--
Head of the Class
Play a complete round with every class.
--
World Traveler
Play a complete game on every map.
--
Team Doctor
Accumulate 25000 heal points as a Medic.
--
Flamethrower
Set five enemies on fire in 30 seconds.
--
Grey Matter
Get 25 headshots as a Sniper.
--
Atomizer
Disintegrate 15 soldiers by throwing them into a Combine ball field.
--
Follow Freeman
Gain command of a squad of rebels in the uprising.
--
Camera Shy
Detach security cameras from the walls.
--
Friendly Fire
Knock down a turret with another turret.
--
Secret Achievement
Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement.
--
Secret Achievement
Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement.
--
Secret Achievement
Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement.
--
Secret Achievement
Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement.
--
Secret Achievement
Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement.
--
Secret Achievement
Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement.
--
Secret Achievement
Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement.
--
Secret Achievement
Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement.
--
Secret Achievement
Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement.
--
Secret Achievement
Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement.
--
Secret Achievement
Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement.

For a few hours, EA Store revealed Crysis Minimum requirements before it was removed.

Crytek Community Manager Alexander Marschal clarified the matter: "Just to let you know the system requirements have been removed from the EA Store page. The release was accidental and in addition to that these are NOT the final system requirements for Crysis. We are still working on optimizing the game and cannot name the final specs at this stage.

We will inform the community as soon as we have finished our work and have a clear view how the minimum requirements for Crysis will look like."

Here are the Minimum System Requirements that have been removed:
CPU: Intel P4 2.8Ghz or AMD equivalent
RAM: 1GB
Video Card: 6800GT (256mb) or ATI/AMD Radeon 9800 Pro (256mb)
HDD Space: 16GB
OS: Microsoft Windows
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c Compatible

LucasArts revealed that Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will come to Wii next spring, offering players the unique chance to live out their Jedi fantasies by wielding the WiiMote as a lightsaber while using the Nunchuk controller to torment foes with their Force powers.

The Force Unleashed casts players as Darth Vader's "Secret Apprentice" and promises to unveil new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy. The game's expansive story is set during the largely unexplored era between Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. In it, players will assist the iconic villain in his quest to rid the universe of Jedi - and face decisions that could change the course of their destiny.

The Wii version, in development by Krome Studios, will also add an exclusive duel mode in which players can compete head-to-head with their friends to determine the ultimate Jedi Master.

"The Wii is a great platform for The Force Unleashed, because the console's motion-oriented controllers really bring the game to life", said Jim Ward, President of LucasArts. "We've worked hard to make the Wii version of the game unique in order to truly let you unleash the Force."

The Force Unleashed is the first next-generation game developed internally at LucasArts, and will be available on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

As its name implies, The Force Unleashed completely re-imagines the scope and scale of the Force by taking full advantage of newly developed technologies that will be seen and experienced for the first time: Digital Molecular Matter, by Pixelux Entertainment, and euphoria by NaturalMotion Ltd.

"The combination of our great story, memorable characters, and the revolutionary new technology that we're introducing will deliver something Star Wars fans have never seen before, in addition to attracting newcomers to gaming, something that is very important to us", added Ward.