All Out War Coming

The first-person 3D combat game All Out War, originally announced back in March but even then a year away from completion, is back on track, according to Brian Turner, president of 3DI Software Inc., the game's developer.

Turner writes, "All Out War was originally planned to be based on an engine by Arjan Brussee. Due to complications, Arjan is no longer on the project. Adam Leggett, who was one of the programmers for the Hexen 2 engine is taking the AOW engine by full storm. He is programming the whole engine from scratch by himself. John McDonough is programming the artificial intelligence and the level editor entitled World Builder."

Turner said a demo of the game, set during the "second Vietnam War" and giving players control over ground, air, and water units, should be available in the next few weeks. The game puts players in control of a base in southern Vietnam and lets them command AI-guided forces - Turner calls them "helper marines" - along with their own character. The game is set to feature multiplayer capability, so players can engage in cooperative, combative, or capture-the-flag type missions.

3DI has also put together a web site promoting the game. It's calling that site All Out War: Operation Quarantine Section, not so much an official game site (though 3DI has put one together as well) as an area that builds on the game's story and background.