Got another update on the status of the Unreal Tournament D3D/OpenGL demo. It looks like that post by Mark Rein about a possible next-Monday release is the earliest we can expect the demo to be released. Here is the update that went up this morning. (Thanks Blue.)

Microsoft has released DirectX7.  You can read about it and download it from Microsoft's DirectX Page and download it on their Download Page. Now that DirectX7 is available, we're doing final testing and tweaking on the upcoming Unreal Tournament demo with Direct3D and OpenGL support. We don't expect it to be released any earlier than Monday because we want to do a little more internal testing of some additional improvements and fixes we're making over the weekend. The next version will not be network play compatible with the current 3DFX-only version but we do plan to offer both a full download and a patch to update the existing 3DFX-only demo to the new version.

It looks like the Unreal Tournamentn D3D version of the demo isnt coming out just yet. Mark Rein made a post to the GT Unreal Tournament forum (Since he was lost and couldnt find the Shack UT forum) with this little bit:

We're probably looking at some time over the week or perhaps Monday. There are few little bugs (from the earlier demo) still left to fix and test.

Got another update on the Unreal Technology page following the release of DirectX7 yesterday. Looks like the D3D version of the demo is currently in final testing as we had all hoped/expected. Check it G:

Now that DirectX7 is available, we're doing final testing and tweaking on the upcoming Unreal Tournament demo with Direct3D and OpenGL support, coming in the next few days. One thing we've found on DirectX7 is that NVidia TNT2 performance is not fill-rate limited until you get to very high resolutions.  During testing, performance at 640x480 seemed a bit slow, but as we increased the resolution, the frame rate was hardly impacted at all.  So 1024x768 seems to yield the best overall experience on this card. I've enabled support for 32-bit color textures under Direct3D, which significantly improve the graphical quality, with a 10-15% frame rate impact.The Direct3D code now uses vertex buffers, which speeds up mesh and text drawing a bit

A couple of game demos that might keep you occupied for a while. Check out Mankind, a 3D RTS that AVault just posted. After you start the download on that one head over to the Grand Theft Auto2 page which has a demo of that game you can download as well. Someone comment to tell us if they are any good eh? Thanks loony for spotting that Mankind demo btw.

Here you guys go, word from Mark Rein on the next version of the Unreal Tournament demo release, which will include support for D3D and OpenGL along side Glide. Ripped right from their page at UnrealTournament.com

We're working hard on getting the next version of the demo finished. It will feature support for D3D, OpenGL, Metal, Glide and software rendering. It will include another map but we haven't decided conclusively which map it will be. To use our D3D code will require DirectX Version 7 which Microsoft expects to release on their web site on Wednesday. We'll keep you posted on their progress. We definitely will not ship the demo before Microsoft releases Dx7 for downloading so don't expect the new demo any sooner than Wednesday or more likely Thursday or later.

The DeltaForce2 demo has been released over at PCGamer's website. It weighs in a bit over 30 megs and I have no idea if it's worth the download or not. Post a comment someone and tell the rest of us if it's cool or stinky?

The first UT demo review I'm sure of many. Richard Smith of Webdog gives us his 2 cents.

Uhoh, make sure you have the right version of the UT demo. Here is the update from the Epic Unreal page. The guys on the UT messageboard are already posting their opinions on the demo, feel free to share yours.

It's been reported to me that the ftp2.heat.net server, the PCGamer (futuregamer.com) and Next-Generation download sites do NOT have the correct version. The correct version of the .exe file is called UTDemo3dfx.exe and is 51,305,472 bytes.   I have updated the in-game news page to inform users of the incorrect version (Version 321) that they are not running the right version, and to let me know.    The 321 version was the version we sent to 3dfx before Hurricane Floyd hit Raleigh, as a potential release candidate should the hurricane have knocked us out for a few days

Ok just got done testing out the UT demo and it looks like they failed to mention that the software renderer is included in the demo as well. That means just about anyone can run the demo. You just wont get 3D acceleration unless you have a 3dfx card. Some people are reporting that they cant get it to work though. For the record I got my copy from the 3dfxgamers gigex mirror.

On that subject, I just gave the Creative Labs Unified driver a shot and it works like a charm with the UT demo, so you can use your TNT2 card to play it. I also fixed that little problem on the Shack UT Messageboard. Hopefully you guys wont break it again? :)

Well, with the 3dfxgamers.com website being too busy I'm gonna assume the guys at UnrealFiles.com have permission. Grab the 50meg UT demo from this page. Also if you guys could post mirrors in the comments that would be mighty helpful. Keep in mind this is a GLIDE ONLY demo meaning you need a 3dfx video card to run the demo. If anyone has any success with those Creative Labs glide wrappers post a comment eh? Make sure and post what you guys think of the demo over at the Shack UT Messageboard. (If you post it in comments, it just dissapears after a couple of days.)

update: Mirrors are starting to pop up in the comments. The fastest being the Gigex mirror so far for modem and T1+ users. Mirror list so far:

3dfx Gamers
AGN3D
HEAT.net
MPlayer
PCGamer
SharkyExtreme
Unreal Universe
ftp://bootp.sls.usu.edu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="external
europa.qamex.com
shod.gamers.com

Another preview of Unreal Tournament for you to munch on. Unreal Universe takes a look at the demo.

woot, something else for you guys to play. The Adrenaline Vault has a demo of Delta Force 2. It's 31MB, so go grab it. Here's some info:

In Delta Force 2, as in the original, you're a member of the U.S. military's elite anti-terrorist detachment, Delta Force. It's a first-person action game, but it's based on reality; you use real-world weapons and tactics in real-world hotspots, capturing terrorist bases, rescuing hostages, destroying enemy structures and weapons.

The pre-release version of Delta Force 2, supports a limited number of 3D cards. Delta Force 2 will support cards that are truly 32 bit color polygon renderers, including TNT, TNT2 and ATI Rage Fury. 3D card support is provided through Direct 3D. DirectX 6 or greater is required. Note that only polygon-based objects in the game will be accelerated.

Frans over at 3D Gamers let me know that the demo for Starsiege: Tribes has been released. It's a somewhat reasonable download (25MB). Here's a direct link off of ZDNet.

Word from CliffyB's .plan update at fingershack.com is the GameKey guys (who are so kind as to run fileshack.com for me) have a notification system in place that will email you the moment the Unreal Tournament demo is released. Keep in mind the first demo will only work on 3dfx cards though. Might wanna give that Creative Labs glide wrapper a shot though if you have a Creative TNT2U.

The guys at AVault have gotten more word on the progress of the Unreal Tournament demo. It looks like we can actually hope for the demo to come out tomorrow, and then a follow-up demo with support for OpenGL and Direct3D towards the weekend. While on the subject have a look at the SharkyExtreme ECTS Unreal Tournament report which gives some hands on impressions of a recent build of UT. Lastly, the guys at Mod Central Unreal have a bunch of details on the mods to be included in the UT demo coming out this week. Here is the release plan from the Unreal Tech page:

• Windows 3dfx demo this week.
• Windows Direct3D/OpenGL next week.
• Linux Glide/OpenGL soon after.
• Mac timing not figured out yet.

Here you go, the demos from CPL GroundZero. Hopefully you guys wont kill my server with all of the downloads. Make sure and use the links provided here so I can attempt to cover server bandwidth charges. The first player name is the POV that it is recorded from. Demo support is not officially supported by Q3Test v1.08 but if you're lucky you might be able to dig up someone on Chatshack to help ya.

GroundZero Finals
stx-wombat vs Gemini gz-womb-gem.zip
Gemini vs stx-wombat gz-gem-womb.zip

3rd / 4th place match:
Sujoy vs Sploid-r3v gz-suj-sploid.zip
Sploid-r3v vs Sujoy gz-sploid-suj.zip

Semi-Finals
Gemini vs Sujoy gz-gem-suj.zip
Sujoy vs Gemini gz-suj-gem.zip
Sploid-r3v vs Bane-1134 gz-sploid-bane.zip
DieharD-r3v vs Sujoy gz-die-suj.zip
Bane-1134 vs stx-wombat gz-bane-womb.zip
Bane-1134 vs Sploid-r3v gz-bane-sploid.zip
stx-wombat vs Bane-1134 gz-womb-bane.zip

Well check this out, a Q3 tourney and someone actually got demos. Sujoy's B0rk has posted demos from several of the matches that took place at GroundZero. Check em out:

Winner's Bracket Semi-final:
Sujoy vs Gemini
Gemini vs Sujoy

The Unreal Tournament playable demo is hopefully coming out in the very near future. CliffyB of Epic Games made a post to the GT messageboards with a list of the weapons we can expect in the demo. Thanks UU

Rocket Launcher, Pulse Gun, Shock Rifle, Enforcer/Dual Enforcers, Impact Hammer, and the Translocator Minigun

Also, zero sends word on these details Mark Rein revealed:

The demo/test will have 4 or 5 maps. The plan right now (it is still subject to change) is 3 deathmatch maps, 1 Domination map and one Capture The Flag map. Of course there will be bots and a single player ladder (albeit shortened to the 4/5 levels that come with the demo).

Saw over at Billy's Voodoo Extreme that he yanked a message off of Unreal Universe which says this:

This is more of a demo than a test. It based on a release candidate version of UT. But we will be looking for bug reports and compatibility problems. This is one of the final steps on the road to finishing and releasing Unreal Tournament. We'll certainly see what the users report and that will give us a clear picture of how far we are from release.

The demo for Homeworld has been released. As with all game demos now days they made it extra friendly for modem users. Only 62 megs! It's a that "new breed" of RTS style game in a true 3D world. Hopefully it doesnt stink. Anyone who grabs it post a comment for the rest of us?