id.. oh boy. Finally they’ve dropped the simple deathmatch modes for complex team-based online play. Instead of mindless online fragging of Quake 3 we’re treated to a full blown Battlefield-like game. Defend or attack Earth in the Strogg Invade just before the Quake 2 plot line starts ( uh.. what plot? )

These graphics are gorgeous. This isn’t simply the Doom engine with new textures and outdoor terrain slapped on. Oh no. This is a whole new id engine iteration.

Carmack has slaved away on something called “megatexturing”. The terrain map for each level is one ginormous texture instead of repeating smaller textures laid across specific polygons That means no repeating rock formations or grass - each square foot can be tweaked to look different from any other. Certainly there will be some programmatic filling of areas, but I’m sure that an artist will then go over each area to add chaos to the order. Think Tomas Kinkade after-touch.. but less cheese. As a programmer I seriously have to ask - how the hell did he do that?

The he shooter isn’t massively online but your avatar’s stats are saved up on a global server. It’ll track your kill counts and ladder rank, but your character also carries around his military rank. As you climb out of private and on up to officers you should expect new abilities and vehicles to become available to you. Like Battlefield 2 (due June this year) Rank points are awarded for helping out teammates (healing, fixing, etc) as well as for killing the opposition.

The inital news of the game claims that the human and strogg vehicles sets are completely different - as in the Strogg’s vehicles don’t fit into the same vehicle hierarchy as the human counterparts. There won’t be a Strogg helicopter that has the exact same abilities as the Humans, but instead each vehicle will fill a different sort of role. For instance - perhaps their light maneuverable scout is a weapon platform and not a personal carrier as the Humvee is. Unfortuantely there aren’t any specifics yet.

Gamespot has more details. There’s also a video well worth downloading. I mean seriously.. check out these screenshots (clickable)! Me want!.. but we’ll have to wait. The game isn’t due out till next year. Battlefield 2 will just have to tide us over ’till then.