Jan. - Feb, '05

2-28-5

Area 51 on IGN. A character diary.

2-27-5

The Forgotten Hope Website has details on the next update to this Battlefield 1942 modification, saying version 0.67 should be released on March 6.

GTA, 'Half-Life 2' battle for best game is an article outlining the nominees for the Developer's Choice awards to be handed out at next week's Game Developer's Conference. Word is: Up for best game are "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," "Half-Life 2," "Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude," "Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door" and "Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords." Other awards will be handed out in categories including audio, character design, game design and writing. Also set to be given out on March 9 are the Community Contribution, First Penguin and Maverick awards.

2-26-5

A Machinimation 2.0 Public Test Version is now available, an updated edition of Fountainhead Entertainment's DOOM 3 machinima tool. Word is: "Since it is not stand-alone and does not include any maps of its own, it is a small file (3.83MB) compared to the installer for the original Machinimation. To clarify, it uses the Doom 3 engine for rendering and requires the user to have Doom 3 installed. There are still some known issues that are covered in the FAQ, but we feel it's ready for the public to have at it." Here's the FAQ that clarifies more on this. Machinimation requires version 1.1 of the Microsoft .NET framework. Also, this is the English version of a Q&A (also available in German) on the upcoming Recall to Hell modification for DOOM 3.

2-25-5

GMX Media announces F-A 18 Operation Desert Storm, the Euro version of Graphic Simulations' F/A-18 Operation Iraqi Freedom.

GetRight version 5.2d is now available.

Microsoft to Modify Windows XP Product-Activation Policy.

2-24-5

MechAssault 2 downloadable maps are now available via Xbox live that were previously for the limited edition of MA2: Lone Wolf.

USB Flash Drive Comparison: Corsair vs. Kingston on XYZ Computing.

2-23-5

Some recent web-based stories have had purported Half-Life 2 expansion info attributed to PC Gamer UK magazine. An update on Shacknews clarifies that the article in question is actually conjecture, and is identified as such in its own text.

Altec Lansing GT5051 5.1 Surround Speaker System is reviewed on 3dGameMan.

2-22-5

Do not forget you can pick up the GUILD WARS PRE GAME HERE!!! There is no reserve and many are going for a PENNY.

The Guild Was Q&A on Photics is an excessively paginated chat with ArenaNet's Gaile Gray about their upcoming MMORPG: "Some months ago, the designers sat down and really considered the elements of team-play and player game and team management, and they settled on 8 players per team as being the appropriate number for a Player-versus-Player or Guild-versus-Guild match. Also keep in mind that we do have tournament missions with up to 48 players. At this point in time, 50-versus-50 PvP gameplay doesn’t sound right for Guild Wars. For one thing, such gameplay would be difficult to manage from a player’s or battle commander’s perspective. For another, with 50-versus-50, the wide range of attack types and spell effects could cause problems for those on slower systems, and as you know, our goal is to include a wide range of gamers, not only those with high-end systems."

Data Node One, a new The Matrix Online community website is now online, though the old The Matrix Online site is still online as well.

Valve Software has released the updates for Half-Life 2 Deathmatch promised earlier this week, which means that among other things you can now smack the opposition around the head with the series' iconic crowbar. Thwack. Additional DM goodies stuffed into the update include two further weapons, the SLAM and the Stunstick, new map dm_steamlab, team specific spawn points ( info_player_combine, info_player_rebel), optimisation for weapon firing effects bandwidth usage and a fix for the game_score entity which apparently wasn't awarding points. Valve's update also tweaks the Source SDK and the Source engine

An electrical component failure can cause the Xbox cord to overheat and emit smoke. In 30 consoles worldwide, the problem has caused minor injury or property damage. In 7 instances, users reported a burn to their hands. In 23 instances, customers reported smoke damage or damage to a carpet or entertainment center, Microsoft said in a statement. The physical injuries were reported in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, a Microsoft spokesperson said. In all cases where damage was reported, Microsoft worked with the customer and resolved their claim, the spokesperson said. Fewer than 1 in 10,000 consoles have experienced these component failures, and in most instances the damage caused was contained within the console itself or limited to the tip of the power cord at the back of the console, Microsoft said in the statement. The recall affects the majority of Xbox consoles sold. As of December 31, Microsoft had sold 19.9 million consoles worldwide, 13.2 million of which were in North America, 5.0 million in Europe, and 1.7 million in the Japan/Asia Pacific region, according to the company. The replacement power cords should protect consumers and their Xbox consoles from the component failure. Gamers outside continental Europe with an Xbox manufactured before October 23, 2003, require a replacement cord. In Europe, owners of Xbox consoles built before January 13, 2004, need a new cord, the company says. To check if a new cord is needed and to order one, Xbox users should go to the Microsoft Xbox Web site. Replacement cords will arrive two to four weeks after order placement. Microsoft advises that, while waiting for the new cord, users should turn off their consoles when not in use. Xbox users without Internet access should call their local Microsoft office. Click Here to order your new replacement Xbox cord.

2-21-5

For those of you that do not know there is a new and better online auction site than eBay and it is eBid. you can pick up a copy of the pre-order for Guild Wars there so you can play in all of the online betas for FREE, yes I said FREE. You can pick up the GUILD WARS PRE GAME HERE!!! There is no reserve and many are going for a PENNY.

Fansite Friday #31 on The Guildwars Tome (thanks Guild Wars Slovenija) is the latest installment in this nomadic weekly series discussing Guild wars, ArenaNet's upcoming MMORPG.

The Matrix Online Q&A on IGN chats with Warner Bros' Jason Hall about the upcoming Matrix MMORPG, focusing on the "fanzine" that will accompany the game: "Essentially, the fanzine is really all about the users, the players of The Matrix Online, and the events that transpire within the Matrix and the exploits and adventures they've done. One of the things that we know about online games is that the interaction and the communication and community things happen inside of these games but it's never really captured outside of some forum discussions on websites. We've basically partnered with DC Comics to create an official fanzine. It's a magazine that's comic book size."

2-17-5

id Software Confirms Next DOOM 3 Invasion Set for Week of April 4 is a press release that seems to pin down April 4 as the release date for the Resurrection of Evil add-on for DOOM 3 PC, as well as the Xbox edition of the first-person shooter. The release states that the date is being announced by both id Software and Activision, so it's possible that id is abandoning their signature "when it's done" release date for the PC add-on, which is being co-developed by Nerve Software.

Tylak.Com now offers downloads of Das Roboss, a single-player expansion for Half-Life 2. Word is: "Combine forces are constructing a ginormous robot code named 'Das Roboss'. You must infiltrate their uber bunker and stop this madness. The fate of the world is in the balance." Thanks Dagok.

Is the Half-Life 2 EULA illegal? on the Inquirer describes possible legal issues surrounding the End-User License Agreement for Half-Life 2 and the Steam service. Here are a couple of hefty excerpts:

...The German Consumer Association has recently found that the packaging on Half-Life 2 is misleading. In a report made following complaints from the public, they said that the mere listing of an internet connection under the 'other' category in system requirements did not accurately describe the true extent of the internet tie-in with the game, and ordered Vivendi to amend the packaging and untie Steam from HL2 or face a hefty fine. See this page. How far other consumer associations will agree with the Germans is yet to be seen, but it seems a no-brainer that Steam should be mentioned on the retail pack.

The return of software has traditionally been a bugbear for gamers. Most shops, at least in the UK, have a policy not to allow the return of opened software because of piracy risks. However, most consumers are not aware that, in some cases at least, this is in breach of their statutory legal rights, which cannot be infringed. This page at the UK's Office of Fair Trading conveniently notes an example of when goods can be returned as faulty:...

It is quite conceivable that any gamer not being able to connect to Half-Life 2 is entitled to a legal refund in the UK. The case would hinge around whether or not the inability to play the game without persistent net connection, or the previous hacking of the CD Key rendering it unplayable, makes the game unfit for the purpose described on the box. This could well be a winner.

The last issue is the most interesting and relates to a number of other cases that have come up over the last couple of years. According to US and UK law, under the principle known in the US as 'First Sale', a consumer buying a game takes absolute title to it; that is, they own it. ...

But, arguably, you can't transfer the CD Key without paying the $10 Steam charge, because otherwise it's still registered to you at Valve, meaning you haven't truly transferred ownership to the buyer.

However, here's something else. No mention of the Steam software is made in the EULA for Half-Life 2. This means that the terms of the Steam EULA that you agree to when installing that software are almost certainly not incorporated into the contract you agree to when installing Half-Life 2. Consequently, the $10 transfer fee would not be enforceable because it isn't in the HL2 contract, and Valve would be acting illegally in blocking any sale of the game from one person to another.

2-16-5

The latest Guild Wars Fansite Friday on GUILD WARS HISPANO answers further questions about ArenaNet's upcoming MMORPG for this Spanish-language site, though the article is actually in English: "The ready-made characters will be substantially different than those that you 'raise' yourself from Level 1. The ready-made characters come in many different builds. This variety offers you the chance to try out different gameplay styles and lots of unique skills and skill combinations without acquiring the full mission experience. And naturally there is a large and growing number of these custom builds. "

The Warcraft III Bonus Maps Page now offers downloads of a new Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne bonus map called Highperch. The map is described like so: "Highperch bestows beauty and magical powers to those brave enough to withstand savage attacks from the inhabitants who protect its secret healing waters."

A new edition of the Galactic Conquest modification for Battlefield 1942 is now available, this Star Wars-theme project is now up to version 0.5. Word is: "Galactic Conquest now features nearly 60 vehicles, 23 maps, and over one THOUSAND custom art meshes! Spanning 10 planets, epic space battles, and full interior levels, GC takes the BF1942 engine to new heights!" A full changelog has a complete outline of what's new and changed in this release.

Experience Gaming's World of Warcraft Q&A talks with Jason Hayes, lead composer for World of Warcraft, Blizzard's MMORPG: "I've worked for Blizzard ever since StarCraft. On that title, I was able to contribute in a variety of ways- from music, to sound design, to voice direction. I've helped write many of the lines the units say, and I even got to do some voice acting! (Firebat, Arbiter, the hero Artanis, and others) At the time I started the company was a lot smaller, and it wasn't uncommon for people to wear many different hats. As Blizzard has grown, the development team members have become a bit more specialized. So, it was natural for me to gravitate more exclusively toward music because it's my greatest passion."

The chUmbaLum sOft wEbSiTe now offers a new version 1.7.4 of the MilkShape 3D modeling program.

New WinXP - nForce4 Standalone version 6.39 drivers are now available.

Xbox 2 for Christmas '05.

2-14-5

Double Doom 3 delay on GameSpot reports on some profitable results from Activision, while also announcing that the DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil expansion and the Xbox version of DOOM 3 are now expected no earlier than the publisher's Fiscal Year 2006 (which begins April 1 2005). They are describing these as delays, though of course the PC add-on only carries "when it's done" as an official release date.

The PlanetBattlefield Forums offers February 18 as the projected release date for the upcoming version .40 of the Eve of Destruction modification for Battlefield Vietnam.

A 2 Fast Driver demo is available for this newly unveiled racing sequel, offering the chance to sample one car on one track, the 66 MB demo is available on Gamer's Hell and Worthplaying...

A new patch for Rome: Total War is now available, updating Creative Assembly's real-time strategy game to version 1.2. Here's word on the update, which can be found on Activision's Rome Total War Website: "This 60MB patch will update Rome: Total War™, and the 1.1 patch to version 1.2. It includes improved performance, single player improvements and multiplayer connectivity updates. The 1.2 patch will be required to play games online." the patch is mirrored on 3D Gamers, FileFront, Gamer's Hell, and Worthplaying.

RPG Vault's World of Warcraft Team Q&A asks the folks at Blizzard about the characters they play in their own MMORPG, as well as about favorite races and locations.

Computer users have been warned to be on their guard when viewing images after the discovery of a vulnerability affecting the processing of PNG (Portable Network Graphic) files by popular applications including MSN Messenger and Windows Media Player. The issue affects applications including Windows Media Player 9.0 (when running on Windows 2000, XP Service Pack 1 and Server 2003), Windows Messenger version 5.0 (standalone version that can be installed on all supported operating systems), and MSN Messenger 6.1 and 6.2. The PNG format is used by these applications to view icons or any other kind of image. The flaw centers on an error in the processing of these types of files, and could allow arbitrary code to be run on vulnerable systems. A similar problem was discovered with Jpeg files in September last year. Considering the widespread use of the affected applications, IT security firm Panda Software warned that it is "highly likely" that viruses will emerge to exploit the problem. Luis Corrons, director of PandaLabs, said: "Every time a security problem is detected in a popular program, the creators of malicious code start trying to find an exploit as quickly as possible. "Judging by past experience, it is clear that the time gap between the discovery of a vulnerability and the emergence of a virus that takes advantage of it is shortening. For this reason it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest releases for the programs you have on your computer."

Panda urged PC users to download the Microsoft patch that resolves this problem, which can be found here

Broadband Reports | Bit Torrent Whack a Mole - MPAA crackdown led to trading boom?

Intel preps Q2 dual-core P4 Extreme Edition launch.

Overclocking Apple Mac mini.

2-13-5

Black Widow Games follows-up on the possibility of a Source-engine edition of the They Hunger modification for Half-Life as Valve has apparently made the desired overtures about the prospect. Word is: "This was an important first step towards making this a viable project, but we still have to work out many other factors."

Half-Life 2 named Game of the Year at D.I.C.E. awards and Alter Ego Studios announces that Revolved won the Slamdance “Big C” Game Competition.

The Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3 Website now offers a new movie showing off Rainbow Six Lockdown, the next installment in the tactical shooter series. The movie is narrated by the development team to explain what's going on. There is a 9 MB version for download and a smaller version that can be streamed.

Version 0.5 of Multi Theft Auto is now available, updating this multiplayer Grand Theft auto modification. The new release offers greatly improved stability, map additions and changes, a new integrated server browser, and more.

Xbox 2: Tony Hawks, Spider-Man, Quake 4 and more.

Tech Notebook: How hours gaming finally pay off...

The new PowerBooks.

2-12-5

Rich's Project Warehouse now offers a trailer showing off the dismemberment feature in the upcoming DOOM 3 version of the Scientist Hunt modification.

Half-Life 2 Files now offers downloads of a new beta 2.0 of the Half-Life 2: Source Racer Mod. This mod offers arcade-style racing using the game's airboats.

The Star Wars Republic Commando Website has short and sweet word that the upcoming Star Wars shooter is gold, and due in stores by the first of March.

Age of Empires III Heaven's Greg Street and David Pottinger Q&A celebrates the opening of this fan site for Ensemble's upcoming RTS sequel by interrogating a couple of Ensemble's principals abut the game: "It's hard to say. We've built Age3 with the new graphics engine in mind from the start... We set out with the goal of creating the best looking game ever. Obviously the fans will decide if we succeeded there or not, but, either way, that decision has dramatically colored the development of Age3. As a result, it's hard to separate out Age3 and the engine/graphics work; they're tied together. For example, a lot of the new combat concepts and physics features were added because we felt we had to raise the bar across the entire game once we saw how nicely the graphics were turning out."

The Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords Q&A on Xequted uses Jedi mind tricks on LucasArts producer Mike Gallo to learn more about the upcoming Star WRPG sequel: "The approach to the story was the same as we had the first time around: what makes a Star Wars game feel like Star Wars, and how can we really have an impact with the story and characters. Working with Obsidian Entertainment this time around was really great – they have a fantastic team comprised of folks that have worked on, designed and/or built some of the best RPG’s out there, so we knew a little of what to expect from day 1."

What high-definition will do to DVDs.

Google Maps is online (in beta, naturally).

TiVo seeks new ideas from developers.

2-11-5

DOOM: The Boardgame.

Microsoft Profit Up on PC, Xbox Sales.

RIAA sues 717 file-swappers.

Mac Mini finds its Target.

2-9-5

A new version 1.16.1 is now available for Vavoom, the DOOM source port that also encompasses Heretic, HEXEN, and Strife. The new release offers a handful of bug-fixes.

Logitech responds to Xbox cordless headset concerns.

2-7-5

Source Engine vs Doom 3 Engine.

A new patch for Xpand Rally updates Techland's racing sim to version 1.1.0.0. There are patches on the official website for all 500 (give or take) language versions of the game, each thirty-some MB, and all mirrored on 3D Gamers and The Patches Scrolls. A few of the patches can also be found on Gameguru Mania and Worthplaying.

Boys arrested for stick figure drawings.

Budweiser's 'Malfunction' explainer ad won't air.

Turin shroud 'older than thought'.

Microsoft's Anti-Piracy Program Raises Security Fears.

2-5-5

The Sproing Interactive Media Website has revised their description of their upcoming motorcycle racing game that formerly was known as Torque: Savage Roads. Presumably because the movie Torque from which it drew its license hit theaters over a year ago, the game is no longer a movie tie-in, and will now be titled Jacked. In spite of the change, the description of the game remains exactly the same: "Choose a biker and try to lead him to ultimate victory - win races any way you can! A selection of hand-to-hand weapons will help you to beat those pesky upstart biker gangs..."

A story on PC Games Online Germany says (in German) that JoWooD is preparing to shot down SÖLDNER developer WINGS Simulations and Transportation Giant developer Studio Ebensee. As can be read via a rough Babel Fish translation, this move is intended to help focus on their core genres of strategy, simulation, and RPGs. The story indicates that this puts a second SÖLDNER add-on and a SÖLDNER sequel in jeopardy. There is no source listed for this information, but an English story on Worthplaying attributed to "our Jowood sources" also reports the same general information, though this may just be a rehash of the PC Games Germany article. Our attempts to get an official comment on this from JoWood and WINGS Simulations have gone unanswered as of this writing. Update: Worthplaying sends word that they indeed have verified this news independently with JoWooD and WINGS sources, who wish to remain anonymous, and that the Marine Corps add-on is definitely still on track, and that a small core team will remain at WINGS for patches and updates.

Welcome back to the Ultimate Underwater Resort is the press release announcing development of Deep Sea Tycoon 2, a sequel to this management game that focuses on the hypothetical business opportunities that lay at the bottom of the ocean. The official Deep Sea Tycoon 2 Website is also now online, though there's not much to sea, err, see there yet.

Banned in Beijing: China cracks down on games announces that the Chinese government has banned a bunch of games for a variety of reasons.

Playstation3 More Powerful Than Xbox2 !!!!

2-4-5

ArenaNet is has revealed that the next free beta weekend for Guild Wars will be delayed a couple of weeks, and is now slated to begin at just after Midnight (Pacific time) on February 18. Rage321's Guild Wars Fansite has more details on this, including what participants in the weekend will get to see as far in the game world, where to pick up beta keys, and how the Guild Wars Emblem Contest is also being extended as a result of this delay.

The Elite Starfighter Website now offers a new version 1.4d patch for the German Elite remake. The patch is a 3 MB download.

Falcon Northwest' FragBox Barebones Case is now for sale separately.

2-3-5

The Final Fantasy XI - FFXI Gil Guide is online, offering a place to discover and share currency strategies for the MMORPG.

FilePlanet (registration required) now offers the Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory multiplayer demo to all registered users, not just to paying subscribers.

The Battlefield 2 Website mentions that subscribers to their monthly newsletter will receive a new gameplay movies from the upcoming shooter sequel as well as part one of a three-part video interview about the game with executive producer Scott Evans.

The CDV Forums outlines a Cossacks II: The Napoleonic Wars wallpaper contest, with prizes including copies of the game and Napoleonic hats that are bound to come back in style one of these decades.

A mini-guide to Mac OS X for new Mini owners.

2-1-5

The Guild Wars Fansite Friday - Post Beta Weekend Event Special Edition offers answers from ArenaNet about the most recent beta weekend event for Guild Wars, their upcoming MMORPG, as well as the next event: "Yes, there will be a BWE #4. It will begin the morning of Friday, February 4th and end at the usual 11:59 on Sunday, February 6th. As to content, well, that would be telling. ;) No, seriously, as we get closer to the date, we very much want to prepare you for what the February BWE experience will be. At this time, it's just a bit too early to say what major things we're going to present, but we will be sure to reveal all that in time for discussion and contemplation (and keen anticipation) before February 4th."

HomeLAN Fed has posted some highlights of an EA investor's conference call today that included news that Battlefield 2 is delayed, and that DICE's military shooter sequel will be available fiscal Q2 2006 (April-June 2005), rather than March as was planned. They also fessed up to a delay to the next console Medal of Honor game and hinted at plans to try to develop a new baseball franchise in spite of losing the Major League Baseball Players Association license.

Playboy's First-Ever Video Game, Playboy The Mansion, Ships to Stores.

Playstation 3 Cell Processor Clock Speed Revealed.

1-31-5

Rich's Project Warehouse has some screenshots from Scientist Hunt 2, the upcoming DOOM 3 edition of the popular Half-Life modification.

RPG Vault's Telladar: Chronicles Decline Magic Q&A talks with Sergey Snisarenko to learn more about the part magic will play in Mindlink's upcoming RTS game: "All magicians, independent of whatever nation, can master all six schools, but with inherent national restrictions on the accessible circles and sets of specific racial spells. Such restrictions are caused by the development of magical arts by different nationalities and various philosophies and cultures."

The Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault Website now offers a new version 1.1 of the mod developer's kit for Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault, the World War II shooter sequel. The new version features support for collaborative development, improved light mapping, new MilkShape plug-ins, and more.

Rainbow Six Lockdown screenshots on DailyGame.

The chUmbaLum sOft wEbSiTe offers new versions 1.7.3 of the MilkShape 3D modeling program and the MilkShape 3D SDK.

Apple ITunes Sells 250 Million Songs.

File swapping vs. Hollywood.

1-30-5

For the ultimate source in DOOM 3 maps check out DOOM3Maps.org.

RPG Vault's World of Warcraft Tips of the Week offers advice on improving your questing experience.

Broadband Reports | BlogYou use my Hotspot; I'll use your credit card.

Security Concerns Prompt Internet Explorer Defections.

The dirt on Nintendo’s next-gen Revolution console?

Gamers report PSP malfunction.

1-29-5

John Romero's DOOM Photo Gallery.

Black Bean sign Alfa Romeo Rights to develop multiplatform videogame is the press release announcing plans for S.C.A.R. (Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo), a multiplatorm driving game based on the famed Italian sportscar brand.

eXeem opens new file-swapping doors.

$1 million treasure hunt hidden in pages of fairy tale.

Windows 1.0 Ad.

1-28-5

A new version 1.62 of the Q2K4 Project is now available. The updated modification to id Software's GPL Quake II engine includes "JPEG and PNG loading support (including the scrolling sky textures), support for multiple skins in MD2 player models, and the experimental (read: incomplete and too buggy to use yet) dynamically-generated environment textures (like the security cameras in Half Life 2 or the Quake 3 teleporters)."

The full Galactic Civilizations II: Dreadlords Website is online, offering a home base on the web for Stardock's upcoming space simulator sequel. Included are some new development journals about preparations to show off the game to the press and new some screenshots. Also, a new Cold Fear Product Page offers publisher Ubisoft's home to Darkwind's upcoming action/horror game. The site includes four new screenshots.

'Halo 2' Video Game Sales Hit 6.4 Mln Units.

Microsoft Lays Off 62 Windows Testers.

Internet Explorer Use Still Falling, Firefox on the Rise.

'Evil twin' could pose Wi-Fi threat.

1-26-5

Saying the move is in keeping with their aggressive stance against cheating, the Warcraft III Website has word that Blizzard has once again busted out the whacking stick and laid down the law on some 12,000 Battle.net accounts, permanently banning them for the use of hacks or cheats while playing online. Half of the CD keys from those accounts will be banned from ladder play for six months, while 1000 more of those associated CD keys will suffer a permanent ban from ladder play.

The Matrix Games Website announces the "tactical wargame Flashpoint Germany has officially 'Gone Gold' and is set for release sometime next week. The game will be available both via CD and download from the Matrix Games website.".

The ATI Drivers & Software Page now offers downloads of new version 5.1 CATALYST reference drivers for RADEON video cards. The new Linux drivers include some fixes while the Windows driver offers gaming improvements for Men of Valor, URU, Richard Burns Rally, and Pirates!

CSI: Miami is reviewed on Worthplaying.

January Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide on Sharky Extreme.

Microsoft Anti-Spyware Ineffective.

1-25-5

Steam News announces the release of a new Counter-Strike: Source update that includes the promised release of the new Counter-Strike-Source bot. The update also adds a new maps and updates a few others, while also adding bug fixes and optimizations, one of which may increase framerates by as much as 5% on high-end CPUs. Details on the new bot can be found on this page.

CSI: Miami is reviewed on Quandary.

Chain Reaction is reviewed on GamersInfo.net.

Buffalo WLI-U2-KG54AI-3 - USB WiFi Adapter is reviewed on TrustedReviews.

1-24-5

The ETF Website shows where to download the release of ETF, the Enemy Territory edition of the gameplay from the Q3F modification for Quake III Arena. The mod requires version 1.2 of Enemy Territory, and word is: "The mod includes many game types like CTF, Reverse CTF, Single Flag, Capture & Hold, Assault, King of the Hill and Duel."

The Warcraft III Bonus Maps Page now offers downloads of another new bonus map for the Frozen Throne expansion for Warcraft III. Here's the description of the map called Goldshire: "War and hunger have brought interlopers to Elwynn Forest, endangering the town of Goldshire. Sweep the woods free of this threat so that masons can begin laying the foundation of Stormwind."

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 is reviewed on GamersInfo.net.

SuperPower XP02 Gaming Case is reviewed on 3DXtreme.

1-23-5

A new version 1.2 of the BrainBread modification for Half-Life is now available. The new version offers a load of new additions, including a pair of new campaigns and updates to all the mod's existing maps. There is also a no gore patch based on player requests. There is no patch to update previous versions, as it would be almost as large as the full release.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay - Developer's Cut is reviewed on 2404.org.

Thermaltake Xpeaker Panel is reviewed on Mikhailtech.

1-22-5

Operation Punk Buster Continues is a post to the America's Army forums discussing cheating, PunkBuster countermeasures, ending with some threats:

Some of you (and clearly the bad guys are among them) don’t always remember that this game, and all accounts and derivative products, are the property of the United States Army. When you tamper with the game, not only are you breaking the EULA you’re misusing Army property – and, worse, you’re misusing US Army computer programs and equipment.
Tampering with software and servers owned or used by the Army is cyber crime.
In the early 1940’s, Japan learned an important lesson – “let the sleeping giant lie.” We may not react swiftly, but when we do it’s with unstoppable force. The Army has partners that deal with cyber crime as a matter of course. These include not just various Army IT departments, but also the Department of Justice, the Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
It’s going to get uncomfortable for some of the bad guys, but you know what? They brought it on themselves. Knowing this anyone who continues to be bad is just plain foolish. Keep trying, though. Sooner or later the bad guy will realize we’ve known about him for a while… and by then it’s too late.
Allow me to speak directly to the bad guys for a moment: When you get banned, know that we know and have records showing you were doing something that’s a violation of terms of service, breaks your EULA, and also happens to be against the law. We know who you are, and can track down where you play from. We have incontrovertible proof you did something illegal. The Army is angry, and we’re coming for you.

The World of Warcraft Collector's Edition on EBgames.com is now carrying a $149.99 list price, as limited supplies of Blizzard's MMORPG in stores have made the game so scarce that such entrepreneurialism is possible.

This GTR Downloads page now features a hotfix to update the German edition of SimBin's FIA GT racing game to version 1.2.3.0. The download is mirrored on 3D Gamers.

Some eBay sellers lash out over fee hikes.

EBay to Increase Fees, Angering Sellers.

Suikoden IV sets sail for retail.

Intel to double cache size of Xeon MP chips.

1-21-5

Guild Wars is reviewed on RPG Vault.

This Codemasters Press Release has word that the worm has turned once more, officially announcing development of Worms 4: Mayhem, the next installment in Team 17's invertebrate strategy series.

24 to get the videogame treatment?

Ubisoft Announces the Finale of the Greatest Adventure Series Ever Myst V End of Ages is the official press release announcing the next, and conceptually final, installment in the series.

Gates Makes Staggering XBox 2 Live Prediction.

Web auction site eBay to tinker with fee structure.

Razer Diamondback Precision Gaming Mouse on nV News.

1-20-5

RPG Vault's World of Warcraft Tips of the Week #6 is online with advice on choices of trade skills and equipment in Blizzard's MMORPG.

The Act of War Website (requires Flash) now offers downloads of a demo for Act of War: Direct Action, the RTS based on the work of author Dale Brown that centers around a near-future conflict over the world's dwindling oil supply. The demo is a 668 MB download, which is also mirrored on 3D Gamers, FileFront, Filerush (torrent), Gameguru Mania, and Worthplaying.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Lockdown Screenshots.

This 404 Gaming Press Release has a vague outline of plans for an "urban-based" MMOG.

Comcast to Offer Web-Based Phone Service.

Slashdot | Nintendo DS Game and Music Composer All in One.

ATITool version 0.0.23 is now available.

1-19-5

The DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil Preview on Yahoo! Games Domain includes a couple of quotes from id's Marty Stratton and Matt Hooper about the upcoming DOOM 3 expansion: "We're keeping the dark, scary feel from the original. People that liked Doom 3 will like this."

HomeLAN Fed's 404 Gaming Q&A talks with Adam Ghetti of 404 gaming about their recently unveiled hip hop-themed MMOG: "DJ Pooh is a close personal friend of DJ Hurricanes. DJ Pooh saw this opportunity to create a game so dynamic and story rich that he wanted to write the never ending stories and encounters within the game. DJ Pooh and DJ Hurricane are working together to create the ultimate story line for a world that you can do anything and experience anything in."

24 to get the videogame treatment?

The Windows XP Tweaking Companion version 1.02 is now available.

CES 2005 Special Report | Intel and AMD’s Plans Revealed.

New Darkstalkers PSP launch title revealed.

1-18-5

Version 5 of Garry's Half-Life 2 Mod is now available, said to be the last release for this popular project for a while. The new release includes a new spawn menu, a paint gun, a balloon gun, and more, to this mod that includes all manner of toys to play with the game's Havok physics.

R-dot.org has been updated with details on their next Canadian LAN event, planned for February 4-5.

Microsoft's anti-spyware pickle.

Apple fixes flaw with iTunes update.

D-Day is reviewed on Game Chronicles and The Gamers Temple.

Law & Order: Justice is Served (reviewed) on Game Industry.

Men of Valor is reviewed on Worthplaying.

Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots is reviewed on GamersInfo.net.

World of Warcraft is reviewed on XPD8.net. http://www.xpd8.net/reviews.asp?id=218

EZ Power Supply Tester is reviewed on MetkuMods.

Emulators Answer the Call.

Slashdot | Hackers, Slackers, and Shackles.

1-17-5

DOOM III: Resurrection of Evil is reviewed on Tiscali Games.

Unreal Championship 2 Bumped Till April.

ARUSH Publishing and Groove Games sent me their press release that Playboy: The Mansion, Cyberlore's upcoming game that allows players to live the life of The Hef, is complete, and headed to stores on January 25 for the PC, Xbox, and PS2.

Nforce 5 SLI picture emerges.

Slashdot | Microsoft's Technical Glitches at CES Explained.

Mac Mini Car Installations.

1-16-5

Doomsday HQ now offers a new version 1.8.6 of Doomsday, the modified version of the DOOM engine. Word is: "New packages are available for all supported platforms, including Mac OS X. The Mac version is still a beta, but many problems have been addressed and the package includes a very simple launcher. If you're going to run the Mac version, be sure to check out the notes in the Readme."

A new "Wetlands" movie is now available from Battlefield 2, the upcoming military shooter sequel in the works at Digital Illusions. The clip is a whopping 262 MB download, which can be found on 3D Gamers, Filerush (torrent), Fragland.net, Gamer's Hell, Happy Puppy (streaming), Total Battlefield 2, The WOLFGaming Network, and Worthplaying.

Sirius Gets into the Video Game.

1-15-5

DOOM, the RogueLike offers a Rogue-style DOOM RPG. DOS is required.

Unknown Worlds Entertainment (thanks PlanetHalf-Life Forums) has word on plans for the future of the Natural Selection modification for Half-Life and beyond. According to the update, the team is currently at work on a Source edition of the modification, and plans are also in the works for Natural Selection 2, a fully commercial project: "The game design has been started, but this will be a full-fledged $50 (or so) retail game, not a mod. It will use a next-generation engine (like Source, Unreal Engine 3, etc.) and will take years and millions of dollars to create. This is what I'm now spending the majority of my time on."

Infinium Labs Phantom Game Receiver Updated Preview.

1-14-5

EA Sports announces plans for Rugby 2005, a cross platform rugby game, though no exclusive agreement with the National Rugby League or any such is involved. The first screenshots from the game have been released, as well as a couple of movies.

There are TimeShift Impressions on GameSpot revealing development of this first-person shooter from Saber Interactive. Though it's not specified in the preview, Frans put on his detective hat and deduced that this is the project that at one time was known as Chronos (story), though word is that most everything has been reworked since then.

Microsoft Media Center Extender for Xbox Hands-On.

1-13-5

Guild Wars Fansite Friday - Beta Weekend Event Special Edition discusses new features in the latest beta, character wipes and creation, and character name reservations.

The Barrow Hill Website heralds development of an upcoming adventure game from developer Shadow Tor Studios. The site offers screenshots along with background material more focused on the story than the game, which is set in the rural areas of South West England surrounding a set of ancient Stonehenge-style monuments. Target platforms are not listed anywhere, but following-up we were told it will appear on PCs first, with a Mac version to follow.

This DreamCatcher Europe Support Page offers the English, German, Spanish, and Italian editions of a patch for Egyptian Prophecy, A.K.A. Egypt III, while this DreamCatcher Europe Support Page offers the French edition of the patch.

Kodak unveils camera with wireless email.

AMD CPU Roadmap Preview.

1-11-5

The Matrix Online Website discusses how skills will operate in Monolith's upcoming MMORPG, describing how discipline sets can be "downloaded" and introducing the "Awakened" discipline.

Version 4 of Garry's Half-Life 2 Mod is now available. The mod adds all manner of tools to help play with the Havok physics in the shooter sequel, including a Ragdoll Poser, "Hacked in" Depth of Field, the ability to bind characters and objects, and more.

The Ministry of Action Website offers an updated version of Action Half-Life, a mod that enjoyed a good deal of popularity in its heyday. The mod has been updated by some loyal fans looking to continue the project, which ceased development when the team embarked upon the Action Unreal Tournament project. The new version includes a new map as well as all sorts of tweaks and bug fixes.

Handheld video game battle between Sony, Nintendo heats up.

1-10-5

Xbox Doom 3 Release Date March 1.

The DVD war. "Two tech titans are replaying the VHS vs. Betamax fight."

CPUCooL version 7.3.5 is now available.

1-8-5

The Age of Empires III Q&A on IGN offers a conversation with Ensemble's Greg Street and Dave Pottinger about the next installment in the AoE series, accompanied by the first online non-scanned screenshots from the game: "The colonial time period is a good fit for an Age game. Although military technology has advanced, the fundamentals of combat haven't changed from the Age of Kings time period the way they would, say for WWI. That is, the game starts with a lot of units familiar from Age of Kings, like Pikemen and Crossbows. Even in the later part of the game, where there are lots of gunpowder units on the battlefield, cavalry still fight hand-to-hand with swords. Other aspects of the time period work well with our gameplay, such as exploring an unknown map, starting a new town, eventually coming into contact with other players, and having to resolve differences (usually by force). That is pretty much the story of colonization and conquest of the New World in a nutshell."

A Ski Resort Extreme Demo is now available, allowing the chance to grab your Zamboni and run your own alpine getaway. The demo offers a tutorial, a couple of levels, and a sample of the map editor. The download can be found on 3D Gamers, FileFront, FilePlanet (registration required), Gamer's Hell, and Worthplaying.

Toshiba 80GB 16MB Cache 2.5in HDD is reviewed on Mikhailtech.

1-7-5

A patch updating the Mac edition of Halo to version 1.5.1 is now available on Halo.Bungie.Org and MacGameFiles.

TiVo Unveils Portable Transfer Service.

1-6-5

As noted on John Carmack's new overloaded blog, plans to release the source code for Quake III Arena under the GPL have been delayed by a new licensing agreement.

The debut alpha release of the Last Man Standing modification for DOOM 3 is now available. This mod will eventually include cooperative multiplayer support for id's shooter, though that is not included in this first release. The content of the package does include new weapons, maps, and a new menu system.

PlanetAgeofMythology (thanks HomeLAN Fed) has new details on plans for Age of Empires III based on an article in the new print edition of PC Gamer magazine. Word on Age of Empires III: Age of Discovery is that the campaign will run from about 1500 to 1850 A.D. covering the discovery and colonization of the new world, and the game makes use of the Havok physics engine.

Birdman's Lair now offers SpaceOrb support files for Half-Life 2.

Slashdot | Samsung Announces Zero Dead Pixel Policy.

1-5-5

A battle over sale of violent video games. "Illinois governor's push to prevent sales to minors pits civil liberties against desire to protect children.".

The Forgotten Hope Homepage now offers the new version 0.66 of this Battlefield 1942 modification. Details on what's new and different can be found in this massive change log.

Episode III teaser trailer on the Star Wars Website.

1-3-5

The Savage Leagues - Q2CTF is holding sign-ups for The Savage Christmas Q2CTF fun cup, which begins this evening. Word is: "This is a one time opportunity to relive your q2ctf days, you can play for any team as long as you only play for one team in the competition."

Oblivion-Lost.com has posted a collection of no fewer than 16 new ShakyCam™ video clips from S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl showing multiplayer action shot at a recent Intel-Samsung Fair. Here's how this is described: "Highlights are two all-new features, namely 'leaning' and 'sprinting'. The package is 81 MB in size, the videos altogether 6:13 minutes long and requires WinRar for extraction. Special thanks go to Flaming Pumpkin and Boundless for providing us with these exclusive videos from the show. Note: If opening with the WMP causes errors, try the QuickTime Player."

The Massive Assault Network now offers downloads of a new bonus planet for Wargaming.Net's online strategy game. Here's word on the Planet Trinity: "This new large map is scaled for long battles with all types of units to be employed. Its narrow water passes and deserted stretched continents will ensure comfortable use of heavy naval artillery for fast and successful invasion of new territories. Combination of powerful deathturrets might lock any channel and make it impassible for further enemy's invasion."

The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth is reviewed on Warcry.

Gaim instant messenger version 1.1.1 is now available.

Slashdot | RCA - Thomson Modem Hack Discovered.

Linux for the iPod.

1-2-5

The Dark Mod Forums now offer downloads of a new teaser trailer for this upcoming stealth-oriented DOOM 3 modification.

RPG Vault's World of Warcraft Tips of the Week #4 is online with more on making your way through Blizzard's MMORPG.

Broadband Reports | Wi-Fi & Pacemakers - 'All's well' concludes Mayo Clinic.

Zalman CNPS7700-Cu 120mm CPU Cooler is reviewed on TheTechLounge.

Thermaltake PurePower 680W PSU is reviewed on A1 Electronics.

1-1-5

Happy new year to all!!!

The first officially released Quake IV screenshots can be found in an article called Looking Ahead to 2005 on Yahoo! Games Domain where they show off a couple of images from the upcoming DOOM 3-engine project along with a summary of how the plot picks up after the conclusion of Quake II.

How IP-Based Video Surveillance Works.

Guild Wars on Computer And Video Games.

Sonic Heroes on Computer and Video Games.

Seagate 5GB USB 2.0 Pocket Hard Drive on Everything USB.

What Will the PC of 2005 Look Like?