"Other great aspects of the game are the great effects that are present throughout, both graphically and sound. Lightning effects look and sound very realistic, combined with other effects that the developers have put together, the game provides a few subtle but very effective scares that will keep you on your toes. One of these is at the very beginning, you come across a gate early on and as you approach it lightning goes off, not content with that when it does and the screen flashes and you notice two figures standing behind your character, which I can tell you is quite scary."

"Stronghold is a unique cross between a city builder such as Caesar III and a real-time strategy game like Age of Empires. It incorporates much more building and community managing than a traditional RTS, yet allows for a more intense combat experience than city builders have featured in the past."

5) Show her what she can REALLY do with that kinda ping!



MK: What's your ping size again?

p: Huge. Absolutely enormous.

EDITOR'S NOTE: phineas is on a 28.8 kbps connection that tops out at about 19.2kbps.

MK: funny how that works... oh... yeah, that's right... you *ahem* connect with an RJ-11 cable... a LAN gives you RJ-45... there's some kind of complicated math in there that ... well... ah... uh... well... lets put it this way... real men LAN... and women like real men, right? So... move along, there's nothing to see here. These aren't the droids we're looking for. Move along now.

This Industry First, Online Premier, Powered by Into Networks Technology Available for a Limited Time only

What: For a limited time, the full, PC version of Alone In the Dark: The New Nightmare will be available as an Into Powered rental exclusively on EB1.com.

From now through 3:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, June 27, users can rent the title for $4.99 and play the game for 48 hours, before it hits the store shelves. Additionally, renters will receive a coupon from EB1
offering them a $4.99 credit towards the purchase of the boxed version of the game from ebgames.com.

Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare, published by Infogrames, Inc. (Nasdaq: IFGM), continues the original survival-horror franchise with a pure blend of intense action and suspenseful adventure. Edward Carnby, the supernatural detective is back! And this time it's for revenge.

Why: The Premier of Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare, is a milestone for the software industry - the first online release of a major title prior to traditional retail distribution.

This special offer demonstrates Electronics Boutique's (Nasdaq: ELBO) commitment to delivering the latest and hottest games to offer broadband customers secure access to software on a rental basis.
This rental is made possible by Into Networks, whose content delivery platform enables software to run in real time over the Internet.
The Into Media* platform offers Website publishers the advantage of quick, secure distribution of content without the constraints of physical goods. Using the IntoPlayer(tm), visitors are ensured the highest quality streaming experience without downloading or installing the software.

Where: www.EB1.com

When: Immediately to June 27, 2001 at 3 p.m. (EDT)

Who: Electronics Boutique is among the world's largest specialty retailers of video and computer games and also sells video game hardware, PC productivity software and accessories.

Into Networks powers streaming software over the Internet. The company's IntoMedia platform provides access to the best software titles for demonstration, rental or subscription without time- consuming downloads or installations.

The Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) presents The CPL 4-Year Anniversary Event, June 28th - July 1st, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. Founded in 1997, the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL), and its divisions in Europe, Asia and South America, is the leading organizer of professional game tournaments and events, and has an estimated following of about 350,000 gamers worldwide, up from several hundred just a few years ago. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the CPL has created custom computer networks at local gaming competitions for more gamers than any other organization. Almost 900 computer gamers, representing 20 countries, have registered to attend this week's event.

The 4-Year Anniversary Event benefits the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center (www.dcac.org). The DCAC, is a Dallas based, non-profit organization providing a child-friendly environment where law enforcement officials, district attorney's and caseworkers come together to provide needed services to children who have been physically or sexually abused. Currently, there are 48 active and developing centers across the US, providing services to 103 counties, and over 22,400 children each year.

"The Dallas Children's Advocacy Center is excited about our involvement with The CPL," says Nichole Nynas, Director of Development for the Advocacy Center. "It's perfect timing as the Center has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of children served and the severity of the cases we have seen since January. At this critical time, the support of the CPL is more important than ever. Proceeds from the Anniversary event will ensure that each child victim of abuse we serve will receive the investigative and therapeutic service they so desperately need." Ms. Nynas says.

"The CPL is committed to helping the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center," says Angel Munoz, Founder and President of the CPL. "We know that this is the beginning of a long term relationship and we hope that our involvement helps alleviate the afflictions of children that become the innocent victims of abuse," he says.

"Three high profile studios run by celebrity designers, all of them formed in the mid 1990s, and all of them bankrupt within five years. What went wrong?"

Microsoft today announced that The Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty Expansion Pack will be available this holiday at retail locations throughout North America. The first of its kind for the franchise, this expansion pack includes the original Asheron's Call as well as many new features and a compelling new landmass. Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty will be available at retail for only US$19.95 and will include one free month of play.

"Turbine is very excited about the Expansion Pack, and our continued relationship with Microsoft. The Asheron's Call franchise is a very important part of our company," noted Jeffrey Anderson, President and CEO of Turbine. "We are firmly committed to developing and delivering high-quality online entertainment."

The Expansion Pack delivers on new additions such as housing and storage, two of the features most requested by our customers. Players will be able to purchase their own homes on designated plots of land, as well as use their residence for secure storage purposes. The Expansion Pack also kicks off the next chapter in the ongoing Asheron's Call storyline by introducing the island of Marae Lassel. Marae Lassel is a sprawling new landmass which will contain new quests, dungeons, and treasures which will all be accessible to all levels of players who purchase the Asheron's Call Expansion Pack.

Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty builds upon the epic evolving storyline by paving the way for the return of an old nemesis. "We don't want to give everything away," says Nik Davidson, producer of the Expansion Pack, "but suffice to say that the name of the Expansion Pack is a big clue."

"Microsoft is making a significant investment in Asheron's Call with both the Expansion Pack and in the sequel to Asheron's Call which we announced earlier this year," explained Matthew Ford, Lead Program Manager for Asheron's Call.

As many of you may have realized, a great portion of the gaming industry is heading towards the utilization of team play on the PC. If you have ever had the pleasure of playing a great team game, (especially on the Internet with other people) you probably had a great deal of fun.

First off, let's define what team play is: It's the collaboration between different people to successfully complete the task at hand. Tasks and how they are achieved is what makes the whole bookshelf of team games/mods worth playing. From "use the advantages of each class to wipe out the enemy", to "capture all of the command points in the correct order", team games have no limit. This is a genre in which games have expanded greatly over the recent years; particularly in the category of first person shooters. ...And they still have a massive amount of room to grow into ANY category you could possibly imagine (although I'd have to admit "Chef Chang's Team Cooking" would be kind of lame). Speaking of first person shooters, some of the more popular games/mods you may have played based on teams are Counter-Strike (for Half-Life), Team Fortress Classic (for Half-Life), Weapons Factory Arena or Quake 3 Fortress (for Quake 3 Arena), Starsiege: Tribes, and an heap of others. In many of these mods for games (such as Team Fortress Classic, Weapons Factory Arena, and Quake 3 Fortress) players are given the choice of a class. Each class has its ups and downs, but no team made up of all one class could easily complete the objective. It is the mixture of all the classes and binding all of their abilities together to make a strong team. Some classes are better than others for certain things. Sadly, some people set their priorities on themselves rather than the team. This is often the case in Team Fortress Classic (a game I have of which I have strong experience playing). For example, on a capture the flag map while playing TFC, some people will rush for the flag, get killed and drop it. But they will not send a message out to their team giving them the location of it. Instead they will zip out of their respawn in hopes of getting the flag themselves before anybody else on their team can get to it. Often, as a direct result of this behavior, the flag will sit there for a while, then be returned to the enemy's base where it is usually more heavily guarded. As for myself, I notify my team of the location of the flag so it can be picked up ASAP. Another tactic that I use in TFC to help out my team is play as a defensive medic. Most medics will play offense, (don't get me wrong, they're a great class for offense) but few play defense. Medics need to be in both places. I run around pumping up all of my defensive team members with health; as well as help take out the enemy when defenses are breached. My doing this results in a very crappy score for myself, but most of the time a great score for the team I'm playing for. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what matters.

All said and done, team games are, in my humble opinion, the best genre of games for the PC available to date. Although the people that play them can make them or break them; team games will always be my favorite type of PC entertainment for years to come. I give all of you team-players out there a big high-five. Play the game together, not by yourself. Don't compete with people on your team. And remember, if somebody is being selfish, screw them and move on. It's just a game and I'm sure there are plenty of other servers out there. Later everyone, I'm off to pump some people up with health.

"I found the graphics in Stunt GP to be very bland. They look crisp enough, pretty bright, and almost colourful, but there are no special effects of any kind to be seen - dynamic lighting, lens flare.. even things that basic aren't there. It's just bland in appearance. Of course the framerate stays high consistently because of this, so it's not ALL bad... but it's still not what you would expect from a modern title."

WTW supports:

Quake 3 Arena, Quake 3 Arena: Team Arena, AquaLung, Zappy Mod, SolidGround, Rocket Arena 3, Star Trek: Voyager Elite Force, Q3Fortress, Alliance, Rocket vs. Rail, CrateDM3, Hellfire Arena, Gods of War, BFG10K, Eternal Arena/Team Arena, Pure CTF, Excessive, No Items Quake3, Instagib, Orange Smoothie Production (OSP), Coliseum2, Lakerbot Mod, Weapon Factory Arena (WFA), Akimbo, Q3A++, S.H.U.D., Kings & Assholes, Oh shit.

In download page you'll find installation packages for Windows/Linux boxes. Release 2.0 Final package includes the TDK (Theme Development Kit) to create themes.
To celebrate 1st year here at PlanetQuake and 2.0 final release they've decided to make public 1.42 release sources (was the last 1.X release). Go to download page in "Bonus Packs" section and grab it.

Here's the list of changes from last public:
Changes from Pre-Final 2 (PF2):
- Add: Gauge percentage. You can follow all stats creation via gauge.
- Add: Support for themes: 7 themes available.
- Add: Entry in gui to set stats output dir.
- Add: Tutorial pages available via main stats page.
- Mod: Squeezed HTML code down by 10-18 percent.
- Mod: Now all logs are first copied in a temp dir and parsed there.
- Mod: Rocket Arena 3 full functional.
- Mod: In gui when you select to parse a single file or load a wtw datafile radio button on the left automatically changes scan mode.
- Fix: OSP bug with fraglimit/capturelimit=0 and timelimit=0
- Fix: Q3:TA and RA3 interferences.
- Fix: Several bugs in Quake 3:Team Arena mod support
- Fix: Bug in jpg conversion routine for map levelshots: all jpgs with names in uppercase are not properly converted.

WHO: You and members of the TORN team

WHAT: TORN IRC Chat

WHERE: RPG Vault Chat - or host17.webmaster.com in channel #ignvault for fans using IRC clients

WHEN: Thursday, June 28, 2001, at 6:00 p.m. PST

[Stomped] When can we expect to see the next public demo release?

"Chaos reigns supreme when the criminally insane are set upon the world to wage a battle of catharsis on wheels with the key to an un-tortured soul as the top prize. Definitely not a game for the little ones, Twisted Metal: Black dips deep into the serial killer ink and paints a grisly backdrop, frenetic and without reason, only to crush and blast it apart in a mindlessly fun demolition derby...."

It's a possibility and it's definitely something we'd like to do. At the moment we're working on various options to enhance the Black and White experience. One option is to release more content (which is in progress) the other is to release various tools with which the players can create their own content. The first of these tools will probably be a landscape/level editor but a creature editor would be our preferred second release. If anyone wanted to collaborate with us on this then I'm sure we'd be happy to help out. I'm not really the one to assist =at that level but I'm sure I can find someone and shake them into life.

Blizzard is also selling Diablo 2 Tee-shirts for $14.95 at their online store.

IRVINE, Calif. - JUNE 21, 2001 - Blizzard Entertainment® announced today that Diablo® II: Lord of Destruction™, the vast new expansion set to the company's number-one selling Diablo II* series has gone gold. The expansion, with initial orders of 2 million copies, will be available at retail outlets worldwide in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Korean, Japanese and Chinese language versions, on June 29, 2001. "We are delighted that Diablo II: Lord of Destruction is complete, stated Mike Morhaime, Blizzard Entertainment president and co-founder, "We have worked very hard on increasing the gameplay and depth of Diablo II with this expansion and are quite proud of our accomplishments. With the addition of new character classes and areas to explore, we believe we have created a truly compelling product that will appeal to both avid Diablo players and novice gamers alike." In Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, players travel to the Barbarian Highlands of the North in pursuit of Baal, the last surviving Prime Evil. Traveling with a horrific army of demonic minions, Baal plots to corrupt the powerful Worldstone that protects the whole of the mortal plane from the forces of Hell, thus damning the world for all eternity. Key features of the expansion include two new character classes, the Assassin and the Druid, each equipped with 30 unique skills and spells. Players will also enjoy the opportunity to take their favorite Diablo II characters on the new quests found in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. A new Act set in the Barbarian Highlands, complete with 6 new quests and hours of further challenges, unfolds as players strive to stop Baal and his followers from destroying the world. Diablo II: Lord of Destruction also features support for 800x600 resolution, giving the player a larger field of view and superlative graphic detail. To aid players in combat, thousands of new weapons, armor and magical items, including class-specific, crafted items, Rune Words and Elite Unique items have also been included. To secure these new armaments, the amount of storage space in the player's private stash has also been doubled, giving them the ability to maintain a much greater supply of items. Adding to the gameplay experience is an extensive list of over 50 new monster classes, with 7 innovative boss monsters. Single-player, multiplayer TCP/IP and Battle.net Realm games are supported. Debuting in June, 2000 Diablo II has dominated PC game charts with sales of 4 million copies worldwide according to PC Data and key retail accounts around the world. The game has also been awarded several accolades including the prestigious Computer Game of the Year, Computer Role Playing Game of the Year and Game of the Year for 2001 by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. When the original Diablo released in 1997, it was considered a critical success and reached number one on PC Data during its first month in stores. The game has sold in excess of 2.5 million copies worldwide and was honored as the number-one selling computer role-playing game in 1997 as well as named Game of the Year by Computer Gaming World. Diablo II: Lord of Destruction was developed by the Blizzard North design team and will support Windows®95/98/2000/XP/NT and Macintosh® formats. The hybrid Macintosh format will be available on June 29, 2001 in English and Japanese language versions. A retail copy of Diablo II is required to play Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. Available at most computer and software retail chains worldwide, the expansion set will sell for approximately $35. The game will also be offered directly from Blizzard at (800) 953-SNOW and www.blizzard.com. The game has received a Mature rating from the ESRB. Best known for blockbuster hits including the Warcraft® series, StarCraft® and Diablo™ series, Blizzard Entertainment® (www.blizzard.com), (a division of Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing) is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating many of the industry's most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard's track record includes four consecutive number-one selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company's free Internet gaming service Battle.net® reigns as the largest in the world with millions of active users. *PC Data June-August 2000

Stomped C&C Renegade Interview:

Stomped: How good will the enemy's AI be in the single player game?

Bellevue, WA - June 20, 2001 - Monolith Productions(tm), developers of the award-winning PC game The Operative(tm): No One Lives Forever(tm) (NOLF), today announced the release of the source code for NOLF version 1.003. This release is part of an effort to support the fan base by offering the tools to create their own levels and keep them current with the code
base Monolith is using to author its latest reations. The source code will be available for download at www.noonelivesforever.com along with instructions and requirements.

"Being a gamer myself I recognize the importance of the online community and what it means to the continued success of a gaming franchise. Simply
put, fans rule the gaming world and they are the ones that help drive us to make better games," said Chris Miller, producer for Fox Interactive. "After hearing the continued request for source code on the newsgroups, Monolith and Fox got together to give the fans exactly what they are looking for."

The downloadable file will be 5.46MB and will include:
-The NOLF Visual C++ 6.0 workspace complete with projects for individual DLL's
-All of NOLF's game-side source files
-LithTech SKD header files and header files for shared Monolith libraries

"Overall the graphics are eye-catching even at this early stage. Vast open terrain stretches off into the distance, with the fractal landscape giving the game a truly alien feel. Explosions are another high point, with destroyed vehicles splitting into several smaller pieces that streak off through the misty sky trailing smoke and debris like something out of Deep Impact."

CAMBRIDGE, MA (June 20, 2001) - Impressions Games(tm) and Sierra(tm) today announced that Zeus(tm) Official Expansion: Poseidon(tm), the add-on for their city-building hit: Zeus(tm): Master of Olympus(tm) has shipped to stores nationwide. The game takes place in the world of Atlantis, ruled by Poseidon, brother to mighty Zeus.

Poseidon expands the scope of Impressions Games' city-building hit, Zeus: Master of Olympus to cover more of the ancient world. In Poseidon, players build and rule the fabled cities of Atlantis, a kingdom of science and technology. They mine the mysterious mineral "orichalc," establish colonies in ancient Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia, and trade with ancient civilizations. New industries, massive monuments, and characters unique to Atlantis expand the city-building experience presented in Zeus: Master of Olympus. Never-before seen gods, monsters, and heroes help tell the tale as players build Atlantis into a mighty kingdom. Players can also create their own adventures in Greece or Atlantis with a powerful, yet easy-to-use Adventure Editor.

Designed with strategy gamers of all skill levels in mind, Zeus: Master of Olympus makes it simple to get a city built and running smoothly. But running the city is only a part of mastering the game. Players have to
contend with driven deities who can appear in the city to cause happiness or havoc. Famous heroes wander the countryside, and can be summoned when their
help is needed. Players must defend their cities from hostile invaders, monsters, and other Greek cities. Mixing the historical with the mythological, Zeus is divided into quests and objectives that can be
completed in about an hour, making it the ideal diversion for both moderate gamers and hardcore strategists alike.

MILFORD, Pa., June 19, 2001 - Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc., the leading developer of multimedia audio systems for the retail and OEM markets, today signed on as official league sponsor of the Cyberathlete Professional League(CPL). As sponsor of the league, Altec Lansing is the official speaker and headset provider for upcoming CPL 2001 tournaments including the Four-Year Anniversary tournament in June and World Championships in December.
Additionally, the CPL has named the Altec Lansing ADA890 the official speaker system of the league.

"We are very excited to have Altec Lansing as part of the CPL family," said Angel Munoz, founder of the CPL. "After testing audio systems from a variety of manufacturers, the CPL has chosen the Altec ADA890 for its superior sound quality, and ability to deliver the best audio experience for gamers."

"Altec Lansing recognizes the importance of the gaming community and is happy to support the CPL in creating a new breed of sporting event surrounding video games," said Jim Pedranti, VP Channel Sales for Altec Lansing. "We know how important quality audio is to the gaming experience and are proud to offer the gaming community high performance home audio technology for the best gaming audio experience.

Founded in 1997, the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL), and its divisions in Europe, Australia, Asia and South America, is the leading organizer of professional game tournaments and events, and has an estimated following of about 350,000 gamers worldwide, up from several hundred just a few years ago. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the CPL has created custom computer networks at local gaming competitions for more gamers than any other organization. The CPL events are widely covered via newspaper articles, radio, magazine features, television reports and documentaries.

"Over the course of the game's lengthy single player campaign you will spend most of your time as a grunt called Armstrong, gradually rising through the ranks until you have command of your own squad, able to give orders to your fellow soldiers and select equipment load-outs before missions. But you will also get to take on the role of an elite special forces soldier going behind enemy lines to steal documents and weaken defences, a rookie pilot flying close air support missions in A-10 tank busters and helicopter gunships, and a trainee tank commander battling against Soviet armour."

Together on one stage for the first time, legendary game-show hosts Bob Eubanks, Monty Hall and Wink Martindale appeared at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum today to help Microsoft Corp.'s MSN® games site officially "turn on" its hot new online game show Microsoft® "OutSmart," played exclusively at Zone.com.

Developed for Microsoft by Jellyvision Inc., "OutSmart," a free* interactive celebrity-based game show, incorporates real celebrity audio into gameplay, creating the first online game in which players can hear and directly compete against their favorite stars and attempt to beat them at their own fame. A bimonthly trivia challenge, "OutSmart" is designed to intrigue fans and provide them with a new way to interact with actors, musicians, athletes and other celebrities. "OutSmart" is available exclusively on Zone.com (http://www.zone.com/outsmart/).

"'OutSmart' is a new way for me to interact directly with my fans and let them see another side of me," said double-platinum hip-hop star Sisqo, one of three "OutSmart" celebrity challengers announced today by Microsoft.

Soon "OutSmart" will feature Grammy award-winning reggae musician Shaggy, as well as R&B singer Mya, a featured performer in the blockbuster single "Lady Marmalade," the current No. 1 song in America, according to Billboard's Hot 100 Singles. The Shaggy episode is available today, with additional games coming online every two weeks. The pilot episode of "OutSmart" debuted in May and featured TV vixen and top cyber-celeb Jessica Alba; it is still available online in the OutSmart Gallery.

In a reversal of roles, the famous hosts found themselves acting as contestants in segments of the first two "OutSmart" episodes. They not only played the game; they also jovially provided "OutSmart"'s host, Tim Parker, with advice on how to be a great game-show host. The legends imparted tips on everything from how to kiss the girls to preferred brands of hairspray and teeth whitener.

"'OutSmart' is the next evolutionary step in the game-show arena, combining the popularity of game shows, the interactivity of the Internet, and our culture's fascination with celebrities," said Chris Di Cesare, group product manager of Online Games and executive producer of "OutSmart" at Microsoft, "which makes today, with Bob, Monty and Wink, somewhat like the passing of the torch - or in this case, the microphone."

The game starts with "OutSmart" host Parker making quick player introductions and catching everyone up on the latest Hollywood gossip. Online contestants and the celebrity challenger then begin the game with a series of multiple-choice questions related to the celebrity's career. Celebrity confidence can sometimes fool contestants, but the stars don't always know the answer. Players who believe the celebrity's response is wrong can attempt an "OutSmart" and gain extra points by providing the correct answer. Wrong answers usually trigger a little ribbing from the star.

"OutSmart" also tests players' speed and knowledge about entertainment, music and pop-culture history with an electronic version of six degrees of celebrity separation. Correct answers connect the celebrity to another well-known cultural icon in six moves. In today's episode, contestants must link pop star Shaggy to the cartoon character of the same name, Scooby Doo's crime-fighting sidekick.

America's fascination with game shows, from their radio debut in 1936 to their everyday accessibility on the Internet in the early 1990s, has lasted more than 60 years. Audiences are embracing the Internet as an entertainment medium and are hungry for fresh ways to interact with their favorite celebrities. When the "OutSmart" pilot episode premiered in May 2001 it was an instant success with the casual online gaming audience, attracting 1.5 million players in the first three weeks. To play, fans simply log on to Zone.com and click on "OutSmart." No registration is required.

Developed for Microsoft by Jellyvision Inc., creators of the popular game "You Don't Know Jack," "OutSmart" complements the Zone's updated look and feel, which resulted from the overwhelming popularity of recent casual, single-player game additions to the Zone. Currently ranked as one of the Web's favorite online gaming sites, the Zone has more than 20 million members and thousands of Internet visitors daily, many of whom are looking for quick and easy access to free* games online. Innovative new games such as "OutSmart" and the site's revamped design demonstrate the Zone's continued leadership in the online gaming industry.

Midgard Interview

At E3, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that Funcom is already working on its second persistent online world project. Entitled Midgard, it will be based on Norse history and mythology, themes that are obviously very close to the developers. We followed up and obtained an informative Midgard Interview with Game Director Ragnar Tørnquist.

Six Famous Train Routes, 600 Miles of Rail, Authentic Sights and Sounds Create Unparalleled Experience

REDMOND, Wash. -- June 18, 2001 -- When Johnny Cash sang "I hear the train a-comin', it's rolling 'round the bend," he likely could not have imagined that 45 years later, his senses might have been confused by another machine -- powered not by steam or coal, but by a computer. Microsoft Corp. today announced that its latest PC game, Microsoft® "Train Simulator," a product delivering the sights and sounds of famous trains past and present, is rollin' onto store shelves.

According to the National Model Railroad Association, there are over 1 million model railroad enthusiasts in the United States, and approximately 1.5 million domestic freight and passenger rail cars in operation today. Now Microsoft "Train Simulator" will give enthusiasts the opportunity to climb into the cab of a realistically detailed locomotive, with accurate, fully functional gauges and working controls.

"Microsoft has over 20 years' experience building the best PC-based flight simulation products in the market, and we were committed to ensuring that Microsoft 'Train Simulator' meets the same exacting standards of quality and realism," said Stuart Moulder, general manager for the PC Games Division at Microsoft. "While appealing to the existing core market, we are confident that Microsoft 'Train Simulator' will also inspire a whole new generation of train enthusiasts."

That sentiment is echoed by Richard Russack, vice president of corporate relations for Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Corp., one of Microsoft's railroad partners in the project. "BNSF is especially pleased to partner with Microsoft to give everyone the opportunity to become an engineer and experience the challenge and thrill of driving one of our freight trains through the Rocky Mountains in Montana," Russack said.

Featured trains include the following:

The Venice-Simplon Orient Express. Players can visit the Austrian Alps in the 1920s, from Innsbruck to St. Anton, for the ultimate in romantic European steam train travel.
The Flying Scotsman. Enthusiasts can race along some of England's most beautiful countryside in the 1920s, from Settle to Carlisle, in what was once the world's fastest steam locomotive.
Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway. Users can experience the challenges and awesome power of moving modern-day freight over Marias Pass in Montana -- a vital East-West freight link across the spectacular Rocky Mountains.
Amtrak Acela. Gamers can run the busy U.S. Northeast Corridor from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia with Amtrak's new high-speed bullet train.
Odakyu Railway Co. Players can navigate one of the busiest commuter lines from Tokyo or take in the breathtaking scenery of Mt. Fuji traveling to the famous Hakone Hot Springs.
Kyushu Railway Co. Enthusiasts can explore the mountainous Hisatsu line on Japan's southern island of Kyushu with a challenging switchback system and loop.
As the engineer, players are in charge of the regulator on a steam engine or the air brake system on a modern diesel, working to safely meet the schedule come rain, snow or shine. Players travel busy urban corridors and treacherous mountain passes, facing scenarios that demand engineering skills. In addition to the realism of the fabled trains themselves -- including the distinctive sounds of whistles, brakes and tracks -- Microsoft "Train Simulator" recreates more than 600 miles of rail to mirror the real-world scenery, industry and towns along these routes.

For nearly 200 years, since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, railroads have captured the hearts and minds of millions. The magic and mystique surrounding passenger and freight trains have become emotionally ingrained in cultures around the world. They touch history buffs, who identify places or eras that the railroads helped create and shape; engineering aficionados, who marvel at the technology, from the earliest coal-burners to the most modern commuter lines; and even bystanders who enjoy the awesome shaking of the earth as 12,000 tons of steel rumbles by at more than 60 mph. Whatever the reason, trains continue to inspire people across all cultures, countries and ages.

Microsoft "Train Simulator" is available in stores now or by calling Microsoft at (888) 218-5617 or on the Internet at for an estimated retail price of $54.99 (U.S.). More information is available at http://www.microsoft.com/games/trainsim/.

We have 45 first party Xbox projects in full production around the world today and about 20 more in discussion of which we've talked about maybe a dozen publicly. If you liked what you heard about Peter Molyneaux's Project Ego, wait til you see the other game we are developing with him. We announced a Bruce Lee game but you haven't seen it yet. We announced our relationship with Steven Spielberg and his upcoming movie AI but you haven't seen those games yet. We announced we are working exclusively with Tim Schafer, creator of Grim Fandango. His project is going to blow your mind. We are working with Larry Holland (Xwing-vs-Tie Fighter). You've only seen one of the Bungie games. You haven't seen anything based on our Madness franchise yet, anything based on Mechwarrior, Crimson Skies, etc etc. I could go on and on but the marketing group would shoot me. You have only seen the very tip of the iceberg, and of course I'm only talking first party here.

How does it feel to be the boss of one of the best sites about fps in the world?

Cache: It feels 1 year and 6 months too late! The ad deals are very bad and I could have been paid in full. One of my milestones was to be able to move or at least go on vacation to Hawaii for about a month and do updates when I wasnt surfing or hanging out at the beach. There were about 2 months when I could have actually took that vacation off compensation for the site. The first time, I used the funds to go to Frag 4, but the second time I never got paid because the ad company went under and never coughed up the cash.

The public's view of game development is usually at a fairly conceptual level, but as Lead Designer, Black Isle's Dave Maldonado is well aware of the details and specifics. In his new Black Isle Studios: TORN Designer Diary, Chapter 6, he talks about some of the particulars the team is working on now and introduces some temporary additions who are helping out.

Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal Gold Gallery

With Throne of Bhaal having gone gold, the story arc that has enthralled millions through two huge games and a prior add-on will soon reach its conclusion. In celebration, we present a Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal Gold Gallery with a dozen new screenshots, all from the Watcher's Keep area.

"Calhoun’s journey starts in a Sector G lift with a couple of stroppy scientists complaining about his workrate. It’s during this journey into the depths of Black Mesa that Freeman and his collaborators cause the infamous resonance cascade scenario which plunges the facility into all out conflict. Calhoun faces plenty of interesting puzzles in his attempts to escape, starting with some cunning lift/box placing platform antics and moving on to scripted sequences that depend on destructible scenery and the marine insertion force. In all, it’s
nothing Opposing Force didn’t do, but there are some nice touches here and there, and the interaction with scientists (and the need to keep them alive) is a much higher priority."