DALLAS, October 31, 2001 – The Cyberathlete Professional League® today announced the biggest payday in its four-year history of highlighting the competitive skills of the world’s top computer gamers. The league, which regularly brings top-ranked players together in live tests of talent, skill and stamina, will award more than $200,000 in cash and prizes at its CPL World Championship Event, powered by the Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor, Dec. 5-9 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Dallas, Texas.

The World Championship Event is expected to attract 2,000 computer gamers from 20 countries, making it the world’s largest professional computer-game tournament. CPL events in the U.S., Europe, Australia and Latin America have awarded cash and prizes totaling $250,000 this year alone.

The professional competitions will feature two exciting PC games: a Special Edition of Half-Life™ Counter-Strike and the just released Aliens vs. Predator™ 2. Winners of the team-based Counter-Strike tournament will share $150,000 cash, including a $50,000 first prize. The Aliens vs. Predator 2 tournament will offer $60,000 in merchandise prizes in head-to-head competition, including a grand prize of a high-end customized 2002 Ford Focus ZX3, designed by APC of Corona, CA. and valued at approximately $40,000.

“This is the biggest payday in our history and a major stimulus to computer gaming as a professional sport,” said CPL founder and president, Angel Munoz. “Computer gaming today involves complex strategy mixed with split-second action that requires skill, training, mental agility and computer savvy. The additional element of team-play could make this one of the biggest sports of the new century.”

The digital duels will be monitored via large screen video projectors in an expanded spectator area on site as well over the Web in live relays.

In addition to hosting ranked players vying for prizes, The World Championship Event will also include workshops hosted by leading gaming hardware and software developers and exhibition booths demonstrating the latest technology in processors, video cards, MP3 players, sound systems, pointing devices, gamer wearables and more.

The event also includes an open LAN area where gamers can bring their own computers to unofficially compete against other gamers connected to the high-speed network. The LAN event will have capacity for 1,000 computers and will remain open to the public 24 hours a day throughout the 5-day event.

This year’s primary event sponsor is Intel, the world’s largest chipmaker and a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communication products. Other event sponsors include: Altec Lansing, Logitech, Fox Interactive, Sierra, PNY Technologies, Netgear, Monster Cable, Speakeasy.net and American Products Company.

For more information on the World Championship Event, go to www.thecpl.com/championship/. General admission price is $50 all five days.

• Etherlords: November 13, 2001
  
• AquaNox: November 14, 2001
  
• S.W.I.N.E.: November 14, 2001
  
• Call of Cthulhu: Q2 2002
  
• Arx Fatalis: Q2 2002
  
• Beam Breakers: Q1 2002
  
• Chaser: Q4 2002

"Matrox Graphics is pleased to be working with Termite Games and Project Three Interactive in insuring that our hardware is fully compatible with New World Order," says Mike Drummelsmith, developer relations manager, Matrox Graphics. "The visual effects in New World Order are simply stunning and, when paired with Matrox's trademark image quality, result in an action packed gaming experience."

"We are, at the moment, rapidly getting to the final stages of development, so now it becomes very important that we sort out which graphics cards suit the game best and guarantee smooth gameplay and great graphics at the same time," explains Jim Malmros, Termite Games. "With a state of the art graphics card company like Matrox backing us up, we are able to make sure New World Order can show off everything it was designed for."

"We are extremely pleased that Matrox is supporting us in the way they do," says Robert Ercevic, CEO Project Three Interactive. "They have been of great assistance and I can't wait to play the final game on their cards. We anticipate this to be the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship."

"We are excited to be partnering with the CPL to showcase Aliens vs. Predator 2 to the gaming community all over the world. This unique tournament, with over $60,000 in prizing, will be one of the biggest computer game tournaments ever,” said Ivo Gerscovich, Director, Promotions and Strategic Partnerships for Fox Interactive. “The common vision the partners shared in putting this event together will hopefully serve to set the standard for future tournaments."

The Aliens vs. Predator 2 finals tournament will take place December 5-9, 2001 in Dallas, Texas at the CPL World Championship Event. The maximum allowed competitors at the finals will be 200, and through online and gaming center competitions, a total of 32 auto-berths will be granted. The final tournament starts with a preliminary qualifier round of Free-For-All matches, then a dual single elimination bracket. The main round consists of a 32-player double elimination bracket

"A chat presents the perfect opportunity to discuss our next release, Ahriman's Gift, with those in the gaming community" says Adel Chaveleh, TimeGate's Producer. "We feel that direct interaction with Kohan fans is so important to the development of successful titles."

Ahriman's Gift is scheduled to ship in North America on November 6th and preorders are currently being accepted from major online retailers. More information on the game as well as a full listing of all current previews, artwork, screenshots, and more can be found on the official Kohan site.

Steve Pope captured the first runner-up prize for his creation, titled "Prestige Golf Club." For his effort, Pope receives a visit with real-life golf course architect Dr. Mark Hurdzan to play a round of golf. The second runner-up, Greg Stout, received a complete set of Pro-line golf clubs for his work on "Pacific Ridge." The winning designs and finalists' courses are now available from sites listed in the "Downloads" section of the Links Country Club.

GA: With most MMORPGs, the AI-run quests are almost never worth doing. They usually involve simple and mundane tasks and offer a pitifully small reward. How does Dark Age of Camelot avoid that all too common pitfall?

Matt: Quests are more integral to Camelot than they are to other games. Each Guild has an Epic quest that players are encouraged to embark on which explains the game's backstory to them over the course of 45 levels of playing (as well as gives them great items and experience). There are a myriad of other quests to do as well - in fact, a Camelot player can earn up to about 40% of his experience per level doing nothing but quests, if he so chooses.

Cel Damage is part demolition derby, part whacked-out cartoon episode come to life. The game pits a cast of crazy 'toons against each other in maxed-out, weapon-laden vehicles to out-maneuver, out-race, and out-smack each other for personal glory. Whether it is a tommy-gun totin' gangster duck, a diminutive demon with a woodchipper, or a hatchet-wielding geek in a hovercraft, these gas-powered gladiators battle it out across 12 highly interactive environments with a host of wild weapons, such as giant boxing gloves and baseball bats, at their disposal. A stylish cel-shaded look and revolutionary "stretch and squish" physics engine make it seem as if all the wild action is taking place in an actual cartoon episode. It is time to get aggressive behind the wheel because now 'toons rule the road!

· Cruise and bruise in the souped-up rides of the toughest 'toonsaround.
· Wield a massive chainsaw, giant axe or one of 34 other wild and wacky weapons.
· Smack your opponents silly in deathmatch, capture-the-flag or racing modes.
· Battle it out across 12 interactive cartoon environments.
· Smash your friends in four-player split-screen action.

This updated test features new game modes (CTF and Tactical in addition to DM), new weapons, larger levels, dynamic lighting, improved sound effects and much, much more!

MAD: Global Thermonuclear Warfare
-Mutually Assured Destruction. Kinda like a bad marriage.

BELLEVUE, WA (October 26, 2001) - Sierra today announced that Empire Earth(tm) will begin shipping to retail stores in the United States on November 13th and the rest of the world on November 16th.

"Empire Earth is set to revolutionize the real-time strategy genre," said Mike Ryder, president of Sierra. "No other RTS offers the breadth and richness of the Empire Earth universe."

Demand for Empire Earth has already been demonstrated through the game's retail pre-order sales success, as well as a massive beta-testing program that has been underway since August.

Anxious fans already have an opportunity to sample Empire Earth's gameplay. A special demonstration version of the game was released for free download via the Internet on October 19th. The demo contains several single-player scenarios intended to give gamers a taste of what Empire Earth has to offer and has already been downloaded over 100,000 times.

Los Angeles, CA - October 26, 2001 - Sierra(tm), Fox Interactive(tm) and the Cyberathlete Professional League(r) (CPL) are excited to announce that Aliens vs. Predator(tm) 2 has been chosen as an "Official Tournament Game of the CPL". To kick off this partnership, the Aliens vs. Predator 2 tournament, also sponsored by PNY Technologies(r), will be included in a 30-city tournament at the CPL qualifying centers, a worldwide online tournament with the Cyberathlete Amateur League( and the upcoming CPL World Championship event. The Aliens vs. Predator 2 finals tournament will have gamers from across the nation competing for the grand prize of a high-end customized 2002 Ford Focus ZX3 courtesy of American Products Company located in Corona, CA.

"We are excited to be partnering with the CPL to showcase Aliens vs. Predator 2 to the gaming community all over the world. This unique tournament, with over $60,000 in prizing, will be one of the biggest computer game tournaments ever," said Ivo Gerscovich, Director, Promotions and Strategic Partnerships for Fox Interactive. "The common vision the partners shared in putting this event together will hopefully serve to set the standard for future tournaments."

The Aliens vs. Predator 2 finals tournament will take place December 5-9, 2001 in Dallas, Texas at the CPL World Championship Event. The maximum allowed competitors at the finals will be 200, and through online and gaming center competitions, a total of 32 auto-berths will be granted. The final tournament starts with a preliminary qualifier round of Free-For-All matches, then a dual single elimination bracket. The main round consists of a 32-player double elimination bracket.

(3) GRAND PRIZES- PC GAME SYSTEM
(1) SECOND PRIZE- A PRIZE PACK WITH (20) TOP GAMES
(1) THIRD PRIZE- A PRIZE PACK WITH (15) TOP GAMES

Game Systems provided by Able Electronics Prize packs provided by Strategy First and Infogrames

“With the launch of Redmoon Online, we are attracting gamers who follow the RedMoon comic book series and those looking for exciting play with a compelling background story,” said Kevin Hannah, VP Marketing for World Netgames. “Our goals are to make this game accessible to everyone and to provide our customers with the ability to pay any way they wish. Internet Payment Solutions demonstrated that we can enable customers who don’t want to use credit cards without modifying our ecommerce system or customer service policies."

Previews:

Interviews:

REDMOND, Wash. - Oct. 24, 2001 - Going bananas over that gorilla? Does that giraffe make you laugh? Make them stars: Enter them in the Microsoft® "Zoo Tycoon™" Beast in Show campaign for the chance to be featured in "Zoo Tycoon," Microsoft Corp.'s new PC game where players build a thriving zoo and success depends on animal and guest happiness. Microsoft will donate $20,000 to fund animal care at the winning animal's home zoo.

Launching today, the Microsoft "Zoo Tycoon" Beast in Show campaign allows animal lovers - including zoo employees, visitors and friends - to pick the zoo resident they want to make a star. Online nominations begin today and will be accepted through Nov. 15 at http://www.zootycoon.com/. Ten semifinalists will be identified, and the final round of voting will take place Nov. 19-30. The celebrated Beast in Show will be announced in December.

"The animals are the stars of the zoo - they are the reason people visit, and their happiness and well-being make or break it - both in the real world and in the virtual world of 'Zoo Tycoon,'" said Susan Kittleson, Microsoft "Zoo Tycoon" product manager. "Beast in Show gives us an opportunity to give back to the zoos that inspired the game."

Integrated Rank, Mission and Strategic Systems

The new version lets players gain rank with their allied and axis characters by successfully completing offensive and defensive missions. Each character begins with a rank of Private and can gain points towards higher ranks. Higher-ranking characters can post priority missions utilizing higher-value equipment and weapons. Players can track the careers of all characters through web-based scoring pages including combat effectiveness details. The new mission system also introduces vehicle and weapon limits to the battlefield, adding important new strategic elements- all controlled by players in the persistent game world.

"Now we've added the systems for players to take control of the strategic outcome of the conflict in addition to the vehicles and weapons that engage on the battlefield. It sets the stage for players to rise in rank and possibly become battlefield commanders in the historic setting of World War II", says Producer Chris Sherland.

Upgraded 3D Environment

This release brings an entirely new version of the largest online 3D game world available in an MMOG. The Blitzkrieg theater, the first of several theaters planned, lets players engage in combat on a ½ scale map of Western Europe including France, Germany and parts of Great Britain. The new version adds even more 3D objects including significantly more ground cover for troops and armor. The addition of more enterable buildings and landmarks also provides players with even more combat areas all of which are positioned with historical accuracy for the time period.

Performance Enhancements

Since the release of the game in June, the development team has been working to increase player capacity and bring performance enhancements to the game. The goal has been to increase frame rates, reduce load times and eliminate other technical issues. This release, along with several previous patches, has resulted in significant performance increases and stability reported by players with wide-ranging systems.

'Win More Than The War' Competition Announced

To kick-off the newest release, Strategy First and Playnet.com have announced a competition for the World War II OnlineT community. Each week the top performers on the virtual battlefield will win copies of great game titles like 'Sudden StrikeT', 'CossacksT' and 'Empire of the AntsT' with a grand prize of an AMD 1.3Ghz computer.

"We're set to give away great prizes to the soldiers who are the best of the best on the virtual attlefield of World War II OnlineT", says Christina Ginger, Public Relations Manager for Strategy First.

Further information on the contest, free trial and World War II OnlineT, please visit Playnet.com or the official website at WWIIonline.com.

More on World War II OnlineT- Blitzkrieg Version 1.3.0- October 15, 2001

New Mission Features

o Mission scoring now takes into account the health of the facility you are defending or attacking when tallying results.
o Mission scoring now includes, mission priority, number of damaged and killed enemy units, the value of those units and if you returned to base safely.
o Vehicle availability tied to state (contention) of spawn facility (spawn limits).
o Vehicle availability limited by spawn facility resources (spawn limits).

RPG Features

o Rank points accumulated through participation in successful missions.
o Higher rank provides ability to post higher priority missions worth more points to poster and participant.
o Higher rank provides access to higher value equipment.First Person Shooter Enhancements
o Updated collision models.
o Revised damage model extends character life at reduced capability.
o Revised trooper commands and states streamline operation and overall gameplay.

Updated Terrain
o Greatly increased concealment/cover objects (trees, bushes, grasses).
o New enterable buildings.
o New ground textures.

New Vehicles
o Bristol Blenheim Mk IV Allied Light Bomber.
o Bf110-C Axis Heavy Fighter.

Upgraded Defensive A.I.
o Defensive guns target enemy trucks more aggressively.
o New AI rebuild-system tied to facility capture, not city contention.

Performance Improvements

"Ballistics is all about raw, unadulterated speed, and holding your finger on the accelerator until the screen becomes one vast motion blur. It's a game that makes Wipeout look like Driving Miss Daisy. Astride your precarious looking hoverbike you will reach the kind of speeds which are normally reserved for astronauts and fighter pilots, thanks to an ingenious system of winding magnetic tubes which act as race tracks."

Project 3's COO Erik Schreuder says: "We are a young and dinamic company and therefore want to offer our visitors the quickest and most dinamic way to obtain our products. The shop is at this time limited to countries where we have not established distribution yet, because we are not planning to compete with our own partners: if you can buy our products in your local store, you can't buy them from us."

He continues with an example: "A good case is the UK, where we have not received a satisfactory distribution deal yet. Obviously, we received a massive amount of requests to sell Schizm online into the UK and those consumer demands have now been met." Other countries & regions from which consumers can buy directly online are a.o. Latin-America, Africa, Scandinavia and the Middle East.

The Team Arena wallpapers can be found >here:

The winners will walk away with bragging rights and one of three prize packages. The grand prize is a customized Ford Explorer Sport Trac with Pioneer Audio/Video systems and an integrated Xbox system. Second place is an Xbox console and Xbox games, as well as a spring break trip for four to San Felipe in Baja California, Mexico, sponsored by Official Xbox Magazine. Third place is an Xbox console and Xbox games, food for a year from Taco Bell(R) and beverages for a year from SoBe. Taco Bell will be on site at the marathon offering samples of its new chicken quesadilla, and SoBe will be serving beverages for the duration of the video game marathon at both the New York and Los Angeles venues.

Gamers who want to experience Xbox and the games at their own pace can choose the noncompetitive, free play area, which will also include prize giveaways and entertainment. In addition to the titles featured in the competitive area, gamers in the free play area will have access to "Madden NFL(TM) 2002" and "NASCAR Thunder(TM) 2002" from Electronic Arts; "Mad Dash Racing" from Eidos; "NHL(R) Hitz(TM) 20-02" from Midway; "Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee(TM)" and "NFL(TM) Fever 2002" from Microsoft Game Studios; "TransWorld Surf(TM)" from Infogrames; and Shrek(TM) from TDK Mediactive. DJs from 92.3 K-ROCK in New York and 106.7 KROQ in Los Angeles will broadcast live from the event.

"We had the opportunity to meet with Auran at this year's ECTS and were very impressed with their latest project," says Steve Wall, V.P., Business Development for Strategy First. "TRAINZ® is a dream come true for any Train and Railroad enthusiast. You can design and build your very own virtual world and then put on your engineer cap and ride the rails in the most spectacular environments imaginable."

"Our publishing deal with Strategy First is very much a partnership," says
Greg Lane, CEO of Auran. "Because Trainz is a unique product with appeal beyond traditional games boundaries, we were looking for a flexible relationship that would allow us to reach both gamers and model railroaders. Strategy First will promote Trainz through the normal retail channels, and allow us to continue developing our online community as well as conducting online sales of the many add-on modules and regional packs that we have planned. We have currently modeled trains from over 20 countries and we are sure that Trainz communities will flourish in these countries and many more."

For the thousands of train lovers around the world, talk of a new train simulator is a welcome addition and is sure to please players of all ages. Replicating many aspects of a virtual model railroad, TRAINZ® immerses players into the driver's seat of their favorite locomotives and allows them to create a huge variety of layouts using hundreds of textures and objects from around the world.

While riding the tracks and listening to the realistic sounds of engines starting up, the clickety-clack of the rails and a large variety of other ambient sounds, players will be able to build their own stunningly realistic routes from a variety of locations, from the busy US East Coast, the picturesque English countryside to the endless plains of the Australian Outback - all using the intuitive and powerful TRAINZ SURVEYOR editor. Players will also be able to choose from the engineer's view and use 3D in-cab controls, or choose the train spotter view and use the virtual “DC” controller. They can even download a variety of fan-designed locomotives and trackside objects from the virtualtrainz.com web site.

Says Mark Jacobs, President of Mythic Entertainment, the developer and publisher of Dark Age of Camelot, “We're pleased to be able to offer the PayByCash service to our customers as a viable alternative to credit cards, broadening the potential audience for Dark Age of Camelot."

"Internet Payment Solutions (PayByCashtm) is uniquely suited to assist Mythic Entertainment in extending its reach to anyone interested in playing Dark Age of Camelot,” explains Debora Higgins, President of IPS. “Our specialty is the empowerment of consumers who don’t use credit cards. This population makes up almost 10% of the Internet population and we’re proud to be able to match these people up with Dark Age of Camelot.”

About Internet Payment Solutions (IPS)

"First party titles such as Halo, Oddworld : Munch's Oddysee and Project Gotham Racing are expected to be on show in the amusingly named "Play More Zone", while a "Video Zone" will bombard gamers with "action-packed FMV's, sound and light demonstrating the awesome power of the Xbox". After that you may well be in need of the "X Zone", a
"futuristic chill out area to relax after the gaming fest". You will also be able to pre-order an Xbox on the spot."

Trial Version Available from Official Zoo Tycoon Site

Start roasting the peanuts! Microsoft today announced that Zoo Tycoon has started to appear on store shelves. There have been several reports of its availability at locations throughout the U.S., and wide availability is expected this week.

Gamers wanting a quick tour of the game can download the trial version, now available on the game's official site at http://www.microsoft.com/games/zootycoon/. The trial version guides players through two tutorials and allows them to play a freeform game. In addition, players can create new habitats for animals such as the giraffe, the Bengal tiger, and the Thomson's gazelle.

Zoo Tycoon brings a new and exciting twist to the tycoon style of simulation games, challenging players to construct a healthy and vibrant zoo while managing animal and guest happiness. With more than 40 unique animals and more than 175 habitat and zoo building materials, Zoo Tycoon includes an intuitive design that allows players to erect, manage and maintain a thriving metropolitan zoo. Players can build an extensive menagerie from traditional favorites such as elephants, lions and giraffes, or more exotic offerings including pandas and white Siberian tigers. Players must decide how to turn a profit with their zoo -- some may choose the path of frugal management, while others may overcharge for admission and stiff the guests with an $8 soda!

Zoo Tycoon's easy-to-manage design lets players oversee the growth of their zoos, while the interactive tutorial provides helpful assistance for players looking to enjoy the game right out of the box. Developed by Blue Fang Games LLC, Zoo Tycoon allows players of all ages and skill levels to construct a zoo or engage in one of 15 challenging scenarios.

Joe Pantoliano of The Sopranos has played a traitorous renegade and a mobster, but now he may now be your best source for information in Majestic... assuming that you can trust him.

Electronic Arts is pleased to announce that accomplished film and television actor Joe Pantoliano will make an appearance in Episode 4 of Majestic, the online suspense thriller that uses the Internet, phone and email to invade your life. While Pantoliano has made a career out of playing shadowy characters, from the renegade Cypher in the 1999 blockbuster The Matrix to the mobster Ralph Cifaretto in HBO's smash series The Sopranos, his role for Majestic turned him into a blackballed investigative journalist.

"He plays the role of Tim Pritchard, a reporter who has made a reputation of digging for the truth, and in doing so, ends up airing stories that compromise the TV station he is working at," said Ralph Guggenheim,
executive producer of Majestic.

After being blacklisted by his bosses, Pritchard creates a Web site on the Internet where he invites like-minded individuals to post stories that the conventional media wouldn't dare publish.

Steve Meretzky, WorldWinner.com: "...I was stuck in a dead end game development job, until I discovered the excitement of blacksmithing!"

Interviews:

Screenshots:

We ran into some issues during our testing of the Multiplayer Test build which delayed our launch of the Test. As those issues were resolved it became quite apparent that we were spending too much time focusing on that separate Test build and not enough time on getting the WHOLE game done.
In short there will be no Multiplayer Test.

As the prequel to the highly successful Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns, Ahriman' s Gift transports players back before the events that transpired in Immortal Sovereigns when evil begins to threaten the world of Khaldun.

"We are extremely excited to announce the completion of Kohan: Ahriman's Gift," says Adel Chaveleh, TimeGate's Producer. "The strategy and tactics originally introduced by KIS have been brought to the forefront in KAG and we feel that the game has some of the best real-time strategy artificial intelligence ever."

The title is scheduled to ship in North America on November 6 and preorders are currently being accepted from major online retailers. More information on the game as well as a full listing of all current previews, artwork, screenshots, and more can be found on the official Kohan site, www.kohan.net.

***In celebration of KAG going gold The Awakening's (Strategy Planet) KAG demo tourney has been extended through midnight on Sunday, October 21. More
information can be found here:

About Kohan: Ahriman's Gift:

The upcoming release, Kohan: Ahriman's Gift, will set new standards in Real-Time Strategy Artificial Intelligence. 30 complex AI players challenge you with different styles of play using some of the best real-time strategy artificial intelligence ever. AI will create challenging gameplay in two new game types, Turtle and King of the Hill, allowing a slower, more strategic version of Kohan's original game rules. AI players are more than capable of contributing to victory and are even able to communicate with you and respond to your requests to attack, defend, and provide economy status reports to you!

Background and Features:

A fantasy real-time strategy game set in the world of Khaldun, Kohan: Ahriman's Gift takes you to new heights of strategic warfare. Built on the award-winning Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns gameplay, Ahriman's Gift provides countless hours of entertainment with five campaigns, forty custom-built maps, and a host of multiplayer options. You become one of the Kohan, an ancient race devastated by a cycle of world-breaking cataclysms. Newly awakened to an uncertain future and a past you don't remember, you must forge the present using superior strategies. Now, as your strength grows and your destiny unfolds, you have to seize the reins of power and take your place in the war between the Creator and the Shadow. Which side you fight on is up to you.

In terms of development, the team has been working on many different things. There are far too many to list them all, but some of the major additions and changes put in place recently are new weapons, clothes, avatar hairstyles, NPCs, NPC AI and user interfaces. We have also modified the targeting system and various weapon parameters. Graphically, we have implemented changes in areas such as the sky, fog and terrain maps. We had been working on these on our internal development server, and now, the visuals in the beta test will more closely resemble those that we have shown in our development screenshots.

* In the US, log on to www.3Dgamer.com, www.bluesnews.com or www.pcgamer.com
* In France, log on to www.gamekult.com
* In Japan, log on to www.capcom.com
* In Korea, log on to www.hanbit.com
* In Germany, log on to www.4players.de

The demo can be downloaded at http://gigex.com/GetPackage/GetPackage.ASP?PackageId=0041800002&source=02
.

The Empire Earth Demo includes four of Empire Earth's Training Scenarios, which introduce a few of the many special features available in the full game. Also included are two exciting scenarios from Empire Earth's four epic Campaigns. In one scenario, you command British troops during the Napoleonic Wars. In the other, you guide Manfred von Richthofen, the famous "Red Baron," at the start of World War I.

More information about Empire Earth can be found at http://www.empireearth.com/.

The story in this game takes a back seat to the rioting and destroying. The ATO (American Trade Organization) has taken control of your city, and you do not like it. From here you can start your riot. During the riot, you are essentially allowed to do whatever you want. ... [The] environments are completely destructible, many weapons are readily available, and a hundred people fill up the screen at a time.

Los Angeles, CA - October 18, 2001 - The around-the-clock shifts have ended and the countdown begins as Sierra(tm) and Fox Interactive(tm) announced today that Aliens vs. Predator 2 has indeed gone gold. It's only a matter of time until players can immerse themselves in a game that combines elements, creatures, and settings from the hit movies Aliens (and Predator) in three unique, interlocking stories. Aliens, predators, and humans share one powerful trait-the enduring will to survive. The only question left to ask is "Will you be up to the challenge?"

"It's been a long journey on the Aliens vs. Predator 2 project and I'm proud to see this one set sail! The team over at Monolith has created a great product that I'm quite sure the AvP fans will enjoy," said David Stalker, producer for Fox Interactive. "My thanks go out to all the Monolith team members, as well as the folks from Fox, Sierra and Vivendi Universal who gave their very best for this game...now everybody go get some sleep!"

Aliens vs. Predator 2 will be available at retail late October for a suggested retail price of $49.95. For more information, go to AvP2.sierra.com or order by phone at 800-757-7707.

In related news,
The clock is ticking and the launch of the Aliens vs. Predator 2 multiplayer demo is getting closer. Still haven't made up your mind yet about which species to choose? Here are some details about the demo that should start you thinking...

* The playable characters will be the Alien Drone, the Predator, Harrison or Dunya
* The weapons for the Marine will be the knife, pistol, shotgun, pulse rifle and smartgun
* The weapons & tools for the Predator will be wristblades, spear, plasmacaster, netgun, charger, medicomp and mask.
* The map will be "A Lesser Fate"
* The modes will be Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch
* There will be Internet/LAN support for up to 16 players
* The total file size is 65MB

For a detailed listing description of the Aliens vs. Predator 2 multiplayer demo, log on to www.avpnews.com.

Gothenburg, Sweden ­ October 16, 2001 - MindArk AB announced today that the pool of participants in the current Phase II beta test of its pioneering Internet-based interactive entertainment enterprise, Project Entropia, has been expanded. The addition of a group of approximately 500 effectively doubles the size of the test. Phase I technical beta testing began in May with some 50 testers, progressing into Phase II in early September with more than 500.

“Beta testing is absolutely critical to making Project Entropia the very best it can be,” stated MindArk Marketing Manager Patric Sundstrom. “We’re extremely pleased at the progress our development team is making, and a portion of the credit belongs to the beta testers, some of whom have been exceptionally helpful in identifying bugs and other problems. As a result, we’re also happy that we can now accommodate approximately 1,000 participants to take part in continuing testing as we move forward with the implementation of new features and content.”

Project Entropia is a groundbreaking new form of interactive entertainment based upon a fully featured 3D persistent state world. It will be made available with no initial cost or mandatory subscription fees to millions of Internet users around the world. In the roles of human colonists on the seemingly idyllic virtual planet of Calypso, they will have the chance to meet and socialize or to explore and adventure with each other while facing challenges from wild indigenous creatures and invading robots.

Applications to participate in further phases of the Project Entropia beta test are still being accepted at http://www.project-entropia.com/betatest/apply.asp?topic=betatest

Additional information about Project Entropia can be found on the official website at http://www.project-entropia.com

CPL partner, iGames has commenced their qualifying tournaments in North America for the World Championship Event. This past weekend three of their associated game centers held qualifying tournaments:

1. Icelan Network Game Center in Pomona, California
2. Nekstlevel Interactive in Mississauga, Ontario
3. Rivalution Network Center in San Jose, California

This coming weekend the following iGames associated centers will be holding qualifying tournaments:

1. Head 2 Head Games in London, Ontario
2. G2K Games in Norton, Virginia
3. Hyyperlynx in Slidell, Louisiana
4. Next Game in San Francisco, California
5. Gamer's Edge in Chandler, Arizona

WANT TO BUILD A TIGHT SITE? - AMPED FAN SITE KIT NOW AVAILABLE

Microsoft today announced that the official Fan Site Kit (FSK) for Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding is now available at http://www.xbox.com/News/0110/1801.htm>. The Amped FSK contains a variety of screenshots, sound effects, logos, Flash animations, and other art to help you build a killer Amped fan site.

Rip the ultimate line on real mountains packed with 1500 jumps and rails in Amped, the first snowboarding game focused on freestyle riding. Pull over 1000 tricks on 80 wide-open mountain runs for a different ride every time. Land insane tricks in front of roaming camera crews to get your face on video reels and magazine covers. Get enough media exposure to become one of the world’s top 10 snowboarding superstars. And do it all to the music of over 200 core indie tracks.

Xbox is Microsoft’s future-generation video game system that delivers the most powerful games experiences ever. Xbox empowers game artists by giving them the technology to fulfill their creative visions as never before, creating games that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Xbox will be available in North America on November 15, 2001 at the suggested retail price of $299.99.

Novalogic have announced that their latest helicopter action game Comanche 4 will be coming to the Xbox some time late next year, and released some new screenshots of both the PC and Xbox versions to celebrate.

One of the few surprises to come out of Microsoft's flamboyant X01 event on the Cote d'Azur earlier this week was a line in the press release which claimed that UbiSoft had "announced Ghost Recon as an Xbox exclusive". Today Eurogamer is happy to report that this was (as we had suspected) a mistake and the PC version of the game is still on its way next month.

A brief statement from UbiSoft reveals that "there is no exclusivity partnership between Ubi Soft and Microsoft for Ghost Recon on the Xbox, therefore Ghost Recon may be developed on some
other systems in the future".

Halo, for example, is now one hot potato. It was slated for release on the Mac and the PC, but Microsoft bought Bungie and it may now become an XBox exclusive. It looks like they will be locking up titles to be produced exclusively on the XBox, which means the PC is likely to be left out of some of the best releases out there. I've been dying to see a good fighting game over on the PC for years, but it looks like DOA3 (Dead or Alive 3) will be another XBox exclusive. Given that the XBox is so similar to a PC, why can't they be big about it and port it on over to the PC so we can kick some tail over here? Why lock up Abe so he can only run his Odyssey over there on the XBox when he grew up over here on a trusty 17" monitor? I know the answer, but still, it's sad for the PC.

The odds are stacked against the marine as he faces these two deadly foes, but never underestimate the heart of a marine and his will to survive.

Challenged by human and Alien obstacles, the Predator must discover his will to survive must be greater than the lust for the hunt.

Striking from within the facility, the Alien seeks to save its queen stopping at nothing to ensure survival of the Alien race.

AMD introduced its brand-new processor for high-performance desktop computers, the AMD Athlon XP processor, formerly codenamed "Palomino." The AMD Athlon XP processor features the new, patented QuantiSpeed™ architecture, which delivers up to a 25-percent performance advantage versus competitive processors on a broad array of real-world applications, in such categories as digital media, office productivity, and 3D gaming. The new AMD Athlon XP processor offers a significant performance advantage compared to the standard AMD Athlon processor.

The new processor also includes 3DNow!™ Professional technology, which adds 52 new instructions, accelerating 3D performance for digital media applications such as photo, video and audio editing. The AMD Athlon "XP" modifier is designed to convey the extreme performance AMD Athlon XP processors deliver for the upcoming Microsoft Windows XP operating system.

Microsoft Corp. and major computer manufacturers are expressing support for the new AMD Athlon XP processor.

"The upcoming Windows XP operating system has been tailored to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the AMD Athlon XP processor, resulting in a great end-user experience. Together with Windows XP and the AMD Athlon XP, we provide users with an efficient and dependable computing experience with new tools for the digital age," said John Frederiksen, General Manager, PC Experience, Microsoft. "AMD's efforts to clarify the performance metric will give consumers additional valuable information when making new PC purchase decisions."

More information can be found on the Official AMD Web Site.

Overall, I believe its worth its money and yet again AMD has out done Intel!

"The way in which your troops function is radically different as well. Instead of running around individually, units are made up of four front line troops, two support troops and a leader. This can be either a standard captain or one of the eponymous immortal Kohan warriors you will discover throughout the game. These heroes provide bonuses for the troops under their command and can also wade into the fight themselves, gaining experience throughout the single player campaign. If one dies it's not the end of the world either - because they are immortal you can simply stump up some cash to re-awaken them from a magical amulet. They might lose experience, but they are at least available again."

On Tuesday, October 16, pop music fans can play with *NSync when Lance Bass and Joey Fatone appear as celebrity challengers on "OutSmart." An online game show where fans attempt to outsmart celebrities at their own fame, "OutSmart" is free* and played exclusively on Microsoft's Zone.com.

Fans should expect a unique experience when they play *NSync "OutSmart." Thanks to an advanced audio component, not only will pop gurus test their *NSync trivia knowledge against the teen heartthrobs themselves, but "OutSmart" players will hear Lance and Joey coming through their computer speakers-answering questions, and of course hazing challengers.

In this episode, "OutSmart" host, Tim Parker dishes with Lance and Joey about everything from their roles in the upcoming movie "On the Line," their thoughts on dancing with Michael Jackson at the MTV Video Music Awards, to their latest album titled "Celebrity." Plus, there's no shortage of trash talkin' from these teammates - Joey slams Lance's "bowl cut" hairstyle while Lance takes aim at Joey's "weight gain" since they first met.

Parker, who secretly listens to *NSync in his car on his way to work, tries to stump both players and celebrities by asking questions directly related to the stars' careers. Do you know which *NSync band members were born under the astrological sign Aquarius?

The *NSync episode will be featured on Zone.com for two weeks, and will then be available in the OutSmart Gallery, giving pop fans ample time to test their boy band trivia. Other episodes available in the OutSmart Gallery include actress Jessica Alba, musicians Shaggy, Sisqo and Fat Boy Slim, and "American Werewolf in London" director John Landis.

Electronic Arts' Cel Damage for the XBox is vehicular combat at its cartoony, frenetic best. The game will ship with the launch on Microsoft's XBox in November. Cel Damage features 12 levels of fast paced action, over 30 outrageous weapons and 10 memorable characters.

BELLEVUE, WA., (October 16, 2001) - Sierra and UK-based Argonaut Games plc. today announced SWAT: Global Strike Team (GST) to release next fall under the Sierra brand on Xbox and another, yet to be announced, next-generation console.

"SWAT: GST takes advantage of groundbreaking work for the Xbox already underway by Argonaut," said Adam Fossa, brand manager at Sierra. "Their new SWAT engine has been designed from the ground up to give the game its own distinct look and feel. Some of the stylistic variations developed for the game include Hard-Edged Shadows, allowing for an almost limitless number of lights and shadows in any given scene, and Photo-Realistic Film Filter, which gives SWAT its distinctive true-to-life look."

"GST will seduce the gamer's sense of sight, sound and touch," said Rod Fung, executive producer at Sierra. "More than any other entertainment offering on the market, GST will suspend the player's disbelief with its unique storyline, high quality graphics and stunning soundtrack."

SWAT: GST is a first-person tactical arcade game combining the strategic elements of SWAT 3 with the instantly accessible arcade action of the Virtua Cop series. Like the real-life SWAT organization itself, the SWAT Global Strike Team is a life-saving organization tasked with defending and saving the lives of the innocent. As a member of the SWAT Global Strike Team gamers will be called to duty at a moment's notice, confronted with missions unlike any seen before.

Microsoft today announced the sixteen finalists for the Age of Empires II: The Conquerors International Tournament. In August and September 2001, sixteen countries/regions held individual tournaments via the MSN Gaming Zone, LAN events, or local partners. Each country/region crowned a champion who will represent their home country or region in the world finals in Redmond, Washington on November 7, 2001. The world finals will be hosted by several members of the Ensemble Studios development team, creators of the Age of Empires series. The value of the total prize pool is over $100,000, with the winner of the competition taking home $50,000.

The sixteen finalists representing their country are:

Jerry Terry (U.S.)
Sunny Sihota (Canada)
Paul Clarke (U.K.)
Thomas Gross (Germany)
Vignon François (France)
Jonas Hasselrot (Sweden)
Magnus Harald Haslebo (Denmark)
Gaspard Gilot (Belgium)
Tim Taminiau (Netherlands)
Norson Shiniti Saho (Brazil)
Byung Geon Kang (South Korea)
Tanya Cowan (Australia)
Alex Wang (Taiwan)
Marcelo Ikegaki (Argentina)
Hong Delin (Singapore)
Christian Gebhart (Switzerland)

Age of Empires is one of the most successful strategy game franchises in history, having sold over eight and a half million units worldwide. The series, developed by Ensemble Studios, has received numerous awards including AIAS Strategy Game of the Year awards for Age of Empires, Age of Empires II: Age of Kings, and The Conquerors Expansion; as well as the prestigious AIAS PC Game of the Year for Age of Empires II: Age of Kings. Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion challenges gamers to wage war on an epic scale with all-new civilizations, unique units and technologies, and campaigns based on infamous conquerors such as Attila the Hun, El Cid and Montezuma.

Sierra to Release Game on Xbox(tm) Video Game System from Microsoft

Los Angeles, CA (October 16, 2001) - Vivendi Universal Publishing (VU Publishing), a division of Vivendi Universal (NYSE: V), and Argonaut Software Ltd. today announced an exclusive long-term, multi-platform deal to publish the much-anticipated title Malice: Kat's Tale. The game is due to release next fall under the Sierra brand on Xbox and another, yet to be announced, next generation console.

Malice: Kat's Tale, a character driven, fast paced and challenging 3D action adventure game, made headlines at this year's CES trade show when Bill Gates used it to demonstrate the capabilities of the Xbox(tm) video game system from Microsoft. Malice: Kat's Tale delivers a new level of video gaming experience with substantially enhanced levels of gameplay, graphics and audio.

"This is a title we've had our eye on and have been excited about for a long time," said J Allard, General Manager, Xbox Platform. "We are happy to be working with such experienced talent from Argonaut and Sierra and are looking forward to seeing this remarkable game come to life on Xbox."

"This is a very strategic partnership for us as we extend our brand into the console market," said Mike Ryder, president at Sierra. "I believe we're poised to make a tremendous impact in the console market in the future, especially with the launch of Malice: Kat's Tale in 2002."

Web-based Software Puts You in the Game

Bethpage, New York – October 12, 2001 – CyberExtruder announced today that its CyberX-3D™ web-based technology has officially gone gold and is compatible with Mac OS X. A proprietary software and web-based technology that automatically converts a single two-dimensional facial image into a fully-developed 3D model in one second, CyberX-3D allows Mac gaming enthusiasts to include themselves as characters within a game and become part of the action.

“CyberExtruder is extremely pleased to make CyberX-3D™ available for the Mac”, said CyberExtruder CEO, Larry Gardner. “The Mac’s phenomenal graphics capabilities add tremendous value and excitement to Internet games, and Mac OS X really showcases our unique technology.”

“Mac OS X features state-of-the-art technologies such as OpenGL, QuickTime and advanced networking capabilities, to make it a tremendous gaming platform,” said Ron Okamoto, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. “CyberX-3D™ is a flexible, easy-to-use technology and we are excited that this customization capability is available to Mac gamers.”

Developed by CyberExtruder, the patent-pending CyberX-3D™ technology allows users to submit a single digitized photo of their face to a secure website. The image is automatically analyzed, distinct facial landmarks are identified, and a highly accurate 3D model of the user’s face is created within just one second. What makes CyberX-3D™ technology a breakthrough is that it works from just one photo and is completely automated.

The first three games, that have been CyberX-3D™ enabled include the best-sellers “Unreal Tournament”, “Quake III:Arena”, “Counter Strike” and “The Sims”. CyberExtruder has also announced plans to add “Max Payne” within the next few weeks.

Gamers can convert their photo and download a special CyberX-3D™ file for each of the games for a one time charge of only $14.95 by visiting the CyberExtruder website. Currently, visitors to the site can also preview up to 6 images at no charge, and download a free screensaver of their face in 3D, which can be manipulated with the click of a mouse.

The expandability provided by this design is quite large. The memory limitation of most KT266 solutions is also over passed, but not totally; 1.5Gb is a lot of memory, but 2Gb would have been better. Around the CPU socket there is enough space to install one of the largest coolers available, Swiftech MC462, although at a first look it may seem that the space is quite limited. “

Cyber-golfers are invited to join tour pros Craig Stadler and Dan Forsman on four new courses designed for play with Links 2001 or Links Championship Edition. Stadler and Forsman join the Links pro lineup that already includes Sergio Garcia, Arnold Palmer, Annika Sorenstam, Mike Weir, Keith Clearwater, and Hidemichi Tanaka.

Links Expansion Pack Volume 2 owners will be able to line it up in the natural desert terrain of Arizona’s Stone Canyon Club or lakeside on the Robert Trent Jones Alabama Golf Trail‘s Links Course at Grand National. Also, players can tee off on the newly-updated dramatic cliff-lined fairways of The Fazio Foothills Course at Barton Creek, and enjoy updated graphics on the panoramic scenery and challenge of Scottsdale‘s Troon North. As an added bonus, PC golfers can enjoy Ayrshire Dunes (also known as Northern Dunes), a fictional course created with the Arnold Palmer Course Designer by Links enthusiast Mike Jones.

The Expansion Pack also includes over 300 new objects for budding architects who want to create their own courses with the Arnold Palmer Course Designer (APCD). Additionally, the Links 2001 Expansion Pack will contain the Links 2001 Course Converter that allows players to convert up to 36 Links LS courses for play with Links 2001 (courses must be previously owned), and the 1.1 update for the APCD.

Players must have Links 2001 or Links Championship Edition, available separately, in order to play the Links Expansion Pack Volume 2. The Expansion Pack is not compatible with previous versions of Links.

Competitors may register online at http://www.strategyplanet.com/kohan/tourney/tourney_register.htm until Friday, October 19. The KAG demo may be downloaded at http://www.fileplanet.com/dl/dl.asp?/strategyplanet/kohan/kohanagdemo.exe or
at http://www.kohan.net.

Prizes include an ultimate Kohan memorabilia package, concept art, and fantasy collectibles players are sure to enjoy! Sign up now and get a taste of what is to come with the release of Kohan: Ahriman's Gift November 6th!

About Kohan: Ahriman's Gift:

The upcoming release, Kohan: Ahriman's Gift, will set new standards in Real-Time Strategy Artificial Intelligence. 30 complex AI players challenge you with different styles of play using some of the best real-time strategy artificial intelligence ever. AI will create challenging gameplay in two new game types, Turtle and King of the Hill, allowing a slower, more strategic version of Kohan's original game rules. AI players are more than capable of contributing to victory and are even able to communicate with you and respond to your requests to attack, defend, and provide economy status reports to you!

Background and Features:
A fantasy real-time strategy game set in the world of Khaldun, Kohan: Ahriman's Gift takes you to new heights of strategic warfare. Built on the award-winning Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns gameplay, Ahriman's Gift provides countless hours of entertainment with five campaigns, forty custom-built maps, and a host of multiplayer options. You become one of the Kohan, an ancient race devastated by a cycle of world-breaking cataclysms. Newly awakened to an uncertain future and a past you don't remember, you must forge the present using superior strategies. Now, as your strength grows and your destiny unfolds, you have to seize the reins of power and take your place in the war between the Creator and the Shadow. Which side you fight
on is up to you.

"IronStorm is set in an alternative universe where the First World War is still going strong in 1964, with millions of soldiers dead and no end in sight. The result is a bizarre mixture of the two World Wars and Vietnam, with much of Europe in ruins, trenches criss- crossing the continent, and technology focusing on tough, reliable weaponry rather than sophistication."

"And another - the plot! It's lousy, disjointed and, although the acting is passable, badly scripted. The mini-missions that sprinkle the game are also very contrived - why can't the big butch demolitions expert get her own damn explosives? Why does a party of heavily armed marines have to wait for a lone convict to go fetch them some ammunition from vampire-infested corridors? I begin to wonder if it was written by Cryo in French and then poorly translated by the same. Even the heavily-accented grunts in Outbreak (name-dropping) have a better script than this."

Without doubt the best of these units is the siege chopper. This egg beater gone mad can attack units from the air, but it really gets into serious trashing mode when it lands and deploys as it hurls artillery shells huge ranges and can really devastate the enemy when used in number and with some anti aircraft support.

CAMBRIDGE, MA (October 12, 2001) - Impressions Games(tm) and Sierra(tm) today announced development of Lords of the Realm(r) III, the long-awaited return of the companies' highly successful Lords of the Realm series of games. The ultimate medieval simulation, Lords III covers the entire life of being a lord in the middle ages - castle building and design, rural estate management, acquiring knights and soldiers to make armies, warfare and conquest, politics and diplomacy, and the struggle with or against the Church, and with the rising merchant class. The elements that made the Lords of the Realm series a best seller worldwide are now powered by an all-new 3-D graphics engine designed to catapult the game to the forefront of the strategy genre in late 2002.

Already hotly anticipated in the gaming community, Lords of the Realm III is named as one of the "Ten Hottest Games of 2002" in PC Gamer magazine's December 2001 issue. In addition, Lords of the Realm 2 was recently named one of the "Top 50 Games of All Time" by the same publication.

"Lords of the Realm III will give gamers a real eyeful of medieval battles," said Alex Rodberg, brand manager for Lords of the Realm III. "We've done away with a lot of the interface elements that can often undermine the sense of immersion, and have made Lords III combat so visibly rich that clashes resemble something out of the movie Braveheart rather than those of a typical strategy game."

Like its predecessors, Lords of the Realm III is a historically-based strategy game combining resource management, castle building, siege, politics and conquest. However, unlike its predecessors, Lords III utilizes an all-new 3D engine developed by Impressions Games, and is played entirely in real time. The game may be played by a single player, or by two to eight competing players. The multiplayer game includes various short, single-session scenarios or modes of play in addition to longer campaigns.

Lords of the Realm III is set in the medieval period or the "Middle Ages," between approximately 850 AD and 1350 AD. Various scenarios and campaigns encompass the British Isles, Germany, France, Normandy, Brittany, Flanders and Denmark. Many figures, places, peoples, events and other things
familiar and recognizable today (some historical, some fictional) arose in the Middle Ages, and are encountered in Lords III. Examples include: people
like William Wallace and Robin Hood; places like Stonehenge and the Tower of London; and events such as the Crusades and the scourge of the Black Plague.

Empire Earth Demo Coming October 19th!

Sierra and Stainless Steel Studios, Inc. today announced that a playable demo of their upcoming real-time strategy game Empire Earth will be released on the Internet on Friday, October 19th. Empire Earth is currently undergoing its final phase of testing in anticipation of shipping in mid-November.

The Empire Earth Demo includes four of Empire Earth's Training Scenarios, which introduce a few of the many special features available in the full game. Also included are two exciting scenarios from Empire Earth's four epic Campaigns. In one scenario, you command British troops during the Napoleonic Wars. In the other, you guide Manfred von Richthofen, the famous "Red Baron," at the start of World War I.

Previews:

Interviews:

MechWarrior 4: Black Knight Expansion pack introduces five new ‘Mechs™ for the player to pilot: the Sunder, Ryoken, Uller, Wolfhound and Black Knight. It also includes several new vehicles, such as the Demolisher II Heavy Tank and the Nightwind Attack Helicopter; and new weapons, like the incredibly devastating Cluster Bombs.

Players will also have access to some of the hardest to find weapons through the game's newest feature, the Black Market. The Black Market allows the player to take salvaged 'Mechs and weapons that they don’t need, and trade them for something they do need. Players are no longer restricted to items salvaged from the battlefield, they can now take their chances on the Black Market.

In MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, gamers command an awesomely armed 40-foot tall, 100-ton war machine across the remote battlefields of a hostile world. Instead of desolate, sparsely populated battlefields, MechWarrior 4 takes place in a rich and dynamic universe inhabited by armed allies, noncombatants, and deadly antagonists. High-energy lasers pierce the night, rockets flare with blazing fire, and buildings and vehicles crumble into smoldering rubble. Day missions, night missions, fog, rain, snow, blizzards and lightning provide atmosphere and add to the intensity and realism.

Who develops/publishes the best games?
Blizzard
Sierra
Westwood
Activision
Eidos
GoD
Strategy First
Electronic Arts
Microsoft
Other

Results of previous poll:

Diablo II/Diablo II: Lord of Destruction                 
218  20.34 %

Baldur's Gate/Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal     
86    8.02 %

Black and White                                                   
46     4.29 %

Serious Sam                                                         
7       0.65 %

Alone in the Dark                                                 
17     1.59 %

Operation Flashpoint                                            
48     4.48 %

Tribes 2                                                               
40     3.73 %

Half-Life/Counter-Strike                                      
202     18.84 %

Quake 3                                                              
64     5.97 %

Unreal Tournament                                             
114   10.63 %

Freecell                                                              
36      3.36 %

Other                                                                 
194    18.10 %

TOTAL                                                             
1072  100.00 %

BELLEVUE, WA., (October 10, 2001) - Sierra today announced SWAT 3: Tactical Game of the Year Edition (TGOTY) is taking over store shelves throughout North America. Available on PC, this special third installment in the award-winning SWAT(tm) 3 series is a two-CD edition including 27 missions, 10-person multiplayer, new weapons and mods along with an unprecedented Advanced Tactics CD. Developed in conjunction with LAPD SWAT, SWAT 3 places an emphasis upon saving lives and rewards gamers for non-violent resolution of each mission.

The most authentic tactical simulation created, SWAT 3: TGOTY places gamers in crisis situations in strikingly realistic Los Angeles locations, such as Whitman Airport and Chang's Theater. The game adds six new missions to the original 21 missions, each playable in both single and multiplayer gametypes.

Designed to enhance the gamer's SWAT 3 experience, the Advanced Tactics CD includes real-world SWAT tactics and strategies, including instructional training videos, a Q&A tactics section, and much more--all provided by actual SWAT officers. This edition also empowers gamers to create their own version of SWAT with robust community building tools, including the Worldcraft(tm) Level Editor and the newly enhanced Scenario Editor with career editing functionality.

"The DI-704 offers 4 dedicated 10/100 switched ethernet ports on the front, a 10Mbs WAN up-link port on the back as well as an RS-232 serial port. D-Link included a power switch right next to the plug on the back of the unit. Also included were 12 lovely little LEDs, a manual, a quick installation guide and two 15ft. CAT5 ethernet cables. Another feature, which has become a defacto standard for network device administration, is an easy to understand, easy to configure web-based administration interface..."

MYTHIC ENTERTAINMENT’S MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE ROLE-PLAYING GAME SET TO BE FASTEST SELLING ONLINE GAME TO DATE

FAIRFAX, VA –OCTOBER 9, 2001 – Mythic Entertainment, creator of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) Dark Age of Camelot, working in partnership with Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing, has announced that the game shipped to retailers today, a week ahead of schedule. Based on sales to retailers and pre-orders by customers, Dark Age of Camelot is poised to be the fastest selling MMORPG to date. With deals in place for distribution both in the United States and with various overseas partners, Dark Age of Camelot is well on its way in establishing its place among the pantheon of online games including Everquest, Ultima Online and Asheron’s Call. Dark Age of Camelot is developed by Mythic Entertainment and co-published with Abandon Entertainment.

"We’re thrilled with the retail demand for the game. Our hugely successful beta test and the resulting word-of-mouth have resulted in a phenomenal number of pre-orders,” announced Mark Jacobs, President of Mythic Entertainment. "This couldn’t have happened without the total support of our partners at Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing. Working with them to bring our game to the public has been an absolute pleasure."
"Mythic Entertainment has created a dynamic, fantasy MMORPG which is about to make a significant impression with the online gaming community,” added Philip O’Neil, Senior Vice President of Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing North America. “Dark Age Of Camelot has clearly demonstrated that it is on track to take its place amongst the best-selling PC titles of the season.”
Mythic Entertainment is not content with simply releasing Dark Age of Camelot to the eager gaming audience; the company is also seeking to set a new standard in areas such as customer service. When Dark Age of Camelot opens its doors, there will be 46 customer service representatives standing by on the phones, Internet, and inside the game to ensure that the players’ experience with the game is an enjoyable one. The team that created Dark Age of Camelot will continue to work on the game in the coming months.

“Our work does not stop or decline with the game’s release. It is our goal to make Dark Age of Camelot the premier MMORPG in the gaming industry,” declared Jacobs. “In order to do that Mythic will continue to add a wealth of rich content and features to the game as demonstrated by our recent surprise addition of horses.”

"With the impending launch of the Anarchy Online story – the first episode is released this Halloween – and following today’s introduction of the official story portal, we’d like to take a moment to update you on our future plans for the portal.

"It was important for us to create something unique and different," says web editor Dag Scheve. "The portal is a world unto itself that still feels like, and is, a crucial part of the AO experience."

"We’re creating a visual style for the portal that compliments the in-game experience, but with a slightly different style to it," explains Didrik Tollefsen, Funcom’s art director and an AO story director. "We want players to feel right at home, but we also want them to understand that this is something special and new, something that’s worth returning to on a regular basis to check out what’s going on both in the game and outside it, story wise. It’s a looking-glass into the past, present, and future of Anarchy Online."

In its present form, the story portal is just a teaser of what’s ahead. As the story progresses and evolves, so will the portal:

"We have created the framework, and now we’re going to focus on adding content and making the portal an integral part of the ongoing storyline," says Scheve. "This is where the individual episodes of the storyline will be presented and collected, so that anyone who’s missed an episode – or new players who might want to catch up on the story – will be able to access the archive and see what’s happened since the last time they visited. The story portal is also where players will be able to get information and hints about new content and in-game events."

The episodes themselves will be complemented with profiles of central characters, background for the in-game clans and Omni-Tek departments, character profiles and interviews, and, of course, tons of really cool surprises along the way!

"Because we’ve been constantly developing and tweaking the Anarchy Online," says writer and fellow story director Ragnar Tørnquist, "observant players will probably notice that a few things have changed since the first time they heard about the story. The portal is where we’re going to present those changes and where we set things straight. The material presented in this portal is the correct material – it’s canon, so to speak. It’s crucial both for us and the players that we gather everything in one place."

One of the first features we present on the portal is the prologue to Tørnquist’s novel, Prophet Without Honour – Anarchy Online Book One. How important is the book to understanding the story?

"You don’t have to read the book to understand what’s going on," Tørnquist continues, "but it helps. The book tells a big chunk of the complex back-story, establishes the universe, explains a lot of what’s happened between our present and Anarchy Online’s future, and introduces a few of the lead characters. The prologue and first chapter will be posted at the story portal, as a preview of what you’ll get if you buy the book."

Make sure to visit the new portal to get a first look at the latest addition to the Anarchy Online experience, and keep checking back to witness the launch of one of AO’s most important features: the story!"

Now two years later, the folks at Sierra have taken over the project and with the help of developer Monolith Productions, Alien vs. Predator 2 is shaping up to be another adrenaline pumping title. Concentrating more on the single player game, AVP2 will have over 21 single player missions and just as in the first game, players will be able to take on the role of either the Alien, the Predator or the Marine. Just as in the original, players will have access to all the arsenals of their respective characters including the Marine's Pulse Rifle, the Predator's Thermal Scan and the Alien's devastating tail.

In addition to a solid single player experience, AVP2 will incorporate new multiplayer games and maps. There will be 12 exclusive multiplayer maps and over 10 characters to choose from.

Devil May Cry, the PlayStation horror action game which is due out in the UK next month

"The fight scenes are amongst the most impressive we have ever seen in a video game, with Dante running up walls, leaping between ledges, doing back flips, and firing guns with so much recoil that they can momentarily suspend you in mid-air. A typical fight might involve you charging towards an enemy, slicing him open with a sword, throwing his body high into the air, and then holding it there for a couple of seconds with a stream of lead from your shotgun."

What's new :
1) Our thoughts and prayers...
With the rest of the world we at BattleGoat Studios offer our sympathies to all those affected by the tragedies in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. We're sure all creators of strategy products - in fact, all creators of fictional futures including book authors and filmmakers - hope and pray that their visions remain in the realm of fantasy and imagination, possibly even a warning to humanity of the dangers from an uncertain world.

2) The response by the creative communities...
In response to these horrific crimes, many software projects, films and toys have had art work altered, plot lines changed, or had their project pulled.

The question we are struggling with is simply "How do we tastefully and respectfully handle it?" It is important to remember that we have fictionalized a history of the next nine years but based it on what has been going on in the real world today, both politically and economically. Can we ignore the events of September 11th? Should we? We have asked our subscribers to feel free and send us their feelings and comments on this issue. Currently we have decided to avoid specific mention of September 11th but will be writing the reactions of governments around the world into the plot.

We will post much of the discussion to our web site in the weeks ahead. EMail comments to : Info@battlegoat.com

3) Supreme Ruler 2010 Progress Report...
Probably the most common question we get these days is "When's it coming out?" Originally we had targeted a 4th Quarter 2001 release but early on we realized that this would likely fall victim to our development style. To elaborate, we have the luxury of being able to finance our development ourselves so although we have made preliminary contact with several publishers we have not pursued signing with a publisher as of yet. We will need a Publisher to help us market and distribute Supreme Ruler 2010 to maximize its audience, but our first priority has been development. This has a major benefit for the players, the Publisher, and for us. For us, it keeps more of the control of the game and its release in our hands. For the Publisher it means seeing a more finished product beforehand and not being "surprised" by any final content or timeline.

But most importantly, for the users this means that without a publisher looking over our shoulders SR2010 will see the light of day on our timeline and ONLY when we are happy with it. As an example, in July we set the project timeline back a month or two by re-working the User Interface. Now it is cleaner and more visually appealing. This will continue to be the method we use. If we have a "Better Idea" we will not hesitate to implement it. We have a specific "Vision" for Supreme Ruler 2010 and we want it to be the best product we can make it. We don't want to answer to someone else's forced release schedule.

So what's the bottom line? Pending any other major changes in development, we are now anticipating a release date of around May or June 2002. We have recently added to our development team to facilitate this new timeframe by speeding up scenario development and sifting through design revisions all the quicker.

4) AskDeveloper Diary - Introduced at GAMESPY.COM

In September we were pleased to begin submitting our Supreme Ruler 2010 Developer Diaries to this popular web site. In this first installment we talk about the history of Supreme Ruler and some of our unique design concepts.

6) New Screen Shots!
Borders - SR2010 has a flexible border structure that will allow your region to grow on a hex by hex basis.

Leveraging their dominance of the Laxative market space, Vykkers Labs has proliferated their "Butt Flo" formula into products as diverse as novelty gum, soft-drinks, and fine wines. From here, it was an easy leap to synergize products in new and exciting ways, using one product to literally create demand for another. With the Gum-Rot products, for example, the company now earns profit on the entire lifecycle of consumer's oral needs, from the first sugar-coated toothbrush stroke to the final installation of disposal dentures. But innovation and product linkages are only one part of the exciting Vykkers story. Vykkers Labs took off (literally) when profits were re-invested in giant floating factory labs. These impregnable fortresses allowed the company to unearth new products and opportunities in remote areas, free of interference from tree-hugging Mudokons, animal rights wackos and other anti-progress freaks. It is within the blood-stained walls of these innovation institutions that products as diverse as Headburn Shampoo, Chill Pills, Baby Chow and Home Cosmetic Surgery Kits were developed and brought to market.

This week's interview on EuroGamer is with Magic & Mayhem : Art of Magic producer Steve Norris. We talked to him about the switch from Charybdis to Climax earlier in the year and what this has meant for the final months of the game's troubled development.

"Feature creep was the main reason for the delay. Everyone in the team wanted the best for the sequel and this inherently meant that if something did not work as we liked it was improved or re-mplemented.
In the long run the game should reap the rewards, hopefully!"

GRAPEVINE, TX - October 5, 2001 - HiTech Creations, producer of on-line combat sim, Aces High, unveils today their latest version (1.08) of the premier air, land, and sea WWII battlefront.

"The community is charged for the ultimate challenge," says company president, Dale Addink, who's team has worked diligently over the last months prepping for the release. "We've successfully resolved a list of new concepts and technologies for supply points, automated trains, truck convoys, roads, tracks and re-supply systems that we're sure our players will be thrilled with." Addink adds that combat sim players universally are seeking the challenges that Aces High now delivers.

In addition to the automated train and convoy systems, players can also manually resupply bases and even other players through airlift, ground transport, and amphibious operations.

Other improvements include:

Added the M8 "Greyhound" armored car, and the following planes: Me-262, Hurricane IIC, Hurricane IID, F4U-1, F4U-4, and Mosquito Mk VI.

New environmental sounds with range and Doppler effects. You can now hear the sounds of battle all around you as airplanes fly by and machine guns chatter in the distance.

Improved graphics include new high definition ground textures, a new ground object system with trees, houses and many more terrain objects, and a new mipmapping option for better texture display.

LAN support is now available in the FREE H2H mode.

GameSpy: Tell us how stealth works in the game, and what players have to do in order to maintain it.

NovaLogic: By design, the Comanche is a stealth aircraft. In its light attack configuration, the Comanche's weapons are stored in internal weapons bays, making its radar cross-section more than 600 times smaller than that of the Apache. The tradeoff is that it can't carry a lot of firepower in this mode. A pair of stub-wings called EFAMS (External Fuel Armament Management System) can be added to the Comanche to more than double its weapons load. However, these wings greatly increase the Comanche's radar cross-section.

Within the space of the past three years, BioWare has become one of the most respected studios in the industry. Today, we re-join Joint CEOs and Co-Executive Producers Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka to talk about the company, its future, what lies ahead for the CRPG genre and more in our BioWare 2001 Interview, Part 2.

But all's not well in the world of broadband. Tough economic times and a lot of very bad business decisions have put scores of broadband suppliers out of operation or on the verge of extinction. It's more important than ever to pick your broadband provider carefully. Unfortunately, that's not easy. Depending on where you live, you may find your broadband options to be either staggeringly diverse or few and far between. Where's a speed seeker to turn?

"The game uses 2D pre-rendered backgrounds, which are very nicely detailed and animated, the characters however are 3D models and are made of up to 1000 polygons which for most of the time animate smoothly and integrate reasonably well into the backgrounds. While the backgrounds are very well detailed the game does load them very quickly and while I have heard some reports of people seeing the backgrounds overlap as the character moves between the scenes, I didn't actually come across this or many other visual glitches which have been reported (we got the UK retail version to review)."

Throne of Darkness is Click Entertainment’s fast-paced action RPG set in a feudal Japanese scenario. Based on roughly 10 hours of play in single-player mode plus a total of five or six more divided between the two multiplayer options that are available, our Throne of Darkness First Impressions offers some initial thoughts about this intriguing, colorful new title.

The patch will be an auto-update through Gamespyarcade.com and will also be available for download from www.strategyfirst.com. It fixes a minor multiplayer sync bug and removes a reference to terrorists on the Terrorist Attack influence card. Due to the recent tragedies in the US, Strategy First and Flying Lab felt it was appropriate to remove the reference to terrorists in the game.

Rails Across America, released September 18th, 2001, is receiving critical acclaim from both the gaming press and gaming community as one of the most popular rail strategy games to come out this year. Likely to please fans of both the strategy and sim genres, it takes the Railroad Tycoon II model to a higher level and allows players to acquire a richer experience of running an entire railroad empire.

Circuit City, Amazon, Hastings, Virgin Mega Stores, Best Buy, CompUSA, Fry’s Electronics, Electronics Boutique, Electronics Boutique Canada, Future Shop (Canada), Gamestop, Chips and Bits (e-tailer), Compucenter, CompuSmart, and Media Play will offer Fighting Legends in time for the holiday season.

“We partnered with top retailers nationwide to offer 55,000 free Beta discs during the past three weeks. We were able to incorporate many of the more frequently occurring suggestions from the thousands of Beta testers who took advantage of this unique marketing program, and from those players in our core group of Beta testers,” said Steve Escalante, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “They did a great job helping us make Fighting Legends an even more fun and exciting online game.”

What’s New in the Final Version of Fighting Legends

There are three major additions to the Fighting Legends experience:

A Navigational Guide has been included to help first-time gamers get a better understanding about the game, how to move around in the many zones of gameplay, and how to become a stronger player;
A Tutorial Castle in the beginning zone of each of the game’s nine Clans will help train players in the basics of movement and battle; and
Tours of the game can be scheduled with Maximum Charisma’s game-savvy Customer Service Department. Players can sign up for the tours at www.mcszone.com. Tours will be limited to a maximum of 15 players each.

Game Ratings: An Industry First

Fighting Legends is the first game to meet the strict criteria to be ICCS™ (International Content Certification Standard™) Certified under the internationally recognized iWatchDog™ Program. The game has received a “T” (Teen) rating by the Entertainment Software Review Board.

Fighting Legends: The Game

Fighting Legends is an animated, gender-neutral game in which players of all ages and skill levels lead a squad of warriors through the vast, magical world of Exisle where life is a constant struggle for survival. Aided by sword and spell, players confront the planet’s bizarre creatures and the most dangerous foes of all – thousands of other players each bent on securing his or her name in the Halls of Legend.

There are nine clans scattered across the three planes of Exisle:

In the Underplane there are: the Arachin Clan – spidery creatures with a mechanical twist; the Bone Clan – zombie like warriors; and Clan Wee – tiny blue skinned critters, save for the Hurler, that are nevertheless worthy foes.

The Surface Realm is home to: the BearKat Clan – sentient feline bears; the BioMecha Clan – who have formidable armor and projectile weapons; and Clan Human – which excels in the art of hand-to-hand fighting.

Making their home in the Sky Realm are: Clan M – wielders of the most potent spells in all of Exisle; the Pyron Clan – fiery demons of chaos; and the RIN Clan – who are phenomenal martial artists and archers.

Each clan has nine characters for a total of 81 potential avatars, a vast collection of choices to keep even the most experience gamer challenged and intrigued.

One of the primary activities in Fighting Legends is battle. Battle effectiveness relies on two central elements: planning and execution. Careful planning is reflected by the inclusion of diverse and experienced units in a squad, while the execution is purely defined by how well players maneuver their forces on the battlefield. The controls in Exisle are very action-oriented similar to FPS (Fast Playing Sports) style games. While preparation is crucially important, it is likewise necessary for players to maintain tight battle control.

Here's a new maintanance release.
Added support for HeadHunter3 mod, enabled javascript compatibility with
MSIE 6.x with new overLib and fixed a few bugs.

Here's the list of changes from v2.0 (build 230):