New Version Supports Virtual LAN Games Including Red Alert, Red Alert II, Diablo and Starcraft

GameSpy Industries has announced the release of GameSpy Arcade v1.08, with support for previously unavailable games such as Red Alert, Red Alert II, Diablo and Starcraft. Already recognized by game fans as the Internet's most comprehensive multiplayer gaming application, the expanded game support offered by GameSpy Arcade provides gamers with more gaming choices than ever before.

GameSpy Arcade is available free from www.gamespyarcade.com and supports a wide variety of games, from fast action favorites like Half-Life, Unreal and Quake III Arena, to online classics such as Spades, Hearts, Poker, Checkers and Chess.

Support for Red Alert, Red Alert II, Diablo and Starcraft was added after fans clamored to play these games with their friends in the GameSpy Arcade community. Previously, multiplayer options for these games were limited to LAN access or centralized online services. But GameSpy Arcade's systems allow anyone to set up a virtual LAN to host or take part in game sessions for these titles, some of the hottest-selling games in recent time.

Microsoft launches Train Simulator website

Microsoft Train Simulator brings the power and the glory of some of the world's most famous trains and railways to your PC. Now you can check out the official UK site at http://www.trainsim.co.uk/

Browse the pages to view spectacular screen shots of trains like the Orient Express and the Flying Scotsman. Find out information on the world-famous routes, dynamic environments, real world challenges and the nine driveable locomotives featured in the game.

The site also allows you to pre-order your copy of the game, view details of Train Simulator partners and download wallpapers including the American bullet train, the Amtrak® Acela Express, and more.

Gothenburg, Sweden - May 11, 2001 - MindArk AB announced today that the initial stage of beta testing has begun for its innovative and widely anticipated persistent state online world, Project Entropia. This first phase consists of technical tests with a small group of testers. Further phases over the coming months will involve many thousands more.

“We believe the Internet is the next frontier in entertainment media,” said Marketing Manager Patric Sundstrom. “With Project Entropia, MindArk intends to be the pioneer in creating a new, ground-breaking form of interactive entertainment. And since we will make it available at no initial cost and with no set fees, we anticipate that it will be enjoyed by millions of Internet users around the world.”

Project Entropia is an interactive universe that takes place in the future on the distant outlying planet Calypso where human colonists face challenges from native creatures and invading robots. It will allow millions of Internet users to participate simultaneously in this exciting virtual world. Additional information is available on the official website at http://www.project-entropia.com/ and prospective beta testers can still apply at http://www.project-entropia.com/betatest/apply.asp?topic=betatest.

Like most MS hardware, the Sidewinder Precision Pro 2 is quite well made and can stand up to the toughest abuse. Drop it, kick it, eat it, whatever: this joystick will take a beating and keep on ticking. This would be a perfect stick for those of you who have kids: let them hammer the buttons all they want and I can almost guarantee that their hands will give out long before the joystick does.

Road Warrior Q-Drive External Hard Drive Review

The Q-Drive is a USB storage device that makes transferring files between USB-equipped PC's extremely simple. Plug it in, install the drivers, and you are all set. It is about the size of a key, which makes it easier to carry than Zips or floppies. While it is geared towards laptop users, desktop users can share in the ease of use. It does help if you have a USB port on the front of your desktop, or as in my case, a port on the monitor base.

Montreal, Quebec. May 30th, 2001 - Strategy First Inc. and Flying Lab Software
announced today that they have released a demo for their upcoming real-time rail strategy game, Rails Across America.

The demo contains most of the major features, including; eight different engines out of the thirty-six that will appear in the final game, and four player multiplay with matchmaking services through Gamespy.

Players will be able to compete across a map of the entire US with a network of hundreds of tracks and thousands of trains connecting the continent. They must control their fleet of engines, make strategic decisions where to expand, where to compete, and when to engage in a well-timed price war, use influence to cause stock raids, investigations, and sabotage - all in an attempt to outmaneuver their opponent.

Go back in time to when the railroad was a lifeline that drove the economy and brought the continent together! Conduct one of the most prosperous businesses of the era and test your skills against some of the most infamous rail Barons of the 1870's!

WHAT: Neverwinter Nights IRC Chat

WHERE: RPG Vault Chat (fans using IRC clients can connect to host17.webmaster.com in channel #ignvault)

WHEN: Thursday, June 7, 2001
6:00 PM Pacific Time

WHY: To get the latest information straight from members of the development team.

For more information on Neverwinter Nights, go to http://www.neverwinternights.com

Microsoft today announced that OutSmart(TM), an online celebrity game show, is set to send one Grand Prize Winner and a friend to Los Angeles. Jessica Alba, star of James Cameron's DARK ANGEL science-fiction series, competes against all takers...that is, until our next celebrity challenger takes her place!

Until June 18, the MSN Gaming Zone will be holding weekly drawings for an autographed Jessica Alba poster. To enter for the drawing, contestants must register a score, and it's not necessary to win the game to enter. Contestants can register up to a hundred scores per week. Those who submit at least one score each week during the contest period will be eligible for the Grand Prize of a two-person trip to Los Angeles.

OutSmart is a free interactive celebrity-based game show developed by Jellyvision that incorporates real celebrity audio into gameplay. For the first time, players can compete against their favorite stars to prove they know more about the stars than the stars know about themselves. OutSmart is available exclusively at Zone.com.

Miscellaneous/Life

Version 1.34 of BersIRC has been released

• Sony to stick Pioneer's DVD-R in Vaios
  
• ActiveWin has posted the Hardware Compatibility lists for Win2K, Windows Me, Windows XP x86 beta, and Windows XP Itanium 64 beta
  

• AMD Hammer to hurt ALi, SiS, Via
  
• Intel's plan for faster chips hits speed bump (spotted on [H]ardOCP)

• AMDMB reviews the Epox 8K7A review
  
• OC Workbench has a pic of the i845 brookdale chipset
  
• Dan's Data reviews the Asus CUV266 and ECS P6IPA motherboards

• ATI unveils plan to let other companies build graphics boards with their chipsets
  
• XGR reviews the GeForce 3
  
• GameSpot explains ATI's TRUFORM technology
  
• Got Apex reviews the Hercules 3D Prophet III
  
• Inside Mac Games compares the Radeon and GeForce 2 MX for the Mac
  
• Toshiba develops world's first 260,000-color polymer organic light emitting monitor
  
• Guru3D reviews the 3D Prophet II MX PCI
  
• Tom's Hardware looks at 6 different GeForce2 MX cards
  

• nVnews reviews the Acoustic Edge 5.1 sound card

• Broken Pixel reviews the Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro 2 joystick
  

• The Tech Zone's Hardware Price Index has been updated

The Myst mythology (which is especially interesting to the true fans who even read all its paperback editions) is something special. The entire story revolves around magical portal-books, which bond worlds. The story speaks of a man who belongs to the D'ni race, which has the ability to create such books.

Tropico is not just about building and moving cargo from point A to point B. You must learn how to control people who do not want to be controlled. How to win elections through various different means and how to control the money necessary to win you the game. Tropico is a game of behind the scenes action where you are watching individual people, planning your crops, hiring the right immigrants and other such detailed work. In the beginning things start to take shape slowly and you can become a bit bored, however this is the time to learn who your opponents could be, plan your islands layout and figure out which industry will lead your people to greatness.

With its development "overseen by a leading PhD animal behaviorist", CyberPounce offers your feline friend a range of eleven toys to play with on your PC monitor, ranging from cartoon birds, spiders and goldfish to feathers and toy mice. Apparently in testing the game could keep cats entertained for upwards of ten minutes at a time, which as any cat owner will tell you is not bad for an animal with such a short attention span. Double Twenty even claim that the game can turn your cat into a mouse-chasing mastermind. Well, maybe not. But it does "stimulate the brainwave patterns in cats, making them active 'thinkers' when they ordinarily would be sleeping".

• Information and hints about every skill of every character
  
• Detailed skill statistics; levels 1-20 and 21-30
  
• Mana, Life, and Stamina regeneration calculators
  
• The Set - Set Items and complete set effects
  
• Hints on how each character can efficiently kill boss monsters
  
• Gem effects calculator
  
• Information, maps and directions for every Act
  
• Information and hints about every quest

Gameplay Methodology: The system will not be peer-to-peer, nor client-server. It will be more of a "hosted peer-to-peer" where information is transmitted not directly between players, but from players to a central point and then to the other players. The advantage is that there will be no huge banks of servers, as there are for Diablo II's realms, but there will be some means to prevent cheating. Client-server is the only method that is truly effective at stopping all cheating, but for an RTS, client-server is not effective for speed reasons, as far too much information needs to be send every second.

The centerpiece of the title will be a concert recording of Britney during her recent "Oops .. I did it again" tour. Thanks to Enroute's FirstPerson technology though, PlayStation 2 owners will be able to rotate their view of the concert through a full 360 degrees - "able to look up, down, left, right, zoom in and out and turn around to see all the action from all angles".

In addition to the new program features,
which you can view immediately at : http://www.xentax.com/html/multiex-features.htm 13 new games are supported:

Battle for Naboo BIN files (90%)
Black & White SAD Files
Descent 1 HOG Files
Echelon SFX files
Evil Islands RES files
Heroes Chronicles SND files
Hostile Waters MBX/MNG files
Kingpin PAK files
Kohan TGW files
Outlive DAT files
Red Baron 3D VOL files
Sin PAK FIles
Warcarft 1 DATA.WAR files

The whole setup package deal can be downloaded, or, if you already have version 3.1b, a smaller patch (unzip all files in the patch into the directory you installed 3.1b in, keeping the directory structure of the zip file intact).

The download address is, as always, http://www.xentax.com

This can be the tool to use if you:
A. would like to view graphics, listen to sounds etc.
from your favourite game and use them on your desktop.
B. Are building a fansite for a game, and need some
stuff from the actual game.
C. Are building a mod for a game and would like to
preview/use stuff from the original game's archives.
D. Just love to have access to a huge number of game
archives.

After waiting over a year for the patch to come out for Starcraft, Blizzard fans finally recieved the biggest update in the favored RTS. These changes include:

• Adds support for a new template "Top vs Bottom".
  
• Adds support for Game Recording.
  
• Adds support for gateway selection.
  
• Save Game clarification.
  
• Better proxy support
  
• Clearer battle.net messages.
  
• Updated "Connecting to fastest server" messages to be clearer.
  
• Ladders maps updated.
  
• Ladder cheating fix - Ladder map alteration fix (Japanese version, too!)
  
• Fixed various language translation problems.
  
• More KBK support.
  

(TERRAN):

Valkyrie:


• Damage increase to 6 per missile. [5]
  
• Acceleration and velocity increased slightly. [?]
  
• Build time decreased. [60]

  Science Facility:
  

• Build time decreased. [?]
  
• Irradiate research cost increased to 200 minerals, 200 gas. [150/150]
  
• Yamato Cannon research cost decreased to 100 minerals, 100 gas. [200/200]

  Missile Turret:
  

• Decreased cost to 75 minerals. [100]

  Factory:
  

• Charon Missile Booster research cost decreased to 100 minerals, 100 gas. [150/150]

  Dropship:
  

• Increased speed. [?]

  Goliath:
  

• Increased ground attack range. [5]

  Battle Cruiser:
  

• Build time decreased. [160]
  
• Supply cost decreased to 6. [8]

  (PROTOSS):

  Dragoon:
  

• Build time increased. [40]

  Scout:
  

• Decreased cost to 275 minerals, 125 gas. [300/150]

  Carrier:
  

• Supply cost decreased to 6. [8]

  Templar:
  

• Psi Storm Damage reduced. [128]

  Corsair:
  

• Disruption Web spell duration decreased. [?]

  Zealot:
  

• Shields decreased to 60. [80]
  
• Hit points increased to 100. [80]

  (ZERG):

  Queen:
  

• Decreased build cost to 100 minerals, 100 gas. [100/150]

  Ultralisk:
  

• Supply cost decreased to 4. [6]

  Queen's Nest:
  

• Spawn Broodling cost decreased to 100 minerals, 100 gas. [200/200]

  Hydralisk Den:
  

• Lurker Aspect cost increased to 200 minerals, 200 gas. [125/125]
  
• Hydralisk speed upgrade cost increased to 150 minerals, 150 gas. [100/100]

  Spawning Pool:
  

• Increased build cost to 200 minerals. [150]

  Sunken Colony:
  

• Building armor increased to 2. [0]
  
• Hit points decreased to 300. [400]

The patch will be released next monday, May 21. This first update for Lionhead Studios' first title should bring some "fresh air" to the game. Villagers playing footbal, new spells, new buildings (and tweaks to existing ones) and more accurate dancing movements while using audio CD's in-game will be some of the improvements.

Featuring also:

- A newer version of safedisk to avoid problems with copy protection
- A fix for the multiplayer select screen
- LAN spawn so you only need 1 CD to play a LAN game
- Possibility of skipping the tutorial
- other fixes
The patch should be around 8.5MB. For those that don't have cable, like me :(, ouch!

About projects to come, Peter revealed that two expansion packs are under development: Creature Trials and World Disc. The first to be released sometime in September this year and the other with released date still unannounced. Two expansion packs wich hopefuly will add something new and exciting to the game.

Also confirmed by Molyneux was that Black and White will be coming to Microsoft's next-generation console, XBox.

Windows Users: If you have trouble patching from Battle.net, you can also download it here.

Macintosh Users: Blizzard will post the standalone version of this patch on their site as soon as it's available.

"

Even though I suck big time at creating robots, I found myself returning every night to RoboForge in an effort to create a better machine. The graphics are more than good enough for this type of game and the match play-back looks pretty cool, especially when your opponent explodes from a wicked attack. The interface was very intuitive and easy to learn. I was very impressed with the speed and overall compatibility and since a Linux version is in the works, RoboForge will surely be a hit with the penguin heads.."

HOUSTON, TEXAS - May 15, 2001 - TimeGate Studios, Inc.
(www.timegatestudios.com) announces that they are now accepting applications for entry into Royal Rumble, a single-elimination team tournament to determine the master team strategists of Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns.
Players will pair up to form one team who will then challenge competing teams in grueling battles until the final overall winning pair is announced.

The Royal Rumble winners will need to utilize teamwork and the most complementary use of strategy in order to come out on top. Onwww.kohan.net, teams will be able to view the entire tournament bracket, view the official rules, check out the prizes, and download final round game films!

"Since its release, we have noticed that the most addictive aspect of Kohan is team-based multiplayer" says Adel Chaveleh, Producer of TimeGate Studios. "Royal Rumble gives players the opportunity to challenge each other in a tournament setting, bringing out the competitive nature of players even more and showing our continued support for the product."

Registration for Royal Rumble is from May 9th to June 4th 2001. Competition will begin on June 8th and will last until a winning team has been determined. Prizes include great audio hardware sponsored Creative Labs as well as fantasy memorabilia the Kohan player is sure to enjoy.

About Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns:
Praised as a potential "Game of the Year," this fantasy real-time strategy game is sure to appeal to a large market of gamers because of its unique blending of different game play styles. While adhering to some of the basics of traditional RTS style games, Kohan's distinctive economy model eliminates the need for micro-management of resources, leaving the player with more time for strategic combat. Kohan will also appeal to the tactical wargamer with its company based combat system and use of military concepts such as formations, visual range, supply range and morale. Not only will the more strategic and tactical players enjoy the game, but RPG gamers will also feel at home with the game's gripping storyline and role-playing elements, such as experience for heroes and units, and heroes being carried over from one mission to another. The land of Khaldun is a lush and visually stunning fantasy setting where dragons, spells, and epic battles are commonplace.

The lineup includes both PC and next-generation console games. PC games include, Empire Earth(tm), Arcanum(tm), Throne of Darkness(tm), Half-Life(r): Blue Shift as well as games that fall under the recently-announced worldwide co-publishing agreement with Fox Interactive, Aliens vs. Predator(tm) 2, and Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza(tm).
Next-generation console gamers will be treated to such award-winning franchises as Half-Life(r), Tribes(tm) and No One Lives Forever(tm) soon-to-be released on PlayStation(r)2 computer entertainment system. On the Xbox(tm) video game system, Microsoft's future-generation video game console will be Jonny Drama(tm), a completely original title developed exclusively for the platform. Finally, the newly announced game based on J.R.R. Tolkien's worldwide best-selling novel The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, will make its debut on the Xbox behind closed doors.

"Our 2001 E3 line-up, more than ever before, reflects how we are continuing to raise the bar for cutting-edge action, role-playing and strategy games," commented Barbara Schwabe, vice-president of marketing for Sierra. "We've worked very hard to set the stage with our strategic move into the console arena and we're very pleased with the caliber of games we're bringing to next-generation gamers everywhere."

SIERRA'S E3 TITLE LINEUP:

ALIENS VS. PREDATOR 2:
This is the PC sequel to the most terrifying PC game of 1999. Based on the combination of the most highly successful sci-fi franchises in movie history, AVP 2 takes players to a world where species battle species in the ultimate game of survival. Aliens vs. Predator 2 is being developed by Monolith Productions on the PC.

ARCANUM: OF STEAMWORKS AND MAGICK OBSCURA:
Arcanum(tm): Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is a new PC role-playing game from Troika Games, founded by key members from the development team behind the award-winning role-playing game, Fallout(r)*. Named for the world it is set in, Arcanum opens in an age where magic and technology coexist in uneasy balance. An industrial revolution has swept across the fantasy realm of Arcanum, and players must choose their path - magic or technology - in their quest across the massive world.

DIE HARD: NAKATOMI PLAZA:
Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza combines all the exciting elements of the original Die Hard movie in an action/adventure game set in the 3D environment of
Nakatomi Plaza. With 40 floors of new office space under construction, John McClane must navigate his way through terrorists, civilians and hostages to
save himself and his wife from the terrorists who have this high rise of horror under siege. It is being developed by Pirhana Games for the PC.

EMPIRE EARTH:
Empire Earth is the debut title from Stainless Steel Studios, but not the first for company founder Rick Goodman, who was lead designer for the best-selling and critically acclaimed strategy game Age of Empires(r). In Empire Earth, gamers attempt to dominate the Earth in land, sea, and air battles, while advancing their civilizations through over 500,000 years of "history," from the Paleolithic age to the 24th century. Empire Earth lets gamers carry out a night attack with a column of Patton's tanks, command
French Grenadiers in the Napoleonic Wars, send Alexander the Great and an army of phalanxes to raze a troublesome city-state, and much, much more.

FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING:
In development by Seattle-based WXP, Inc., The Fellowship of the Ring will be released in early 2002 for the Xbox video game system. The Fellowship of the Ring is a third-person action/adventure game set in the world of Middle-Earth. In the game, players take the persona of Frodo Baggins, an unassuming hobbit who has been unwittingly thrust into a battle between good
and evil. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have set the standard for fantasy writers and creators of epic worlds. The novels are massive best sellers, having sold close to 100 million copies worldwide and been translated into 26 different languages.

HALF-LIFE: BLUE SHIFT:
Blue Shift is an all-new single player episode surrounding the Black Mesa security guard introduced in Valve's classic action thriller, Half-Life. In
development on PC by Gearbox Software, creators of the critically acclaimed Half-Life: Opposing Force(tm), Blue Shift also contains the Half-Life HD
Pack, which automatically upgrades the weapons and characters of all the ames in the Half-Life saga with new high definition content.

HALF-LIFE PLAYSTATION 2:
The best first-person shooter of all time comes to the PlayStation 2. Half-Life combines great storytelling with intense action and advanced technology to create the greatest action experience of all time. Originally created for the PC by Valve, this legendary 3D action thriller is coming to PlayStation 2, developed by Gearbox Software. This time around, gamers will get Half-Life's classic Deathmatch for 2-4 players and an exclusive, brand new cooperative campaign, Half-Life: Decay, to take on solo or with a friend.

JONNY DRAMA:
As Jonny Drama, movie star turned secret agent, players must stop the evil Dr. Bumbershoot from executing his sinister plan to destroy the world. In true secret agent fashion, Jonny must use his arsenal of spy gadgets, disguises and vehicles to defeat his arch nemesis and discover the truth about his own forgotten past. Featuring a patent pending real-time animation engine and proven gameplay features, Jonny Drama is sure to be a hit with Xbox gamers of all ages.

NO ONE LIVES FOREVER:
In development on PlayStation 2, this game will feature four new prequel levels highlighting beautiful Agent Cate Archer in her younger days as a thief. Recently, the PC game was honored as PC Game of the Year and PC Action Game of the Year. No One Lives Forever is being developed by Monolith Productions and will debut on PlayStation 2 this year.

THRONE OF DARKNESS:
Japanese mythology and fast-paced multiplayer mayhem combine to make Throne of Darkness(tm) a must-have title for action-oriented role-playing fans.
This inaugural game from Click Entertainment, a group of 24 veteran game designers, takes the action/RPG model pioneered by Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo(r) game into a new direction with a unique storyline and
ground-breaking multiplayer capability.

Greg: Is there anything that you want to say to the public regards the release of Tribes2?

Daryl: We can only make a good game. It is the Tribes 2 community and their support that will make Tribes 2 a great game. On behalf of the entire DEV team I would like to thank you, the community, for your support of Tribes and Tribes 2. It is going to be very exciting to see where you take our creation

CPL Changes Gears

The Cyberathlete Professional League today announced the cancellation of August's Counter-Strike Tournament and October's Quake III Arena Tournament. With the exception of a yearly charity event, the CPL will now only hold a minimum of two large-scale tournaments a year with cash purses of at least $150,000 each. This revised approach to competitive gaming in the United States promises to yield stronger growth for the CPL through consolidated efforts.

The CPL World Championship Event will be held on December 6 - December 9, 2001, offering a record-sized tournament cash purse of $150,000 and will accommodate up to 2,100 people. 96 Counter-Strike teams from around the globe will compete in Dallas, Texas to represent their country and themselves in this nation-based competition. While medals will be awarded to the top teams by country, the cash purse will be distributed according to a team's true placement among peers, regardless of nationality. The registration for the CPL World Championship Event will begin on Friday, June 1st, 2001 at 8:00 PM CST.

The CPL welcomes LAN organizations worldwide to hold Qualifier tournaments and offer one of the World Championship's 32 auto-berth positions to its regional winner. LAN organizations and centers must apply with the CPL Commissioner to obtain one of the 32 auto-berths. Additionally, the BYOC Counter-Strike Tournament to be held at the upcoming CPL 4-Year Anniversary Charity Event will offer three auto-berths to the top place finishers. Registration for the CPL 4-Year Anniversary Event closes on June 1st at 5:00 PM CST.

Bellevue, WA - Sierra announced a strategic partnership with Utah-based Alpine Studios to develop upcoming console games for Sierra. This new relationship further establishes Sierra's commitment to providing gamers with the highest quality next generation console titles.
"Alpine's team consists of some of the most seasoned, experienced professionals in the gaming industry," says Justin Kubiak, senior marketing manager at Sierra. "Les Pardew, CEO of Alpine, is one of the industry's preeminent developers and we're thrilled to be working with him."

"Partnering with a company like Sierra that continues to produce one blockbuster hit after another is crucial to a successful launch for Alpine," says Les Pardew, CEO of Alpine. "Working together, Alpine is poised to make a tremendous impact on the gaming community."

Alpine Studios combines talents from gaming veterans who have worked on projects spanning a variety of genres and platforms. Pardew alone has had his artwork appear in more than 80 video games and has overseen the development of titles such as Rainbow Six for Nintendo 64 and MLS ESPN Gamenight for the Playstation. Together with Lynn Freeman, who has more than 15 years experience and has worked on titles including Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2000 for Game Boy Color and NHL Breakaway 98 for the Playstation, Pardew
leads a team of skilled veteran game developers with more than 70 years combined experience.

BELLEVUE, WA (May 14, 2001) - Sierra(tm) announced today Jonny Drama , its first title to be developed exclusively
for the Xbox(tm) video game system from Microsoft. Custom created for the soon-to-be released games platform, Jonny Drama is a stealth-shooter action
title set in a unique 3D cartoon environment. Jonny Drama takes a new approach to action games by combining the excitement and intrigue of classic spy movies with hip, retro style to create a refreshingly new gaming experience. Jonny is set to save the world later this year.

"Sierra has a proven track record of publishing some of the most exciting and creative games in the market," said J Allard, general manager for the Xbox platform at Microsoft. "We're excited about our partnership and believe Sierra will be able to leverage the power of Xbox to create a game that is
truly superior in its category."

"The technologic innovations of Xbox allow Jonny Drama to offer gamers an extraordinary gaming experience in a real-time cartoon world," says Steven Hill, senior producer at Sierra. "We're able to create astonishing cartoon special effects with shading and line rendering. As well, DirectMusic enables dynamically changing audio feedback that's reactive to gameplay, so
the music is unique to every situation."

As Jonny Drama, movie star turned secret agent, players must stop the evil Dr. Bumbershoot from executing his sinister plan to destroy the world. In true secret agent fashion, Jonny must use his arsenal of spy gadgets, disguises, and vehicles to defeat his arch nemesis and discover the truth about his own forgotten past.

Interview with Cyberathlete Amateur League Q3-CTF Division Admins:

"eSports: Thanks a lot for your time spent, guys. Do you have any closing remarks or comments to make?

[44]minotaur: The All Star match East vs West will happen the week after regular season, and playoffs start the week after that. Details for both are not 100% at this time, and I would like to credit pack from dv8 with the suggestion of the All Star match.

eSports: Could we get a bit of info on the format of the allstar game? How many teams will take part, how players will be decided, etc?

[44]minotaur: ok.. as of right now, the plan is each team leader will vote for 6 players from their conference (3 offense, 3 defense, no one from their team may be selected) and we take the 3 most popular offense, and 3 defense for each conference and place them in a 4v4 match, not sure on amount of games or servers. Chemistry for the team is important, so I imagine each west and east team will get together and work on some strategy. :)"

Amsterdam, The Netherlands. May 14, 2001. The Zootec Group today launched its flagship product Zoogi - an online betting platform that allows people to play any game on any site or network with their buddies for real money. Zoogi is a virtual meeting room, independent of any game site, where online game players can play against each other for real money while conversing and collaborating using instant messaging and chat communication. Zoogi was announced following extensive field tests with the participation of avid online game players, proving the Zoogi concept that people are willing to put their money where their mouth is and place one-on-one bets on skills based games.

“Zoogi is changing the way online games are being played. It is an asset to different kinds of game sites and networks, offering a new source of traffic, increased site and game stickiness, and most importantly a non-advertising based business model that works” said Michael Gutman, founder of Zootec.

“We are currently in ongoing discussions with numerous game sites and publishers to facilitate their own users to play skills-based games for real money against each other," added Gutman.

By using a pre-paid or credit card, players can deposit money into Zoogi, agree on a wager, and play the game at any site they agree on. When the game is over, the players declare, through Zoogi, who won and the winnings are transferred to the appropriate player. Each player can see, on his own Zoogi, how much he has earned, how much he can withdraw, and how much he has available for playing. Zoogi simulates a real world game-playing environment, using a numerical rating system (ranging from 1200 to 2500 points) according to skill, as well as its own credibility ranking as an indicator of a player’s trustworthiness for real money games.

Diablo II Standard and Hardcore Ladders will be reset in late June signifying the start of the new season. At that time, all characters currently on those ladders will be removed. If you wish to be on the new season’s Diablo II Standard or Hardcore Ladder you will have to create a new character following the reset. The Diablo II Ladder reset will not otherwise affect any existing characters and no characters will be deleted. The Battle.net web site will list the top 10 Ladder players on each ladder for each Realm. The new Ladder season does not have a final ending date. We will provide an exact date for the ladder reset as we get closer to the end of June.

TORRANCE, Calif., May 9, 2001 ­ Tecmo, Inc.¹s Monster Rancher 3�, the monster breeding and battling game for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, will be the first U.S. title to feature Sony Electronics¹ PictureParadise technology. This state-of-the-art software comes built into the game and allows the player to take an existing image from a Sony digital camera or camcorder and import it into Monster Rancher
3� via the standard USB cable.

"In Monster Rancher 3, we are giving players a wealth of options in order to customize their monster. You can now personalize your virtual pet by decking it out with your choice of clothing, jewelry or other accessories.
The ultimate in customization, however, is being able to take a real-life picture and carry that into the world of Monster Rancher 3. Tecmo pioneers the way for others by being the first to offer this new technology to gamers," said John Inada, marketing director at Tecmo, Inc.

Monster Rancher 3� is the latest installment in the popular game series which lets players breed, train and fight with monsters they control. New monsters are bred by pairing two existing ones or spawned from music CD¹s, movie DVD¹s or game discs. Players train and care for their monsters, much like a virtual pet. Later, they enroll their monsters into tournaments, where they battle for prizes and fame. The Monster Rancher series has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide and has spawned a hit television cartoon
series.

THOMAS K. HERNQUIST TO JOIN AS PRESIDENT & CEO; MICHAEL A. RYDER NAMED COO AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Bellevue, WA, May 9, 2001 - Sierra On-Line, Inc., a division of Vivendi Universal Publishing (VU Publishing), announced today the addition of two seasoned executives to its management team.

Thomas K. Hernquist has joined the company as President & CEO, reporting to Vivendi Universal Games CEO Hubert Joly.

A seasoned executive from the consumer packaged goods business, Hernquist joins Sierra after four years with Nabisco, where, as Senior Vice President of Marketing, he was responsible for the company's $4 billion flagship retail cookie and cracker business. Hernquist previously served as Vice President of Marketing for Nabisco's Lifesavers division, where he was responsible for its $600 million confections business. Prior to Nabisco, Hernquist held a variety of senior management positions at CPC International, where he was Vice President & General Manager for the $400 million Entenmanns' Northeast Cake business, and Frito-Lay. Hernquist is a graduate of the University of Virginia and has an M.B.A from Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

"I am looking forward to working with the creative team at Sierra," said Hernquist. They have a reputation for making fantastic games and I'm excited to be given this opportunity to build on that reputation and grow Sierra's family of brands."

Michael A. Ryder has joined Sierra as COO and Senior Vice President of Product Development, reporting to Tom Hernquist. Ryder most recently was the CEO of SOCO Corp., a software development company targeted at the next-generation mobile online market. Prior to SOCO, Ryder held the position of Vice President and General Manager for Electronic Arts' Seattle organization and was also Senior Vice President and General Manager for the largest publishing unit within GT Interactive Software, Inc. Prior to its acquisition by GT, Ryder was co-founder and CEO of SingleTrac Entertainment Technologies, one of the premiere developers on the Playstation. Ryder has a B.S. in Mathematics from the United States Naval Academy and an M.B.A from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Pentium 4® processor CPL Holland Tourney PC's

CPL Europe is happy to announce the high end tourney PC's for the upcoming Pentium 4® processor CPL Holland which is just two days to go:

- Intel Pentium® 4, 1.7 GHz
- 128 MB RDRAM PC 800
- Harddrive 20 gigabyte
- CD-Rom 48x
- Network card: 10/100 3com
- Graphic card: ELSA Gladiac Ultra (Geforce 2 Ultra) 64 MB DDR Ram
- Soundblaster Creative 64

Many would say that where we are right now is where RTS developers are going to stop. There are no more things to invent, or innovative ideas that will come along. "The only things to do are to add more units and techs, and support more people on multiplayer, that's hardly enough to keep people coming back for more".

A new report from research company DFC Intelligence has forecast that as many as 95 million people could be playing games online by 2005, although we would hazard a guess that many of these people will be playing the likes of Hearts, Bridge and the fiendishly addictive Wordox rather than Counter-Strike, EverQuest and Starcraft. It's also worth pointing out that most online gaming concerns are currently losing money hand over fist, but the success stories are certainly not to be sniffed at - report co-author Jessica Mulligan is reported as saying that "some of the online games currently on the market are going to generate well over $300 million in lifetime revenues", which is a hefty chunk of change by any standards.

Montreal, Quebec. May 8th, 2001 - Strategy First Inc. and TimeGate Studios announced today that they are releasing a patch for the highly praised game, Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns.

Kohan, Strategy First's most recent fantasy/strategy title, has done extremely well since its release in March 2001. It has won several press awards and continues to cause chat room traffic on Kohan forums. The development team is providing players with a patch that will improve some game-play elements and fix minor issues. The patch will - add password support and other improvements to multiplayer games, - add support for Team Deathmatch maps, - fix some game-play exploits, - address some minor unit balance issues,
- and optimize the graphics engine.

On a more colorful note, the team has also changed the Void Beast's spikes to correspond with the player's colors!

The patch is approximately 3MB and will be available on www.kohan.net.

About Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns:

Praised as a potential "Game of the Year," this fantasy real-time strategy game is sure to appeal to a large market of gamers because of its unique blending of different game play styles. While adhering to some of the basics of traditional RTS style games, Kohan's distinctive economy model eliminates the need for micro-management of resources, leaving the player with more time for strategic combat. Kohan will also appeal to the tactical wargamer with its company based combat system and use of military concepts such as formations, visual range, supply range and morale. Not only will the more strategic and tactical players enjoy the game, but RPG gamers will also feel at home with the game's gripping storyline and role-playing elements, such as experience for heroes and units, and heroes being carried over from one mission to another. The land of Khaldun is a lush and visually stunning fantasy setting where dragons, spells, and epic battles are commonplace.

The player takes on the role an immortal being belonging to the race known as the Kohan. The Kohan were once the ruling power of the world, but were wiped out in a series of massive cataclysms. They did not die an eternal death though, and have since been reborn and reawakened in a new world, unlike the one they once knew. They must come to grips with their past glory, their present hardship, and their future destiny. The player must try to solve the mystery of his race's destruction and attempt to return the
Kohan to their rightful glory.

About TimeGate Studios
TimeGate Studios, www.timegatestudios.com, is committed to being a premier content provider for all popular gaming platforms. Founded in 1998 in Houston, Texas, TimeGate offers a unique environment for talented game developers. TimeGate's founders and management, with backgrounds in a number of industries, provide for a strong infrastructure that ensures success in current and future projects. TimeGate Studios is preparing for the future with plans to continue to expand its existing line of strategy titles and enter the online multiplayer market.

What's new at the Web Site :

1) Hot Spots - California
This is the first released story line of one of the more than 200 scenarios that are included with Supreme Ruler 2010. It integrates today's headlines with tomorrow's possibilities to paint a very plausible picture of a turbulent decade to come...

2) Interview with Supreme Ruler 2010 Lead Designer
David Thompson discusses some of the concepts and challenges that were addressed in the design of the game and how both the casual gamer and the hardcore strategist should find Supreme Ruler 2010 thought-provoking and fun. Topics discussed include the Economic and Diplomatic components, the Resource Management, and of course the challenge to incorporate the Real World as much as possible.

3) Interview with Supreme Ruler 2010 Lead Programmer
George Geczy discusses many of the technical innovations that are part of Supreme Ruler 2010; The use of Satellite Imagery for the maps, the Military Modeling, and dealing with an AI that has to accurately depict the management of a modern country.

4) New Screen Shots!
A couple of new screen shots to wet the appetites!

Here is you chance to win yourself a ticket! BrokenPixel is giving away 5 single guest passes to E3 Expo in LA. The guest passes will grant you access to the five exhibit halls on the 17th, 18th or 19th of May 2001.

Contest details:

We are happy to announce that new game development company, Black Sea Studios, was just formed in Sofia, Bulgaria with only one goal: to create never-ending fun. We have three games in design phase yet and they will be announced soon after E3 this year. Both of them are Real Time Strategy games and one is Action-Arcade full of humor and surprises. The company was founded by Vesselin Handjiev who made as Lead Designer TZAR: The Burden of the Crown.

As he said:

"It was really sad for me to leave Haemimont Multimedia where I did TZAR: The Burden of the Crown with one perfect team of professionals. But I just had to take this decision because I do strongly believe in the future of computer gaming and of the quality of the ideas which we will bring to life at Black Sea Studios."

As a Bulgarian company Black Sea Studios aims to become a center of gaming industry in whole East and South Europe, attracting young talents and experienced professionals from all over the world. With creative atmosphere and perfect working environment we do hope to achieve free exchanging of ideas in-between our teams with one final goal – creating fun.

We are targeting on players’ audience “everyone” by creating high playable, original and most of all fun computer games by means of initial concept, programming, game design, management, animation, graphics (2D, 3D), production, sound FX, music etc. Of course, the most important is the gameplay itself as single and multiplayer experience. At Black Sea Studios we’d like to develop for wide range of platforms like (but not limited to): PC, Macintosh, XBOX and PS2.

We do strongly believe in the support of our fans and on-line communities. Black Sea Studios takes care of the gamers and never ignores the desires, suggestions, dreams and efforts of its fans.

From now on we are expecting to receive gamers' wishes at dream@blackseastudios.com

Game Nation United is a new online community currently accepting applications from webmasters looking for a new home for their website and a fresh opportunity for advertising.
Those who join will have their web hosting fees paid for and their website promoted on television through Game Nation. In exchange, webmasters will donate their traffic and page impressions into a big pool to be marketed towards advertisers along with television spots. The trust in online advertising is weak right now and the hope is that by offering it along with television commercials, that will lower the risk for many media buyers who can always divert their payments into TV commercials should the online operation fail.
Those you sing up for this opportunity will split the profits with the network, 50/50.
Founded by the trio of GG8.com, GameNationTV.com, and Viewz.com, you can read the full details at www.gnunited.com.

When king Arthur drew the sword from the stone, a metal splinter from the sword fell to the ground; this is how Excalibur got its younger brother - Excalibug.

"Compared to Version 5.7, Version 6 is not so much a re-working/updating of all the Plug-ins & Wizards it contains, it’s more of an upgrade to the underlying program itself. It’s now easier to update X-Setup with new Plug-ins than before, it’s also safer to use & will hide Plug-ins which aren’t intended for your Operating System.

Or to put it a another way, X-Setup 6 is basically the same smelly old tramp you all know, but this time he’s been given a bath, had his liquor taken away & been given new clothes, oh man! Now, let’s get a bit deeper into the new features shall we?"

Moregaming.com takes a look at mechcommander2

"As the MechCommander, you control a company of mercenary MechWarriors in a real-time game of power, combat, and treachery set in the BattleTech® Universe. Drawn into a bitter struggle for supremacy among three warring noble houses, you must use your strategic knowledge and tactical skills to change the balance of power in a region of space known as the Chaos March."

The page cannot be displayed because our force of trained cyber monkeys and underground gnomes have disabled it.
The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or it just may have been hijacked by our force of trained cyber monkeys and underground gnomes who wish to rule the world.

Please try the following (Not that they will help):

Click the Refresh button 10,000,000 times, or just go here.
If you typed the page address in the Address bar, make sure that it is spelled correctly, if it's not then you are a retard and shouldn't be online.
Click the Back button to try another link, but we'd rather you go here.
Shouldn't you be running unix?
Cannot find server or DNS Error
Why? Because you have been hacked, dumbass.

hacked by: lks and nsr

• AOL Marshalls Troops Against MS Windows XP offensive
  
• Yahoo to charge for net phone calls
  
• 3Com to cut 3000 jobs
  
• Copyright battle: is an e-book a book?
  
• 2CPU discusses memory interleaving
  
• Microsoft to Mac fans: forget the past
  
• Former MS execs say Linux is the future
  
• Cole3D previews MS Windows XP
  
• Icrontic reviews the Apple Titanium Powerbook G4
  
• CPU Review checks out the AMI MegaRAID IDE 100 hard drive controller
  
• Overclockers.com reviews KingMax's PC150 256MB SDRAM
  

• [H]ardOCP compares the P4 to the Athlon at 1.7/2.1GHz for the P4 and 1.33/1.53 for the Athlon. Hot stuff!
  
• Toshiba traps transmeta for mini-notebook
  
• D-Silence has part 2 of their AMD tech tour up
  
• Mikhailtech has a Pentium 4 heatsink roundup posted
  
• Firing Squad overclocks some budget CPUs
  
• Trainwrecker reviews the Vantec FCE-6254OD cooler

• Tom's Hardware looks at special edition i815 motherboards
  
• Video Card Drivers reviews the Asus CUSI-M motherboard
  
• OC Workbench reviews the Iwill KD266 motherboard

• PowerStrip 3.0 beta build 138 has been released
  
• New Asus v11.01 nVidia drivers are available for Win9x and Win2K
  
• Version 1.1.6 of the Radeon Tweaker utility for ATI Radeons is available (spotted on NT Compatible)
  
• X-bit Labs looks at contemporary graphics card performance in 3DS MAX
  
• PC Faction compares Detonator 6.5 drivers to 12.10 (spotted on nVnews)
  
• Tweak3D reviews the Leadtek WinFast GeForce3
  

• Anandtech reviews the Yamaha TSS-1 Dolby Digital/DTS 5.1 surround speakers

• SystemLogic's CPU/Memory price watch has been updated
  
• Guru3D has a PC/Component's buyer's guide up that covers low, mid, and high end systems

• Movie (large)
  
• Movie (small)

Anyway, check them out:

- TechTV
- Gamespot AU
- PlayNow
- PcGameWorld

Hey! And don't forget to make constructive critics, otherwise you won't get anywhere... As i use to say: "If you're thinking on saying crap, think twice and shut up!".

Gee... now who has an attitude?...

Also, PlanetDiablo opened their Beta Test Gallery where beta testers can submitt their shots as well.

Linux Elite Force 1.2 Server Mirrors:

• 3D Downloads
  
• VoyagerEliteForce.com

Elite Force 1.2 Patch Mirrors:

• 3D Downloads
  
• VoyagerEliteForce.com
  
• FilePlanet
  
• Activision

Gangsters 2 – Vendetta brings to life the organized crime world of Prohibition America, a time when violence and greed ruled in the pursuit to become the boss of bosses. Use your skills and cunning to build a team of mobsters including specialists such as Card-Sharps, Hit-Men, Arsonists, and Safe-Crackers in the attempt to dominate the cities in the state of New Temperance.

Incorporating a completely new real-time engine, multiple cities and the helpful advisor, Gangsters 2 – Vendetta promises to bring a whole new world of crime and disorder to the PC.

"The first in a trilogy of games currently in the works from Nordic games developers Galactic Alliance, "Intergalactic Bounty Hunter" will be created using a new type of game structure, one that is episodic in nature and meant to have the feel of a television or movie series. Initially to be published for the PC on CD-ROM this September 29th worldwide, later segments have the options of reaching players through a variety of venues, from streaming media, online cartoons, Internet games, and even traditional television."

Microsoft today announced that on Monday, May 7, from 6pm to 7pm PDT, Chris Taylor, lead designer of Dungeon Siege, will be in the Zone Theater Chat Room to talk about the highly anticipated RPG title from Gas Powered Games.

Chris Taylor has spent more than a decade creating and designing video games. His portfolio includes such classics as Hardball II, 4D Boxing, Triple Play Baseball, and the critically acclaimed Total Annihilation RTS title. In May of 1998, Taylor founded Gas Powered Games on the east side of Seattle and immediately began work on Dungeon Siege.

To participate in the chat and go behind the scenes of Dungeon Siege, click "Chats & Events" on the navigation bar across the top of any Zone.com page, and then click "Chat Rooms" and "Zone Theater Chat" in the room list.

Slated for release in Fall 2001, Dungeon Siege is an action fantasy role-playing game featuring an immersive fully 3-D environment. Dungeon Siege plunges players into a continuous 3-D fantasy world on a quest to stop a mysterious evil that has been unleashed. Beginning with a single character, players can travel through the world and gather a party of up to 8 characters or choose to face the challenge alone. The fusion of action role-playing and real-time strategy controls in Dungeon Siege impels players into one over-the-top battle after another as the storyline unfolds.

Vivendi Universal Publishing's Sierra Studio to Release First Game, "Fellowship of the Ring," in Early 2002

TORRANCE, CA (May 3, 2001) - Vivendi Universal Publishing (VU Publishing), a division of Vivendi Universal (NYSE: V), and Tolkien Enterprises today announced a long-term, exclusive deal calling for the development of interactive games based on J.R.R. Tolkien's worldwide best-selling novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, a trilogy comprised of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.

Under the deal, VU Publishing's Sierra studio will develop and release multiple games based on the literary works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings over the next eight years. The first game, "The Fellowship of the Ring," in development by Seattle-based WXP, Inc., will be released in early 2002 for a next-generation console system.

"The Tolkien license, combined with our development, marketing and distribution strengths, is truly a formidable combination," said Agnès Touraine, Vice Chairman & CEO, Vivendi Universal Publishing. "It will reinforce our leading position in the games market, enlarging our offer to customers."

"The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings properties are the pre-eminent fantasy works of our time and represent one of the strongest brands in the entertainment industry," said Hubert Joly, CEO, Vivendi Universal Games. "They provide a tremendous amount of rich material from which we expect to make some of the best fantasy games ever created."

"We plan to release titles on all major gaming platforms in order to make the interactive versions of Tolkien's great works available to as many gamers as possible," continued Joly.

"The world of Middle-Earth will come to life in Sierra's upcoming games," said Laurie Battle, Director of Licensing for Tolkien Enterprises. "This relationship will allow us to reach out to a new audience which may never have experienced the magical realm that J.R.R. Tolkien created in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. In addition, people who are already fans of the books will now have the opportunity to step into the shoes of their favorite characters and explore the lands that they have imagined."

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have set the standard for fantasy writers and creators of epic worlds. The novels are massive best sellers, having sold close to 100 million copies worldwide and been translated into 26 different languages. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the subject of three movies being created by New Line Cinema for release over the next three years.

Due to severe overpopulation, the planet Earth’s diameter is increasing with the growth of towering mega-cities, each inhabited by millions of humans. Buildings are growing ever-upwards, interconnected with a thick web of roads, walkways and service channels. In these giant human hives, only the affluent may feel the rays of the sun and breathe the cleaner air.

Descending thousands of feet through the echelons, conditions steadily decline to slum level. The inhabitants of these squalid areas barely glimpse the murky sunlight that filters through the dense infrastructure above. And below the slums lie even more repugnant conditions… an underworld occupied by criminals, cultists, the wretched and deranged. Assumed derelict, the very lowest of these areas is visited only by structural engineering teams when foundations require strengthening - in order to accommodate yet further elevations.

It is within one such city that Project Eden is set. The player(s) controls a team of 4 members of the UPA (Urban Protection Agency) - an elite force which deals with serious disturbances within the city. The team is initially called in to investigate problems at the ‘Real Meat’ factory, in which all the equipment has started to simultaneously malfunction. Technicians sent to repair the machinery have gone missing without explanation… Here begins The UPA’s sinister trail of inquiry…


(click to Enlarge!)

Starting the game you are given the choice of which dictator to play as, with options ranging from Fidel Castro and Augusto Pinochet to Evita Peron and .. um .. Lou Bega. Yes, the man responsible for that reprehensible slice of pop music "Mambo #5". Like I said, this isn't a game that takes itself seriously. Once you have picked out your favourite dictator you are given a dossier on them which allows you to change their characteristics, such as who they are (from Harvard graduate to former farmer), how they came to power (democratic election, installed by the CIA, military coup etc) and what their strengths and weaknesses are (such as being an alcoholic, flatulent, a diplomat or an entrepreneur).

New Titles to be Published Under VU Publishing's Sierra Brand

Deal Marks First Multi-Franchise Strategic Partnership Under Fox Interactive's New Business Model

TORRANCE, Calif., May 2 -- Vivendi Universal Publishing (VU Publishing) and Fox Interactive announced today a three-year, worldwide co- publishing agreement which grants VU Publishing exclusive rights to manufacture, market and distribute key titles for PC and next-generation console platforms. Under the agreement, VU Publishing's Sierra studio will co-publish the following action/adventure titles:

* Aliens vs. Predator 2: AVP2 is the PC sequel to the most terrifying PC game of 1999. Based on the combination of two of the most highly successful sci-fi franchises in movie history, AVP takes players to a world where species battle species for the ultimate game of survival. AVP 2 is being developed by Monolith Productions and will be available on the PC this year.

* COPS: Based on one of Fox's most watched reality-based programs, COPS takes gamers on a voyeuristic adventure with real life police officers on the beat. Combining bad boy attitude and hard-core reality, this
next-generation console title will mix the addictive action of the TV series with interactive gameplay and heart-pumping situations like those faced by real Cops. COPS is being developed by Mass Media for the PlayStation2 and Xbox(TM) video game system.

* Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza: This game combines all of the exciting elements of the original Die Hard movie in an action/adventure game set in the 3D environment of Nakatomi Plaza. With 40 floors of new office space under construction, John McClane must navigate his way through terrorists, civilians and hostages to save himself and his wife from the high rise of horror. Pirhana Games is developing DH: Nakatomi Plaza for the
PC.

* Die Hard: Next Generation: Additionally, this agreement grants VU Publishing the North American publishing rights to a second Die Hard game currently being developed for the Nintendo GameCube. The game will feature a new and original Die Hard storyline with spectacular graphics and innovative gameplay. UK-based Bits Corp is developing Die Hard for the Nintendo GameCube.

* No One Lives Forever: Currently being developed for the PlayStation 2, this game will feature four new prequel levels featuring beautiful Agent Cate Archer in her younger days as a thief. Recently, the PC game was honored as PC Game of the Year and PC Action Game of the Year. No One Lives Forever is being developed by Monolith Productions and will make its console debut this year.

* No One Lives Forever: The Sequel: VU Publishing has been granted the rights to publish the sequel to No One Lives Forever on multiple platforms including PC and next generation consoles.

The addition of the Fox Interactive titles complements VU Publishing's roster of best-selling franchises, which includes Sierra's Half-Life, Tribes and Hoyle; Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo and Warcraft; and Universal Interactive Studios' Spyro the Dragon and Crash Bandicoot.

"This is a very significant alliance because it involves the collaborative strengths of two industry giants," said Luc Vanhal, CEO, Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing North America. "Combining Fox Interactive's award- winning titles with the power of Vivendi Universal Publishing's worldwide sales and marketing represents a terrific opportunity for both companies and great news for gamers."

Microsoft today announced that at an undisclosed time on Friday, May 4, gamers will be able to sign up for the chance to win a sneak preview copy of MechCommander 2 at http://www.microsoft.com/games/mechcommander2/, or any of the other 13 participating sites around the Web.

A select group of gamers will win exclusive sneak preview copies for this highly anticipated game. Would-be MechCommanders will want to check the sites frequently, as the forms will be posted at an unspecified time. The official MechCommander 2 site will also list all of the participating sites hosting the sign-up form. Ten lucky winners will be chosen from each participating site, along with 50 additional winners randomly selected from all entries.

Winners will 'Know what it is to command' -- months before the game hits store shelves. MechCommander 2 sneak preview winners will receive:

* A preview CD of the game, complete with limited edition CD artwork

* Access to a private newsgroup to report gaming experience and discuss strategies for better play

* Private chat with the MechCommander 2 development team on May 31 on Zone.com

MechCommander 2 gives gamers more than amazing gameplay -- it draws them into the rich, 16-year history of the BattleTech Universe. Players will be immersed in intense tactical gameplay, commanding up to 16 enormous BattleMechs in real-time combat, where outsmarting the enemy is their key to victory. MechCommander 2 is fully 3D, with state-of-the-art terrain that can be maneuvered to the gamer's advantage. Players can knock down trees, blow through walls, jump jet onto cliffs and step on things standing in their way to victory!

While a lone MechWarrior can wield up to 100 tons of "Mechanized" death, the MechCommander rules the battlefield from above, imposing his strategic will and mastering all he surveys. When he issues an order to jump, MechWarriors obey. When something needs to be destroyed, the MechCommander need only finger the target. He rules the battlefield with an iron fist, commanding his units from the orbital dropship.

So if you've got a bit of cash to spare and badly need to get rid of that shocking TNT2 Ultra or Voodoo 3 3500, just what does the GeForce 3 offer you now that you wouldn't be better off waiting to buy in a year's time while using a Kyro II or GeForce 2 Ultra in the interim? The most obvious point is its performance in current 3D games and how it shapes up against other cards. Obviously, if performance is out there and above what we currently have, it'll certainly be worth considering as a lasting performance leader. Cue obligatory Quake III benchmarks? Sure, but we'll digress a bit as well.

1. Orb a new class specific weapons for the Sorceress
   
2. Charms, a new item type found in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction.
   
3. Rune Sets, a new class of items in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction.
   
4. new enhancements, to Hirelings in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction.
   
5. Siege Beasts and Reanimated Horde new monsters.
   
6. Jewel, a new type of Gem found in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction.
   
7. Crafted Items, special new items that can be created in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction.

"Allow configuring of command map bindings and observer bindings

Add filter for Team Damage ON/OFF into filter settings

Shape detail slider returns to full each launch.

Preventing "sticky" mouse buttons.

Get Central Download Site completed.

Get all the documents we have available published to that site for general use by players.

Voodoo improvements (and interface with Wicked3D) : Work to try to find any framerate improvements possible...especially focusing on the Voodoo 3 and Voodoo 5."

"In the report, it was stated that the game would feature online play only through the Xbox, and more extras than other versions. These include using actual Woo Ping choreography, the actual actors providing voices to the characters, and more music tracks from the film's composer in addition to more vehicles, weapons, and video. Also, Interplay will be spending $500,000 to develop online features for the game that will only be available to Xbox owners."

"Over the past month, several of the boys from the Icewind Dale team have been busy working on a free downloadable expansion set for Heart of Winter, and wanted to give you some updates as to its progress, as well as introduce it to those of you who are interested in continuing the adventures in Icewind Dale.

When the web expansion is installed, a mysterious halfling introduces himself in the Whistling Gallows Inn in Lonelywood. He seeks a party of stalwart heroes for a quest to a place of great wonder, with treasures beyond the imagination. Should the party accept, they will be transported to a new place, far from the icy terrain of the Dalelands, finding themselves within the walls of a ruined castle in an unfamiliar land...

We're including more new magic items, some of which are coming from those of you in the gaming community! Log on to our message boards to submit yours!

New monsters coming too!

We're doing our best to keep the overall download size at a respectable level, but expect it to be within the 75-100MB range, and it will be localized in French, German, Spanish, and Italian as well.

In the meantime, check out the screenshots from one of the new underground areas and the cast. We've also got another new portrait for your gaming delight!

New Stuff - The web expansion will tentatively offer the following to our Heart of Winter customers:

2 main new areas to explore with a variety of sub levels 20-40 new magic items, 5-10 of which will be taken from our customer's submissions via our web boards at http://www.blackislestudios.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi Atleast 1 original new monster, and 4 creatures animations from Baldur's Gate/Baldur's Gate II. Playable from Lonelywood in the Whistling Gallows Inn. The new areas feature a separate story, independent from the Icewind Dale and Heart of Winter storylines. Targeted for players from 11th - 18th level, and will also be adjusted for higher level parties via Heart of Winter's "Heart of Fury" mode. Many new puzzles, traps, and more.Introduces version 1.42, with some additional program fixes."

"The lawsuit claims that violent games, particularly Doom, Quake, and Redneck Rampage, and other media images such as a school massacre scene from the movie "The Basketball Diaries" influenced and inspired the rampage by students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. The suit asks for $5 billion in damages, plus damages of $5,000 to $10 million for individual parties in the lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed a day before the two-year anniversary of the tragedy.

The 25 companies being sued include AOL Time Warner, Nintendo of America, Sony Computer Entertainment, ID Software, Atari, Sega of America, Virgin Interactive Media, Activision, Polygram Film Entertainment Distribution, New Line Cinema, and GT Interactive Software."

In the end everyone has to realize that the seed of evil, that creates scenes like the one in Littleton, rests deep within the minds of certain individuals just waiting for something to bring it out. We are being naïve and untruthful to ourselves if we state across the board that video games aren't one of the things capable of doing it. But with that knowledge must also come the understanding that such minds are warped from the inside out and will fixate on anything that enables them to finally act out the dark thoughts that rest inside. Taking away video games won't stop the violence nor will the elimination of dark cloth, long coats or heavy metal music. The only thing that will make the killing stop is the early detection and treatment of mental instability. Let's just hope that our lawmakers realize that before they choose to make a nation hostage to the actions of a disturbed few.

CPL Holland sponsored by Intel

For immediate release:

CPL Europe announced today that the upcoming event in Holland will be sponsored by Intel as event sponsor and will be named "Pentium® 4 processor CPL Holland". For more details on the event visit http://www.intel-holland-cpl.com.

"We're absolutely thrilled to have reached this stage of development," stated MindArk Chief Operations Officer Jan Welter.
"Our talented team has been working extremely hard, and even in this first stage of beta testing, we're very confident that Project Entropia will provide a unique interactive entertainment experience for millions of Internet users around the world. Furthermore, we believe that offering this experience with no set fees will revolutionize the entire entertainment industry.

Project Entropia takes place distant in the future on the outlying planet Calypso where human colonists face challenges from native creatures and invading robots. It will allow thousands or perhaps even millions of Internet users to participate simultaneously in this exciting virtual world. Additional information is available on the official website at http://www.project-entropia.com/ and prospective beta testers can still apply at http://www.project-entropia.com/betatest/apply.asp?topic=betatest.

BELLEVUE, WA (April 30, 2001) - Sierra today announced an exclusive licensing deal with world-famous movie star turned secret agent, Jonny Drama. The licensing deal provides Sierra with long-term rights to create and publish interactive entertainment based on the works and adventures of Drama.

"Man, after my last flick, it was, like, Fade to Black for Jonny. I split the celluloid scene and rode off into the sunset," said Jonny Drama. "At first life was like a long skinny mocha - smooth, cool, but obscurity became like, a drag, man! Don't get me wrong, the silver screen is a hip trip, but I was in need of a different kind of action, Jackson. So when Sierra laid their new bag on me, I said - let's go daddy-O! I was down for the kick of the click and that up close and personal vibe of a lean mean console machine. You dig?"

Best known for his leading roles in the blockbuster G-man movies, Jonny Drama has become internationally famous for his secret agent abilities both on and off the set. Recipient of 1995 Silver Screen Actors Award for his role in The French Roast Connection, Drama has taken on the role of real life spy, who has saved the world from destruction on several occasions. Sierra's first Jonny Drama title will focus on Drama's transition from movie star to real-life secret agent - defeating his evil arch-nemesis, Dr. Bumbershoot, and foiling his plans to destroy the world. Drama will be offering Sierra exclusive inside information on his missions.