PlanetFortress has posted some info from Valve on the next Half-Life patch, which they say will be available "hopefully on Sunday." Here's what's new in the upcoming version 1.0.1.3:

• We are changing the version number of the Win32 server from 1.x.x.x to 4.x.x.x to differentiate between the server and clientreleases.
• If you are running a Windows NT server you can use the -conheight command to change the size of the dedicated server console (default is 50 lines).
• Typing 'version' at the server console will give you the version you are running.
• TF Stats included with this update. This will take server log files and create a web page with the results of the match.
• Server now allows banning by userid and WON uniqueid.
• Updated TFC manual with information on running a TFC server.
• Fixed problem where too many packets were being sent at signon that was causing problems for cable modem users.
• Team 4 can now score on 4 player TFC maps.
• Fixed the 'phantom nail grenades' from soldiers in TFC.
• Mod browser now supports .zip file compression.
• Demo Playback fixed.
• Trigger_changelevel works (this was a request by TFC map makers)

Jim Gaynor, who was nice enough to send along his impressions from last year's GenCon festivities, has offered to be our eyes again from this year's edition of this annual celebration of games in the Midwest. This Soldier of Fortune report from GenCon gives Jim's stream-of-consciousness impression of the first day's showing of Soldier of Fortune, which consists of single player stuff. He says that they are showing off deathmatch tomorrow, and he hopes to send in a report about that as well, perhaps along with some photos (thanks Jim!).

GameFan interviews Kenn Hoekstra talking with the normally reclusive Raven Software Project Administrator and "chief fortune-seeker," Kenn Hoekstra. Thanks Apache at Voodoo Extreme. The Q&A covers Raven, gaming, and of course, progress on Soldier of Fortune, Raven's upcoming Quake II-engine game where you play a mercenary.

Next-Generation Online Alone in the Dark Goes Fourth, announces Alone in the Dark IV, a spooky sequel in development on PlayStation, PC, Dreamcast, "and perhaps N64" (and possibly the Game Boy, as well). Word is: "For the moment it is too early to announce a release date but we can say that AITD IV will be on the shelves before the twenty first century."

AGN3D has posted another one of those German gaming magazine movies, this one is showing off Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force, Raven's upcoming Quake III engine game. The original video is a 42 MB MPG, but they also have posted Binky-ized RealPlayer versions slimmed down to 6.7 MB and 2.5 MB. Thanks Frans at 3D Action Gamers.

A new version 0.2 of the X11Spy Q3Test server browser for X Windows running on Linux is now available. The new release has a fix for a bug that became apparent upon the release of the latest versions of Q3Test, and a feature has been added to sort the program's output by originating master server. X11Spy requires GTK and Qstat to run, in addition to the Linux Q3Test.

Inside Mac Games interviews Bryan Speece, 3dfx Director of Macintosh Marketing and Business Development "about 3dfx's renewed involvement in the Mac market and what we can expect from 3dfx in the future."

Microsoft and Fasa announce Battletech 3025, a new multiplayer addition to the MechWarrior family said to support over 50,000 simultaneous players. Here is the full press release, and here is a portion of it which describes sign-ups for beta testing currently underway:

New Online Game Supports Over 50,000 Simultaneous Players

GEN CON® GAME FAIR/MILWAUKEE, WI -- Kesmai Corporation, the world leader in online games, today announced development and publishing plans for MultiPlayer BattleTech: 3025, an online game developed with capacity to support the largest game community at more than 50,000 simultaneous players. As the much-anticipated sequel to Kesmai’s MultiPlayer BattleTech: Solaris‘, MultiPlayer BattleTech: 3025 brings a persistent, role-playing world -- the battle for the Inner Sphere -- to the BattleTech universe.

Beginning today, BattleTech fans can register exclusively for MultiPlayer BattleTech: 3025 beta testing at http://www.battletech3025.com. The game will soon be available on Kesmai’s Internet games network, GameStorm at http://www.gamestorm.com. MultiPlayer BattleTech: 3025 is based on FASA Corporation and Microsoft“‘s popular BattleTech property, which encompasses a rich universe of stories, games and characters.

MultiPlayer BattleTech: 3025 is a large-scale military game that takes place in a persistent universe, where every day, the game dramatically changes and evolves. Players select their BattleMechs“ and battle on 3D, first-person battlefields for domination of one of the five great Houses to gain control of the Inner Sphere. The results of these battles determine territory won or lost for a specific House. Victorious players gain access to new, more powerful BattleMechs and rise in rank. The player’s ultimate goal is to become a House leader and win the war.

Australian PCGamer Online has posted a Giants preview that features an interview with PlanetMoon's Tim Williams about this quirky upcoming third-person (or persons if you play the Meccs) action game, along with some brand new screenshots.

The Æstats Page has a new version 4.04 of Æon's stats program, which is a log file analyzer for many first-person shooters with Stats/Ranking output in HTML. The new release fixes Q3Test 1.08 support, and adds a few tweaks and fixes.

Including "the fastest gaming solution for hardcore gamers:"

• Guillemot and Falcon Northwest announce they "have created the fastest gaming solution for hardcore gamers." A hopped-up version of Guillemot's Xentor 32 TNT2-Ultra.
• 3DHardware.net's Videologic Press Brief talks of seeing the PVRSG-based Neon250 in action.
• 3dfx sends word that Gary Tarolli will demonstrate T-Buffer technology on Monday, August 9, as part of the Eurographics Hot 3D Systems workshop at SIGGRAPH '99 in Los Angeles.

Apparently the report from earlier (story) was premature. Here's a quote from Psygnosis on Gone Gold (thanks Steve P):

"Drakan is not officially gold, but is very close. I'm waiting to hear myself but I doubt it will be today."

Word on a pair of online chat sessions tomorrow. First is a Rage3D Chat with ATI talking about their newly-announced Rage Fury Pro accelerator at 2:00 PM EDT. Then later, at 9:00 PM EDT is August's AnachroChat, a live online IRC session with the developers of ION Storm's upcoming RPG, Anachronox. You can get to the chat via "the Chat Lobby" in the "Online" section of the ION Storm home page, or through the IRC server www.ionstorm.com in the channel #ion.

The Q3Tweak has a new archive of the same version 1047 of this Q3Test front-end tweaking utility. the new archive is a WinRAR file, since the problem with the original is suspected to be a WinZip self-extractor error. Thanks Serberus. Not everyone experienced the problem, so if you were able to use the last release, it sounds like you won't need this one.

Doh! Now this kind of makes sense: Frank Zegarra sends word that the Dreamcast emulator story that follows is a joke that CNet (and I guess now some more of us) fell for. Apparently this gag program was originally released some time ago.

Update: Looks like this is a gag... see the story above for the explanation. CNET's Download.com has the initial release of Nightmare, the first Dreamcast emulator for Windows 95/98/NT. Thanks Billy at Voodoo Extreme. One note from the site is: "To use Nightmare with commercial ROM images you must already own the game on the original game CD. If you use ROM images illegally (i.e those you do not own the original CD for), you are in violation of United States and international laws." Of course, the Dreamcast doesn't even go on sale in the US until September 9, so I don't know what you are supposed to do with the program right now. Another note points out that: "Since the Dreamcast is such a powerful machine it takes quite a powerful PC to emulate it. As a result you must have at least a Voodoo-based card; Voodoo2 is preferable."

Saw on Gone Gold that the Midtown Madness Demo is up on 3DFiles.Com set to allow you to take out your road rage from the comfort of your own home.

Speaking of driving carnage, Computers R Us has posted 17 screenshots from Interstate '82 that they say are new showing off gameplay from the upcoming sequel to I'76 with the welcomed updated graphics engine, and the questionable updated soundtrack.

According to Drakan.Net, Drakan: Order of the Flame, Surreal and Psygnosis' upcoming dragon-riding, third-person action/adventure, is gold, and off for mass duplication. There's no word on when to expect arrival of the game in stores, though the site is speculating 3-4 weeks.

Gameguides.com (GameSpot's) Kingpin guide is online, ready to offer help for those who are finding that crime doesn't pay in Xatrix' new gangsta game.

A new version 6.08 of the Weapons of Destruction mod for Quake II is now available. Thanks GrOucH. WoD is a class-based mod that offers a bunch of gameplay changes and new weapons. The mod is described on the page as: "not for the snooty sophisticates, the Old Guard, or hoity-toit programming and modeling gurus. This mod is for the chaos freaks, the nutballs, the closet terrorists, and anyone else that could care less about a bunch of 'rules', and just wants to have a fragging good time."

Some naysaying about 3dfx' T-Buffer announcement:

• 3Dlabs Software Developer Program white papers offers the "Tea-Buffer," saying "No need to wait for next-gen hardware - you too can try out the joys of TeaBuffering right now. Works on Permedia2, Permedia3, Oxygen VX1 and Oxygen GVX1, and might even work on other makers' cards. Source code included. NOT GUARANTEED TO WORK - uses undocumented features. Please see readme.txt." Wild stuff.
• Also, Jari Jokivuori's page has a program called T-Bluffer that looks to simulate 3dfx' just-announced T-Buffer technology on virtually any accelerator. Thanks Conan Ford.
• Ars Technica's: A Tale of Two Soundcards offers a head-to-head audio shootout (shout-out?) between the SBLive! and the Aureal Vortex2 SuperQuad.
• AnandTech reviews the MC1000 & MC2000 Peltier Coolers.
• Sharky Extreme's Intel Pentium III processor Overclocking Guide is up for those that can't stand the way those pokey PIIIs drag their virtual feet.

Volition's www.freespace2.com Screenshots page has been updated with 10 new shots showing off action from the next edition of the space-based spin off of the Descent family. The hardware-accelerated screenshots are from the upcoming FreeSpace2 demo, which they say they "hope to release very soon."

The TRIBES Extreme site on the Tribes Players site has launched, and is open for business. The site will be a source of news and information about Dynamix' upcoming follow-up to Starsiege TRIBES, and is home to a TRIBES Extreme screenshots page which has a shot up to start, with a promise of more to come.

New POP3D Screenshots on GA-Source show off the 3D action from the upcoming new installment in the baggy-pantsed prince's jumping, climbing, swordfighting adventures. The new shots show off the female Persian assassin. Word on PoP3D is that a playable demo will be released on August 23.

3d Wars interviews Keith Galocy of 3dfx about his role in developer relations talking about 3dfx, gaming, and general trends in the 3D accelerator market.

On the heels of version 1.6 from earlier (story), The Cold Ice page has news that they've released a quick 1.61 patch to fix client side overflows in this Half-Life mod. Thanks HalfLife Dot Org. Also, a couple of sharp-eyed readers write in to point out that the System Shock 2 shot from earlier (story) may be from the full game (as the blurb says), but the exact same scene is available in the playable demo.

The newly opened PlanetDrakan has posted an interview with "Duncan" (who as far as we can tell has become a single name like the Levelord, or Xuxa) a game designer at Surreal Software, the developers of Drakan: Order of the Flame, as well as a writeup of the game's multiplayer (which is based on one beta tester's experiences playing it).

The BW-Admin site has a new version 1.63 of the BW-Admin program (thanks Killjoy). This is a "transparent" DLL that adds the following features to virtually any Quake II mod: "ZBot detection and kicking (with logging to file). Rate and 'cl_maxfps' capping. Player IP and NAME banning. Server MOTD and other Admin options." Also offered are configurable item/weapon spawning, reserving nicks (by IP), and flood protection and filtering for "offensive" keywords. There are versions compiled for Windows 95/98/NT, Linux (RedHat 6.0 glibc v2.1), Linux (RedHat 5.2 libc), FreeBSD (ELF Binary Format), Sparc Solaris, and Intel Solaris, and the source code is also available.

sCary has posted six more screenshots from Legend's Unreal engine game, The Wheel of Time. Like his earlier shots, these come by way of a mysterious UK source, and are very high quality. The shots show off the game's spectacular architecture very nicely, and I highly recommend checking them out if you're into that sort of thing.

Billy "second coming" Wilson has posted two more of those funky QuicktimeVR screenshots from Messiah over on that page of his, showing off Shiny's game of toddler action.

Although it hasn't popped up yet on the official site yet, the UK, German, and French versions of the Mechwarrior 3 patch are available for download on Microprose's FTP site. Thanks Frans, who's also set up a mirror of the files on 3DGamers.com.

The Adrenaline Vault News has posted a new System Shock 2 shot, ominously titled their Screenshot of the Day. The shot is taken from the final version of the science fiction RPG sequel, which is slated to hit the streets (or at least the stores that line the streets) on August 12.

Dreamcast.IGN.com has posted six new QuickTime format movies showing off BioWare's upcoming third-person action game, MDK2, the sequel to the game with practically the exact same name (go figure). Thanks shiro. As you would imagine given the nature of the site, these movies are from the Dreamcast version of the game, but it has been said all along that the PC and Dreamcast versions will be identical. MDK of course, stands for Marlena Deitrich's Knockwurst.

Just a quick reminder that the AVault's Nocturne Live Chat is tonight at 7:30 PM EDT on the AVault's IRC server. This page has all the details on the session discussing TRI's upcoming "third-person horror-themed 3D experience that places players in the shoes of a 1930s investigator of the supernatural."

PC.IGN.com has posted three "outtake" movies from Outcast, Infogrames' voxel-powered action/adventure title. The movies, in MPG format, are described on the site as being created to convey the game's "impressive movie feel."

The third and final part of Computer Games Online's Nocturne mini-preview is up looking at how light and shadow are being handled in Terminal Reality's upcoming 3D "noir adventure." The piece is illustrated with three screenshots (3000 words worth).

AGN3D has posted RealPlayer versions of the German Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption movie released yesterday (story). The new versions are a choice of a slimmed down 6 MB version, or a positively starved 2.3 MB version, either of which has got to help if you were daunted by the 38 MB original.

More new Wicked 3D Drivers, Tom versus Metabyte, and a new ATI accelerator:

• The Wicked3D Drivers page has newer drivers than the ones released the other day (story). Again these is a super single file installer for Wicked3D Voodoo2, Wicked3D Vengeance and Wicked3D eyeSCREAM setups, and word is this file no longer requires CD to install with Wicked3D featuring Voodoo2. Thanks Voodoo Extreme.
• Tom's Hardware Guide's 32 Graphic Card Meltdown Part One is online giving the THG staff's take on a load of accelerators.
• Speaking of: Metabyte's Rebuttal Against Tom's Hardware responds to allegations in Tom's Hardware Guide's Monday Blurb that their ballyhooed PCG technology was a sham.
• Interview with ATI at Gamers Depot talks with ATI about their newly announced Rage Fury Pro.
• 3d Wars Bitboys Oy History looks at the past of the Oy Boys who just announced (story) that Glaze3D dealie.

Version 1.6 of Cold Ice for Half-Life is out, offering a deathmatch mod that replaces all the game's weapons, and includes the "Smart Hud Notification System" in which the client of the HEV is updated with all sorts of helpful info as well as a "voice identification system" which both plays wav files and displays messages on the HUD. Thanks Half-LifeNews.

Both the stories from yesterday about the Messiah QuickTime VR scenes originally mis-identified the releases as movies, thanks Dave Marandino for the clarification. Also, we posted word of some new Earth 2150 shots that turned out to be old, so I pulled the story (I hate when that happens). Thanks Hendrik, who points out 15 of the shots are from their German Preview of Earth 2150 (here's the customary, often duplicated, link to BabelFish if non-German speakers want to read it).

With QuakeCon almost upon us, it bears noting that TRIBEScon99 is less than two weeks away, and over 100 people are signed up, with just one day left to pre-register. Word is Dynamix has donated 20 copies of the upcoming TRIBES Extreme as prizes at the event.

The special QuakeCon edition of the Test Your Game Knowledge game is still cranking along. Eat some fish for brain food, and head on over.

All hardware this morning:

• Tweak3D reviews the Leadtek WinFast 3D S320.
• SystemLogic reviews the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! Value.
• Hardware One Reviews the TennMax TNT Detonator Cooler.
• Speedy 3D reviews the HD200 Hard drive Cooler.

• Sega, AT&T to launch gaming portal (thanks Tim Hamlin) talks of the online dreams of the Dreamcast, and Sega-AT&T alliance to frag PC-only Net? (thanks Tim Kerby) discusses the implications...
• PlanetShogo has posted a Shogo Source Code Hierarchy Chart, as well as more info about the anti-cheat patch they posted the other day (story)...
• Gamecenter Feature - Game Clichés That Just Won't Die. Thanks Ant..

We're gearing up for QuakeCon, but I have been playing zero Q3Test lately. Ahhhh! (Home Alone-style scream.) I'm going to get some news posted and go out and play some so I'm not totally out of practice when I play. Though wait, that's a built-in excuse if I don't, isn't it? Hmmmm.

Link of the Day: Park Wars The Little Menace Trailer B. Thanks Jason Lee...
Bonus Link: It's All About the Pentiums. Admit it, Weird Al's the man.
Image of the Day: New Q3Test features Stackmatches! Wheee!

Next-Generation Online's Half-Life Opposing Force Preview is up with a look ahead at Gearbox Software's upcoming Half-Life add-on. The short piece offers a brief outline of the game and seven screenshots.

Wolfmann's JavaScript custom TFC config makers over at GX Team Fortress: Classic have been updated, with changes to the Custom Config Maker and the Custom Communications Maker and the addition of a new Advanced Communications Maker, and a Server Config Maker.

Just when you thought it was never coming, Team Evolve has posted the demo for their Quake II add-on Zaero. If that wasn't enough for you, they've also got a DM map pack that contains a series of deathmatch maps and DM only weapons. The DM map pack is compatible with both the retail and demo versions of Zaero, so even if you've got it you should check this out.

Raven's Kenn Hoekstra updated his .plan with word that they are looking for a few code monkeys to round out their programming department, so if that description fits you, grab a banana and your compiler and head over for the the details.

Billy at VE sends word of a new version of Q3Tweak, a Q3Test front-end designed to make it easy to get the best performance and visual quality from Q3Test by accessing console commands not available from the menu using an easy-to-use interface.

According to a thread on the Infogrames Message Board, "Independence War Deluxe Edition has been approved for release and sent to replication! It should be on sale in the next two weeks or so..." Thanks riot.com.au.

Version 1.05 of GameStalker, a server browser for both Windows and Linux has been released. This version fixes a bug with the "copy to clipboard" feature in Windows, and adds the feature entirely for Linux.

NetGames, whose ngTCS system is running the tournaments at QuakeCon '99, have already kicked off their coverage page. While there's only a teaser image up so far, the plan is to have scores, ngStats, schedules, brackets, news updates and pictures every hour once the event gets underway (and it's all automated, so it'll actually be there). The real fun begins tomorrow at 6:00 CDT, when onsite pre-registration begins.

GamePen has posted a preview of Lionhead's upcoming god-game Black & White, after a recent visit to see the game demoed by its famed developer, Peter Molyneux.

You've got to love that title. The Apogee/3D Realms Site has word on Duke Nukem-Music to Score By, the upcoming (sort-of) soundtrack for the Duke series mentioned in Duke Nukem: Time to Kill. The update includes a songlist with the corresponding artists, and gives word on the inclusion that has generated the most inquiries: The Duke Nukem Theme as recorded by Megadeth (this was originally slated to be on Megadeth's upcoming album, Risk, but that has apparently changed).

Quite the load of Mac news today, the 3dfx Interactive Voodoo3 Macintosh OS 8.x Beta Drivers page has been updated with new Version: 1.0b1 (Beta 1) drivers for Macintosh OS 8.x. Thanks Alex Colomb. Word is these beta drivers "are primarily intended for use by programmers wishing to develop applications utilizing the Glide API on the Macintosh platform. 3dfx will not offer end-user support nor warrant any hardware used in association with these drivers."

Brian Davis sends word that Cowboy Carnage Radio will be broadcasting a live SHOUTcast show from QuakeCon this weekend, so look for it on the SHOUTcast site, or with MP3Spy. Users will have to have Winamp or another SHOUTcast compatible MP3 player in order to listen to the show. Also on the QuakeCon front, Raven Software's Jake Simpson updated his .plan with word that both Soldier of Fortune and Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force will be on display at the show (and also at GenCon for those planning on attending that convention).

Though there's no corresponding full moon tonight, ASC Games sends word that they're set to host their second online chat session to discuss Werewolf: The Apocalypse - The Heart Of Gaia, their upcoming action/RPG where you play a lunatic of the truest sort. The chat session is tonight from 8:00-9:00 PM EDT in the ASC Games Chat room. Tonight's guest speakers include the game's Executive Producer Travis Williams, Associate Producer Rich Rosado, and other members of the development team.

The GameRanger page has a new beta 3 of this Macintosh Internet server browsing utility described on the site as "a completely customized Macintosh-friendly environment for players to meet worthy opponents, organize and play games, discuss strategies, and exchange tricks and ideas." Thanks Zav. GameRanger currently supports 11 multiplayer games, including all three generations of MacQuake.

The Omni Group, responsible for the Mac OS X port of Quake III: Arena, have posted the port of the Q3Test 1.08 server and client. This download requires OS X and a Voodoo 2 based accelerator, and all bug reports should be sent to The Omni Group directly, not id Software, as they aren't responsible for this port.

This ASUS FTP directory has new version 1.91 beta AGP-V3800 drivers (direct link) for Windows 2000. Thanks AGN3D. Also, though I can't find it on ASUS' main Taiwanese site, 3DNow.net is reporting new 1007__05.ZIP (another direct link) BIOS for ASUS P5A motherboards on ASUS' German FTP site, so do with that as you will (just don't come crying to us).

ZDTV's Heavy Metal F.A.K.K. 2 Preview is up with descriptions as well as pictures and accounts of Ritual's upcoming Quake III-engine game loosely based on the upcoming Heavy Metal movie, as it is both a text preview, and a streaming video feature in RealPlayer format. Here's a bit from the text portion that has our pal Levelord describing his long-time connection with the material in this adult-oriented game:

Richard "Levelord" Grey, level designer on SiN and Duke Nukem 3D, reminisces: "We jut sat in our bedrooms and drew pictures. So that's where we're heading back to-- soft porn, just like the Heavy Metal magazine."

This Messiah Update on PC Arena offers three new VR scenes of gameplay from Shiny's upcoming third-person action game where you play Bob, the possessive (and damn near naked) cherub. The QuickTime VR format scenes all show off weapon effects, and each weighs in at under a megabyte.

For you RTS fans (and you know who you are), The Adrenaline Vault Downloads Patch page has a version 1.06b patch to update Warzone 2100. "This update also installs all previous updates, new weapons, new cyborgs, new maps and NEXUS techs for you to play with."

Here are some space sim images for you on this Wednesday afternoon...PCArena has posted 24 new screenshots from Homeworld, showing off the Taiidan ships doing what they do best (flying around and shooting at stuff is my guess). And if that's not enough for you, GameSpot UK has posted a slew of new shots from Independence War: Defiance, a special edition of I-War that's coming soon.

The official QuakeCon homepage has posted full details on the tournament at the event, including rules, game settings, maps, hardware, and more (thanks WhipBoy). The mandatory waiver (which all tournament participants must sign) has also been posted, and can be printed out now, or you can sign it at the show.

GASource has posted a small QuickTime VR scene showing off gameplay from Shiny's diaper-clad third-person action title Messiah, along with a brief update on the game's status. There's this other bit of info about the game's aspect ratio:

I think the other news that you might be interested in - is that we've changed Messiah due to consumer feedback. Now, the game can be played in full screen mode, and not just letterbox format as it had been prior. While I prefer the letterbox format for it's cinematic aspect ratio, we know that many gamers out there wanted a full screen mode. So, we gave them what they asked for. MDK was available only in letterbox format, and I think we only got a half-dozen complaints from people. But, for some reason, people have been a bit more vocal about Messiah being letterboxed... not really sure why, either...

GamePen interviews Rod Fung talking to the producer of Sierra's upcoming tactical police simulation, SWAT 3 Close Quarters Battle. The Q&A asks about how the game will differentiate itself from other tactical games of the moment (great line from the interviewer: "Please don't say, "We've got cops!'"), and gives a good feel for the style of the game, which is set in Los Angeles, 2005, a time "when LAPD SWAT has become a more proactive anti-terrorist unit."

Interplay Productions' Tales of the Sword Coast page has a patch for BioWare's Tales of the Sword Coast add-on for Baldur's Gate. The patch addresses a number of issues including a fix for a problem that caused the game to run short of global variables, a sound volume issue, and several gameplay fixes. Thanks Gone Gold.

S3 has announced their Savage4 Xtreme graphics cards today, which will run at 166 MHz, and cost a reasonable $99 - $129. Here's some more tech specs, ripped from the press release:

Combining advanced 166MHz memory and engine clock speeds with a faster OpenGL ICD, S3TC technology, 32MB memory support, digital flat panel support and unmatched DVD quality, S3's Savage4 Xtreme 166 delivers ultimate price/performance for the $99-129 retail graphics market. For OEM and system integrators, S3 also offers the Savage4 Xtreme 143. Featuring a 166MHz memory clock and a 143MHz engine clock, the Savage4 Xtreme 143 is an optimal solution for lower cost designs.

I.am/Kingpin has posted a complete list of the Kingpin console commands, including all console variables, and a special "tweaks" category to help you get the most out of the audio, video, and multiplayer experience.

Ryan "Ridah" Feltrin updated his .plan with word that he's running a test server for Kingpin to help get the next patch out. Here are the details:

I'm running a Kingpin server now on a DSL line in Los Angeles, which I am able to use to get more useful information than previously. This means the more it gets used, the more chances of it crashing or debugging a client that gets overflowed, etc. This also means the patch gets done much faster.

So please feel free to drop in and give it a good spanking.
209.55.77.181:31510

Saw on PlanetUnreal that there's a Mac Unreal Tournament update on Westlake Interactive's site saying that the Mac version of UT has entered (closed) beta testing. Any applicable fixes found during testing will also be rolled into the Mac Unreal client. Also on the Unreal Tourney front, Voodoo Extreme has word of an update to the GT Unreal Tournament Level of the Week (according to Billy it's newer than the date indicates).

The psychedelic-as-ever Quake III Arena Server Snooper page has a new updated version 0.1 of this program that can find Q3Test servers as they're launched on your LAN. The new release is an update to work with the new Q3Test 1.08, but they've slipped in a couple of new features along the way.

So soon?

• Thresh's FiringSquad's Visit to S3 gives their look at the Stealth III Xtreme as well as a hint of what's next.
• Thresh's FiringSquad's Battle of 600 MHz pits a Pentium III-600 against a 600 MHz Athlon.
• Beyond 3D interviews Bitboys Oy(!) about their newly-announced Glaze3D.
• 3D Alpha Hardware Station reviews WinSystem98 taking a look at this tweak utility.

sCary has posted a reply on The Shugashack from id's John Carmack confirming there is still an ability to mess with the Q3Test timescale and get a speed-up, though it sounds like it's only on a minor scale:

I looked into it some more, and there is still a problem, but it is a different one... The server clamps the speed, so timescale 4 isn't any different than timescale 2, but it looks like there is still about a 30% slack that can be pushed. I don't understand yet how this is happeneing, but I will look into it.

The game play is so messed up with timescale running now that I don't think it is an effective cheat, but I will still try and fix it.
John Carmack

There are a bunch of screenshots from Half-Life: Opposing Force on PC Gamer Online posted in yesterday's news. OpFor, as it's called, is Gearbox Software's upcoming official Half-Life add-on.

The Adrenaline Vault's preview of SWAT 3 Close Quarters Battle is up looking ahead at Sierra's upcoming game of tactical police operations. This bit describes the weapons in the game, and their emphasis on realism:

So, what kind of goodies will you get as a member of a Special Weapons and Tactics team? As usual, Sierra has utilized their close ties with the LAPD to access authentic SWAT information. Each officer can carry a primary weapon, such as a rifle, shotgun or submachine gun, and a backup sidearm. Some of the primary weapons, such as the M4A1 rifle, can be equipped with non-lethal rounds while others, like the Benalli Super 90 combat shotgun, can fire breaching rounds composed of powdered steel that destroys locks on impact. In addition to these weapons, each officer usually brings along an assortment of utilities including handcuffs, CS tactical gas grenades, C2 breaching charges, flashbangs, chemlights (glow sticks used to illuminate rooms and mark areas that have been cleared of threat) and a multipurpose tool called a "crunch." All of these resources expand the element leader's tactical options and will allow players to experiment with multiple strategies.

Part two of Computer Games Online's Nocturne preview is up with another short look ahead at Terminal Reality's upcoming "noir adventure" focusing on the way the game's designers have animated cloth.

Sujoy Roy's eponymous Sujoy.com is home to Sujoy's "Complete guide to Q3," which currently consists of parts one and two of three, making the "complete" thing a little incongruous, but we think we understand. The guide gives a look at downloading, installing, and tweaking the test for best performance, with the upcoming third part to be a one-stop guide for beginners.

Redwood has posted an MPG movie on Stomped from the German magazine Gamestar showing off gameplay from Nihilistic's upcoming Vampire: The Masquerade, the game where it doesn't suck to suck.

Raven Programmer John "Pagan" Scott (AKA don't call me Slaine or Scott Rice) updated his ,plan with his updated Soldier of Fortune work log, talking about digital sampling rate limits for NT compatibility and listing the latest round of bugs to which he's he's taken the swatter.

The A3D Download Drivers has new Vortex 2 Drivers for Windows 95/98 as three different archives, to suit individual needs. According to Vortex of Sound, who sent this news along, these fix pretty much all the outstanding issues with Vortex 2 cards.

ELSA has posted new version 4.11.01.0200-0022 ELSA ERAZOR III Windows 95 & 98 drivers for all different versions of ELSA ERAZOR III. The Win98 drivers include a beta version of ELSA VideoControl. Thanks Ernie.

More Bits including a very first look at S3's latest:

• AMD expanding Athlon chip family reports ZDNN. Thanks AbsolutePC.
• Sharky Extreme's S3 Savage 4 Pro Xtreme 'Hands-on' Preview.
• Computer Games Online looks at that Glaze3D announcement.
• 3D Alpha Hardware Station's RIVA TNT Overclock Guide is up.
• PC Paradox' Vortex2 vs. Soundblaster Live! In this corner...
• The Adrenaline Vault News reports VIA Technologies to Purchase Cyrix Assets.

Red Orb's Prince of Persia 3D page has been updated with word that: "The Demo will be released on August 23. The Full product will ship September 19. Please check out all the new screenshots and movies." Saw that on Voodoo Extreme.

Exxtreme3D.Com interviews Kevin Lambert from Monolith talking about the game he's co-designing, Sanity, a Diablo-style isometric-view action/RPG.

Word from DiabloII.Net is that the Diablo II Image Gallery has been updated with six new screenshots, three each of the Necromancer and the Barbarian, along with a new animated gif of each showing off an attack.

MacGamer's rebuttal to GameSpot responds to yesterday's Mac-bashing on GameSpot (story) talking with Bob LeVitus (a.k.a. "Dr. Mac") author of 29 computer books, about the viability of Mac gaming.

• AnadTech's Voodoo3 3500 Review.
• Gamers Depot reviews the Voodoo3 3500.
• 3D Spotlight reviews the Guillemot MaxiGamer Xentor 32.

• Pandemoic Studios has posted a coolio new Dark Reign II shot. Thanks Voodoo Extreme...
• Does Microsoft's next OS point to strategy shift? asks CNET News.com...
• Birdman's Lair has a working SpaceOrb config for Quake 1.07/1.08, pointing out it's a bit rough, as joystick support in Q3Test is so far not up to its predecessors...
• PrefabLand sends along word that the now are home to over 600 prefabs for Half-Life, TFC, Hexen 2, Quake, Quake II, Sin, and Unreal, sure to provide help to the map designer looking to save some time...
• Hey! Texas is having Sales Tax Holiday this weekend, so clothes-conscious attendees can LAN all they can then shop 'til they drop. Thanks Jeff at AMD Zone...

Puny server make Hulk mad! Hulk smash!! Just wanted to share some of the intelligent behind-the-scenes conversation that surrounded the server problems that plagued us yesterday. Many thanks to Chris at Pair, who hung in there through all the crashes, ultimately replacing the server's motherboard (switching to a 100-base T connection in the process). Hopefully this is all under control now. Again, apologies for the downtime.

I removed an extra bullet point I accidentally added to the what's new in Q3Test version 1.08 post yesterday (story), in case you were wondering why id chose to add a timescale cheat, the note now reads "prevents timescale cheating " as it should... one bullet can make such a difference, as many who have been shot can confirm (more tellingly, so many who have been shot cannot confirm anything).

I just re-read the sentence I typed above, and I think it's safe to say that my fears that composing Out of the Blue earlier in the day would cause it to be more coherent were unfounded.

Link of the Day: Uncle Booger's BumperDumper. Thanks Chris Sweitzer.
Bonus Link: The Half-Life: Scientist Torture Tutorial. A guide to killing NPCs in Half-Life. Sure it's sadistic, but if we don't link it, the 50-some scientists killed in the making of the guide will have died for nothing.