PC.IGN.com took their video camera with them to ECTS, and returned with a bunch of ShakyCam video clips from Medal of Honor: Allied Assault and Global Operations. Two of the Medal of Honor clips demonstrate some tank driving action while the other three feature combat in a winter wonderland. Similarly, the four Global Operations clips sport plenty of outdoor action demonstrating several of the game's weapons along with some sniping activity. All clips are in QuickTime format and, as is typical of these events, feature a loud and noisy soundtrack.

An update on the official Multiplayer BattleTech: 3025 site gives word that a new version 1.4.5 is now available via the auto-updater in the massively multiplayer Mech action game by EA Games. This release includes interface improvements, changes to the Planet Economy values and Mech pricing, increased bounty credits and more, and necessitated a player database reset. Further, A Message from Producer Dave Marsh offers more information on the changes and a look forward to version 1.5.

Also on PC.IGN this evening is a new preview of Myth III: The Wolf Age, looking ahead to the 3D RTS in development at Mumbo Jumbo Games. After introducing the Myth franchise, the article describes a recent build of the game they saw, including their impressions of the new graphics engine, unit animations, various new factions and characters, gameplay, and missions. Half a dozen new screenshots (as well as eight that already appeared elsewhere tonight) are also included. Here is an excerpt:

Missions will also act much the same with escort and defense missions as well as seek and destroy and plain old battle missions. These can and will take place both outdoors and indoors like they have in the past, but now the same missions can move seamlessly from outdoor to indoor locations without any need for loading up a new level. Dynamic lighting, soft shadows, and some destructible walls that reveal hidden passageways (not necessary for completion of missions apparently) all work to flush out the levels. When asked how difficult the game would be given the reputation the series has gotten, Mike answered, "Oh yeah, it's very difficult." They've opted out of the five difficulty levels in favor of three this time around to expedite balancing issues and get the game out faster. Apparently the Legendary difficulty setting is really going to take some doing. The developers themselves are having some serious difficulty making it through missions on this setting.

There is a brief Laser Squad Nemesis diary on the official site for this turn-based strategy game under construction at CoDo Games that also includes a short gameplay movie. The diary describes the ten second, inlined AVI clip and progress made on the various game features that are being demonstrated in it. Thanks Laser-Squad.com for the tip.

• Myth III
  GameSpot has posted eight new Myth III: the Wolf Age screenshots, offering new scenes in the 3D real-time strategy game under construction at Mumbo Jumbo Games.
• Incoming Forces
  Half a dozen new Incoming Forces screenshots are online at GamePro, revealing more from the 3D pyrotastic action game in the works at Rage Software.
• PlanetSide
  The official PlanetSide site sports a new rendered image and three concept images for the massively multiplayer FPS being developed at Verant.
• AquaNox
  There are fourteen new AquaNox screenshots on Spanish site Blue Monday, captured from a press build of the 3D action game currently submersed at Massive Development.
• G.I. Combat
  The official G.I. Combat site has been updated with four new screenshots showing off the WWII real-time war game being created at Freedom Games.
• Arx
  The latest Arx Fatalis Element of the Week at RPGDot introduces the Priests of Akbaa characters in the first-person RPG by Arkane Studios, illustrated with five new screenshots.
• Europa Universalis II
  As usual, two new Europa Universalis II screenshots have been released as this week's peek into the world of this historical strategy game by Paradox Entertainment.

The official Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds site features a new Designer Diary #3, this time collectively penned by the level design team on the isometric real-time strategy game by LucasArts. Topics among their "war stories" include the shape of the Great Massassi Temple, play testing, design issues, work on the game dialogs, and lots more.

PC Gameplay UK returned from the London trade show with brief looks at Iron Storm, the alternative reality World War I action game by 4X Studio, Chaser, the futuristic first-person shooter by Cauldron, AquaNox and more. The ECTS coverage at Games Domain includes a look at Strident, the just-unveiled 3D action game by Phantagram. Also, EuroGamer has issued their ECTS Awards with Warrior Kings conquering Game of the Show and Germany-based CDV grabbing Publisher of the Show. And finally, MCV UK reflects on the show and possible directions for its future.

The official Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon site has opened its virtual doors for the public, showcasing the tactical shooter being developed at Red Storm Entertainment. The site offers a brief overview on the game's premise and features, four new screenshots, some brief developer diaries that were apparently written last June, a web kit, and more. Thanks Ghost Recon Retreat for the tip.

A Project Entropia on IRC update has word from MindArk that they have started an IRC server to foster discussion of their game. The server is irc.project-entropia.com, and the main channel is #project-entropia, but they will also allow all societies to start up their own channels.

There's an interview with Dave Nixon on the Junkyard talking with this senior producer at Real Networks about Axis, their upcoming first-person shooter where players will pilot huge robots (finding they were unable to fit into the tiny robots) in head-to-head or team combat. Dave discusses the features of the anime-influenced game (which has been out for some time in Korea), including the customizable robots, how the single player and multiplayer versions interact, the lack of plans for a dedicated server, complaints about the network code, the impact of piracy, and more.

The Matrox Graphics Certified drivers page has the first released drivers for the Millennium G550 accelerator, with new version 6.71.011 Win98 drivers, 4.92.001 WinNT drivers, and 6.71.011 Win2000 drivers.

Blue Monday interviews Gonzo Suarez of Pyro Studios is an English translation of a Q&A that originally took place in the site's and Gonzo's native Spanish. The topic at hand is Commandos 2, Pyro's upcoming follow-up to Commandos, their squad-based combat game, and the questions and answers cover things like whether the follow-up will be as difficult as the original, what added capabilities your commandos will have, the linearity (or lack thereof) of the missions, multiplayer capabilities, the lack of a mission editor, their expectation of completing the game within a couple of weeks, and more.

As is their way, XGR will be broadcasting a PlanetSide interview this evening, audibly grilling community manager Danny Han about the massively multiplayer FPS under construction at Verant / Sony Online. Of course, you'll need WinAmp or a compatible player to tune in, and the fun kicks off at 9:00 PM EDT.

Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Then you can read up on this Max Payne interview at German site Krawall, where they cornered Remedy Entertainment lead programmer Markus Stein to talk about their just-released third-person action game. For the rest of the world, there is of course the mandatory Babel Fish link for a rough English translation, and Markus reflects on their inspirations, the length of the game's development, the relatively shortness of gameplay, the upcoming console ports, and several other topics.

There's a Peter Molyneux Interview on Blue Monday which in an English interview this Spanish site conducted a couple of months ago discussing Black & White expansion plans. Some of the questions make reference to a "World Disc" expansion that has apparently been cancelled, while the Creature Isles add-on is also discussed, albeit under its previous title of Creature Trials. Other topics besides the expansion(s) include Project Ego, and a query about his comments last year about developing for consoles to which he offered a clarification: "Lionhead will continue to develop games for the PC - when I mentioned at last years E3 that I wanted to develop on consoles, I was referring more to satellite projects than Lionhead’s next game."

Assault and Tactical WARfare Command's Team Factor Interview chats with Pavel Sinagl, project manager on Team Factor, 7FX' upcoming first-person tactical shooter. Topics covered in the Q&A include some background on the developers and the project, a description of gameplay, the reason the game was delayed from its planned release earlier this year, the kind of scenarios; weapons; and vehicles the game will offer, whether the game will support mods, the game engine, and more. In a related note, Pavel sends word that the Team Factor website has been updated with the box art from the game, also offering some new screenshots (all of which are also included with the interview mentioned above), as well as the announcement that Singularity Software is publishing the game, though this was already revealed in an interview a few weeks ago (story).

Xbox to have online gaming network on MSNBC (thanks Stomped) has more about Microsoft's plans for an online gaming network in Japan that we first reported on back in March (story and story), that describes how MS feels it will overcome its delayed launch in Japan by offering integrated broadband support, and their own gaming network. Here is a bit more on the network, which may just be an indicator of future plans outside Japan as well:

Microsoft will set up servers in the NTT Communications network and offer online games using NTT’s asymmetric dedicated subscriber line (ADSL) service, which transmits data over the Internet at 10 to 100 times the speed of conventional services.
Ohura said by building an exclusive network, Microsoft would provide Xbox users with a stable connection and a gaming environment free from viruses.
"I always compare this with Disneyland...No matter when you visit or whoever guides your tour, you always have the same environment," he said.
Microsoft has said the online service will likely start six months after the February launch, but Ohura declined to give a specific date.

The Armchair Empire's Voice and Spectator Q&A catches up with Valve Software's Erik Johnson to ask about the much ballyhooed voice communication and multicast spectator features from the forthcoming Half-Life / Counter-Strike patch. The conversation covers how trash talkers can be dealt with since online trash typing can be such a problem, whether voice communication will revolutionize gaming, whether computer games should be considered sports, how usable these new features will be for modem users, technical problems that had to be overcome in implementation, and more.

Ubi Soft and Fox Interactive kick off a global partnership, bringing Planet of the Apes to video games is the press release announcing that "Ubi Soft Entertainment, Fox Interactive, and Visiware have signed a worldwide accord to publish games based on the classic novel Planet of the Apes, written by Pierre Boulle." They also say that: "The games will also feature elements from the classic Planet of the Apes film franchise." This still leaves it unclear how this announcement does or does not relate to the announcement early this year that the release of the Planet of the Apes game based on the original movie that had been in production for some time was uncertain because of the (then) upcoming Tim Burton Planet of the Apes movie (story). Word is "The Planet of the Apes action-adventure games are scheduled to be released around the world on PC this month, followed by a GAME BOY Advance and GAME BOY Color version in November 2001."

EBgames.com's Red Faction for PC Interview offers a Q&A on this e-tailer's website with James Tsai, Chris Helvig, Alan Lawrance, Mike Breault, and John Slagel of Volition discussing the just-gold (story) PC version of Red Faction, their ground-breaking first-person shooter. Topics covered include the inspirations for the game's storyline, enemy AI, development of the game's destructible environments, how the PC version will differ from its PS2 counterpart, their favorite feature of the game, and more.

Geek Girl's Guide 2 Games' Kohan: Ahriman's Gift Q&A catches up with Adel Chaveleh and Ian Klimon, the producer and lead designer, respectively, on this upcoming stand-alone add-on for Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns. The interview covers the differences between Immortal Sovereigns and Ahriman's Gift, the new troops the follow-up will offer, plans for a demo, the number of campaigns, new buildings, new terrain, and more.

There is a new Battle Realms movie on the French Esprit ECTS site, showing off the 3D real-time strategy game nearing completion at Liquid Entertainment. The movie comes as a 11.8 MB download in AVI format and sports nearly 50 seconds of in-game footage demonstrating combat and other features in various areas of the world. Thanks Esprit Battle Realms.

A post on The Daily Telefrag, a Russian site, offers the English translation of an announcement of a new squad-based tactical strategy game tentatively named Project ALPHA, currently in development at MiST Land, the Russian developer that is currently also at work on Paradise Cracked. The game is shooting (no pun intended) for a high level of realism, and to that end veterans of elite Russian forces, "such as Alpha, Vympel and spetznaz" will take part in development. Players will control a group of 16 soldiers, with missions described as "hostage rescue, covert operations outside Russia, and more." Gameplay, is described as turn-based, where soldiers are given their individual instructions followed by "30 seconds of realtime, with player left in the observer mode only, without possibility to interfere." The announcement offers a bulleted list with more planned features, and lists Q3-Q4 2002 as the target for the game's release.

Strategy First sends word that a new patch for Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns is now available from the official site, bringing the isometric RTS by TimeGate Studios to version 1.2.0. There is a 5.86 MB download to upgrade any previous US version of the game or smaller downloads if you're upgrading from version 1.0.9 or 1.1.0, and as usual you can also fire up the auto-updater within the game. This release adds new features to the lobby chat/server browser, an elapsed time display in-game, improvements to the observer mode, game balance changes, and numerous other enhancements and fixes all listed in detail in the version history.

Billed as an "Exclusive interview," there is a new article about Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor on the official Wizards of the Coast site in which associate producer Chuck Yager discusses the "Quirks of the Game." Chuck describes their "share of comedic problems and strange occurrences during the development" of their isometric role-playing game that went gold yesterday (story), including incidents with the character animation, voice acting, NPC issues, and more. Thanks GameSpyDaily.

There's an EverQuest: Shadows of Luclin Preview on GamesDomain based on what they saw of the upcoming EQ expansion pack at this year's ECTS. Describing the add-on, they point out that: "Featuring an all-new graphics engine, new player character models, and a host of upgrades, the expansion was described as effectively 'EverQuest 1.5.'" They go into the new graphics, the factions and zones the expansion will feature, what's being done to improve framerates and more. They also managed to corner both Jeff Butler, producer of EQ Live and Shadows of Luclin, and Brad McQuaid, VP of premium games at Sony Online to discuss the upcoming release. Topics of the Q&A include the potential lifespan of EverQuest, what is offered in the new expansion, some detail on the new horses ("Frau Blucher!"), the new playable race, engine improvements, and more.

More ECTS movie madness today, as Swiss site Gameplex has posted a Duality trailer to show off the cyberpunk 3D action role-playing game in the works at Trilobite and Phantagram that was unveiled at the show (thanks Shacknews). The movie requires a 24.9 MB download in AVI format and sports some four minutes of impressive looking but likely pre-rendered, soundless footage. A brief report on the game's premise is also online in their native German, so try Babel Fish for a rough English translation.

Microsoft Won't Be Broken Up is an Associated Press story (thanks Adrenaline Vault) with the news that there will be no further follow-up to the anti-trust-related break up of Microsoft ordered last year (story) that was subsequently reversed by an appeals court (story) which vacated the breakup order "on remedies, remand the case for reconsideration of the remedial order." According the new report, "The Bush administration, reversing the Clinton White House legal strategy against Microsoft, told the software manufacturer Thursday it no longer seeks to have the company broken up. The department also said it will not pursue the bundling issues in its protracted antitrust suit against the software giant."

CG Online's Real War Preview is up, looking ahead at this upcoming RTS in the works at Rival Interactive. The article offers impressions of the game, focusing along the way on the incongruity of the title, as it obviously probably won't require as many actual body bags as the name suggests. Part of the reasoning for the title is because Real War is based on a generic tool Rival created for the US military to help teach strategy, and as they point out, "while it's still definitely a game, it at least has an unimpeachable military pedigree." They go on to highlight the most "real" part of the game as being the authentic military units it uses, while saying that in converting the training tool to a commercial game a focus has been made on playability and accessibility. They also describe the most fictional aspect of the game, which is the made up opponent the US forces face off against, which is justified like this: "The US military is so technologically advanced and powerful that there really isn't any one plausible adversary that could match it, so Rival has created the ILA, an international force dedicated to ridding its half of the world of US influence." The preview is illustrated by a half-dozen screenshots.

As promised on the official site, the first map pack for Emperor: Battle for Dune is now available for download from Westwood's ftp server, offering more multiplayer mileage out of their recently released 3D RTS. The 5.0 MB download includes an 8-player map called Carthag and a 3-player map titled Claw Rock.

Infogrames has released a version 1.01 patch for Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive for the gunslinger squad-based tactical combat game by Spellbound Entertainment. The 2.3 MB download applies to all language editions of the game, but there are no details on the changes it brings. Update: A German-language README listing the changes is now also available.

The Arxel Tribe Website has the official announcement of the European launch of PRIMITIVE WARS, a strategy game already available in Asia that they recently mentioned for the first time in conjunction with their plan of demoing the game at the just-completed ECTS (story). Here's a bit of the description: "Set in the Primitive Era, the game features 4 tribes that combat for domination. With 50 single player missions and LAN/online multiplayer modes, PRIMITIVE WARS is certainly one of the games to look after in the following months." Word is the game is to be available "in most European countries before the end of October 2001," and that www.primitivewars.com will be online by September 30th 2001. They also promise downloads of a free PRIMITIVE WARS demo on October 1st 2001.

Bright Light Productions has released a new patch for Journey's End, updating their budget-priced first-person RPG to version 1.11. This 11.6 MB download adds new control configuration options, two new songs, a new spell casting function, and a handful of other changes and fixes. It requires the previous version 1.10 to be installed first.

GameSpy.com Previews Multiplayer BattleTech: 3025 taking a look at the upcoming installment in the BattleTech series that adds the joy of massively multiplayer combat in a persistent world to the joy of driving your own giant robot. The article features a brief history of the MechWarrior computer games that have come before it, and offers their positive impressions of this one, saying "needless to say, it looks fantastic" (though if it really were needles to say, we wouldn't need a preview). Along the way they look at how the rich BattleTech storyline plays a part in the new game, describes the economic system, compares the visuals to those found in MechWarrior 4, and gives brief first-hand impressions of gameplay after getting to check it out at a press event at EA's offices, saying "The game encourages teamplay and planning, which was often ignored in online play with other Mech games." Also on tap in the preview is an interview with Tony Van, the game's producer, which covers a good deal of detail about how the game will play out, and the story also features eight new screenshots.

State of the Art - Part Two: The Future on PC Zone follows-up on the retrospective piece in part one (story). The second part looks to the future, and calls on the expertise of several noteworthy developers, offering quotes from Warren Spector, Peter Molyneux, Demis Hassabis, and Hubert Chardot.

EuroGamer's ECTS diary continues with more impressions from the show, which finally ended on Tuesday. Also, there are some ECTS 2001 Impressions Loadedinc.com offering an overview of the show and some brief impressions of what games they saw. Finally, Inside Mac Games Previews World of Warcraft from checking out the just-announced MMORPG at the show. In spite of the word in the FAQ that "The game will initially be available for PCs," obviously enough they are hoping it ends up available for their Macs, as well.

• Code Red Patch
  Qwest DSL Code Red Virus page has a patch for Cisco modem users impacted by the worm. Thanks [DN]Mirage.
• The P4 Story
  The Pentium 4 Northwood Clearly Explained on Cipher.be.
• Series Parallel Fanbus Guide
  There's a Series Parallel Fanbus Guide on G256.com.

Westwood Studios Announces Command & Conquer Theater of War is the official press release announcing a new bundle of the original Command & Conquer, Tiberian Sun, Red Alert and Red Alert 2 to be available in stores September 25 (story).

Microsoft teams with SoBe, Taco Bell, Vans on Xbox offers an Xbox promotion update, following up on this story (thanks GamePen). Baldur's Gate goes console on CG Online features a Q&A with the producer of BG: Dark Alliance. There's a Duality preview on Xbox.IGN.com with a look at this upcoming cyberpunk game that will also make its way to the PC. There are some new PS2 Rainbow Six Rogue Spear screenshots on GameSpot.

The Rogue Spear Server Listings on Rogue Spear Retreat are back online if you are looking to hook up with Rogue Spear games via direct IP connection.

The official Planetside FAQ has been updated: "FAQ layout modified to facilitate the addition of new content. Also, many of the headings have been altered to more accurately reflect its content."

More over, NFL stars - here comes 'cyberathletes' (Boston Globe Online).

This Krawall Feature (in German) has downloads of Code 37, a new piece of software that allows you to generate a 3D-model of your head with only two photos. Babel Fish will help you figure this out if you don't read German.

• Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura on Game Revolution.
• Cossacks: European Wars on ESCMag.
• Diablo II: Lord of Destruction on Gamehelper.
• Dragonriders: Chronicles of Pern on GameSpot and (in German) on GamersUnitedNetwork.
• Empire of the Ants on ESCMag.
• Pearl Harbor: Defend the Fleet on Gamesmania.
• The Sting! on Intelgamer.
• World War II Online: Blitzkrieg on Adrenaline Vault.

• Gainward CARDEXpert GeForce2 MX VIVO Golden Sample Video Card on Guru3d.
• Hercules 3D Prophet 4500 Kyro II Video Card on Active Hardware.
• Leadtek WinFast GeForce3 TD Graphics Card on x-bit labs.
• Maxtor 536DX Hard Drive on StorageReview.com.
• Mouse Bungee on GamersUnitedNetwork.
• SY-1394 FireWire Card on Envy News.
• Zalman CPU Cooler Round-up on OcPrices.

• There's a hands on The Sims: Hot Date preview on The Sims Resource...
• After some downtime, the Strategy First O.R.B. Forums are back online. Thanks TheHornet...
• The RuneSword II Development Report offers a look at the creation of this now-complete (story) RPG construction kit game...
• Infogrames and Codemasters Announce Distribution Agreement...

Having a glitch-filled morning here at the old Blue Tower. Our news email stopped functioning late last night, and has still not been repaired (tap, tap, is this thing on?). Then for a brief moment my personal mail that comes from a different mail server also ceased to operate, but just as I thought there was a conspiracy going on, I learned that there had been a mail server switch that I was unaware of, so at least that was cleared up pretty quickly (so I guess I'll stow my paranoia for the moment and not go searching among the bushes outside my house).

Link of the Day: Sasquatch Militia. Thanks Capt.Decoy.
Bonus Link: Sleeping... Flash required. Thanks Mankale. In case you are having trouble with not nodding off at your computer.
Story of the Day: German Church Hosts Cage Concert. Thanks Trey Walker. This is a piece "meant to last 639 years" and begins with "16 months of silence."
Weird Science: Iceland seeks waste-disposal crocs (BBC). Thanks CFB.