id Software's Robert Duffy has updated his .plan to announce the release of the Linux version of the Return to Castle Wolfenstein multiplayer test. There is a small install that requires a copy of the Win32 version (here is a local copy with mirrors) as well as a full distribution (local copy with mirrors). Here is the scoop:

The client installs for Linux are now available. The smaller version does NOT have media so you will need the Win32 setup if you get it. The larger version has everything you need.

Grab them here ftp://ftp.idsoftware.com/idstuff/wolf/linux/

• Natural Resistance
  German developer Silver Style Entertainment has relaunched its website and posted over two dozen new screenshots of Natural Resistance, their upcoming 3D real-time strategy game.
• Sea Dogs II
  Three new Sea Dogs II screenshots have been appended to the gallery on Russian site 3DGameR, offering new naval scenes in Akella's 3D RPG sequel.
• Another War
  Polish site Strefa has posted eight new Another War screenshots, showing off this isometric role-playing game by likewise Polish developers Mirage.

The Red Alert2 website (thanks Strategie Expert) has an updated Yuri's Revenge release date, saying: "We've been buffing and waxing Yuri's bald head for a few weeks now and he'll be ready to make his appearance in stores on October 12, though a few stores might get be a day or so earlier depending on when the trucks show up." They have also posted a Yuri's Revenge movie for download called Yuri's Revenge Sizzle, pointing out this may be a more enjoyable alternative to seeing Glitter this weekend (it is also sounding like sitting on a tack would be more enjoyable than seeing Glitter, but that's beside the point). The mpeg format movie is just under 12 MB, and contains a few new scenes interspersed with cinematics familiar from previous trailers.

Renegade Realm has a Command & Conquer Renegade screenshot in that neat QuickTime-VR format that allows you to zoom in and out and get a panoramic 360 degree view. This is the first of what's planned as a weekly release of one of these shots that is bestowed upon the "renegade fansite of the week."

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon website has posted no fewer than nine new development updates from different members of the team at work on this upcoming tactical shooter. In an odd bit of lag, these entries are the journals dating back to July, but since they've just appeared on their site, they are indeed new, in spite of being two months late.

The Motor City Online Home has word that you can get now participate in the open beta of their racing game by downloading the beta from FilePlanet without having to pay the shipping and handling charges, though you will have to register for a "GameSpy ID" and suffer through a 428.2 MB download. Thanks Dr. Del. Update: The file is also available from the EA.com ftp server (thanks Stomped), BonusWeb, and Tiscali Games.

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind website has been updated with a group of nine combat skills, the first such group added to their skills section, as well as a new creature wallpaper for download that showcases the Netch, one of the nasties that will populate this upcoming RPG sequel.

Game Over on GameSpy is an article that recaps the various stories of the impact of last week's terrorist attacks in the US on computer games, outlining the assorted reports of games that are being altered, cancelled, or delayed as a result of the tragedies. They quote some of the developers and PR people about these effects, which include changes to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002, Spider-Man 2 Enter: Electro, Smugglers Run 2, Rogue Spear: Black Thorn, Crime Patrol, Red Alert 2, and Red Alert 2: Yuri's Revenge.

The Earth and Beyond website has word that the first round of CDs for the external beta testing of Earth and Beyond Online (story) are on their way, and testers should have received a confirmation email, though they say: "If you don't receive an email confirmation and believe you should have, please don't give us a panicked email until Monday." Thanks Earth N Beyond.

The Art of Magic coming next month on GameSpot has word that a gold master candidate of the Magic & Mayhem sequel is being tested by Bethesda, and if it's accepted the game could be in stores in "early October." Also, Jekyll & Hyde shipping on GameSpot has word that this upcoming bargain-priced bipolar adventure from French developer In Utero is shipping, and should be on store shelves "soon."

Soul Reaver 2 delayed on GameSpot has word that: "Eidos will delay the release of Soul Reaver 2 for the PS2 in order to tweak the game further." A report on Team Xbox offers support for rumors that Hitman 2 and Commandos 2 will be released for the Xbox. The Grand Theft Auto III Movie Premiere on PS2.IGN.Com says: "Come check the most revealing premiere movie of Grand Theft Auto III gameplay you've ever seen," while Grand Theft Auto III Voice Actors Unveiled on PS2.IGN.Com has word that luminaries like Joe Pantoliano and Michael Madsen will be among the voice talent in the car stealing game.

The Tweaked Runes website has the release of Tweaked Runes Racing, an unusual RUNE modification that features airborne racing on five aerial maps with four critters. Thanks RuneGame.

There are some Wolfenstein Multiplayer Test tips on Wolfenstein Xtreme including team tactics to help succeed as the defending Axis or attacking Allied forces (thanks Stomped). Also, a new Mystery of the Druids FAQ is online, hope to solve some of the technical mysteries about the game, if not the druids. Finally, another week, another update to the Star Wars Galaxies Online FAQ, which offers new details about chat modes in the upcoming Star Wars MMORPG, as well as bits on camera views, ground shaking, and whether they plan on disabling Alt-Tab in the game.

The Tribes2 World Championship has been announced, and while sign-ups for the tourney won't begin until October 15, their forums are already open for business.

Jolt.co.uk's Alliance Interview offers a Q&A with Jaboby of the Alliance CTF mod for Quake III Arena discussing progress on their upcoming version 2.6 release.

The Red Faction News page has word of the release of "editor groups" for the Red Faction editor, which are described as "a collection of brushes and/or objects," which "can be used to easily export and import whole sections of levels," as well as "create things like doors and lifts." These groups were actually used in the creation of Volition's ground-breaking first-person shooter. More information can be found in the read me. Also, this page on PlanetDungeonSiege has a sample armor texture from Dungeon Siege that's been released by Gas Powered Games so that folks can get started creating their own armor for the upcoming RPG before it's released.

• Anarchy Online on WomenGamers.
• Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura on Adrenaline Vault.
• Bounty Hunter on Gamer's Press.
• Codename: Outbreak Demo on Icecubed.
• Combat Command 2: Desert Rats on SimHQ.
• Commandos 2: Men of Courage (in Spanish) on MeriStation.
• Conquest: Frontier Wars on USA Today.
• Empire of the Ants on Gamezilla.
• Evil Twin: Cyprien's Chronicles on GameOn.
• Gothic Demo on Icecubed.
• Lightweight Ninja on Gamer's Pulse.
• Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis on Game Revolution.
• Remote Assault on CG Online.
• Spider-Man on PC.IGN.com.
• Spider-Man Demo on Iceubed.
• Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates on The Wargamer.
• TRIBES 2 on Silicon Insight.

• Abit KG7 RAID Motherboard on HEXUS.net.
• Abit ST6-RAID 815EP Motherboard on Hardware Analysis.
• Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy Gamer on GameSpot.
• Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum eX on GameSpot.
• Gladiator Heatsink fan on EXHardware.
• Hercules 3D Prophet 4500 TV-out Video Card on The DDR Zone.
• Philips Acoustic Edge Sound Card on OnePC.NET.
• Silver Rounded Cables on ipKonfig.com.
• Soyo SY-K7V Dragon Motherboard on Tweakers Asylum.
• TDK VeloCD CD-R/W on OverclockersClub.
• T.I.T.I Dr. Thermal TI-V77 Heatsink on Overclocker Cafe and OcPrices.

There's some unhappy news over at Stomped where Internet hard times have taken a further toll, as Aurora and Redwood will no longer be working there. For more than five years now Red and Stomped and I have been out here in the gaming news trenches together, going back to a time when Sean (Redwood) was this Dan Rather of Quake news (down to the occasional "what's the frequency Kenneth" wackiness) and Stomped was king of all Quake websites, and while word is Stomped isn't shutting down, this is obviously not good news for them. Good luck to Aurora and Stomped, I'm hoping things work out for them. Also, in particular, I want to (publicly) wish Sean all the best, he's quite a good guy, and in all the times we were here working in the same field I can't really recall a single moment of conflict with him. He helped set a lot of standards for integrity in this field in terms of crediting his news sources and always keeping the community aspects of what we do in focus, and in many of these ways served as a role model for me. These are shaping up to be tough times all over, not just the web, but I'm sure Sean will land on his feet, so in the long run, this is probably a greater loss for the gaming community than for Red, because now more than ever we need more people like him, not fewer.

Link of the Day: JescoPage. Thanks Mister Johnson.
Story of the Day: Late script saved Chan from New York attack (Guardian Unlimited). Thanks Jeremy D.