PC.IGN.com has posted a movie trailer of Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix, demonstrating the first-person shooter sequel under development at Raven Software. The trailer necessitates a 17.1 MB download in MPEG format and sports a minute of action-packed footage introducing the game's features along with plenty of gameplay.

Also on PC.IGN tonight is a Mythological Dev. Diary in which Ensemble Studios designer Greg Street discusses progress in the development of their 3D real-time strategy game, Age of Mythology. More comprehensive than most of these diaries, Greg talks about playtesting the game, feedback from co-workers, balancing the three races, the new God Powers system, implementing the rock-paper-scissors paradigm, the game's relation to the Age of Empires series, and more.

An update of the official Lost Continents site brings some new media and information for this upcoming 3D MMORPG by VR1 Entertainment that will be set in 1930's pulp fiction. There are two new screenshots (and the initial pair released yesterday), three new character animation movies and a couple of audio tracks can be downloaded, the Field Guide has been updated, and more.

• Bridge Commander
  There are fifteen new Star Trek: Bridge Commander screenshots on Computer and Video Games, offering more galactic scenes in Totally Games' imminent starship simulation.
• Paradise Cracked
  Freelancer serves up a couple of new Paradise Cracked screenshots and concept images, illustrating the 3D tactical combat RPG being crafted at MiST land.
• HoMM4
  Nine new Heroes of Might and Magic IV screenshots are online at Worthplaying, showing more from the turn-based strategy game under construction at New World Computing.
• Neocron
  Also on Worthplaying are four new Neocron screenshots, showing off the sci-fi first-person MMORPG being beta tested at Reakktor Media.

Palestar has issued a new upgrade for version 1.3 of DarkSpace, their massively multiplayer space sim. As usual, it can be applied through the game's auto-updater, and new features include a client reconnect option, higher armor and shield strengths, balance changes and AI enhancements, a rewritten damage management system, and the proverbial more.

Ethermoon has released a version 1.03 patch for Strifeshadow, their multiplayer RTS, which is available through the online auto-updater as well as manual retail and demo patches from FilePlanet (registration required). The online Readme lists the new features, balance changes and bug fixes in this release, and an updated demo is also available.

The official Command & Conquer Renegade site offers a tip for players experiencing lag in the new multiplayer demo of Westwood's shooter. This problem should be remedied by setting the Connection speed of the game to match the actual speed of your Internet connection, for which they provide brief instructions. Thanks Xombie.

GameSpot's Warcraft III Beta Report: The Night Elves of Kalimdor offers the final installment in their four-part series examining the factions in the upcoming RTS sequel, thanks to their opportunity to participate in the widespread multiplayer beta test currently underway. The article discusses the Night Elves, who make their debut in this title, who are an "ancient race capable of potent natural magic," and they go into their tree-centric resource management (not unlike the Keebler Elves), their willingness to take advantage of the dark of night, their expertise with the bow and arrow, and more. Included are six new screenshots. Also ActionTrip's Warcraft III Beta Impressions are now online, which are accompanied by 15 screenshots, and there are also another 15 new shots on GameSpyDaily.

The Icewind Dale II Designer Diary #1 on RPG Vault is penned by designer Dave Maldonado who sets off on the path of describing development on the upcoming RPG sequel in what's best described as a rambling, but humorous account of some of the design elements they bandied about for inclusion in IWD2. Included are several new Icewind Dale II screenshots.

GBASE.ch Interviews Louis Castle, catching up with the co-founder and general manager at Westwood Studios during a recent release party for Command & Conquer Renegade, their upcoming C&C action game. They discuss the games he likes to play, differences between Renegade and other shooter titles, scripted events, vehicles, AI, difficulties encountered during the game's development, whether there will be any cuts in the German version of the game, violence in the media, whether the game will offer any emphasis on strategy, possibilities of an add-on, modifications, future plans, and more. The Q&A is also available in the site's native German.

There's an Another War Interview on WORTHPLAYING talking with someone only identified as "one of the Polish developers" on Another War, the upcoming World War II isometric action/RPG. Topics include the scope of gameplay, their choice of World War II for the setting in a genre that usually makes use of fantasy environments, their 3D engine, the reason the player controls a single soldier rather than a larger group, what combat will be like, the plot, how far along they are in development, and more.

As promised, the eagerly-anticipated multiplayer demo of Command & Conquer Renegade is now available for download from FilePlanet (registration required), allowing you to try out Westwood's imminent 3D action game. The demo includes one map that can be played in team-based C&C mode complete with all 28 characters, 23 weapons, and 11 vehicles, it's only playable through GameSpy Arcade (the full game also supports Westwood Online), and comes as a 89.1 MB download. Update: Mirrors are available on Shacknews (registration required), 3D Gamers, Tiscali Games (Czech Rep.) Fragland.net (Belgium), AusGamers (Australia), GameArena (Australia), BonusWeb (Czech Rep.), FileFront and Nuclear Days.

There's an Arx Fatalis Q&A on The Tarant Daily talking with Raphael Colantonio, the CEO of Arkane-Studios, about Arx Fatalis, their upcoming RPG. Topics include the reasons behind the game's Latin name, how side quests will relate to the game's main plotline, the size of the game world, the importance of freedom in RPGs, NPCs, cinematics, magic, thieving, enemies, the flow of time, and more. Also, the TTLG Forums offer those interested the opportunity to vote between two images to decide on the Arx Fatalis box art.

Innonics and Strategy First have released a playable demo of Diggles: The Myth of Fenris, the oddball dwarf management strategy game that is also known as Wiggles, which is now available for download from Gigex. The demo weighs in at a hefty 114.3 MB and "will take you on an adventure under the earth where you will lead the Diggles on a quest to defeat a dragon that is eating members of the VooDoo clan." Gigex also sent us this direct download link for those behind firewalls or having difficulty with their regular download client.

Part Five of Computer and Video Games' Sony Online Entertainment Feature quotes LucasArts producer Haden Blackman and creative director Raph Koster on the subject of the planned expansion for Star Wars Galaxies (story), which is expected to ship about six months after the upcoming Star Wars MMOG. The story fleshes out the space element that this will bring to the land-based game, describing the opportunity to participate in the ownership and operation of capital ships in addition to dogfighting in smaller craft like X-Wings and TIE fighters.

As is their way, Belgian site Spelletjesgarnaal serves up a new movie of Dungeon Siege, captured from the ubiquitous press build of the 3D role-playing game by Gas Powered Games. The movie is available in downloadable (11.0 MB) or streaming Windows Media Player format and sports over seven minutes of gameplay footage accompanied by their usual Flemish/English commentary.

House`O Spank's Dragon Empires Interview talks with Jim Purbrick, one of the designers on this upcoming MMORPG. They discuss the unusual approach to developing this game that involves two teams, worries about a saturation of the MMOG market, the impact of your connection speed upon gameplay, non-combat features, weapons and equipment, anti-cheating measures, subscription fees, and more.

A story on Computer and Video Games has word "direct from the mouth of Westwood Co-Founder and Executive Vice-President of Creative Development Louis Castle, that it is in fact currently working on two brand new Command & Conquer titles that will be firmly built on the franchise's RTS foundations." It had already been known that one new C&C RTS game was in the works, but now both games will add to a Command & Conquer universe that already includes the original C&C, the C&C Red Alert games, C&C Tiberian Sun, and of course dance group C&C Music Factory. There is also a reference to possibility of a sequel to C&C Renegade, should the success action-based installment in the series warrant it.

As promised, the playable demo of Star Wars Starfighter has now been released, and is available from EA Germany's ftp server. The demo requires a reasonable 44.5 MB download, offers the second mission from the 3D flying shooter by Secret Level and LucasArts, and can be played with and without a joystick. Update: Mirrors are online at 3D Gamers, FilePlanet (registration required) and the official site.

Voodoo Extreme's Dune Generations Interview is online, chatting with Florent Claudy about Dune Generations, Cryonetworks' upcoming real-time strategy MMOG set on Frank Herbert's sand-covered world of Dune. Topics include an overview of their vision of the Dune universe, the concept behind an online strategy game, the types of activities available to players, combat, units (and whether you can control worms), the role of politics, their planned release date, negotiations with publishers, prestige points, and more.

There's a Darkfall Online Interview on RPGDot featuring another Q&A previously published on a smaller site, this time out chatting at length with Claus Grovdal, producer/lead designer on Darkfall Online, an upcoming MMORPG under construction at Razorwax AS. The discussion covers PKers, whether the game will appeal to players who don't enjoy PvP conflict, their alignment and fame systems, skill and spell limits, combat, trade, building, AI, their position on "downtime," vehicles, death penalties, and much more.

Coinciding with the game's release in that country, Electronic Arts has released the UK version 1.10 patch for Medal of Honor: Allied Assault for download from FilePlanet (registration required), bringing it in sync with the US edition of 2015's recent first-person shooter (story). As before, the 14.7 MB download includes an in-game GameSpy server browser, multiplayer cheat protection, enchanced dedicated server control, and networking improvements.

HomeLan Fed's Dark Age Of Camelot Interview catches up with Matt Firor of Mythic Entertainment to discuss Dark Age of Camelot, their hit MMORPG. Topics include their reaction to the favorable reception the game was met with, how they would handle the launch differently with the benefit of hindsight (shades of Yogi Berra: "we would have changed nothing differently"), DAoC's evolutionary (as opposed to revolutionary) take on the MMOG, how they combat cheating, their policy on the sale of items and accounts, their upcoming engine overhaul, competing in the MMORPG genre, and more.

Interview with Scott Herrington on Shadowbane Warcry talking with the Ubi.Com's executive producer on Shadowbane about this upcoming MMORPG in the works at Wolfpack Studios. Topics include his role in the game's development, how he got started in the game industry, the reasons he departed his prior gig at Turbine working on Asheron's Call, what he finds appealing about Shadowbane, working with Wolfpack, how his job differs from his previous work, helpful experiences he's bringing to this project, progress on the game now that it's in beta, and more.

There's a Star Wars Obi Wan Q&A on GamesDomain talking with Mike Gallo, executive producer on the recent Xbox Star Wars game. There are some new Resident Evil gameplay movies and screenshots on cube.ign.com.

Console Reviews

• DOOM (GBA) on The Entertainment Depot.
• Drakan: the Ancients' Gates on Gamezilla, The Laser, and WiredLounge.
• Metal Gear Solid 2 (PS2) on Gamers Press.
• Star Wars Obi-Wan (Xbox) on DigitalBackSpin.

A new version 1.12 of the bQuery server browsing utility is now available. The latest release represents a complete rewrite of this freeware utility, which supports Quake III Arena, Half-Life, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Unreal Tournament, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, and more.

The official qBLOOD Website now offers a new version 0.90 of the BloodBath modification for Quake (1). BloodBath is a multiplayer conversion that brings the gameplay from Monolith's Blood to Quake. The new version adds menu support for the included maps along wit a load of fixes and changes.

There's a new version 1.04 of Skull's Runic Hunter on PlanetDiablo updating this offline utility that allows Diablo II players to easily look up item recipes as well as stats for items, gems, and other such stuff.

• Black & White: Creature Isle on Gamezilla.
• Comanche 4 on Adrenaline Vault.
• Command & Conquer Renegade on MGON.
• Cossacks: the Art of War on LoadedInc.
• Darkened Skye on PC.IGN.com.
• Gorasul: Legacy of the Dragon on EuroGamer and Game Over.
• Heli Heroes on Gamer's Pulse.
• Lineage: the Blood Pledge on Computer and Video Games.
• Medal of Honor: Allied Assault on Game Over and (Multiplayer) on Shred Company.
• Return to Castle Wolfenstein on The Laser.
• Tropico: Paradise Island on PC.IGN.com.

• Antec SX630 Case on Viper's Lair.
• Crazy PC Dr. Thermal Extreme Heatsink on EXHardware.
• FIC AN11 Stealth Socket A Motherboard on 3DSpotlight.
• Gainward GeForce3 Ti 200 Video Card on [H]ardOCP.
• IDE RAID Controller Roundup on x-bit labs.
• Intel Pentium 4 1.8 GHz Northwood CPU on OCAddiction.com.
• Lian Li PC-70 Tower Case (in Video) on 3dGameMan.
• MSI GeForce3 Ti200 Pro-TD on ipKonfig.com.
• MSI K7T266 Pro 2 RU Motherboard on Overclockers Online.
• Seagate 80GB Baracuda ATA IV Hard Drive on Gamers Depot.
• Thermaltake Volcano 7 Cooler on AMDZone.
• Vantec Rounded Cables on Mikhailtech.
• VIA's P4XB P4X266A Motherboard on HotHardware.

• The C&C Renegade Designer Diary, pt. 8 on PC.IGN.Com offers brief thoughts from Renegade executive producer Dan Cermak on his role in production...
• The week-long Sony Interview on Computer and Video Games rolls along, asking a few more questions about EverQuest and such...
• id Software and their Walls on [H]ardOCP offers a photo essay of some of the stuff they found on the wall at id Software during a recent pilgrimage to visit the developer...

Happy Birthday pop! My dad isn't actually reading this, but this note can combine with some other reminders to make sure I give him a call to offer some well-wishing that he can actually experience for himself. Speaking of birthdays, the database on the site here is now three years old, and we now have more days worth of news in the database archive than the HTML one, though it is still important to remember that news prior to February 1999 will not show up in searches conducted here (though there's still the hope that some day the older HTML archive can be incorporated into the database at some point).

Link of the Day: towboat. Thanks Ant and NecroMancer.
Story of the Day: Uncle Sam Sues Miss Cleo Hotline. Thanks EvilToast. Apparently they didn't see this coming.
Bonus Story: Upcoming Superhero Comic Features Real-Life Marriage Proposal. Thanks theAntiELVIS. Clearly an effort to upstage CmdrTaco.
Media of the Day: Astronomy Picture of the Day. Now there's your lord of the rings. Thanks Zdim.