GameSpot's Rise of Nations Preview takes a look at this upcoming real-time strategy game in the works at Big Huge Games, observing that it takes a "decidedly different approach" to the RTS genre. Describing the experience designer Brian Reynolds got working on Civilization II and Alpha Centauri influencing choices like the game's minimal micromanagement and differences from traditional RTS resource gathering, going on to describe how the game favors "aggressive, expansionist strategies," the advantages of a combat-oriented approach, different paths to power, the impact of technology, the eight eras the game will span, diplomacy, sea travel, and more. Included are six new screenshots.

Three more previews of G.I. Combat are online, each based on hands-on play with a post-E3 alpha version of Freedom Games' upcoming RTS successor to the Close Combat series. There is a screenshot-illustrated preview on The Adrenaline Vault where they describe the game's background, the interface, the makeup of the missions, objectives, giving orders, realism, the ratings of the individual soldiers, and more. There are also previews on MilitaryGamer Online and XGR, each offering a brief rundown on gameplay with a healthy dose of screenshots.

The Mark Jacobs Chat Log on UnknownPlayer.com recaps their recent IRC session with the president of Mythic Entertainment asking a huge list of questions about Dark Age of Camelot, the upcoming DAoC expansion, and their upcoming MMORPG Imperator. The log has much of the extraneous stuff edited out (but includes a load of kick messages at the end in case you were missing the authentic experience). Also, there's an Age of Wonders 2 chat log on Gamers.nl Site of Wonders recapping their IRC session discussing Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne, Triumph Studios' upcoming strategy game sequel, and contrary to our original assumption, it looks like most of the proceedings actually took place in English, rather than Dutch.

• Iritor Online
  Iritor Online challenges MMORPG players to survive on a hostile, alien world on GameZone.com is a Q&A with Markus Fuhrmann, president of Vienna, Austria-based Wootsoft Entertainment, discussing Iritor Online, their upcoming science fiction MMORPG.
• Piers Anthony
  HomeLan Fed's Piers Anthony Q&A chats with the famed science fiction author about his contribution to Dragon Empires, Codemasters' upcoming MMORPG, as well as other gaming projects based on his work, and games in general.
• MindArk
  There's a MindArk Q&A on GameSpyDaily discussing their recent announcement that they had been raided to investigate allegations they were using unlicensed software from Microsoft and other companies.

Activision sends along the public source code distribution for Return to Castle Wolfenstein, available from our local mirrors page. This mere 1.2 MB download only includes the multiplayer code updated to version 1.33, and as with the original code release (story) this is not supported by any of the companies involved.

GameSpot's Morrowind Q&A chats with Todd Howard of Bethesda Softworks about Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind about both versions of the game, focusing a bit on the complexities of creating the Xbox version. Also, the Tribes: Aerial Assault Preview on PS2.IGN.Com looks at the upcoming PlayStation2 TRIBES game, offering hands-on impressions, new screenshots, new gameplay movies, and more.

Console Reviews

• Shadow Man: 2econd Coming (PS2) on Game Over.
• Star Wars Jedi Starfighter (Xbox) on GamesFirst.

A new version 5.9 of the Eternal Arena modification for Quake III Arena is now available. According to the update: "the main addition in this version is the new Vadrigar Admin system, but there's added support for anti-camping, player name protection a new match ingame menu and some new server cvars."

The Dungeon Siege website now offers a new tutorial on creating and editing custom scenarios for Gas Powered Games' RPG, as Siege University now offers Siege University - 210 - Sounds, which "looks at how sounds work in Dungeon Siege and covers placing sounds with the Siege Editor and understanding material and voice sounds."

An updated set of Command & Conquer Renegade tools (23.7 MB - direct FTP download) has been released, though no details are available about what's new or changed.

HomeLan Fed's Thievery UT Q&A chats with the project leader on Thievery, the just-released stealthy Unreal Tournament modification. Also, BeyondUnreal's UT Jailbreak Q&A talks with a few of the members of the team behind the UT JailBreak modification.

• Age of Wonders II: the Wizard's Throne on Electric Playground.
• Dark Planet: Battle for Natrolis on GamesFirst.
• F1 2002 on GameSpot.
• Grand Prix 4 on MGON.
• Grand Theft Auto III on Lost Hours and Geekshelter.
• Hitchcock: the Final Cut on GamesFirst.
• Neverwinter Nights on BarrysWorld, NeverWinter Connections, and (first impressions) on PC Gameworld.
• Operation Blockade on GamersClick
• Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix on GamesFirst.
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind on Gaming Horizon.
• The Sum of All Fears on Sharky Extreme.

• EverQuest II on Ferrago.co.uk.

• Antec Plus 1080 Case on Bjorn3d.com.
• Dynatron DY1206BH-625 HSF on TweakTown.
• EPoX 4G4A+ Motherboard on Overclockers Online.
• Vantec Stealth Case Fans on Mikhailtech.

• RPG Vault's Earth & Beyond Diary #3 offers a day in the life of Westwood audio director Paul Mudra as he works on the sounds in their upcoming MMORPG...
• This NovaLogic Survey looks to get answers to a variety questions about first-person shooter gameplay...
• FTC issues new report on game marketing on GameSpot has word the FTC has issued the third follow-up review of its September 2000 Report to Congress concerning the marketing of violent entertainment to children...
• Modforce.com now offers downloads of "An incredible Daemon Mesh with some nifty animations" for Freedom Force, Irrational's superhero game...

The weekend is quite the welcome development here. My tooth extraction is fading in the rear-view mirror, but I'm still sort of hovering between a sore jaw when the pain-killers wear off and a knotted stomach when they are in full effect, so I'm looking forward to escaping from it all with a good nap or two. I know... an ambitious plan, but I think with enough grit and determination, I can pull it off.

Story of the Day: Deer Attacks Driver At Gas Pump. Thanks Ridge.
Story of the Day II: Freezing mountaineer saved by telemarketer. Thanks zombie69.
Headline of the Day: Arthurs Knocks Out Dent. Straight out of the Hitchhiker's Guide. Thanks David Dooley.
Wild Science: Boeing's BWB -- a Super-Efficient Bat Jet. Thanks [MP] Wolverine [MP].