A new version 1.1 patch for No One Lives Forever 2 is now available to address a sound issue that they say exhibits itself on systems with "unusual configurations." The patch has not yet found its way onto Sierra's just-revamped No One Lives Forever 2 Website, but is available from Sierra's FTP server (3.3 MB direct link), and despite the specific nature of what the patch addresses, this is described as a "required update." Update: this patch is now listed in the site's news section.

The Unreal Technology Website has word they are beta testing a "cut-down dedicated server only version that is freely available for any server." To be able to download the approximately 265 MB file to participate in the testing requires subscribing to the ut2003 server admin mailing list by sending an email to majordomo@epicgames.com with the words "subscribe ut2003servers" in the body of the message.

Planets and People of Mercs pt. 1 on PC.IGN.Com is now online (dated yesterday... seems they are having problems with their publishing system) kicks off a series of articles looking at what to expect from MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries, the next MW game. This new group of articles will take a "gander at the planets and mercenary sponsors that will make the world of Mercs what it is. Each planet has missions. Each group has advantages and disadvantages." Today's installment focuses on the origins and concept behind the Gray Death Legion.

Eidos Interactive sends word that Hitman 2 should be sneaking into retail outlets across the US for the PC, PS2, and Xbox. To celebrate, they have released the final gameplay trailer showing off IO Interactive's hired assassination sequel in both streaming format and for download. In further shipping news, EA sends word that NHL 2003 is in stores for the PC and GameCube, with the PS2 version expected to ship in less than a week (October 8). On a further semi-related note, word on NBA Live 2003 is that the console versions will ship October 8 and the PC version will follow on October 15.

Vivendi Universal Publishing announces the acquisition of a Sweden based development studio Massive Entertainment has word that NDA Productions, a studio of Vivendi Universal Games, the games division of media giant Vivendi Universal Publishing, has acquired Massive Entertainment, the Sweden-based developer of Ground Control. Terms of the agreement are not revealed.

Delta Force: Black Hawk Down Moves to November 2002 is a press release with word that release of the next installment in the Delta Force series has been pushed back a month "to place more focus on mission complexity, the improved AI system and the multiplayer co-operative mission mode." The game's U.S. release date is now November 19, 2002.

EverQuest European Invasion is the press release announcing plans for localized European servers for EverQuest, Verant and Sony Online Entertainment's fantasy MMORPG, saying "The European version of EverQuest will be available in English, French and German languages from November 21." They are currently seeking active participants for a beta test of the service to launch later this month, applications are being accepted on EQLoft. Accompanying the announcement are two new screenshots, and there's a Q&A about all this on Worthplaying.

EVE Online: The Second Genesis Rescheduled for Q1 2003 is the press release announcing that, having secured a European publishing deal, this outer-space MMOG is now slated for a March 2003 release in both Europe and North America. The press release also describes how they plan to add a number of new accounts to the game's ongoing beta test, and caps off with details about an IRC session to discuss the game this evening at 6:00 PM EDT on irc.stratics.com Port: 6667 Channel: #eve-online, which, ironically directly competes with tonight's Earth & Beyond chat (story), which is discussing a direct competitor to this game.

Destroy the 'Axis of evil' in PC Game Real War: Rogue States Now Available at Retailers Nationwide is the press release with word on the U.S. availability of the follow-up to Real War, Rival Interactive's RTS game based on a project originally created for the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. Here's their quick description of the game: "In this modern military RTS the United States has learned that the Independent Liberation Army (ILA) is being backed by a rogue state. It was thought the ILA was destroyed, but this new sponsor has re-energized the ILA and equipped it with even more lethal technology. The gamer's task is to destroy this alliance and punish the offending country."

AmericasArmyFiles.com now offers downloads of the Weapons Cache and JRTC_Farm Map Pack for America's Army: Operations, the Unreal-engine army shooter. The 3.3 MB pack is authored by the original America's Army development team, and includes two new maps.

This Infogrames Support Page offers downloads of a new version 3.32 patch for the retail version of Tactical Ops: Assault On Terror. There is a long list of changes in the 17 MB patch, and word is this patch does not apply to the original freeware version of this Unreal Tournament modification.

EA's Battlefield 1942 Website has a new update thanking those who are playing their World War II shooter for making their launch successful, going on to outline outstanding issues and their to do list of what they are working on. Here's most of the post:

To Do List Update
For those of you who have shared your thoughts on where we need to go next with BF1942... keep 'em coming. While we can't answer everyone's feedback personally, we are taking notes. As it stands our "To Do" list is pretty big.

At the top of the list:
- Linux Server
- 1.2 Patch
- Map Editor
- Mod Tools

We also have some updated information about the top list items. The Linux Server is currently going through the debug process and we're working hard to get it out as soon as possible. The 1.2 patch will address many of the issues which have been brought up on the forums and boards concerning bandwidth optimization, client prediction tweaking and general stability (sorry, Digger, we're not going to add a grappling hook!) The patch will also deliver the highly anticipated Map Editor. As for other mod tools, we're looking at what it would take to modify the existing dev tools for the mod-community. Stay tuned for more updates.

GameSpy.com's Age of Mythology Preview takes a look at Ensemble Entertainment's upcoming RTS game. They discuss the all new 3D game engine, impressive new effects it offers, the three playable sides and their accompanying unique features, resource management, god powers, units, hero units, the impact of population limits, game balance in the preview build they got to play with, and more. Included are some new screenshots.

• Rogue States
  There's a Real War: Rogue States Preview on Worthplaying with a look at Rival Interactive's upcoming RTS sequel. They discuss gameplay, sounds, graphics, multiplayer support, AI, and more.
• Gothic II
  There's a Gothic II preview on pixelrage offering the English version of their look at Piranha Bytes' RPG sequel. They discuss the game's setting and story, how gameplay follows the style of the original, character creation, AI, and more.
• Combat Flight Simulator 3
  HomeLan Fed's Combat Flight Simulator 3 Preview offer impressions of Microsoft's upcoming flying combat game, describing the World War II setting, the dynamic campaign, featured aircraft, graphics, and more.

RPG Vault's City of Heroes Design Journal #8 offers thoughts from lead designer Rick Dakan on their upcoming superhero MMORPG discussing what he calls "The Bite-Sized Experience" of making their game enjoyable and satisfying for players who are not willing or able to spend the inordinate amount of time on the game that so many MMO games demand. He describes the challenges in pleasing both these casual players and the more hardcore types, how their mission system accommodates this, their break from tying everything in the game to leveling up, and hints about a third aspect of this plan that they are not prepared to reveal at the moment. Also, GameSpy.com's UFO Aftermath Developer Diary #4 is written by ALTAR Interactive's Martin Klima who discusses soldiering on in development of their upcoming counter-UFO game in spite of the loss of their publishing deal. He describes the first hints that there was a problem in this regard (when their checks started being delayed), discusses the economics of game development, and holds out hope that a happy ending will be in place for his next diary. He goes on to describe their optimism that the game is still on track for a release in the first quarter of next year, offering a brief preview of gameplay.

There's a chat session with Westwood's Earth & Beyond developers planned for today at 6:00 PM EDT to discuss their newly-launched MMORPG. The Earth And Beyond Portal has a list of some of the questions to be asked, but are holding back on what IRC channel this will be in until closer to the time of the chat.

• Final Score
  HomeLan Fed's Final Score Q&A talks with several folks at Sunstorm Interactive about Final Score, their upcoming life of crime game. Topics include the idea behind the project, the popularity of crime games, the storyline, locations, missions, weapons and items, enemies, UGEs, mod support, target platforms, and more.
• BloodRayne
  Seven Questions with Liz Buckley about BloodRayne on The Gamers Press catches up with the product manager at Majesco as they practice their arithmetic by asking an seven question Q&A (which contains eight questions) about the third-person action game. They discuss the game's inspirations, weapons, BloodRayne's vampire abilities, and more.
• NFS: Hot Pursuit 2
  There's a Need For Speed : Hot Pursuit 2 Q&A on InGaming.com talking with Andy Abramovici, producer on the upcoming car chase game discussing "game play, sound & music, some tidbits on the PC version, and more." Included are some new screenshots.

Schorah takes the reins at Rage on gamesindustry.biz has the follow-up on yesterday's Rage news (story), reporting: "Rage veteran John Schorah is the new managing director at Rage, taking over from Paul Finnegan who will remain at the company as executive deputy chairman, but will now be focusing on new venture Swordfish Studios - which is set to buy out Rage's Birmingham development studio." A further report on gamesindustry.biz reports that "Infogrames has cut around 60 percent of its European workforce according to a report in French newspaper Les Echos. After posting disappointing financials last month, Infogrames was forced to re-evaluate its position and move to save as much as 25 million euros (£15.7m) a year."

• Chip Maker AMD Warns on 3Q Sales.
• There's an Introduction to Multithreading, Superthreading and Hyperthreading on Ars Technica.
• Professor posts digital device hit list. Thanks Mike Martinez.
• Building a better computer mouse. Thanks Mike Martinez.

A new version 2.0 of Laser Squad Nemesis is now available, introducing the dreaded Spawn ("a fearsome and rapacious alien species who bring another dimension to the tactical melting pot") to this play-by-email game of UFO combat in the spirit of X-COM.

More than 18 months following their previous release, The QuakeForge Project (thanks Jacek Fedoryñski) has a new version 0.5.2 of the QuakeForge modified version of the Quake source code. The new release offers rendering enhancements, engine enhancements, a new code compiler, enhanced console scripting, enhanced speed cheat protection, and general enhancements, which include the return of NetQuake to the mix.

The Server Watch Plugins Page now offers a new plug-in with Battlefield 1942 support. The page lists a couple of issues about the reports this produces, which are actually bugs in the game, rather than the plug-in. They also have a new version of their ICMP ping plug-in utility.

There's an unofficial Morrowind Guide for download in Adobe Acrobat-format on the Stratos Group offering a printer-friendly version of their tips for the Elder Scrolls RPG. Also, there's a guide on SimHQ.com outlining how to become a successful simulation pilot.

iGames is still accepting registrations for the various pre-qualifiers for the CPL's upcoming $100,000 Counter-Strike Winter 2002 Championship. They have also announced that event will also host an Unreal Tournament 2003 $30,000 Championship. Also, today marks the beginning of the CPL Europe's Oslo Event, conducted "in partnership with the Oslolan at the Norway Trade Fairs in Lillestrøm." Also, teamwarfare.com has opened their UT2003 ladders.

The stream of releases on the Unreal Technology website continues, as "A fix is now available to run the UT2003 Editor under Win98 and WinME."

• Another War on Computer and Video Games.
• Earth 2150: Lost Souls on ELiTeD.net.
• Empire Earth: the Art of Conquest on Video Game News.
• Emperor: Rise of Middle Kingdom on GameSpot AU and Games Domain.
• IL-2 Sturmovik on MonkeyReview.
• Incoming Forces on GameSpot.
• Mafia (in German) on YiYas.
• Medieval: Total War on Gamers Pulse.
• No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way on GameSpy.com.
• Sniper: Path of Vengeance on Gamer's Hell.
• Strange Adventures in Infinite Space on GameSpot AU.
• The Thing on Four Fat Chicks.
• Unreal Tournament 2003 on Gaming Invasion and ActionRealm.

• Asus AGP-V8460 Ultra Deluxe Video Card on got apex.
• ECS AG400 - Xabre 400 Video Card on Sudhian Media.
• ESGN Nanotherm Silver Thermal Paste on OverclockersClub.
• Everglide Optical Mousepads on SubZeroTech.
• Lite-On 48-24-48 CD-RW on Techware Labs.
• Logitech MX Mice Round-up on Gamers Depot.
• Matrox Parhelia Video Card on Viper's Lair.
• Thermaltake Volcano 9 Cooler on PC Abusers.
• Vantec Temperature Controlled Thermoflow (in video) on 3dGameMan.

• Game Company Gives UK Drivers Free Ticket to Speed (thanks Chris Keander). From the folks that brought you 'name your baby Turok'...
• The Casino Empire Demo on FilePlanet (registration required) is a sampler of this management sim that puts players in the role of a casino manager...

There is a follow-up to that FairPlay campaign mentioned here the other day on gamesindustry.biz (thanks The Register and Tahldain), among other things, offering quotes from a couple of those quoted on the campaign's website, including Peter Molyneux, who says: "The quote from me that appears on the FairPlay site was given in 1996." The article offers views on the subject in stark contrast to those presented in the website's campaign.

Link of the Day:	The Official Mach 5 Website. Thanks Tarhoraan.
Weird Science:	Stock market shock explained. Thanks Mike Martinez. Penis size 'not linked to feet'. Thanks Amvil.
Wild Science:	New telescope as big as Earth itself. Thanks Mike Martinez. Morocco's miracle mule. Thanks Shafty.
Image of the Day:	Quake Cake. Thanks N|Lost_One.
Auction of the Day:	Kevin Mitnick's Laptop Seized by FBI. Thanks Jacek Fedoryñski.
Follow-up:	Blondes Headed for Extinction UN Agency Demurs. Thanks Nighthawk.