There's a Rise of Nations Preview on GameSpy.com with impressions of Big Huge games' upcoming RTS offering. They offer impressions on the level of innovation offered, macro- and micromanagement, the interface, technology, nations, cities, AI, combat, scaling unit costs, resources, how the promised quicker games than the typical RTS may not be a reality, the game's high level of detail and complexity, and more. Also, the Rise of Nations Showcase on PC.IGN.Com is the fifth installment in this extensive series, this time out focusing on some of the game's more conventional units.

• Impossible Creatures
  CanadianGamer.ca Impossible Creatures Interview is another audio Q&A from the Canuck gaming site conducted at Fragapalooza, this time discussing Relic's upcoming RTS game with designer Damon Gauthier. The conversation can be downloaded as an 8.4 MB .mp3 file, or streamed via RealPlayer.
• Hannibal
  HomeLan Fed's Hannibal Q&A catches up with Arxel Tribe to discuss progress on their upcoming game based on the exploits of one of film and literature's favorite anti-heroes, Hannibal Leckter. They discuss the appeal of this property, whether the subject matter limits their audience, how the story relates to the movie, characters, settings, UGEs, working with the LithTech engine, and more.
• Dragon Empires
  There's a Dragon Empires Q&A on RPGRadar talking with Codemasters' Peter Tyson about their upcoming MMORPG. Topic include their dynamic game world, the difficulties implementing a story in this type of game, goals for the game, the graphics, the interface, clans, balance issues, and more.

• Dan's Data letters #16 and Dan's Data letters #17 are each online, answering more pressing techie questions.

Bombardiers.org has posted a few new articles offering tips on how to succeed at their namesake game mode, UT2003's Bombing Run, including advice on how to grab the ball from behind the goal in Bifrost, the art of Bombing Run defense, and how to dominate BR-TwinTombs.

• Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings on Gamezilla and Star Wars Galaxies Warcry.
• Gothic II (in German) on JustGamers.de.
• Medal of Honor: Allied Assault Spearhead (in German) on GamersUnitedNetwork.
• RalliSport Challenge on GameFeeder.net.

• 1COOLPC Video-1-120 Cooler on Adrian's Rojak Pot.
• ActiveCool AC4G Cooler on [M]adshrimps.
• AeroCool Hercules HSF on bit-tech.
• Antec Performance Plus 1080AMG Case on Techconnect.
• CaseAce Geargrip LCD Harness and LT Case Carrier on TweakNews.net.
• CoolCaseMods Multicoloured Cold Cathode on PCArena.net.
• Lightstrip Accent Lighting on Systemcooling.com.
• TwinMOS DDR400 PC3200 on Guru3D.com.
• Vantec Nexus Fan Speed Controller on Viper's Lair.
• Vantec Nexus Multifunction Panel on Nexus Hardware.
• Western Digital's 80GB SE Hard Drive on PC Gaming Xtreme Network.

• Endless Ages is offering a five day free trial of their MMO FPS/RPG, no credit card required...
• Will Sims Online alter gaming world? Thanks Mike Martinez...
• Adventure Gamers has posted a rumor that LucasArts is planning a collection called 'The Entertainment Pack,' which will feature versions of Grim Fandango, The Dig, Full Throttle, and Sam & Max updated to run under Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP!...

Continued from yesterday: "...until the weekend." 1976 Dave Edmunds (and Nick Lowe/Rockpile). Since we didn't have a winner, this week's jackpot of $0 will be added to next week's. .

Play Time:	Tattoodles Postcard Generator. Thanks Adam.
Story of the Day:	Studios Sue Companies That Sanitize DVDs. Thanks [MP] Wolverine [MP].
Wild Science:	Duck! It's a Low-Flying Gigaplane. Thanks Mike Martinez. 'Firefly' display could light up TVs. Thanks Mike Martinez.
Weird Science:	Pedal-Powered Internet (NY Times free registration required). Thanks Jonathan C. Forster.