Tom Clancy (actually it was one of his minions) sends word of plans to release a patch next week to address some issues with Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield. They included the release notes from the patch, which is primarily intended to address "some of the difficulties players have encountered with the CD Key system."

Action Vault's Homeworld 2 Diary #1 begins a new series of developer journals for Relic Entertainment's upcoming space strategy sequel. This entry, written by assistant producer Geoff Thomas, discusses pre-production planning, focusing on the attention given to creating the game's visual style. He describes the considerations that go into this sort of planning, and shows off the results with a few screenshots.

• Greyhawk
  RPG Vault Greyhawk The Temple of Elemental Evil Q&A #1 kicks off another of their one question group Q&As, asking the folks at Troika Games the following: "Speaking as a gamer, what are a couple of things you find particularly interesting, memorable or otherwise noteworthy about the Greyhawk campaign world in general or the Temple of Elemental Evil module in particular?"
• Republic
  There's a Republic: The Revolution Interview on Computer and Video Games talking face-to-face with Elixir's Demis Hassabis about their upcoming game of political insurgency. The conversation goes into a good deal of detail on what to expect from gameplay.
• Wish
  The Wish Q&A on Gamers Pulse chats with Mutable Realms about their upcoming MMORPG. Included are three new screenshots.

More site seeing, as publisher JoWood has opened the official Chaser Website, dedicated to Cauldron's upcoming first-person shooter. Included is an overview of the game, a FAQ, screenshots, and more.

The Aspyr Website has details on their plan to bring Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 to both the PC and Mac platforms. They promise "the deepest and most challenging gameplay experience in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series. The game's enhanced career mode allows players to earn respect and the chance to take on all new pro goals by conquering a skater-specific Pro Challenge based on each skater's personal history." The site has screenshots, preliminary system requirements, and pre-order links. Word is that PC and Mac demos are each in the works.

Ubi Soft sends word that the Warlords 4: Heroes of Etheria Website has gone live, "dedicated to anything and everything about Warlords IV." The site offers the latest screenshots from the game, a product description of the upcoming RTS/RPG hybrid, and the game's official forum.

• Lionheart on RPG Vault.
• Rubies of Eventide on RPG Vault.
• X² - The Threat on Action Vault.

The official Pirates of the Caribbean Website has launched, dedicated to the upcoming buccaneer-themed RPG formerly known as Sea Dogs II. The site offers details about what's planned for the game, and also features some new screenshots from both the PC and Xbox versions of the game. In addition, Bethesda Softworks has released some higher-resolution versions of the new shots from the site, so here are the high resolution PC Screenshots. Also newly launched is the BlowOut Official Website, for KaosKontrol's side-scrolling action game, offering info, shots, gameplay movies, and more. Finally, Codemasters' IndyCar Series Website has launched, showing off their upcoming open-wheel racing game.

This week's gameplay movie is now available on the Lock On: Modern Air Combat Website. Since there was no movie released last Thursday, this week's movie is a bit longer than usual, showing off "a sparring match between a German MiG-29 and a US F-5 aggressor. The fight develops into a classic flat scissors." Also, a new One Must Fall: Battlegrounds Video is now available (thanks Worthplaying), showing off the Jaguar from the upcoming robot combat game in action.

Strategy First sends word that they've signed on as North American publisher for World War II: Frontline Command, Bitmap Brothers WW2 RTS game that's due in stores May of this year. Here's the word: "'We are very pleased to be publishing a game from the distinguished Bitmap Brothers, who have a reputation for being a top quality development studio, ' says Steve Wall, Vice President Acquisitions for Strategy First. 'World War II: Frontline Command is a perfect fit for SFI's lineup and we're looking forward to bringing another outstanding strategy title to the market, as well as fostering a long relationship with Bitmap Brothers.'"

On the heels of the game's official announcement we learn that the official Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy Website is online, still containing traces of information that at one point there was a plan to call the game "Star Wars Jedi Knight: A Jedi's Legacy." The site offers a feature list along with some screenshots, concept art, and renderings of models.

LucasArts' Highly Acclaimed Jedi Knight Series Returns With Star Wars Jedi Knight Jedi Academy for PC and Xbox is the press release announcing the upcoming follow-up to Dark Forces and Jedi Knight II that's been the subject of much conversation lately. The announcement answers questions about what title the game will carry, making consistent the inconsistency shown in the naming convention of the prior two games by calling the game Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. Word on the game, being developed (like its predecessor) at Raven Software, is that it's due in the fall of this year. Here's a bit more:

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is a dynamic single and multiplayer action experience featuring an all-new epic story. Players are immersed in the role of apprentice at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy where they learn the power -- and danger -- of the Force. Amidst a multitude of complex and richly detailed Star Wars environments, including twice as many unique locales as those in Star Wars: Jedi Outcast, players face a variety of powerful and insidious enemies.

For the first time in a Jedi Knight series game, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy allows players to create and customize their own characters by choosing various characteristics including species, gender, clothing, and physical attributes such as hair and facial features. In addition, players can create a custom lightsaber, selecting from hilt and blade color. As apprentices progress in their training, different lightsabers will become available, such as the double-bladed lightsaber or dual lightsabers.

A new patch for Mafia is now available, updating Illusion Softworks' life of crime game to version 1.1. The update is available for the English (direct link), German (direct link), and French (direct link) versions of the game. Thanks Tiscali Games, where they've posted mirrors of the English version of the 17 MB patch.

NovaLogic sends news that they have signed a contract to add an additional 100 Mbit/sec of bandwidth to the NovaWorld Games Network to increase quality of service. Word is: "'This additional bandwidth is in response to the unprecedented demand seen with the launch of Delta Force - Black Hawk Down,' commented Lee Milligan, President of NovaLogic. 'All NovaWorld users will see the benefits of this additional bandwidth when it is brought online,' he added. 'We expect the provisioning and configuration of the new bandwidth will be completed within the coming weeks.'"

There are Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne Impressions on The Wargamer offering thoughts on the beta of Blizzard's upcoming RTS sequel. They describe new units, subtle interface tweaks, balancing that's being conducted during the beta test, how much fun they are having playing, and the absence of technical glitches like crashes or bugs.

A Ballerium Chat is scheduled for today to catch up with some of the developers at Majorem, the Israeli company at work on this upcoming MMORTS. The IRC chat is on the server chat.stratics.com (port 6667) in the channel #BalleriumHoC. The topic will be the "Ballerium Beta." Everything gets underway at 3:00 PM EST.

Trouble ahead for Xbox Live on CNN Money in which author Chris Morris puts on this 'Kathy from Time-Life Books' headset to examine the future of Microsoft's Xbox live service, and their ability to retain subscribers in light of the delay to Halo 2, planned as a cornerstone of the service, and the ever-dimmer prospects of Xbox live games from Electronic Arts. Also, HomeLan Fed's Dead Man's Hand Q&A talks with Human Head's Timothy Gerritsen about Dead Man's Hand, their just-announced western-themed Unreal-engine shooter for the Xbox, learning along the way that they are apparently a sub-set of the Borg: "Everyone at Human Head is a creative person."

AM:3D DieselPower for Hitman 2 - Silent Assassin is a module to take advantage of 3D sound support in IO Interactive's assassination sequel. Here's the deal: "Hitman 2 has native support for DieselPower which gives you natural smooth 3D sound with full spherical directional perception, giving you the ability to completely pin-point your friends and foes with a blistering accuracy. Even though DieselPower supports other playback setups, all you require is a set of standard headphones to perceive true 3D sound in all directions." Thanks Greg W.

GameSpy.com's Horizons Preview discusses Artifact Entertainment's upcoming MMORPG based on getting the game demonstrated for them by producer Steve Snow. The article offers some quotes, screenshots, puns, along with impressions of the graphics, gameplay, and ability to play as a dragon, pointing out: "Players will have to 'earn their wings' through a series of in-game missions before they can mature into a fully-fledged terror of the skies."

HomeLan Fed's Enigma: Rising Tide Developer's Journal - Part 15 resumes the ongoing series from Tesseraction Games' Blake Hutchins, who reflects on the work to create the boxed retail version of the game, which is to appear in stores soon. Here's a bit: "GMX had a few suggestions for a boxed retail version of the game – all of which were features we'd already been working on, to our great relief. Among those things were a more robust campaign story, punched-up special effects, some art and AI tweaks, and a payoff at for those stalwarts who reach the end of a campaign. Oh, and they also wanted a capital ship of some kind. They wanted battlecruisers."

• Asheron's Call 2
  The Asheron's Call 2 Fallen Kings Q&A on PC.IGN.Com talks with executive producer Jessica Mulligan "about the past, present and future of this stunning MMORPG" on the occasion of the sequel passing its 100 day birthday.
• Harbinger
  Stratos Group's Harbinger Q&A chats with Silverback Entertainment's Andy Muir about their science fiction RPG.
• Shadows of Undrentide
  There's a Neverwinter Nights Shadows of Undrentide Q&A on CRPG.RU talking with BioWare's Darcy Pajak and Tom Ohle about the upcoming NWN add-on. Also, two new spells and a new dragon screenshot have been added to the Neverwinter Nights Website (thanks Neverwinter Vault).
• Geneforge
  There's a Geneforge 2 Q&A on RPG Codex talking with Jeff Vogel of Spiderweb Software about their RPG sequel.
• Inquisitor
  RPG Vault's Inquisitor Q&A quizzes five of the members of the development team at Wooden Dragon about their upcoming action/RPG "inspired by The Name of the Rose."
• LO-MAC
  The LO-MAC Q&A on ImpactGamer.com talks with Eagle Dynamics about the development of Lock On: Modern Air Combat, covering "a variety of topics including user end modification and campaign gameplay."
• Gaming U
  GameSpy.com's Gaming University Volume X features Raven's Kenn Hoekstra answering more reader-submitted questions about gaining entrance into the gaming industry.

This Wanadoo Support Page (thanks YiYas) offers a patch for the German, French, Spanish and U.K. versions of Inquisition, the action infiltration game. Among other things, this patch changes the way game saving and loading works. The patch is a 2.7 MB download.

• Lethal Dreams on RPG Vault.
• Xenus on Action Vault.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Version 7.2.1 of CPUCooL is now available. Thanks File Flash.
• ATI ships RADEON™ 9800 PRO, fulfills delivery promise. Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Holes found in RealPlayer, QuickTime. On a related note Ant points out a new version 6.1 of QuickTime is now available.
• Phoenix rises from Mozilla's ashes.
• Pizza Box or IMac? No, an IBox!
• Office for schools tempts consumers.
• Booze to Fuel Gadget Batteries.
• Microsoft dials in Internet telephony.

There's a Republic competition on Novistrana.com (the Government in the game) offering the opportunity to be a character within the game when it ships. Also, Halo Truth and Reconciliation has details about their search for "America's Biggest Halo Fan" who will be awarded a trip to the Bungie Fan Fest and get the chance to be among the first to play Halo on the PC.

• 1503 A.D.: the New World on Gameplanet NZ.
• Delta Force: Black Hawk Down on Gamezilla and netjak.
• Devastation on GameZone.
• Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project on Game Industry.
• Freelancer on Stratos Group and netjak.
• Harbinger on Worthplaying.
• IGI 2: Covert Strike on Adrenaline Vault, Ferrago.co.uk, and Game Revolution.
• Iron Storm on Wewp! Entertainment.
• Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis on Gameraiders.
• Line of Sight: Vietnam on Hidden and Dangerous II @ MMGN.
• Marble Blast on Gamer's Pulse.
• Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance on Gaming Illustrated.
• NASCAR Racing 2003 Season on Gameraiders.
• New World Order on GameSpot and GameZone.
• Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield on ImpactGamer and UGO.com.
• Splinter Cell (in German) on YiYas.
• The Sims Online on Ferrago.co.uk.
• Vietcong on Gamers Depot and GameSpot.

• Antec LANBOY Aluminum Case on Overclocker Cafe.
• Abit NF7-M nForce2 Motherboard on Active Hardware.
• AMS gITX Case on SFF TECH.
• Antec Performance Plus 1080AMG - SOHO File Server Case on OcPrices.
• Aguatec Blue Ice CP-102 aka Water-X on [M]adshrimps.
• ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, BFG Asylum GeForce FX 5800 Ultra Video Cards on PC Magazine.
• Chaintech 7NIF2 Summit Motherboard on Nexus Hardware.
• Corsair TWINX Dual Channel Memory Kit on Viper's Lair.
• Crazy PC Case Badge Light on ExtensionTech.net.
• DTek TC-4 Waterblock on Monster-Hardware.
• Enermax CS-317 Case on BurnOutPc.com.
• Epox EP-8RGA+ Motherboard (in video) on 3dGameMan.com.
• Gainward Ultra-1000 GeForceFX Ultra Video Card (Preview) on GamePC.
• Labtec Spin-50 Speakers on ExtensionTech.net.
• Samsung Spinpoint SP1203N Hard Drive on MonkeyReview.
• StarTech 450W PSU on MODSYNERGY.COM.
• SunBeamTech Lazer LED on SubZeroTech.
• X-Dreamer ATX Mid-Tower Case w/Window on OverClock Intelligence Agency.
• Zalman ZM-80A Passive Video Cooler on Gaming in 3D.

• The latest issue of Computer Games Magazine reveals Pop Top Software's plans to create Railroad Tycoon III, which will be a 3D game. Thanks HomeLan Fed...
• Software group: Antipiracy helps economies. Thanks Mike Martinez...
• Gaming gems lurking at bottom of bargain bin. Thanks devilbunny...

HotHardware.Com's Vintage PC Collection offers some blast-from-the-past vintage PC pin-ups. Good nostalgia for us proto-geeks... they don't have my old Atari 800XL, but I got a warm glow just looking at the photo of the Texas Instruments Ti-99/4A, and, of course, the Commodore 64. I have a virtually new Commodore 128 I picked up a few years ago... I have to bust that bad boy out one of these days and see if it fires up... Loderunner anyone?

Play Time:	Etch-A-Sketch. Thanks Mike Martinez. Someone sent this in already, but it was down when I checked it.
Link of the Day:	Top 100 April Fools' Day Hoaxes of All Time. Thanks Zdim. The dullest blog in the world. Thanks Buclerpp.
Stories of the Day:	N.Y. Museum's Sleek New Big Blue. Thanks Mike Martinez. Los Angeles Times - Editor's Note. Thanks Chris Johnson. Wonder how often this goes on? TechdirtIs? Your Television Watching You. Thanks Mike Martinez.
Auction of the Day:	Kawasaki KLR 650 World Tourer.
Follow-up:	Hacker cracks Xbox challenge. Thanks Mike Martinez.