The Neocron Homepage now offers a 10 day free trial version of Reakktor Media's sci-fi MMORPG. Participating will require submitting credit card information and submitting to a 1.3 GB download, but no charges to your card will be made if you cancel your account before the 11th day.

GameSpyDaily has a story up teasing the announcement of Middle Earth Online tomorrow, saying more details on the planned MMO Tolkien game will be made available tomorrow, and that the game will be shown off "behind closed doors" at E3. What they are revealing for the time being is that the game is expected sometime in 2004.

Sierra has relaunched the Lords of the Realm Home that first opened its virtual doors back when the game was first announced (story). Celebrating the event, there is a new trailer of Impressions' upcoming RTS game.

The NDA referenced earlier has expired, and the first web-based Half-Life 2 previews have begun appearing. There are now previews of Half-Life 2 in (alphabetically): Computer and Video Games, GameSpot, GameSpy, PC.IGN.Com, and Shacknews, . Each article is based on seeing a some proof of concept demonstrations, offering their individual impressions and a shared pool of screenshots, which are also posted here locally. There are also plentiful developer quotes scattered throughout, offering the first details about gameplay in the shooter sequel. Here's a bit from the GameSpot article, as we're impressed by how the NDA seems to have been crafted to fit the big dog's daily publishing schedule. They refute some rumors and shed light on the game's true target platform:

In case you were wondering, the game is also being built, first and foremost, for the PC. Leading up to the official announcement from Valve that Half-Life 2 would be publicly displayed for the first time at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in May 2003, rumors spread far and wide about what the game would and wouldn't be. One of the more popular rumors was that, much like how Bungie Software moved development of its outstanding first-person shooter, Halo, from the PC to the Xbox, so would Valve switch to focusing on console development. Newell laughed this off--no, Half-Life 2 will be a PC game. At first. Newell did confirm that an Xbox version, at least, will follow suit, though there's no hard release date for it yet. At any rate, Newell emphasized that the success of the original Half-Life can be attributed in no small part to the game's huge, worldwide following of PC owners. Valve would have to be downright foolish to abandon its huge installed base when making Half-Life 2.

There is a Thief III Preview GameSpot though they point out that this is just a working title for the sequel to Looking Glass' stealthy series currently in the works at ION Storm. The article offers a rundown on what to expect from the game, quotes from designer Randy Smith, screenshots, and a subscriber-only movie. Here is a bit on why the title may change:

One of the reasons Eidos would rather not put the "III" at the end of the title is the upcoming Thief game is intended to attract both new and old fans. Although the game loyally acknowledges previous events in Garrett's legendary career and builds upon this legacy, you won't have to be familiar with the earlier games to understand what's going on. From the beginning, Ion Storm conceived of Thief III as a game for the Xbox and the PC, and the game is being simultaneously developed from a shared code base so the team can quickly demonstrate a new build of the game on either platform.

An updated version of the Tropico 2: Pirate Cove demo is now available, now offering two full scenarios from the pirate-themed strategy game, compared with the single level from the first demo. The file is a 147 MB download, which can be found on FilePlanet (registration required) and Worthplaying.

This Project Three Interactive Downloads Page offers patches to upgrade various versions of New World Order to bring the first-person shooter up to version 1.41. The patches have been mirrored on 3D Gamers and Worthplaying. Here's word from Project Three: "This time we have really pulled out the stops - With patch 1.41 NWO is a lot faster, more stable, has drastically improved networking, new weapons behaviour and tweaks, added freeze-time and round-time, improved AI behaviour, server pass wording, admin login and the list just goes on and on and on! With 1.41 we also released the NWO_SAT - NWO Server Admin Tool. A windowed server launch tool that supports all NWO 1.41 features. This makes it easy to launch and monitor multiple servers to set up and arrange clan wars! As always, we will continue to add to and improve NWO further. We have many great things lined up!"

This FTP directory offers downloads of the demo for The Hulk, Radical Entertainment's upcoming PC game based on the exploits of everyone's favorite gamma-irradiated anti-hero. The 166 MB file has been mirrored on 3D Gamers, FilePlanet (registration required), FileShack (registration required), Gamer's Hell, Happy Puppy (registration required), and Worthplaying.

The Republic: The Revolution Website (Flash required) is offering downloads of a new game trailer (direct FTP link) showing off gameplay from Elixir Studios' upcoming power to the people game. The movie runs about 95 seconds in QuickTime format. The trailer has been mirrored on 3D Gamers, Gamer's Hell, and Worthplaying.

After much speculation (story), Codemasters targets three theatres of combat for Operation Flashpoint 2 is the press release announcing further details about the focus of Bohemia Interactive Studios' military shooter sequel. Speculation that this will be a Vietnam War game turns out to be only partially accurate, as that setting will be part of a three theater mix: "Codemasters today reveals that Operation Flashpoint 2, the sequel to the internationally acclaimed military action simulator, will feature three different theatres of combat set in environments across Southeast Asia, Central Europe and Africa. The game's mission-based campaigns will take gamers through fictional conflicts based upon authentic events during the years around 1970." That having been said, it does seem the main focus will indeed be Southeast Asia:

It's also revealed that an important part of the main campaign will focus on events from the Vietnam war in late 60s, when US forces in South Vietnam numbered over half a million. Missions will see players engaging in solo action, commanding a squad, driving military vehicles, or taking to the air in authentic 'copters and planes. Weapons and military and civilian mobile units are being accurately modelled from period military data.

Perhaps a few hours before the NDA on such content has actually expired, there's a Half-Life 2 preview on Gamesradar.com with a summary of the article in the current print issue of PC Gamer UK on the upcoming shooter sequel. The preview includes screenshots and some quotes from Valve about the project, which they say "has been in development ever since the original's release in October 1998." Here's a bit:

The new storyline has been penned by novelist Mark Laidlaw, the scriptwriter for the original Half-Life. Moreover it will span 12 chapters, each estimated at three to four hours each, making it even longer than the original game. The plot picks up an unspecified time after Half-Life and assumes, not unreasonably, that you chose to work for the sinister G-Man in the end, rather than be teleported back to the horrors of alien Xen. So now you're working for the men in black, your research papers left rotting deep within Black Mesa when you discovered your only option, bar certain death, was to become gun-bitch to a suit.

Update: It seems that the NDA Police got wind of this, and this article has now been yoinked.

A bit earlier than originally planned (story), CDV's "Blitzkrieg" Rolls into Stores Next Week (thanks Frans) announces: "CDV Software Entertainment, a leading publisher and distributor of gaming software, announces that "Blitzkrieg" for the PC will be available in North American retail stores on May 13. Players can assume their rightful place among great generals by commanding Allies, German or Soviets as they advance through the decisive battles of World War II. Rated "T" by the ESRB, more information about the title is available at www.cdv-blitzkrieg.com."

Valve's Day of Defeat for the PC Invades Retail Shelves Nationwide (thanks Frans) is the announcement that the retail version of the World War II Half-Life mod has stormed the beaches of stores throughout North America. Word is: "Day of Defeat features fifteen multiplayer maps and an incredible collection of historic weaponry that provide for an intense brand of team-based warfare. The game also includes all new character models, new animations, increased textures and particle effects system."

• Warhammer Online
  RPG Vault's Warhammer Online Q&A Part 2 talks further with Climax' Robin Dews, going into detail on how combat is handled in the upcoming MMO game based on the Warhammer universe.
• MMO Chatter
  Stratics Central's Industry Chatter catches up with eight MMO execs to ask the following group question: "Where do you see the Massive Multiplayer genre in ten years?"
• Pirates of the Caribbean
  HomeLan Fed's Pirates of the Caribbean Q&A talks with Akella's Renat Nezametdinov about their upcoming pirate game that's tied into the Disney movie of the same name.
• Afrika Korps
  The Afrika Korps Q&A on PC.IGN.Com talks with Battlefront.com about the upcoming third installment in their series of Combat Mission games, where "The North African desert and the mountainous Italian theater provide players with yet another unique twist to tactical ground combat."

GameSpy.com's Republic Preview offers first-hand impressions of Elixir's upcoming insurgency simulator. They go into detail about the nuts-and-bolts of gameplay, including the importance of being charming: "Republic's recruiting procedure emphasize charisma. It's basically a battle of wits represented by numbers. There are a series of eight key issues in a discussion, each with a point value. The key is to win enough of the key issues to convert the target. In this first case, my character had no problem convincing the gentleman of my just cause. He was added to my faction list and I now could control his actions in coming turns." There's also an updated Republic: The Revolution Preview on GameSpot, where they point out: "Real-world political success is an unpredictable thing that doesn't happen overnight, and re-creating politics in a game isn't any easier."

• Breed on Breed HQ. Along with word that "A playable demo will be released shortly" (we've heard that before).
• Call of Duty on Gaming Nexus.
• Face of Mankind on Stratics Central.
• Far Cry on ActionTrip. As part of a hands-off preview.
• Guild Wars on the Official Website.
• Lethal Dreams on RPG Vault.
• Xenus on Action Vault.

Bethesda Softworks sends word that they have signed on to publish Call of Cthulhu for the PC and the Xbox, with both versions scheduled for release in early 2004. Also, Interplay Secures Rights to Develop Interactive Games Based On White Wolf's 'Exalted' License (thanks Frans).

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• A new version 5.11.00 of HyperSnap-DX is now available (thanks Frans).
• Wired News: The Long Arm of Longhorn.
• Passport flaw threatens customers' accounts.
• Ballmer touts DRM to customers.
• Media Player flaw flays PC security.
• Composer to get another hearing.
• Microsoft learned from open source.
• Gizmodo: Cardboard PC.

EA Debuts Its 2003 Games at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (thanks Frans) has word on plans for James Bond 007... Everything or Nothing among other new titles. EA to charge subscription fees for Madden, Web games? discusses efforts to right the sinking ship that represents EA's online gaming efforts. Slashdot: Sega Cancels Merger With Sammy (thanks Mike Martinez) reports: "The front-runner for a Sega merger/sale is now Namco, but Microsoft and Electronic Arts have also been mentioned as possible suitors." The Alias: The Game website is online, dedicated to Acclaim's upcoming TV tie-in (thanks Ant). EA Announces Plans for The Sims Bustin' Out on All Current-Generation Console Systems (thanks Frans). There's a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Preview on GameSpot. Finally, HomeLan Fed's Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter Preview looks at the Xbox version of the upcoming shooter that will also appear on the PC.

• Airport Tycoon 2 on Game Chronicles.
• BANDITS - Phoenix Rising on LoadedInc.
• Command & Conquer Generals on Wired Play Networks.
• Delta Force: Black Hawk Down on Khabal Gaming.
• Humvee Assault on Adrenaline Vault.
• Postal 2 on games xtreme and Computer Games Romania.
• Praetorians on Worthplaying.
• Pro Race Driver on Game Chronicles.
• Restaurant Empire on Electric Playground.

• Galaxy 120mm Quad LED Fan on GruntvillE.
• MSI 875P Neo-FIS2R P4 Motherboard on Techseekers.net.
• Plextor PX-504A DVD+R/RW on Mikhailtech
• Sapphire Atlantis Radeon 9800 PRO Video Card on Beyond3D.
• Thermalright SLK-800U Cooler on Overclocker Cafe.
• Via EPIA M10000 System on Dan's Data.
• Zalman ZM400-APF PSU on Deviant PC and Envy News.

• Ensign Crusher vs. the video-game Borg "Former 'Star Trek' star Wil Wheaton was the main attraction on G4, the fast-rising video-game TV network. Until he quit, embroiling the network in a 21st century 'Quiz Show' scandal." Thanks Mike Martinez...

I have the chance to save a couple of bucks on a Hallmark this morning if you'll indulge me as I offer some happy birthday wishes to my brother, occasionally known as WalterEgo. He's 3-1/2 years younger than I am, so by one perspective he was four years younger than me yesterday, but as of today, he's three years younger. I know that this is the way he views it, and since it bothers him on some level, I take no small delight in pointing it out whenever possible. Happy birthday old timer!

Play Time:	Farts. Thanks Ant. It's far grosser than the name could possibly suggest, so you've been warned!
Stories of the Day:	Feds Defend Data-Mining Plans. New police tool: neighborhood watch by Web.
Wild Science:	Movies, pics capture rare mini-eclipse.
Weird Science:	New school computer case. Thanks Mr. Toadeater.
Media of the Day:	Cows With Guns. Thanks Sharon.
Image of the Day:	Astronomy Picture of the Day: Mercury Spotting. More on the mini-eclipse. Thanks Jim Hendrickson.
Auction of the Day:	Couple offering 200-year-old mansion on eBay _ without the land included. Looks like it was pulled already.
	Thanks Mike Martinez.