Shacknews has finally received official word that Half-Life 2 will not be making its planned release date of September 30, something a quick glance at the calendar can confirm. Here's the quote from Valve's Doug Lombardi:

The previously announced September 30th release date for Half-Life 2 is being pushed back. We are currently targeting a holiday release, but do not have a specific "in-store" date to share at this time. We will release that information as soon as we have confirmed a new date.

Mayhem Studios sends along an update for their PC/Xbox "final fantasy-style" RPG titled Neverend that was announced last year (story) and that's expected in spring of 2004. In addition, new screenshots of the game have been released, and can be viewed on RPG Radar. The press release describes a game where "Locations displayed by the pre-rendered background and engine-rendered characters and objects," so that: "The computer at the same time works with a simplified model of the scene that enables nice scenes with more than a million polygons and concurrently have full interaction with the surroundings."

• Universal Combat
  The Universal Combat Q&A on GameSpot talks with Derek Smart about the just-announced change in direction for the game previously known as Battlecruiser Generations.
• Dragon Empires
  RPG Vault's Dragon Empires Q&A #34 talks once again with Codemasters' Peter Tyson about their upcoming MMORPG, probing for the gameplay being planned for those who don't wish to engage in PvP combat.
• Middle-Earth Online
  The Middle-Earth Online Q&A on Middle Earth Warcry catches up with the MEO content team at Turbine Entertainment to discuss what's in store for players in Middle-Earth Online, the upcoming Lord of the Rings MMORPG.
• Lineage II
  Leilo Answers some Questions on Lineage II Warcry is a Q&A discussing plans for the MMO gameplay in the upcoming Lineage sequel.
• EverQuest II
  EverQuest Vault's Ask SOE #4 asks further questions of Sony Online Entertainment's Steve "Moorgard" Danuser about the upcoming EQ sequel.
• Commandos 3
  The Commandos 3 Q&A on Game-Radio.net is the English transcript of their interview with Eidos product manager Sören Winterfeldt excerpted from their German Audio interview about the upcoming World War II squad-based combat sequel.
• The Movies
  Shedding light on The Movies on GameSpot is a Q&A with Lionhead's Peter Molyneux to catch up on progress on The Movies, their upcoming cinematic simulator.
• Music
  GameZone's Bay Area Sound Department talks about the variety of game soundtracks they've created, including the tuneage for Starcraft: Ghost, Knights of the Old Republic, and James Bond: Everything or Nothing.

Tesseraction Games has announced they are suing GMX Media, the UK publisher for Enigma: Rising Tide, their alternate-history naval action game (thanks Frans). Here's the deal: "Tesseraction Games today filed a lawsuit for breach of contract against UK publisher GMX Media, Ltd. The 1.7 million dollar lawsuit cites unpaid royalties, substantial and un-remedied breach, inaccurate sales reporting and initiation of product sales outside of licensed territories. Tesseraction is also seeking injunctive relief against the publisher."

• Call of Duty on Gamesradar. Thanks Frans.
• DOOM 3 on IGN.

• Face of Mankind on RPG Vault.
• Korea: Forgotten Conflict on Tiscali Games.
• Kreed on Action Vault.
• Port Royale 2 on Ghome.
• RC Squad Land Machines on the Official Website.
• Restricted Area on RPG Vault.
• Sabotage 1943 on the Official Website.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Computex 2003 Day Two on Legion Hardware, OC Workbench, and T-Break.
• Nvidia jumps into handheld market.
• 'Relentless' pace of hack attacks.
• Sun: More PC makers warm to Java.
• Futuremark Publishes Guidelines for Driver Optimizations. Thanks goodness someone's in charge.
• Report: Lenders miss most ID theft.
• Tech pros get to know their enemy.
• Termites Inspire Paper Pusher.
• 'Smart sofa' aimed at couch potatoes. Thanks Tony!!!
• Yahoo launches new search engine.
• Revolution in the dorms of Dartmouth.
• Putting Your Calls Into Context.

Lords of EverQuest Downloads Index for PC at GameSpot now offers downloads of an updated version of the Lords of EverQuest Shadowrealms Demo (registration required). Word is: "This version has been updated to address several technical issues." The new 402 MB demo has been mirrored on 3D Gamers, FileFront, IGN, and Worthplaying. In other Lords of EverQuest news, Sony Online Entertainment Announces Hollywood Voiceover Talent for Lords of EverQuest is the press release announcing that some prominent film and TV actors are lending their voices to the production of the upcoming EQ RTS game, including John Rhys-Davies, Kate Mulgrew, Ron Perlman, and Katey Sagal.

The AMD 64 processor is officially released as of today, and the corresponding flood of reviews and other news is making its way online:

• ALi/ULI M1687 Athlon64 Socket 754 Ref Motherboard on OC Workbench.
• AMD Athlon 64 CPU on AMDZone, AnandTech, Digit-Life, The Tech Report, and Tom's Hardware Guide (thanks Mike Martinez).
• AMD Athlon 64 3200+ CPU on Amdmb.com.
• AMD Athlon 64 FX-51 CPU on Amdmb.com, Gamers Depot, Legit Reviews, LostCircuits, Overclockers Australia, Sudhian Media, UKGamer, and X-bit labs.
• Athlon 64 Motherboards on AnandTech.
• Gigabyte K8VNXP VIA K8T800 Motherboard on OC Workbench.
• Shuttle's SN85G4 SFF System w/AMD 64 CPU on SFF TECH and The Tech Report.

Also:

• Microsoft hops on the 64-bit bus. Thanks Mike Martinez.

EA Games sends word of another new game's availability, as Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 is now available for the PC, PS2, Xbox, and GameCube. Word is the GBA version will be available October 28. More details can be found on the game's official website. Also: "The 12th installment of EA's legendary hockey franchise, NHL 2004 is now available for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube™, and PC CD-ROM."

This Ballerium Progress report describes what's been going on over the past couple of months of development of Majorem's upcoming MMORTS. The update describes changes to the game's design, points the way to some screenshots in their Ballerium Gallery and, while the update does not provide a release date, the timeline entry clearly indicates that the game's overall schedule has been pushed back a bit: "The current Ballerium is a much better game. But those improvements cost. In order to enable us complete all the said changes, and in order not to release a premature product, it is now estimated that we would need to wait till Christmas before releasing the Public Beta (hopefully supporting about 5000 testers). It is estimated that such a beta could take as much as 6 months to complete, with a phase of added features somewhere in the middle."

A pair of IRC sessions are slated for this evening. There's a Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark chat with the BioWare tonight at Stratics. The chat will be at 8:00 p.m. EDT in the channel #nwnhoc on the server irc.stratics.com. Also, the chat with Troika to discuss the release of The Temple of Elemental Evil as well as their future plans is also being held this evening at 8:00 p.m. EDT in the channel #rpgcodex on the server irc.gamesnet.net.

A new version 1.11 Win32 dedicated server for IL-2 Sturmovik: the Forgotten Battles is now available on the IL-2 Website. The program is a substantial 319 MB download, which has been mirrored on 3D Gamers.

Go from Trucker to Tycoon with 18 Wheels of Steel Across America For PC From ValuSoft (thanks Frans) is the press release announcing that this trucking sim is rolling into stores in North America.

There's another DOOM 3 Q&A on GameArena talking with id Software's Tim Willits and Todd Hollenshead at the Activision Activate conference in Asia. Likewise, GameArena's DOOM 3 Preview is also online, GameSpy.com's DOOM 3 Preview has been posted, and there are DOOM 3 Single-Player Impressions on GameSpot where they also recap their session with the upcoming shooter remake as shown off by Willits and Hollenshead. They offer impressions of the gameplay and the atmosphere created by the new game engine, both of which can be found in this quote:

The flashlight is present in both single-player and multiplayer modes. It serves as an exploration tool that realistically cuts through shadows, and it also serves as a last-ditch-effort melee weapon. But if you have your flashlight in hand, you don't have any kind of decent weapon equipped. This point was driven home by the sudden appearance of another zombie, who leaped from the shadows of the heretofore strangely quiet hallway. As we dodged away from it, we watched as it lunged for us and closed its arms around thin air in a failed attempt to grab us before we blasted it. We also came to a short stairway. At the top of the stairs was a heavyset zombie who noted our presence. He then grabbed a nearby barrel and hurled it at us. We dodged the barrel, but it tumbled off to the side, and the sound of it crashing to the ground reverberated realistically around us.

Also, IGN quotes unnamed sources in reporting that "progressive metal band Tool is doing an original song for Doom 3." Update: There is yet another DOOM 3 preview on Eurogamer (thanks Frans).

• Battle for Middle-Earth
  GameSpy.com's LotR: The Battle for Middle-Earth Q&A chats with EA's Mark Skaggs about the just-announced RTS game set in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings universe.
• Horizons
  There's a Horizons Q&A on GameGossip talking with Artifact Entertainment creative director David Bowman about what's going into their upcoming MMORPG.
• Music
  HomeLAN Fed's Freedom Fighters Q&A talks with composer Jesper Kyd about his soundtrack for Freedom Fighters, IO Interactive's imminent alternate-history action game.

The Nitro Family Website has news that a multiplayer version of the upcoming Serious-engine shooter is in the works. Here's the deal: "Nitro Family will be moved to Online Shooter which will provide various Multiplayer modes and Massively Multiplayer experience at the same time. With maneuverable vehicles and realistic physics added, Nitro Family Online will be available in Q3 of 2004." They also confirm plans for an Xbox version of Nitro Family due in Q2 2004.

• Age of Mythology: The Titans on Worthplaying.
• Squad Assault: West Front on The Wargamer.

DreamCatcher Games Announces Universal Combat for PC is the press release official confirming yesterday's revelation that Battlecruiser Generations, the upcoming fifth installment in Derek Smart's BC series, is being remarketed as Universal Combat, a more action-oriented game. The update gives details on plans for the project.

Thanks Frans.

• Joan of Arc on the Official Website.
• Mech Arena on the Official Website.
• The Battle for Middle-Earth on EA Games.
• The Bloody Magic on the Official Website.
• UFO Aftermath on the Official Website.
• Weird War on the Official Website.

From the Pits to the Winner's Circle, IndyCar Series Delivers Racing Mania to PCs Nationwide is the press release announcing that Codemasters' open-wheel racing game has crossed the checkered flag, and is now available at retail. Here's a bit: "IndyCar(TM) Series' complex AI system continues to intertwine the realism of the Indy Racing League with stimulating and exciting gameplay, allowing competing drivers to exhibit the same tactics as their real-life counterparts. The AI system also gauges the ability of the player and dynamically adjusts the level of the opposing drivers' skills accordingly. This creates a unique racing opportunity as AI drivers make strategic decisions, rather than follow a scripted path." Likewise, EA Ships The Sims Double Deluxe has word that they have shipped "The Ultimate Compilation of the Top-Selling PC Game of All Time." Thanks Frans.

Xbox Accelerates Into Holiday With Full Head of Steam offers an account of the system's success that would make an Enron accountant proud. Also, HomeLAN Fed's Snake Plissken Game Q&A chats with Andre Emerson about Namco's plans to bring the one-eyed bandit everyone thinks is dead to life in upcoming video games.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Firms still leave security to chance.
• Google tests local search.
• Privacy group calls for JetBlue prosecution.
• HyperSnap-DX version 5.30.00 is now available. Thanks Frans.
• Dan's Data's Atomic I-O letters column #25.

A new version 1.2 of the Hell in the Pacific modification for Medal of Honor: Allied Assault is now available. The update includes all the changes and fixes from the 1.1 update as well as new additions and improvements all aiming at laying the groundwork for the big version 2.0 update.

Doomsday HQ now features a new version 1.7.13 of the Doomsday version of DOOM/Heretic/Hexen (thanks Frans). The update features improvements and bug-fixes for the renderer, enhancements to the interface, and more.

The Guildhall at SMU has opened admissions for their January 2005 game development program, while admissions for their January 2004 session are running through October 13.

Aspyr Media sends along an e-mail... no, this is more a cry for help: "According to Glenda Adams, Aspyr¹s director of PC and Mac development, applicants for the programming positions should have experience programming games in C/C++, or have a specialization in OpenGL, Mac OS X optimization and debugging, or sound. Familiarity with DirectX and Windows APIs are a plus, since the development group¹s efforts will be focused on porting games from Windows to Mac. Qualified applicants should email their resume to jobs@aspyr.com."

• America's Army: Operations v1.9 on Jucaushii.ro.
• Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII on Boomtown.net.
• Cold Zero: the Last Stand on VideoGamesLife.
• Dark Fall on Game Industry.
• Enigma: Rising Tide on Warcry.
• Greyhawk: the Temple of Elemental Evil on Games Domain, GameSpot, and IGN.
• Homeworld 2 on Gamers Depot and JIVE Magazine.
• Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader on Gamer's Pulse.
• Medal of Honor: Allied Assault Breakthrough on GameSpot.
• Port Royale on GameOver.
• Rebels: Prison Escape on PC.IGN.com and Adrenaline Vault.
• Runaway: a Road Adventure on Four Fat Chicks.
• SimCity 4: Rush Hour on PC.IGN.com.
• Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy on Gaming Age and PC Gameworld.
• Tomb Raider: the Angel of Darkness on Action Vault.
• TRON 2.0 on DeadAlfs and Review Gamer.

• Aerocool Aeropower II Titanium PSU on ViperLair.
• AMD Athlon 64 3200+ and Athlon 64 FX-51 CPUs on AthlonXP.com.
• Corsair XMS4000 Pro Dual Channel RAM (in video) on 3dGameMan.
• CritiCool PowerPlant PCI Relay Card Rev. 2 on Systemcooling.com.
• Titan Datacooler DWC-A1 Water Cooling on MADSHRIMPS.
• Epia M10000 Motherboard on EPIACENTER.com.
• FIC KT-748 Motherboard on MBReview.
• Microsoft Wireless Intellimouse Explorer on RipNet-UK.
• Nyko Air Flo Mouse on DigitalBackSpin.
• RAIDMAX Storm 847 Titanium Case on Bjorn3D.
• SilverStone Strider SST-ST360 PSU on Voided Warranty.
• Swiftech MCW5002-P Cooler on GruntvillE.
• Thermaltake X-Blower Fan on Speedy 3D.
• Vantec Iceberq4 Pro Premium VGA Cooling Kit on 8Balls Hardware.
• Vantec Nexus (NXP-305-SL) Fan & Light Controller on Overclockers Club.
• Xitel INport on Dan's Data.
• Xoxide Ultimate Panel 6 Knob Fan Controller on ExtremeMhz.
• Xoxide X-Viper Case on SubZeroTech.
• Zalman cnps7000a-cu Heatsink on TechTasic.
• Zalman ZM-RS6F 5.1 Surround Sound Headphones on Overclockers Club.

• The Need for Speed Underground Website is now online...
• The history of massively multiplayer online games on GameSpy kicks off a week-long sponsored series...
• A TeamFortress Done Extreme 2 gameplay movie is out, showing off "frags, stunts, flag captures and bloopers from the world's best TeamFortress players" using the soon-to-be-released FuhQuake 0.30...
• FreeWorld is now accepting applications for phase 6 of the alpha testing of this MMORPG...

Wow -- I thought that hurricane had come and gone, but it's getting pretty sporty around here at the moment... I have horizontal rain coming in windows, trees being buffeted in the wind, and the power has cut out briefly twice. Thank goodness for uninterruptible power supplies... or for that matter, thank goodness for brick walls!

R.I.P.: Gordon Jump of 'WKRP', Maytag ads dies. Thanks Mike Martinez.

Play Time:	BMLwalker. Thanks Sharon.
Links of the Day:	LEMURAMA. World Beard and Moustache Championships Carson City 2003.
Stories of the Day:	Roo to the rescue. Thanks Andrew Arace. Oldest genital fossils found in Scotland. Thanks John Nelson. Serves them right for peeking up kilts. Feds find smuggling ring in Amish community.
Science!:	Not Science Fiction: An Elevator to Space. Report: Giant Arctic ice shelf breaks up. Forget Botox. Anti-Aging Pills May Be Next (registration required).
	Thanks Mike Martinez.