Shacknews is reporting that "multiple sources" inform them that Warren Spector "is said to be leaving" ION Storm, reporting the Austin Texas-based developer has also laid off 20-25 employees. Ion Storm Implodes is the headline on a similar story on IGN, which reports on the layoffs, as well as Eidos' explanation that this was a normal staff reduction associated with the completion of the pair of game projects that were underway at ION, quoting the publisher as dismissing the idea that Warren was laid off as well, though they don't actually come out and say he did not quit. They have yet to receive a reply from ION Storm, but this was Eidos' response to questions about Warren's departure:

"Ah rumors... well that sounds like a good one... but it is just a rumor," said the representative. "He certainly has not been laid off."

This Atari Support Page offers the second patch for Dungeons & Dragons: The Temple of Elemental Evil (thanks Frans). The patch offers a variety of balance tweaks and bug fixes.

As anticipated, the demo for Thief: Deadly Shadows is now available, offering the chance to sample ION Storm's newly released follow-up to Looking Glass Studios' classic series of stealthy Thief games. The 427 MB demo will be posted on the Thief: Deadly Shadows Website, and mirrors are already available on 3D Gamers, ActionTrip, Computer Games Online, Filerush (torrent), Fileshack (registration required), Gamer's Hell, GameSpot DLX, Pixelrage.ro, and Worthplaying.

The debut release of the Alien Swarm modification for Unreal Tournament 2004 is now available for download. Here's the description of the mod: "Alien Swarm is an overhead view tactical squad-based shooter for UT2K4. Set in the the distant future, the players take the role of a Commander in the Interstellar Armed Forces. They must guide their squad of marines through Swarm infested colonies, overrun bases and outposts, to achieve a variety of objectives. Featuring Assault Rifles, Heat Tracking Guns, Sentry Guns, Flamethrowers and more. Supports co-operative multiplayer."

The Eidos Forums now feature several posts outlining plans for an upcoming demo for Thief: Deadly Shadows, the newly released follow-up to the stealthy adventures of Garrett the master thief. The posts are summarized on Thief: The Circle, where they note the approximately 450 MB demo should be available around midday today, west coast time. Thanks Frans.

A new UK edition of the Chaos League demo is now available, now featuring fully English commentary (the previous demo had French announcers). The 147 MB download is mirrored on 3D Gamers, ActionTrip, GameCenter, Fragland.net, Gamer's Hell, Jolt.co.uk, Loadedinc, and Worthplaying.

The Evil Genius Dev Diary #2 on TotalVideoGames features thoughts from a few of the developers on the upcoming bad guy simulator. Also, a new Codemasters Dragon Empires Dev Diary is online, recapping their experience showing off the upcoming MMORPG at E3, and providing their own edition of those trendy E3 awards. Likewise, the Knights of Honor Website offers a diary recapping the SUNFLOWERS experience at E3. Finally, a new The Bard's Tale Developer Diary #3 on GameSpy supplies thoughts from artist Brandon Humphreys on the subject of creature design.

• Men of Valor
  The Men of Valor Q&A on Games-Fusion talks with 2015 director of development John Whitmore about progress on Men of Valor, their upcoming Vietnam War shooter that he says represents: "a mature and serious depiction of combat in Vietnam, supported by intensive research, high production values, and gameplay systems designed from the ground up to represent the feel of combat in the environments of Vietnam."
• Medal Of Honor: Pacific Assault
  HomeLAN Fed's Medal Of Honor: Pacific Assault Q&A talks with Matt "Power" Powers of EALA about progress on Pacific Assault, their upcoming Medal of Honor: Allied Assault sequel.
• Postal 2 Add-on
  HomeLAN Fed's Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend Q&A talks about the upcoming Postal 2 add-on with several of the folks from Running with Scissors, including Vince Desi, who has "accepted the fact that the mainstream media doesn’t like us no matter what we do." They discuss the Share the Pain project as well as the upcoming expansion.
• COPS 2170: The Power of Law
  RPG Vault's COPS 2170: The Power of Law Cyberpunk World Q&A is online, as they "query MiST land - South Project Leader Vitaly Shutov on the type of environment we'll experience in the game."
• Relic
  The Alex Garden Q&A on Relic Universe inaugurates this new site with a conversation with the CEO of their namesake game developer. One of the main topics is how things are changing under their new relationship with THQ.
• The Fall
  The Fall: Last Days of Gaia Q&A on GameBanshee talks with Carsten Strehse, CEO of Silver Style Entertainment, about how their RPG is shaping up as its release date nears.
• Leisure Suit Larry
  TotalVideoGames' Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude Q&A is online, chatting up some anonymous source about the upcoming follow-up to the adventures of the polyester-clad horn-dog.

DEEP SILVER announces plans for an RTS/RPG hybrid called Alexander the Great, due for release in November (thanks Frans). Here's the deal:

BASINGSTOKE, England, (May 20th 2004), DEEP SILVER announced today the development of 'ALEXANDER THE GREAT' due for release on PC CD-ROM in November 2004.

The game, which has been in development by the Meridian93 studio since February 2004, is a 3D RTS/RPG, which puts you in control of a squad of Alexander's elite Macedonian soldiers.

Alexander The Great further strengthens Deep Silver's growing portfolio of game titles, and will be handled by the same team who launched X2: The Threat, Singles: Flirt up your life and recently took on the sales and marketing responsibility for all JoWood and CDV titles in the UK.

"There is a huge amount of interest in classical history at the moment and this title is a beautiful 3D gaming experience, we think this will be a great success for us." Commented Craig McNichol, MD of KOCH Media.

Infinite Interactive's Warlords Battlecry III Scenarios Page now features downloads of a quartet of new scenarios for the strategy sequel that were previously only available via IGN's battle report series.

• A new EverQuest II: Deathfist Citadel Combat Movie is now available, showing off more of the upcoming MMORPG sequel. The 39 MB clip can be found on FilePlanet (registration required) and mirrored on 3D Gamers.
• The Knights of Honor Website now features an "intro teaser" that introduces the introduction of SUNFLOWERS' upcoming real-time "Empire Conquering Simulation."
• The E3 trailer for Anarchy Online: Alien Invasion is now available, showing off Funcom's upcoming MMORPG expansion in your choice of QuickTime, Windows Media Player, or DivX formats.
• The Unreal Tournament Website now features a movie showing off the UT2004 mods that were shown off at E3.
• The Nuclear Vision Website now offers a new movie for Psychotoxic (thanks Frans), showing off the rag doll physics in the upcoming shooter.
• The Flagship Studios Website now serves up links to their E3 trailer, saying: "Did you not get a chance to see the Flagship Studios video at the Namco booth during E3? Don't fret, Flagship Fandom has you covered. The dedicated webmasters of the Flagship Fansites are offering up the "concept cinematic" for your viewing pleasure."
• D-Day on 3D Gamers and Worthplaying.
• Medieval Lords on 3D Gamers and Worthplaying.

As promised (story), the Official SÖLDNER: Secret Wars Website has word that Wings Simulations' tactical military multiplayer shooter is now available at retail in Europe. In associated news, the SÖLDNER Website also now features a new retail stand alone SÖLDNER server version 28054. Word is: "This Stand Alone Server connects to the european [sic] portal."

• MacGameFiles now offers downloads the Mac demo for Call of Duty.
• An NHL Eastside Hockey Manager Demo is now available on GameCenter.cz and Worthplaying.
• A new demo for Rugby Pro Manager 2004 is now available on Gamer's Hell, Loadedinc, and Worthplaying.
• A Produce Panic demo is now available, providing a sample of this Torque engine game. The 23 MB download is up on Gamer's Hell.
• The Feral Interactive Website offers a Mac demo for Worms 3D.

• AURA: Fate of the Ages on GameZone.
• Ground Control 2: Operation Exodus on GameArena and GameSpot.
• Guild Wars on Warcry News Network.
• Kohan II: Kings of War on Boomtown.
• Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-Earth on WHAM! gaming.
• Richard Burns Rally on Blackhole Motorsports.
• World of Warcraft on PC Gameworld. Thanks Frans.
• Zoo Tycoon 2 on Fragland.net.

This World Racing Content Page offers downloads of a new version 1.6.6 patch for Mercedes Benz World Racing that addresses some multiplayer issues. Thanks Blackhole Motorsports.

The official website for Rapid Gunner is online, showing off this target shooting action game in the works at 7fx. Word is: "The game is presented in 3D first-person view. The player can freely walk around 8 levels where the task is to hit all targets as fast as possible. The player can gradually improve his skills and later send his score to a main server where on-line competition takes place."

• Dark and Light Screenshots on RPG Vault.
• Knights of Honor on the Official Website.
• Specnaz: Project Wolf on the Official Website. Thanks Frans.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Next GameCube set for 2005 debut.
• Microsoft enters handheld fray.
• Xbox Next PC – Microsoft Comments.
• EA Reveals Need for Speed Next-Gen. I thought the current consoles were "next-gen."
• Singstar for PlayStation brings out idol within.
• Nintendo talking about a 'Revolution' for gamers.
• Pirates ruin the game for console makers.
• Nintendo's Earnings Fall.
• "Microsoft Game Studios today announced that new content for Crimson Skies™: High Road to Revenge, the smash-hit aerial action game for Xbox®, is now available for download via Xbox Live™."

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Intel to ship 64-bit Prescotts on 1 August.
• Lindows can keep company name, judge rules.
• Government data mining rings alarm bells.
• AMD in Talks with HP, Gateway on 'Media Center' PCs.
• Microsoft Eyes Master Search Tool.
• State Senate Expected to OK E-Mail Bill (registration required).
• California Senate approves anti-Gmail bill.
• The fellowship of the 1GB storage lockers.
• AOL to release new version of Netscape.
• First known 64-bit virus threat found.
• 'Buffalo spammer' sentenced.
• Macromedia tests Flash fixes.
• Slashdot | Flash 7 for Linux Released.
• Europe Braces for Patent Rules.
• China seeks its own high-tech standards.
• Navy Floats High-Tech Arsenal.
• Aussie police to gain access to stored messages.
• Symantec's antivirus software speaks Thai. Jack talk Thai.... Jack talk Thai real well!
• Dan's Data letters #107.

Our pals at UGO are running a Spider-Man 2 Sweepstakes, the cleverly titled London Crawling offers the chance to check out the movie's premier in London.

• Battlefield Vietnam on Cyber-Cup.ro.
• Beyond Divinity on Loadedinc.
• Dark Age of Camelot: Trials of Atlantis on Computer and Video Games.
• Dead Man's Hand on Review Outpost.
• The Egyptian Prophecy: The Fate of Ramses on Game Chronicles.
• Far Cry on Flickerdown Data Systems.
• Lords of the Realm III on Game Industry.
• Massive Assault Network on Gamer's Hell.
• Perimeter on Gamesradar.
• Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots on GameArena.
• ToCA Race Driver 2: The Ultimate Racing Simulator on PC Gameworld.
• True Crime: Streets of L.A. on IGN and GameArena.

• Acer PD 520 DLP Projector on TrustedReviews.
• AVC Z7H2403012 Internal Prism Base Heatsink on FrostyTech.
• EPoX 8HDA5+ Motherboard on Legion Hardware.
• HP Photosmart R707 Digital Camera on Bytesector.
• LiteOn Slimtype SDW-431SX DVD±RW on CDR-Info.
• Logisys SP 6000 Alien Sound System on TheTechLounge.
• Logitech MX510 Performance Optical Mouse on Gameguru Mania.
• Q Technology Gold Series PSU on A True Review.
• Samsung SyncMaster 193P LCD Monitor on ipKonfig.com.
• Sapphire - Axion 9100 Motherboard on CDR-Info.
• Sony DRU-700A Double Layer 8x DVD±RW on CDRLabs.
• Thermalright XP-120 P4 Heatsink on SystemCooling.
• Vantec AeroFlow 2 Cooler on FastLaneHW.
• Vantec Go 2.0 8in1 Card Reader on GideonTech.
• X-Micro WLAN 11g+ Router on Sharky Extreme.

• VGXtreme is conducting a live audio interview with Jason Kramer of Lyra Studios' on their upcoming MMORPG Reclamation. The show begins at 6:00 p.m. EDT...
• High Energy Magic Ltd. is where to find details on their SpotCode Platform, which allows cell phones and PCs to interact, offering the potential for a whole new generation of interactive multiplayer games. This page offers examples of how this can work...
• Fusion Pack for Call of Duty is now available, offering a similar set of replacement assets for CoD as their Counter-Strike packs...
• The S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl June calendar is online....
• The Wrinkled Future of Online Gaming. Thanks Mike Martinez...

As I mentioned yesterday, we are babysitting this weekend, playing host to a pair of boys, one six, and the other just shy of four. Luckily we have Hudson the wonder dog to assist with this, as she is great with kids, and can match even the most sugar-fuelled youngsters' energy levels. So with a little trepidation, we are looking forward to the experience... I'll let you know how things go (I'm guessing a couple of you parents out there are already amused by what they know we are in for here).

Links of the Day:	Worlds Largest Things Traveling Roadside Attraction. How to make friends by telephone.
Stories of the Day:	Report: Most children who drown are supervised. $132K of Grant to Combat Goth Returned. Thanks James Harrison. Italy sets strict pizza guidelines. Thanks Tony!!!
Science!:	After a Period of Brightness, Earth Dims, Researchers Say. Flying into a silent sky future. Telescope spies 'youngest' planet.
Image of the Day:	Saturn's Rings. Thanks Jim Hendrickson. APOD 2004 May 28: A Manhattan Sunset.
	Thanks Mike Martinez