Age of Mythology Downloads Page now offers an 8 MB manual version 1.10 patch for Ensemble Studios' RTS game, while the Age of Mythology: The Titans Downloads Page now offers the 8 MB version 1.03 for the expansion (thanks Frans). These are offered in case you are having problems auto-patching the game.

Steam News (thanks Frans) announces the release of the promised version 1.2 update for Counter-Strike: Condition Zero, provided via the broadband delivery service. The new version includes new models and a bunch of gameplay and map tweaks, as well as a couple of changes that will impact all Steam games.

This Codemasters Downloads Page now offers another new gameplay trailer for Soldiers: Heroes of World War II, described like this: "The things that went wrong in the making of the Soldiers walkthrough and promo videos. Not everything goes smoothly for us either!" Also, the Shadow Ops: Red Mercury Website now features the fifth in the series of "making of" movies from Zombie's upcoming shooter. The clip can also be found sans Flash in this Infogrames FTP directory. A new movie from The Matrix Online is online, offering a 17 MB download showing off the upcoming Matrix-inspired MMORPG. The clip was posted on FilePlanet (registration required), and is mirrored on 3D Gamers and Gamer's Hell. The Hellforces E3 movie is now online, the 157 MB clip is available on 3D Gamers and Gamer's Hell. Also from publisher Buka is the Operation Matriarchy E3 movie on 3D Gamers, Gamer's Hell, and GenGamers.

• KOTOR II
  The Star Wars KOTOR II: The Sith Lords Q&A on ValhallaGamers.com talks with Feargus Urquhart of Obsidian Entertainment about the upcoming sequel to the cross-platform Star Wars RPG.
• The Battle For Middle Earth
  The EA Games Lord of the Rings: The Battle For Middle Earth Website now features an in-house Q&A talking with Mike Verdu, senior producer on the upcoming Tolkienesque RTS game. Thanks Frans.
• Stargate
  HomeLAN Fed's Stargate SG-1 Game Q&A talks with Perception's Ben Lenzo about their plans to bring the Stargate TV series to the world of computer and console games.

The Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault Designer Diary #1 on GameSpot is online, written by Electronic Arts executive producer Rick Giolito, outlining plans for the next installment in the Medal of Honor series. Also, RPG Vault's Anarchy Online: Alien Invasion Transmission #3 is now online, as "We delve into the fourth generation of Funcom's private dungeon system, which will be implemented in the add-on."

• CODENAME PANZERS on Warcry News Network.
• Knight Online on Bytesector.
• Knights of Honor on Cyber-Cup.ro.
• Shadow Ops: Red Mercury on GameSpot.
• SÖLDNER: Secret Wars on GameBiz.com.au.
• Uru: Path of the Shell on IGN.

An invitation we received to a Digital Jesters press event in London (I probably won't attend -- the BlueJet's in the shop) has brief mention of what the future holds for TrackMania, the puzzle/racing game: "We'll be unveiling five new titles for the first time in the UK - including the amazing TrackMania Sunrise, which sees TrackMania going coastal..."

The official Restricted Area Website has re-launched. The site offers a new look, spiffier navigation, and new content.

• Codename Panzers on The Adrenaline Vault.
• COPS 2170: The Power of Law on RPG Vault.
• Face of Mankind on RPG Vault.
• Lord of the Rings: Middle-earth Online on ToTheGame.
• Perimeter on Action Vault.
• Xpand Rally on Blackhole Motorsports.

Shutdown rumors swirl around Interplay on GameSpot reports on unsubstantiated reports that the troubled publisher has finally shut down completely. Here's what they are reporting:

While numerous in number, none of the reports regarding Interplay have been confirmed by any official sources whatsoever. Calls to Interplay's offices were not returned, and e-mails sent to "@interplay.com" addresses were bounced back. Calls to Interplay's corporate parent, Titus Interactive Group, were also not returned. Representatives for Interplay's landlord, Los Angeles-based Arden Realty, would confirm that the publisher was a tenant, but could not comment on their rental status as of press time.

However, even if the reports if Interplay's demise are greatly exaggerated, the company faces a rough road ahead. Besides its rental woes, the company is facing a battery of lawsuits, including one by Arden Realty for $432,000 in back rent and another by BioWare for $156,000 for unpaid Baldur's Gate royalties. During its financial report mid-April, Interplay declared it only had $1.2 million in cash on hand.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Computex Taipei 2004 Day 1 on ASE Labs, Ninjalane, OC Workbench, TrustedReviews, and VR-Zone Hardware.
• AMD, others unveil new wares at Computex.
• Intel ships mobile Prescott P4s.
• Intel slices up to 34% off server chip prices.
• Google gets earful on Gmail plan.
• Intel 'Nocona' details emerge on mobo display.
• Makers tout i925, i915-based mobos ahead of Intel launch.
• Intel to open code for booting up PCs, servers.
• Two thirds of emails now spam: official.
• Network Associates nets 'broad' antispam patent.
• ATI introduces PCI Express Radeon cards.
• Microsoft offers peek at new Media Player.
• Google updates enterprise search appliance.
• Simple passwords no longer suffice.
• Nokia unveils mid-air messaging.
• Labels to dampen CD burning?

A new version 1.8.5 build 082 of the Kquery 4 server browser is now available. The update offers several fixes and new features, including Painkiller icon support and Postal 2 support.

Another day, another version of the CarBall automotive UT2004 modification. Today we are up to version 1.6.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Free Gran Turismo 4 Prius PS2 DVD Offer. Thanks ReverendTed.
• Full Spectrum Warrior Hands-On Impressions And Movies on GameInformer. Thanks Frans.
• Nintendo Dual Screen launch titles confirmed?
• Jade Empire New Screens & Movies.
• Sony Exits U.S. Handheld Market.
• Colin McRae Rally 2005 Preview on Fragland.net.
• Second Site Preview on GameBiz.com.au.
• Xbox Live! gets Alerts.
• PlayStation Precor.
• Sammy reveals new logo, changes at Sega.
• Chronicles of Riddick Escape from Butcher Bay ships.

The Thief: Deadly Shadows Tweak Guide on TweakGuides.com offers advice on gameplay settings, system tweaks, troubleshooting advice, and more, all intended to help obtain optimal performance in the new Thief game.

The International Organization of Networked Gamers announces an official Call of Duty tournament commemorating D-Day. The tourney is sponsored by Activision, offering $5,000 in prizes, and sign-ups conclude on Friday. Also, the Toronto Fun League announces: "LAN Gaming Management (LANGM) in association with the Toronto Fun League (TFL) will host the Cyberathlete® Professional League (CPL) Canada Finals featuring the 5v5 Counter-Strike (CS) tournament in Toronto on July 3rd 2004. This event will feature the absolute best CS teams in Canada who have qualified for this event from a series of qualifiers in the last 3 months nationally."

Massive Entertainment: Announcing XEd The powerful map editor for Ground Control (R) II (thanks Frans) has word on plans to release the editor being used to create Massive Entertainment, presumably this will accompany the release of the game.

The Gearbox Software Employment Page now features a new help wanted ad for a new community manager. Other jobs they have posted there are for a 2D Texture Artist, a General 3D Artist, a Game Tester, and a 3D Artist.

• Beyond the Law: The Third Wave on Strategy Informer.
• Fair Strike on GameSpot.
• Far Cry (in German) on YiYas.
• Singles: Flirt Up Your Life on ActionTrip.
• Thief: Deadly Shadows on Jolt.co.uk and Gamers Depot.
• ToCA Race Driver 2: the Ultimate Racing Simulator on Wicked Toast.

• Creative Labs MuVo TX MP3 Player on Guru3D.
• eDimensional Audio FX Force Feedback Headset (in video) on 3dGameMan.
• Lian Li V1100 Case on GruntvillE.
• MobiBLU DAH-1000 128MB MP3 Player on The Tech Zone.
• Rayovac I-C3 NiMH 15-minute Rechargeable Battery System on NextGen Electronics.
• Roku HD1000 Audio/Video Server on Designtechnica Reviews.
• Sapphire Radeon X800 PRO 256MB Video Card on Beyond3D.
• Steelpad 4s and 4D Mouse Pad on hi-techreviews.
• TTGI SuperFlower X-Mask Case on MADSHRIMPS.
• Video Card round-ups on Adrian's Rojak Pot and CDR-Info.
• VisionTek XTasy X800 Pro Video Card on PC Hardware.
• Xclef HD-500 MP3 Player on A True Review.

• The Elite Starfighter Website is online (thanks Andy) offering a German-language home for this upcoming Elite remake...
• UK game makers look to thrill. Thanks Mike Martinez...
• The Art of the Tech Demo on FiringSquad...
• Splinter Cell = Chaos Theory? Thanks Mike Martinez...
• RNC Mocks Kerry Lifestyle in Online Game. Thanks Mike Martinez. And Bush uses food stamps?...
• There's a Brave Dwarves Back for Treasures Demo on Gamer's Hell, a Battleship Chess Demo on Gamer's Hell, and a new Hazard Ball Demo on Gamer's Hell...

It's not a big deal, but IE 6 has developed this annoying habit of suppressing its status bar. I re-enable it via the view menu, and next browser I open, it's gone again. Like I say, it's no biggie, though it is surprising to learn how often I will use the status bar to see where a link goes before clicking it.

Play Time:	Neave Lab's imagiNation. Thanks Sharon.
Stories of the Day:	'Curb Your Enthusiasm' clears murder suspect. Pending Draft Legislation Targeted for Spring 2005. Amorous Swedes to Get Emergency Condom Deliveries.
Science!:	Live fast, die old: High metabolic rate gives mice a longer life. New high-resolution camera nears virtual reality. Perfectionists more prone to imperfect health.
Media of the Day:	Slashdot | LA to Oregon at Mach 9. Thanks Ant. Breakfast is Fundamental. Thanks bbarrington.
Images of the Day:	Anger Management. Thanks Ant. Rumsfeld Fighting Technique. Thanks Ant and memepool.
Follow-ups:	Mexican UFO Videos. Thanks Ajax. Showing formations of that "ball lightning." U.S. to Divulge More About Modified Crops (registration required).
	Thanks Mike Martinez