Atari's Betatests.net announces that "Shadow Ops Red Mercury Sign-Ups Begin Today!" Word is: "In order to extend the length of the beta and get more feedback from testers, sign-ups for the Shadow Ops: Red Mercury betatest have been moved forward to today! That's right, you can log in and sign up now, but I would recommend having a look at the projected system specs below first..." Thanks Frans.

This press release announces Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising has shipped to stores, and that NovaLogic's multiplayer shooter is now available in U.S. stores. Here's the deal:

Joint Operations is the only FPS to allow players to participate in mammoth 150 player battles with no subscription fee, more than double the player hosting capability of any other FPS. Incorporating vast maps of up to 50 km sq, a full 24 hour day/night cycle and 29 different land, sea and air vehicles to control, Joint Operations represents a huge leap forward for multiplayer FPS games.

“Our nearest competitor has announced that by next year they will have 100 player games, but we’re offering 150 player games in Joint Ops now,” commented Lee Milligan of NovaLogic”. Our experience hosting and managing the NovaWorld online gaming service over the past 8 years has put us well ahead of the competition in the multiplayer arena and, combined with more than 15 years making military simulations, has produced the spectacular and original gaming experience that is Joint Operations,” he added.

Set in Indonesia in the near future, Joint Ops will take the multiplayer community by storm. Developed using NovaLogic’s enhanced Black Hawk engine, Joint Operations uses superior multiplayer technology that enables a large number of gamers to play online at the same time with smooth connections even with a 56K modem.

Galactic Civilizations Altarian Prophecy Released is the press release announcing the online availability of the Altarian Prophecy expansion for Galactic Civilizations, Stardock Software's space strategy game. The add-on can be purchased online on the GalCiv Website, and word is to expect a retail version of the expansion and a "Gold" edition bundled with the original game this summer. Thanks Frans.

The Lock On: Modern Air Combat Website now offers a new version 1.02 patch for the U.S. and U.K. editions of the jet combat simulator. There are separate patches for version 1.00 and version 1.01 of the game, adding new missions, new gameplay modes, networking enhancements, tweaks, bug-fixes, and more.

An updated version is now available of the beta for the New Frontiers expansion, which is open to all Dark Age of Camelot subscribers. There are two installers, depending on which edition of the game you are running, and the size of the download has been considerably reduced compared with the prior version. The installers can be found on the Dark Age of Camelot: New Frontiers Media Page, though not all the listed mirrors are up to date quite yet.

The Gooka: The Mystery of Janatris Website has word that the English edition of Cenega's and Centauri's adventure game is expected to be released later this month. Thanks e-Sports.cz. Also, The Adventure Company announces that the North American edition of Missing is gold, and this game that's already available under the title In Memoriam in Europe, will ship to stores on June 24.

A new version 2.1.0 of Purge Jihad is now online, updating Freeform Interactive's spiritual successor to their Future versus Fantasy. Word is: "This new version offers the largest number of changes since the release of Purge Jihad. It adds several new attacks and weapon modifications, large experience point boosts for teamwork, and new rules for the character attributes Energy and Tenacity. Also, significant features have been added based on player requests."

The SpellForce: The Order of Dawn Website has news that the Breath of Winter add-on for the role-playing strategy game is now gold, for the U.K. at least, where the expansion is expected in stores on June 25 (thanks Loadedinc). Word is Breath of Winter "features an extensive 40h single player campaign and the new "Free Game" mode, allowing one to three players to compete against the computer with their own Avatars on a large range of separate maps. The add-on has undergone extensive testing with participation from the fan community and seen large improvements especially in the multiplayer network code."

New patches are now available for Unreal Tournament 2004, updating Epic's shooter to version 3236, offering enhancements, tweaks, and bug fixes. There is a 12 MB Win32 patch, available on 3D Gamers, ActionTrip, Computer Games Online, FileShack (registration required), Fragland.net, Game Arena, GameCenter.cz, Gamer's Hell, The Patches Scrolls, and Worthplaying; The 19 MB Linux patch can be found on 3D Gamers, Computer Games Online, FileShack (registration required), Fragland.net, GameCenter.cz, Gamer's Hell, and Worthplaying.

The Codemasters Website already has word on plans to patch Soldiers: Heroes of World War II following the release of the game, which is planned for June 29. Highlighting the games co-op mode promising: "a terrific online multiplayer experience with an innovative co-op multiplayer mode that allows up to four players to work through the game’s campaign together," the update goes on to discuss patch plans:

Get some practice in using Soldiers’ unique “Direct Control” system and brush up on those tactics, because you’re going to need it: after the release of the game, Codemasters will continue to support the Soldiers gaming community with additional content as free downloadable Upgrades.

The first will be a downloadable Multiplayer Upgrade, which will incorporate a brand new multiplayer mode (Versus) along with third-party online matching software, Gamespy Arcade. The free, fully-functioning matching service will make it simple for players to find a worthy opponent and go head to head in any one of Soldiers’ innovative multiplayer games.

The Multiplayer Upgrade will also form part of Codemasters’ ongoing anti-piracy and gaming security programme. The Upgrade will only function with an original copy of the Soldiers disc and aims to safeguard players’ gaming environment against other players using cheats or hacks unfairly in the Versus multiplayer games. Developed by Ukrainian company Best Way, Soldiers: Heroes of World War II will arrive guns blazing when it’s published by Codemasters on June 29th, exclusively for PC. Sign up for duty at www.codemasters.com/soldiers

• Besieger
  RPG Vault's Besieger Q&A, Part 2 continues to besiege Pavel Grodek: "To conclude our lengthy introduction to Primal's strategy title, we inquire about enemies, the AI, missions and more."
• Chaos League
  There's a Chaos League Q&A on Loadedinc talking with Cyanide Studios about Chaos League, their fantasy-themed sports game. Thanks Frans.
• EverQuest II
  Scott Hartsman on EverQuest II on GameSpy continues this conversation with SOE about their upcoming MMORPG sequel.
• Aura
  The Aura: Fate of Ages Q&A on Gamers Pulse talks with Sergey Nartovich, president of Streko-Graphics, about their adventure game.
• Laser Squad Nemesis
  The Laser Squad Nemesis Q&A on Gamers Pulse talks with Codo Technologies' designer Julian Gollop, discussing future plans for the project, including a new game type and plans to move into the realm of massively multiplayer gaming.

The F.E.A.R. Media Index on GameSpot now offers the full-length E3 demonstration of Monolith's upcoming first-person shooter. The clip runs 13 minutes, and is again accompanied by warnings about the sensitive content (thanks David Webber). Also, RPG Vault's The Saga of Ryzom Media #1 offers five new screenshots and a gameplay movie from Nevrax's upcoming MMORPG. Also, bittah.com now offers a gameplay movie from closed alpha testing of TRIBES Vengeance. There's also a new PT Boats: Knights of the Sea move, available on 3D Gamers. Finally, Star Wars Galaxies Warcry now offers a Jump to Lightspeed movie that recreates the famous Cantina scene from the original Star Wars movie.

• Brothers in Arms on IGN.
• SuperPower 2 on Worthplaying.
• World of Warcraft on The Entertainment Depot and Sudhian Media.

As noted on the German websites of publisher ASCARON Entertainment and developer exDream entertainment, the upcoming project formerly known as WebWars Arena has been renamed Arena Wars, which may help avoid confusing this upcoming action/RTS game with the many web-only games out there. In conjunction with this announcement, the official Arena Wars Website has been renamed. Thanks Frans.

• Crashday on the Official Website.
• Hollow on GenGamers.
• Marine Heavy Gunner on BrainBox Games. Thanks GenGamers.
• Massive Assault: Phantom Renaissance on the Official Website.
• Vivisector: Beast Inside on GenGamers.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• "Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer, announced today that Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy™ has just shipped to retail outlets nationwide for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft."
• Nintendo warns of GameCube memory card problems.
• Sony Says Price Cuts Boost PS2 North America Sales.
• More Japanese sales woe(s) for Xbox.
• Revolution not replacing GameCube.
• Retailer bullish on Xbox Next.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• AMD clarifies dual-core processor strategy.
• Microsoft preps security-minded Windows update.
• Firefox version 0.9 final is now available. Thanks complicity.
• Is the future of e-mail under cyberattack?
• New worm aims to infect smart phones.
• Maxtor, Linksys to unveil wireless hard drive.
• Next-generation DVD moves ahead.
• Yahoo Expands E-Mail Storage, in Nod to Google (registration required).
• Canadian spam king agrees to stop sending unwanted e-mail.
• Company secrets leak via e-mail.
• Company claims patent for download apps.
• Nokia licenses patents from RIM rival.
• Online 'penny jukebox' launched.
• VMware Workstation version 4.5.2 is now available. Thanks Frans.
• GeForce 6800 Performance and Overclocking on FiringSquad.
• TheTechLounge: Beyond Megapixels Part III.
• Web newspaper registration stirs debate (registration required) (just kidding).
• New 'Hiccup' for Florida Voters.
• He Pushed the Hot Button of Touch-Screen Voting (registration required).
• Dan's Data letters #111.

Version 1.19 of Q2K4, is now available, a modified version of the Quake engine. Q2K4 offers features found in other engine modifications, along with a couple of new wrinkles.

A new version 0.32 server-only patch is now available for Heat Of Battle, the teamplay modification for Call of Duty, Infinity Ward's World War II shooter. Word is: "Server admins who are interested in turning FF off, utilizing a map time limit, and want more control over the features on their servers should download this. We're hoping this will keep HoB stable enough to allow the team to work on all of the fantastic new features being planned for v0.4."

The Frag.Ops Homepage now offers a new version 1.37 update for the new UT 2004 edition of this special ops versus mercenary-themed modification. The update is said to address some nasty bugs, as detailed in the change log.

The debut release of the Dead Cities modification for Battlefield 1942 is now available, this mod is set in the not-too-distant future providing gameplay inspired by the Mad Max movies, so touch up your Mohawk and hit the road.

• Besieger on GameSpot.
• BREED on VideoGamesLife.
• City of Heroes on The Armchair Empire.
• Far Cry on Review.Gamer.
• Ground Control II: Operation Exodus on Gamer's Pulse.
• Midnight Nowhere on games xtreme.
• Perimeter on Action Vault.
• Sacred on G4TechTV.
• Spartan on Strategy Informer.
• Thief: Deadly Shadows on Telefragged and Worthplaying.
• True Crime: Streets of L.A. on Game Chronicles, Gaming Illustrated, and Gameplanet NZ.

• 3ware Escalade 8506-8 SATA RAID Controller on X-bit labs.
• Adaptec SATA 2410SA Controller on Hardware Fusion.
• ASUS AX 800 Pro Motherboard on Gamer's Depot.
• Chaintech GeForce FX 5900XT SA5900X Video Card on MADSHRIMPS.
• Chenbro Xpider II Case on PimpRig.
• Cooler Master CM Stacker STC-T01 Case on SystemCooling.
• CoolMax Fan-Less 350W Power Supply (in Video) on 3dGameMan and Hardware Helix.
• Corsair XMS 3200XL Pro RAM on hi-techreviews.
• EluminX Illuminated Keyboard on GideonTech.
• Eumax 9-in-1 Removable Card Reader on Bigbruin.com.
• Glide Mouse Pad on OverClock Intelligence Agency.
• Logitech Z5300 Speakers on The Tech Zone.
• Mouse Pad round-up on AMDZone.
• Razer Viper Mouse on HomeLAN Fed.
• Sager NP8790 FORCE Laptop w/ Radeon Mobility 9700 on Got Apex.
• Samsung ML-2151N Workgroup Laser Printer on EXTREME Overclocking.
• Speeze CopperSnake II Heatsink on A1 Electronics.
• XFX GeForce 6800 Ultra Video Card on TrustedReviews.

• The Game Developers Conference 2005 Call for Abstracts is now online...
• The Fighter Ops Website (thanks Frans) offers word that the game is to be powered by the X-Plane engine, accompanied by some new screenshots...
• Madden Curse Revisited on GamerDad...
• The Pharaoh Dispatch has details on plans for the end-game for A Tale in the Desert, the combat-free MMORPG...

From ebay: Deadwood, Al Swearengen Fan Club T-shirt (thanks complicity). Featuring the man, and one of his favorite expletives. I am all over this.

Link of the Day:	Deck Envy. Thanks fas007.
Stories of the Day:	Foul Ball Foul-Up: Man Nearly Knocks Down Boy, Keeps Ball. Thanks apaullo. Woman upholds vow to educate strangers. Short on Priests, U.S. Catholics Outsource Prayers to Indian Clergy (registration required).
Science!:	Lake goes down the drain. Cocaine vaccine 'stops addiction'. Making Science Fact, Now Chronicling Science Fiction (registration required).
Auctions of the Day:	A 24 Hour Dotcom -- Dozomo.com. COPROLITE FOSSIL SPECIMEN - PETRIFIED DUNG. Thanks yonder. Finding Nemo Bruce Life Size Display Shark. Thanks Kevin Kenney
Follow-ups:	Roll Over. Fetch. Sit. Smart Dog Hmmm. (registration required). Bulldog breeding ban urged.
	Thanks Mike Martinez