• Guild Wars
  The Guild Wars Q&A on GameSpot collects a post-E3 debriefing from ArenaNet's Jeff Strain on how their E3 for Everyone testing of Guild Wars: "The event worked out very well technically. Guild Wars is still at an alpha stage of development, but our programming team has a tremendous amount of experience building global game networks, so server load balancing and stability issues were minimal."
• BioWare
  The Game Doctor Speaks on GameSpy (thanks HomeLAN Fed) talks with BioWare joint-CEO Ray Muzyka in general terms about the history of BioWare, and what he sees the future holding for the company.
• D-Day
  The D-Day Q&A on Computer And Video Games (thanks Frans) chats with David Hockley, producer on Digital Realities' upcoming WW2 game: "In Desert Rats we had a game that was aimed at the hardcore gamer, and we've tried to keep that in D-Day in the hard and extreme difficulty levels and then we've added an easier difficulty level which is really easy - so anybody interested in D-Day can enjoy the game."

There's a new Axis & Allies movie, showing off some battles in a lengthy trailer from the upcoming World War II strategy game. The movie can be found on GameSpot and mirrored on 3D Gamers.

• Close Combat: First To Fight on GameInformer. Thanks Frans.
• The Matrix Online on GameSpy.

• Chaos League on the Digital Jesters Website
• Crash Day on MGW.
• FFXI: Chains of Promathia on Stratics Central.
• Medieval Lords on the Official Website. Thanks Frans.
• Need for Speed Underground 2 on the Official Website. Thanks Frans.
• The Witcher on the Official Website. Thanks Frans.

New patches are now available for various editions of Pax Romana, updating the historical strategy game to version 1.02. Patches for most language versions can be found on this page, except for the French patch, which can be found here. Mirrors and explanations of all this are available on 3D Gamers.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Intel's new Xeon undergoes reconstructive nomenclature.
• AMD Penetrates Dull?
• Busting the Biggest PC Myths.
• Norton Antivirus 2005 Public Beta. Thanks Ant.
• High court bars Internet porn law enforcement.
• EU, CEOs call for nanotechnology push.

The Far Cry Website now offers news that the next patch for Crytek's first-person shooter is in the final stages of localization and testing, offering word on where things stand: "Patch 1.2 is in its final stage of production: a nasty scoreboard bug and a CDkey security issue remain to be fixed, but otherwise a huge list of improvement/fixes have been implemented and tested successfully." Thanks Frans.

Codemasters sends word that Perimeter, KD-LAB's terraforming RTS game, is now available in North America:

New York, N.Y. – (June 29, 2004) – Codemasters, a leading global publisher of interactive entertainment, announced today the company’s groundbreaking real time strategy game, Perimeter, has shipped to North American retail outlets. Developed in Russia by 1C Company and KD-LAB, Perimeter is now available exclusively for PC/DVD-ROM.

Through a science fiction ambience, Perimeter challenges players in a race to acquire energy and create new homes for themselves in a newly discovered galaxy. The game brings fresh ideas to the real time strategy genre through several game play features, including strategic terraforming to acquire resources. With this feature, players can manipulate the game’s landscape to extract energy, expand a civilization base, increase covered territory and limit opponent options. In turn, energy extraction provides power to units, buildings and protective force shields, making energy management and environmental awareness key components to game play success. In addition, Perimeter’s use of a feature called nanomorph technology allows units to be transformed into different strategic elements directly on the battlefield. Teamed with a wealth of missions, structure types, maps and factions, Perimeter delivers unparalleled tactical opportunities ready for adaptation in any game play situation.

For more information about Perimeter, including game upgrades, demos, movies and screenshots, please visit www.codemasters.com/perimeter.

The City of Heroes News page has details on the "Through the Looking Glass" update for Cryptic's superhero MMORPG that went live today (thanks Cefu). Likewise, the first Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle update, "Harbingers of War," is live: "NCsoft™ Corporation (KSE: 036570.KS), the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games, today released the first major update to it’s acclaimed massively multiplayer online game Lineage® II: The Chaotic Chronicle. The update, Chronicle 1: Harbingers of War, adds stirring castle sieges, new fierce monsters, items and quests, and a significantly expanded 3D world. The update is free to all Lineage II subscribers via automatic download."

A new version of the Windows XP Games Advisor is now available: "Windows XP users now have a start-to-finish solution that makes it easy to find the most interesting games for your PC and determine if your PC can play them. Look at screenshots, watch trailers, try a free demo and then order the game online -- all with the knowledge that your PC is ready to play."

Mythic Entertainment announces a new version of Dark Age of Camelot that includes all four of the expansions for the MMORPG, a strategy guide, a free month's play, and a trial version to hook a friend. Be sure to use the Dr. Evil finger quotes if you read this aloud:

FAIRFAX, VA – June 29, 2004 - Mythic Entertainment, developer and publisher of the critically-acclaimed massively multiplayer online role-playing game, “Dark Age of Camelot(R),” today released “Dark Age of Camelot: Platinum Edition,” containing the original game and all four expansion packs. The retail expansions, “Dark Age of Camelot: Shrouded Isles(TM)” and “Dark Age of Camelot: Trials of Atlantis(TM),” as well as free expansions, “Dark Age of Camelot: Foundations(TM),” and the recently released “Dark Age of Camelot: New Frontiers(TM),” are included in the "Platinum Edition," along with an introductory player’s guide, a one-month free subscription to the game and a complimentary trial copy of the game that players can give to a friend.

Empire Interactive now offers a new Mashed patch, updating the drive to survive game to version 1.1 (thanks Frans). The update is a 1.2 MB download.

Enter the Battle Zone! Codemasters Announces Shipping of "Soldiers Heroes of World War II" (thanks Frans) has news of availability of Best Way's World War II RTS game. In other shipping news, Bold Games and Gabriel Entertainment Offer Slice of Americana with 'John Deere American Farmer' announces availability of this game aimed at the heartland. Finally, this EBgames listing announces availability of the Spider-Man 2 movie tie-in game. Here's more on Soldiers:

Combining the thrills of a 3D shooter and the depth of a real-time strategy game, players must rely on nerves of steel to prevail in 30 missions incorporating the actions and events of actual war heroes. Soldiers travels into the heart of combat alongside U.S., British, German and Russian forces, where players take chances in completely destructible environments as they blow up railway tracks, kidnap enemy officers, destroy convoys, witness assassinations and work toward POW rescue. More than 100 accurately modeled vehicles and weapons with advanced capabilities, including track speed, acceleration, turret speed, reload rates and armor, help units flee in the wake of heated enemy fire. In addition, the game's advanced AI allows for enemy attacks in formation, retreats, ambushes and assistance in looking for cover during an attack.

Kenn's World offers the news that Kenn Hoekstra has resigned from Raven Software (thanks Frans and Raven-Games). Here's a bit on the decision: "I'm sure the question many of you are asking is 'why?' (Then again, maybe you aren't!) Put simply, I've reached a point in my life where it's time for me to move on to new challenges…to take some risks and make some time for a few things I've always wanted to do. I don't deal well with 'what might have been' scenarios. That said, there are some shots I need to take and I believe now is the time for me to take them. The way I see it, if I don't do it now, I may never get the chance again."

• Slitherine Software
  The Slitherine Software Q&A on Experience Gaming talks with Iain McNeil of Slitherine Software about their future plans as well as more on the story behind the theft of the gold master for Gates of Troy (story).
• Eternal Lands
  Gamebunny's Eternal Lands Q&A talks with Radu Privantu, project manager on this free MMORPG, discussing beta testing and what the future holds.
• Xtreeme Forces
  The Codename: Xtreeme Forces Q&A is a conversation with Vidyuth Srinivasan and Ashray Gokul of Raptor Entertainment, discussing their upcoming first-person shooter. Oddly, they say the project began in November 2003, but our archive has screenshots from the game going back months before that.
• Pool Paradise
  The Pool Paradise Q&A on Computer And Video Games is online, talking with Jimmy White and Archer Maclean about their snooker sim.

Steam News (thanks Frans) now offers word of a new update for both Counter-Strike and Counter-Strike: Condition Zero. The update adds tweaks and fixes for Counter-Strike, adds some previously unreleased "deleted" scenarios to Condition Zero, and heralds the inevitable death of the WON authentication system:

Additionally, work is under way to transition players from WON to Steam. WON authentication servers will be phased out by the end of summer. If you have not already done so, you can download Steam here.

• Live for Speed S2 on Boomtown.
• Star Wars: Battlefront on Gamehelper.

The Star Wars Galaxies Website offers Cinco Barnes' Letter to the Community (thanks Frans) as the lead designer on the upcoming Jump to Lightspeed expansion for Star Wars Galaxies shares his enthusiasm for the project:

I can't wait for you to know the feeling I had the first time I flew through the Naboo system and wove my TIE fighter through the merchant lanes. Or the first time I sat in the X-wing cockpit and looked over my shoulder to see my droid looking back at me. For that matter, the first time I flew through a nebula and saw blinding cords of electricity ripping through the clouds.

• Scrapland on the Official Website.
• TRIBES Vengeance on GenGamers.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Intel releases next generation Xeon.
• Windows XP update could cause support chaos.
• RivaTuner version 2.0 RC15 is now available.
• Another big Apache hole.
• Iffy Spyware Removal Tools - Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.
• Slashdot | Firefox 0.9.1 and Thunderbird 0.7.1 Released.
• Google feels spyware strains.
• 'Arms race' between spammers, spam filters under way.
• Internet browser breach defused.
• Microsoft targets amateur programmers.
• Gates: Microsoft cutting virus combat time.
• Microsoft to Offer Streamlined Products Aimed at Programmers (registration required).
• Apple unveils 30-inch Cinema HD display.
• Apple previews Mac OS X 'Tiger,' Tiger Server.
• Developer calls Apple's Tiger a copycat.
• Apple Lets Cat out of the Bag.
• Apple Putting More Focus on Simplifying Searching (registration required).
• Shuttle Interview: Ken Huang Talks XPC.
• Sperm count, cell phone link dismissed.
• America, Get Ready for Ringbacks.
• New record claimed for text message. Thumbs up!
• X800Pro - XT Successful Softmods.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Kameo: Elements of Power Updated Impressions on GameSpot.
• Astro Boy Updated Hands-On Impressions on GameSpot.
• Xbox seeks foothold in Japan.
• Golden Sun for GameCube?
• Jackie Chan Adventures announced for the PS2.
• Offroad Extreme Announced.
• Rallisport Challenge 2 tournament begins.
• Burnout for PlayStation Portable?
• GameCube gets university backing.
• NAMCO Introduce TEKKEN-NET.

The Savage Forums bandy about the possibility of some manner of Savage Devastation Summer Tournament.

XENTAX.COM now offers a new version 4.0.0 b of MultiEx Commander, the game resource extraction utility. Mike Zuurman's MultiEx .plan thread offers details on what's changed in the new version.

• Far Cry on Warcry.
• Ground Control II: Operation Exodus on FileFront.
• Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle on Game Revolution.
• Painkiller on Four Fat Chicks.
• Sacred on Frictionless Insight.
• Singles: Flirt Up Your Life on Warcry.
• Soldiers: Heroes of World War II on IGN.
• Thief: Deadly Shadows on Preys-World.
• True Crime: Streets of L.A. on Gamer's Pulse.
• Unreal Tournament 2004 on Stratos Group.

• Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Adapter on Hardware Pacers.
• AData PC4000 RAM on Xtreme Resources.
• ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe WiFi Motherboard on HEXUS.net.
• Belkin Nostromo Speedpad n52 on Computing On Demand.
• Chenming 602A ATX Case on PimpRig.
• Corsair 1GB 3200XL-Pro DDR Memory on FastLaneHW.
• Diabolic Minotaur Case on Red & Blackness.
• Epox 8KDA3+ Motherboard on Digital-Daily.
• Epson PhotoPC P-1000 Photo Viewer on TrustedReviews.
• Gateway Wireless Connected DVD Player on Designtechnica.
• Gainward 1300-XT TV-DVI Video Card on ExplosiveLabs.
• Gigabyte GO-W0808A DVD Burner on PCStats.
• Gyration Ultra GT Keyboard and Mouse on Home Theater PC News.
• HIS Excalibur 9550 VIVO Video Card on HardAvenue.
• HP Scanjet 4670 see-thru Scanner on Bytesector.
• Intel LGA775 CPU on Digital-Daily.
• LG GSA-4082B Super Multi DVD Rewriter on PCStats.
• Logitech Z5300 Speakers on Rage3D.
• Opus Technologies MT-200 Case on XYZ Computing.
• PowerColor Radeon 9600XT Bravo Video Card on Legion Hardware.
• Speeze Owlstream Cooler on Modding World.
• Thermaltake's Silver River 3.5 Enclosure on TechTastic.
• Thermaltake Tower112 Copper Heatpipe Cooler on ExtremeMhz.
• Thermaltake Xray Cigarette, Beverage Tray on Thermaltake Xray.
• Vantec NexStar 3.5" External Hard Drive Enclosures (in video) on 3dGameMan.
• Xtrac Hammer Mouse Pad on hi-techreviews.

• Enlight Software announces plans to publish Scrapland. Thanks Frans...
• The Aces High Forums offer a series of new Aces High patches released over the last week. Thanks Frans...
• FurtherTime version 1.1 is now available, an updated version of this space combat sim...
• Sugar Games now offers a demo of Edges, an addictive puzzle game...
• Game on for MSN, FoxSports site. Thanks Mike Martinez...
• IGN Entertainment to Acquire Rotten Tomatoes, One of the Internet's Leading Independent Movie Sites. Thanks Frans...

Well I got frustrated with my broken lawnmower yesterday and had at it. The problem was that the string was not pulling properly after the handle got destroyed, so I tried getting a better hold with a vice grip, but clearly something was tangled within. Running the risk of further damage (or creating a deadly family heirloom as detailed in this brilliantly funny forum post) I busted out the toolkit to see if a more sophisticated approach to this repair might be in order. Sure enough, after removing a few screws the plastic housing around the cord came off in one piece, and after a little playing around I was able to get the cord running in its proper track once more. Makeshift handle in pace, the mower now seems as good as new, and I was able to complete the lawn without further mishaps.

In unrelated good news, Hudson's limp seems to have gone away, so it looks like her sore leg was a minor one.

R.I.P.: Herman Goldstine, Who Helped Build First Computers, Dies at 90 (registration required). Thanks Mike Martinez.

Links of the Day:	Kristin Thomas Spam Poetry. Thanks Blue Cheeze. F3ll0wsh1p of teh R1ng. Brandon Bird Paintings.
Stories of the Day:	Dancing bear freed from chains. Man tosses undies in reservoir, fined. Thanks Miguel Gonzalez. Their Coats Are White, but Their Hands Are Green (registration required).
Science!:	Teched-Out Cars Bug Drivers. Solar to Keep Army on the Go. Antarctic ice station likely to float away.
Media of the Day:	Blindfolded Mario Music. Thanks Dan Nguyen.
Images of the Day:	How to fry an egg on an XP. Thanks Ant.
Auction of the Day:	Ashton Kutcher's , AIM SCREEN NAME REAL. Thanks Gudlyf.
Follow-ups:	Elevator to the stars. Second US cow tests positive for BSE. Bird flu is becoming more lethal.
	Thanks Mike Martinez