A demo of Trainz Railroad Simulator 2004 is now available, allowing you to make tracks for this sample of Auran's transportation sim. The 223 MB download is available on NVIDIA's nZone and mirrored on 3D Gamers and Worthplaying.

Master Creating, announces that Restricted Area has gone gold and their RPG is slated for release in Germany on October 1, 2004. Here's a bit: "Four unique characters, each with a detailed back-story, progress independently through the same narrative; the story is revealed from various angles – a refreshing break from the typical, single-narrative form of most RPGs. Darkly atmospheric and built upon addictive gameplay, RESTRICTED AREA´S dramatic storyline and incredible action will draw gamers into the most intense, frightening and gripping RPG gaming experience ever created."

Though not yet listed on the SuperPower II Website, a new demo is now available for GolemLabs' global geopolitical simulation sequel, offering the chance to try your iron fist at a 90 minute timed scenario. The 167 MB download can be found on 3D Gamers, FileFront, FilePlanet (registration required), Fragland.net, Gamer's Hell, and Worthplaying.

Eidos sends word that Shellshock Nam '67 is now in stores for the PC, Xbox, and PS2. To celebrate, they've made some updates to the game's official website.

The Far Cry Website (thanks Ant) has quick word on plans for the long awaited second (or third if you count the one that was yoinked) patch for Crytek's first-person shooter:

Please note that Far Cry patch 1.25 is still undergoing tweaking at Crytek. We'll give you more news on that as soon as we're able.

Activision sends a tip for Call of Duty: United Offensive server administrators:

Several of the servers out there right now for Call of Duty: United Offensive are running 32 or more players on connections that don't support that many clients. As a result, players are getting a poor experience playing Call of Duty: United Offensive and thinking that the lag is due to the game when it's actually the connection that the servers are running on.

We'd like to ask server admins to please start with a smaller client number and work their way up to the max that their server supports rather than starting with a high client number and working their way down. This will make sure that your server runs at the best possible speed, and will also make sure that players get a good experience on your server and with the game overall.

A new version 1.1 of the software development kit for Far Cry is now available, updating the mod support for Crytek's first-person shooter. The 29 MB download also includes new plug-ins and exporters, available on 3D Gamers, FilePlanet (registration required), and Worthplaying.

A new Conflict Vietnam demo is now available, offering the chance to go in country in Pivotal Games' military shooter. The demo offers "Rumble in the Jungle," the game's second level. The 247 MB demo can be found on Tiscali Games and mirrored on 3D Gamers, ActionTrip, Boomtown (registration required), Computer Games Online, FileFront, FilePlanet (registration required), Fragland.net, Gameguru Mania, Gamer's Hell, and Worthplaying.

Atari Announces RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Demo and Pre-Sell Campaign Offering Exclusive, Professionally Designed Coasters (thanks Frans) has word of another delay to the demo for the theme-park sim, which is now due a week later than last planned (story). Here's the deal:

BEVERLY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 2004-- Atari, Inc. has announced a "RollerCoaster Tycoon® 3 Pre-Order Campaign" and demo program, both part of a comprehensive multi-vehicle marketing campaign for the November 2nd launch of RollerCoaster Tycoon® 3. The pre-order program allows consumers who reserve a copy of RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, the highly anticipated next addition of the RollerCoaster Tycoon franchise, to download three professionally designed coasters that were created exclusively for RollerCoaster Tycoon 3. A playable demo of the game will be available for download on Monday, September 27th at www.atari.com/rollercoastertycoon and on partner sites.

GMX Media announces that Seal of Evil is gold (thanks Frans). Here's a bit:

GMX Media has today announced that Seal of Evil – an epic mythological RPG for PC –CD ROM has finally gone gold and is set for a UK release on October 15th 2004.

"Seal of Evil is a game designed specifically for fans of the RPG genre," commented COO for GMX Media, Eugene Perry. “The game features an unparalleled level of depth for a single player RPG set in a legendary era of magic, intrigue and conflict.”

Preliminary Results for the Year to 30 June 2004 has more on Eidos' latest financials (thanks Frans). In addition to the aforementioned losses, the announcement includes an explanation for the delay of Shellshock 'Nam 67 ("to give this new franchise a better opportunity to deliver on its true potential"), word that Tomb Raider 7 is expected to be unveiled this autumn and launched by the end of the fiscal year, and first word on development of a previously unrevealed new IP called Just Cause.

Shrapnel Games now offers downloads of a new version 2.14 patch for Dominions II: The Ascension Wars. Word is: "This is a small patch meant to take care of several lingering bugs. Originally Illwinter Game Design had hoped to include these fixes with the last patch but unfortunately the patch ended up being split into two separate patches."

The Hollywood Reporter (thanks GameGossip and Frans) has word that a star has been chosen for the upcoming DOOM movie, reporting that Karl Urban will play the DOOM marine. Most recently Karl was in The Bourne Supremacy, after previously appearing in such geek-friendly projects as The Chronicles of Riddick, two of The Lord of the Rings movies, and a bunch of episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess.

The Saga of Ryzom Website (thanks Frans) announces a new distribution deal for Nevrax' upcoming MMORPG: "A sprawling, skill-based role-playing title, The Saga of Ryzom has already amassed a phenomenal 165,000 subscribers since the title was announced earlier this year, and is due for worldwide release on September 16 th . As part of its responsibilities, Ubisoft will oversee the distribution of the game to key high street UK retailers, the vital independent sector, and across online portals. A wealth of POS materials will also be made available to help promote this exciting title."

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• The Firefox web browser, Thunderbird, and the Mozilla Suite have all been updated. Thanks Ant.
• Amazon to Take Searches on Web to a New Depth (registration required).
• Wireless technology to rival cable. They mean that in a good way.
• Sony Set to Exert Influence on Discs (registration required).
• Online Music branding battle hits bum note for Apple.
• ATI's Updated Catalyst Control Center: Worth the Wait?
• Theme park takes visitors to RFID-land.
• Hotmail Storage Increase Lags.

The first movie for Terrorist Takedown is now available, showing off CITY interactive's upcoming vehicular shooter. The movie is a 12 MB download, available on 3D Gamers. Also, the official Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia Website (thanks Frans) now offers a new gameplay trailer from the upcoming MMO expansion in the always final, but never ending, RPG series.

The Mac edition of the new version 3323 patch for Unreal Tournament 2004 is now available (thanks Ant), bringing the Think Different version of Epic's shooter in line with the PC and Linux flavors. The 13 MB download can be found on BeyondUnreal.

• Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
  TotalVideoGames' Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory Q&A talks with Mathieu Ferland about upcoming plans to again insert Sam Fisher behind enemy lines: "In the first two Splinter Cell games, the split jump was a nice visual representation of this feeling. In Chaos Theory, players are rewarded if they can get closer and closer. They’ll experiment close stealth actions, and get more accurate hints about the mission. They will have new moves available to them, such as the new neck snap move, where Sam is upside down, hanging with his feet and twisting the neck of an enemy below. Incredible!"
• TrackMania
  Building on TrackMania on Eurogamer.net talks with Florent Castelnerac about TrackMania, and the upcoming TrackMania Sunrise: "There will be more freeride blocks that enable free ride tracks. They are designed to enable the player to go on wide spaces like parking with obstacles. You should find a collection of very crazy blocks that will be designed to put a shame on looping."

• The Bard's Tale on 1UP. Thanks HomeLAN Fed.
• Codename: Panzers on FiringSquad and GameSpy.
• Dungeon Siege II on 1UP.
• EverQuest: Omens of War on IGN.
• Evil Genius on Boomtown.
• Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-Earth on IGN.
• Project: Snowblind on 1UP, GameSpy, IGN, and TotalVideoGames.
• The Saga of Ryzom on GameSpy and IGN.
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl on Worthplaying.
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords on IGN.

• COPS 2170: The Power of Law on RPG Vault.
• Elite Starfighter on the Official Website. Thanks YiYas.
• Face of Mankind on RPG Vault.
• Project: Snowblind on 3D Gamers.

The Clone Bandits Website now features downloads of a new version 1.1 of the Clone Bandits modification for Unreal Tournament 2004, winner of the "best vehicle" honors in phase thee of the Make Something Unreal competition. Word is: "In a post-apocalyptic future, two warring clans of ruffians and ne'er-do-wells have built their outposts over the ruins of a military research compound, which just happens to be stocked with life-giving clones. Sweet, sweet clones! It's your duty to steal this precious genetic cargo, and deliver the little fellas to a new, more loving home."

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Atari's Forgotten Realms Demon Stone Hits Retail Stores (PS2).
• EA patches online console service in light of Burnout 3 problems.
• Guilty Gear X2 #Reload Ships.
• Jimmy Neutron Ships.
• Terminator 3: Redemption Q&A on Gamehelper.
• Halo 2 preview Part 2 on Computer And Video Games.
• Guns, planes, lorries - more San Andreas details.
• DBZ Budokai 2 comes to GameCube.
• CELL Processor Raring To Go?
• Konami releases its Tokyo Game Show lineup.
• Online Games are Growing Fast.
• Mizuguchi to unveil new game at TGS.

There's a new Fallout 3 FAQ on No Mutants Allowed dedicated to the upcoming continuation of the post-apocalyptic RPG series in development at Bethesda Softworks.

Interactive Data Visualization offers a demo version of SpeedTree, their spiffy foliage tool. Also, the Chaos League Skinning Competition offers a "Top of the Range Graphics Card to the best Old World Fashion Designer." Also, EA and the USC School of Cinema-Television Celebrate the Grand Opening of the EA Interactive Entertainment Program and EA Game Innovation Lab (thanks Frans): "The EA Game Innovation Lab, based in the Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts, is a state-of-the-art research space and think tank where new concepts in game design, play, and usability are developed, prototyped, and play-tested. Lab users will push games beyond the currently defined genres, markets, and play patterns, creating a body of knowledge about players, games, and game playing that is informing the next generation of software and hardware." Finally, Tempting art students into gaming (thanks Mike Martinez): "a project run by a Scottish university is trying to persuade art students to consider a career in the games industry."

The Flying Lab Software Jobs Page now features four openings they are looking to fill in the development team for Pirates of the Burning Sea, their upcoming seafaring MMORPG. They are currently seeking an Art Director, a Character Technical Lead Artist, a Programmer, and a SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test).

• Blitzkrieg: Burning Horizon on Computer Games Romania.
• Call of Duty: United Offensive on ActionTrip, GameSpy, GameSpot, and Gamer's Depot.
• Dark Fall: Lights Out on Quandary.
• Jack the Ripper on GamerDad.
• Hearts of Iron Platinum Edition on GameZone.
• The Political Machine on Gamehelper.
• The Sims 2 on GameSpot.

• Antec NeoPower 480w PSU on Flickerdown Data Systems.
• ATI Theater 550 PRO Video Processor on HEXUS.net.
• GlobalWIN Jefi Water Cooling System on SystemCooling.
• Intel Pentium 4 560 CPU on ViperLair.
• Logisys Computer Liquid Neon and RAM Mod on ap0calypse.
• Sunbeam Samurai Mid-Tower Gaming Case on ExtremeMhz.
• T-Balancer TBAN-XL Knobless Fan Controller on MADSHRIMPS.
• Thermalright SLK-800U Heatsink on OCModShop.
• Thermalright SLK-947U Heatsink on TechFreaks.
• ThermalTake Silent Purepower 480w PSU on Overclockers Online.
• TomTom Go GPS on TrustedReviews.
• XFX GeForce 6800 GT 256 MB Video Card on TheTechLounge.

• VU Games posts major first half loss. Thanks Mike Martinez...
• The Wish Sound Page offers three new tracks from the soundtrack of Mutable Realms' upcoming MMORPG....
• Aspyr announces that Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of World War II for the Macintosh has entered beta testing...
• The results of another Reclamation Tuesday are online: "This week Martin Bassie gives us insight on his background and job with Lyra Studios in a new Dev Profile. The Stories continue with the first part of The Crusade, and we'll discuss Roleplaying at the Reclamation Stratics forums."...
• "CCP, announced today that EVE Online has broken through the 50,000 active subscriber barrier, which translates into a 45% growth since the beginning of the year."...

My 'net connection has been troublesome since sometime yesterday afternoon... it's funny how reliable these things have become compared to the past. This flaky connectivity is actually faster and more reliable than on dial up (though those days of whine and modems are actually farther behind me than I tend to recall at first). Anyway, hopefully MaBell will be able to straighten things out today.

Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown today, here's to a sweet new year to all who are celebrating!

Links of the Day:	Howard Stern.com. Thanks K P N. Register to vote. Map of Springfield. Candle and Soap Making For Dummies Recall. Thanks Shepman.
Stories of the Day:	Police thwart 'Cannonball Run'. 'Excuse Me. May I Have Your Seat' (registration required)? The Best, Worst & Weirdest Car Names. Thanks Ant.
Science!:	Study finds heart benefit to drinking. Ships shape up to fight killer waves. Method to Turn Off Bad Genes Is Set for Tests on Human Eyes (registration required).
Image of the Day:	3D Image of Solis Planum.
Follow-ups:	Private space plane’s engine souped up.
	Thanks Mike Martinez