The BioShock First Look/Exclusive First Impressions on GameSpot has the promised announcement of the new project from Irrational Games, and though it is not the System Shock 3 announcement that had been anticipated, the game is described by Irrational's Ken Levine as the "spiritual successor" to System Shock 2. They offer first impressions of the game, said to be in development for three years now, as well as a video Q&A about the game with Ken that can streamed for free. Here's a bit from the preview:

BioShock takes place in a mysterious genetic laboratory. Other than that the complex is strewn with corpses (also for reasons unknown), nothing is clear to you. From what you can tell, the laboratory complex is apparently a holdover from World War II--you'll see remnants of the war as well as peeling paint throughout the complex. Something apparently happened back then that caused the complex to be abandoned by whoever was using it. In fact, the complex has only recently come back into use by the scientists circa the early 21st century, and advanced, top-secret contraptions used for arcane biotechnology experiments have been hastily bolted into the rotting walls of the complex.

You'll explore the complex from a first-person perspective, similar to System Shock 2 or Deus Ex, and you'll find it inhabited by three primary "castes" of creatures, which Irrational is currently referring to as "drones," "predators," and "soldiers"--creatures that might once have been human. We were shown a few concept images of creatures that were part human, part monster. Exactly how these creatures came to be this way isn't clear, but Irrational has suggested that some of them are actually fused with human anatomy: human lungs are grafted onto their bodies to breathe, and the human arm dangling off to the side can still hold and fire a gun.

This Vivendi Universal Games Downloads Page offers the promised TRIBES Vengeance Dedicated Server Client Beta, allowing a dedicated multiplayer server to be run without a CD key. The download is 174 MB.

Axis & Allies Goes Gold and Offers Exclusive Pre-Sell Program for Select Retailers is the press release announcing the completion of TimeGate Studios' RTS game based on the popular tabletop wargame (thanks Frans). In addition, a new trailer from the game is now available on FilePlanet (registration required), mirrored on 3D Gamers. Here's a bit from the announcement that discloses planned availability:

BEVERLY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 2004-- Atari, Inc. is pleased to announce that Axis & Allies has gone gold and is currently in manufacturing for retail distribution. Axis & Allies featuring a dynamic campaign mode that offers the player the opportunity to live out the most famous conflicts of World War 2, a powerful A.I. system with the capacity to learn and challenge gamers during every battle, and the ability to utilize the attributes of World War 2's famous generals to lead your armies to victory. Axis & Allies for PC-CD-ROM will be available the week of November 2nd at a suggested retail price of $49.99. For more information Axis & Allies, please visit its official website at http://www.atari.com/axisandallies.

The VATAN Website is now online, as the upcoming first-person shooter/role-playing game that was just uncovered (story) has been officially announced. The website offers movies and screenshots from the game, and here's the announcement:

VATAN is an an epic, futuristic "fairytale" set in a dark 23rd century world where mankind, after colonizing considerable parts of the galaxy, has waged war with itself and huge corporations fuel the rage by building galactic weapons of mass destruction for the republic. The only thing standing on their way is the rebel alliance, struggling to mantain independence of the free systems. What's interesting about the story is that the player, almost controversially, is a sworn soldier of the republic and is fighting against the rebel forces. This war, however, is a mere backdrop for the bigger story to unfold during the gameplay.

    • Experience an IMMERSIVE AND EXCITING GAMEPLAY exploring tropical lush planets, barren environments, alien space stations and huge high-technology cities while carrying out your objectives, meeting different characters and experiencing unforgettable events!

    • The powerful engine behind VATAN makes it possible to experience first person shooter AND role-playing gameplay, mixing huge outdoor landscapes with detailed indoor scenarios!

    • VATAN is fully implemented with a REALISTIC PHYSICS ENGINE (NEWTON GAME DYNAMICS), which is an active part of the gameplay, accompanying all environments fully - providing a real-life feeling across the entire game! The player can drive vehicles, interact with hundreds of objects per level, with each object having its own physical properties, which for example, allow objects to float or sink in the water and much more.

Full Version of Anarchy Online Now for Free is the press release announcing that the full version of Funcom's MMORPG is now available for free. Accompanying the announcement is word that the free trial for the game has been extended to two weeks, after previously being seven days. Word is: "The free full version with 14 day included subscription does not include access to the expansion packs Anarchy Online - Shadowlands."

THQ Announces Global Publishing Rights to "Juiced" Franchise (thanks Frans) has the follow-up to the news about THQ acquiring the publishing rights for the racing game from bankrupt Acclaim. Included is a confirmation of the delay that the first (story) on this alluded to:

Subject to final contract and certain closing conditions, THQ plans to release "Juiced" for the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox® videogame system from Microsoft and PC in summer 2005.

A pair of stories on TribalWar (thanks Frans) outline the status of dedicated server software for TRIBES: Vengeance. They have word that a stripped-down server executable is currently in QA at Vivendi Universal that will hopefully be approved for release soon. They also have a quick Q&A with TRIBES brand manager Patrick Dillon on the failure to have a dedicated server ready with the game's release, which they call an "egregious mistake."

The World of Warcraft Community Site has news that Blizzard will soon be accepting sign-ups for the North American open beta testing of this upcoming MMORPG (thanks JeffC). Word simply is: "More details will become available in the days ahead, so stay tuned."

A new The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth movie is now available, featuring the seventh installment in the Inside the Battle series on the game's development. The clip can be downloaded from 3D Gamers, FileFront, Gamer's Hell, Games-Fusion, and Worthplaying. Also, there's a Medieval Lords Diary on Gamesradar (thanks Frans) where some unnamed party at Monte Cristo Games discusses gameplay in their imminent strategy/construction game. Finally, there's a DRIV3R postmortem on Music 4 Games where Marc Canham of Nimrod Productions discusses the game's music.

Could It Be ... Vatan? on IGN has first word on plans for a first-person shooter with role-playing elements in the works at FySoftware. They offer some screenshots from the science fiction-themed game, along with a synopsis: "FySoftware promises high-action gameplay, diverse environments, and an advanced game engine allowing for advanced physics, vehicles, and realistic object interaction."

• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
  There's a S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl Q&A on board.oblivion-lost with some answers from Oleg Yavorsky of GSC Game World: "However we are not that kind of game and we have never claimed to be that kind of game. We’ve always said that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. offers freedom of movement and an unscripted experience. Retaining that style of plan and trying to add Co-op would fundamentally change the game. The trading and communication stops working the way it should and the game then becomes something like a Battlefield clone or even an MMORPG."
• Dungeon Siege II
  RPGDot's Dungeon Siege II Q&A talks with Kevin Lambert, lead designer on Gas Powered Games' upcoming action/RPG sequel: "Experience-by-doing (as opposed to choosing a class at the outset of the game) is still a fundamental element in Dungeon Siege II. The big improvement in DS2 is that this experience now gives players skill points that they can spend on any of the four classes skill trees. Then there are the Powers. Powers have level and skill requirements and allow characters to do amazing things in and out of battle."
• H&D2: Sabre Squadron
  The Hidden & Dangerous 2: Sabre Squadron Q&A on GameSpot interrogates Petr Miksa of Illusion Softworks about their World War II expansion: "We added some rifles, pistols, and a new antitank weapon for the Axis side. The Axis side lacked semiautomatic rifles in the last game, so we gave them a G43 rifle, which balances the game a bit. The lack of silenced weapons on the Axis side was also bit annoying, so they can now use a silenced Parabellum pistol. Stationary weapons have also been put in some missions--such as Sicily2, Alps3, and Ardennes2--and you can use them for destroying enemy vehicles."
• Void War
  The Void War Q&A on The Armchair Empire talks with Jay Barnson, creator of Void War, the space combat game from Rampant Games: "I’ve been a big fan of space combat games, from the old arcade vector-graphics games to the Wing Commander series, on through the more scarce recent offerings in the genre. I always wanted to get into dogfights with real, live players in a true test of skill. Unfortunately, the multiplayer modes in these games were more about managing complex flight systems and completing mission objectives."
• Origin of the Species
  The Origin of the Species Q&A on Gameguru Mania chats with Colin M. Paterson of Nu Generation Games about Origin of the Species, their upcoming third-person action game: "There exist certain black projects within the military, ones outside of the control of the government and the people. A group of local youths camping in the desert will have a ring side seat to witness this disaster in the happening as the DNA mutations quickly grown beyond all expected control. What follows is a young girl's struggle to escape the experiment, save those she care's about and discover the ultimate secret hidden in the depths of the black operation."
• Kuma\War
  RPG Vault's Kuma\War Action Q&A discusses their John Kerry swift boat mission: "We felt that Kuma was uniquely capable of presenting a new perspective on the events, and could bring some clarity to the controversy so people could make up their own minds. It's been our belief since the day we started the company that being IN the action is the best way to understand it."
• Horizons
  GamersInfo.net's David Bowman Q&A concludes, as they've posted Part 4 and Part 5 of their discussion of what the future holds for the MMORPG that's being acquired by Tulga Games.
• Dawn of War
  The Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War Q&A on Xequted talks with Jonathan "Jonathon" Dowdeswell about Relic's RTS game: "We have the most advanced animation system of any RTS to date, which allows us to have more realistic interaction between units than ever before. Units will literally pick other units up and throw them around in combat, which makes the whole experience leaps and bounds more immersive."
• Valve
  The F! True Gamer Story on FileFront profiles Jeff Ballinger in an article-format Q&A with the artist who just completed his work on Half-Life 2.

Matrix Games announces that Tin Soldiers: Alexander the Great has been released and is now available for sale through the Matrix Games Online Store. "Easy to learn but difficult to master, it places you in the role of Alexander the Great during his conquest of the known world. Guide Alexander through his grand campaign from inheriting his father’s legacy at the battle of Thebes to his conquest of Darius III and the Persian Empire through his last great battle at the Hydaspes, in the heart of Asia against the Indian army of King Porus."

• Axis and Allies RTS on IGN.
• Empire Earth 2 on GameSpy.
• EverQuest 2 on ActionTrip and My Guy Games.
• Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich on GameSpot.
• Prince of Persia: Warrior Within on IGN.
• Sid Meier's Pirates! on Worthplaying.
• SWAT 4 on GameSpy and IGN.

• Dark and Light on RPG Vault.
• Die Siedler Das Erbe der Könige on the Official Website.
• Gods: Lands of Infinity on the Cypron Studios Website. Thanks Frans.
• Joint Operations: Escalation on Games-Fusion.
• The Witcher on the Official Website. Thanks Frans.

MacGameFiles is where to find downloads of version 1.0 of the Macintosh dedicated server for Battlefield 1942.

Heroes of Might and Magic gets MMORPG treatment on GameSpot has news of plans to develop an MMORPG based on the Might and Magic franchise for the Chinese market. According to the report the game is due in China next year, and "A worldwide launch is also being considered."

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Xbox Live Content for Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow.
• Slurpee.com has details on the Win It Before You Can Buy It Halo 2 Sweepstakes.
• Stunning New DS Announcements Revealed.
• Nintendo slams PSP in amazing two hour battery claim.
• Huge Nintendo DS Japan Update.
• Nintendo handheld to feature wireless downloading.
• Final Fantasy producer drops DS hints.
• Nintendo DS Able to Download Pokemon Data from Movie.
• Mega Man Zero 3 Released for Game Boy.
• Call of Duty: Finest Hour preview on Gamehelper.
• Activision enlists Hollywood talent for Call of Duty: Finest Hour.
• "Leading video games developer and publisher Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that its much anticipated rhythmic drum game, TAIKO: Drum Master™, has gone gold and will ship to North American retail outlets at the end of October. Developed by Namco Limited in Japan, TAIKO: Drum Master will be available exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system."

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• AMD's Q3 led by strong Opteron, Athlon 64 sales.
• Word mangled by unpatched security hole.
• Slashdot | Microsoft Issues Ominous ASP.Net Security Warning.
• PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook.
• Hynix sells non-memory business. Thanks John.
• Piggyback developers in a bind over IE.
• How to polish your HDD to make it sparkle and shine on MADSHRIMPS.
• HD-DVD proponents trying to get in bed with Microsoft and Xbox2.
• AOL launches news ads, logo.
• Google introduces wireless service.
• Slashdot | Bright LCD Patent Dispute.
• Shadow Ops: Red Mercury - A Look At The First 64 Bit Windows Game.

GTA Creator David Jones keynotes World Cyber Games 2004 Conference. Also, Texas Gaming Festival Brings Lan Gaming To Linucon describes plans for a LAN event in Austin, Texas July 23-25.

• Is a Price Hike Inevitable? Thanks Frans.
• Love and romance in the world of Massive Multi Online Role Playing Games. Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Arena Wars on GameSpy.
• Aura: Fate of the Ages on GameSpy.
• Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon on Xequted.
• DOOM 3 on GamerDad.
• Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude on Games Domain and GameSpy.
• Port Royale 2 on Gamer's Hell.
• Rome: Total War on Gamer's Hell.
• The Sims 2 on Gamezilla.
• Soldiers: Heroes of World War II on 1Up.
• Star Wars: Battlefront on Xequted.
• TRIBES: Vengeance on Games Domain.

• A-DATA i-Drive USB 2.0 Disk + PC Camera on X-bit labs.
• AC Ryan Conductx & Molex Quad-Splitter on Phoronix.
• Albatron GeForce 6800GT Video Card on Gamer's Depot.
• ASUS SCB-2408-D Combo Drive on X-bit labs.
• ATI 9100 Pro IGP vs Intel GMA 900 IG Comparison on hardCOREware.net.
• Chenbro Xpider 2 Case on hi-techreviews.
• Dell Axim X30 PDA on TrustedReviews.
• DFI LanParty 915X-T12 Motherboard on ViperLair.
• GeCube Radeon X800 PRO Video Card on HEXUS.net.
• Gigabyte GO-U0128B 128MB USB Hard Drive on PCStats.
• IBM ThinkPad X40 on The Tech Zone.
• Samsung SCD103 MiniDV Digital Video Camcorder on Tweaknews.net.
• Sandisk 512 MB Memory Stick on Adrian's Rojak Pot.
• SilverStone Lascala LC03V HTPC Case "Cool-n-Quiet" Custom Mod on SystemCooling.
• Thermaltake Jungle 512 HSF on OCModShop.
• Tweakmonster RamSink Brackets on BurnOutPC.
• Ultra X-Connect 500 Watt Modular PSU on 3DXtreme.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Will Video Game Players Turn Pro?...
• Virtual gamers reveal themselves. Thanks Ant...
• G-mode, Webpattern Technologies Sign Licensing Agreement for Online Games...
• TotalGames.net has details on a Prince of Persia: Warrior Within pre-order deal that includes a book of artwork from the game...
• The Ghost Master source code Petition implores Empire to release the source code for the haunting game to allow users to create new levels and such...

We're battening down the hatches here as we look forward to another visit from the little BlueMunchkins, as our crack babysitting skills are being called into action again this weekend. This will be an extended trip compared with their previous visits, as we will have them from tomorrow afternoon through sometime Monday. I just hope the weather holds out, since a rainy weekend like last time around will be that much harder to work around with twice as much time to kill.

Play Time:	Motherload. Thanks Tannon.
Stories of the Day:	Hot Wheels. 'Bogus' film credits under attack. Bratz Topples Barbie in Battle of the Dolls.
Science!:	Anyone for Collagen Soup? Killer flu recreated in the lab. Device translates spoken Japanese and English.
Follow-ups:	'Team America' cuts puppet sex. 'No experiments' for SpaceShipOne. Budding space tourism industry faces regulations hurdle.
	Thanks Mike Martinez.