A new patch for Psychonauts is now available, updating Double Fine's wacky action game to version 1.02. The various fixes and improvements from the new version are also now available in an updated version of the game's demo. The patch and demo can be found on the Psychonauts Website and mirrored on 3D Gamers, Gameguru Mania, and Worthplaying.

A new official Operation: Matriarchy Website is online, developer Madia Entertainment's home to their upcoming first-person shooter. The site offers a collection of 38 new screenshots from the project. Also, a new ECHO: Secrets of the Lost Cavern product page is home to this upcoming point-and-click adventure. Finally, JoWooD Productions has launched product pages for SpellForce 2 and Gothic III, though neither page offers new screenshots or other media. Thanks Frans.

• IGN Best of E3 2005 Awards and GameSpot's E3 2005 Editors' Choice Awards and GameSpy's Annual E3 Awards 2005. Thanks Frans.

Another new Bet on Soldier movie is now available on the Kylotonn Entertainment website, showing off more of the upcoming chancy first-person shooter. Also, a new Stargate SG-1: The Alliance Trailer is online, showing off the upcoming sci-fi TV show tie-in in high and low resolutions (though this is actually more like low and lower resolutions). Finally, as noted here, this WEBZEN Games Website offers a new SUN clip showing off this upcoming MMORPG. Thanks Frans.

• Age of Pirates on GamersInfo.
• Area 51 on Techconnect Magazine.
• Auto Assault on Ten Ton Hammer.
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion on RPG Vault.
• ER on Gamer Alias.
• Ghost Wars on GamersInfo.
• GTA: San Andreas on Boomtown.
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on GamersInfo.
• The Movies on GamersInfo.
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow on Worthplaying.
• Sniper Elite on GamersInfo.
• Stargate SG-1: The Alliance on GamersInfo.
• Ultimate Spider-Man on Worthplaying.
• War Front: Turning Point on GamersInfo.

Game maker Ubisoft fights back (thanks Mike Martinez) describes how Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot is asking the board of directors to resist further overtures from EA (story), owner of 20% of the company (story). Here's word on their quest to remain independent:

"We prefer by far to remain independent as we will be able to double our value in the next two years as we will double our effort," said Mr Guillemot.

"The profits of the company will grow fast because the products are selling well and generating lots of revenue."

"If our shareholders are happy with what we do they will not sell their shares, they will keep them as it is a great investment for them," he said.

Ubisoft's sales have risen fast over the past five years, hitting 537m euros (£389m) in the 2004-2005 financial year.

Eight of its games, such as Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia, sold more than 17 million copies worldwide.

"We are in a business of creation," said Mr Guillemot, "we need to keep the creativity and that is the value of the company."

Thanks Frans.

• Aurora Watching: Gorky Zero on the Official Website.
• Battlefield 2 on the Official Website.
• The Godfather on the Official Website.
• The Matrix: Path of Neo on 3D Gamers.
• TimeShift on 3D Gamers.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• The Games of PlayStation 3: Uncovered!
• PS3 price conjecture rumbles.
• New PlayStation 3 Screenshots for Killzone 2 on GameInfoWire.
• Life As A Soul Calibur Model.
• Bioware consider next-gen.
• Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow Trailer available.
• Sonic Rush Trailer available.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• New Japanese DS Colour!

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Sony tests anti-CD burning technology.
• Intel Preps Mac Mini Look-Alike.
• Many Unaware of Browser-Security Link.
• Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP have been updated. Thanks Ant.
• The Microsoft Millionaires Come of Age. (registration required).
• ATI and Nvidia to boost ASE 3Q sales.
• AnandTech Computex 2005 Early Bird Coverage NVIDIA's G70, Athlon 64 BTX and more.
• Israelis Nab 18 in Computer Espionage Case.
• Everest home edition version 2.00 is now available. Thanks Ant.
• System Lets Parents Spy on Kids' Lunches.
• 'Current' trend Rewiring homes to suit high-tech toys (registration required).
• China's Controlled Internet - Registration deadline nears.

Thanks Ant.

• Point of Existence 0.4 for Battlefield Vietnam is now available. Thanks PlanetBattlefield.
• The D³Jedi modification announces a switch from the DOOM 3 engine to the Quake 4 engine. Quake 4, will, of course, use an updated version of the DOOM 3 engine. Thanks PlanetDOOM.

• NVIDIA 6600GT Giveaway Contest on Adrian's Rojak Pot.
• Worldwide Halo 2 Tournament Nears Finish Line. Thanks Mike Martinez.
• The DOA Tourney: They Finished Dead or Alive. Thanks Mike Martinez.

A new FAQ on the Deep Shadows Website offers troubleshooting tips for Boiling Point: Road to Hell (thanks Frans). Also, RPG Vault's World of Warcraft Tips #26 are online, offering guidance on playing as the Orc race and playing the Scarlet Monastery dungeon in Blizzard's MMORPG.

Game Institute Releases New AI Course (thanks Mike Martinez). "This course primarily explores two of the most significant areas of game AI: decision making and environment navigation."

• Scrapland on Strategy Informer.
• Silent Hunter III on Computer Games Romania.
• Still Life on Gamer's Hell.
• X-Plane v8 on GameZilla.

• Albatron K8SLI Motherboard on PCStats.
• ANTEC Overture II Piano Black Quiet Media PC Case on Futurelooks.
• Coolermaster Aquagate Mini R120 Water Cooling on ABXZone.
• Corsair COOL Water Cooling Kit on InsaneTek and Legion Hardware.
• HIS Radeon X850XT IceQ II AGP Video Card on Overclocker Cafe.
• palmOne Tungsten E2 PDA on XYZ Computing.
• Samsung HD160JJ Serial ATA2 Hard Drive on 3daccelerated.
• Shuttle XPC ST20G5 SFF PC on HEXUS.net.
• ThermalTake Tenor (VB2000SNS) Case on Bytesector.
• Ulti-mat Mouse Pad on MetkuMods.
• XTrac Hybrid Mouse Pad on ASE Labs.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Eye of the Kraken released as freeware...
• The Game Is Virtual. The Profit Is Real (registration required)...
• The PlanetHalf-Life Forums (thanks Ant) outlines how to protect against Steam "phishing" schemes. Just typical common sense stuff...
• At This Restaurant, the Video Games Come With the Meal (registration required)...
• China to root out violence and porn from online games...
• The U.N.'s Hot Video Game...

Our foray through the city yesterday was not as easy as I would have imagined on what we thought was the dead day of the three-day weekend, as traffic on the way back was pretty rough. We made our planned stop at Stew Leonard's but it was a zoo in there -- there's actually a sign in the story quoting the New York Times saying it's like a zoo and circus, but that was actually referring to the number of gimmicks there to appeal to youngsters. Anyway, we decided to forego the cookout and barely escaped with our sanity intact. The weather is cooperating again, so we may try today, but it will involve shopping at a local market, I don't want to be on the highway with all that holiday return traffic.

It was said that you would destroy the Links, not join them!	Thanks Mike Martinez, Ant, and EvilToast. And Ebow for the quote.
Play Time:	Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Online. Beta.
Stories of the Day:	Lucas Approves Indiana Jones 4 Script. Thanks ASLayerAODsk and Slashdot. Woman Makes History at Indy 500 Without Checkered Flag (registration required). Jaywalking chicken ducks fine.
Science!	No Privacy in Your Cubicle? Try an Electronic Silencer (registration required). Coffee trial survives insects, but not vandals. IRobot Co-Founder's Perseverance Pays Off.
Images of the Day:	If Hippies Ruled 3.
Media of the Day:	Man Summons UFO on demand?
Follow-ups:	In River of Many Aliens, Snakehead Looms as Threat.
Teh Funnies:	FoxTrot. Dilbert Thanks Maverick.