Steam now offers an NBA 2K9 demo, offering the chance to sample the first Windows edition of this long-running sports simulation. We may be a bit behind the curve on this, as the page carries an October 31 date, but we did not see it previously (thanks Rick for the heads up). There are no specifics about the contents of the demo, but word on the game is: "NBA 2K9 is the premier basketball game for serious players, and will deliver the most realistic, stylistic, and feature-rich simulation experience ever available in the NBA 2K franchise - from game play to graphics, presentation and online features." The demo includes English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian language support.

Codemasters Online announces plans to launch an all-new ArchLord hardcore PvP server called "Cyripus." The ArchLord Website doesn't seem to carry this announcement, but it does have word of a Champions of Cyripus Competition that begins tomorrow. This press release has details on the new PvP server, saying: "Due to popular demand and the hugely growing player-base of the 100% free MMORPG, Codemasters Online are opening the new server with focus on player vs player (PvP) combat for both new and existing players alike to battle it out in this epic, siege-focused MMORPG."

The second installment in the three-part Sacred 2: Fallen Angel "Introduction to Ancaria" movie is now available. Word is: "In this new video from Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, the upcoming action-RPG for Windows PC and next generation consoles, watch as several of the game's playable characters do battle with a fearsome undead army whose sole goal is the destruction of the world." The clip is posted on AtomicGamer, FileFront, Gamer's Hell, and MyGameTrailers.

A new "runners" trailer from Mirror's Edge offers another cartoon clip promoting DICE's upcoming parkour action game, discussing the dangerous life of a runner. The movie can be found on ActionTrip, AtomicGamer, FileFront, Gamer's Hell, and MyGameTrailers.

• Elemental: War of Magic on IGN.
• EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey on Eurogamer.
• Shaun White Snowboarding on IGN.

• Jagged Alliance on FileFront.

• Forbes.com - Gaming Gets A Tail Clip. Retail sales analysis.
• Edge Online WSJ- Disney Should Buy EA. Thanks Mike Martinez.
• Neoseeker - 11 ways Fallout 2 was better than Fallout 3 - .

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Rock Band: Various Tracks on Xbox LIVE.
• Could the New Xbox Experience Lessen Red Ring of Death Problems?
• Team Ninja: PS3 is most powerful system out there.
• Call of Duty: World at War beta now open to all on XBL.
• 2K Games Announces Pricing and Release Date for BioShock Playstation 3 System Add-On Game Content.
• Weekly WiiWare and Virtual Console Releases.
• User Content Creation Crisis.
• Super Street Fighter II Turbo HDR finished, submitted, targeted for Nov.
• Microsoft Cut Half of NXE Plans. Imagine the hype if they hadn't!
• Konami Announces 1 Million Members For Metal Gear Online.
• PlayStation Network Gets Free Exclusive Short Films from Bruckheimer, Other Hollywood Talent.
• Castlevania Judgment Nintendo Wii Screenshots.
• Gears of War 2 Xbox 360 Screenshots.

Thanks Mike Martinez and Ant.

• Multicore: New chips mean new challenges for developers.
• Windows 7 talk turns to hardware.
• Beans -- Ice cold Corsair RAM in the works.
• ASUS introduces VENTO TA-F foldable PC case.
• Transition to yesterday- subsidizing the killer app of 1952. On broadcast TV and "white space."
• Microsoft Against Free Software... But In Favor Of Paying Nations To Use Its Software?
• Apple Smashes Any Hope of Updated iMac or Mac Mini for Holidays.
• HP Cuts Price on Voodoo PCs. Thanks DrEnter.
• If Windows is a dead end, what's next?
• Best Buy Caught Using Sneaky Sneaky Tricks To Sell HDTV Calibration Service. Thanks Digg.
• Netflix cans used DVD sales.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Apple's iPod chief to step down.
• Unconfirmed: New MacBooks Disable Pwnage Tool, Open Second Front in War on Jailbreaking.
• NVIDIA, VIA break off netbook plans. Thanks Ant.
• Nintendo sells just over 170,000 DSi units at launch.
• DS vs DS Lite vs DSi.
• DSi Camera Impressions.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Comcastic P4P trial shows 80% speed boost for P2P downloads.
• AT&T Begins a Trial To Cap, Meter Internet Usage.
• Rumors say Google, Yahoo agree to limit ad deal revenue.
• Opinions on Google Street View. Thanks Ant.
• New MP3 logo gets online support.

• Security Update available for Adobe Reader 8.
• Analysis: on eve of election, problems... Again.
• Easy For Anyone To Recalibrate ES&S E-Voting Machines.

• Why Does The MPAA Get To Approve DVD Players? Thanks Mike Martinez.

Thanks Mike Martinez.

• Fallout 3 PC to get patch "later today". Or, you know, not…
• Most Gamers Shop Wal-Mart First. Thanks Ant…
• Video games don't train your brain…
• Legendary Graphic Novel Now on Sale…

Well I didn't jinx us this morning when I mentioned how we never encounter long lines to vote, as we were in and out of the place in all of five minutes, which included finding our names, signing up, reading the verbiage of the proposition on the ballot, and voting. Here's hoping that all the attention paid this time around to long lines to vote in other places will help provoke improvement to how these things are handled where it has been problematic. Meanwhile, hats off to those willing to put up with such conditions to perform their civic duty.

A post to the Hellgate: London Forums by a NAMCO BANDAI's Diane "Tiggs" Migliaccio indicates that despite recent indications that HanbitSoft is continuing development of Hellgate: London, the action/RPG will be going offline for the US and Europe at the end of January as previously announced, saying: "People are speculating and I don't want anyone shocked on January 31, 2009 when the server and forums shut down and there is nothing." She goes on to explain Hanbit does not have the rights to publish the game in the territories that NAMCO is going to stop supporting, saying: "Hanbit owns the IP and rights to publish anywhere other then the US and EU and I think the other territory is Japan. NAMCO owns the rights to publish in the US and EU." Thanks Mike Martinez and Gamasutra.

This press release officially announces Elemental: War of Magic, a fantasy strategy game in the works at Stardock for release in first quarter of 2010, with a public beta test scheduled to begin in the second quarter of next year. Word is: "Elemental: War of Magic is set in a world filled with magic and ancient lore. As the ruler of your kingdom, you must expand your empire through a combination of magical power, military might, diplomatic skill, technological advancement and bold adventuring. Your worlds will be of your choosing, or players are free to create their own." The announcement also notes that: "Like all Stardock titles, Elemental: War of Magic will include no on-disk DRM and will be available for re-download and updates through the Impulse digital distribution platform (www.impulsedriven.com) regardless of wherever it is purchased." A preview of the game is already on GameSpy, and Stardock's Wardell On Elemental: War of Magic on Gamasutra is a conversation with Brad Wardell about the project, and Brad discusses the game's inspiration in Master of Magic, and the power of their new game engine, which offers 32-bit and 64-bit support and will scale dynamically with the number of cores in a CPU. Word is the game also integrates mod support directly into the main interface, of which Wardell says: "We ourselves use the same system [as the users]," and: "After Spore, it probably seems a lot less original," [laughing]. "But we had the idea before Spore."

MCV has a new schedule for upcoming Capcom releases that indicates a PC edition of Resident Evil 5 is coming, listing March 13, 2009 as the release date for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 editions of the survival/horror sequel. They also pin down a release date for Street Fighter IV, narrowing down the recently announced winter release window for the fighter sequel to February 20, 2009.

A new patch for Crysis Wars is now available, updating the multiplayer mode from Crysis Warhead to version 1.1. The update address some bugs, removes online authentications, and as promised last week, adds Linux server and 64-bit support. The update can be acquired automatically, as outlined on the Crysis Warhead Website, and manual downloads of the patch and dedicated Linux server can be found on this page along with complete patch notes. The patch is also mirrored on AtomicGamer, FileFront, FileShack, Gamer's Hell, and The Patches Scrolls.

Manual editions of the new version 3.0.3 patch for World of Warcraft are now available, presumably the last update to Blizzard's MMORPG before the release of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion. The US/Au editions of the patch can be found on AtomicGamer, Gamer's Hell, Games32, Strategy Informer, and The Patches Scrolls. Various international editions of the patch are available from AtomicGamer, Gamer's Hell, Games32, and The Patches Scrolls. Details on the new version are posted in the Test Realm Patch Notes, and according to the WoW Realm Status page all the game's realms are currently still down for maintenance.

Amazon.com is offering "day-of" deliveries of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion pack for World of Warcraft, so those who preorder the add-on will have it delivered on November 13, the same day it will appear in stores. As far as we know, this is the first Windows game to get Amazon's recently announced day-of release policy. Thanks nin. In other WoW news, the servers are all down at the moment to install the new version 3.03.

Eurogamer announces a delay to Damnation, the multiplatform shooter that began as a modification and was anounced for retail release "in late 2008". Codemasters now says we should expect the game early next year, saying this will allow time for further polish as well as a little breathing room from more high-profile releases, saying: "The game will be much stronger and better as a result, and will also give people time to get all the pre-holiday releases out the way - ready for the fresh (and vertical) gaming experience that Damnation offers." On a semi-related note, GameZone Learns Why They Call It The "Shooter Gone Vertical" is an interview with Jacob Minkoff and Katie McNamara discussing the game and its unusual orientation.

Though it's not reflected on the Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach Website yet, Turbine sends word that the Prisoners of Prophecy update is now live for Dungeons & Dragons Online. In brief: "This major update to DDO delivers a completely upgraded experience for new players, improves solo play with the introduction of Hirelings, upgrades the DDO engine to support DX-10 graphics technology, and adds more monsters, spells, magic items, and challenging dungeons. Prisoners of Prophecy continues Turbine’s commitment to delivering fun, engaging and exciting updates for players in its online worlds."

EVE Online: Quantum Rise Expansion's Last Staged Release has word that November 11 is when to expect the culmination of the staged two-part release of the Quantum Rise free expansion for EVE Online, CCP's spacey MMORPG. Word is: "EVE Online players have already begun to enjoy the performance-enhancing improvements of the StacklessIO and EVE64 initiatives which were introduced in an earlier phase of the expansion’s release, and both of which have set the stage for truly limitless combat. Several times in recent weeks, over 1,000 players have participated in single-system battles with extremely minimal lag thanks to these new industry-leading advancements." This page offers a complete list of features in the new add-on.

Matrix Games now offers a new patch for Gary Grigsby’s War Between the States, updating the American Civil War strategy game to version 1.030. Word is: "The v1.030 update focuses primarily on gameplay changes that improve historical realism in addition to bug fixes and improvements to computer-controlled production."

KOEI announces that DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 is gold for both PC and PlayStation 2, and scheduled to be available in North America on November 18. The PS2 edition of the action/tactics sequel will be available in stores, while the PC edition will be available for digital distribution to customers in North America, and for some reason, Brazil. Word is: "DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 delivers the unparalleled exhilaration of single-handedly destroying thousands of soldiers on massive battlefields. Utilizing spectacular fighting techniques motion-captured from some of today's leading stuntmen and stuntwomen in Asia, DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 immerses gamers in a truly cinematic kung-fu adventure. The game's lightning-fast fighting, intuitive combat system and breathtaking environments create a visceral gaming experience that pushes the limits of Tactical Action."

The Spore Website now offers the second patch for the MacOS edition of Spore, which was released a couple of weeks ago for the Windows edition of Maxis' life simulation. Mac users can update the game simply by starting it up and allowing it to automagially update itself. Word is: "The focus of this patch is to fix bugs that have been reported via our customer service department and directly from the Spore Community. In addition, we've modified some gameplay tuning, added a way for you to select multiple items for deleting or banning while in Sporepedia and included a cool new planet style."

• Need for Speed Undercover on Hooked Gamers.
• Pyroblazer on Test Freaks.
• Tomb Raider Underworld on Hooked Gamers.

• Ten Ton Hammer - Holiday Content: A Challenging Necessity.
• Three Speech - Intelligent design- where is AI going? Part one - Autonomy…

• Dead Space on Boomtown.
• NBA 2K9 on Games32.
• The Lost Crown on Hooked Gamers.
• World of Goo on ITreviewed.

• Asus 901 Eee Netbook on RBMODS.
• Intel DX58SO “Smackover” Motherboard on Hardware Secrets.
• Lian Li PC-C36 MUSE HTPC Case on Icrontic.
• Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 512MB TOXIC Graphics Card on The Tech Lounge.
• Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB Graphics Card on Elite Bastards.
• Sunbeamtech Tuniq Potency 550W PSU on OCIA.net.
• Thermalright TRUE Copper on Icrontic.

After what seems like a four year campaign, we finally get to vote today here in the US. MrsBlue and I will hit the polls this evening, though we do not even remotely live in a swing state. The other thing that does not happen around here is these long lines for voting that have been shown in the news lately, as folks in some states have had to wait hours to participate in early voting, and of course many places will have long lines today. I'm not clear on the reasons for this, but I have never in my life had to wait more than about 15 minutes to vote, which seems to me how it should be. Oh well, best of luck if you have a line to contend with.

Campaigned Links:	Thanks Ant and Mike Martinez.
Play:	SNAFU Tower Defense.
Links:	10 SF Alternatives To Obama-McCain 08. Thanks Digg.
Stories:	Annals of Democracy- Rock, Paper, Scissors. The Onion is ready for a new era of satire. Flights of Fancy Delight, Even Those of Paper Wings.
Media:	Ren and Stimpy torture WoW players. NSFW. Deal or No Deal: Biggest Bonehead Move. Thanks Digg.