A response from Valve to a thread about offline mode on Steam indicates that the way offline mode currently requires users to go online periodically to allow them to play their Steam games without being connected to the Internet is a bug, and not working as intended. He does not offer a timeframe for when this might be fixed, but clearly states the requirement to go online once your game is authenticated is a "bug" (thanks Creston). Here's word:

This is not actually true - Offline Mode is designed to be indefinite. You can't access any of Steam's online features such as friends lists or saved game synchronization, of course, but the client should allow you to run in Offline Mode for as long as you like.

That said, there are many components involved in Offline Mode, and some of them have known issues and bugs which we are continually working to improve. We're aware that it doesn't always work as flawlessly as we want it to, but please keep reporting bugs with Offline Mode. It is not broken 'by design'.

Lumenox Games now offers an official playable demo for Aaru's Awakening, their upcoming action/platformer, superseding the alpha demo released in the summer. They also offer a new "Domain of Dusk" trailer showing off the game, hoping these releases will inspire support for their Steam Greenlight campaign. Continue here to read the full story.

WoW Insider has word on a freebie now available to everyone with a Battle.net account, as Blizzard is offering Blackthorne for free under the "Classic Games" heading on your Battle.net Game Downloads page. Here's word from Wikipedia on the almost 20 year-old game:

Blackthorne is set on the planet Tuul, which has existed for centuries without human knowledge. All of this time, Tuul's people have been ruled over by a single shaman who "was blessed with all knowledge". Years before the game begins, Thoros, the latest ruler, finds it near impossible to choose between his two sons as the next ruler. Believing it will solve the dilemma, he leads them to the deserts and kills himself. His body becomes two stones, light and dark, and he gives one to each boy to rule their own kingdoms respectively. The people of the lightstone form the kingdom of Androth, and the people of the darkstone form Ka'dra'suul. But while Androth respects their stone, Ka'dra'suul reject theirs, and are eventually transformed into monsters by it. In this time, a ka'dra named Sarlac seizes power. He forms an army and leads them against Androth.

• The Borderlands 2 $100K Loot Hunt Week 3 Summary- Another Successful Community Effort.
• Drinking Games for Gamers - League of Lagers - Video.
• Register Your Team for Round 1 of StarCraft II HSL Season 3.

Thanks nin.

• Xbox One Kinect privacy policy promises to keep secrets, but not all of them.
• Here's why Sony expects to ship 5M units of PS4 by April 2014.
• Is it too late to get a next-gen console for the holidays?
• (Updated Nov 1) Grand Theft Auto Online Update.

• Time Warner Cable Aims New Promotions at DSL Users. Thanks Ant.

• Adventures in left-handed mousing.
• PC Perspective Podcast #275 - AMD Radeon R9 290X, ARMTechCon 2013, NVIDIA Pricedrops and more.
• An Update For The World's Best Free Audio Recording Software. Thanks Ant.
• The Tech Report fall 2013 system guide.

Thanks j.c.f.

• HTTP Request Hijacking Attacks Threaten Mobile Apps.
• Mavericks Mail's spam-spewing 'flaw' was scripted by red-faced user.
• Spike in suspicious traffic and TOR usage, says threat report.
• US to let everyday drivers test advanced wireless auto safety technology.
• Microsoft's Windows Azure cloud hit by worldwide management interruption.

• Infosys ran 'unlawful' visa scheme, U.S. alleges in settlement. Thanks j.c.f.
• Edward Snowden gets IT job in Russia. Thanks Ant via DSLReports.

• Indie Dev Says People Stole 30,000 Steam Keys From Him. Unfortunate follow-up to a generous gesture. Thanks nin…
• Warner apologises for Batman: Arkham Origins technical problems…
• Video - Ohio State University Marching Band Covers Greatest Hits of Video Games…
• LORE - Slenderman Lore in a Minute. Thanks Ant…
• Brutal Doom gets a v19 release, mod's maker says it's -the final version for a while…

R.I.P.: Oregon man behind decision to blow up whale dies. His claim to fame. Thanks nin.

A new trailer from Thief is titled "Stories from The City - Part 1 - 'Basso's Gamble'," as it offers Basso's perspective on the setting of the upcoming stealth/action sequel. They say: "The first trailer focuses on Basso, a former boxman (safe-cracker) turned fence, who uses his vast connections to The City’s underworld to organize thieving jobs for Garrett. He owns an intelligent, but bad tempered magpie called Jenivere who delivers messages for him. Garrett might consider himself a loner, but Basso is the nearest thing he has to a friend - and whether he readily admits it or not; he rather likes the fellow." Continue here to read the full story.

RuneFest 3 kicks off tomorrow at 11:00 am GMT (6:00 am EDT - set your alarms), offering a celebration of all things RuneScape. Their Schedule of Events and FAQ cover all the details on this, including how to view a livestream of the festivities. On a related note, RuneScape announces they now offer players a way to share their in-game wealth with charity. Finally, this is all accompanied by a free weekend for Old School RuneScape, the retro installment in the series:

Non-members of RuneScape will be able to indulge in waves of nostalgia between now and 23:59pm on Monday 4th November, as the gates of Old School RuneScape open for free! The free access weekend enables non-members to experience the full members feature set, and coincides with the RuneFest 3 fan convention in London, the release of PvP worlds and the Halloween holiday event into Old School RuneScape.

Ghosts are abroad in Gielinor this year and if you can overcome your fear to help banish them you will be able to get your hands on the fabled black Halloween mask, the first new Halloween mask since 2002.

The launch of PvP worlds sees the most hardcore RuneScape experience to date, freeing players from their shackles to take part in PvP gameplay, everywhere and all the time, in these very special worlds.

Any progress made in Old School during the open access weekend will be saved, enabling non-members to continue their adventures where they left off, should they wish to purchase membership in the future.

• New Maps for StarCraft II 2013 Ladder Season 6.

• David Craddock and Two Blizzard North Co-Founders Answer Your Questions (Video). Thanks Ant.

• Op-ed: Why I’m not too worked up about the next-gen console resolution wars. Me neither.

• BlizzCon 2013 Mobile App Now Live—Stay Connected and Experience the Second Screen.

Thanks Ant.

• Google, Microsoft Threaten End to Cookie Tracking.
• Love Gigabit Seattle? Comcast has donated lots to the guy now trying to slow it.
• Time Warner Cable Drops 306,000 TV Subs, In Part Because of CBS Blackout.
• Los Angeles 50mb Ultimate to 100mb Ultimate tier upgrade status.

• Panasonic Announces an End to Plasma TVs. Thanks Ant via Slashdot.

• How an epic blunder by Adobe could strengthen hand of password crackers. Adobe remains the wolf in the henhouse.
• Path to Success for One Palestinian Hacker- Publicly Owning Mark Zuckerberg. Thanks HARDOCP.
• Eye-opening ‘Morris worm’ turns 25 tomorrow.
• I challenged hackers to investigate me and what they found out is chilling.

Thanks Acleacius.

• Senate Intelligence Committee Passes Bill That Codifies, Expands NSA Powers.
• German MP meets Snowden, says he is willing to come to Germany for inquiry.
• Patent war goes nuclear- Microsoft, Apple-owned “Rockstar” sues Google.

• Batman: Arkham Origins on ActionTrip and Techgage.
• Battlefield 4 on games.on.net.
• Democracy 3 on Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
• Forced on Strategy Informer.
• How to Survive on Strategy Informer.
• King of Fighters XIII Steam Edition on PC Gamer.

• AMD Radeon R9 290X CrossFire Video Card on HARDOCP.
• Cooler Master Cosmos SE on Guru3D.
• Corsair H100i Self-Contained Liquid CPU Cooler on Techgage.
• Gigabyte Radeon R9 270X OC on ocaholic.
• In Win GRone on techPowerUp.
• LG G2 Android Smartphone on MEGATechNews.
• Motorola S10-HD Bluetooth Headset on Technology X.
• NZXT H230 Silent Mid-Tower on Pure Overclock.
• Phanteks PH-TC12DX CPU Cooler on Legit Reviews.
• Silicon Motion SM2246EN SSD Controller on The SSD Review.
• SilverStone Tundra TD02 Liquid CPU Cooler on Benchmark Reviews.
• Thermaltake eSPORTS CRONOS Gaming Headset on Overclockers Club.

• Good Game Spawn Point - Series 4 Episode 38. Thanks Ant…
• Swedish indie releases GRiEF, 2D side-scroller platform tackling a child's sorrow…

We had a great Halloween yesterday, but for the third year in a row we had weather issues, though in this case the mild drizzle that started shortly after sundown only seemed to end the festivities a little early. But we still had a great turnout, and as always the local kids were just lovely, acting very polite, with many of them showing more interest in the doggies than the candy. This is Hudson the wonder dog's holiday, and in spite of all her recent health issues, the old girl was feeling particularly well and energetic, so she had an especially great time, as she has always adored children (her first 10 weeks at the breeder were spent surrounded by foster kids). There was an incident where all the cars on the block got shaving creamed, but that's only our second such incident in 13 years so we're not going to complain (especially since the first was after MrsBlue provoked a couple of teenagers by scolding them they were too old for trick-or-treating).

Scary Links:	Thanks Ant and Acleacius.
Play:	Diggy. Symphonic Tower Defense.
Link:	How to Spot the Reptilians Running the U.S. Government. Thanks Digg.
Stories:	Man injured by half-tonne of falling bacon. Thanks reddit. Daylight Saving Reform 'Could Save Lives' as UK Turns Clocks Back. Daylight saving time ends: Does it save energy?
Science:	Left and Right Tail-Wags Trigger Different Emotional Responses In Dogs. Thanks nin. True facts about the cuttlefish.
Images:	The 20 Scariest Google Street View Sightings.
Media:	Point here if you're not wearing pants. Neil deGrasse Tyson: How to Blow Up a Planet. Thanks nin. Lazy Halloween Costume Ideas For Gamers.
Follow-up:	Card Won't Make Money Off "Ender's Game".