3DNews.Net interviews Anoop Shekar talking to the assistant producer on Summoner about the game, which is an RPG currently under construction over at Volition. Accompanying the Q&A are 12,000 words worth of pictures, in the form of a dozen new screenshots.

Though it has obviously been sitting somewhere aging like a cheese or a fine wine, PlayDevil.com's interview with Paul Butterfield just went online (thanks Voodoo Extreme). The Q&A talked with Paul while he was still PR manager at Monolith, and offers up some details on the spy game formerly known as No One Lives Forever and the LithTech2 engine that hopefully haven't become out of date in the time since the Q&A took place.

After a several week hiatus, NovaLogic has released a new upgrade for Delta Force 2, this time only through the auto-update feature in the game. Details on the changes are scarce at this moment, though Suppressive Fire sends along word that it "adds a new multiplayer game type called Search & Destroy." Also, Maagic informs us that this updates the game to version 1.04.26, including the warning that it updates the mission editor to version 1.36 "which removes some features from the version (1.31) that came with the CD so if you don't want to use the less-complete mission editor, back up your old files." We'll post mention when a downloadable patch is released, for those who prefer their upgrading the old-fashioned way.

Allegiance 101 on the Allegiance Vault is a basic strategy guide covering all the fundamentals of Allegiance and some basic winning tactics for Microsoft's beta space combat game. Also, there's an Allegiance editorial on PC Paradox complaining of difficulties using the beta.

You say you want some more? Well here's some more:

• Dteam 3d Design Guild has posted some helpful documents to help mod authors getting started with the Quake III Arena game source including a tutorial on compiling your source code.
• Since the dual posts on the Rocket Arena site posted earlier (story) also refer to the UT version of the mod, it seems appropriate to point out that Epic's Brandon "GreenMarine" Reinhart updated the Rocket Arena UT page (thanks Wiwi) with a status report on the UT version of this legendary Quake and Quake II mod.
• There's a new IRC channel called #q3mods on irc.telefragged.com where anyone with questions come along and ask or just hang out.
• Q3Center's Map Design Contest offers a GeForce DDR card for the best Q3A map (at a retail value of about $300, that's about 25 cents an hour for most maps, but what the heck).
• Also, Cocoon-Ed, the first site devoted to Aliens versus Predator mods, is now online.

Hot on the heels of the version 1.21 posted earlier (story), which came hot on the heels of version 1.20 (replaced before it was posted here), comes a new version 1.22 of the Servarena Quake III Arena dedicated server launcher. The new release fixes a few more bugs (highlighting the danger in declaring that version 1.20 was a non-beta), and adds a couple of new features as well to this program that can now serve as a server .cfg generator, as well as a dedicated server launcher.

Ground Control Headquarters has posted a new screenshot of Massive Entertainment's upcoming 3D RTS, adding to this page of "exclusive" shots we didn't post mention of so far. Elsewhere, Controlling Forces points out that the official Ground Control site at Sierra Studios has recently been updated with a pair of new shots in their media section. And speaking of Controlling Forces, they have also posted a brief interview with sound engineer and composer Ola Strandh.

The unofficial gameplay FAQ for Quake III Arena by Jim Mazurek has been updated again, adding a new power-up analysis section, tips and info on Q3DM15, and various other changes.

The first release of the QuakeWorld Forever modification of the public Quake source code is now available. The goal of this project to achieve a secure system of client and server binaries while remaining completely OpenSource within one program. The beta1 release is described as "a very big and successful first step towards our goal," though the page also says "the methods used in this should not be considered our final goal, it is far from it." The current release uses the GNU Privacy Guard for security algorithms. The source and binaries for Linux and Win32 are available, along with info on modified servers. Also, the QER News page has a new version of their QuakeWorld client that fixes a bug with 3dfx-based accelerators. The new fix is just two lines of code, and the new source upload is expected soon.

The DEMISE - Rise of the Ku'Tan page has an updated version 1.00R2 of the Demise Demo. According to the 3DFiles.Com mirror: "This demo follows the announcement that the game is gold and due to ship on the 31st, so after a couple of years, this demo should better reflect the final code." There's no patch for the R1 demo at this time, so getting it involves a 110 MB download.

• Tom's Hardware Guide's Future Games-the role of scene graphs asks the musical question "Does the Quake engine qualify as a scene graph?" They emphasize the significance of the question, saying: "This is where the next battle in 3D hardware will be fought." Thanks David Webber.
• A new edition of the Sharky Extreme Buyer's Guide is online.
• There are registry keys on 3D Spotlight on how to enable side band addressing on Athlon systems and Detonator 3.6x drivers, with one specific tweak for the leaked 3.69 drivers if you have them.

The I.Am.Q3A Quake3Arena Q3A Console Guide has been completely revised and updated to include the 100 new commands and variables included in the retail version of the game. Here's I.Am's description: "Each command or variable's purpose and use is explained, along with examples where appropriate, and they are all available in one complete alphabetical list, or in handy categorized lists."

Talkin' Dirty With Monolith's Mike Dussault on Voodoo Extreme is an interview with the Monolith programmer talking about his work on the LithTech 2 engine, discussing its features and its, and Monolith's coolness.

Though the Sabaneta page is shooting blanks as of this writing, the debut version 0.69 release of the Sabaneta 2050 mod for Half-Life can be found on their partnered Riot Software website. Sabaneta 2050 is a teamplay mod where each team must protect its leader and eliminate the other team's leader that features an experience system where the more experience points you have, the more weapons will become available to you. The mod is an 11 MB download, and includes five new maps.

The carnageNet Quake 3 page has the first release of their InstaGib modification for Quake III Arena, that looks to sincerely flatter the Unreal Tournament game type by altering Q3A so that each player is given a railgun, and each shot is lethal. All game modes are supported, including FFA, tourney, single player, and CTF.

The Fist Fight page has version 1.00 of the Fist Fight tournament-style modification for Quake, similar to Unreal Tournament or Quake III Arena, where you fight your way through levels with bots and up to a final boss. Each bot has a unique personality and skin depending on which level you are playing. The mod that features combat with fisticuffs as well as footsteps, a chasecam, an observer mode, kickable gibs, blood splats, and more.

A new version 1.21 (a fix right on the heels of 1.20 if you managed to catch it) of the Servarena Quake III Arena dedicated server launcher is now available adding what are described as a boatload of features. Since we don't have a boat handy, I'll just list a few of them: A new menu system, a "save config as" feature so Servarena now also serves as a script generator in addition to a server launcher, a force respawn setting, a check box to allow cheating, support for the auto-join feature from the point release, and (a boatload) more.

Dig this load:

• The first release of Scythe Entertainment's Shader Editor is now available, a freeware tool to edit those knotty shader effects in Quake III Arena maps.
• This page has links to some Quake III Arena grappling hook code and offers instructions on adding the hook to any Q3A mod (including CTF, which the author says he's tested).
• Rungy's Metropolis has posted a new Quake III Arena mapping tutorial that discusses how to make maps perform better and a "huge" guide on making models in Q3A using the Milkshape3D editor.
• An updated version 1.3.2 of the Yadex GPL Doom level editor for Unix systems running X (including Linux) is now available, addressing a bug in the makefile in the previous release. Thanks Jacek Fedoryñski.
• There is an explanation on Quakeheads.com of the "magic" caulk texture in Q3A, including tips for its use, taken straight from the in-progress Q3Radiant manual, sent along by id's Paul Jaquays.
• Graphtallica has another free texture pack, following their one-per-week release schedule, the new one offering 25 textures following a techno/evilish theme.
• Speaking of editing, this seems like an appropriate place to point out there are a pair of posts on the Rocket Arena site (thanks Modog), the first expressing discouragement about how the state of the Q3A game source as released would negatively impact development of Rocket Arena 3 for Q3A, and a follow-up after some discussions with id's Graeme Devine showing a lot more optimism based on word that issues crt raised are being addressed.

4wesome's Wireplay UT 4v4 DM League is online, here's a bit of concise hype from their page to sum up the deal: "Featuring some of the best clans around and some of the fastest clan servers in the UK we've put this league together to provide a base for many clans all around Europe. Expect manic games, skillful opposition and some of the most stylish UT play anywhere in the world."

• Age of Empires II: Age of Kings on The Dawg Pound.
• Asheron's Call on PC.IGN.com.
• Battlezone II: Combat Commander on PC.IGN.com.
• Flanker 2.0 on Serious Gamers.
• Interstate '82 on Adrenaline Vault.
• Pharaoh on ESCMAG.
• Phoenix on A Talent For War.
• Planescape: Torment on EuroGamer.
• Rally Championship on Games Domain Reviews.
• Razer BoomSlang 2000 Gaming Mouse on HardNews.org.
• Star Wars: Racer on Games Weekly.
• SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle on Game Downloads Online.
• The Wheel of Time on Ingava.
• Tread Marks Demo on Lake's Digital Arts.
• Unreal Tournament on Gamezilla.

• The Tectonic page has the public release of the source code for the TecArena launcher for Q3A, a plug-in enabled version of the Tectonic launcher. The current code is not completely compatible with the retail version of Quake III Arena, but is being released in case it may be useful to another programmer...
• A new beta 0.2 of the Counter-Strike Alias Binder is online to help build your .cfg for this Half-Life mod, offering a slew of fixes and new features. There was a problem with the first version 0.2 (before this was ever posted here), and in a unique bit of problem-solving, the fix is also numbered version 0.2, but now doesn't include the runtime files, which are a separate download...
• There's a test version of a Quake II proxy that adds A3D support to the game on the HMDPRX page...
• Unreal Universe has posted a shot sent along by Nevolution of their soon-to-be announced Unreal-engine game...
• The Allegiance Vault has posted a piece of concept art from early in development of Microsoft's space sim...
• Dr.TwisTer's Shadowbane for Linux Site is an interesting proposition, since currently only a Win32 version of this "massively multiplayer" online RPG is in the works, but they have a petition up since they've promised to consider Linux support if enough folks show interest...
• Speaking of "massively multiplayer" yada yada GA-RPG's Big World Details and Screenshots have shots and info about Micro Forte's M.M. online science fiction RPG, Big World (working title), scheduled for PC and PlayStation 2 release in 2001...

"Woke up this morning... and got yourself a gun..." That's right, the day I, and I assume many others, marked off on their calendars months ago when the date of the premiere of the new season of The Sopranos was announced has arrived, as tonight is the big night. I'm so looking forward to the new season, that I'm actually already ruing the fact that the beginning of the season means we are so close to the end of it already--I'm sure that's some sort of psychological syndrome, but I probably won't seek treatment unless there's medication involved.

Link of the Day: The Dancing Shatners (related to recent OotBs). Thanks Patrick K. Mills. You need to get the RealPlayer clip going and reload the page to get him a' dancing again to enjoy the full glory.
Bonus Link: Top 20 replies by programmers when their programs don't work. On a site of such lists, many real winners. Thanks Ant.