• BioShock Q&A; - Ken Levine uses a few mind controlling plasmids on the girls at G-Spot.
• New Halo 3 Map Unveiled - 'Narrows': a massive bridge over the misty void. First screens inside.
• Warmonger Hands-On - The latest experiment in physics acceleration.
• GameSpy Injected into UE3 - Epic is incorporating GameSpy's multiplayer tech into UE3.
• DVD Format Could Constrain Xbox 360 Version of UT3 - Maybe make an HD-DVD version (cough)
• Epic Will 'Find a Way' for Xbox 360 Mods! - Mark Rein dismisses concerns...
• EA Staffer Attempts to Alter Wiki History - Gets caught!

The Ayn Rand-inspired doomed dystopia setup for BioShock is pretty far removed from what the game was originally conceived at. Whereas the game mechanics involving gene splicing including magical powers seems to have been around since BioShock's foundation, Senior Designer Joe McDonagh told C&VG; the original setup involved "a tropical island with Nazis."

In the name of Kane! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that the Command & Conquer� series continues to thrive with Command & Conquer� 3: Kane�s Wrath. As the expansion pack to the critically-acclaimed and fan favorite, Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars�, this Real-time Strategy (RTS) game returns to the Tiberium universe with Kane at the center of an epic new single player campaign.

�The reaction to Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars has been tremendous. Fans and critics alike appreciated the combination of fast, fluid, and fun RTS game play with a deep story and the classic full-motion video sequences that are a hallmark of the Command & Conquer series,� said Mike Verdu, VP and Executive Producer at EA Los Angeles (EALA). �I�m excited that we�re able to go back to the Tiberium universe with Command & Conquer 3: Kane�s Wrath. This expansion has an impressive new single player campaign, a new global strategic layer that adds depth to the familiar Command & Conquer style gameplay, and several fun, all-new toys that range from versatile combat soldiers to giant armored walkers.�

The single player campaign will allow players to experience a new story that spans 20 years � from the rebirth of the Brotherhood of Nod after the Second Tiberium War through the dramatic events of the Third Tiberium War and beyond. The story is told through a new set of high-definition live action video sequences starring a celebrity cast. Joe Kucan, the original actor who portrayed the character Kane in Command & Conquer games over the last decade, will reprise his role as the megalomaniacal leader of the Brotherhood of Nod. Other details of the cast have yet to be announced.

Command & Conquer 3: Kane�s Wrath also features a new strategic layer to gameplay that allows players to establish bases, build customized armies, and attack their enemies on a global scale � and then dive into the frenzied tactical combat where their skills as a commander will make the difference in battle. The game introduces six new sub-factions and a wealth of new units, structures, and powers to the armies of the Global Defense Initiative, the Brotherhood of Nod, and the enigmatic alien Scrin.

(Click to Enlarge!)

Planet Unreal: It�s been over two years since Unreal Tournament 3 first appeared under the �Envy� codename. As it nears release, how would you say the current incarnation of UT3 differs from the original vision of the game?

Jeff Morris: That�s a great question. We had a lot of ideas about what to add when we started UT3 and it was fascinating to see which ideas clicked and which didn�t. The hoverboard was a really �out there� idea when pitched and not a lot of people thought it would be any fun. It soon became clear that hoverboards felt very Unreal Tournament in playtests and are a major success from our point of view.

It�s important to keep in mind though that even the features that ended up on the cutting room floor contributed something to the final product.We fooled around with a very Battlefield 2 inspired commander system when we started, but it just never worked out for our style of game. What did though was an AI commander, who assigned players waypoints based on preferences they set in the UI. This works great and wouldn�t have manifested if we didn�t try another feature that ultimately didn�t pan out.

Mythos Interview
Currently in closed beta, an intriguing free to play online action RPG from the team at Flagship's Seattle studio - Includes five exclusive 1680x1050 screenshots

Zu Online Media #7
Further glimpses into Onwind Digital's Chinese-themed title, which IGG will bring to North America lat this year - Four exclusive screenshots

Jonric's Blog
Will Games Convention next week draw 200,000 visitors?

D&D; Vault
Aug 13 - More Dungeons & Dragons Tactics impressions

PC

• Civilization 4 - Beyond the Sword - GamePyre - 90%

  360
  

• Hexic 2 - TXB - 8.7/10
• Madden NFL 08 - Xbox.IGN - 7.7/10
• Madden NFL 08 - GameSpy - 4.5/5
• Madden NFL 08 - Game Informer - 8/10

  PS3
  

• Madden NFL 08 - GameSpy - 4/5

  Wii
  

• Boogie - Wii.IGN - 4.5/10

  DS
  

• Labyrinth - DS.IGN - 4/10