From: Subject: SimHQ.com - The Simulation Community's Headquarters Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2005 00:01:11 -0600 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01C609AF.7B2BC270" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2670 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C609AF.7B2BC270 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.simhq.com/ SimHQ.com - The Simulation Community's = Headquarters
Air Combat = Articles Land = Combat=20 Articles Naval = Combat=20 Articles Motorsports=20 Articles Technology=20 Articles Forums=20 =
 
  About SimHQ SimHQ=20 Staff  Downloads Library New=20 Releases Community=20 Links  

SimHQ=20 Community News for December 24-25, 2005=20     Recent=20 Articles    What's Hot in the Forums?
Google SimHQ = Search    Comments or Questions for SimHQ?=20 webmaster@simhq.com
Have News Items = to=20 Contribute? news@simhq.com    =  Looking for = Archived=20 News? Click here!

Our Christmas masthead = portrays Santa=20 flying a toy plane in hot pursuit of a runaway sleigh. =
Illustration by Dean "DeanH" Hill. Thanks=20 Dean!

F.E.A.R.

SimHQ Review: = Guest=20 Writer Bj=F6rn = =93M@verick=94=20 Hagman has provided us with the first "Got = Game?" reader=20 review. See what Bj=F6rn has to say about this = not so=20 typical shooter in his review here.

=

A-OK! - Wings Of = Mercury

SimHQ Preview: = Pyramid=20 Design is creating a simulation of the famed = 1960s=20 Mercury space flights, and Chuck "PFunk" Bellows = is=20 trying his hand at the controls =97 and the = slide rule.=20 Read Chuck's beta preview here.

Operation Persian Freedom = - Phase=20 3, Mission 16:
Airstrike on Doshan Tapeh = Airbase

Be sure and read = "boNes" latest=20 update to his online novel here in the Janes F/A-18 Forum. = The story=20 also leads into the next Sacha story by "Cat". A = terrific read and not to be=20 missed!

America's Army: Past, = Present, and=20 Future

SimHQ Feature: = Our newest=20 "Second Look" Series article is on America's Army. Read = what Land=20 Combat Editor Chuck "Magnum" Ankenbauer has to = say about=20 this longtime favorite tactical shooter here.

A Very Merry = Christmas and=20 Happy Chanukah from SimHQ!

Community News=20 (Weekend Edition)
for December 24-25, = 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

Battle of=20 Britain 2: Wings of Victory:

EECH / EEAH:=20 European Air War:=20 Event=20 Photography:=20
  • "Top=20 Gun" has posted an A-10 photo.
  • "13sq*Axe" has posted a link = to Seattle Museum of Flight photos. =
Falcon 4.0:=20 Allied Force:=20
  • "The=20 Blackbird" has posted links to official F-16 MLU and = F-16=20 Combat Aircraft Fundamentals manuals.
FS2002 / FS2004:=20
  • "spitfire9" has posted a link = to a freeware BAC-111. =
IL-2 Series: Forgotten = Battles, AEP,=20 Pacific Fighters:=20
  • "Buglord" has released a Bf-109F-2 (III/JG54 "Grunherz") = skin.=20
  • "Desastersoft" has released = new campaigns and missions.
  • "Jarink"=20 has released a P-63 template and skins.
  • "Box-weasel" has released a = Genda's Eagles skin pack.=20
LOMAC = / Flaming=20 Cliffs / Black Shark:=20
  • Lock-On=20 Supports eMagin Z800 3DVisor. Thanks to = "Stonewall=20 Jackson" for the heads up.
Over Flanders Fields: = Pit Builders:=20
  • "Kimchoc1" has posted a photo = of a cockpit with fresnel lens.=20
RC = and Scale=20 Modeling:=20 Screentshots Gallery: = Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20 General News:=20
  • "Dogsbd"=20 has posted a link to the free space simulator Project Mercury 5.0.
  • "RAF_Dumoulin" has posted a = link to a=20 free file hosting site - File=20 Factory.
  • "Crop-Duster" has posted a = link to a=20 Christmas Eve aviation story. =

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

Battleground=20 Europe is now = available in=20 North America. It is now available to North America = for the=20 first time via the Matrix=20 Games Online Store as a digital download, with = boxed=20 copies to follow next week. Take control of a soldier = fighting=20 in World War II in a persistent massive multiplayer = world of=20 first-person combat with infantry, tanks, planes and = ships.=20 This full release in North America provides the latest = version=20 and goodies that were included in the European release = last=20 month. Enjoy a variety of extras, such as a 150-page = game=20 manual in electronic form, a combat equipment guide,=20 wallpapers, game music, comics and more! Included is a = key for=20 30 days of FREE play. The Battleground Europe = web site=20 is here.

We received this press announcement from Battlefront.com:

Battlefront.com = and Dan=20 Verssen Games are happy to announce a large free = Christmas=20 update for their air combat strategy game = Down in = Flames!

We've saved up a few goodies/free updates in = order to=20 release them all in one go in a large Christmas bundle. Just = like the=20 regular bimonthly updates, this bundle is completely = free=20 and immediately available via the auto-update = feature of the=20 game. (requires the full version)

The Christmas bundle includes:

  • our (!) new campaigns (see below for = details)=20
  • one set of updated animations for the F4F=20 Wildcat=20
  • a WHOLE NEW PLANE: the Brewster Buffalo =
  • and new fatigue rules for pilots as well as = a few=20 small bug fixes, too.

The four campaigns are:

Greece - Operation Marita: the last part of = the German=20 offensive in the Balkans

Crete - Operation Merkur: Germany's biggest = and last=20 airborne operation of the war (includes the new = Buffalo=20 aircraft)

Malta - Operation Herkules: The German plan to = remove=20 the threat of British based fighter aircraft being = able to=20 hinder the supply of Rommel's Afrika Korps.

Leyte Gulf - Operation Sho-Go: one of the = greatest sea=20 battles to ever take place.

The Christmas bundle=20 is available immediately for those with the full = version of=20 the game.

The game web site = is here and the game = community/leader board=20 is here.

Here's a link to the = real time=20 strategy game Joint Task Force.

The Battlefield=20 2 Expansion Pack planned to be launched during = Spring 2006=20 is now replaced by two "booster" packs.

How about this idea for a land combat sim? = Thanks to=20 "CV" for the news item.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

Congratulations = to the ten=20 winners of our S.C.S.-Dangerous=20 Waters Contest: Arthur Chang, David Culos, Paul = Roberts, =C1ron D=F6ms=F6di, Steven Dickson, Alex = Donn, Herman Hum,=20 Staffan Juul, Jeff Butler, and Jochen Baur. Please = send guod the=20 address where you would like the DVD, "A Century of = Silent=20 Service" shipped.

Bill "SubGuru" = Nichols has=20 announced that SubGuru has=20 released a 14-mission campaign for S.C.S. - Dangerous = Waters based=20 on the Tom Clancy novel, Red Storm Rising.

Naval After Action Reports: = "Herman" has=20 posted a Harpoon 3 AAR - The Cyprus = Question 1966=20 [Spoiler Alert]. Thanks "Uther".

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

Big F1C news! The RH Season 2005 mod = has been=20 released! Read here at RaceSimCentral. Note: The = "readme"=20 for RH2005 = states that=20 the A1 Ring has been used as a surrogate track for = China,=20 Bahrain and Turkey. Info on downloading the Shanghai = Track=20 Beta is here, the Bahrain Track Beta is here and the graphic update is here, and the Turkey Track Beta is = here.

For all the = GPL and GTR Nurburgring fans: = Head on=20 over to BMW's = web site=20 and check out this Flash 7 streaming video. It = takes you=20 on a ride with Hans Stuck in the BMW GTR M3 during the = 'Ring's=20 24 Hour endurance race. It's quite a ride, along the = "long"=20 course as Hans works his way around slower cars.

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

Hardware=20 Secrets reports how FB-DIMM=20 memory works here.

The=20 Inquirer reports on the Steam powered 64-bit Half Life 2. Read here.

The NGO ATI Optimized = Driver is a=20 tweaked version of the ATI Catalyst driver (based on = v5.13).=20 It offers users better performance and image quality. = The=20 driver has support for all Radeon cards. You can grab = it from=20 here.

ExtremeTech reports on the "Top = 10 Things=20 You Don't Want to Forget before You Build" here.

Ars=20 Technica has the news item: "AMD announces = desktop=20 processor shortages" posted here.

Community News=20 for December 23, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

European=20 Air War:

Event=20 Photography:=20 Falcon 4.0:=20 Allied Force:=20 IL-2 Series: Forgotten = Battles, AEP,=20 Pacific Fighters:=20
  • "obelixC6" has released Flying Tigers Hawk 81 skins. =
  • "Kalaluth" has released a new = campaign - Sky Fighters = II.=20

Jet Thunder: =

LOMAC / Flaming=20 Cliffs / Black Shark:=20
  • "SimFreak" has posted a link = to a video of a Su-27 flying like a = VSTOL and=20 racing a bus.
  • "Kodiak"=20 has experimented with the FC 1.1 FPS tweak on 1.02 with = good=20 results.
Over=20 Flanders Fields:=20 Screentshot and Video = Gallery:=20 Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20
  • "Saguanay" has posted a shot = of a F-15 in action.
  • "dfang"=20 has announced the release of Icon Pack #3. =
USAF:=20 General News:=20
  • Generalmajor Rudolf Pernick=FD = has died at=20 age 90. Thanks to "Pisis" for the information. =
  • "Pisis"=20 has posted funny quotes - Aviation Truths. =

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

Monthly Magazine Briefing: =

  • PC=20 Gamer: Jan. 2006: Red Orchestra Scoop, Pg. = 50; Far=20 Cry Map Pack, Pg. 60.

  • Computer=20 Gaming World: Jan. 2006: Sniper Elite Review, = Pg. 90;=20 Call of Duty 2 Review, Pg. 94; F.E.A.R. Review, Pg.=20 96.

  • Computer = Games: Jan. 2006: Commandos: = Strike Force=20 Preview, Pg. 17; Rainbow Six: Lockdown Preview, Pg. = 18;=20 Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood Review, Pg. 44; = F.E.A.R.=20 Review, Pg. 48; Blitzkrieg 2 Review, Pg. 53; Rome = Total War:=20 Barbarian Invasion Review, Pg. 60; Call of Duty 2 = Review,=20 Pg. 62.

Gamespot=20 names SWAT4 as = the winner=20 of the most despicable product placement award 2005. =

Gamespot has new screenshots of = Splinter Cell 4 here.

Worthplaying has the new Blitzkrieg 2 patch here.

Corsair announces the Corsair BattleField 2 = Infantry Cup=20 Online Tournament. The 48-hour online = tournament will=20 commence on December 29th. Avid BattleField 2 gamers = from over=20 14 countries will play against each other in single=20 elimination. Three selected maps will be played = (Strike at=20 Karkand, Mashtuur, Sharqi Peninsula), and the winning = team=20 will be unveiled on December 30th. Each team consists = of 4=20 players. The top 3 teams plus the 4 most sporting = players will=20 be awarded with Corsair products valued at over = $5,000. For=20 more information on tournament registration and the = list of=20 prizes, click here.

Worthplaying also has 15 new = screens of=20 Act of War: High = Treason=20 here.

Blues News=20 has word that Full = Spectrum=20 Warriors: Ten Hammers may be delayed from it's = January=20 release date.

The Operation Flashpoint = mod makers=20 of the great FFUR total conversions have = announced there=20 next project, which is almost complete. You can see = some=20 screenshots on there web = site.

FFUR European Crisis = pack=20 announcement After a couple of weeks of hard work, = the new=20 FFUR European = Crisis=20 project is nearing completion, and after the FFUR = Asian=20 Crisis and the 3 other themes the FFUR team released = 2=20 months ago here=92s a new concept inspired from real = life=20 conflicts that happened the last 10 years. Because = this is=20 the first time that a coalition of countries are = opposed to=20 one big nation and for the first time, 3 European = countries=20 would represent NATO forces (Germany, United Kingdom = and=20 Sweden), the OPFOR would still be represented by = former=20 renegade Russian forces. A lot of enhancements and=20 improvements have been done, however it should be = released=20 on Christmas day. Here are its main contents: *New = theme=20 inspired on real life events that happened the last = 10=20 years. (Several countries involved) *Very realistic = weapons=20 values. *Improve gameplay. *Enhanced Dynamic = reflection=20 effects. *All units, weapons, vehicles, boats and = aircrafts=20 have been replaced by the best addons of the = community that=20 are suited to the theme and the theme era as well. = some=20 addons have even been enhanced by the FFUR team. = *New=20 effects. *Designed new firearms ironsights and = made=92em the=20 authentic possible. *New sounds and new Custom GUI = (inspired=20 on VBS1). *Established the ability to use = =91extra=92 addons=20 with FFUR. *Only relevant and required P3D models = and=20 textures have been retained for the mod. = *Incorporated=20 realistic clouds that appear when you're flying = quite high=20 with planes and jet fighters. (Thanks to NIM = mod).=20

Merry Christmas and Happy = Holidays to=20 all!

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

Military.com=20 reports: "Stennis Steps into the future of navigation = with=20 all-digital helm". Read here.

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

Team GSMF is = working on a=20 Porsche Challenge = Cup for=20 rFactor. First = images and=20 a teaser movie can be found here.

First images from a = "Legends Cars" mod = for rFactor have been = revealed here.

A new track for the = GN 1970 mod for NASCAR Racing 2003 = Season has=20 been released. Langley Field Speedway can be = downloaded from=20 this location.

Charlotte = County=20 Speedway for NASCAR = Racing 2003=20 Season has also just been released. Get it from = here.

A new mulitplayer = carset for=20 the GN 1970 mod = has been=20 released and can be found at The Pits here.

Post your favorite sim car here. Thanks "Uther".

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

LegionHardware checks out the = Arctic-Cooling Freezer 64 = Pro=20 Cooler here.

Elite=20 Bastards tests out the Club=20 3D GeForce 6600 256MB Passive Edition video = card here.

LostCircuits reviews the Sapphire Pure Crossfire = A9RD480=20 video card here.

ThinkComputers looks at the Sicuro DEC-900 = Cardbus TV Tuner=20 with FM Radio here.

TECHNIZ.CO.UK looks at the X-Ray Thunder 8 mouse = pad here.

ATI = has released=20 the 5.13 version of their Catalyst Driver Suite. = Download them=20 from here. Note: The old style Control = Panel=20 versions have been discontinued. These drivers feature = the new=20 Catalyst Control Center (CCC).

Viperlair=20 looks at the Intel = "Black Creek"=20 955X desktop motherboard here.

3DAvenue has=20 posted their review of the HIS=20 Radeon X1800XT and HIS=20 Radeon X1800XL video cards here.

Hot=20 Hardware for the Holidays: A Buyers Guide at = HotHardware.=20 Read here.

Tweaktown=20 has the ATI = Catalyst=20 drivers of 2005 here.

Community News=20 for December 22, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

European=20 Air War:

  • "Nico=20 l'As" has posted a series of screenshots.
  • "Skylark" has posted DAW screenshots.
  • "No105_Ogdens" has posted a = an Air War Christmas poem.=20
Event = Photography:=20
  • The=20 Event Photography forum isn't just for pictures, post your videos there too! =
  • "Lucky"=20 has posted photos from the USS Intrepid Museum. =
Falcon 4.0: Allied = Force:=20
  • Members=20 have posted screenshots and photos of the new 2 seater Falcon.
  • Members=20 are discussing BVR tactics here.
Fighter Squadron: Scream 'n = Demons=20 Over Europe:=20 FS2002 / FS2004:=20 IL-2 Series:=20 Forgotten Battles, AEP, Pacific Fighters:=20
  • "123_spider" has posted a No. = 123=20 Squadron "Merry Christmas" wallpaper.

Over Flanders Fields:

  • The red hot new WWI mod based on CFS3 now has = it's own=20 Forum! Check it out here.

Pit = Builders:

  • "Sokol1"=20 has posted photos of a control stick (WWII style) with = a long=20 throw.
Screentshots Gallery: = Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20
  • "bibbolicious" has posted a = hammerhead video.
  • "Saguanay" has posted a "Bridges at Toko-Ri" mission. =
  • "soulfreak" has released a TF-104G Starfighter (Jabo 36 = "Westfalen")=20 skin.
General=20 News:=20

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

The=20 Wargamer has a number = of game=20 screens for the upcoming Hearts of Iron 2: = Doomsday here.

The Wargamer also has news of an = official=20 announcement for Cossacks=20 2: Battle for Europe here, and they have a unit = analysis of the=20 playable units in Shattered Union here.

GameSpot has their first = impressions of=20 SWAT 4: The = Stetchkov=20 Syndicate here.

Worthplaying has the new trailer = for=20 Act of War: = High=20 Treason here.

Blues News has word of an official = announcement for Terrorist Takedown: War in=20 Columbia.

"Magnum MGG" has posted = links to=20 several videos here. Thanks "Uther".

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

Naval After Action Report: = "Herman" has=20 posted a Harpoon 3 AAR - Baltic Bottleneck = [Spoiler=20 Alert]. Thanks "Uther".

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

Blackhole=20 Motorsports has a Race=20 Driver 3 telemetry video here.

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

bit-tech=20 checks out the = ASUS A8N32-SLI = Deluxe motherboard here.

Anandtech tests out the = ATI Radeon X1800 = CrossFire video card here. Thanks, Mike = Martinez.

Pro-Clockers looks at the = CoolJag JFK-1 heatsink here.

FrostyTech checks out the = EKL V8 AMD = Athlon64 heatsink here.

ExtremeMhz reviews the = NHJ MPM-201 digital media player here.

A1 Electronics tests out the = Thermaltake = Mambo mid-tower case here.

ThinkComputers tests mCubed's miniNG 2 channel fan controller here.

VolariGamers tests out = XGI's Volari = 8300 video card here.

Community News=20 for December 21, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

Combat=20 Flight Simulator 3:

  • Lots of=20 new Over Flanders Fields threads! What's OFF? Take a = look here.
European Air War:=20
  • Sandbagger's latest news has been posted. =
FS2002 / FS2004:=20
  • "Deacon211" has posted a = series of=20 shots of the PMDG's B-737-700 in Southwest = colors.=20
Event=20 Photography:=20 IL-2=20 Series: Forgotten Battles, AEP, Pacific = Fighters:=20
  • "CanonUK" has posted a = preview of Hungarian Bf-109's.
  • "Aces=20 High 2" has posted a procedure for using two = installs of IL2Mat Manager.
  • "mazex"=20 has announced a new download location for G15 Manager.
  • "Graf"=20 has posted Fw-190D and P-51D wallpapers.=20
Jane's=20 F/A-18:=20
  • "bones"=20 has posted an AAR - Operation Persian Freedom. =
Jet = Thunder:=20
  • "Dante-JT" has released a Harrier video. =
Pit Builders:=20
  • "GoGamer.com - Jason" has = posted an aircraft controls layout for use = with the=20 Ergodex DX1.
RC=20 and Scale Modeling:=20 Screenshots Gallery:=20
  • "PanzerMeyer" has posted a = series of Su-25T shots. =
Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20 General=20 News:=20
  • Post=20 your favorite flight sim aircraft here.
  • "Bert67"=20 has posted a link to the Game Manual=20 Archive (5,000+ manuals).=20
  • "Top=20 Gun" has posted a link to an aircraft License Plate web page. =
  • "Saguanay" has posted a link = to an Avro Arrow wallpaper.
  • "RogueSnake" has posted a = link to a Convair F-106A "Delta Dart" web = page.=20

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

Land Combat=20 Screenshots Gallery:

  • "SimFreak" has posted modern = infantry combat shots. Thanks=20 Uther.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

Naval After Action = Reports:=20

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

GT Legends is = reviewed by DriverHeaven.

rFactor manual is in = the works,=20 and going by the preview, this looks to be both = informative=20 and fun.

"Joe" has posted a link to the = North American Eagle world land = speed record=20 web page.

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

Beyond3D=20 reviews the ATI Radeon = X1800=20 Crossfire here.

Hothardware reviews the ATI Radeon X1800 = Crossfire here.

Community News=20 for December 20, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

Battle=20 of Britain 2: Wings of Victory:

Combat Flight=20 Simulator 3:=20
  • "FlyXwire" has posted a = series of Over Flanders Fields = screenshots.
  • A Over=20 Flanders Fields web site update has been posted.
  • Having=20 trouble with Over Flanders Fields? Click here.
European Air War:=20 Event Photography:=20

Flight Simulator = 2002/2004:

  • Weather Maker Pro 4 has been released. Calibre = Software=20 Solutions has announced the release of = Weather
    Maker Pro=20 4. Weather Maker Pro 4 = is the=20 weather engine offering more than one way to = generate=20 weather in Flight Simulator 2004. New to Weather = Maker Pro 4=20 is the new Enhanced Dynamic Weather Simulator. With = EDWS you=20 can now experience more realistic turbulence, = geographic=20 thermals, severe icing, better visibility handling = and the=20 sound of hail hitting your windshield. Learn = more here at the web site.

Falcon 4.0: Allied=20 Force:

Fighter Squadron: Scream 'n = Demons=20 Over Europe:=20 IL-2 Series:=20 Forgotten Battles, AEP, Pacific Fighters:=20
  • "obelixC6" has released a Hawk 81A-2 (Flying Tigers: # = "5") skin.=20
LOMAC / Flaming=20 Cliffs / Black Shark:=20 Pit = Builders:=20
  • "GoGamer.com - Jason" has = posted photos=20 of a home built cockpit with the Ergodex DX1 system.
  • "Zachnefein" has posted = photos of a PVC home cockpit.
  • "Sokol1"=20 has posted a photo of a home built stick shifter.=20
Screentshots=20 Gallery:=20
  • "Lemon"=20 has posted a series of Stuka shots.
  • "249th_Jeevz" has posted Over Flanders Fields shots. =
  • "Alex41"=20 has posted IL2 Series shots. =
Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20
  • "soulfreak" has released a NASA F-106A skin.
  • "dfang"=20 has released ICON PACK #2.
  • "The=20 Wrench" has released a desert camo skin for the Blenheim Mk1 (includes = instructions for=20 adding illuminator flare).
  • "The=20 Wrench" has released an upgraded Tiger Moth (added = weapons).=20
  • "The=20 Wrench" has released a Mustang B (5th FS, Italy 1944)=20 skin.

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

CombatSim has a review of T-72: Balkans on Fire = here.

The FFUR = web=20 site, (a OFP modding team), has news of a European War Crisis = pack coming=20 soon.

The=20 Wargamer has news of a community patch for Civilization 4, read = about it=20 here.

The=20 Wargamer also has an after action review report on = the=20 Republic of Texas in Scattered=20 Union here.

Worthplaying has the newest patch = for Vietcong 2 here.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

Tonnage War Mod update. We have updated the = information=20 of the SimHQ Tonnage War Mod. Read more about it here. Included are links to the 3=20 previews.

Submariners on Australia TV. At 7:30pm, = Wednesday 21=20 December, 2005. SBS TV will show the first of a = multipart=20 series "Submariners". The second show will air at = 7:30PM,=20 Wednesday 28 December, 2005. Fremantle, Western = Australia, the=20 Australian Navy's newest Collins Class submarine HMAS = Rankin=20 and her crew are being tested to the extreme. They = need to=20 prove they are up to the challenge of RIMPAC, the = world's=20 biggest naval exercises being held in = Hawaii.

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

New screenshots and a new trailer from Grand Raid Offroad = have been=20 released.

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

Tweaknews=20 checks out the Antec=20 TrueControl 2.0 550W power supply here.

Guru3D tests=20 out ATI's Radeon X1800 = XT=20 Crossfire video card here.

Legit=20 Reviews has an ATI = X1000=20 Series video card roundup here.

TweakTown=20 looks at the Foxconn=20 6150K8MA-8EKRS motherboard here.

CoolTechZone tests Gigabyte's = GA-K8N51GMF-9 micro=20 ATX motherboard w/onboard video here.

CaseModGod=20 reviews Sapphire's = X1800XT=20 Performance Edition video card here.

Trusted=20 Reviews looks at Thermaltake's Mambo = VC2000 case=20 here.

Techgage checks=20 out Zalman's = CNPS9500 CPU=20 cooler here.

UK = Gamer=20 tests the Alienware = Aurora=20 5500 here.

Community News=20 for December 19, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

After=20 Action Reports:

  • "BlackLion" has posted a Pacific Fighters AAR - War = Story: Baltic=20 Hunters.
Combat=20 Flight Simulator 3:=20
  • Over Flanders Fields Phase 1, = v0.3 has=20 been released.
European Air War:=20
  • Sandbagger's latest news has been posted.
  • "Flying=20 Tiger" has announced many new releases for Christmas. =
  • "Flying=20 Tiger" has released a Ju-87B-2 (II/St.G2 Afrika Korps) = skin.=20
  • "Stratos" is looking for help = to finish=20