SimHQ.com - The Simulation Community's = Headquarters

Community News for=20 September 15, 2006

Air Combat = News

News Contributor: = Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

EECH / EEAH:

New trees for the Alexander = Archipelago=20 map.

European Air=20 War:=20

Skins: Spitfire Mk.Vc (No. 249 Sdn, = Flt. Sgt=20 George Beurling, Takali Malta October 1942) by PLR.=20
Skins: Spitfire Mk.Vb (Flt. Sgt Patrick = Schade,=20 No. 249 Sdn. Takali, Malta April 1942) by PLR. =

Event Photography:=20

Tornado F.3 photo by hbxov [to = be=20 published in the October Issue of Aircraft = Illustrated].=20

IL-2 = Series: Forgotten=20 Battles, AEP, Pacific Fighters:=20

Skins: Bf-109G-2 (JG52, Hans Waldman) = by Compans.=20
Skins: He-111H-6 (6./KG26) by Buglord.=20
Skins: Hurricane Mk.I (P.O. = Bird-Wilson, 17=20 Squadron, RAF Debden 1940) by Kristorf. =

Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam /=20 Wings Over Europe:=20

B6N Tenzan "Jill" released by = SFP1 Dev=20 A-Team.=20
EAF Spit MkV Trop & Spit F = Mk22=20 released by SFP1 Dev A-Team.=20
Skins: F-16 SEA camouflage by = MigBuster30.=20

Land Combat

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

Announcements:

A number of download sites now have the just = release 2.5=20 GB Americas Army game.

Game = News:

GameSpot has new = screenshots=20 of Medieval 2: Total War.
GameSpot also has = review,=20 including a video review of Company of Heroes.
GameSpot Europa = Universalis=20 3.
Worthplaying has = a new=20 trailer for Faces of War.
The Wargamer has = new=20 screenshots of Officer.
Hot SWAT Mods has = a new SWAT3=20 map remake for SWAT4 titled, Nakasaki Plaza.
The next patch for Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 = will be=20 out in the next few days, with the game updating=20 automatically over Steam. You can find some new = screenshots=20 for the game over on their web site here.

From the=20 Forums:

Magnum shares some screenshots from the = tutorials in Company of Heroes. Heinzi shares = a video=20 of The Regiment.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = Tom=20 "NightCrawler" Mauk.

The = Ship:

According to the Steam web=20 site, a new update is now available. = It=20 offers a tutorial, two new maps and various bug = fixes and=20 improvements.

U-505:

The Museum of = Science &=20 Industry Chicago has an interesting = exhibit=20 up about this German Submarine. You can view the = sub's site=20 here.=20

This Day in Naval = History -=20 September 15:

1944 - Invasion of Peleliu, Palau = Islands, after=20 several days of intensive carrier aircraft bombing = and ship=20 bombardment.=20
1950 - U.S. forces under Vice Adm. Arthur = Struble=20 achieve an amphibious landing at Inchon, Korea.=20
1967 - Operation Crimson Tide in Mekong = Delta.=20

Motorsports News

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

rFactor:

Texture updates by SLN for Orchard Lake are now=20 available for download from here.
A 1.0 > 1.1 patch for the Zonda mod has been=20 released, thus presenting a smaller download for = those=20 having already installed the v1.0. The patch is = available=20 from here.

Technology = News

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

Cases:

GamePyre checks out the Cooler = Master=20 Mystique 632 Case here.
Gotfrag Hardware looks into the = Vigor=20 Force Case here.

Cooling:

AMDZone tests out the = Thermalright=20 Ultra-120 Cooler here.
RBMods tests the Vizo Orbiter = HDD Cooler=20 out here.

Graphics Cards: =

HEXUS.net tests out the HIS = X1900GT IceQ3=20 Dual DL-DVI VIVO 256 MB Card here.
3DAvenue tests out the NVIDIA = GeForce 7950=20 GT here.

Motherboards: =

EclipseOC checks out the MSI K9N = Platinum=20 Motherboard here.
TechARP tests the ASUS P5NSLI = nForce 570=20 SLI Motherboard here.

Community News for September 14,=20 2006

Air Combat = News

News Contributor: = Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

Battle of Britain: =

New Terrain update. =

EECH / EEAH:=20

MP revolution might be on the = way.=20

European Air = War:=20

Sandbagger's latest news has been posted.=20
HR Gladiator Mk.I (2/LLv 26. = ylik O.=20 Mensuvaara 1940) by Flying Tiger.

Event Photography:=20

Super Hornets at Ellington.=20
B-17 flight by "Docjonel".=20
Photos and video of the finding of Fw-190A-5 WNr: = 1227.=20

IL-2 Series: = Forgotten=20 Battles, AEP, Pacific Fighters:=20

Skins: Complete 384th BG B17-F skinpack = for=20 download (107 skins total) by Mysticpuma2003.=20
Skins: Hurricane Mk.I (Plt Off W R = Dunn, 71=20 'Eagle' Sqn, Kirton-on-Lindsay 1941) by Kristorf.=20
The 214 Online Group is accepting = new pilots.=20

Jane's = Longbow=20 Series:=20

List servers available to coordinate=20 multiplayer meetings.

Pit Builders:=20

RAF F3 Tornado cockpit photos.=20

Red = Baron:=20

List servers for publishing = multiplayer events.=20

Screentshots and Video=20 Gallery:=20

Helo video: Bo-105 low level.=20
Jet Video: Speed and Angels 2006.=20
Jet Video: Harrier Blast by Skuli. =

Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam /=20 Wings Over Europe:=20

Israeli Air Force tracker. =

Land Combat

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

Announcements:=20

America's Army: = Special Forces=20 Overmatch is released today. If you check the = forums,=20 you would of known that the Army Times had it a day earlier. = Here's an=20 excerpt from the press announcement:

America's Army: Special Forces (Overmatch) = also=20 includes:

Missions featuring cooperative gameplay = against=20 Artificial Intelligence in which players experience = the=20 overmatch capabilities that the U.S. Army brings to = the=20 battlefield to engage and defeat much larger hostile = forces.=20

A "record brief" for each player, replicating = the=20 records maintained for each Soldier in the Army. = Annotations=20 in this "record brief" document players' successful=20 completion of in-game training from medic to Special = Forces=20 and summarize their game play history and=20 performance.

The opportunity to train and employ new = weapons=20 systems including the Javelin Missile and the = CROWS.

New vehicles, controlled by players and = Opposing=20 Forces (Enemy AI), which enhance the mobility,=20 survivability, and firepower of combat=20 teams.

Game = News:

Fileplanet has = the just=20 released FEAR Extraction Point = demo.
GameSpot also has = the FEAR: Extraction Point demo. =
GameSpot also has = a new Faces=20 of War movie.
Worthplaying has = new=20 screenshots of "Officers".
Worthplaying also = has the new=20 FEAR: Extraction Point demo. =
Armed Assault = Zone has new screenshots (80 plus) of, you = guessed it,=20 Armed Assault, showing off some of the units. =

From the=20 Forums:

Magnum shares a bunch of screens from the just = released=20 GRAW Multiplayer Map Pack #3. Check them out here.
Not confirmed yet, but Nixer6 posted some info = on Armed=20 Assault release dates (none for the US) followed up = by a=20 detailed list from "Shadow". Read the rumor here.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = Tom=20 "NightCrawler" Mauk.

This Day = in Naval=20 History - September 14:

1899 - Gunboat Concord and monitor = Monterey=20 capture two insurgent schooners at Aparri, = Philippine=20 Islands.=20
1939 - Atlantic Squadron Neutrality = Patrol ships=20 deploy.=20
1976 - USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) and = destroyer=20 Bordelon (DD 881) collide during night operations = 100 miles=20 north of Scotland.

Motorsports News

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

rFactor:

Thin steering wheels and = skinny=20 tires racing to rFactor in the future. Until = release, enjoy=20 these images of legendary Grand = Prix cars.=20

Technology = News

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

Cases:

Modders-Inc.com checks out the = Ultra Grid=20 ATX Case w/500W V-Series PSU here.

Cooling:

techPowerUp checks out the = Scythe Katana=20 Cu Cooler here.
Virtual-Hideout tests the = ThermalTake 745=20 Bigwater Water Cooling Kit here.

Graphics Cards: =

Ultimate Hardware tests out the = Sapphire=20 Radeon x1650 Pro & x1300 XT here.
Neoseeker checks out the X1900XT = 256MB=20 Card here.

Motherboards: =

HotHardware tests out the Asus = P5W64-WS=20 Professional Motherboard here.
HEXUS.net checks out the MSI = P965 Platinum=20 Motherboard here.

Community News for September 13,=20 2006

Air Combat = News

News Contributor: = Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

European Air War: =

Preview: New Ports and Rails map by = "Pobs".=20

Event=20 Photography:=20

RAF Leuchars Airshow 2006 by = "hbxov".=20

Falcon 4.0: = Allied=20 Force:=20

TACAN Navigation discussion and = helpful=20 links.

IL-2 Series:=20 Forgotten Battles, AEP, Pacific Fighters:=20

DGen update.=20
Skin: Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib (800 NAS, = coded G. Lt.=20 Cdr. J. M. Bruen, HMS Indomitable 1942) by jocko-.=20
Skin: Seafire Mk.Ib (885 Sqn, HMS = Formidable,=20 February 1943) by jocko-.=20
Skin: Hurricane Mk.I (Flg. Officer = Arthur V=20 Clowes DFM, #1 Sqn, Sussex 1940) by Kristorf. =

Storm of War: The Battle of=20 Britain:=20

New screenshot.

Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam /=20 Wings Over Europe:=20

New A-7D and E HUDs by = MoonJumper.=20
New F-16A Block 15 (FAV) by = MigBuster30.=20

General = News:=20

Birds of Mercy [Iraq Medevac = story].=20 Thanks "Thomas DW".

Land Combat

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

Announcements:=20

Oblivion Expansion Rumored (Thanks to The Wargamer for the news.) Not = really=20 SimHQ type news but since it was reviewed as a "Got = Game"=20 game, and there is a hugh following here: "GameSpot = has=20 discovered an interesting pre-order place-holder on = the=20 popular videogame retail site Gamestop. A preorder = listing=20 for Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: Knights of the White = Stallion, which were assuming is an expansion of = sorts for=20 the Oblivion, which already has a substantial = "expansion"=20 catalog of downloadable mods and add-ons ranging in = price=20 from .99 to $3.00. The listing was pulled from = Gamestop=20 shortly after Gamespot tried to reach Bethesda for = comment=20 on the game's existence. So far, all we know is that = the=20 tentative Oblivion expansion is slated for a PC = release on=20 November 21, 2006 and that it will retail for around = $19.99."
GRAW Co-Op Map pack 3 out (Thanks to Tactical=20 Gamer for the news.) The official GRAW web=20 site has news and mirrors for the much = anticipated=20 multiplayer co-op map pack number 3, with the new = OGR=20 (Original Ghost Recon) 12 man co-op mode.
Army Times posts = the new=20 release date for Americas=20 Army update as September 14th.

In Stores = Today:

Company of Heroes, a WW2 RTS style game with = rave=20 reviews and opinions around the community. =

Game = News:

The official Americas=20 Army web site has a new sit rep titled "Steamroller" which discusses new = "levels"=20 of combat.
GameSpot reviews = Company of Heroes.
GameSpot also has = a new Faces of War movie.
Worthplaying has = the new=20 trailer and walkthrough for Joint Task Force.
Worthplaying also = has news=20 that the FEAR Extraction Point demo will = be out=20 later today.
And finally from Worthplaying, news that Company of Heroes for the PC is = in stores=20 today.

From the Forums: =

"Heinzi" shares more screenshots from The Regiment.
More land screenshots have been added to this "best of" thread.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = Tom=20 "NightCrawler" Mauk.

Pacific Storm:

Gamespot=20 has 15 brand new screenshots for your viewing = pleasure. You=20 can review them here.=20

Age of Pirates: = Caribbean=20 Tales:

This Swashbuckling Pirate = Game for=20 Windows Sails on to Retailers Today! = Developed by=20 Akella, the game = delivers=20 deep and challenging gameplay and will be available = in North=20 America for a suggested retail price of $29.95. For = more=20 visit the official website here.=20

This Day in=20 Naval History - September 13:

1814 - British = bombardment of=20 Fort McHenry inspires the Star Spangled Banner.

1847 - Marine = Brigade leads=20 U.S. forces that storm Chapultepec Castle near = Mexico City,=20 inspiring one line of the Marine Hymn.

1906 - Sailors and = Marines=20 from USS Denver land in Havana at the request of the = Cuban=20 government to preserve order during a = revolution.

1939 - Navy = suspends=20 transfers to the Fleet Reserve after 20 years of = service and=20 retains men on active duty.

1985 - Commander = Middle East=20 Force orders escort of Military Sealift Ships in = Persian=20 Gulf because of Iranian seizure of merchant=20 vessels.

T-Lam:

Navy Newsstand video reports on = training=20 here.

Motorsports News

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

rFactor:

The Zonda Racing Series v1.1 for rFactor is here.

GTR2:

Gamespot previews GTR2.

SimHQnet Motorsports:

The Deuce: SimHQs second 2.4 hour race details=20 announced! Read here.

Technology = News

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

Cases:

ThinkComputers.org checks out the = Apevia=20 X-Discovery PC Case here.

DriverHeaven.net checks out the = NZXT=20 Apollo Case here.

Cooling:

Overclockers Online tests out = the Titan=20 Amanda Cooler here.

OC3D tests out Scythe's Infinity = Heatpipe=20 CPU Cooler here.

Graphics Cards: =

The = Tech=20 Report checks out Connect3D's Radeon X1900 GT = Video Card=20 here.

Elite=20 Bastards tests the Galaxy GeForce 7600 GS AGP = card here.

Motherboards: =

Proclockers checks out the ASUS = P5W DH=20 Deluxe Socket 775 Motherboard here.

OCWorkbench tests out the ECS = 945GTY-M=20 MoDT Motherboard here.

Community News for September 12,=20 2006

Air Combat = News

News Contributor: = Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

After Action Reports: =

Wings Over Europe AAR by = Rampstrike.=20

European Air=20 War:=20

Skin: Gloster Gladiator Mk.I / J-8A=20 (Flygflottilj 19, Swedish voluntary unit, Winter war = 1939-40) by Flying Tiger.

Event Photography:=20

2006 NAS Oceana Airshow pictures = by=20 Digital-Overload.

IL-2 Series: Forgotten = Battles, AEP,=20 Pacific Fighters:=20

Online war: Finland 1939.=20

LOMAC = / Flaming=20 Cliffs / Black Shark:=20

Movie: Speed by Glowing_Amraam.=20

General=20 News:=20

BRL-CAD, a powerful solid = modeling system=20 developed by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, is = now=20 available for free.

Land Combat

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

Announcements:

SimHQ's own Teamspeak server is up and = running.=20 Announced last week or so, SimHQ's own dedicated = Teamspeak server is up and running for registered = community=20 members. We also have a land combat channel for some = cooperative action. Read this thread for a step-by-step = walk=20 through on setting it up. Please note: there is a = Lobby Room=20 that you could wait for other players in to play any = type of=20 game/sim. Or you can wait in the Land Combat channel = to=20 signal your preferred game/sim type. Then, at this = time,=20 anyone can create there own game channel, (that will = automatically disappear when everyone leaves it), So = once=20 you have a couple of buddies simply click "channels" = then=20 create channel to set up your game channel. (ie: = SWAT 4 SS=20 co-op.)

Game = News:

GameSpot has a = preview of Caesar 4 along with some new screenshots.

The Americas Army official web site = has a new=20 sitrep titled "v2.7 Steamroller" discussing = the new=20 height combat. Comes with new screenshots also.

The GRAW map=20 pack 3 is officially over and news that the map = pack=20 with the new OGR (original Ghost Recon) type co-op = play=20 should be out within days.

From the=20 Forums:

Alan323 shares screenshots from a just released = mod pack=20 for Steel Beasts Pro (PE). Check them out here. Then check out = SteelBeasts.com to=20 download.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = Tom=20 "NightCrawler" Mauk.

Pacific Assault:

CDV=20 Software Entertainment USA and Buka=20 Entertainment = are pleased=20 to announce that the game has gone gold and will be=20 available in North American retail outlets on = October 1.

This Day in Naval History = -=20 September 12:

1916 - First demonstration of automatic=20 stabilization and direction gear in aircraft.

1944 - Fifth Fleet carrier aircraft begin=20 three-day attack on Japanese shipping and facilities = in=20 Visayas, Philippines.

1952 - USS Coral Sea (CVB 43) took = Marshall Josip=20 Tito for a one-day cruise in the Adriatic Sea where = he was=20 shown flight operations.

1961 - Navy task force sails to aid the = Galveston=20 area after Hurricane Carla hits Texas.

1966 - Launch of Gemini 11, piloted by = Cmdr.=20 Charles Conrad Jr. and Lt. Cmdr. Richard F. Gordon = Jr. Their=20 mission lasted two days and 23 hours and included 44 = orbits=20 at an altitude of 1368.9 km. Recovery was by HS-3 = helicopter=20 from USS Guam (LPH 9).

1967- Operation Coronado V began in Mekong = Delta.

1992 - Joint Task Force Hawaii activated = to=20 provide humanitarian aid after Typhoon Iniki struck = Hawaiian=20 Islands.

Motorsports News

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

Formula = 1:

50 years of onboard F1 footage. Visit or revisit = great=20 drivers in this 39 minute feature. =

Technology = News

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

Cases:

CowCotLand checks out the Antec = Minuet 300=20 Case here.

Big Bruin looks into the = Sunbeamtech Zorro=20 ATX Case here.

Cooling:

Maxit Mag tests out the Arctic = Cooling=20 Freezer 7 Pro Heatsink here.

PC Perspective tests the = Koolance=20 PC4-1025BK 1kW Liquid Cooling System here.

Graphics Cards: =

Bjorn3D checks out the XFX = GeForce 7950GT=20 here.

TechARP hosts Version 11.2 of = their=20 Graphics Card Comparison here.

Motherboards: =

nV News tests out the MSI K9N = SLI Platinum=20 NFORCE 570 Motherboard here.

Technic3D tests out Gigabyte's = GA-965P-DQ6=20 here.

Community News for = September 11,=20 2006

Like so many of our readers, = the staff=20 of SimHQ approach the fifth anniversary of 9/11 with a = heavy=20 heart and a all-too-vivid memory of how the events of = that day=20 unfolded in New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, around = the U.S.,=20 across the globe, and in our own virtual community = here. Our=20 thoughts go out to those who lost friends and loved = ones in=20 the attacks, as well as to all those whose lives were = changed=20 forever in some way. We humbly ask that our readers = take some=20 time to quietly reflect on what we all lost five years = ago=20 today, and then dedicate ourselves to a better = tomorrow.

Air Combat = News

News Contributor: = Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

Combat Flight Simulator = 3:

A 1% Version-4 of HerbieG-BRAVO/4 = B-17G-80 A=20 BIT O' LACE has been released. =

EECH / EEAH:=20

"AI_Guy" has posted a movie (pre-graphics mod).=20

European Air=20 War:=20

Sandbagger's latest news has been posted.

Preview: Middle East building.

New HR Swordfish model progress = report.=20

Skin: Spitfire Mk.Vc ("UFS" Sgt. = George=20 Beurling, No. 249 Sdn, Malta 1942).

Modding: Information regarding sprites.

Destroyed oil storage = tank preview.=20

Event=20 Photography:=20

"bones" has posted Neptune 2006 photos.

"Kupper" has posted Wings of the North Airshow = photos.

"Shado" has posted photos of Jersey's annual Battle of Britain display.

"grandcharles" has posted Fert=E9 Alais 2006 photos.=20

FS2002 /=20 FS2004:=20

Additional textures for the Plane-Design Spitfire MK.XVI = have been=20 released.

IL-2=20 Series: Forgotten Battles, AEP, Pacific = Fighters:=20

Skins: Il-2, LaGG-3 & Pe-2 by = vpmedia.

Skins: Hurricane Mk.IIb (Flt Lt Eric = 'Bojo'=20 Brown, 136 Sqn, East Bengal, May 1943) by Kristorf. =

Skins: Hurricane Mk.IIc (#10 Sqn, Royal = Indian=20 Air Force, KCEL) by Kristorf.

LOMAC / Flaming Cliffs / = Black=20 Shark:=20

LOMAC modding tools.=20

Screentshots=20 and Video Gallery:=20

C-130 testing landing take-off on = USS=20 Forrestal in color.

Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam /=20 Wings Over Europe:=20

F/A-37A Talon ~ Alpha 2.0 ready = for=20 download.

Progress report: Voodoo Cockpit update.

Yankee Air Pirate Missions 11-20 = released.=20

General=20 News:=20

Condor: The Competition Soaring = Simulator=20 Patch 1.09 has been released.

Peter Jackson to film Dam Busters. Thanks "Pisis." =

Win a Voice Buddy at Screenshot=20 Art.

From Aerospace Daily & Defense = Report: Army=20 Air R&D Eyes Converting Manned Helicopters Into = UAVs.=20

U.S. Air Force to destroy entire fleet of = British-made Firefly planes with dangerous = history.

Read about top-secret warplanes of Area 51 here.

Land Combat

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

Announcements:=20

TotalGaming Signs 'Massive = Assault'=20 For Digital Delivery (Thanks to Worthplaying for the news.) = "Stardock=20 Entertainment announced today that Wargaming's = futuristic=20 global-domination strategy game, Massive Assault, = will be=20 distributed digitally via its digital-distribution = service=20 TotalGaming.net."

More 'Counter-Strike: = Source'=20 Changes Coming (Thanks again to Worthplaying for the news.) = "Valve's=20 SteamPowered web site has been updated with a few = minor=20 details about further changes to Counter-Strike: = Source.=20 While Valve isn't quite ready to announce specific = details=20 just yet, it revealed that the weapon and equipment = economy=20 will get an overhaul, and mainly involves changing = the=20 prices of every item in the game - some more = significantly=20 than others. But that's just the beginning, more = info on=20 what's in store, soon."

From Tripwire = Interactive...=20 "Tripwire Interactive is looking for highly talented = and=20 dedicated individuals to join the Tripwire = Interactive=20 family. TWI's critically acclaimed game Red = Orchestra:=20 Ostfront 41-45 has become a sleeper hit of 2006, = quickly=20 climbing up the charts to become one of the most = played PC=20 multiplayer games in the world. Poised to surpass = this=20 success for their next generation project Tripwire=20 Interactive is one of the rising new stars of the = games=20 industry. As a fully independent studio, Tripwire=20 Interactive is able to develop the games that they = want, on=20 their own schedule. Want to develop games in a = professional=20 yet non-corporate environment where every team = member's=20 input matters? Then Tripwire Interactive is the = studio for=20 you. Based in Roswell, GA, just north of Atlanta, = Tripwire=20 is in the perfect area for those that enjoy sunny = weather=20 and a relatively low cost of living. Tripwire = Interactive=20 offers a competitive salary and benefits package and = a=20 professional but non-corporate environment. We're = actively=20 seeking experienced applicants to fill the roles of = Senior=20 AI Programmer and Senior Programmer. For more = information on=20 the posts and how to apply, see the "Employment" = section at=20 www.TripwireInteractive.com."

Game = News:

The Wargamer has = a review of=20 Panzer Command: Operation Winter = Storm.=20

The Wargamer also = has=20 screenshots of WarFront: Turning Points.

And finally The=20 Wargamer has news of a Napoleonic Total War Mod Patch = Plan.

Fileplanet has = the recently=20 released Battlefield 2 patch.

Fileplanet also has the demo of Company of Heroes, and the demo = of Warhammer 40,000:Dawn of War. =

GameSpot has a Medieval 2: Total War Designer Diary = #4 -=20 Religion article.

Gamespot also has = a Company of Heroes Designer Diary #7 = - Final=20 Thoughts article.

Gamespot shares a preview of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Dark=20 Crusade. Covering some of the units.

And finally from Gamespot,=20 a hands on preview of Caesar 4.

Worthplaying has = new screens=20 of Warhammer: Mark of Chaos and of = Bet on Soldier: Black out = Saigon.

Worthplaying also = has news of=20 a Supreme Commander Closed Multiplayer = Beta=20 coming soon.

Serious Gaming Source has an = interview with=20 the America's Army program manager = and also an=20 interview with lead developer of VBS2 from Bohemia Interactive.

Armed Assault = Zone reports on=20 another William Armed Assault blog = update.

Armed Assault = Zone has also=20 collected a number of new screenshots from Armed = Assault on=20 their front page.

GhostRecon.net has a Q&A = article on=20 the soon to be released GRAW Map Pack 3.

GhostRecon.net = also has news=20 on two different, upcoming GRAW tournaments.

Hot SWAT Mods has = a new total=20 conversion for SWAT 4 titled 11-99 v1.1.

Hot SWAT Mods = also has two=20 new maps/missions for download.

The great folks over at Steelbeasts.com have completely = revamped=20 and overhauled there web site.

Battlefront has released patches = for v1.04 for Strategic Command 2 = and v1.60 for For Liberty!

Gamershell has the Just Cause = Trailer #9=20 here.

Blues News reports that EA = announces that=20 beta testing of Battlefield 2142 will open up to = another=20 10,000 testers.

From the = Forums:=20

Heinzi shares a few screens from Battle Ground = Europe.=20 Check them out here.

Alan323 shares some screens from new skins made = for Steel=20 Beasts pro (PE). Check them out here.

Wicked continues to share screenshots from VBS1. = Check=20 them out here and here. And one more here.

Devil M shares some excellent Steel Beasts Pro = (PE)=20 screenshots here.

Razorback shares a video of Red Orchestra action = here.

Magnum shares a video of lone wolf action while = testing=20 the beta for GRAW. Check it out here.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = Tom=20 "NightCrawler" Mauk.

Ship = Simulator=20 2006:

3dGamers=20 again brings us news that Lighthouse = Entertainment=20 has released an upgrade patch for the German = version=20 that brings it up to version 1.4. For more = information and=20 to download this patch, sail over here.

Age of Pirates: Caribbean = Tales:=20

Atari sends word that the game has a ship = date of=20 September 18, 2006. For more information please go = to the=20 official web site here.

This Day in Naval History - = September=20 11:

1814 - In the Battle of Lake Champlain, = Commodore=20 Thomas Macdonough defeats a British Squadron.

1939 - USS Bear (AG 29) is commissioned by = the=20 U.S. Navy for Antarctic operations under command of = Rear=20 Adm. Richard Byrd.

1941 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt = announces=20 order to the Navy to "shoot on sight" vessels = threatening=20 U.S. shipping or ships under U.S. escort.

1942 - Pharmacist's Mate 1st Class Wheeler = B.=20 Lipes performs emergency appendectomy on Seaman 1st = Class=20 Darrell D. Rector, aboard USS Seadragon (SS 194), on = patrol=20 in South China Sea.

1943 - Italian Navy surrenders to = Allies.

1945 - Operation Magic Carpet, the return = of=20 troops to the Unites States, begins.

2001 - One hundred twenty-five = Pentagon=20 employees, including 42 Sailors and Department of = the Navy=20 civilians, are killed along with 59 airline = passengers when=20 terrorists fly a highjacked airliner into the=20 Pentagon.

Pearl Harbor:

Yahoo News: Survivor's web site offers Pearl = Harbor=20 accounts here.

USS Texas:

SUBSIM=20 brings us the a video of the sub's commissioning = ceremony on=20 Saturday, September 9th. You can view the entire = ceremony here.=20

First Lady Laura Bush leads USS Texas = commissioning. Read=20 here.

X1 Software:

X1 Software has announced a = patch is out=20 for "U-Boat: Battle in the Mediterranean" This patch = 1.01c=20 for U-Boat fixes the crash, replaces the ID manual = image for=20 the Kent and London cruisers, adjusts Italian = airbases,=20 corrects the Scharnhorst entry date and adds a new = single=20 mission.

Motorsports News

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

rFactor:

New splendid = utilities=20 have been released:

The Alternative Showroom mod by Hugh = which=20 replaces the showroom spinner with a pit-box

The rFactor Mod Launcher which lets you = launch rFactor=20 with the mod of your choice.

Real = Racing:

U-96 has posted some amazing images from the = Britcar 24=20 hour event that was held at Silverstone this = week-end. Enjoy=20 his photographs here.

After winning at Monza, Michael Schumacher = announced his=20 retirement at the end of the 2006 = season.

SimHQnet Motorsports:

This weekends races in the = SimHQ=20 Series 1 Events were as competitive as ever, and = provided a=20 surprise ending in the Sunday AM race with rF3 = driver=20 "Thomas" taking the overall win followed by 3 = rF3s.

On Saturday and Sunday = "Zetallun"=20 took his customary place on the podium with three = first=20 place wins in his '79 Ferrari. "Marc" won the = remaining '79=20 mod event Sunday.

Other winners in rF3 = included "Goon"=20 and "Saint Viper" for their wins on Saturday, and = "LazyC"=20 took the other win on Sunday.

The Lupos ran at Toban 24 = using=20 compressed lighting (10x) which led to qualifying = and race=20 endings in near total darkness. It was determined = racing on=20 Toban's back corners at night time was too painful.=20 Nonetheless, "Thomas" won Saturday's event and = "LazyC" took=20 Sunday's honors.

The up-to-date points = total is here.

The next races on = September 16-17=20 will complete the Series 1 events, and we will have = a=20 champion in each class. The race is to be held on = the=20 Zandvoort '67 track, the converted GPL course for = rFactor.=20 Read more here about next week's=20 event.

Technology = News

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

Cooling:

Barry's Rigs 'n Reviews tests = out the=20 Zalman CNPS9500 AM2 CPU Cooler here.

HardwareZone tests out ASUS' = Silent Square=20 Cooler here.

Graphics Cards: =

CPU3D tests=20 out the Inno3D GeForce 7600GS AGP Card here.

Bjorn3D=20 tests the XFX GeForce 7900 GS XT here.

Motherboards: =

[H}=20 Enthusiast checks out the EPoX EP-5P945Pro = motherboard=20 here.

Overclockers Online tests out = the Foxconn=20 P9657AA-8KS2H here.