GimpyMcJackass writes "Bioware will be opening a new store for digital content starting November 10. Currently slated for sale will be a few modules for Neverwinter Nights, at fairly reasonable prices ($5 - $8 USD). Nice addition to the business model. Gamespot also has an interview with the usual Bioware suspects about it."

The first of this year's AAA titles has launched, and the first reviews are in. Gamespot, IGN, and OPM all have looks at the game, and it sounds great. If you want to keep track of the pool-shooting race track driving everything-under-one-roof extravaganza, the GameRankings page is available as well. When you play the game this week make sure and tune in to WCTR News to catch Anchorman Richard Burns, TV's Wil Wheaton. More seriously, reviews aren't the only thing the developers are looking for. Commentary regarding Take Two Interactive's slipping stock is available on CNN Money's Game Over.

Anonymous Coward writes "SOE has launched a beta preview of their EQ2 Premium Player Services, for current Beta Players. There are a few articles available that describe the services at GamePro, IGN, and GamerGod." An interesting feature, the services include guild websites, character stats, tons of in-game information, and leader boards. Probably part of their final gear up for the November 8th ship date.

Belgarath writes "Zelda Classic is a free homebrew clone of the original Legend of Zelda for the NES. Additionally, it allows people to create their own zelda quests and games using the handy editor (called z-quest) included in the software. Until now only windows versions have been available but there are beta test groups for the Linux and Apple platforms."

BlueMoon writes "It has now been confirmed that Halo 2 will not include support for co-op mode on Xbox LIVE or LAN play. The co-op mode will remain for offline play only. Bungie made all attempts to implement it however with the complexity of the game it was simply impossible to have a worthwhile co-op experience." You may not be able to play together, but as consolation, check out the Halo 2 Ads pointed out by an anonymous reader.

Klytus writes "Following the release of the original Star Wars trilogy on DVD comes news of a new DVD to hit store shelves early next year. GamingReport.com has details on a Star Wars: Trivial Pursuit DVD game for release in 2005. Details on if this DVD is to have new or enhanced scenes is unclear. Also up on deck is a Star Wars Risk variant based on what sounds like the new film."

An Anonymous Reader writes "The new Canadian television series ReGenesis premiered on the Movie Network and Movie Central last Sunday night, but surprised viewers with a cryptic message at the end: 'Only you know the whole story. Be a part of it. www.regenesistv.com' Players who registered on the website quickly discovered an Extended Reality of websites, telephone numbers and clues which reached out to them from the fiction of the series." More below.

Kamalot writes "JoyStiq is reporting that the new Nintendo DS pre-orders are outselling the new slimmed-down version of the PS2 in Japan as well as the Xbox. Outselling the Xbox is easy though. They sold less than 200 in Japan last month."

British developer Argonaut appears to be undergoing serious restructuring, according to GamesIndustry.biz. The company, known recently for its work on the PS2 ports of the Harry Potter games, is now attempting to sell off studio and property assets. The BBCs take on the matter has more details about the studio's cash problems and management reactions.

Voodoo Extreme put up a quick piece on possible legal troubles HL2 may face in Australia. "In Australia, no games have been accepted if they fit into the R(18+) category, so this means HL2 needs to fit into at most the highest category of MA(15+), or it will be refused classification."

miller60 writes ""Touching is good" is the suggestive theme of the launch campaign for the Nintendo DS handheld, which appears designed to help Nintendo go beyond its kid-friendly image and appeal to older gamers. It's also advertising in Maxim with a campaign titled "How To Score." The company says the campaign represents a "different, bolder approach for Nintendo.""

mog007 writes "It looks like id Software is in the process of making an expansion for Doom 3."

Lord Prox writes "Doom: The motion picture is now in production from Universal Pictures for a release date of August 5, 2005. According to IMDB the cast includes The Rock, Rosamund Pike, Razaaq Adoti, Ben Daniels, and Karl Urban. The plot and setting is right from the game."

An anonymous reader writes "The Nintendo iQue looks set to go online. The china-market console is based on N64 architecture and the long awaited iQue USB upgrade cable should be available in 2 weeks. The cable will allow users to download new games , enable online play of N64 ported titles , update the console via the internet and it will allow communication with other iQue owners. This move could signal Nintendo's online gaming ambitions for the DS handheld and their next generation home entertainment console."

Ben Collins writes "I recently won a satellite tournament at Full Tilt Poker for entry into the World Poker Tour Final at Foxwoods Casino. I picked up poker as a hobby about 4 months ago, and consider myself a decent player, maybe due to programming experience (analytical thinking). Any other programmers/computer people find that they can play poker better than the average person because of their computer experience?"

An anonymous reader writes "I just read about this over at VH1.com. It's called the Halo 2 Council, and it's made up of celebrities who get to play Halo 2 in advance of the launch. Don't expect to join, though. This council is only open to societies' most respected artists and intellectuals: Linkin Park, Hoobastank, some guy that plays sports, a girl that appeared on Friends, and an actor from The 0.C."

Daemon writes "Daeya.org has put up the first part of a preview of the new Final Fantasy movie. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children will be released in DVD format. The story takes place two years after Earth was saved from Meteor at the end of Final Fantasy VII." Great report, but it's very spoiler heavy. Be warned.

ccnull writes "Found a page which offers a survey of Nintendo's policies on censorship, paying particular attention to how U.S. games differ from their Japanese counterparts. It's not just blood splatters, the author has interesting comparative screen grabs showing "clothed" statues and de-Nazified Hitlers."

Anonymous Coward writes "The Sinclair ZX Spectrum seems to be alive and well with 'Your Sinclair' magazine being relaunched at WH Smiths newsagents, and according to this, there is a Spectrum and clones computer show in Norwich, England, (the other Sinclair formats and clones include the QL, SAM Coupe, Timex/Sinclair, ZX81, Z88 etc). It looks like it could be fun. I must get my Spectrum out and play some games."

addaon writes "I just came across a successful attempt to construct a Rubik's cube entirely out of Lego. It's an interesting companion to the Lego Rubik's solver featured some time ago."