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Leading up to its scheduled announcement of a new game on May 19th at the Blizzard Worldwide Invitationals in South Korea, Blizzard Entertainment has commenced a webpage countdown. On the first day visitors to the company's site were greeted with cover art from the first two WarCraft RTS games and a timeline of all its popular games including StarCraft and Diablo.

It is likely that Blizzard will update the site periodically during the week, giving further reason for devoted fans to speculate on the new game. Blizzplanet has posted a detailed examination of some of the possibilities, including the potential for a Starcraft MMO.

If we put in the mix what Computer and Video Games said a week ago, spreading rumors of a Starcraft MMO, it could be most likely a Starcraft MMO-RTS. Think of MMO Persistent World features like those in Hellgate: London, with continued updates and downloadable expansions using Battle.net Broadband. A server-side RTS with hack-prevention measures. VOD and E-Sport Support...

Blizzard has so many possible games in their grasp it is nigh impossible to pinpoint or take a guess at what they will announce either at the WWI (May 19) or at Blizzcon (August 3-5).

The general thought is that Blizzard will announce a Starcraft game, since they are announcing it at South Korea -- a major Starcraft community. If we take Blizzard's recent pattern of novel tie-ins as an intro to a new game announcement, we have to consider that this very month of May Blizzard and Simon & Schuster Pocket Star Books are releasing STARCRAFT: THE DARK TEMPLAR, book one: FIRST BORN

Blizzplanet: Blizzard Teasers Have Begun

Blizzard Entertainment

StarCraft

An alert IMG reader has informed us of a post on Bethesda Softworks' official Fallout 3 forums. In response to discussion on the possibility of Mac and Linux versions of the upcoming continuation of the post apocalyptic RPG series, a Bethesda representative left the door open on the possibility that an outside company like Macsoft or Aspyr might port the game to the Mac platform.

It could happen if there is a large enough demand and if we are approached by a Mac games publisher such as Macsoft or Aspyr. Bethesda Softworks would not port it. So if you want to see Fallout 3 or any of our other games ported to Mac, contact either or both Mac publishers and request it.

Bethesda Forums: A Linux/Mac Port?

Fallout 3

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Spiderweb Software recently posted three new screenshots for the upcoming Nethergate: Resurrection. A complete rewrite of the original, Resurrection will offer a variety of updates and improvements including the addition of new quests, new items, and two large new dungeons.

Nethergate: Resurrection is a huge, exciting, fantasy role-playing game, which features:

- Two different sides, the powerful Romans and the savage and cunning Celts. Each side has a completely different full-length adventure.
- Enormous game world, with dozens of dungeons and many characters and quests.
- Fascinating storyline. Fight for freedom, or further the glory of the Empire.
- Lost secrets of magic! Dozens of spells and hundreds of hidden magical artifacts.
- Innovative story and unique setting. Unlike any fantasy game you've ever played.

Nethergate Resurrection Screenshots

Spiderweb Software

Nethergate: Resurrection

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Planewalker Games has posted its latest information update for the upcoming RPG, The Broken Hourglass. The update showcases the third chapter in the ongoing Moonshine short story set within the game's world. Planewalker's website also provides a link to a new GamingTrend audio interview focusing on the anticipated RPG.

From Moonshine, Chapter 3:

She scowls. "I didn't recognize anyone," she says finally. Much more composed. "She wasn't my ma, that's true, but I'm not glad she's dead. Your friend knew her, but she never talked about anyone like that to me."

"He's dead now," I say to see what she'll do.

"Well, not because of me," she says firmly and shrugs.
 
"He had important friends. Not me," I add, when she looks up. "Our employers. They'd be willing to be generous to someone who might know about his death."

Moonshine, Chapter 3

GamingTrend: Planewalker Games Interview

The Broken Hourglass

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In a community update from earlier this month the Myst Online team revealed information about the move to regularly scheduled episodic content updates for Myst Online: Uru Live. The next episodic chapter in the story will be revealed on May 19th and will include a never before seen Age for players to explore.

Based on your feedback and in-game actions, we are making some big improvements. Starting with the next update, we are making the move to regularly scheduled episodic content release. By having a set schedule of updates, players can be ready when major events will be happening in the cavern. That means that the release of all of an episode's content and story (e.g. new Ages, pages, clothing, character interaction, story revelations, artifacts and intrigue) will be packed within a single week each month, rather than spreading out the releases over the entire month...

This change will take place immediately and our new episode "Scars" will begin on Saturday, May 19th. The beginning is over. Everything in the cavern is about to change. This episode’s highlights include:

• The D'ni Restoration Council (DRC), often criticized for being "overly cautious," is stunned when their caution and control is unable to save the life of someone very close.
• A never-before-seen new Age is released featuring a vast landscape with hours of unique game play to solve by yourself or with friends.
• The first hints of an impending conflict emerge and the repercussions will change the course of the restoration forever.

Myst Online: The Future Of Uru Live

GameTap

Myst Online: Uru Live

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Activision and Splash Damage recently opened an official community site for the upcoming Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. The site will provide links to anything related to the game before and after release including previews, reviews, interviews, maps, and mods.

We want this ETQW community site to be a portal to everything online relating to the game. It’s definitely not here to compete with the fan-sites that are run in many countries, but instead to provide a central location for helping visitors find these sites and the news they have to report. As a portal it will provide links to all the worthwhile news we hear about in your ETQW community, be it new competitions, maps, mods, interviews, previews, reviews, or tournaments. Let us know what your site has arranged or found out about, and we’ll let the world know about it here on the community site and send them to you to get the full story. You can start right now by letting us know about your ETQW fan-site or tournament and we’ll be sure to add you to our links page.

The ETQW community is full of talented and passionate people and we’re very excited to be able to provide you with a way to get that talent and passion noticed. We hope you’ll decide to stop by regularly to find out what’s going on in the world of ETQW.

ET:QW Community Site

Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (don't use)

Aspyr Media

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