I don’t know about you guys, but I think this summer was pretty dry (hehe) for new games.  Yeah there were a few releases, but nothing to go nuts over ;P  However, titles like Shadowrun, Crysis, Quake Wars, and Unreal Tournament III are eagerly anticipated for putting the smack-down on our systems.

I thought I’d bust out a few links to the game sites, so you can drool over your near future in time wasting!

Bioshock has been the hotness ever since it released last month and it’s packing the digits and numbers to prove it.  Combine 50’s horror and sci-fi with genetic engineering; pack it all into an expansive city on the sea floor and you have the latest in advanced fps gaming.  This is not a game you want to pass up.

Unreal Tournament III - Hang onto your flak cannons. The Unreal Tournament series is gearing up for its next appearance, and it’s bringing the powerful new Unreal engine along for the ride.  New weapons, vehicles and maps recharge this offering along with all new multiplayer technology.  I hear it’s going to be optimized for DX10 for added sweetness!

Jericho is based on Clive Barker’s background in horror and thrill-packed novel writing.  You take command of a military tactical unit called the “Jericho Squad” that specializes in confronting paranormal threats.  Block by block, you lead your team through a city under supernatural siege and drive off other-dimensional forces that stand in your way.

Stranglehold brings a fresh look to the John Woo style of gunplay, just like in the movie “Hard Boiled”.  You take the role of Inspector Tequila who is forced to cross the line from sworn duty to bloody revenge.  Engage your enemies with intense cinematic gun battles and cause massive environmental damage in real-time or revolutionary slow-motion Tequila Time.

There’s more to come, but this should whet your appetite for the time being.   Look out next time for some info on games like Hellgate: London, Crysis, Frontlines: Fuel Of War and Heroes Of Might & Magic V.

Drop a comment if you’d like to see a particular game mentioned.  Game on! 

For the first time ever, GOOG allowed the press (just two folks) to enter their data center complex in The Dalles, Oregon (The Dalles is at the end of the Oregon Trail), shown above.

With just a hint of transparency, these two reporters put a human face on one of the most secretive aspects of the internet behemoth, normally this location is treated with a level of secrecy as if it’s the CIA. And with good reason, with a global computer system estimated at around 450,000 computers, how they serve and analyze internet data is their ‘golden egg’.

The reason why they’re in this location one hour from Portland, OR is due to the cheap electricity from the Columbia River’s hydrodynamic power as well as easy access to data networking.

Link to The Dalles Chronicle article describing their visit.

Want more tangible information on the 2 football field sized computing center? Try this NY Times article from 2006.

I won’t spoil the story for you but it involves a boy in a cast iron coffin that resembles a well preserved Egyptian Mummy and the detective work required to identify him.

It’s a story that brought together a team two-dozen-strong consisting of pathologists, forensics and the Smithsonian.

Newsday has the AP wire story by Science Writer Randolph Schmid.

Seriously.  The producers for Microsoft promotion videos *HAD* to have been taking something when coming up with some of their pitches for their former software.  Think I’m kidding?  Check out this previous post on a promotional video for Windows 386.

And just when you thought you’ve seen it all, here I discover yet another promotional video - this time for the MS-DOS 5 Upgrade.  I don’t know whether to laugh or cry…

RottenNeighbor.com recently launched and is taking the online real estate ‘bidness to another level. This is essentially a Google Maps feature that allows you to pinpoint the locations of down right crazy, rude, lewd and just plain rotten neighbors.

Heck, wouldn’t you want to know in advance that your future neighbor lets their dog bark at all hours of the night before you bought that house? Do yourself a favor and check here before moving.

They have a blog up with helpful information on how to deal with different types of neighbors, to learn more about the service read their initial blog post.

The site is in Beta, but is fun for a little snooping though! Enjoy.