GameSpot has a statement from EA explaining that the recently revealed tank concepts for Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances that look suspiciously like designs from Warhammer 40,000 were unintentionally exposed, and were never intended to be part of the upcoming MMORTS game:

"Games Workshop and EA are aware of the IP issues around the artwork in question, which have now been resolved," an EA representative said. "The artwork was internal EA concept art that was unintentionally released publicly. No Warhammer 40,000 tanks have ever made an appearance in Command and Conquer: Tiberium Alliances, and never will. Games Workshop and EA continue to have a strong relationship working together on Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning and the new free to play game Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes which just entered open beta."

Apple Insider writes Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly visited the Bellevue, Washington headquarters of Valve Corporation today. They proceed to get so caught up in speculation of the possible implications of this that they never get around to explaining the source of this report. Thanks GameInformer.

Spacetime Studios announces they've teamed with Google to launch Dark Legends, which they say is the first MMORPG that's played simultaneously on desktop and mobile devices. The free-to-play game is supported by microtransactions and is playable on Android devices and on the Chrome Web Store for Windows, OS X, and Linux, with iOS devices to follow after an exclusivity period. Here's an outline of gameplay: "Set in a gritty modern-day urban environment in which humans are aware of vampires� existence, players assume the role of a recently sired vampire who must battle to survive in a world which fears and hates their kind. In the struggle, players must face gangs of well-armed humans, hordes of the undead, packs of werewolves, covens of warlocks and legions of demons."

Operation RESURGENCE is underway in Mass Effect 3, BioWare's action/RPG sequel. The BioWare Blog now offers a trailer showing strategies to employ, saying: "Watch the latest Mass Effect 3 video and get inside strategies from the masters at BioWare. Then take the battle online this weekend with the latest addition to Mass Effect 3�s critically acclaimed multiplayer experience, the Resurgence Pack; out now at no additional cost!"

• Cities in Motion: ULM DLC on Steam.
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Beta Update on Steam.
• Disciples III Gold on Steam.
• Dota 2 Update on Steam.
• Dota 2 Update on Steam.
• Left 4 Dead 2 Update on Steam.
• Naval War- Arctic Circle Update on Steam.
• Sword of the Stars II: Lords of Winter Update on Steam.

• Black Mirror 3: The Final Fear on GameFly. Save 60%.
• Gothic Complete Pack on Steam. Save 75%.
• Mount and Blade on GameFly. Save 75%.
• Mount and Blade Collection on GameFly. Save 75%.
• Mount and Blade: Warband on GameFly. Save 75%.
• Mount and Blade: With Fire and Sword on GameFly. Save 75%.
• Stellar Impact on Steam. Save 20%.

• Carrier Command: Gaea Mission on IncGamers.
• Drox Operative on the Official Website. Weapons.

• PlayStation Network's free service could be stripped down, says Pachter.
• Rock Band 3 DLC Week of 4/17 - P!nk 4 Pack! Less Than Jake and Eden's Curse on RBN.

• Inside Foxconn: Exclusive look at how an iPad is made. Thanks Ant.
• Apple: we broke -Amazon's monopolistic grip- on e-book industry.

Thanks Ant.

• Netflix never used its $1 million algorithm due to engineering costs.
• How to Get More �Likes� on Facebook.
• Apple under fire for backing off IPv6 support.
• Great Firewall hiccup? China loses Internet connectivity for an hour.

Thanks j.c.f.

• Fake account verification email phishes for Google credentials.
• Security vulnerability in NVIDIA's proprietary Linux drivers fixed.
• 0-day in Backtrack Linux found, patched.
• Python updates for hash collision DoS problems.
• Trojanized Angry Birds offered for download.

• CryEngine 3.4 update released�

Link of the Day: Ctrl+Alt+Del - Needs. Thanks Ant via Slashdot.

The Valve Job Postings Page has a listing for an Engineer Electronics Engineer that seems a pretty concrete confirmation of hot rumors that Valve is planning to develop hardware of some sort (thanks Engadget). Here's the introduction with the pertinent information speaking of "whole new gaming experiences.":

For years, Valve has been all about writing software that provides great gameplay experiences. Now we�re developing hardware to enhance those experiences, and you can be a key part of making that happen. Join our highly motivated team that�s doing hardware design, prototyping, testing, and production across a wide range of platforms. We�re not talking about me-too mice and gamepads here � help us invent whole new gaming experiences.

Nordic Games announces plans for Dungeon Lords MMXII, a re-master of Dungeon Lords being developed in collaboration with D.W. Bradley's Heuristic Park, developers of the original edition of this RPG. "I'm delighted to be working with Nordic on the new re-master of Dungeon Lords MMXII, it's a rare opportunity for an author. Dungeon Lords is pure and true RPG, there are no mindless quests to kill 20 of these and find 12 of those, at least not without giving you a very good reason for it," says Bradley. "The story is full of plot twists and turns, players must stay alert and use their wits to solve the puzzles, and monsters don't like intruders. The new magic and action system makes the game sizzle with fun, and I'm excited to be pumping it up and bringing this epic RPG experience to a new generation of gamers." The game does not yet carry a release date, but we do have this feature list: Continue here to read the full story.

A new Kickstarter seeks crowd-funding for Nekro, a "randomly generated action game about summoning evil forces of darkness to do your bidding," for Windows, OS X, and Linux, saying this will be "rooted deep in PC gaming's history, but with all the flourishes you've come to expect from a modern experience." This is being developed by DarkForge, formed by vets of Blizzard, Sony, Microsoft and more, who say: "Combining full HD graphics, a unique premise, solid gameplay, and tight controls Nekro can be one hell of a game - but not without you..."

The Star Wars: The Old Republic Website announces the launch of a new version 1.2: Legacy update for the Star Wars MMORPG. In addition to changes and bug-fixes, this also includes several free gifts: Subscribers receive a Tauntaun Ram Pet (just don't ride it out to the first marker), players with a level 50 or higher account receive 30 days of free game time, as well as a welcome back program which will offer former subscribers the chance to play for free from April 13-19.

The Wargame - European Escalation Website has word that the game is on sale on Steam this weekend, and also announces the release of free DLC for this RTS game. Here's what's included in the New Battlefields pack:

• New skirmish AI: up to 7 human players may face a computer-controlled opponent (3 difficulty levels).
• 7 new multiplayer maps, including 2 asymmetric battlefields for Attack/Defense games.
• New "Flare" system: mark both the battlefield and the tactical map to enhance your team's coordination.

Gamasutra has NPD's analysis of U.S. game performance at retail in March. This solely covers physical sales, and word is "software revenues at retailers in the U.S. dropped 26 percent to $585.1 million in March," while hardware declines were even more dramatic: "Hardware proved to be the biggest detrimental factor in an overall $1.1 billion industry-wide decline, with $323.5 million in hardware revenue representing a 35 percent decline from March 2011." They also offer a list of the top 10 titles at retail for the month:

1. Mass Effect 3 (360, PS3, PC)
2. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (360, PS3)
3. MLB 12: The Show (PS3, PSV)
4. NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PC, PS2)
5. SSX (360, PS3)
6. Street Fighter X Tekken (PS3, 360)
7. Mario Party 9 (Wii)
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC)
9. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations (360, PS3)
10. Major League Baseball 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, NDS, PSP, PC, PS2)

Capcom outlines preorder bonuses for Resident Evil 6, which vary depend on where you purchase the survival/horror sequel. The update concludes with a release date for the console editions and the admission that the Window edition will follow at some point after: "Resident Evil 6 will be available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 2nd, 2012. There will also be a PC SKU of RE6, but we'll have more news on that exact launch date coming to you soon."

The Legend of Grimrock Website has a launch week update, saying the dungeon crawler can still be had for its 10% preorder discount, and also outlining plans for the game's first patch, to address the following issues:

• vsync is enabled by default
• borderless windows are no longer topmost
• pressing ESC closes character sheet
• fixed unlimited frost arrow exploit
• bug fix: topmost menu item don�t work reliably in 2560�1440 resolution
• bug fix: wall text translations are not dismissed when right-clicking
• bug fix: inanimate objects can be backstabbed
• bug fix: projectiles go through doors in some very rare cases
• improved display resolution auto-detection at first launch
• fixed a couple of typos
• removed check that disables high texture resolution setting when running low on video memory (some graphics drivers seem to report available video memory incorrectly)

Rockstar Games now offers a new trailer from Max Payne 3, showing how the upcoming third person shooter will handle bullet time, the slow motion shooting mechanic that's one of the trademarks of the series. Word is: "Check out the latest video in the Design and Technology Series that shows how enhancements to this signature mechanic add a new level of drama and detail to the third person shooter."

• Epic Games Brings Unreal University to East Coast Game Conference.

• Demon's Souls Going Offline End Of May. Thanks Batman via Destructoid.
• Fez on Xbox LIVE Arcade.
• Xbox 360 Kinect Support coming to Skyrim.
• Skullgirls: A Notice to Xbox 360 Users. Thanks Gamer's Hell.

• When super-sized smartphones become pocketable tablets.
• $7 million worth of phones will be lost today [infographic]. Thanks Ant.

Thanks Ant.

• How Apple created OS X.
• Windows 3.1: Twenty Years Later.
• 1366x768 Monitors Top 1024x768 For the First Time.
• PC Perspective Podcast #197.

Thanks j.c.f.

• Malware-infected flash cards shipped out with HP switches.
• CIA's Secret Fear- High-Tech Border Checks Will Blow Spies' Cover.
• Patch Tuesday closes critical Windows, Office and IE holes.
• No Permissions Android Application Can Harvest, Export Device Data.
• Adobe fixes critical vulnerabilities in Reader and Acrobat.
• Samba fixes critical remote code execution vulnerability.
• Apple prompting users for security questions to bolster Apple ID security.

• Expert witness says most popular Hotfile downloads are open source apps.

• Alan Wake on ComputerGames.ro.
• Tribes: Ascend on PC Gamer.

• ASUS P9X79 Deluxe Motherboard on Overclockers Club.
• Corsair Vengeance K60 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard on Benchmark Reviews.
• Crucial m4 256 GB / Micron RealSSD C400 256 GB SATA3 2.5" SSD on OverClocked inside. In German.
• GeIL Black Dragon DDR3-2133 8GB Quad Channel Memory Kit on Hardware Heaven.
• HP 2311gt 3D Monitor on t-break.
• Sony Xperia S Android Smartphone on Hardware Heaven.
• VisionTek Ultimate Performance PC3-17000 RAM on Neoseeker.
• ZOTAC ZBOX Nano XS AD11 Plus Graphics Card on Vortez.

• "Need For Speed" film series pitched. Thanks Ant�
• Capcom's Better Business Bureau Rating Drops Due To DLC Fiasco�

Happy Friday the 13th! I'm actually feeling pretty lucky this morning, as I'm feeling a lot better after a couple of days suffering with a cold. I had a fever yesterday, but this broke overnight, so I seem to be on the right side of this now. Sorry about skipping the update last night, hopefully I'm back on track now.

On Track Links:	Thanks Ant and Mike Martinez and Acleacius.
Play:	The Last Shelter.
Stories:	'Munsters' reboot 'Mockingbird Lane' like 'an American Harry Potter'.
Images:	Don't worry, it'll fit.
Media:	DON'T F WITH MY CREAM. Rian Johnson's Time Travel Flick Looper Looks Fantastic. Thanks nin. Small Body Mass FAIL. WTF?

The Tribes: Ascend website is now accepting signups for Hi-Rez Studios' revival of this beloved multiplayer shooter series. They offer client downloads and account registration for the free-to-play game, and here's word on what to expect:

Hi-Rez Studios, independent developer of AAA free-to-play online games, today announced the official release of Tribes: Ascend. The fast-paced, sci-fi multiplayer shooter has completed Beta testing and is now a live PC game available for digital download.

Tribes: Ascend is the world's fastest shooter. The game features jetpacks, skiing, vehicles, team-based gameplay, and cutting-edge graphics using Unreal 3 technology. With this official release, the game is available for download directly from the developer at www.tribesascend.com.

The Tribes: Ascend release build includes 9 playable classes, 5 game-modes, and 16 unique maps.

Recent additions include the CTF map Raindance, as well as a new game-mode called Capture and Hold. The Release build also includes a preview of the Custom Server functionality that will soon be available to players.

"For the past 15 months, we've had a very passionate dev team working hard toward this goal," said Todd Harris, Hi-Rez Studios COO. "Along the way some publishers told us modern gamers couldn't handle an FPS that was fast-paced and skill-based. We believe otherwise. Players seem to agree since we've had well over 500,000 join our Beta. We're excited to now grow the community further with the official release."

Hi-Rez Studios also released a summary of Beta statistics including:

��� ��� � 575,000+ beta participants
��� ��� � 150 million player kills
��� ��� � Over 3 million Blue Plate Specials
��� ��� � Over 3 million flag captures

IC Company announces the release of Men of War: Condemned Heroes, the latest installment in their ongoing series of World War II action/strategy games. Their store section has a list of digital distributors who are carrying the game. Here's a bit on the game:

Men of War: Condemned Heroes is the newest installment in the best-selling Men of War series which fuses tactical thinking with the action-packed direct control mode.

Men of War: Condemned Heroes tells the story of one of the infamous Soviet penal battalions during the WWII. These battalions are famous for being formed under Stalin�s �No step back!� order #227. They consisted of court-martialed officers that were given a chance to redeem their crimes, or incompetence, in blood by serving as the lowest enlisted rank in a battalion that was assigned the most dangerous tasks. These battalions� images are surrounded by many myths, and this game tells the truth about these regiments based on real evidence from their former members.

Take command of one of these notorious companies and lead it to victory against all odds through most of the war on the Eastern front. Fight from desperate battles in 1942 in the area of Volyn in the Ukraine, to the massive operation �Bagration� in the Brest area, Magnush bridgehead and Warsaw area in Poland and finally to attacks on the German Altdam and Stettin near the end of the war.

This image from Reddit builds the case that a tank design for Command & Conquer Tiberium Alliances appears quite similar to a Games Workshop-designed tank from the Warhammer 40K series. Games Workshop is known for fiercely defending its intellectual property rights, so there is rampant speculation that if this claim turns out to be valid, legal action is likely to follow. Thanks Strategy Informer.

The Medal of Honor: Warfighter Website now features a new trailer offering the first look at gameplay from the upcoming military shooter sequel as well as a new unit reveal. Here's word: "This week is a huge week for Medal of Honor Warfighter. With the release of our full gameplay trailer we have decided to forego the reveal of our next product partner and instead go back to London Bridge Trading and reveal the second of our four featured units in the game." Continue here to read the full story.

Markus" notch" Persson tweets the release of some prototype screenshots from 0x10^cͨ, Mojang's upcoming space game. He's also added a note to the section mentioning "hard science fiction" to back off that a bit: "Update: GAH, NO! I'm focusing on fun gameplay instead. I still want to get corrected on glaring scientific errors, though."

• TIGA contest winners announced.
• Develop Awards 2012: Lobbying is open.
• Corsair Announces Sponsorship of DreamHack Dota 2 Vengeance Cup.
• National Academy of Video Game Testers and Reviewers Winners.

• Far Cry 3 on Eurogamer.
• Gemini Wars on Strategy Informer.

• Is PlayStation's Facebook page teasing God of War IV?
• "Christmas" release for Halo 4.
• Mass Effect 3 patch causing widespread crashes.

• Rockstar Games Announces Max Payne Mobile Now Available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch Devices.

• Wal-Mart previews 'Disc to Digital' movie service. Thanks HARDOCP.

• Intel introduces 910 Series PCIe SSD.
• Ninjalane Podcast.

• The Darkness II on ComputerGames.ro.
• Legend Of Grimrock on Edge Magazine.
• The Sims 3: Showtime on Gaming Nexus.

• ASUS RT-N66U Dark Knight Router on TechRadar.
• AT&T Elevate 4G Mobile Hotspot on Legit Reviews.
• Corsair 300R Case on Overclockers Club.
• ROCCAT Isku Illuminated Gaming Keyboard on TweakTown.
• Samsung WB150F Camera on TechReviewSource.
• Wacom Inkling on Everything USB.

• Mark Cuban Provides Second Round of Funding to Social Gaming Company, Mention Mobile�

Well the explanation of why I would have a mysterious bout of allergies when I don't usually suffer them is pretty straightforward: I seem to actually have a cold. I didn't think it was that at first due to its odd sudden onset combined with the fact that I just suffered my first cold in several years just a few months ago. I was pretty miserable last night, but am feeling better this morning, so hopefully this is a quickie.

Quickie Links:	Thanks Ant and Mike Martinez and Acleacius.
Play:	Cabbage Maniac.
Links:	8 of the Most Awful Paid DLC in Videogame History.
Stories:	Probably Bad News: Sonic Died Years Ago, Anyway. As weather gets biblical, insurers go missing. Serbia says finds Cezanne missing masterpiece worth $109m.
Images:	Mad X-Men. Thanks TDW Geeks.
Media:	Joe Goes SOCCER. Frasier's Celebrity Callers Compilation. I Know That Voice - Trailer v1.
The Funnies:	Oregon Trail Hunting Accident. Virtual Shackles: It's a Hell of a Drug.