Once upon a time, I wrote about the second Neverwinter Nights game, back when there was virtually nothing to know about it besides that it wouldn't be coming out for a very long time (or what my impatient mind makes out to be a very long time.) That date isn't so far away now (EB Games' pre-release date is Oct. 17), and being a huge fan of the first game, I can't wait for it to come out. Like the previous game, NWN 2 takes place in Dungeons & Dragons's Forgotten Realms, and you will be able to create your own character and recruit others into your group. Unlike in the previous game, NWN 2 utilizes the 3.5 Edition D&D rules (that will mean something to us RPG geeks), and of course there will be new classes and subraces; and the toolset for building your own worlds has been made more user-friendly.

On a similar note, The Burning Crusade - World of Warcraft's new expansion pack - is scheduled to be released Nov. 28. Two new races will be added - the Draenei for the Alliance and the Blood Elves for the Horde. Although I'm still confused about what the Draenei are (big, blue, alien-like creatures), the Blood Elves are pretty much Alliance rejects on a mission to hunt the demons who lay their homeland to waste. The level cap is being raised from 60 to 70 (I was already having enough trouble trying to get to 30), and there will be flying mounts. Whether I'll ever be able to afford one though, is another question.

The Burning Crusade is $39.99 and Neverwinter Nights 2 is $49.99, both at EB Games,