OK - lots of new things tonight.
First and foremost, Luis (^S^) has finished work on the *nix engine version 7.0.0.2 :D Yes, this means arena mode! YAY! Also, a whole range of other Kai features have been enabled. So, for XBox users, this engine is pretty much complete. Even more good news - Linux users who are running on a PPC processor now have an engine for their platform :) To implement a fully working XBox Kai engine in a few weeks is excellent work - all *nix users should head to downloads and grab these new releases right now.

Also, I have just finished doing battle with Bill's Compact .NET Framework. I've always stayed away from .NET - doesn't "feel" mature enough yet for me - but I thought I'd have a crack at a dead simple KaiUI for pocketPC devices. It's not great yet - but it will get you playing, if your TV is miles away from your computer. Head to downloads to get hold of it (choose your pocketPC processor, download the .cab, throw it onto the pocketPC, then run it from there and give it the IP address of you *engine* PC) NOTE: pocketPC's are bad with UDP - and if you're running over ActiveSync Pass Through, UDP doesnt work at all. So, the pocketPC UI is the first to make use of this: The Kai UI TCP Bridge. A number of people have requested TCP access to the engine for UI's. Well, this is a simple app which you run on the engine PC. It allows TCP UI's to connect - like the pocketPC one. Eventually, this will be built into the engine - but for now, just use this small tool.

Next up, the kaiConnector.ocx object for Windows UI developers. This is standard ActiveX control, which exports one method and one event - to exchange messages with a kaiEngine. It abstracts all the Winsock stuff - so you dont even need to care about socket or anything like that. Should make things easier for people who want to focus on the UI aspect of things rather than networking code. Head to downloads to grab it - and remember to regsvr32 it, after dropping it in system32. As for the UI API, I'm working on a much nicer HTML version of it - with better descriptions and examples. Luis is also working on a special .lib for kai - in vanilla C. It should make things easier for just about anyone who wants to make a KaiUI.

Finally, I'm very happy to see XboxMediaCenter working again with the new Kai :D I hear that Avalaunch are doing some work on Kai again - so I think we might see more from them soon too :) Also, huge congrats to Team SS for winning the Halo'een tournament - nice work - here is some info from the tournament organiser:

"Today we had our first and last Halo tournament under Xlink Kai Evolution 7. Everyone who stayed had a lot of fun saying goodbye to a game that we have all loved for so long. Out of the 20 teams in a double elimination style bracket tournament we had only one undefeated team to make it through the event. Team SS with SS-Mpire and SS-King from the SharpShooter’s Clan fought hard and made it the distance to take the grand prize. A new Car! Nah, just kidding about the car. But we did a little interview with SS-King (Mpire had to jet after a 4 hour tourney) and this is what he had to say about the event.
SS-Funk: So how was the tourney?
SS-King: It was definitely a lot of fun, and there were a lot of good people who showed up.
SS-Funk: Nice... So are you ready to say goodbye to Halo? And welcome Halo 2 in a few weeks?
SS-King: I'm ready to welcome Halo 2, but never will I say good bye to the original, I will play by myself if I have to.
SS-Funk: hehe.. Okay fair enough, would you play in another tournament like this in the future?
SS-King: Yes most definitely.
SS-Funk: Anything else you want to say as the winner and only undefeated team to finish the event?
SS-King: Umm, well not much but to say good game to everyone who played, and good job by my teammate Mpire who I could not have won without, but just basically good games and thanks for having the tourney.
SS-Funk: okay man.. Nice job indeed. Congrats to you and SS-Mpire!
SS-King: Thanks!"