Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 December 18

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Today's featured article
Star Wars: Episode I: Battle for Naboo is an arcade-style action game co-developed by Factor 5 and LucasArts. It is a spiritual sequel to the successful Star Wars: Rogue Squadron released two years earlier. Despite the similarities between the two games, the development team designed a new game engine for Battle for Naboo and included land- and water-based combat in addition to aerial combat. Set in the fictional Star Wars galaxy, the game takes place during the events depicted in the film Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Players control Gavyn Sykes, a lieutenant in Naboo's Royal Security Forces. As the game progresses, Sykes and the Royal Security Forces fight the Trade Federation in 15 missions that take place on Naboo or in the space immediately surrounding it. The game concludes after the player completes a mission that recreates the film's climactic assault on the Trade Federation's Droid Control Ship. Battle for Naboo was published by LucasArts and THQ and released for the Nintendo 64 in December 2000. A Windows port was released three months later in March 2001. The Nintendo 64 version received generally positive reviews; critics praised the game's tight and responsive controls, but expressed dislike for the game's Episode I setting. (more...) Recently featured: David Lewis – True at First Light – Andalusian horse Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that lithographer Adolph Friedländer's printshop produced over 9,000 posters (example pictured) for artists, magicians and circus and vaudeville performers? ... that in Wildwood by The Decemberists' Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis, "bespectacled, bike-riding, vinyl-browsing, Kurosawa-referencing" Portland kids save a baby kidnapped by a murder of crows? ... that the dance performed during the Kundum Festival of the Ahanta people of Ghana originated from dwarfs? ... that the communist newspaper Deutsche Zentral Zeitung ran volumes of show trial transcripts, but never the consequences, and ceased publication after most of the staff were also arrested? ... that Euripides' posthumously produced lost play Alcmaeon in Corinth was part of a trilogy that won first prize at the Dionysia in Athens? ... that decisional balance sheets are used to help people with addictive behaviours decide to make changes in their lives? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Christopher Hitchens Tropical Storm Washi hits the Philippines, killing more than 400 people. Russia is accepted for membership in the World Trade Organization. British–American author and journalist Christopher Hitchens (pictured) dies at the age of 62. Former French President Jacques Chirac receives a two-year suspended sentence after being convicted of embezzlement. The United States formally declares an end to the Iraq War. At least five people are killed and more than one hundred are wounded in a murder–suicide attack in Liège, Belgium. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
December 18: Republic Day in Niger (1958); National Day in Qatar (1878) 1892 – The first performance of the fairy tale-ballet The Nutcracker was held at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. 1912 – Amateur archaeologist Charles Dawson announced the discovery of fossilised remains of a previously unknown early human, known as Piltdown Man, which later turned out to be a hoax. 1972 – Vietnam War: The United States began Operation Linebacker II against North Vietnam, the largest heavy bomber strikes launched by the U.S. Air Force since the end of World War II. 1987 – Programmer Larry Wall released the first version of the programming language Perl via the comp.sources.misc newsgroup. 2006 – The first of a series of floods (pictured) struck Malaysia, which would eventually kill 118 people and leave over 400,000 others homeless. More anniversaries: December 17 – December 18 – December 19 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now December 18, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The Eastern American Toad (Bufo americanus americanus) is a common species of toad found throughout the eastern United States and Canada. It typically grows 5–9 cm (2.0–3.5 in), with varying skin color and pattern depending on its environment. Its skin secretes bufotoxin, which is mildly poisonous to humans.

Photo: Simon Pierre Barrette

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