For those who don't know what Blender is, it is an incredible free 3d modeler/animator/game maker.

According to the official website, the new features to 2.48 include:

Realtime GLSL Materials
Bullet update + softbodys
Game logic updates
Grease Pencil
Sun, Sky, Atmosphere
Fluid Control
Coloured shadows
Shrinkwrap Modifier
New Python Editor
and more, plus a lot of bug fixes become

The above image is the main character in Blender's new open game project (codenamed Apricot). I've played the technical demo and and it looks fairly decent.

The other thing that I love about blender is that learning code and scripting is not required for the game engine! However, it does run on Python, which many consider to be a fairly easy language to learn.

Using Blender for over a year now, I must admit that it is the one other thing besides games and alcohol that I have become addicted to. I am also a sucker for free stuff, and this has to be some of the best freeware out there. Anyone that knows their way around in the 3d modeling world, or wants to learn it should check it out!