Linden Lab today introduced version 1.2 of Second Life, the online service that allows residents to join a rapidly growing world in which they can play, build, or live, creating anything imaginable. Second Life residents can now buy their own virtual land at auction, using either real or in-world currency. And Second Life isn’t just for the PC any more. Macintosh users with OS X.3 can help test Second Life’s new Beta version for Macintosh. Additionally, a new pricing option with no monthly fees allows you to join SecondLife for only $9.95. The Second Life v1.2 upgrade is downloadable today for a free 7-day trial at www.SecondLife.com.

Digital Reality has released a new patch for their 3D space RTS Hegemonia: Legions of Iron. This upgrade brings your retail game to v2.01 and addresses a problem in running the script editor on WinXP and now it is possible to create missions and carry over units and heroes between them like in the single player campaign. Digital Reality also released the mod tools for Hegemonia: Legions of Iron, allowing you to create your own missions for this 3D space RTS. You will need the v2.01 update patch to run your (or other people's) custom made missions. Read more for details and download links ...

Vivendi Universal Games and Massive Entertainment today unveiled the third faction in Ground Control II: Operation Exodus - the Virons - an alien warrior race.

DreamCatcher Games has today shipped Arx Fatalis for exclusive use on the Xbox, in North America. RPGs have been extremely successful on Xbox, and this trend is certain to continue as Arx Fatalis hits stores today. The game is an intelligent first-person RPG that throws gamers into a complex fantasy underworld of trolls, goblins and charming "Snake-women".

The player starts of as a normal citizen in the society governed by the UCF. The "Freedom Front" offers the player a chance to join the group. The player can either join, or decline and join the UCF group. The player is then assigned the post of an army general, commanding a small army. From here, the story can go in any direction based on the way the player plays (thanks 3DGamers). Raptor Entertainment released some new screens & trailers with in game footage ...

Acclaim Entertainment today announced that it has entered into an exclusive global publishing agreement with Reno-based developer BattleBorne Entertainment, Inc. for their soon-to-be announced video game for the next-generation gaming systems. Comprised of former members of the celebrated Fallout 2, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon teams, BattleBorne is currently utilizing the critically acclaimed Snowblind Studios technology and their own proprietary tools to develop the game.

Mythic Entertainment, developer and publisher of massively multiplayer online role-playing game "Dark Age of Camelot," and many other popular online games, announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft Corporation for trademark infringement and unfair competition.

Jowood have now released a new patch for Phenomic Game Development's 3D RTS/RPG game SpellForce: the Order of Dawn. This update patch brings your retail game to v1.05 and addresses a few Avatar issues, Quickload function key, and more .. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Developed by Reflections Interactive (an Atari studio), the masterminds behind Driver and Driver 2 - which have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide - DRIV3R is an action-packed driving adventure game that stays true to its roots, incorporating the cinematic gameplay and gritty street crime of its predecessors with ground-breaking graphics and three mammoth, wide-open city environments: Miami, Florida; Nice, France; and Istanbul, Turkey.

Strategy First and Object Software have released another patch for their RPG game Prince Of Qin. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.28 and addresses a handful of game crashes, optimizations, as well as all fixes from prior updates. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Matrix Games is pleased to announce that Across the Dnepr has been completed and is available for purchased. Across the Dnepr is a new campaign scenario for the Korsun Pocket game. It recreates the events of July 1941, when Operation Barbarossa was in full swing and German armies were poised to enter the heartland of Russia. Army Group Center is aimed at the vital objective of Smolensk, located on the Dnepr river and defending the shortest route to Moscow.

BiosFear will enter its Open Beta phase today, December 22, around noon. After a successful Closed Beta with many enthusiastic players, Tiscali Games decided to let everybody in before Christmas. Read more for details ...

4D Rulers has released a new version of their in-house AMP II Game engine (engine used in Secret Service Security Breach, the first game to ship with stencil shadows, bump mapping, specular lighting and per pixel lighting). The SDK and Tools are also available so the mod community and prospective developers can create content and code before license the engine (thanks HomeLan). Read more for download links ...

Sports Interactive has released a new patch for their management title Championship Manager 03-04. This upgrade brings your retail game to v4.1.3 and features the usual fixes and enhancements as well as some new backgrounds and the language packs for English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Portugese, Danish, Dutch, Norweigan, Swedish & Polish. Save games are compatible, however Sports Interactive does suggest you start a new game for the best results. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Cenega has released the mod tools for ALTAR Interactive's 3D turn based strategy game UFO: Aftermath giving you the chance to get creative and make your own missions. Thispackage also features a model and level viewer, some data conversion tools, documentation, and more (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

Sonalysts Inc. disclosed the initial details of the inaugural title to their Sonalysts' Combat Simulations brand, dubbed "Dangerous Waters" (S.C.S - "Dangerous Waters"). S.C.S. - "Dangerous Waters" will be the first title of its kind, allowing the player total control over multiple air, surface and subsurface platforms in a modern-day naval environment. Read more for details and screens, or check the freshly launched official website.

Wrestling fans with a thirst for nostalgia will once again have an opportunity to see "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes drop his trademark "bionic elbow," as Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. announced that it has exclusively signed Rhodes to appear in SHOWDOWN: Legends of Wrestling. The video game is currently under development with Acclaim Studios Austin and is scheduled for release in April 2004 across the next-generation gaming platforms. Read more for details & screens ...

Developer S2 Games and iGames Publishing announced today that the one-of-a-kind real-time strategy shooter Savage: The Battle for Newerth has been named one of the top ten finalists in the Open Category of the 2004 Independent Games Festival (IGF) competition. The IGF competition will take place at the 2004 Game Developer’s Conference in San Jose, CA from March 24-26, 2004.

Vivendi Universal Games announced that it has hired Chance Thomas as the Tolkien Music Director in charge of the creation and production of the musical themes for all of its videogames based on The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.