The Story of Hero Yoshitsune is a new historical war action game for the PlayStation 2, which takes place in medieval Japan. In this game, you can play as one of the several famous Japanese historical generals / warriors and battle against the enemies in large battlefields. It is also possible to issue tactical commands to the allies in real time during the battles, such as assault, overpower, defend, and so on. The Story of Hero Yoshitsune is scheduled for release in Japan on January 2005. There aren't many details about this title yet, but we've managed to sneak off with some screens ...

Electronic Arts Inc., Atari Inc. and Vivendi Universal Games sued 321 in June, claiming that 321's software allows illegal copying of CDs and DVDs. The company has suffered under the strain of suits by the various entertainment industries, and in June the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported it had laid off more than 300 employees. 321 has ceased operations and an independent online vendor is running a close-out sale on 321 products not subject to an injunction.

The Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War Open Beta has started, fill out this form to help beta test Relic's next game. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is the first real-time strategy title in THQ's agreement with PC development studio Relic Entertainment Inc. Based on the world of Warhammer 40,000 - the dark, futuristic, fantasy universe traveled by millions worldwide from Games Workshop, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is scheduled for release in fall 2004.

World of Warcraft is an online role-playing experience set in the award-winning Warcraft universe. Players assume the roles of Warcraft heroes as they explore, adventure, and quest across a vast world. Being "Massively Multiplayer," World of Warcraft allows thousands of players to interact within the same world. Whether adventuring together or fighting against each other in epic battles, players will form friendships, forge alliances, and compete with enemies for power and glory.

Seriously is reporting that Alpha Black Zero developer Khaeon is working on an all-new project using CroTeam's Serious Engine. "Negative Space" is an isometric shooter using a highly modified and improved version of the Serious Engine. Apparently already far into development, a demo is expected within the 2-3 weeks and retail version should be ready early 2005.

EA has released an updated Battlecraft map editor for Digital Illusions' 3D action game Battlefield Vietnam. This update brings the editor to v1.1 and adds support for the vehicles introduced in the recent v1.1 patch, support for terrain and object lightmaps, some bug fixes, and various other optimizations (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for details and download links ...

As Techland has today informed, Strategy First is no longer the official publisher of Techland's games in North America. The information received from Techland indicates that negotiations with publishers on the U.S. and Canada territories are in progress although no final decision regarding a new partner has been made yet.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 will feature all-new 3-D graphics and the ability to virtually "ride the rides", but will also allow players to design amazing fireworks displays that can be choreographed to the music of their choice. In addition, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 will also include the ability to assign music to rides in the park, new realistic day and night cycles, a park lighting system and various weather effects.

SEGA Europe Ltd, today announced an agreement with Myelin Media, LLC to publish Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile, developed by Tilted Mill Entertainment, for the PC in all territories outside of the United States and Canada. Children of the Nile is the first title in the Immortal Cities series.

Conspiracy Entertainment today announced that it has obtained the exclusive worldwide licensing rights to Johnny Rocketfingers from Cracked Animations.

Midway today announced its official pre-order campaign for Shadow Hearts: Covenant, the sequel to the critically acclaimed role-playing game in 2001. Consumers can now pre-order Covenant from selected retailers and receive a copy of the original Shadow Hearts for free, while supplies last.

While we already had the first trailer up many weeks ago, it seems GameFactory has signed Mindlink's real-time tactical wargame Telladar Chronicles: Decline. The player will be thrown into the fantasy world of Miere in one of the most tragical moments in the history of the Telladarian Empire - the War of the Seven Nations. He will find himself in the middle of epic battles and tangled intrigues and will guide his heroes through love and hatred, friendship and betrayal, glorious victories and bitter defeats.

Ubisoft today announced that Chessmaster will launch on the Xbox in North America this October. For the first time on Xbox Live, players will also be able to test their skills and square off against other chess players. Read more for details and the first screens ...

'Vietcong: Purple Haze' is a cinematic narrative-based First Person Shooter (FPS) set during the Vietnam Conflict. Players of VIETCONG experience the war from the perspective of a soldier assigned to join a squad of U.S. Special Forces running reconnaissance missions deep into the jungles of Northern Vietnam. Read more for details and the first screens ...

Cenega has released a demo for Centauri Production's 3rd person point and click style RPG adventure Gooka: the Mystery of Janatris. In Gooka you take on the role of Judge Gooka, who, on arriving home after a long journey discovers his house has been razed to the ground, his wife in a critical condition and his son vanished. No specific details as to what this demo features are available at this point. Read more for download links ...

Crytek has released its CryENGINE SDK which will allow you to create mods for Far Cry. This package includes fully-documented instructions and will provide users with their first opportunity to create “Total Conversion” mods with CryENGINE™ technology. The SDK, in combination with the Sandbox Editor, will allow users to create a virtually limitless variety of scenarios and environments (thanks blues). Read more for details and download links ...

Vivendi and Irrational Games today announced a North American agreement which grants VU Games exclusive distribution rights to Freedom Force vs. the Third Reich.

Five years ago Carl Johnson escaped from the pressures of life in Los Santos, San Andreas...a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs and corruption. On his return to the neighborhood, a couple of corrupt cops frame him for homicide. CJ is forced on a journey that takes him across the entire state of San Andreas, to save his family and to take control of the streets.

Another day, another batch of game trailers were released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for :

• Face Of Mankind - Trailer
• FIFA 2005 - Trailer
• Tribes: Vengeance - Trailer
• Conflict Vietnam - Trailer #2

Jowood has released the first patch for Wing Simulations' multiplayer shooter SÖLDNER: Secret Wars. This v29354 adds a new Bone Mountain map, a new M4 Sopmod weapon M4 Sopmod, various game optimizations, disables fog in the Commander mode, bug fixes and plenty more. Read more for details and download links ...