Sierra has released the first patch for Relic Ent.'s sci-fi 3D RTS title Homeworld 2. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.1 and addresses game crashes, gameplay & balance tweaks as well as various multiplayer imporvements etc (thanks Bluesnews). Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Wargaming.net releases the first additional map (planet) for its turn-based strategy game Massive Assault. This planet called 'Emerald' can be used both for World Wars against the A.I. and for the online games. It was crafted according to the preferences of our players - Massive Assault's players tend to prefer smaller planets providing more dynamic gameplay and quicker games in the Internet play mode. Read more for download links ...

Atari has released a new update patch for the latest installment in Sid Meiers strategy franchise Civilizations III: Conquests. This upgrade (suitable for the English, German, Italian, Spanish, and French versions of the game) brings your retail game to v1.12 and fixes a crash with MP Random Civ selection. Read more for details and download links ...

DivoGames has released a new patch for their helicopter shooter AirStrike 3D: Operation W.A.T. This update patch brings your retail game to v1.48 and adds some memory optimization. They have also released an updated demo with the latest code. (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links.

Rockstar reaches out like a touchy-feely department store Santa, with a special holiday gift for all our devotees. The second in our series of complimentary full game downloads is now available - a vintage title from Rockstar North, then known as DMA Design. Wild Metal Country (1999) is a 3D strategic vehicular combat game set in a distant land, in which you command armed roving vehicles to disrupt dangerous automated military units that have overtaken the Tehric planetary system. All you need to do is sign up here, and it will email you a unique download link (170mb). Njoy!

Lagsters is an arcade racing title, where the action takes place in closed environments - tubes. The player will be able to use a vast number of different weapons and upgrades to their cars to become the winner of one of the 32 races. The tracks are compiled into 4 different championships of the single player mode. The multiplayer mode will offer three different modes of play: 'Last Man Driving', 'Fox and Hounds' and 'Divided Glory' where up to 8 players may participate in one race.

Bloody Waters: Terror from the Deep is a new third person action adventure game where you take control of a genetically altered Great White shark. You manage to break free of your captors and in a chain of islands you build up in strength to take your revenge on the scientist who was in charge of doing the experimentation on you. Along the way you discover the 'Cult of the Shark', a people who sypmathise with your cause and who will help you in a non-violent fashion. Read more for screens & a new in game footage trailer...

Yesterday Vivendi Universal Games and Massive Entertainment unveiled the third faction in Ground Control II: Operation Exodus - the Virons - an alien warrior race. The Virons, a previously-unseen element of the Ground Control universe, is the second playable faction in the game, and fight ferociously with a never-before-seen method of attack. Today we have the first screens, read more to check them out ...

Hidenori Tanaka of Japan became the first Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup videogame world tournament champion, Electronic Arts announced today. The thrilling international videogame tournament finals took place yesterday at the Tower of London in the UK, where competitors between the ages of eight and fourteen years, from twelve countries around the world, including France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Japan, Italy, USA, UK, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Holland, and Brazil competed for the prestigious world champion title.

Sports Interactive has released a fix for their latest Championship Manager 03-04 update patch. This fix addresses the disappearing matches bug that came to light with the v4.1.3 patch from a few days ago. Note that this is a fix, so you still need to apply the patch itself first if you have not done so. Read more for download links ...

World Of Warcraft fans have surely noticed that the Q4 2003 promised beta for Blizzard's WoW has not yet appeared. In a shocking turn of events Blizzard has now announced it is being delayed. "Over the past few weeks, it has become apparent that the World of Warcraft beta will not be available within the fourth quarter of 2003. The development team is currently hard at work testing the alpha version of the game, and we look forward to bringing you an outstanding beta in early 2004."

In Tribes: Vengeance's single-player campaign, gamers become immersed in a roiling galactic thriller. Throughout the game, the player catches glimpses of other, interrelated stories that are unfolding behind-the-scenes. In addition, gamers are given the opportunity to experience the full scope of the single-player story through multiple viewpoints and characters. Check out these new screens ...

Gas Powered Games has released an updated version of their Dungeon Siege Tool Kit, bringing their DSTK to v1.5, it contains the latest versions of the Siege Editor and Siege Max, and is compatible with the original Dungeon Siege (v1.11) and the latest expansion pack Legends Of Aranna (v1.5). Read more for details & download links ...

As a holiday gift to EverQuest fans, Sony Online Entertainment today released a puzzle that will reveal the highly anticipated class tree for EverQuest II, on the company's EverQuest II game site. EverQuest II features 48 classes available through a tree branch progression, allowing you to choose your class as you advance in the game. The answer to the puzzle will be announced after the holiday break, but fans are sure to solve it much sooner.

Whiptail Interactive today announced that it has shipped the action-packed kung fu RPG Blade & Sword to retail stores nationwide. Blade & Sword has an MSRP of $29.99 and has been rated M for Mature.

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".