A new feature, Platoons, has been added to PlanetSide, the World's first massively multiplayer online first person action game. This highly-anticipated feature allows players to coordinate huge battles with squads of up to 30 people. Platoons add a new dimension of strategy to PlanetSide, allowing for more intense large scale attacks and stronger communication across squads. Read more for details, screens & trailer to see what this is all about ...

Irrational Games, the award-winning developer of "System Shock 2" is pleased to announce "Freedom Force vs. the Third Reich" for the PC. Scheduled to ship in spring 2004, the comic book-inspired tactical role-playing game features a brand new league of heroes and villains, overhauled combat system, and spectacular graphic enhancements. Read more for details andsome character art ...

In Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer, players experience an all-out adrenaline rush as they drop down huge wave faces, pull into barreling tube rides and pull off hundreds of massive trick combinations and signature pro moves. Players choose their own path as they interact with famous surfers, sponsors, magazines and photographers. Exotic real world locations and events including full beach environments with real landmarks and hazards lend authenticity to the game. No demo details available at this point ... Read more for download links ...

As was promised by Gearbox (they said in our Halo interview a demo was coming shortly after game release), tomorrow there will be a demo for Gearbox/Bungie/Microsoft's recently released Halo: Combat Evolved. The demo will feature "The Silent Cartographer" from the single-player campaign, "Blood Gulch" with limited vehicles for your multiplayer satisfaction, as well as support for up to 16 players in Slayer and CTF multiplayer modes. Of course we will have it available on our fileservers, so stay tuned!

EverQuest II returns to the culturally diverse world of Norrath in the future of the original EverQuest, with the sheer size and graphical detail greater than ever seen before. Larger in scope than its predecessor, EverQuest II will allow players from every corner of the earth to explore familiar areas and new, undiscovered territories of Norrath. Read on to check out the latest screenshots!

The theme park attraction that hosts millions of foolish mortals each year becomes both a major motion picture and video game. Solve unique puzzles, uncover hidden clues and put unwelcome evil spirits to rest, as you navigate through Disney's world famous Haunted Mansion. With amazing game environments inspired by the film and the ride, you'll be dying to give this game a try!

Dead Man's Hand will be an amazing recreation of the Old West, from the high drama of showdowns to the window-smashing action of shoot outs to the bitter plights of vengeance. Using the power of the Xbox and Unreal Technology together, Human Head is creating one of the best looking, best playing and truly unique first person shooters ever released. Xbox owners are in for a real treat, both in single player and against online foes through Xbox Live!" Read more for some new screens ...

Monte Cristo has released a new patch for their firefighting 3D RTS game Fire Department (Emergency Fire Response and Fire Chief in other territories). This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.1 and adresses random crashes (especially in the Forest level) and makes the game work with screen frequencies lower than 60Hz (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time takes place within an exotic, mysterious world representing Persian architecture, animals and attire. After his father invades the palace of the Maharajah, the Prince, tricked by a treacherous vizier, uses a magic dagger to release the dangerous Sands of Time from an ornate hourglass. With the aid of a beautiful, mysterious, and potentially untrustworthy ally, players embody the Prince to recapture the Sands of Time and restore peace to the land. Check out the new screens & character art...

Encore/Lost Toys have released a demo allowing you to check out their Xbox port, coming to PC soon. The demo features 1 missionn amed "Interception" in which you have to protect the transport convoy then help the firebase defenses deal with the enemy threat. Read more for download links ...

A real-time strategy game of epic scope and breadth, Empires: Dawn of the Modern World lets players command legendary civilizations as they battle to forge mighty empires during the days of longbows and charging knights to the awesome land, air and sea battles of WWII involving Tiger Tanks, Storm Troopers, Spitfires, and stealthy submarines. Expected in stores later this month, in the meantime read more for some new screens ...

Gary Wood @ Nicely Crafted Entertainment let us know that they updated their Time of Defiance site with 'a day in the life of a NiCE artist', included is also hand drawn concept sketches and screens. Here is a clip:

The art department at Nicely Crafted Entertainment is responsible for all visual and creative aspects of the company. This not only includes the creation of game objects, but also corporate identity, marketing materials such as web and print adverts, and the development of the website style. In any one week, tasks can vary greatly from creating a promotional advert, to modelling and texturing a new ship or building for Time of Defiance, to designing new company business cards and letterheads.

Budding Al Capone's across the world are set to play out their gangster dreams thanks to leading game publisher Whiptail Interactive's latest offering Gangland, developed by Danish gaming experts MediaMobsters, which is due to be released across the UK, Europe and North America in November 2003. In a new hybrid format that combines the best elements of real-time strategy, role-play and simulation gaming genres with a totally new style of in-game combat, Gangland delivers a menacingly fresh PC gaming experience. Read more for a batch of new screens ...

Syberia II, the sequel of the 2002 Adventure Game of The year, is currently in development at the developer/publisher Montreal-based studios. Originally scheduled for release this coming fall it is now being pushed back to Q1 2004. Check out these new screens ...

Achim Heidelauf, currently involved in CDV's 'Codename Panzers' and 'The Kore Gang' let us know that he updated his production site with following news:

Take a closer look behind the scenes of “Codename: PANZERS” and “The Kore Gang”. Both sections have been updated with new screenshots, behind the scenes photo galleries, work in progress artwork, wallpapers and more!

See the first three screenshots of a new PANZERS `9–part-series´ where the US forces try to take a french village from the Germans! The next three screenshots will be available in a few days.

Techland has released a new patch for their techno FPS Chrome (only available in Europe at the moment). This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.1.1.0 and adresses some gfx card issues and a bunch of single/multiplayer fixes & tweaks (save-games will no longer work). Read more for details & download links ...

P.M. STUDIOS announces that the Action-Rpg videogame ETROM – 'The Astral Essence' will be published in Russia (2004) and all the Russian speaking Territories by "Logrus International" and "1C Company".

"(Fabio Belsanti Managing Director & Lead Designer P.M. Studios) We decided to publish ETROM in Russia with Logrus and 1C because these companies are the best in this part of the world. ETROM is a great project for the worldwide market, dedicated to all the players of the world! Etrom will be surely a great success in Russia."

Alter Int/Cenega have released the a new patch for their recently released 3D squad-based action game UFO: Aftermath. This update brings your retail game to v1.2 and address a few system issues, several in-game bugs, and makes various game tweaks/improvements. Read more for details and download links ...

Microsoft Game Studios today announced an exclusive pre-order deal with EB Games and GameStop to reward gamers who pre-order Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna with a cloth map of the land of Aranna. Durable and exquisitely detailed, the cloth map is an adventurer’s best friend when stopping the caravan to ask for directions just isn’t an option. Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna is the expansion pack to Dungeon Siege, the award-winning action fantasy role-playing game of 2002. The Legends of Aranna expansion pack, which also includes the full version of the original Dungeon Siege, will be available in North America on November 12 for an estimated retail price of $29.95 (U.S.).

Pop Idol – The Official Video Game is coming to PlayStation 2 and PC this November. It's a music-based rhythm-action game, complete with Dance Mat mode, where you become one of the hopefuls and compete as a singer through the auditions, the heats and on to the finals. Players have to face comments on their performance from a computer-generated Simon Cowell – making him the ultimate end-of-level game boss. Read more for some screens....

RPGCodex will be hosting an IRC event on Tuesday, October 21st, featuring Shrapnel Games' CRPG developers Aaron Hall (Malfador Machinations) and Adam West (Crosscut Games). The chat will begin at 8 PM EST (5 PM PST) and can be found at irc.gamesnet.net:6667 #RPGCodex. Aaron will be participating from the start, with Adam joining in around 9 PM EST. To participate in the chat you'll need an IRC chat client, such as mIRC.

Atari and Epic Games have announced pricing and packaging details as well as a rebate program for Unreal Tournament 2004, the highly anticipated follow-up to last year's smash hit Unreal Tournament 2003, which has become the standard for competitive multiplayer gaming since it shipped in November 2002. Read more for details ...

For true soccer fans who demand the finest gameplay and in-depth game modes, FIFA Football 2004 is the most complete and authentic soccer experience. A new Career mode gives players the chance to take a team from the lower divisions, battle through ranks, sign new players, and turn them into champions. The action is deeper than ever with advanced levels of player detail and responsiveness. With immersive atmospheres, benchmark presentation, total realism with the world's premier clubs, and industry-leading gameplay, FIFA returns as the true authority in soccer gaming. Check the new screens ...

Plastic Reality/Cenega have released a demo for their squad-based Korean War game Korea: Forgotten Conflict. The demo features a tutorial level and one mission in Seoul, where you have to rescue medic and few allied soldiers and then leave by train (thanks Tiscali). Read more for download links ...

You are Glitch, the gun-slinging, half-ton menacing bot of Droid City who blasts his way to victory. Found as scrap metal, but transformed into destructive machinery, Glitch is determined to free his people from the evil clutches of General Corrosive and his maniacal army of Mil bots. Unleash a world of pain as you annihilate the General's sinister plan to dominate the world, and salvage the robot race... Metal Arms: Glitch In The System is coming for Xbox, GameCube and PlayStation 2 next month, now Xbox owners can get a taste of the demo disc available on developer Swinging Apes official site!

Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) and inXile entertainment today announced a North America distribution deal, commencing with inXile's first game in 2004 (known as "The Bard's Tale" outside of the U.S., final name in the U.S. pending trademark proceedings). Under terms of the contract, VU Games will distribute inXile's new original computer role-playing game (RPG) on multiple console platforms and the PC.

Are there no women in BREED!? Oh yes, there are women! The U.S.C. is well aware that brute force can only get you so far, therefore they have an elite division of GRUNT units that are composed entirely of women. The "SNIPER CORPS" of the U.S.C.'s GRUNTS are feared and respected by those with whom they serve. Mostly mavericks and highly trained in the use of the "SUREKILL" sniper rifle, these deadly ladies can pick off a target from any distance. Armed with a secondary light machine gun and equipped with the lightest armor the U.S.C. forces have to offer. They are the most agile of all the U.S.C. units, as well as the deadliest infiltrators and saboteurs.

To help kill a bit of time until the release of BREED, CDV have included an interview on the official site with GIOVANNI VINDIGNI, who performed the music for BREED.

TDK Mediactive and Disney Interactive announced today that Disney's The Haunted Mansion game has materialized at retail stores throughout North America. Inspired by the theme park attraction that hosts millions of foolish mortals each year, The Haunted Mansion video game is available for PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, and the Nintendo GameCube video game system. Walt Disney Pictures' major motion picture starring Eddie Murphy will debut in November 2003.

The Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas computer game has shipped to retail stores nationwide, Atari, Inc. announced today. Based on the animated film from DreamWorks Pictures, the PC game combines the epic adventure of the movie with the latest PC technology - the Intel Pentium 4 Processor with HT Technology - to deliver a state-of-the-art game experience.

ALTAR Interactive/Cenega have released a demo for their recently released turn-based 3D action game UFO: Aftermath. This demo features a tutorial missions and 4 missions in the African / Middle-Eastern part of the globe. Read more for download links ...

Electronic Arts today announced the acquisition of Studio 33, a globally recognized developer of games in the racing genre. The team of roughly 30 Liverpool-based employees will join the existing team at EA Northwest in nearby Warrington. Both teams - a total of 75 employees - are scheduled to move to a new facility in Warrington shortly.

A new photo-quality demonstration, based on emerging real-time tree and grass technologies, was released today to establish the vastly more realistic possibilities for future gaming worlds. "The Valley" features stunningly realistic trees and grass, blowing in the wind and including advanced level of detail and presentation algorithms. Read more for details, screens & an impressive trailer ...

Buka has released the English demo for Steamland, their funny and beautiful RTS, set in the fantastic world of lively trains, which fight with each other making their way to victory. This game is easy to play both for children and grown-ups without sacrificing keen gameplay. 3D landscapes, changing weather conditions and shadow effects give us the overview about the fabulous world. Striking variety of fantastic units and weaponry completes this surprising civilization. Read more for download links ...

'Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy' is an enchanting adventure filled with mystery, action and a deep, compelling storyline. The game is set in an entirely original universe that is styled upon ancient Egypt where players will embark on an epic quest exploring new worlds, uncovering dark secrets, interacting with hundreds of fantastic creatures and discovering new abilities. Traveling the world via magic portals to foil the evil plans of Set, players will guide Sphinx on a journey requiring all his wits, agility and special powers in an attempt to find the stolen mystical crowns of Egypt. Read more to check out the new screens ...

The over 6 million-selling Granddaddy of Basketball is back! Redeveloped from scratch for Xbox, NBA JAM brings the "in your face" highlights of NBA play to life with over the top, arcade-style 3-on-3 Basketball featuring spectacular high-flying dunks, ankle-breaking crossovers and "get that outta here" blocks! Read more for the full preview ...

Over at the European website 'GFO 2004' there are several "Demo Extenders", patches and add-ons available for the official FIFA 2004 demo. With these modifications you can change the resolution which is originally limited to 800x600 pixels. Now you can play up to 1280x1024 pixels and moreover you can choose new camera positions, change the difficulty level, the game speed, you can enable injuries and bookings and you can choose the minutes per half. With other "demo"-mods you can play with new teams, new jerseys and new controls.