Madden NFL 2004 on all 6 platforms - PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, PS One, PC and GameBoy Advance - has gone gold. The game ships to retailers nationwide on Monday, August 11, 2003 and will be available in stores everywhere by Thursday, August 14. In its 14th year and with over 30 million copies sold, Madden NFL Football once again proves its status as the undisputed leader in authentic NFL football simulation. On Madden NFL 2004 check out the all new Playmaker Control, a revolutionary feature that lets gamers adjust on the fly just as NFL players do, a deeper Franchise Mode with Owner Mode options and improved online play for the PlayStation 2 that includes EA SPORTS Talk on a USB headset.

Data Becker today announced a new 3D RTS game called Castle Strike. In development over at Related Design (America and No Man's Land), the game promises to be an intricately detailed 3D re-creation of castle construction and sieges. Set in an authentic rendition of continental Europe during the Hundred Years War, the game will involve players in a fictional tale filled with battles, ambushes, and betrayal and have them assaulting enemy strongholds, seeking out bandit camps, and building up their own fortifications (thanks GameSpot).

Drop into the ultimate skating challenge with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. Players take on the role of legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk and 13 other athletes as they skate through enormous free roaming levels, choose from 190 progressively harder goals and build their skills to perform 14 of the greatest skateboarding stunts of all time. Aspyr today announced that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 have gone gold for PC, as well as Mac. The game is expected in stores on August 14.

Armed with her camera, aikido staff, and resolute investigative skills, Jade sets out to expose the truth and to liberate the minds of her deceived people. Pushed to the very edge of her physical and spiritual will, she soon discovers that even these limits are not what they seem … Her quest for the truth knows no bounds. Check these spiffy new screens ...

A new Far Cry movie is now available showing off more in game action from Crytek's upcoming shooter. This trailer came off the German PC Action magazine (thus having German commentary), nonetheless worth checking out (thanks FarCry Hq). Read more for download links ...

Konami has released the first patch for Hothouse Creations' recent casino game, Casino Inc. This patch allows you to continue playing Casino, Inc in sandbox mode after the completion of all city objectives. It also adresses several bugs, crashes and occasional save issues. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Already revealed weeks ago, EA today "officially" announced plans to release this October The Sims Makin' Magic, a new expansion pack to the top-selling PC game of all time, The Sims. In this supernatural edition, Sims are granted magical powers with the ability to cast spells that are playful or deviant. Players can venture to an all-new magical, carnival-themed destination, experience exciting new gameplay, gain over 150 new items, and encounter a whole new cast of quirky characters in this powerful pack of magical high jinx.

No Man's Land has an exceptionally balanced multiplayer mode, so lets take a peek at two different multiplayer modes: "defend/destroy railroad" and the "railroad building race". The railroad building race focuses on the challenge of building a railroad across the whole map. The player who is able to reach the other end of the map first wins the race. The defend/destroy railroad mode includes more fighting; you will have to actively defend or attack your opponent during the building phase of the railroad. Both modes are really a lot of fun, and the train itself adds another bunch of special features. For instance, the player is able to request reinforcements or transport troops in the train over long distances.

Already announced a week ago by EA Australia, it is now also shipping in North America. Universal war is imminent and it's time to join the battle in Aliens versus Predator Extinction for the PlayStation2 and the Xbox. Based on the blockbuster Aliens and Predator sci-fi film franchises from Twentieth Century Fox, Aliens versus Predator Extinction gives players the ability to play as one of three species: Aliens, Predators or Colonial Marines. The title, co-published by Electronic Arts and Fox Interactive, has begun shipping on the PlayStation 2 and will ship August 5 on the Xbox.

Stormregion, who have previously developed highly acclaimed S.W.I.N.E., made massive tanks a crucial element in this tactical combat action title set in World War II. Russian, German and Allied troops fight in three campaigns and more than 30 breath taking single player missions. Over a hundred authentic 3D vehicles are at disposal as well as a wide range of ground troops. Check these new screens, taken from the upcoming Panzers trailer...

TDK Mediactive, Inc. announced today that Aquaman:Battle for Atlantis has shipped for the Nintendo GameCube and the Xbox to retail outlets throughout North America. The game marks the first solo appearance by one of the founding members of the Justice League of America, and follows Aquaman’s long anticipated return as a monthly comic series.

Shadowlands, the highly anticipated expansion pack for Funcom’s award-winning massively multiplayer online game Anarchy Online, has gone gold. Shadowlands nearly doubles the current content in Anarchy Online, setting a new benchmark for MMO expansion packs. Read more for details ...

The character made famous by Kurt Russell in "Escape From New York" is set to become a franchise in all media under the brand "The Snake Plissken Chronicles." Plissken has already been the pivotal presence in two films: the 1981 favorite and its 1996 sequel, "Escape From L.A." A series of deals by Russell, director John Carpenter and producer Debra Hill, -- who, as the company Snake World, jointly own the character rights -- has added video games, an anime movie, comic books, action figures and novelization tie-ins to the ways Plissken's story is being told (thanks HomeLan).

A growing combat sport that has taken Japan by storm, K-1 brings together the toughest practitioners of karate, kickboxing, Tae kwon do and Kung Fu to create the world's most challenging fighting competition. And now, players can step in to the virtual ring and feel the sweat on their brow in Konami's new videogame, K-1 World Grand Prix - the most realistic recreation of the sport ever. It sure sounds interesting, so we had to get in the ring and fight it out!

NS 2.0 is a significant step forward in the process of merging first person shooters with real-time strategy into a combination of truly atmospheric and social gaming. With huge improvements over the previous gameplay of 1.04, plus plenty of all new features, levels, animations, sounds, and artwork, Natural Selection 2.0 stands ready to turn online gaming back on its ear just like its first release last October. Nearly every aspect of the game has been revisited and reworked from feedback from hundreds of the top NS veterans and thousands of games played on public and private servers around the globe. Read more to check out some nifty screens ...

Fair Strike is the recent project of published Buka Entertainment and developed by G5 Software, known from the helicopter action/arcade Red Shark. It seems that the team is really keen on helicopters because Fair Strike is also a chopper action, but with an antiterrorists background. We will have a preview available for you soon ...

Battle Mages represents a gorgeous mix of RTS and RPG genres in one single game. A player controls the main hero, a graduate of the Imperial Battle Mage School, and his troops to restore peace in a beautiful fantasy world, inhabited with various creatures. Dynamic quest system, dozens of spells and well-thought skills system, flexible gameplay and fascinating storyline are bound to attract many players to Battle Mages. Read more for some screens ...

Specialist driving game developer Eutechnyx has appointed Dave Thompson to its production staff. Dave joins the company as Executive Producer, where his primary responsibility is to head up SRS, Street Racing Syndicate, Eutechnyx' underground street racing game.