Publisher Strategy First and developer Nicely Crafted are proud to announce that Time of Defiance, an online real-time massively multiplayer strategy game, has shipped to retail stores nationwide.

Nintendo held a huge press event today in preparation for the DS launch, and here are some screens from the titles that were presented:

Asphalt: Urban GT (NDS) - Crush (NDS) - Duel Masters 2: Kaijudo Showdown (GBA) - Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls (GBA) - Kirby & the Amazing Mirror (GBA) - Madden NFL 2005 (NDS) - Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits (NDS) - Need For Speed Underground 2 (GBA) - Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (NGC) - Ping Pals (NDS) - Pokemon Dash (NDS) - Rayman DS (NDS) - Ridge Racer DS (NDS) - Spider-Man 2 (NDS) - The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA) - Tony Hawk's Underground 2 (GBA) - Yoshi's Touch & Go (NDS)

Click "Read More" to check them out!

LucasArts has issued the first patch for Pandemic Studios' scifi shooter Star Wars Battlefront. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.01 adds planet names to the Planet Loading screen, fixes an GameSpy Arcade issue, and fixes an issue with losing connection to the host after Task-Switching (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

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 :

• LotR: Battle For Middle Earth - Inside The Battle #7
• Sega Superstars - Trailer
• Armies of Exigo - Trailer

The newest installment in the award-winning Call of Duty series, Call of Duty: Finest Hour takes console players to the frontlines of combat to experience the cinematic intensity, chaos of battle and epic moments of World War II across new campaigns across the North African, Western and Eastern Fronts. Read more for a couple of gameplay videos and the latest batch of screens ...

SEGA today released new information about its highly stylized launch title for the Nintendo DS System. Developed by SONICTEAM, Feel the Magic: XY/XX (also known as Kimi no Tame Nara Shineru in Japan; formerly known as Project Rub in North America) is a quirky, action-packed adventure that offers an innovative experience through new methods of play.

DoubleJump Publishing announced a special offer which will help Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne fans pass the time until its release. Their online store is offering free worldwide priority shipping of the SMT: Nocturne guide. By popular request, this deal will also extend to those who order the official strategy guide for Phantom Brave.

Future Games, previously known for Black Mirror, is working on an all new horror/adventure game, Nibiru: Messenger of the Gods. You take on the role of Martin Holan, an Thechz archeologist working in France. You are sent to investigate an newly found secret tunnel apparently made by German during the second World War. Nibiru is a 2D adventure featuring 80 locations, over 30 NPS's and 50 pages of narrative.

Hollywood and rock music join the ranks of World War II with actor Dennis Haysbert, of the hit television drama "24," and Brian Johnson, lead singer of the legendary rock band AC/DC, signing on for key voice talent roles in Activision's gritty, epic first-person war action-thriller Call of Duty: Finest Hour. Read more for further details ...

EA has released a patch for Battlefield Vietnam. This update brings your retail game to v1.2, includes 3 new maps (Operation Cedar Falls, Saigon 1968, and Fall of Saigon), new features, and addresses bug fixes, balance/gameplay tweaks and other known issues. Read more for download links ...

The Half-Life 2 Steam offers are now ready for purchase from Valve's Steampowered website. Details and pricing were already revealed yesterday, so check it out and have your pick. Those who purchase via Steam, will receive the final version of Counter-Strike: Source immediately. Half-Life 2 and other games in the Steam offerings will be made available to purchasers upon their release.

Seems that the previous reports stating Take2 had signed Juiced after the demise of Acclaim are not true at all. A federal bankruptcy judge last night approved a tentative agreement to allow bankrupt Acclaim Entertainment to sell the rights of its anticipated street racing game "Juiced" to California video game publisher THQ. The deal is worth up to $10.5 million. Read the full article over at the New York Newsday.

SNK announced today that the company has shipped the first home version of the hit arcade title, SNK vs Capcom: SVC Chaos, exclusively for the Xbox. SVC Chaos fully supports Xbox Live, so consumers can take on opponents around the neighborhood or across the country in the ultimate online battle for survival.

Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that its much anticipated rhythmic drum game, TAIKO: Drum Master, has gone gold and will ship to North American retail outlets at the end of October. Developed by Namco Limited in Japan, TAIKO: Drum Master will be available exclusively for the PS2.

Taking you out onto the streets of the world's greatest cities, GT Racers with its dozen hugely powerful supercars, offers thrills and spills as you tear up the streets from London to Tokyo, Paris to New York. GT Racers will be released on October 22nd on Oxygen's Liquid label.

Namco announced today that it is supporting the launch of the Nintendo DS with two of its cherished franchises, Mr. DRILLER Drill Spirits and Ridge Racer DS. Taking advantage of the technology the new platform has to offer, both titles will utilize dual screen support and wireless connectivity to the fullest -- providing players with the ultimate Nintendo DS gaming experience.

Worlds collide in Armies of Exigo, where the traditional boundaries of the battlefield are smashed and war is waged both above and below the ground. Armies of Exigo locks elves, beasts, knights, and creatures of the darkness in an epic battle for survival where armies can delve deep underground to advance undetected and then tunnel to the surface to unleash powerful attacks on their unsuspecting enemies.

'Election 2004: The Game' has debuted. Launched to coincide with the 2004 U.S. presidential debates, the online game satirizes the political posturing and punditry of the presidential candidates, incumbent Republican George W. Bush and Democrat John Kerry.

DreamCatcher Games today announced that it will release a 'Painkiller: Battle Out Of Hell' single-player demo on Tuesday, October 12th. The demo will feature the "Military Base" level, as well as the latest code according to the PK v1.35 patch. Of we will have the demo on our fileserver network the moment it becomes available.

Thw Joint Ops: Escalation expansion pack is expected November 16th 2004 and will feature new vehicles, new maps and new weapons Read more for the first screens...

Nintendo has announced that the NDS will retail for $149.99, and upon initial launch November 21st, it is expected to have 10-12 available titles, including Super Mario 64 DS, Madden, and The Urbz. Read more for details & screens for Metroid Prime, Mario Kart, Super Mario, Advance Wars etc.

In Sid Meier's Pirates! you take the leading role of a Pirate Captain in the 17th century Caribbean amassing fortune and fame in an attempt to seize your rightful place as one of the most revered (and feared!) pirates in history.

It's time to go globetrotting on a sick international road trip with Tony Hawk and Bam Margera. THUG 2 delivers a hilarious story mode, an unprecedented level of customization, and more moves than the Skate Gods could dream of. Grab your board, an arsenal of spray paint and prepare to wreak havoc around the world.

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is a first-person adventure game played in a fully 3D world. With Samus Aran's new Light and Dark beam weapons, the correct weapon must be used against the corresponding Light and Dark World creatures and objects in order to defeat them successfully.