The Civilization IV website has been updated with word on the imminent patch for Firaxis latest strategy title. "Some of the highlights include multiple AI improvements and tweaks, worker behavior tweaks, MANY game play improvements (ex Animal Husbandry reveals horses), promotion tweaks, a softer pillage sound (requested by many, many people), fixed diplomatic exploits (gold for gold, peace treaty exploit), multiplayer tweaks (Hot seat, Lobby, etc.), memory, caching and performance improvements, etc. There were also a number of video card specific fixes." We will of course have the patch on our fileserver network as soon as its released.

KOEI announced its hack & slash Dynasty Warriors 5 Xtreme Legends is now available in North America, serving up a banquet of 18 all-new maps, 5 sizzling modes, and so much more! In 'Legend' mode, gamers will take part in never-before-told stories, including the first showdown between the Kingdoms of Wei and Shu, and the attempt to kidnap the Emperor.

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

• 50 Cent: Bulletproof - Lead Character Artist Video Interview
• Prince of Persia The Two Thrones - Dark Prince Trailer
• Kameo: Elements of Power [X360] - Music Composer Video Interview
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Gravity Interactive has set the launch date for the company's new MMORPG game, ROSE Online, for Dec. 1, 2005. The Ragnarok Online follow up title is an interplanetary adventure game that will take players through a journey of mystery and peril.

Atlus U.S.A announced that Softmax's PS2 exclusive RPG Magna Carta: Tears of Blood is now available in North America. Magna Carta: Tears of Blood is a role-playing game, set in Efferia, a continent populated with five races. In this world, you can use seven different types of Carta and meet a host of characters.

Groove Games has released the first patch for Brainbox's horror/FPS Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler's Green. This update brings your retail game to v1.1 and adding 3 new multiplayer maps, dedicated server, editor, plus a few other multiplayer optimizations. Read more for detailed fixlist and download links ..

THQ has now released a new patch for Relic's 3D RTS Dawn Of War/Winter Assault. This update brings your retail game to v1.41 and mainly seems to add unit balancing, interface enhancements, some optimizations and bug fixes. Requires the previous v1.40 patch to be installed (thanks Relicnews). Read more for detailed fix list and download links...

German publisher Frogster Interactive announced today that it will publish Xbow Software's 3D space combat RPG Star Wolves 2 in Germany, scheduled for release Q1 2006. No further details are available, so read more to check the first screens...

SWAT 4 allows players to take control of a squad of up to five police officers tasked with performing dangerous operations such as high-risk arrests, hostage rescue and counter-terrorism. Sierra has released a QMM map pack which includes eight game levels created by members of the SWAT 4 QA Team using the in-game Quick Mission Maker.

In this sequel to Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, the brothers travel back in time to retrieve Princess Peach, only to come face to face with baby versions of themselves, the princess and Bowser. Teaming up with their young selves will soon send Mario and Luigi on a quest of lunatic proportions as players must control both the adult AND baby versions of the Mushroom Kingdom heroes.

At the Tokyo Game Show Namco announced a sequel to Baten Kaitos was in the works, with a Japanese release date scheduled for December 2005. Baten Kaitos II takes place 20 years after the original with 2 new continents to explore, in addition to locations from the original. You play as Sagi, Milly or Giro on your quest to find the source of a series of unnatural phenomena.

Agetec has announced the availability of its PS2 exclusive Wild Arms Alter code: F at retail locations nationwide. Wild Arms Alter code: F is a traditional role-playing game (RPG) offering fresh new characters, enhanced graphics, intricate puzzles and an innovative new battle system.

PSI: Syberian Conflict is a real time strategy game with RPG elements. Alien cyborgs performing their mission on Earth face unexpected Soviet army resistance. Choose one of the two campaigns and lead either alien or Red Army forces in struggle of life and death.

Need for Speed Most Wanted delivers a unique, fast-paced and gripping ride in the racing genre as players build up their Rap Sheet and street cred to move their way up the Black List to become the most wanted racer on the streets.

Nintendo today announces its nextgen Revolution console will include a play control system. By using a password-controlled setting, adults can decide what flexibility they'll allow younger players to have in playing video games rated 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+ or 18+. The system also ensures dedicated adult gamers can opt to play without limitations.

In order to end this frigid captivity and free his people, the mighty lion Aslan invokes an ancient prophecy. It will become the destiny of four siblings from our world to work together and use their unique combat skills, weaponry and abilities to defeat the Witch and her armies to save Narnia. Buena Vista has released a demo allowing you to try out two levels from the full game, but is in German (thanks DemoNews).

Vivendi has released a new update patch for MadDoc's 3D RTS Empire Earth II. This update brings your US, German, French or UK retail game to v1.20, includes many new features, fixes including an updated lobby and bonus skirmish maps. Read more for download links ...

Dynasty Warriors 4 Hyper is a first for the series and will see the spectacular massed battles that the Dynasty Warriors games are famed for brought to a whole new audience. Striking visual, twice as many characters on screen, double the draw distance of previous versions, anti aliasing, texture filtering, dynamic shadows and much improved enemy AI.

id Software has released the v1.0 SDK toolkit for Win32 & Linux, allowing people to make their own content. These toolkits include the full public game source code; art, map and mod examples. Documentation for the SDK can be found at idDevNet. Read more for download links ...

Today Ubisoft announced that its PS2 exclusive breakdancing and hip hop video game Flow: Urban Dance has shipped to retail.

Today Ubisoft announced that it has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Square Enix to bring Drakengard 2 to North America and Europe. Read more for details and the first screens ...

id Software has released the first patch for Raven's FPS Quake 4. This patch brings your retail game to v1.0.4 and addresses issues found in both multiplayer and single player since the release of the game. Read more for download links ...

Activision's announces the release of True Crime: New York City, putting players into the role of Marcus Reed, a former gang member turned cop who confronts four of New York's most deadly crime syndicates as he hunts down the murderer of his mentor, all while cleaning up neighborhoods from Chinatown to Harlem to Times Square.

Paradox Interactive today announced a stand-alone expansion pack for their strategy title Hearts of Iron II. The expansion will include the original game and boasts a World War III scenario, a complete scenario editor as well as an extended time line.

Gamers take on the role of Paul Sr., Paulie, Mikey or Vinnie and are challenged to build four choppers for an upcoming motorcycle competition. All the while, gamers must compete in family battles, races and other biker challenges in order to earn bike parts and the respect of Paul Sr. Players test their custom creations at the final showdown.

2K Sports today announced it has signed an agreement with International Sports Multimedia to release Torino 2006: the Official Video Game of the XX Olympic Winter Games, which will take place in Torino, Italy from February 10-26, 2006.

Activision and DreamWorks announced today that the companies have agreed to a new long-term, broad-based strategic alliance. The companies signed a multi-year agreement which grants Activision the exclusive video game rights to upcoming feature films from DreamWorks Animation.

Empire has released a new patch for Strangelite's FPS Starship Troopers, bringing any Euro/US retail game to v4.09.10 and addresses a copy protection problem, as well as various multiplayer and singleplayer issues. Read more for detailed fixlist and download links ...

It seems not only the North American and European Xbox 360 launch lineup suffers from delays, but now also Japanese gamers looking forward to Microsoft's next gen console launch will be missing a few anticipated titles. From Software's RPG -eNCHANT arM- has been pushed back from Dec. 10 to January 12, 2006, while Q Entertainment's action adventure title Ninety-Nine Nights is now scheduled for spring 2006.

CDV and Stormregion will release their Codename Panzers Phase Two patch which will bring the game to version 1.06 and will add the much-anticipated cooperative gaming mode to the game. Look for this international patch to be released on Friday, November 18, 2005. Look for it on our fileserver network during the course of the day...

Ubisoft announced that America's Army: Rise of a Soldier has shipped to retail stores for Xbox, allowing you to create a soldier and take him through the thrills and adventure of an army career. Intense single-player missions and high-adrenaline multiplayer action build the skills of your soldier and advance him through his career.

Nintendo of Europe signed a publoishing agreement with Atlus for its medical drama simulator, Trauma Center: Under the Knife. Trauma Center: Under the Knife puts life and death decisions in the palm of your hand as you play doctor, using a scalpel and forceps, applying an antibiotic gel, lasering complicated tumours, and much more!

Even Balance has been contracted by Monolith to integrate PunkBuster into VUGames' FPS F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon). PunkBuster will be available for F.E.A.R. in an upcoming downloadable game update patch (thanks FEARHQ). We will of course have the patch available on our fileserver network when its released.

KOCH Media has released the first patch for EgoSoft's space-combat exploration game X3: REUNION. This update brings your European retail game to v1.2.01 and fixes several crash issues, improves storyline, optimizes performance and a few other tweaks. This updated patch now also works with Win98 SE & WinME. Read more for detailed fixlist and download links ...

Condemned: Criminal Origins allows players to experience an unnatural level of psychological tension as they use their instincts, forensic tools, and melee combat to track serial killers and bring them to justice.

Visit the vast world of Mardias in Square Enix's Romancing SaGa. Select from one of eight playable main characters to follow through a series of amazing adventures, with the outcomes of your decision forever altering the future of Mardias. Fully customize your characters in battle with proficiencies, multi-class training, and purchasable skills and spells. Guide a party of up to five characters in battle, inviting and dismissing new warriors as you see fit.

German publisher dtp has released the first patch for Frogwares' Jules Verne based adventure game 80 Days. This update brings your German retail game to v1.1, improves performance, stability, and adds a tutorial to the game. Read more for download links ...

SpeedTree will be made available for Playstation 3 game title developers under a Tools & Middleware license agreement concluded recently with SCEI. SpeedTree delivers low-polygon, highly realistic trees and plants, with adjustable wind effects, seamless LOD transitions, and a library of hundreds of tree models from more than 100 species.

Disney’s Chicken Little brings the excitement of the film to life and allows gamers to master unique gadgets and play as the key characters from the film in an endless variety of action-packed game play. Saving the day takes an arsenal of gadgets, friends and hero power.