During the recent Spike TV Video Game Awards ceremony Epic Games president Mike Capps stated that they have been working on new content for its recently released gritty action game Gears of War. The question on everybodies mind however was whether the long time PC developer was going to jump on the microtransaction bandwagon or not. Putting the discussion to rest Capps said, "We always take care of our customers, we always give them stuff for free, and we're going to keep doing that forever. That's how we do it, man. This is Epic."

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:

• World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade - Intro Trailer
• Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 [PSP/PS3/X360/PC] - Trailer
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl - Aftermath Trailer
• Fuzion Frenzy 2 [X360] - Trailer #4
• TNA Impact! [PS2/Xbox/PS3/X360] - Trailer
• Far Cry Vengeance [Wii] - Trailer #3
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Perpetual's President Chris McKibbin confirmed that his company has laid off about 30 people on the development staff but points out that its MMO Gods and Heroes is almost content complete, and trimming down the team to 80 people is a natural progression as content production roles come to an end. However, in order to make Gods & Heroes the best game it can be, the decision was made to push back its Q1 2007 launch date to summer 2007, so Perpetual can continue play-testing and tuning to deliver the highest quality game possible.

In Pirates of the Caribbean Online, players try to become the Caribbean's most legendary pirate, all while forging alliances, hunting for buried treasure, battling evil undead forces and facing off against enemies from the movie franchise.

After a false start earlier this week, Microsoft has released the December backwards compatibility update, with a few extra additions. This free update currently adds 37 original Xbox games that you will be able to play on your X360, although some are region restricted. Titles of note are recent games such as Scarface, Splinter Cell Double Agent, MK: Armageddon, and favorites such as Psychonauts...

Go loco in the seedy underworld of Los Toros as Ramiro Cruz, avenging the assassination of his father by creating maximum carnage in the inner circles of the local kingpin Cesar Morales’ drug cartel.

The sentence has been passed, now you must bring order in a world of chaos. Start with a small, low security prison and build it into a maximum-security super-max. Valusoft has released a 60 min time limited demo, which you can unlock after purchasing a license key.

The Producers Guild of America announced that the 2007 Vanguard Award, outstanding achievement in new media and technology, will be presented to game designer Will Wright whose creative vision has inspired some of the most critically acclaimed and popular video games in the short history of the medium.

As an aspiring Underworld figure, spread corruption throughout the galaxy using new strategic gameplay elements to influence other factions, steal their funds, slow their production, spy on them and more. As promised, the v1.1 patch adds a slew of balance tweaks, AI improvements, map changes and plenty more ..

BioShock is 2K Games' hybrid first-person shooter, in the works over at System Shock 2 developers Irrational Games, combining elements of sci-fi and role-playing genres.

Another day, another batch of games shipped to stores. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are announcements for:

• Anarchy Online: Lost Eden (PC)
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas (PC)
• Metal Slug Anthology (Wii)
• Far Cry Vengeance (Wii)
• Birth of America (PC)
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  We will update this throughout the day when new announcements become available. Read more for details ...

Namco Bandai Games America announced the PS2 exclusive Eureka Seven Vol. 2: The New Vision. A prequel to the popular animated show, Eureka Seven Vol. 2 is the exciting next installment in the high-flying aerial combat series.

Tony is back in a brand-new adventure with modern 3D-graphics. However, Tony Tough 2: A Rake's Progress is no sequel, but a prequel – it takes the player back into Tony’s youth, into the year 1953, when Tony was 13 years old. This first patch addresses a copyprotection issue.

Freeze Interactive's Field Ops, developed by Digital Reality and previously known as Ghost Wars, brings together, in a unique presentation, the two favorite genres of PC gamers; Real-Time-Strategy and First-Person Shooter.

Shortly after the PC patch, the Xbox 360 version of Ubisoft's tactical shooter Rainbow Six Vegas gets patched up, automatically available when you log on to Xbox Live, addressing various multiplayer issues and fixing bugs ...

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened rises to the challenge of being entirely in 3D; while the creators have kept classic game mechanics, the game benefits from the freedom and the immersion brought by a superb animated and detailed real time 3D environment.

Empire Interactive announce that it has signed a digital distribution agreement with Valve to offer three of its titles, Flat Out II, Vegas Tycoon, and Ghost Master, via Steam.

Based on Russian author Dmitriy Glukhovskiy's Metro 2033, 4A-Games' The Last Refuge is a 3D horror/action/survival FPS with elements RPG genre game.

Yesterday we reported that the first patch for Creative Assembly's 3D RTS Medieval II: Total War would arrive today, unfortunately it has been delayed, but confirmed by SEGA, until tomorow, Friday Dec. 15, 2006. A second patch is already in the works, scheduled for early 2007, adding more aggressive Scotland and Mongol campaign AI, more naval assaults, an even more consistent less powerful cavalry charge, less devastating gunpowder units, stronger 2-handed axe men and billmen, etc...

Mercury Meltdown Revolution is a brain-teasing puzzle game that challenges players to immerse themselves in a colorful world of sci-fi machines, crazy characters, and bubbling test tubes.

Flagship Studios today announced that it has expanded operations with the formation of a new development studio: Flagship Seattle, currently working on Mythos, an online RPG that will be used to test the networking technology behind Hellgate: London.

Death to Spies was the name of a set of counterintelligence departments in the Soviet Army formed during WWII. Their mission was to secure the rear of the active Red Army by arresting traitors, deserters, spies and criminal elements. During the war these agents became the main force combating the German intelligence service.

In Gods and Heroes you become a classic hero of the ancient world, born of immortal blood. As a scion of the gods, you will have the opportunity to pursue his destiny through a series of Epic Quests that will span all levels of gameplay, over time commanding amazing God Powers and acquiring famous weapons and treasure of myth.

In the grand racing tradition of Excitebike, get ready for a big-air experience like no other as players rocket their trucks across dynamically changing terrain at break-neck speeds. Treacherous roads and death-defying jumps can mean only one thing, Excite Truck launches across Europe on 16th February 2007.

Certain Affinity is a new development studio based in Austin, TX founded by Max Hoberman, former multiplayer team lead for Halo 2 and Halo 3 over at Bungie. Certain Affinity's first project is developing multiplayer maps for Halo 2, while currently also creating a new X360 title to be announced at a later date.

Vigil: Blood Bitterness, previously known as Victi: Blood Bitterness, is a 3D episodic, black & white, moody adventure game where you play a character trapped on an asteroid, a relic of an ancient civilization.

Xyanide Resurrection is a classical 2D/3D shoot-'m-up game, where you take on the role of Drake, a government executioner from the planet Mardar. Drake's mission is to capture the escaped evil witch Aguira and bring her back to the Judge.

Get ready for the ultimate party game extravaganza! Wario Ware: Smooth Moves will have you and your friends competing in a series of wild and wonderful challenges as you use the Wii Remote in ways you would not have imagined possible! Wario Ware: Smooth Moves launches on Wii across Europe on 12th January 2007.

Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles is a PS2-exclusive action/adventure title offering players a chance to become Naruto, the aspiring ninja with the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit sleeping deep within. Gamers can play through the story-driven missions to save the Hidden Leaf Village from the threat of evil and fulfill Naruto's dream of becoming the Hokage (leader).

The special holiday demo of LocoRoco is the first native PSP demo download via the PlayStation Store on the PS3, available directly from the PSP portal site or via PlayStation.com. Requires you to install the latest v3.02 PSP firmware update, which allows for several new PSP system capabilities.