New Dallas, Texas based publisher Wild Hare Entertainment today announced its plans to provide independent developers a cost-effective alternative to the traditional publishing and distribution models in the North American retail market.

Canadian online retail Future Shop seem to have jumped the gun a few days on a special Xbox 360 bundle which is supposed to go on sale next week. For $499 CND (equals $440 USD) you get a premium system (20GigHD, wireless controller, headset and HD AV cable included), as well as Project Gotham Racing 3, XBOX Live 3-Month subscription and Xbox Live 1250 Points Card. This bundle package will go on sale August 9, 2006.

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:

• Rainbow Six Vegas [ALL] - Producer Interview
• Flight Simulator X - Trailer #2
• Ultimate Ghosts'n Goblins [PSP] - Trailer #4
• Dead Rising [X360] - Webipsode Trailer #4
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Control is everything in the world of football management, and this year FIFA Manager 07, aka Total Club Manager 07, provides all the tools you need to make it to the big time.

In Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, players will be introduced to the world of Ashan, the new setting for all future Might & Magic games. Ashan is a dark and unforgiving world, scarred by a bloody history and threatened by an apocalyptic prophecy: the Dark Messiah. Ubisoft will be releasing a singleplayer demo on August 8, which we will of course have available on our filesever network.

Today the panel for the 2006 Golden Joystick Awards unveiled the shortlist for the 24th annual Golden Joystick Awards. Strong representation for the Nintendo DS, while Take 2's TES 4: Oblivion takes top spot with 5 nominations...

In each mission of Faces of War, players will be leading a squad of 6 soldiers in a full 3D environment. Through the decisive European battles of World War II, they will be in command of Allied, Soviet and German troops. With innovative new in-game features, two battles will never be fought the same way.

Blizzard seems to have more in store for us than just World of WarCraft these days, as its job listings page is now looking for a level designer with "experience building levels using any popular 3D Real-Time Strategy game toolset." As to be expected speculations are all over the place with the favorites being StarCraft II or Warcraft IV, but Vivendi and Blizzard representatives declined to give any further details beyond the fact they have various projects in development, which will be announced at a later time ..

The free full-game trial for Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 is now underway. The free trial period features the full RO:Ostfront game including the recently released Free Booster Pack which includes a new mission (Lyes Krovy), smoke grenades for commanders, and many other gameplay enhancements. The free trial lasts from now until August 7th, so if you haven’t got the game already head on over to the Info Page to get RO now.

Taking place three years after the original PS1 title, gamers follow Vincent Valentine's journey as he uncovers shocking truths never revealed in Midgar. Vincent is connected to recent attacks, and he may be the only one who can save this shattered world. When the world is engulfed in darkness, his gun will toll a dreadful dirge.

Perimeter: Emperor's Testament, expansion pack to last year’s award-winning RTS, will feature all new & updated graphics, tons of new units and structures, a new soundtrack, and a total of 25 new missions.

In Birth of America you control one of the major contenders in French & Indian Wars, and the War of the American Independence, trying to achieve military and political victory. This v1.09 patch addresses AI issues, interface changes, scenario and gameplay tweaks.

Not only has EA locked down Tiger Woods, but announced today that it has also extended its PGA TOUR exclusivity with another six years, through 2012.

Acony has licensed the Unreal Engine 3 for its upcoming project, Parabellum, a multiplayer FPS for Xbox 360 and PC, based in the near future and revolves around a terrorist threat in New York City.

Last year's Shot Stick returns with more responsive controls and new mechanics to master. NBA 2K7 combines incredible graphics, including new sweat technology details and animating hair, with a revamped post game, and hundreds of new shooting, passing, and dribbling animations.

NAMCO BANDAI America today announced the PS2 exclusive Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles, an 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.

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:

• Barnyard (GBA/NGC/PS2/PC)
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  We will update this throughout the day when new announcements become available. Read more for details ...

WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 enables players to experience the intensity of being a WWE Superstar like never before with key updates and new game play features. Environmental hotspots let players select and control multiple objects in and around the ring, as well as from crowd members, to inflict damage on their opponents.

DreamCatcher Games announced today that it will publish Ship Simulator in North America, but with added content, the famous New York harbor.

Infernal is a third-person action adventure that is set in a present-day scenario, with stunning environments and strong characters. The story relates to the eternal conflict between good and evil, confronted in supernatural intelligence agencies.

MiST land: South owner GameFactory Interactive has been carrying out global consolidation of resources to combine all GFI's studios under one brand and introduce unified system of technical processes developed and approved by MiST land - South, which will henceforth be known as GFI Russia.

War Front: Turning Point explores an alternate World War II, one in which Hitler is assassinated in the early days, and you will take command of experimental weapons, prototype vehicles and units rarely seen in strategy games in an attempt to alter or secure the historical outcome of World War II.

2K Sports announced today that independent rock music pioneer Sub Pop Records, among other record labels, will provide music tracks from its diverse catalog for NHL 2K7.

Midway announced that four, all-new limited edition Premium Packs of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. only for the PS2 versions, will be available at launch on October 9, 2006, and that a Nintendo Wii version is also in development, scheduled for Q1 2007.

In Company of Heroes gamers will experience the journey of the brave men of Able Company in a deep single-player campaign that begins with the invasion of Normandy through their fight across Europe, all set against the most dynamic, and completely destructible, battlefield ever seen in a game.

Image Space has released the first patch for its recently released racing title rFactor. This massive update brings your retail game to v1.150 and not only fixes a slew of issues, but also tweaks AI, adds new tracks, circuits, vehicles, plenty of multiplayer adjustments and more ...

In Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, players will be introduced to the world of Ashan, the new setting for all future Might & Magic games. Ashan is a dark and unforgiving world, scarred by a bloody history and threatened by an apocalyptic prophecy: the Dark Messiah.

Xploder will launch the HDTV Movie Player to allow millions of Playstation 2 owners to upgrade their PS2 consoles, so that they can play their favourite DVDs in Enhanced Definition mode on their HDTV sets.

The Witcher is an action RPG, which combines the features of such games as Dungeon Siege, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, Gothic and Neverwinter Nights. The game ensures entertainment to a broad group of older players, incorporating simple yet interesting game system, along with a complex plot and attractive 3D graphics.

EA today announced that fashion street wear brand 55DSL will be coming to Need for Speed Carbon. Exclusively designed items from 55DSL, plus a selection of garments from their ‘Zurka and the 55 Vagabonds’ winter collection, will feature prominently on key in-game characters in the game.

The gang from Mystery Inc. are the stars of a hit reality TV show about ghost hunting. However, when rival show team GSI (Ghost Scene Investigators) question Mystery Inc’s unscientific methods of ghost detection, the challenge is on to see who can debunk the most ghosts!

Local newspaper Honolulu Star-Bulletin is reporting that Konami is shutting down its Hawaian studio in Waikiki, and laying off 40 employees by end of this year. The development house has been reponsible for titles such as Frogger Beyond and Frogger's Adventures 2: The Lost Wand, as well as DDR Revolution Ultramix. The reason given was global reorganization of the company and shifting resources to its L.A. and Las Vegas facilities.

Contact is an action RPG in which, after crashing, The Professor discovers that the power sources of his ship, known as Cells, have been scattered across the surface of this strange world. To retrieve them all, The Professor enlists the aid of a brave young man named Terry- and you....

In Ace Attorney Justice for All you resume the role of Phoenix Wright, a defence attorney who must prove his client’s innocence against the toughest of odds and most ruthless of adversaries.

As we mentioned yesterday, Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting hits Xbox Live Arcade today, Wednesday, August 2. The old-school classic from Capcom stays true to its roots with an amazing retro feel, and brings multiplayer action to the classic title for the first time.