Rift: Planes of Telara is a graphically stunning online game is set in a world being torn apart by dimensional “rifts” that tear into the land of Telara, releasing powerful forces that threaten the very existence of the entire universe.

Civilization V reinvigorates the classic turn-based strategy genre with a new engine built from the ground-up. Players are introduced to a new combat system, deeper diplomatic interactions and a cavalcade of expanded features that deliver a fully immersive experience. Originally planned prior to retail release, 2K Games revealed that it will not make the deadline and will instead release the demo on launch day.

FIFA 11 reinvents player authenticity – on and off the ball – for every player and at every position on the pitch with Personality+, an all-new feature that sees individual abilities reflected in game, enabling clear differentiation for every player.

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:

• Might & Magic Heroes Kingdoms (PC)
• Ship Simulator Extremes (PC)
• Gunblade NY and LA Machineguns (Wii)

We will update this throughout the day when new announcements become available. Read more for details ...

Deep Black, previously known as U-Wars, combines action-packed battles with an immersive story line, of complex science-fiction mystery, espionage and bio-terror. Offering realistic physics in an underwater environment brings new “depths” to in-game challenges in Deep Black.

Dead Rising 2 will take the franchise to a new level of zombie-killing fun with tens of thousands of zombies, the all new gambling paradise of Fortune City to explore and conquer plus a host of new in-game objects that can all be used as deadly weapons to stave off the zombie assault.

SOE Austin has built a world where you feel like you've stepped into the DC Universe and become the ultimate super-hero (or villain) along side of Superman, Batman, or Ambush Bug.

Metroid: Other M looks at the classic franchise from a new perspective: While much of the game is reminiscent of 2-D side-scrollers, players can switch the perspective into 3-D at any time as they explore the twisting passages of a derelict space station and delve deep into a cinematic, never-before-told story of bounty hunter Samus Aran's past.

Rock Band 2 builds upon the original to introduce co-op band gameplay, multiple instruments, online multiplayer, unparalleled downloadable content and raises the bar by delivering an entirely new level of depth, connectivity, authenticity and features.

An ancient, dreaming evil stirs. Dangerous creatures awaken. The Earth is in mortal peril. The wonders and horrors of the secret world are re-emerging in our world. The time has come to take up arms in the war between good & evil. Warriors and champions of Gaia, your training is about to begin. Rise. You have been chosen.

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:

• FIFA 11 [ALL] - Stamina/Fatigue Producer Video
• Company of Heroes Online [PC] - Allies Trailer
• The First Templar [ALL] - GamesCom 2010 Trailer
  

We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Red Dead Redemption is a Western epic, set at the turn of the 20th century when the lawless and chaotic badlands began to give way to the expanding reach of government and the spread of the Industrial Age.

While Guild Wars 2 adds a persistent world, it retains the unique characteristics of the original game, including a strong narrative, extensive instanced game play, an anti-grind design philosophy, and strong support for competitive play.

FreeJack is a parkour racing game with slick cartoon-style graphics and innovative new gameplay mechanics based on the underground sport of free running. In FreeJack, players race head-to-head as one of four hip characters, bustin’ stylish flips and tricks to increase their speed and come out on top!

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a first-person survival horror game set in the late 18th century, and will take the player on a thrill-ride through the depths of madness, exploring the dark side of the human emotions.

Stardock's digital distribution platform, Impulse, is having its weekend sale, starting with a sale on THQ Ultimate Bundle (17 titles for $99.99), knocking 50% off Eschalon Book I and Eschalon Book II, Air Aces - Pacific, Numen: Contest of Heroes, Dark Void, Machinarium, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director's Cut, while also dropping the price on Gratuitous Space Battles Complete, Rise of the Triad, Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold, Blake Stone: Planet Strike, Duke Nukem 3D, Duke Nukem Manhattan Project, and World War 2 - Time of Wrath.

Living rooms will transform into nightclubs to let budding beat chemists, singing sensations and all of their friends party together by firing up two turntable controllers and a microphone to experience their favorite music as they've never heard it before in DJ Hero 2.

Oops! Prank Party features 100 party games that test the wits and reflexes of up to four players. The uproarious twist is a variety of family-friendly pranks that allow the winner to taunt the competition, bringing a whole new level of hilarity to the gameplay!

Mount & Blade: Warband is geared to raise the level of intensity of the original Mount & Blade, incorporating a brand new multiplayer feature that enables up to 64 players to fight for glory on a single map in team deathmatch style battles.

John Daly's ProStroke Golf will feature fully licensed courses which John has played on, bringing the real PGA experience into your home, and will also include many different game modes, realistic golf physics and commentary by the famous voices of golf, delivering the complete golfing experience to golf fans, sports fans and gamers alike.

The weekend is upon us! In addition to the Slash concert, we are also going to some food festival, hopefully with lots of yummies.

Tonight we might see the new Takers movie, which seems eerily familiar to Armored Truck, which also starred Matt Dillon. We'll let it slide ... for now ...

Currently listening to Iron Maiden's The Final Frontier. It's different than what I expected. Sounds like they are trying to add some new flavor to their formula. It's not bad, just a far cry from the old Maiden.