Prior to E3 Australian developer Tantalus Interactive announced that it had begun work on Metal Shell, a ground breaking new title for PS2 and XBox. During E3 a PSP version was added to the mix, but recently Tantalus has updated its website with only the PSP edition listed as platform. We contacted CEO Tom Crago who comfirmed that console development on its arcade tank/combat has ceased, and Tantalus is now concentrating solely on the PSP version.

You are Sergeant First-Class Jack Kellar, seasoned veteran of the US military and a leader of a BLACK ops team. Your squad have been sent into the heart of Eastern Europe on a dangerous mission, drawn in to the midst of a relentless combat zone to bring in a traitor.

Platinum Studios and Blue Star Pictures have hired the Pang brothers to direct The Darkness, based on Top Cow's comicbook series. Majesco is currently working on an X360 game based on the same franchise, developed by Starbreeze and scheduled for 2007. The Darkness casts players as Jackie Estacado, a fearless Mafia hitman for the Franchetti crime family who is suddenly possessed by the terrifying and spectacular powers of The Darkness.

Matrix Games and Playnet are very proud to announce a partnership to bring the new World War II Online: Battleground Europe to North America for the first time via the Matrix Games digital download system. Take control of a soldier fighting in World War II in a persistent massive multiplayer world of first-person combat with infantry, tanks, planes and ships.

With RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Soaked! the park guests will catch rays and ride the waves on more than fifty new rides and coasters including super- splash flume rides, massive water slides, wave pools and more. Atari has released a patch for RCT3 Soaked! bringing it in line with the recent Wild! expansion pack, including some features like custom billboards and tunnels etc, as well as optimizing RCT3's first expansion pack.

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 :

• Hammer & Sickle - Trailer
• Pursuit Force [PSP] - Trailer
• Grand Raid Offroad [X360/PC] - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Valve's SteamPowered website has been updated with details regarding the latest update for its online delivery system Steam. This release updates the DoD:Source with the previously announced new map dod_argentan, and Rag Doll Kung Fu gets fixed up so you can now play past the second level transition. Just restart Steam for the effects to take place.

Team Rainbow is called into action and unfamiliar territory to battle a bioterrorist threat but are personally targeted by an evil terrorist organization. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown will ship worldwide in early 2006 for the PC, until then, read more for some new PC screens ...

The Chronicles of Spellborn is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the Enclave of the Five Sacrifices. Developed by Dutch studio Khaeon Games, previously known for Alpha Black Zero, Spellborn uses the Unreal 2.5 Engine. The closed beta test is currently underway, more people will be allowed to join in the coming months.

A Battlefield 2 community update reveals that EA/DICE are keeping up the BF2 patch works. "We wanted to let you know that we're already hard at work on a post 1.12 update. While we can't go into details about it, yet, rest assured that we're checking the forums, listening to our customer support teams and working hard on the features that YOU'VE asked for. As soon as we can give more concrete details, we will. Just know that we're all 100% into making Battlefield 2 the very best that it can be."

Half Life 2: Aftermath will pick up where the original left off and, as has been rumored for a while, will feature an all-new story line with the focus on Alyx, although not necessarily alongside Gordon Freeman. While no release date has been set, strong indications are that it may only be available through Valve's online delivery system, Steam.

If the "three strikes and you're out" rule would apply to games, DoA4 would be dead before arrival. Initially scheduled as an X360 launch title on November 22nd, it was slightly delayed for a week until December 1st, then another week, and now it seems online retailers have postponed Tecmo's brawler for another seven days until December 14. DOA4 features online capabilities via Xbox Live, new interactive stages, an all-star lineup of old and new favorite characters, and the most complex countering system yet.

MaxGaming has released an updated demo for its mecha MMO game Dark Horizons: Lore Invasion, where the player’s stats will affect the outcome of the war and ultimately write the history of the Dark Horizons universe. This demo features a Team Deathmatch map, an Assault level titled Sector 2, and a Capture the Core map called Crash Site in a choice of four mechs on either side (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

Rush for Berlin is a tactical real time strategy game, set on the European battlefields of World War II, during 1944-45. The player's goal; to capture the German capital, as either the British/US/French alliance or the Red army of the Soviet Union.

Ubisoft is giving fans a chance to chat with some of the developers working on the PC and Xbox 360 editions of its upcoming action game Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. Both chats will be held on different days, people interested in the PC version should get ready December 1st, while X360 fans get their chance a few days later on December 7. Read more for info on the who, what and where ...

THQ has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Gas Powered Games for its RTS game Supreme Commander. Chris Taylor is known for his work with Total Annihilation under Cave Dog, and Supreme Commander will mark his return to a genre that he helped popularize.

2K Sports announced today that College Hoops 2K6 for the PS2 is now available in stores across North America. College Hoops 2K6, Xbox edition shipped last week, delivers the most exciting new features, fast-paced hardwood action and all the tradition and competitive spirit of NCAA college basketball.

The follow-up to last year's smash hit female wrestling video game, Rumble Roses XX for the Xbox 360 will feature a full lineup of incredible looking wrestlers along with all-new moves, gameplay modes, tag team action and online play. Some new, but tiny, images and trailer.

Already available in Europe, SCEA announced today Spring 2006 release for its PSP exclusive action game Pursuit Force, bringing Hollywood-style movie action to life by delivering high-speed vehicle chases and thrilling shootouts, all in the quest for justice.

Aspyr Media today announced it has acquired the rights from JoWood to publish and distribute Gothic III in North America. As the third part of this globally successful role-playing saga, Gothic III offers players a nonlinear, open-ended role-playing game with an enthralling story that presents an extremely detailed simulation of nature and human behavior.