About a week ago we reported that Assembly Speaker Leland Yee blasted the ESRB for failing to appropriately rate GTA: SA. Since then the ESRB and its Australian counterpart have initiated investigations into the alleged graphic scenes featuring oral sex, nudity, and simulated intercourse. Today Rockstar finally reacted with a statement saying that "only by disassembling and then combining, recompiling and altering the game's source code have hackers been able to create the Hot Coffee mod. Without intentional and significant technical modifications and reverse engineering of the game's source code this explicit content is not available in the retail product." Read more for the full statement...

Magic Hat Software announced today that the second Beta test for its MMORPG Irth Online begins today and is expected to run through August 12, 2005. Gamers are encouraged to apply for Beta 2 on the Irth Online website.

Ape Escape 3 is the latest title in the popular platform franchise. While not yet announced for North America, Ape Escape 3 is scheduled for release in Japan coming July. The new edition will also feature a minigame spoof on Konami's Metal Gear Solid game, under the title of Mesal Gear Solid: Snake Escape. Apart from that, Ape Escape 3 will also feature 2 new playable characters, tons of minigame, 400 monkeys to rescue and plenty more.

Wartime Command: Battle For Europe 1939-1945 is a stunning World War II tactical RTS game from Russian developers 1C Company. Set to be the most authentic and compelling tactical real time strategy game ever designed, Wartime Command will excel in detail and accuracy, especially in its portrayal of period weapons of war. Citing too many delays, and problems with idea implementations, Codemasters has decided to remove Wartime Command (aka WW II RTS) from its catalogue, and will no longer be publishing it. 1C Company is still developing, although without publisher backing, the future of the project is up in the air.

Blizzard has released a new update for its MMORPG World of Warcraft. This update is currently only for French, German and UK editions of the game, adds a new high-level Blackwing Lair dungeon, new Darkmoon Faire, Battlemasters feature, and a slew of gameplay adjustments, bug fixes and other goodies. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

The Hollywood Reporter revealed today that Majesco is working on a video game based on Marvel's Ghost Rider comic series, and will be released at the same time as the movie, summer 2006. Being developed by UK's Climax, Ghost Rider will have players face off against such villains as Blackheart and Mephistopheles. Players will be able to ride the Hell Cycle on water and boost over jumps. The third-person perspective game also will feature such weapons as the Hellfire Chain and Hellfire Shotgun. Comic scribes Garth Ennis and Jimmy Palmiotti are penning the game's story, which will pick up after the events in the upcoming film and provide an interactive sequel featuring cult superhero Ghost Rider.

Far Cry Instincts is a technically advanced gaming experience built from the ground up using the kind of cutting-edge technology that Far Cry fans will recognize from the PC title. Far Cry Instincts will ship for Xbox in September 2005.

Ubisoft has released a new patch for Gearbox's WW2 tactical FPS Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30. This v1.10 SDK suite contains the EnrealEd edition for BiA, dedicated server support, required docs, sample content, etc. Read more for download links...

Beginning with the attack on Pearl Harbor, this flight combat game puts players in the middle of some of the most intense naval conflict in WWII’s Pacific Theater. Check out the new screens, or download the new video showing ingame footage...

A post on his own website confirms rumors which surfaced yesterday about Romero no longer working at Midway. "Hey guys, I can definitely confirm that I have left Midway - I've been gone for about 3 weeks and Rhaluka and I have been traveling around and having fun together (a sort of honeymoon without going to tropical destinations). Midway says that development of Gauntlet hasn't been impacted by my departure and is scheduled to ship this fall. I can't say anything more about the situation and hope you all understand. I'm currently looking at lots of exciting developments right now and it'll be a couple months before I can announce my next destination."

Typhoon Games today revealed plans to distribute the chartbuster Sudeki for the PC in Hong Kong and Singapore beginning August 2005.

In Pirates! you are a 17th century Caribbean Pirate Captain trying to become the most revered and feared pirate in history - exploring high seas and exotic ports, overtaking enemies in fierce naval battles, engaging in duels and attempting to seize valuable booty.

Crave Entertainment today announced that it has entered into agreement with Hard Rock International to license and develop Hard Rock Casino videogames for the PS2.

EA today announced that John Madden, football icon and television analyst of ABC's Monday Night Football, has signed a multi-year agreement to continue to license his name and appear in and consult on the development of future iterations of the blockbuster game that bears his name. Madden NFL 06 will feature the name, voice, likeness and expertise of the celebrated sports personality.

In Hello Kitty Roller Rescue players will be able to save Earth from the misinformed Block-O with the much loved Hello Kitty and Badtz-Maru. More than 20 popular Sanrio characters will help Hello-Kitty throughout her travels. Kitty will also be able to partner up at various stages to fight enemies. And, for the first time, players will be able to enjoy the beautiful Sanriotown in a completely 3-D world that is interactive.

Freedom Force vs. the Third Reich is a comic book-inspired tactical role-playing game features a brand new league of heroes and villains, overhauled combat system, and spectacular graphic enhancements. Digital Jesters has released a HUGE patch that is required to bring the previously released v1.1 mod tools to work with the UK edition of Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich. Read more for download links ...

SiN Episodes features the highly anticipated return of Elexis Sinclaire, the world's most dangerous and seductive biochemist, and the only man who stands in her way, John R. Blade. The sworn enemies face off in Freeport City, a near-future mixture of San Francisco, Tokyo and New York, all set inside the unrestricted SiN universe. These are the same screens as previously released, except now in high res format ...

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

• Genji [PS2] - Japanese Trailer #2
• Cold War [Xbox/PC] - Trailer #3
• Makai Kingdom [PS2] - Trailer #4
• Ninja Gaiden Black [Xbox] - Trailer
• Panzer Elite Action [PS2/Xbox/PC] - Dealing With Snipers Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi, also known as Dragon Ball Z: Sparking!, is the only game to combine fighting and flying in wide open, destructible 3D environments. In the air, on the ground or under water, DBZ Budokai Tenkaichi gives players the ability to battle with unprecedented power and freedom.

Return to Orre for a new role-playing game in an expansive setting with a sinister plot and characters the likes of which have never been met before. With Eevee as their companion, players seek to unravel the mystery of Shadow Lugia. The fate and welfare of Pokémon lies in their ability to Snag and Purify them before it's too late. Starting Aug. 28, Pokémon fans who reserve a copy of Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness for GameCube at participating retailers will receive a custom GameCube vinyl skin featuring characters from the game. Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness will be available Oct. 3.