This fighting-action game features up to 16 playable characters, all free to simultaneously roam and destroy a vast 3D world. With Xbox Live and System Link Play support, players can now experience cooperative and competitive gameplay with friends and foes while talking smack via Xbox Communicators. Bonus online features include downloadable items, weapons, stories, stages, characters, sound files and much more. Sega of America has narrowed down the release date from a previous vague Spring 2005 to March 29th, 2005.

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes will be the premier third generation massively multiplayer RPG. A vast, seamless, immersive virtual world filled with elements of familiar High Fantasy, including traditional themes and more, all depicted using cutting-edge graphics technology. Sigil’s expertise and experience in the field will bring groundbreaking static and dynamic content to the genre.

Stronghold 2 will bring the the castle-sim and siege-warfare RTS series to life in glorious 3D. Stronghold 2 will also offer players a "castle-life" campaign, enhanced multiplayer capability and a new, innovative and exciting single player campaign that will be revealed in the months ahead. Check out these new screens and in-game trailer...

Macrovision today announced the results of a gaming piracy study that shows significant losses experienced by the gaming industry due to software piracy. The surveys of 6,000 Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation 2 users show that 21% of gamers play pirated games, but 73% would have bought the game within one month if a free version had not been readily available. This high level of piracy on console systems, which are generally considered to be secure closed systems, is surprising.

That tap-tap-tapping you hear is the sound of the most innovative video game control system to come along in years. Get physical with Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, made exclusively for GameCube, by using a pair of bongos to control the game action. Mastering the game requires good timing, bongo abilities and a love of bananas.

Warfare is a real-time global war simulator with real material and it's devoted to a conflict in the Near East. There are two campaigns, one for the USA, the other for Saudi Arabia. The main goal of the first campaign is taking full control of the region; the second one is coming to power in Saudi Arabia and achieving the withdrawal of all American troops.

Metal Slug has been around for seemingly ages. SNK's little franchise, a wonderful little action game, first impressed gamers on the Neo-Geo, but has since visited other consoles, including the Xbox and PS2; and, in its short lifespan, the Neo-Geo Pocket Color. November 2004 we saw the first Metal Slug on GBA in the Advanced version, some mechanics were changed, no blood and while the game was still great, it wasn't true port from the original game. While no specific details were disclosed yet, SNK's release schedule show it will be be bringing Metal Slug 1 to the GBA, expected winter 2005.

Day 1, FASA, and Microsoft announced that the MechAssault 2 Auto Update has been released! This update will provide many gameplay improvements. In MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf gamers will be able to step outside the 'Mech and live the life of a human pilot in a fresh new single player game. Tanks, VTOLs and BattleArmor will offer players plenty of opportunities to rain destruction on their opposition in both single and multiplayer games. Read more for details ...

"Over the recent weeks we have been investigating the activities of certain individuals who have been farming gold in order to sell it in exchange for real world currency. After researching the situation, we have issued permanent suspensions to over one thousand accounts that have been engaging in this practice. We do not condone such actions and will take decisive action as they are against our policy and damage the game economy as a whole. We will continue researching this matter. If you suspect someone of taking part in said gold farming, please eMail the report to wowgm@blizzard.com."

SNK Playmore USA announced that it will release a special Metal Slug 4 & 5 bundle pack for the PS2 and Xbox. The Metal Slug 4 & 5 will ship in early summer 2005 and each will have a suggested retail price of $39.99. Read more for details and screens ...

Compete and earn respect in Need for Speed Underground Rivals only available on the PSP. Customize and take on the pinnacle Japanese & American tuner cars in a pursuit of total ownership of the street racing scene. A uniquely designed racing game based on the legacy of the hugely successful Underground series.

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 :

• Jade Empire - Trailer (2)
• Forza Motorsports - Game vs. Reality Trailer
• Fear & Respect - Trailer #2
• Total Overdose - Trailer

Forza Motorsport gives Xbox gamers who are passionate about cars and racing the opportunity to own, customize, and race their favorite cars in a realistic driving simulation. From sport compacts to LeMans prototypes, players use earnings from hundreds of races to buy upgrades and aftermarket parts so they can transform real production cars into high-performance race cars.

Build your own movie studio and make films to capture the world’s imagination. Start filming in the break-neck 1920s and rewrite history as you pioneer the great cinematic advances. Be the first to introduce talkies, colour, animation or computer-generated special effects. Pick the scripts you want to shoot, design and construct the sets and hire the director, the crew and the stars.

Developed internally by Empire's award-winning Strangelite Studio, the game will be released on PC, and all current and next generation consoles. The game will be based on the movie of the same name and animated series franchise. Take the role of an elite 'special forces' trooper in the Mobile Infantry spearheading the assault against thousands of intelligent enemy bugs, emulating the best scenes from the movie and a whole lot more!

Black & White 2 includes other new elements, such as improved graphics and Miracle effects such as rivers of fire and earthquakes that yield mass destruction. The game also includes weather systems that impact gameplay; players will see the impact of a drought that scorches the arid plains of Egypt or the effect of a heavy snowfall on the Norse Mountains.

The Robots' world is about to be taken over by an evil tyrant and it is up to the player to save his fellow robots from a tragic destiny! Players will hop on a train to a mechanical metropolis of moving gears and winding parts, meet an unforgettable cast of characters and battle evil machines - discovering the many ways a robot can turn his parts into cool and unique gadgets. Vivendi has released a demo for Robots, featuring 3 playable levels as the Rodney character. Read more for download links ...

Dynasty Warriors 4 introduces a new stage and strategy system to the series' frenetic battlefield action. In the new system, the game opens with a map of Ancient China, fractured into 24 different regions. Players start with one region, and then choose another region to invade or defend. Officers will recommend a strategy or policy, and then combat begins. Victory goes to the first warrior who unifies all 24 regions under a single kingdom. Koei is bringing Dynasty Warriors 4 to the PC, release date in Japan is set for March 2005, not details yet on a European or North American publisher.

JoWooD's Stargate SG-1: The Alliance is the spectacular interactive game experience that puts players in the action packed universe of the Stargate SG-1 TV series, which is scheduled for release in late 2005 for all major platforms.

Pariah focuses on a robust immersive storyline that weaves survival elements into the traditional run-and-gun style of first-person action games. Unsurprising will be the graphic marvel and fine-tuned gameplay of Pariah, a trademark gamers have come to expect from any Digital Extremes game.