Heart of Empire: Rome leads the player through 14 huge missions as they actually build & control ancient Rome in glorious real-time 3D. From simple beginnings, they must quickly build housing for their growing population; start to meet their increasing desires for food, goods and entertainment.

Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst introduces server-based storage of player data thereby freeing the players from being confined to playing from any single PC/location. New team system, enhanced character graphics, and better game controls are some of the other improvements introduced in the continuing evolution of PSO universe. SEGA has released the open beta client for Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst allowing you to participate in the public beta test, although a registration is required.

GarageGames today announced that Marble Blast is available for download on Xbox Live Arcade. XBLA brings popular retro classics and broad appeal games directly to your Xbox over the Xbox Live service.

According to a Japanese newspaper, Sony and Toshiba are close to finalizing a plan to develop a common standard for next-generation DVDs to resolve a three-year-long battle over formats that threatened the industry's growth. Formal announcement and details are due next week, May 16.

Last week Xenus HQ revealed Boiling Point went gold in Russia, and today fansite Boiling-Point.net has received confirmnation from Atari that Deep Shadows FPS has effectively gone gold and is expected in stores May 20th. Boiling Point: Road to Hell, previously known as Xenus, will combine intense armed combat with exploration and interaction with a vast and seamless open-ended gaming world.

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 :

• Battlefield 2 - Trailer (3)
• Bet On Soldier - Intro Movie
• Burnout Revenge - Trailer
• Commandos Strike Force - E3 2005 Trailer
• Fantastic Four - Trailer #3
• Panzer Elite - Teaser Trailer
• SCAR: Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo - Trailer #4
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

S.L.A.I. (Steel Lancer Arena International) is a fast paced mech action is the sport of the future, where players pilot their customized mechs to win cash and worldwide dominance. Over 1 million possible mech configurations and phantom stealth abilities make this one mech party you'll have to crash. Konami has launched the official S.L.A.I. website, check it out for all the latest details, trailers, screens and wallpapers.

Digital Illusions signs contracts for more versions of two of their games that are under production. One of the contracts is for a PC version of the untitled game being launched 2006/2007. The other contract is for a PC version of the action game being launched 2007 (thanks FZ).

In development for several years, Tales of Legendia will offer fantastic 3D graphics, dynamic battle scenes and an emotionally-charged storyline. Additionally, Tales of Legendia features a unique cast of characters designed by Kazuto Nakazawa, the internationally renowned Japanese artist acclaimed for his amazing animation sequences in Kill Bill: Vol. 1.

Majesco has released the first patch for Double Fine's action/adventure Psychonauts. This update brings your retail game to v1.01 and addresses an auto save issue and fixes a crash on non SSE conform CPUs. There is also a patch available for the demo, as well as a fully updated version. Read more for download links ...

SEGA of America today announced Shining Force Neo, the next chapter in the popular Shining Force series, developed exclusively for the PS2. Shining Force Neo is a fast-paced action-adventure featuring a dramatic, character-driven story and a high-gloss anime aesthetic.

Extensive details of Microsoft's newest video game console leaked out on the Internet on Monday, three days ahead ofthe console's formal worldwide unveiling on MTV. Read more for details on hardware specs, Xbox Live tiers, and more ...

Midway Games on Monday posted a larger loss for the first quarter and raised its estimated net loss for the full year, citing plans to increase development spending for new games. The financial gibberish also revealed Midway is pushing back Fear & Respect slips to 2006.

Barrow Hill is a horror/thriller adventure game; told from the point of view of the player using a first person perspective. Set in mysterious Cornwall, rich with legends; from sacred wells to dark forests, the players will unravel many mysteries, after being stranded on the lonely road to the 'barrow'. This ancient burial site, from pre-history, sits shrouded amongst the watching trees of the hill. Read more for details and screens ...

SEGA Europe announced today that Sports Interactive's hockey management title, NHL: Eastside Hockey Manager 2005 has gone gold and will be available in European stores on May 27th 2005. SIGames has also released an updated fully functional time limited demo, allowing you six months worth of game-time in the NHL and UK elite leagues. Read more for details ...

EA announced today that NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade will serve as cover athlete and spokesman for NBA LIVE 06, scheduled for release this fall under the EA SPORTS brand. Wade is in his second season with the Miami HEAT, where he set single-season franchise records for points per game (24.1) and total points scored (1,854) in helping to lead the HEAT to the top seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Fansite Beyond Unreal has received confirmation from Midway that Epic's next UT game will officially be called Unreal Tournament 2007. Previously only known under code name Envy, Epic has stated it would skip UT2006, and the new product will be not be a continuation, or sequel, to UT2004, but instead an all new title built from scratch, using the Unreal Engine 3. UT2007 will be officially announced and shown behind closed doors at E3 2005.

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Spartan: Total Warrior puts the player in control of a heroic warrior, engulfing the player into the midst of titanic clashes between mighty armies, blending mythical beasts and legendary monsters into the fray. Brutal combat meets epic warfare on the battlefields of the ancient world as you fight for your life, your freedom and your honor.

The best adventure of 2004 is getting ready for a new delivery, the third installment in the saga. “Fenimore Fillmore´s Revenge” is now in development. We are presently finishing the script and working on the graphic concept, with the intention of publishing it for the entire world in the 2nd Quarter of 2006.