The official World Of Warcraft website has word that people who did not make it into the closed beta test will get yet another chance to try out the game before its official release date. "We are happy to announce that we will soon be accepting applicants for the World of Warcraft Open Beta Test for North America. The open phase of beta will give people a chance to enter Azeroth and play World of Warcraft before the game is released. More details will become available in the days ahead, so stay tuned."

Aurora Watching is a third person perspective stealth game. The action takes place in the Arctic. During the mission Sullivan faces many opponents, not all of whom are human and each of which can be defeated in many ways, Mini-games, puzzles, and hi-tech gadgets keep player excited from the very beginning to the end.

Electronic Arts announced today that 'FIFA Street', developed by EA Canada, next year under the EA SPORTS BIG brand. 'FIFA Street' is a combination of arcade action blended with the culture of freestyle street football. By removing the rules from the simulation football experience, 'FIFA Street' exposes the heart of the world's beautiful game, on-the-ball flare and individual style.

Already revealed yesterday, THQ today officially announced exclusive worldwide publishing rights to the 'Juiced' franchise. THQ submitted the winning bid for the property, which was approved on October 6, 2004, by an order of the U.S. bankruptcy judge overseeing the Acclaim Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings. Although Juiced was 'finished', THQ says it will released the racing game on PS2, Xbox and PC in summer 2005.

Matrix Games and Koios Works are very pleased to announce that the innovative new wargame, Tin Soldiers: Alexander the Great, has been released and is now available for sale through the Matrix Games Online Store.

GODS: Lands of Infinity is a ground-breaking role-playing game set in fantasy background. This game is going to be our second title developed for PC platform and we are going to use all we have learned in the last three years. Our goal is to create a perfect blend of trade strategy and casual adventuring taking place in a complex imaginary yet trustworthy world.

Project Entropia announced that it is applying the 6.1 version update to the live servers adding a plethora of content ranging from a whole new continent, the start of the first real virtual land grab, and a full range of other improvements added. Read more for details ...

Xfire today announced that its teaming up with Xbox Live to give their users a chance to win some high-end gaming prizes. Members Xfire and Xbox Live will be given the chance to win an extreme Xbox Live prize package that includes an Xbox, two years of free Xbox Live service, assorted Live-enabled games, a Spherex speaker system, an Xbox networking wireless-G adapter, and a Halo 2 Plantronics headset.

Vatan is an an epic, futuristic "fairytale" set in a dark 23rd century world where mankind, after colonizing considerable parts of the galaxy, has waged war with itself and huge corporations fuel the rage by building galactic weapons of mass destruction for the republic. Read more for details and first screens ...

Publisher Strategy First and developer Nicely Crafted are proud to announce that Time of Defiance, an online real-time massively multiplayer strategy game, has shipped to retail stores nationwide.

Nintendo held a huge press event today in preparation for the DS launch, and here are some screens from the titles that were presented:

Asphalt: Urban GT (NDS) - Crush (NDS) - Duel Masters 2: Kaijudo Showdown (GBA) - Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls (GBA) - Kirby & the Amazing Mirror (GBA) - Madden NFL 2005 (NDS) - Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits (NDS) - Need For Speed Underground 2 (GBA) - Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (NGC) - Ping Pals (NDS) - Pokemon Dash (NDS) - Rayman DS (NDS) - Ridge Racer DS (NDS) - Spider-Man 2 (NDS) - The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA) - Tony Hawk's Underground 2 (GBA) - Yoshi's Touch & Go (NDS)

Click "Read More" to check them out!

LucasArts has issued the first patch for Pandemic Studios' scifi shooter Star Wars Battlefront. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.01 adds planet names to the Planet Loading screen, fixes an GameSpy Arcade issue, and fixes an issue with losing connection to the host after Task-Switching (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

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 :

• LotR: Battle For Middle Earth - Inside The Battle #7
• Sega Superstars - Trailer
• Armies of Exigo - Trailer

The newest installment in the award-winning Call of Duty series, Call of Duty: Finest Hour takes console players to the frontlines of combat to experience the cinematic intensity, chaos of battle and epic moments of World War II across new campaigns across the North African, Western and Eastern Fronts. Read more for a couple of gameplay videos and the latest batch of screens ...

SEGA today released new information about its highly stylized launch title for the Nintendo DS System. Developed by SONICTEAM, Feel the Magic: XY/XX (also known as Kimi no Tame Nara Shineru in Japan; formerly known as Project Rub in North America) is a quirky, action-packed adventure that offers an innovative experience through new methods of play.

DoubleJump Publishing announced a special offer which will help Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne fans pass the time until its release. Their online store is offering free worldwide priority shipping of the SMT: Nocturne guide. By popular request, this deal will also extend to those who order the official strategy guide for Phantom Brave.

Future Games, previously known for Black Mirror, is working on an all new horror/adventure game, Nibiru: Messenger of the Gods. You take on the role of Martin Holan, an Thechz archeologist working in France. You are sent to investigate an newly found secret tunnel apparently made by German during the second World War. Nibiru is a 2D adventure featuring 80 locations, over 30 NPS's and 50 pages of narrative.

Hollywood and rock music join the ranks of World War II with actor Dennis Haysbert, of the hit television drama "24," and Brian Johnson, lead singer of the legendary rock band AC/DC, signing on for key voice talent roles in Activision's gritty, epic first-person war action-thriller Call of Duty: Finest Hour. Read more for further details ...

EA has released a patch for Battlefield Vietnam. This update brings your retail game to v1.2, includes 3 new maps (Operation Cedar Falls, Saigon 1968, and Fall of Saigon), new features, and addresses bug fixes, balance/gameplay tweaks and other known issues. Read more for download links ...