TimeGate announced today that it has opened up additional beta test slots for the highly anticipated Axis & Allies title. Inspired by the game of war, strategy, and economics found in the best-selling board game of the same name, the Axis & Allies PC title features unique elements that allow players to change the course of history in new ways. Read more for details ...

Atari and Firaxis have announced a beta test for the upcoming Sid Meier's Pirates! PC game. Open only to subscribers of AVAST, the official Pirates! newsletter, the beta test allows fans to join the crew to become one of the first to discover the legend and legacy of the classic Sid Meier adventure. Fans can go to the official Pirates! website, www.atari.com/pirates, to sign-up for AVAST.

Fireglow today revealed more information about its latest project "Stranger," a real-time strategy game, with elements of role playing games set in fantazy world. 'Stranger' will also feature multiplayer although details beyond "The players may play on their own, or unite in teams" are a bit sktechy. Read more for some new screens.

Activision is targeting virtual sportsmen with the newest release, "Cabela's Deer Hunt 2005 Season," for the Xbox, PS2 and PC, available in stores now.

LucasArts is excited to announce that the highly anticipated action/shooter, Star Wars Battlefront has officially GONE GOLD on PS2, Xbox and PC and is scheduled to blast its way onto store shelves on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 --- day and date with the Star Wars Trilogy, which marks the first time all three classic films will be available on DVD.

Sly 2: Band of Thieves is a comic crime caper, action-adventure game designed exclusively for the PlayStation2. Created by Seattle-based developer, Sucker Punch Productions, Sly 2: Band of Thieves incorporates many of Sucker Punch's signature talents including award winning toon-shaded animation and art direction, visual style, immersive storylines, strong characters, and highly interactive worlds. Read more to check out some new screens ...

TOCA Race Driver 2 will roar in with new and exclusive features for the PS2 edition including an additional circuit, Spain's Catalunya, and an enhanced Championship structure that allows for 99 additional car and track combinations. TOCA Race Driver 2 on PS2 will launch this October, complete with online racing.

Techland announced today that its rally racing sim 'Xpand Rally' has gone gold and will be available throughout Europe starting September 24. No date for North America has been announced after the publishing deal with Strategy First was recently cancelled. Xpand Rally races take place in different parts of the world, the player gets to race in different environments – from deserts to polar snows, over 60 tracks on which players will compete are one of the most important game’s aspects.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has awarded Global Star Software the exclusive worldwide license to develop, publish and distribute videogames based on the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures film, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," directed by Tim Burton, and based on the classic Roald Dahl book.

THQ Inc. today announced it is working closely with AMD to create an optimised version of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl for the impressive AMD Athlon 64 processor architecture.

Head over to our dedicated EGN section to check out the following new screens from Vivendi's 2004 EGN lineup:

Crash Twinsanity (PS2/Xbox) - Evil Genius (PC) - Fight Club (PS2/Xbox) - Men of Valor (PS2/Xbox/PC) - Predator: Concrete Jungle (PS2/Xbox) - Red Ninja (PS2/Xbox) - Spyro: A Hero's Tale (NGC/PS2/Xbox) - World of Warcraft (PC)

'Silent Hunter III' will add new dimensions to the simulation experience. The player will engage in a compelling ocean environment, featuring dynamic weather, and experience the intensity of historical naval warfare. Taking the role of the U-boat commander, players will seek their enemy with sonar and periscope, attack the enemy with torpedoes, destroy them with the deck gun, or command their crew to do the job.

Head over to our dedicated EGN section to check out the following new screens from SCi's 2004 EGN lineup:

• Battlestations: Midway (PS2/Xbox/PC)
• Constantine (PS2/Xbox)
• Rogue Trooper (PS2/Xbox)
• Roll Call (PS2/Xbox)

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 :

• Anarchy Online: Alien Invasion - Trailer #2
• Psychotoxic - GC 2004 Trailer
• Wings of War - Trailer
• Prince Of Persia 2 - Trailers (2)
• Ghost Recon 2 - Trailer #2
• Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault - Trailer #5

Rugby has enjoyed a recent renaissance thanks to England winning the Rugby World Cup. Whilst the future of English rugby is less than certain, one thing is for sure: Pro Rugby Manager 2005 is in development and will be released by Digital Jesters in February at a SRP of £34.99.

SEGA of America today announced that it will publish Sports Interactive's Worldwide Soccer Manager and NHL Eastside Hockey Manager for PC and Mac in North America. Read more for details ..

While we had previously mentioned it, Ubisoft today announced that Prince of Persia 2 (working title) is now officially titled 'Prince of Persia: Warrior Within'. Prince of Persia: Warrior Within features a deep, mysterious storyline starring a darker, edgier Prince who is vigilant in his quest to unseal his mortal destiny. Read more for further details and some screens ...

Octagon Entertainment announced today an agreement of representation with Australian developer KaWoW! to secure publishing for The Unseelie, a first-person shooter with adventure and horror elements. The Unseelie is expected to go gold for the PC in late 2005.

In The Sims 2 you control your Sims over an entire lifetime for the first time. With the ground-breaking addition of genetics, your Sims now pass their DNA down through generations, giving you a more vivid and in-depth Sims experience. Every life choice you make has a relevant and dramatic effect on the lifetime of your Sim. It’s up to you to take your Sims from the cradle to the grave, fulfill their dreams, and push them to extremes in The Sims 2.