Ubisoft has released a new patch for 1C Maddox's World War II combat flight simulation Pacific Fighters. This update brings your retail game to v3.02 and adds model enhancements, gameplay tweaks, and the usual crash & bug fixes. You first need to update both standalone and merged installations with the "common" patch and then utilize the appropriate patch for either IL2FB or IL2FB+Ace expansion. Read more for download links.

The Matrix Online fanzine is a first edition collector's item celebrating the evolution of The Matrix into a revolutionary new massively multiplayer online game. Created by DC Comics and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, The Matrix Online fanzine contains 24 pages of exclusive stories and articles regarding the evolution of the game - from character creation to beta testing. The fanzine also showcases special features, including Paul Chadwick's Writing the Matrix and an in-depth look at The Matrix Mega city with special edition maps of the game world. 4.

Zuxxezz announced today that they have made the decision to delay their upcoming RTS 'Earth 2160' until Q2 2005 due to the high graphics demands for their new baby which is having an effect on the planned release date. The small team in Worms, Germany estimate that the game will first be released in the second quarter of 2005.

"Kao – The Kangaroo 2" starts his new adventures for JoWooD Productions not only on the PC, but also on all major console systems. Jumping, running, and boxing, the brave kangaroo hero has to solve many exciting levels and tough challenges. Boy, do we have some screens for you ...

Act of War: Direct Action, developed by Eugen Systems, is Atari new action game with a storyline and game universe created in cooperation with Dale Brown, 15-time New York Times best-selling author and expert on US military, global conflict and future military technology.

Pirate's Revenge is a game which focuses on true pirate determination and action, with a strong and rewarding story line. Trade elements feature as a way of restocking your ship with cannons and ammunition, or for offloading booty from your recent plundering activities. Read more for the first few screens ...

Just saw over on Reuters that Soccer Manager 2005 has been banned in China because it lists Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Tibet as independent countries or as China's equals, thereby threatening the country's "sovereignty and territorial integrity."

LEGO Star Wars combines two childhood favourites, LEGO and Star Wars, to create an innovative and exciting action-adventure title designed for young gamers. The game is based on The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and the eagerly awaited Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, slated for worldwide release in May 2005.

Zuxxez announced today they have signed a publishing agreement with I-Deal Games strategy game Jagged Alliance 2: Wildfire. I-Deal Games has optimized the original engine for an improved graphics resolution and has integrated innumerous new features. Read more for details & screens.

THQ today announced that Ping Pals for the Nintendo DS has shipped to retailers throughout North America. Ping Pals takes advantage of all of the major features of the NDS, including wireless communication and game sharing, as well as the touch screen utilizing the stylus.

EA announced today that Bernard Hopkins, the Middleweight Champion of the World, will serve as the official spokesman and cover athlete for EA Sports Fight Night Round 2. The sequel to this year's hit boxing video game will be released in March 2005 under the EA Sports brand for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube.

Strategy games publisher Paradox Interactive today announced, that the much-awaited sequel to the multiple award-winning Hearts of Iron, has gone gold. The game will be released in North America, Scandinavia, Russia, France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Australia, Poland, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Portugal and Mexico. It will be available in stores in the beginning of 2005.

Sony and NVIDIA today announced that the companies have been collaborating on bringing advanced graphics technology and computer entertainment technology to SCEI's highly anticipated next-generation computer entertainment system. Both companies are jointly developing a custom graphics processing unit incorporating NVIDIA's next-generation GeForce and SCEI's system solutions for next-generation computer entertainment systems featuring the Cell processor.

Queasy Games released a new beta of its multiplayer, action-RTS title, Gate 88. In addition to a graphical face lift inspired by abstract Japanese shmups (shoot'em-ups), players can now, at any time during the game, access a tightly integrated lobby chat (IRC client) to find other Gate 88 players. Significant improvements have also been made to the network code.

NRA Varmint Hunter v1.01 upgrades your game by fixing some minor animal artificial intelligence bugs, and adds some performance upgrades to allow the game to run better on slower computers and those with less memory. Read more for download links ...

Captured, conveniently forgotten, tortured, and left for dead, MI6 agent Andrew Sterling awaits execution in a Chinese prison. The story begins when a mysterious friend from his past rescues him, setting off a chain of events that could rock the very foundations of global security and wreak chaos on a worldwide level.

EA's Mark Skaggs has sent out a note to long time Command & Conquer fans quietly announcing that the team behind C&C: Red Alert 2, Yuri's Revenge and C&C Generals is working on an all-new Command & Conquer product. Not many details are revealed but read on for the full note ..

Good parties may run late, but great parties run all night - and all day with Mario Party 6, which launches today exclusively for Nintendo GameCube. Players can keep the party going indefinitely with this rowdy new party game.

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 - Trailer (2)
• Nexus: The Jupiter Incident - Trailer #3

Midway announced today that two of its titles, NBA Ballers and Midway Arcade Treasures, have shipped more than one million units worldwide since their respective releases. NBA Ballers shipped to retail outlets in North America on April 5, 2004 and in Europe on October 14, 2004. Midway Arcade Treasures shipped in North America on November 24, 2003 and on February 6, 2004 in Europe. The compilation of classic Midway arcade titles retails for $19.99.