Ubisoft today announced the signing of an exclusive European publishing and distribution contract with North American video game publisher ARUSH Entertainment. The agreement covers the groundbreaking Playboy-branded video game Playboy: The Mansion, which will be playable on PC and two major console systems. The game is slated for a Autumn 2004 European release.

Hidden & Dangerous 2 puts you in charge of a squad of lethal SAS troopers. Set over European, African and Asian continents and reflecting the theaters of war where the SAS operated, Hidden & Dangerous 2 will be every bit as groundbreaking as the original game. Illusion Softworks released promised patch for their tactical action/strategy bringing your retail game to v1.02. This upgrade adresses a ton of single & multiplayer issues, as well as some general game improvements (thanks jd/tiscali). Read more for detailed fix list & download links ...

Can you save the world from the ICEWorm microchip? You are special agent Ethan Hunt — back to battle international espionage as the fate of the free world hangs in the balance! A microchip nicknamed ICEWorm is disabling the security systems of the world’s largest organizations, and providing free access to the highest bidder. Your mission – should you choose to accept it – is to destroy the chip and prevent its creators from bringing the free world to its knees. Serving up today are some new PS2/Xbox screens...

Enter the world of urban street racing and high performance tuner cars with the latest title in the hit Need for Speed series: Need for Speed Underground. Take on today's most popular tuner cars from Mitsubishi Motors, Subaru, Toyota and many more, building the ultimate street machine by earning cash to pay for custom body kits and a host of licensed car performance mods. EA has released a demo for EA Black Box's Need For Speed: Underground letting you try out a 1 lap circuit race or single drag race, in both single or multiplayer (up to 4 racers) mode. Read more for download links ...

Cold Winter is set in a dark world of global espionage, full of international intrigue, action and suspense. This story of a disavowed secret agent unfolds through three different threads and takes place in eight distinct environments that are as gritty as they are beautiful. 13 single player missions are woven into the three story threads of the game; Cold Winter will also incorporate a variety of immersive environments, from the dank hopelessness of a Chinese prison, to the exotic beauty of cities like Cairo and Hong Kong. Read more for a fresh batch of screens ...

Video games are taking to the runway when Nick Kang, the virtual star of Activision Inc.'s highly anticipated holiday title, True Crime : Streets of L.A. , debuts selections from PUMA's spring 2004 collection at the game's launch party. As the first video game character turned fashion model, Kang will unveil new PUMA apparel and footwear including the Antitaste and Motorsport collections.

NASCAR Thunder 2004 puts gamers behind the wheel in a world where grudges and alliances mean the difference between victory lane and disaster. You're no longer just racing a track, you're racing a pack of 42 real world stars who think for themselves, remember your every move, and aren't afraid to pay you back. Revenge may be around the next corner or at the next race, as you scream through 23 authentic tracks or hone your road racing skills on 11 fantasy tracks. Electronic Arts has released a demo for EA Tiburon's racing sim Nascar Thunder 2004 giving you the chancve to try out 2 tracks (Texas, Talladega) in both single or multiplayer. Read more for download links ...

Project Timeless is a multi-player only 3D-Shooter mod for Half-Life (will also be adapted for HL2). The PT mod features complex campaigns, detailed player models, breathtaking weapons, tactical gameplay. mp3 player, radar, etc. Yesterday we had the win32/Linux server files, today the v1.0 beta client files (self-extracting Installer) are now available. 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 :

• Need For Speed - Trailer
• XIII - Trailer
• Sonic Heroes - Trailer
• NBA Live 2004 - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Strage First has put up the product page for JA2: Wildfire, in development at I-Deal Games Studios, no specific release date. Wildfire, created by Serge "Wildfire" Popov, a well known pioneer in the JA2 community includes changes to all weapons, landscapes, structures, missions, enemies and the AI. All elements within the game were altered to make it more realistic bringing it closer to real-life. Wildfire takes you back to Arulco, its economy has completely collapsed and the country has now become a base for international drug cartels. Export of precious metals, which was the foundation of Arulco’s economy, is now just a cover for the extensive export of drugs into North America (thanks Blues).

1C Company and Pointsoft Interactive have signed a Pan-European distribution deal for Vivisector: Beast Inside. Vivisector: Beast Inside developed by Action Forms (creators of Chasm and Carnivores series) is a unique mixture of 3D Action/Horror. The game blends a thrilling interactive story with intense, high-adrenaline action and immerses players in a rich and fascinating storyline. Mysterious Dr. Morhead built a laboratory on the remote Soreo Isle and resumed his hideous experiments... Violating the very foundations of nature, his work was aimed at the creation of a new form of living being - animals that look, feel and behave more like humans. Read more for some new screens ...

Set in Europe at the time of the migration of nations (about 200-450 AD), Against Rome takes the player to that part of the continent that has not yet succumbed to the Roman Empire. This vast territory, which the Romans disparagingly called barbaricum, is the home of numerous primitive nations. The player takes control over one of these barbarian tribes, who as a whole stood out for a pronounced lack of cultural achievements, combined with a ferocious belligerence... Check out some new screens below!

SEGA’s legendary mascot Sonic The Hedgehog makes his historic multi-platform debut and embarks on his biggest adventure ever, with his trademark blazing speed and a new gameplay twist in “Sonic Heroes.” Read more for 40+ new screens or check the new trailer...

Intel Corporation today introduced the Intel Pentium 4 processor Extreme Edition supporting Hyper-Threading (HT) Technology** at 3.20 GHz. High-performance computers based on this new processor are designed for high-end gamers and computing enthusiasts and are now available from system manufacturers worldwide.

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (ASUS) today announced the new ASUS V9980 Ultra/TVD graphics card. The ASUS V9980 Ultra/TVD comes equipped with the latest ASUS-specific award-winning features and NVIDIA's GeForce FXTM 5950 Ultra Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), which powers both ultimate excellent cinematic resolution and fierce graphics computing power.

In celebration of its record shipments of 700,000 units in September, ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (ASUS), a worldwide leader in high-performance graphics solutions, today released a limited edition for the ASUS RADEON 9800XT graphics card. As well as all the cutting-edge features, powerful performance, bundled games and accessories in the original package, this collector's item also comes in a stylish black case and bundles a USB 2.0-based 7-in-1 card reader (SD, MMC, 3.3V SM, MD, Type I/II CF, MS, MS Pro) and leather CD holder. ASUS will offer only 2,000 units of this limited edition so take advantage of this great opportunity.

Developer S2 Games and iGames Publishing today announced that registration has begun for a new round of beta testing for Savage: The Battle for Newerth. Testers will be asked to play and evaluate the first in a series of free major content updates for the hugely popular online multiplayer game. To sign up, please visit the S2 Games beta website.

Award-winning global games services specialist Babel Media has strengthened its on-going relationship with videogame publisher Nintendo. Babel has produced two localised game websites in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish, for Nintendo of Europe, and produced items for their VIP 24:7 loyalty scheme.

Sigil Games Online, Inc. today announced that Kevin McPherson, one of the first programmers assigned to the original "EverQuest" team and author of the "Ruins of Kunark" back story and setting, has accepted the position of Senior Programmer with the company. With over seven years of experience in the game industry, McPherson adds his expertise to Sigil's growing team of all-star massively multiplayer online game developers.