Ubi Soft Entertainment announced the upcoming availability of console demos and CD soundtrack in support of the launch of XIII, its highly anticipated first-person shooter. Demos and CD soundtrack will be available late September. PlayStation2 and Xbox fans can get an exclusive sneak peek at exciting single-player and multi-players levels along with a full length soundtrack produced by San Francisco-based label Future Primitive Sound. The purchase of this two-disc will be applied to the full product when it becomes available. Nintendo GameCube and PC fans can receive the enhanced CD soundtrack by pre-ordering.

The World Cyber Games officially announced today that San Francisco will be the WCG Grand Final host city for the year 2004, taking the world’s largest e-sports event to a new level of global excitement and interest. The announcement was made at a press conference in San Francisco City Hall on September 3. Mr. Il-hyung Chang attended the press conference on behalf of Mr. Jong-yong Yun, co-chairman of the World Cyber Games Committee (WCGC), along with Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr., of San Francisco and Mr. Heung-seop Jeong, president of International Cyber Marketing, the worldwide organizer of WCG.

Bringing all the thrills of the most realistic driving game for Xbox online via Xbox Live, "Sega GT Online" will allow up to 12 gamers to put their cars - and their skills - to the ultimate test against thousands of gamers from around the world. The updated online version of the 2002 Xbox hit will include online parts and car trading, more than 40 new cars, and real-time voice chat.

Eidos has released a new patch for their third-person action adventure title Tomb Raider: the Angel of Darkness. This upgrade brings your retail game to v49 and brings a slew of game improvements and much needed bug fixes thanks 3DGamers. Read more for details and download links ...

id Software and Activision, Inc. have confirmed that Vicarious Visions is developing DOOM 3 for Xbox, the console version of id Software's highly-anticipated blockbuster title headed to the Xbox. Built on id's revolutionary new 3D graphics engine, DOOM 3 draws players into the most terrifying and riveting 3D gaming experience ever created.

The official Chariots of War patch 1.14 with map pack is now available to download. The official patch includes an installer in five languages (English, French, German, Italian & Spanish) and adds a slew of new features, tweaks, bug fixes and a few new maps. Read more for download links ...

Private Moon Studios is proud to announce the release of the first episode of AGON, the London scene. The true adventure game that comes in fourteen downloadable episodes over a period of two years starts in the British Museum, London. The first episode was released on 3 September, and can be downloaded from the official Agon website. For those who have purchased the first episode, the website provides additional entertainment. Between episodes numerous documents will be published in the Illustrated Agon Club that follow Professor Hunt's journey in real time, and provide details about a rich background story. Users who carefully delve into these documents may realise that there are more layers to the game, and may come to different conclusions at the end of the fourteen episodes. The Club will be refreshed weekly over the next two years.

Ubi Soft Entertainment today announced that the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon action-adventure video game will for available for the Xbox in December 2003. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is Developed by Genki Co., Ltd. under license from Sony Pictures Consumer Products and based on Sony Pictures Classics’ Academy Award winning movie. Read more for details and check out some new trailers...

Sony Ericsson today announced innovative, fun products to go with their mobile phones. The Gameboard EGB-10 is an attachable game controller, which gives a true console-style feeling to playing mobile games. The Bluetooth CAR-100 is a small racecar that can be controlled with a Sony Ericsson mobile phone, a great example of the variety of ways in which Bluetooth wireless technology can be used.

Italian publisher Cidiverte has released an English demo for Techland's upcoming sci-fi shooter Chrome. The demo features a tutorial and one full level (thanks Tiscali). Read more for download links ...

Black Sea Studios has revealed some details on the menus and harbors that will features in their upcoming medieval RTS Knights of Honor. Read more for details and some new screens ...

Rockstar Games' products planned for release in the fourth quarter include the launch of Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, the sequel to the hit franchise that has sold over 4 million units since its debut in 2001. The title will launch on PC, and will be in stores in North America on October 15th, with PlayStation2 and Xbox versions planned for release in the first quarter.

Gathering, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. and critically acclaimed software developer Illusion Softworks, today announced the launch of the Hidden & Dangerous 2 website. All the latest in-game movies, exclusive screenshots, game FAQ's and more are now. The game, invading stores this October for the PC, is the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed World War II tactical strategy game.

Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars appeals to both RTS and RPG players searching for a new experience in already known genres. The multiplayer provides new strategic gameplay tuned towards the traditional RTS players. It is easy to start playing the game but there are a lot of new options to explore. Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars continues the traditions of the award winning Celtic Kings: Rage of War and will be exploring the three Punic wars between Rome and Carthage in the period 264BC – 146BC which includes the famous campaigns of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus.

Rockstar Games, the world-renowned publishing division of Take-Two Interactive Software announced today that it plans to ship the award-winning Grand Theft Auto 3 and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City as a "double pack" for both the PlayStation2 and the Xbox. The Grand Theft Auto "double pack" is set to hit shelves in North America on October 22, 2003 for PlayStation2 and on November 4, 2003 for Xbox.

Take-Two Interactive Software and TDK Mediactive announced an agreement today pursuant to which Take-Two will acquire all shares of outstanding common stock of TDK Mediactive. Under the terms of the agreement, Take-Two will purchase TDK Mediactive for approximately $22.7 million, consisting of (1) $0.55 per share for each of the 23,005,885 shares outstanding (approximately $12.6 million); (2) purchase of debt of approximately $9.9 million ($1.9 million in cash and $8 million in restricted shares of common stock of Take-Two, or approximately 270,000 shares); and (3) approximately $0.2 million to retire outstanding stock options.

Activision and Disney Interactive, a publishing label of Buena Vista Games announced today that Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure video game is available at retail stores nationwide. The game gives skateboarding a magical new twist. For the first time ever, kids can skate as their favorite characters from the imaginative worlds of Walt Disney Pictures' presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios' film "Toy Story 2," Disney's "Tarzan" and "The Lion King." Powered by the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 engine technology, the game includes a Create-A-Skater option where players can customize a youthful skater's "look" by selecting clothing and accessories. Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure is rated "E" ("Everyone" -- content suitable for persons ages 6 and older) by the ESRB and is available now for a suggested price of $39.99 on the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and Nintendo GameCube and for $29.99 on the Game Boy Advance.

Electronic Arts announced that Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII, the latest expansion pack for the award-winning Battlefield 1942 PC game series under the EA GAMES brand, is available in stores today. From cutting edge weapons to secret forces and clandestine locations, Secret Weapons of WWII will add a new level of drama and excitement to the Battlefield 1942 experience.

MERCURYSTEAM Entertainment has today launched a totally renewed website to promote its curret action game in development SCRAPLAND. The new flash site contains details regarding the game's storyline and key features as well as a wealth of screenshots, artwork, wallpapers and a weighty section about the characters with videos, the models, their gunships and much more. It also hosts a section ready to put up community resources. The site can be found here or read more to check out some screens ...

Backyard Wrestling places you in the role of an aspiring wrestler. You must be prepared to endure extreme amounts of pain and take incredible risks in order to move one step closer to the BYW title and ultimately be crowned 'The King of Hardcore'. But the road to glory is long and dangerous. Dozens of weapons including thumbtacks, barbed wire, light bulbs, baseball bats, tables, trash cans, and stop signs are at your disposal to help re-arrange the faces of new challengers... Now has its own website, which it probably is OK to try at home.