Pop Idol – The Official Video Game is coming to PlayStation 2 and PC this November. It's a music-based rhythm-action game, complete with Dance Mat mode, where you become one of the hopefuls and compete as a singer through the auditions, the heats and on to the finals. Players have to face comments on their performance from a computer-generated Simon Cowell – making him the ultimate end-of-level game boss. Read more for some screens....

RPGCodex will be hosting an IRC event on Tuesday, October 21st, featuring Shrapnel Games' CRPG developers Aaron Hall (Malfador Machinations) and Adam West (Crosscut Games). The chat will begin at 8 PM EST (5 PM PST) and can be found at irc.gamesnet.net:6667 #RPGCodex. Aaron will be participating from the start, with Adam joining in around 9 PM EST. To participate in the chat you'll need an IRC chat client, such as mIRC.

Atari and Epic Games have announced pricing and packaging details as well as a rebate program for Unreal Tournament 2004, the highly anticipated follow-up to last year's smash hit Unreal Tournament 2003, which has become the standard for competitive multiplayer gaming since it shipped in November 2002. Read more for details ...

For true soccer fans who demand the finest gameplay and in-depth game modes, FIFA Football 2004 is the most complete and authentic soccer experience. A new Career mode gives players the chance to take a team from the lower divisions, battle through ranks, sign new players, and turn them into champions. The action is deeper than ever with advanced levels of player detail and responsiveness. With immersive atmospheres, benchmark presentation, total realism with the world's premier clubs, and industry-leading gameplay, FIFA returns as the true authority in soccer gaming. Check the new screens ...

Plastic Reality/Cenega have released a demo for their squad-based Korean War game Korea: Forgotten Conflict. The demo features a tutorial level and one mission in Seoul, where you have to rescue medic and few allied soldiers and then leave by train (thanks Tiscali). Read more for download links ...

You are Glitch, the gun-slinging, half-ton menacing bot of Droid City who blasts his way to victory. Found as scrap metal, but transformed into destructive machinery, Glitch is determined to free his people from the evil clutches of General Corrosive and his maniacal army of Mil bots. Unleash a world of pain as you annihilate the General's sinister plan to dominate the world, and salvage the robot race... Metal Arms: Glitch In The System is coming for Xbox, GameCube and PlayStation 2 next month, now Xbox owners can get a taste of the demo disc available on developer Swinging Apes official site!

Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) and inXile entertainment today announced a North America distribution deal, commencing with inXile's first game in 2004 (known as "The Bard's Tale" outside of the U.S., final name in the U.S. pending trademark proceedings). Under terms of the contract, VU Games will distribute inXile's new original computer role-playing game (RPG) on multiple console platforms and the PC.

Are there no women in BREED!? Oh yes, there are women! The U.S.C. is well aware that brute force can only get you so far, therefore they have an elite division of GRUNT units that are composed entirely of women. The "SNIPER CORPS" of the U.S.C.'s GRUNTS are feared and respected by those with whom they serve. Mostly mavericks and highly trained in the use of the "SUREKILL" sniper rifle, these deadly ladies can pick off a target from any distance. Armed with a secondary light machine gun and equipped with the lightest armor the U.S.C. forces have to offer. They are the most agile of all the U.S.C. units, as well as the deadliest infiltrators and saboteurs.

To help kill a bit of time until the release of BREED, CDV have included an interview on the official site with GIOVANNI VINDIGNI, who performed the music for BREED.

TDK Mediactive and Disney Interactive announced today that Disney's The Haunted Mansion game has materialized at retail stores throughout North America. Inspired by the theme park attraction that hosts millions of foolish mortals each year, The Haunted Mansion video game is available for PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, and the Nintendo GameCube video game system. Walt Disney Pictures' major motion picture starring Eddie Murphy will debut in November 2003.

The Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas computer game has shipped to retail stores nationwide, Atari, Inc. announced today. Based on the animated film from DreamWorks Pictures, the PC game combines the epic adventure of the movie with the latest PC technology - the Intel Pentium 4 Processor with HT Technology - to deliver a state-of-the-art game experience.

ALTAR Interactive/Cenega have released a demo for their recently released turn-based 3D action game UFO: Aftermath. This demo features a tutorial missions and 4 missions in the African / Middle-Eastern part of the globe. Read more for download links ...

Electronic Arts today announced the acquisition of Studio 33, a globally recognized developer of games in the racing genre. The team of roughly 30 Liverpool-based employees will join the existing team at EA Northwest in nearby Warrington. Both teams - a total of 75 employees - are scheduled to move to a new facility in Warrington shortly.

A new photo-quality demonstration, based on emerging real-time tree and grass technologies, was released today to establish the vastly more realistic possibilities for future gaming worlds. "The Valley" features stunningly realistic trees and grass, blowing in the wind and including advanced level of detail and presentation algorithms. Read more for details, screens & an impressive trailer ...

Buka has released the English demo for Steamland, their funny and beautiful RTS, set in the fantastic world of lively trains, which fight with each other making their way to victory. This game is easy to play both for children and grown-ups without sacrificing keen gameplay. 3D landscapes, changing weather conditions and shadow effects give us the overview about the fabulous world. Striking variety of fantastic units and weaponry completes this surprising civilization. Read more for download links ...

'Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy' is an enchanting adventure filled with mystery, action and a deep, compelling storyline. The game is set in an entirely original universe that is styled upon ancient Egypt where players will embark on an epic quest exploring new worlds, uncovering dark secrets, interacting with hundreds of fantastic creatures and discovering new abilities. Traveling the world via magic portals to foil the evil plans of Set, players will guide Sphinx on a journey requiring all his wits, agility and special powers in an attempt to find the stolen mystical crowns of Egypt. Read more to check out the new screens ...

Over at the European website 'GFO 2004' there are several "Demo Extenders", patches and add-ons available for the official FIFA 2004 demo. With these modifications you can change the resolution which is originally limited to 800x600 pixels. Now you can play up to 1280x1024 pixels and moreover you can choose new camera positions, change the difficulty level, the game speed, you can enable injuries and bookings and you can choose the minutes per half. With other "demo"-mods you can play with new teams, new jerseys and new controls.

The original Hidden & Dangerous (now available for free download) was released in 1999 to widespread acclaim, and was the forerunner for the squad-based tactical action game. With sales in excess of one million copies, Hidden & Dangerous established itself as a leading title in the genre. Its creators, Illusion Softworks, have for the last four years been quietly developing and perfecting the sequel. Read more for a few new screens ...

Novalogic has released a new patch for their teambased FPS Delta Force: Black Hawk Down. This upgdate brings your retail game to v1.3.0.37 and brings in several of new additions, improvements and bug fixes (thanks Homelanfed). Read more for details and download links ...

Encore today announced that it has begun shipping Pirate Hunter and Patrician III, life simulation games developed by Ascaron Entertainment. These two PC games offer a unique combination of trading and fighting, one on the high seas of the Caribbean, the other in the cities of Northern Europe during the Middle Ages. Both will begin reaching store shelves by the end of this week and will retail for approximately $30 and $40, respectively.