The creators of the massively popular computer game franchise "Diablo" announced today the formation of their new entertainment software development company, Flagship Studios. Flagship Studios has been founded by David Brevik, Max Schaefer, Erich Schaefer, Bill Roper and Kenneth Williams, all former executives at Blizzard North. David Brevik served as President while Max Schaefer, Erich Schaefer and Bill Roper held Vice President positions within the company. Ken Williams was Blizzard North's Director of Business and Operations. Together, the management and executive team for Flagship Studios represents over 45 years of game development experience.

Fight and evade the powerful military force of the Conquistadors, as they seek to vanquish the seas of the pirate insurgence. Only a pirate captain who masters the power of the voodoo spells, who can outwit their foes and seize the treasure, will truly be ruler over the “Voodoo Islands”. Although Koch Media announced that their game went out of beta testing several months ago, no release date is given yet. Check out the news 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. But just creating a custom street racing machine will not get you to the top; it takes a certain amount of attitude and razor sharp driving skills to compete in the tough world of urban racing. Check out them shiny screens!

Real-time strategy meets history's most exciting eras in Activision, Inc.'s Empires: Dawn of the Modern World, the latest creation from renowned game designer Rick Goodman and Stainless Steel Studios, Inc. The game challenges players to take full control over military, economic and strategic developments in a quest to build the ultimate empire with one of seven totally unique and historically accurate civilizations. Empires: Dawn of the Modern World is available now at retail outlets in North America for a suggested price of $49.99 and has been rated "T" ("Teen" -- Blood, Violence -- content suitable for persons ages 13 and older) by the ESRB.

Interplay Entertainment Corp. announced today that the highly anticipated "Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel" for the PlayStation2 and the Xbox has gone gold.

Rise to Honor is a fast-paced action game developed exclusively for the PS2. Created by Sony Computer Entertainment America’s Foster City Studio in collaboration with worldwide action star Jet Li (Cradle 2 The Grave, The One, Kiss of the Dragon, Lethal Weapon 4), Rise to Honor will immerse players into an action packed story line centered around family, deceit and honor in a chain of dangerous events extending from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Check out the new screens ...

The expansion pack to the award-winning RPG of 2002 unveils an all-new campaign that will challenge players to explore and fight their way through nine spectacular areas, including an expansive new jungle region, as they unravel the rich history and mystery of the world of Aranna. Njoy the 40+ new screens...

Zono, previously known for titles such as Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction and Metal Fatigue, is developing a new tactical strategy game. Riot Police is a tactical strategy game that lets players assume control of an elite Riot Squad and quell 16 out-of-control riots! Read more for details & the first screens ...

Midway Games announced today that Super Duper Sumos, the highly rated cartoon series from the DIC Kid's Network and the number one kids import from the UK, shipped today for the Game Boy Advance... Rockstar Games announced today that the Grand Theft Auto Double Pack for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system has shipped to retail stores throughout North America. The PlayStation 2 Double Pack will be in stores in Europe on October 24, 2003. The Grand Theft Auto Double Pack consists of the best-selling titles Grand Theft Auto 3 and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City...

Datel Electronics has announced the release of the USB Expander for the PlayStation 2. Recognizing a need for the online gamer to access more than the two provided USB ports on the PS2, Datel has released the USB Expander, which provides an additional four USB Ports to supplement the two existing ports found on all PS2 models. The four additional ports will allow for the use of a USB Broadband Adapter, Keyboard, Mouse, Headset, and EyeToy all at the same time. Gamers will now be able to establish their console set-up without having to add or remove peripherals depending on game compatibility.

Computer game developer and publisher Auran Games today announced their latest PC title, Trainz Railroad Simulator 2004, published by Oteeva, has gone Gold. Copies can be purchased online at www.railroadsimulator.com and will be available at retail stores beginning this week.

Rockstar/Take has released a new patch for their recently released 3rd person action game Max Payne 2: the Fall of Max Payne. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.01 and mainly addresses a Win98/ME crash and improves load times (thanks Bluesnews). Read more for download links ...

Vivendi has released a one level demo (Potted Plant) for their upcoming 3D action-adventure game inspired by the upcoming Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Pictures/Imagine Entertainment presentation of Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat. Unique gameplay abilities, including the Umbrella Glide, the Hat-Shield Bounce and the Bubble Goo Gadget, help players to navigate through thirteen wild levels in a wacky Seussian world. Read more for download links ...

Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb offers 10 levels, all set in unique locales such as a 15th century castle that looms over Prague, an underwater palace in Istanbul, and a mountaintop fortress in China. A sophisticated camera tracking system makes sure that the player always has an optimal view of the third-person action. To coincide with the release of the Indiana Jones DVD pack, LucasArts has included/released an updated demo with a never-before-seen bonus level. 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 :

• SWAT: Global Strike Team - Trailer
• Crash Nitro Kart - Trailer
• Lord Of The Rings: War Of The Ring - Trailer
• Cat In The Hat - Trailer
• The Hobbit - Trailer
• Metal Arms: Glitch In The system - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

And this massive shipping day rolls on with two new Xbox titles from Microsoft that are always on their way to retail shelves. Developed by Rare, Grabbed by the Ghoulies is a humorous beat-'em-up action-adventure game that takes place in a haunted house full of crazed ghoulies. Combining thrilling dogfights with the swashbuckling style of a Hollywood action-adventure movie, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge raises the bar for aerial combat. Set in an alternate 1930s world of gunship diplomacy and sinister intrigue, gamers pilot powerful aircraft against nefarious air pirates and behemoth war zeppelins. Read more for details....

Ubisoft announced Warlords IV: Heroes of Etheria has shipped nationwide! Warlords IV is a unique blend of role playing and turn-based strategy gaming with a tactical combat system unique to the Warlords franchise. Warlords IV: Heroes of Etheria is rated "T-Teen" and is available for a suggested retail price of $39.99. We also got a new trailer showing off the unique Warlords IV world and some of the exciting battles featured in the game.

Electronic Arts today announced that SSX 3 has shipped and is now available at retail under the EA SPORTS BIG brand. The third installment in EA's flagship action sports franchise, SSX 3 is now available for the PlayStation2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube. SSX 3 will also be released for the Game Boy® Advance on November 4th.

Publisher Big City Games and developer Dreams Interactive are pleased to announce that their high-flying hovercraft racing game 'Space Haste 2' has shipped to stores nationwide.