For the first time ever, EA Games console titles including The Lord of the Rings; The Return of the King will feature online gameplay for the PS2, Electronic Arts announced today. Along with The Lord of the Rings, The Sims Bustin' Out, Need for Speed Underground, and Medal of Honor Rising Sun will allow gamers to connect and play online this holiday season. Read more for details ...

As U.S. Army Sergeant John Baker, players join the battle at Kasserine Pass in North Africa, race to capture Messina in Sicily, and finally repel the German army at the historic battle of Monte Battaglia in the heart of Italy. Armed with a new arsenal of weapons, players will fight alone and with squad mates as they rush to stop the Axis powers. Some more screens ...

This "side story" to SEGA's popular "Shinobi" invites players to live out the events following Hotsuma's victory over Hiruko's evil minions. But like all things, victory is fleeting, and an evil such as Hiruko's is not so easily vanquished. Just as Tokyo begins the slow and tedious process of repairs, a new rift opens between Earth and the demon realm. Check the screens ...

Nokia today announced mobile online elements for this year's Nokia Game at the fifth annual Nokia Totally Board event in Sevilla, Spain. Nokia Game 2003 is an interactive adventure provided by Nokia that will be played across 35 countries around the world in 10 languages.

Entertainment software developer and publisher NovaLogic, Inc. is pleased to announce that the first expansion pack for the number one selling PC title Delta Force: Black Hawk Down is currently under development at Dallas-based Ritual Entertainment.

Game Live Events today announced their “2003 Fall College Tour.” Building on the overwhelming success of their 13-campus Spring Tour, attended by over 20,000 college gamers, the 17-stop Fall College tour begins on Friday, September 12th in New York, NY at Cornell University and runs through Monday, October 20th at the University of Southern California.

In their immeasurable greed and constant thirst for power, the thirteen most powerful Mages of all time doomed the land, hurling it into an endless spiral of chaos and despair. Entire countries were wiped out in the blink of an eye when the devastating power of the Elements was unleashed – Elements summoned by dark rituals. Continents shattered like glass, the pieces strewn about like leaves in the wind. Huge armies, bound by the the power of ancient runes, brought war and destruction to the lands that survived the initial onslaught. All that was left were a few islands, connected by magic portals. Read more for 4 tasty new screens ...

Sunflowers has contracted Virgin Lands Computeranimation GmbH to develop the cut scenes for their new PC game Knights of Honor. Developed by Bulgaria’s Black Sea Studios, the empire conquering simulation is due to be released in the 2nd quarter of 2004. Read more for details if this is your kind of bag ...

Microsoft Game Studios today announced that Age of Mythology: The Titans has gone gold and is scheduled to march onto store shelves on September 30 for an estimated retail price of $34.95 (U.S.). The cataclysmic struggle between ancient gods begins anew with the addition of a new mythology, the Atlanteans, as well as a brand new single-player campaign and a host of exclusive new features. Read more for details ...

ESPN Videogames today announced that the highly acclaimed ESPN NHL Hockey is now available at major video game retailers across North America. Continuing the high standard of sports realism and video game entertainment of the ESPN Videogames brand, ESPN NHL Hockey delivers speed, action and excitement to hockey fans. ESPN NHL Hockey and other ESPN Videogames titles are produced by Visual Concepts - Sega's sports developer.

HU2 isn't like other hunting games on the market; it features a fast-paced mission style which drops the player into specific scenarios, such as being charged by an angry bear or glassing a hilltop and bringing down three prize trophies of different species. Arush has released the playable demo which features 5 of the 75 challenges in the full game--the free hunt mode, mini-games, mission editor and target range are disabled in the demo but appear in the full version. Read more for download links ...

Joan of Arc is a 3D epic saga that allows players to relive some of the most intense battles during the Hundred Years War. In Joan of Arc, players will slowly transform from a single warrior into a forceful military leader as they develop and master the art of chivalry and tactical warfare... Six new shots is available below!

The official Postal 2 site is updated (thanks VE3D) with following Multiplayer Beta information:

We've been working on multiplayer, and we are going beta on Friday, Sept 12th at about 6pm PST. It won't be an open beta but we will be accepting a lot of people! For more information join irc.gamesnet.net and join #postal2beta or email mikej@gopostal.com.

The hunt is on with the release of "Cabela's Deer Hunt 2004 Season" from Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision, Inc. The follow-up to last year's hit for the PlayStation game console, "Cabela's Deer Hunt 2004 Season" expands upon the realistic Cabela's hunting games franchise by including new regions, more deer, and plenty of action for both novice and expert marksmen. "Cabela's Deer Hunt 2004 Season" for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and Xbox video game system from Microsoft is currently available at retail outlets nationwide for a suggested retail price of $29.99 and carries a "T" (Teen -- content suitable for persons ages 13 and older) rating by the ESRB.

Valve has released the official Steam client which you now need for future Halflife, as well as Counterstrike, update patches and other Valve goodies. No more beta patches, this is the official release (thanks Shacknews). Read more for download links ...

TDK has released the Mercedes-Benz World Racing playable demo. This demo features 4 Mercedes-Benz cars (SLK 230 Kompressor, G500, A 190 Twin, SL 300 Gullwing), 1 full World Racing scenario: the Alps, 1 mini championship with 2 races, 2 missions (1 waypoint mission, 1 mission which is exclusive for the demo in which a vintage 300 SL Gullwing competes against a modern SLK). Read more for download link ...

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. Read more for no less than 70+ new console screens ...

Noticed over on Bluesnews that according to a chatlog on UFOAftermath.co.uk their upcoming turn based strategy game 'UFO: Aftermath' has already gone Gold. In the log from a recent developers chat Cenega's Brian Faller revealed that the game has already gone gold and is on track for the 26th of September UK release date. Release dates for other countries are still unknown but are to be "within weeks of the UK date", so look for 'UFO: Aftermath' in stores soon ...

In Sacred the player can choose from 6 playable characters, each with their own individual characteristics and style. The more reserved role-player might prefer the Battle Mage or the Wood Elf, while admirers of traditional fantasy characters can take on the role of the Gladiator or Dark Elf. If the player fancies a different approach then the Seraphim, a follower of the mystical Angels, or the bloodthirsty Vampiress might clench their thirst. Check out these 30+ new screens ..