Already revealed weeks ago, EA today "officially" announced plans to release this October The Sims Makin' Magic, a new expansion pack to the top-selling PC game of all time, The Sims. In this supernatural edition, Sims are granted magical powers with the ability to cast spells that are playful or deviant. Players can venture to an all-new magical, carnival-themed destination, experience exciting new gameplay, gain over 150 new items, and encounter a whole new cast of quirky characters in this powerful pack of magical high jinx.

No Man's Land has an exceptionally balanced multiplayer mode, so lets take a peek at two different multiplayer modes: "defend/destroy railroad" and the "railroad building race". The railroad building race focuses on the challenge of building a railroad across the whole map. The player who is able to reach the other end of the map first wins the race. The defend/destroy railroad mode includes more fighting; you will have to actively defend or attack your opponent during the building phase of the railroad. Both modes are really a lot of fun, and the train itself adds another bunch of special features. For instance, the player is able to request reinforcements or transport troops in the train over long distances.

Already announced a week ago by EA Australia, it is now also shipping in North America. Universal war is imminent and it's time to join the battle in Aliens versus Predator Extinction for the PlayStation2 and the Xbox. Based on the blockbuster Aliens and Predator sci-fi film franchises from Twentieth Century Fox, Aliens versus Predator Extinction gives players the ability to play as one of three species: Aliens, Predators or Colonial Marines. The title, co-published by Electronic Arts and Fox Interactive, has begun shipping on the PlayStation 2 and will ship August 5 on the Xbox.

Stormregion, who have previously developed highly acclaimed S.W.I.N.E., made massive tanks a crucial element in this tactical combat action title set in World War II. Russian, German and Allied troops fight in three campaigns and more than 30 breath taking single player missions. Over a hundred authentic 3D vehicles are at disposal as well as a wide range of ground troops. Check these new screens, taken from the upcoming Panzers trailer...

TDK Mediactive, Inc. announced today that Aquaman:Battle for Atlantis has shipped for the Nintendo GameCube and the Xbox to retail outlets throughout North America. The game marks the first solo appearance by one of the founding members of the Justice League of America, and follows Aquaman’s long anticipated return as a monthly comic series.

Shadowlands, the highly anticipated expansion pack for Funcom’s award-winning massively multiplayer online game Anarchy Online, has gone gold. Shadowlands nearly doubles the current content in Anarchy Online, setting a new benchmark for MMO expansion packs. Read more for details ...

The character made famous by Kurt Russell in "Escape From New York" is set to become a franchise in all media under the brand "The Snake Plissken Chronicles." Plissken has already been the pivotal presence in two films: the 1981 favorite and its 1996 sequel, "Escape From L.A." A series of deals by Russell, director John Carpenter and producer Debra Hill, -- who, as the company Snake World, jointly own the character rights -- has added video games, an anime movie, comic books, action figures and novelization tie-ins to the ways Plissken's story is being told (thanks HomeLan).

NS 2.0 is a significant step forward in the process of merging first person shooters with real-time strategy into a combination of truly atmospheric and social gaming. With huge improvements over the previous gameplay of 1.04, plus plenty of all new features, levels, animations, sounds, and artwork, Natural Selection 2.0 stands ready to turn online gaming back on its ear just like its first release last October. Nearly every aspect of the game has been revisited and reworked from feedback from hundreds of the top NS veterans and thousands of games played on public and private servers around the globe. Read more to check out some nifty screens ...

Fair Strike is the recent project of published Buka Entertainment and developed by G5 Software, known from the helicopter action/arcade Red Shark. It seems that the team is really keen on helicopters because Fair Strike is also a chopper action, but with an antiterrorists background. We will have a preview available for you soon ...

Battle Mages represents a gorgeous mix of RTS and RPG genres in one single game. A player controls the main hero, a graduate of the Imperial Battle Mage School, and his troops to restore peace in a beautiful fantasy world, inhabited with various creatures. Dynamic quest system, dozens of spells and well-thought skills system, flexible gameplay and fascinating storyline are bound to attract many players to Battle Mages. Read more for some screens ...

Specialist driving game developer Eutechnyx has appointed Dave Thompson to its production staff. Dave joins the company as Executive Producer, where his primary responsibility is to head up SRS, Street Racing Syndicate, Eutechnyx' underground street racing game.

Ubi Soft Entertainment today announced that Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Island Thunder has gone gold. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Island Thunder brings realism, heart-pounding action and intense gameplay into one exciting operation. To celebrate this event, UbiSoft has released another trailer with more in game goodness, read more for download links ....

Just noticed on Gamespot that they got confirmed word about Half-Life 2 getting delayed from the original September 30 date to "somewhere later this year". They DO stress that it would still ship this year, but they are most likely aiming for the holiday season now. I am sure this will both disappoint as well as piss off quite a few people ... UPDATE Contrary to the above Shacknews says that according to Valve, this is the first time they heard about a delay .. Who should we believe, the publishers or the developers .. To Be Continued!

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 :

• Hunter The Reckoning: Redeemer - Trailer
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds- Trailer
• The Hobbit - Trailer
• Ghost Master - Trailer
• SimCity 4: Rush Hour - Trailer
• Trinity - E3 Trailer
• Spawn - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Go ahead and dive under the falling safe, jump into the high-speed blender and flail into the blazing fire - the man of burlap can handle it! "Voodoo Vince" allows players to explore and fight as a tattered but unrelenting voodoo doll as he explores the depths of the Louisiana Bayou full of outrageous levels and over-the-top characters. "Voodoo Vince" is the only game where kicking your own butt leads to victory! Check out the new screens!

Several weeks ago, Sony Online announced our future plans for PlanetSide and started on the never-ending journey of continually adding content and gameplay. The Liberator bomber and the SkyGuard anti-aircraft buggy have had a huge impact on battle conditions across Auraxis. Commanders are now able to rain destruction on their enemies through the Orbital Strike and EMP Blast. Medics are now able to locate soldiers that need their help easier. Read more to check out what else they have in store for you Planetside junkies ...

"ESPN NHL Hockey" introduces the all-new Skills Competition, an exhilarating new mode that'll help you show off your skills while you hone your techniques like never before. Based off the real-life Skills Competition that happens every year at the NHL All-Star Game, you'll compete in several contests: light up the puck with your best slapshot in Hardest Shot, test your puck handling ability through the vicarious cone course in Puck Control and much more. Read more for some skillful screens ...

Capcom today announced a worldwide publishing agreement with Cinemaware to release Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown for the PC, PS2, and the Xbox. Based on Cinemaware’s mega hit Defender of the Crown franchise whichhas sold more than one million units worldwide, Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown is a fusion of action, role-playing and strategy genres that seamlessly blend cinematic presentations with unique medieval action-sequences. Players must rely on their skill at sword fighting, castle sieges, jousting, daring archery ambushes and massive army battles to restore England to its glory and remove the tyranny that plagues the land. Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown is scheduled to release across North America August 2003.

Capcom today announced plans to release Auto Modellista, a true cell-shaded arcade-style racing game for the GameCube. Designed to capture the essence of the racing experience, Auto Modellista allows players to customize real-world cars from the get-go and acquire essential components to enhance their vehicles. Licenses from seventeen different car manufactures including Mazda, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru and more are represented giving players a total of 69 real-world cars to offer the ultimate realism. Auto Modellista is scheduled to release this September. The ESRB rating is “E” for everyone.