Strategy First announced today that the first expansion pack for Disciples II: Dark Prophecy, Disciples II: Guardians of the Light, has shipped to retail stores nationwide. “We are very happy to be giving Disciples fans even more to get excited about,” said Don McFatridge, President Strategy First Inc. “Guardians of the Light will have die hard fans coming back for more and will give newcomers to the franchise a chance to experience the Disciples world we love so much.”

With super-responsive flipper control and ball movement, Pure Pinball gives players the feeling of experiencing full size pinball machines on hand. Featuring the Excessive Speed, World War, and Runaway Train pinball tables, Pure Pinball delivers an unprecedented level of silver-ball realism, making it the state-of-the-art computer pinball simulation of all time. The demo is time limited and contains the Excessive Speed table along with a comprehensive game manual. Read more for download links ...

Ubi Soft has issued another multiplayer map for their squad-based tactical shooter Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield. The author describes this as "I was tired of those HUGE multiplayer map.. so I made one for small team deathmatch and survival. Best for 1 on 1 to 4 on 4." A very small map for fast games, best used in Survival and Team Survival modes. Read more for download links ...

GMX Media today announced that it has secured the rights to publish Firepower for the PC. "You only have to look at the movies on the web site to appreciate the fantastic job the guys at Shockwave have done, this is a must have title for any self-respecting flight sim fan." Commented Barry Leonard COO of GMX Media. Read more for details and screens ...

Anarchy Entertainment can't seem to make up their minds about what to call Deep Sea Tycoon, switching between Atlantis Underwater Tycoon, Aquazots, and for now settled on DST. Either way, they have released an updated demo allowing you to check out four tutorials, a sandbox level set in the Atlantic Ocean, and three single levels in their underwater 3D strategy game. DST is already available in US, and will be availavble in most European countries next month (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

In Advent Rising, a common legend pervades the galaxy - that of a powerful, ancient race that will one day unite the universe. Millions of cultures from vastly distant worlds revere and hallow these mythological beings known as humans. One race, the Seekers, know humans actually exist and are threatened by their potential power. Under the guise of benevolent explorers, the Seekers travel throughout the galaxy in a desperate attempt to eradicate any human society they unearth. Check the new screens ...

Gamers get ready to rip across a lake by a high-powered speedboat and pull off huge tricks in Activision, Inc.'s new action sports video game, Wakeboarding Unleashed featuring Shaun Murray. Featuring revolutionary water graphics, unique rope mechanics and innovative two-player modes, the game has been named "Game of the Month" by PSM (July, 2003), "GMR Essential Selection" by GMR Magazine (July 2003), and Editor's Choice by the Official Xbox Magazine (August 2003).

Building on the success of its Dragon Ball Z portfolio, Atari, Inc. today announced the first DBZ fighting game for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Dragon Ball Z: Taiketsu. Developed by WebFoot Technologies, the group that made the smash hit Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku game, Dragon Ball Z: Taiketsu is currently slated for release this November.

A biog of project leader (and keen door-opener) Michel Ancel. The creator of Rayman, a pioneering trademark in the history of video games with: more than 10.5 million copies of the whole range sold throughout the world. Huge critical success: Rayman 2 The Great Escape was voted best Dreamcast game for the year 2000 by IGN and best on-line PlayStation game by Electronic Boutique; Rayman Advance was voted best game with best graphics for portable console in the 2001 E3 trade show by IGN... Read more below!

Expanding its diverse portfolio of licensed entertainment properties, Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. today announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with Archangel Studios to develop video games based upon its award-winning, computer-generated comic series, The Red Star. Currently under development with Acclaim Studios Austin for the next-generation gaming systems, The Red Star takes place in a parallel fantasy universe, in which a mythic empire based on the Soviet Union sets the landscape for an epic battle of militarized sorcery and monolithic technology.

Microsoft Train Simulator 2 provides the opportunity to command a 200-ton modern diesel locomotive or operate a steam-breathing behemoth from the past.

The demo version of 1893: A World's Fair Mystery is now available for download. In it, you can begin the adventure, read a little background material, explore one of the exposition buildings, and interact with some other characters. In addition, tutorial information is embedded in the demo to help introduce players to Interactive Fiction, and explains how to use many of the basic commands.

CDV Entertainment announces the simultaneous worldwide release of their latest 3D-RTS-Game No Man's Land – Fight For Your Rights which will hit shelves August 2003. In No Man's Land, the player leads the colonisation of the American continent between 1600 and 1900. In three campaigns, divided into 30 diversified missions, the player sees the historical development of this era from the viewpoint of six different ethnic groups: Englishmen, settlers, American patriots, Spaniards, Forest- and Prairie Indians.

Purge players become members of the Order and the Chosen, with each side seeking elimination of the enemy and individual party survival. Players receive rewards as they win battles and complete objectives throughout gameplay. In addition, Purge offers several map options, innovative weaponry and extensive player customization to enhance the online war experience. Today we have some new information about the upcoming Purge patch (due in about 2 weeks) which will introduce a new map called Cargo Depot, as well as a few other fixes/tweaks. Read more to check out the first available screens ...

On the 24th of June Shrapnel Games will re-release RuneSword II in a new package, at a new price! The game will now come in a slick DVD box, and will sell for $24.95! And from now until June 20th if you pre-order, Shrapnel Games even take another $5.00 off the price! Imagine hundreds of hours of RPG goodness for less than the price of dinner and a movie!

Gamespy has posted the transcript from their chat with the guys from Splash Damage on Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory last Friday. This stand-alone expansion pack to Return to Castle Wolfenstein is freely available and rather popular. In fact, it has become one of the top three most-played games on the Internet, regularly taking on Battlefield 1942 for the second place place, right behind Half-Life.

Evil Avatar dug up some Half-Life 2 news from Seattle Bizjournals, were product manager David Hufford from Microsoft Xbox group says "As of now, Half-Life 2 is not going to be on the Xbox... Here is a small clip:

Raisys, who owns Microsoft stock, expressed disappointment that the combat game Halo 2, the sequel to one of Microsoft's few exclusive smash hits, won't be available for the holiday season. Halo 2 isn't expected to be available until March 2004.

In addition, Hufford acknowledged that another anticipated combat game sequel, Half-Life 2, made by Seattle game developer Valve Software, won't be available for the Xbox as had been previously announced.

"As of now, Half-Life 2 is not going to be on the Xbox," he said. "Valve is sending us mixed messages on that."

Enlight announced today that ClearImage PR will direct its North American public relations activities. ClearImage PR will promote Enlight's gaming titles as the company expands its product line through its development and publishing divisions. Enlight, best known for the award-winning Capitalism and Seven Kingdom series of strategy and simulation games, has recently entered the publishing industry with its debut title Restaurant Empire. Enlight Interactive, the company's publishing division, is headquartered in Parkville, Maryland and led by CEO Paul Lombardi.

Nintendo of America Inc. is reaffirming the status of its new Game Boy Advance SP as the hottest selling video game system in the United States. More than 1.1 million units of the new self-lit, flip-top portable unit have sold in America less than 10 weeks after its introduction. The new model has sold at a rate of more than 10 per minute, non-stop, since launch.