Bigben Interactive today announces it has become the publisher for the JoWood range in both the UK and Scandinavian territories with immediate effect. The deal is part of an agreement that sees the Bigben Interactive Group publishing the JoWood range across Europe. Bigben Interactive UK will be responsible for all forthcoming titles such as, Chaser, Silent Storm, Söldner: Secret Wars and Spellforce: The Order of the Dawn in addition to the entire back catalogue, budget range and OEM opportunities.

GMX Media today announced that it has secured the rights to publish the PC Strategy title - Massive Assault in Western Europe. "We are extremely excited about Massive Assault." Commented Barry Leonard COO of GMX Media. "Strategy gamers are going to love this title. It has astonishing graphics, a great soundtrack, unparalleled gameplay and the AI is simply incredible." Read more for details and new screens ...

Another day, another batch of game trailers were released. Instead of giving them all their own post, we grouped them and so far there are trailers for :

• Nexuiz - Trailer
• Carve (Xbox) - Trailer
• ViviSector: Beast Inside - E3 Trailer
• One Must Fall: BattleGrounds- Trailer #2
• Splinter Cell (GBA/NGC) - Trailer
• MechMinds - E3 Trailer
• Nexagon: Deathmatch- E3 Trailer
• 
  
  (thanks 3DGamers).Read more for download links ...

Shanghai Dragon is a first-person arcade rail-shooter by Chinese company E-Pie Entertainment (already released in China). They have released a playable demo letting you try out the first two missions from the full game (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

Novalogic just send out word announcing the first expansion pack for Delta Force: Black Hawk Down. As the US army’s elite special operations soldiers you are the most potent ‘smart weapon’ known to man. You are the ‘tip of the spear’ for covert operations around the world - you are the first line of attack. Nothing stands in your way. From the war torn streets of Somalia you have been re-deployed to take out targets in Colombia and Iran. As the US military’s preemptive strike force you must work with your team to get the job done. Read more for some features and the first hi-res screens ...

Activision sends word that Splash Damage are working on a patch for their recently released "free" Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory product. The server side patch will fix a server crash problem as well as memory leaks. No release date has yet been given.

Ubi Soft today announced that it will be the European publisher for the highly-anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game EverQuest II and the recently announced Lords of EverQuest real-time strategy (RTS) game from Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE). EverQuest II and Lords of Everquest are currently set for a worldwide release in Winter 2003/04.

Will Wright, creator of video game sensation "The Sims," has signed a first-look development deal with Fox Broadcasting Co. "It could be a sitcom or something completely different," said Mike Darnell, Fox executive VP alternative programming and specials. "This deal's not about taking a game and turning it into a TV show; it's about creating new entertainment franchises."

Atari is bringing all of the drama and fast-paced action of the Old West exclusively to the Xbox this autumn with Dead Man's Hand, a first person shooter chock full of gun fights and dripping in frontier lore. In development by Human Head studios, the creators of Rune, Dead Man's Hand uses the latest Unreal technology from Epic Games to provide amazing graphical performance, non-stop action and enhanced multiplayer capabilities through Xbox Live!

Blizzard has revealed info about their next patch "v1.10" for Diablo II.. Here is the cut and past:

We’ll be adding many new Horadric Cube recipes to Diablo II with the upcoming 1.10 patch. Some of the new recipes allow you to upgrade your Unique weapons. For instance, 1 Ral Rune + 1 Sol Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + 1 Normal Unique Weapon results in an Exceptional version of that weapon with the same Unique Item bonuses. Using this recipe, an Axe will be transformed into a Cleaver! This is useful for upgrading the damage of your Unique Weapons. You can use another recipe to upgrade to the Elite version: 1 Lum Rune + 1 Pul Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Exceptional Unique Weapon results in the Elite version of that weapon with the same Unique Item bonuses. Using these new formulae, players can create new special versions of Unique items that were not previously possible. Players can then further customize these weapons by adding a socket to them and their own favorite gem, jewel, or rune.

Although we do not have a release date set for this patch, we are working hard to get it out as soon as possible.

A post on the official Battlefield 1942 website let us know following about the recent leaked 1.4 patch:

It has come to our attention that a non-final version of the 1.4 patch has surfaced on the web. Please note that this is NOT the final version of 1.4, and it WILL NOT be compatible with the final version of 1.4. We strongly recommend that you do not install it. If you have installed it, our suggestion is that you reinstall BF 1942.

Stay tuned to the official Battlefield 1942 website for our regularly scheduled community update this Friday.

EAComMike

FilePlanet is now offering Techland's upcoming first-person shooter "Chrome" as one of their "exclusive" demo's for paid FilePlanet subscribers only. A whopping 340 MB download can only be activated by a key generated for subscribers. As usual this exclusivity lasts for about a a week, so us regular folks will have to be patient a few more days. Of course we will have it available here, free as always ...

Crowd Control Productions has issued another patch for EVE Online: The Second Genesis, bringing their just-released MMO space game to v1058. This patch can be used if the auto-updater doesn't work, and as usual there are no details on the changes in this patch. Read more for download links ...

Infogrames has released a new patch for their mod gone retail team-based tactical shooter Tactical Ops: Assault on Terror. This rather huge upgrade brings your retail game to v3.4.0 and adresses a slow of additions, changes and fixes (thanks 3DGamers). This patch is for the retail version of Tactical Ops: Assault On Terror only. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Men of Valor: The Vietnam War is an historical action experience that portrays infantry combat during the Vietnam War. Combining the latest Unreal technology with the gameplay expertise of 2015, Men of Valor immerses the player in the humid jungles of Southeast Asia in the most controversial conflict of the modern era. At E3 2003, attendees were treated to live Xbox demonstrations of 2015's Men of Valor: Vietnam and now Vivendi is offering parts of the movie to the public. The 3rd and final chapter is now available at Gamespot, while last week GameSpy had the first part, and the second episode is available at IGN. Njoy!

3000 AD has release a patch for their their space and planetary simulation Battlecruiser Millennium Gold. This upgrade adresses numerous improvements, fixes and other changes to the general game and its new multiplayer features. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

MechMinds is an action role-playing game that immerses players in a world inhabited entirely by robots…a world which is, in fact, a giant military test zone. Players will assume the role of an AI robot traveling on a glider – a special floating vehicle with antigravity engines. The game combines combat action, trade, exploration, and sends players on a variety of quests and missions. Developed by SkyRiver Studios. Read more for download links ...

Earlier today we had the official launch announcement of the Charlie's Angel's related online game "Angel X" and now you have the possibility to check out the demo. Charlie's Angels: Angel X, inspired by the motion picture "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle," which is set for release in theaters nationwide on June 27, 2003, gamers are charged with the mission of catching the Thin Man before his army of assassins destroys his secret lair. Read more for download links ...

Ubi Soft announced today that Chessmaster for the PS2 has shipped to retailers in North America. The most comprehensive chess game available, Chessmaster offers experts and novices alike an elegant and fun way to refine and elevate their game, and features support for online play via Sony Online. Chessmaster is rated "E" for everyone and is available for the suggested retail price of $29.99.

Sierra just send out word that the team responsible for the award-winning NASCAR Racing franchise Papyrus Racing Games has released additional tracks for NASCAR Racing 2003 Season. The NASCAR Racing 2003 Season Track Pack contains three fictional tracks: Eight Bowl Superspeedway, Hillside International Speedway and Papyrus Motorsports Park. Each track offers players a unique and exciting driving experience, and may be played in both single player or multiplayer modes. Read more for download links ..