Shrapnel Games announced today that a new version of Mark H. Walker's Lock 'N Load Demo is available for download from their website. Mark H. Walker's Lock 'N Load Demo marks a milestone for board wargames, being the first ever demo available for a physical board game. Read more for features!

Happy years are gone without notice. Grateful people of the Fairyland have composed many songs and tales about the dwarves' adventures. Many sumptuous feasts were made up. But the real hero cannot live without the deeds, he is always ready to protect the weak. Weapons are still sharp, and magic potion hasn't got out of order. To secure peace is to prepare for war... A new challenge for your favorite heroes! This quest is even more difficult! It's the most interesting adventure you've gone through...

Video game players can experience the ultimate skating challenge with the release of Activision, Inc. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 video game, which is currently in manufacturing and is set to ship in North America on October 23, 2002. Early reviews indicate that the sequel to the #1 action sports video game in 2001 is on track to continue its winning run having received a score of 5 out 5 from GamePro Magazine.

After three years hiding in the shadows, Monster Studios comes out from under the bed ready to grab the gaming world by its ankles. An award-winning developer of more than 70 gaming titles, Monster Studios founder Jeff Tunnell, formerly executive director and founder of Dynamix, has assembled a software development team of monstrous talent with the mission to "create cool games and have a blast."

BVS Development has released BVS Solitaire Collection 3.3 with 310 multi-featured, very different solitaire card games to play. You'll be able to learn solitaires not found elsewhere: "Topsy-Turvy Queens", "Twelve Sleeping Maids", "Napoleon Takes Moscow", "Braid" and many others.

Lucas Art's today updated the official site for their upcoming (PS2 - XBOX - GameCube) Combat Role-Playing Game, Gladius, with new FAQ, Weapons, Helmets and Shield's. More about it..

Electronic Arts announced today that the signup date for the multiplayer test of Command & Conquer Generals has changed. Signups will now begin Friday, Oct. 11 at 8 a.m. PST, and will close at 11:59 p.m. that evening. Command & Conquer Generals will be published by EA under the EA GAMES brand this winter.

Signups will be held through http://generals.ea.com/. Anyone who signs up for the public test must meet the minimum system requirements to be eligible for selection. Those requirements will be posted on the public test sign up page of the official Command & Conquer Generals Web site.

Sierra/Fox Interactive just let us know that they have released a new patch for Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza. This upgrade "fixes an expiring DLL file which causes footsteps in the game to become inaudible", bringing the first-person shooter by Piranha Games to version 1.04. Read more for details and links where to grab the patch (thanks 3DGamers).

The offical Postal 2 web site has posted up a new movie in both Windows Media and QuickTime format showing off gameplay footage from the upcoming Unreal engine powered first person shooter from Running With Scissors. (thanks HomeLan)

Brace yourselves! The Sims are coming to the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. The #1 PC game of all-time makes its console debut. Create and control your Sims on the PlayStation 2 with new level-based game play and 3D graphics. Customize your Sims' personality and appearance then move into the neighborhood. Get a job, make friends and advance through your career and life's big moments. Unlock new objects and bigger houses along the way. Meet, flirt and fight with a neighborhood full of wild characters. You can also load your Sims into a friend's game and play two-player games. 8 new screens .. Njoy!

The U.S. Army began distributing nationwide this week America's Army: Operations, a computer game with a first-person-perspective action where players enter into virtual military service defending the United States. Designed to communicate information about Army opportunities, adventures, challenges and training, the free game CD has shipped and is starting to appear at local Army Recruiting stations, ROTC detachments and Army events listed at www.americasarmy.com and www.goarmy.com.

Microsoft Game Studios announced the shipping of Blinx: The Time Sweeper to retail outlets across North America earlier today for Xbox. Developed by Japan-based Artoon and billed as the first ‘4-D’ platformer, Blinx: The Time Sweeper has players venturing out as Blinx the cat as he tries to repair glitches in time. The game is host to over 30 levels, and uses the Xbox hard drive to digitally record players movements so that the game can be rewound, slowed down, and or fast-forwarded (hence the 4D billing). Also shipping today is Microsoft's Whacked! for Xbox. Developed by Presto Studios, Whacked! has players fighting eight other contestants on an over-the-top game show for its grand prize. Whacked! supports gameplay modes including: Chicken mode, King of the Hill, Grab ‘n’ Run, Fragfest and Dodgeball, multiplayer modes both online and for four-players, and over 40 weapons and power-ups. Eidos Interactive announced that it’s shipped the PS2 version of TimeSplitters 2 to retail outlets across North America. Developed by Free Radical Designs, TimeSplitters 2 has players battling against the TimeSplitters in the hopes of saving the human race from enslavement. TimeSplitters 2 ships next week for Xbox and GameCube.

Set in Somalia in 1993, Delta Force - Black Hawk Down is based upon and around the Operation Restore Hope and Task Force Ranger campaigns and follows members of the elite Delta Force, U.S. Army Rangers, 10th Mountain Division and the Night Stalkers as they participate in a number of daring raids against the oppressive Somali warlords in and around Mogadishu. 17 brand new screens... njoy!

Blizzard has just released a new update patch bringing their top-selling Real Time Strategy game WarCraft III : Reign of Chaos to v1.3. This patch addresses TONS of fixes, upgrades, editor fixes and so on.. read more for detiled fix list and liks where to grab it.

Robin Hood, a new game of tactics and action, thrusts players into an amazing and realistic medieval environment where they are hauled from the depths of Sherwood Forest to the ramparts of Nottingham Castle. A lot of people have been asking about the main differences between Robin Hood and Desperados. Spellbound has therefore kindly provided us with a JPEG slide show with relevant information regarding this.

Global Star Software has begun shipping their all-new multi-player trivia challenge, Brianstorm: The Game Show for the PC platform.

BIG NEWS! Every Wednesday from now until mid-November has been designated as “WWII theme day”. This means that every Wednesday we will put up NEW content from Strategy First's upcoming WWII strategy titles, "GI Combat Episode 1: Battle of Normandy" (Freedom Games) and "Hearts of Iron" (Paradox Entertainment). Read more for details and 10 brand new screens from each game.

Some NOLF2 users are still experiencing difficulty after the 1.1 patch. Read more for detailed instructions for users to get their game running in case the patch doesn't resolve the problem.

Konami of America Inc., today announced that NBA STARTING FIVE has shipped to stores nationwide. The latest hoops game from Konami, NBA Starting Five is now available for the PlayStation 2 at an SRP of $39.99, while the Xbox edition is set to ship on October 29th at an SRP of $49.99.