Area 51 takes the player through eight massive levels within a clandestine government complex. Combining intense combat, exploration, adventure, discovery, and puzzle solving, the game blends graphic violence with science fiction. Further confirming earlier speculations, the official Area 51 website now has a "PC CD ROM" logo added to the list of platforms (hover over the blank space next to Xbox logo at the bottom right of the page), indictating that Midway's shooter is indeed coming to the PC.

Matrix Games announced today that the tactical wargame Flashpoint Germany has officially gone gold and is set for release sometime next week. The game will be available both via CD and download from the Matrix Games website.

Champions: Return to Arms introduces two new playable races, a whole new non-linear storyline letting the playing chose to team both with the forces of Good or Evil, the ability to import characters from the original game, more character customization options with up to level 80 levelling, thousands of new items, weapons and spells, beautifully detailed environments, innovative medal system which unlocks secret gameplay modes, more online and multiplayer options and much more.

Red Ninja: End of Honor is an action-adventure title, developed by Tranji, which will feature a variety of innovative game-play features blending action, adventure, stealth, seduction and fighting. These elements have been placed in a historical Japanese environment with an event-driven story written by famed Japanese feature film director, Shinsuke Sato.

Blitzkrieg II is created with a new focus on fast-paced gameplay, a strategic layer and new tactical opportunities. A completely new engine takes WWII into full 3D where players can command famous aces and units, strategically plan battles in multiple theatres, choose their reinforcements and use a wide range of new unit types such as aircraft and ships.

Valve's SteamPowered website has been updated with details regarding yet another update for its Source SDK which adds SDK bot sample code, source files for HL2 SP maps, interface plugin to add bots to mods, bspzip tool, and fixed resource leak. Restart Steam to get the latest update. The HL2: DM level design contest is over, the winners maps will be included in the HL2: Deathmatch release, as well as two new weapons (Slam and Stunstick). Later this week there will be an update to the Half-Life SDK this week which most notably will include source files for six Half-Life 2 maps.

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 :

• Second Sight - Trailer [PC]
• Splinter Cell Chaos Theory - Trailer #9
• Blitzkrieg 2 - Trailer #3
• Close Combat: First to Fight - Trailer
• Iron Phoenix - Trailer #3
• LotR: Battle for Middle-Earth - Trailer #10

404 Gaming today released more info about its still quite mysterious hip-hop mmog. We already know DJ Pooh “a.k.a Mark Jordan,” who wrote the movie Friday and story for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, is involved but now 404 Gaming has released a list of hip-hop stars, such as RUM DMC's D.M.C., Public Enemy #1's Flava Flav and Chuck D, but also deceased stars like Jam Master Jay and Notorious B.I.G. More info is promised in May, in the meantime, read more for additional names...

Devil May Cry 3 unfolds an earlier chapter in Dante's history, before the original Devil May Cry, to the fateful clash between Sparda's twin sons, divided by the divergence of their chosen paths. Along the way, Dante encounters formidable foes and unusual characters including a mysterious man named Arkham and a female hunter named Lady whose mission is to take down all demons, including Dante. Capcom has launched the official Devil May Cry 3 website, so head on over there for the latest news, screens and updates.

Turbine's execute producer for D&D Online Judith Hoffman has revealed in her January producer letter that Turbine is about to move the project into beta stage. Judith goes on to explain that the beta will be split in four stages, with the first one (beta 0) being most likely internal, while two to four will be closed tests with participation from the community, but gradually openinig up to the public. "In the next month or two" signups will begin on the official Dungeons & Dragons Online website, so keep an eye out if you are interested in participating.