Techland has released a custom map pack for its rally racing sim Xpand Rally, featuring one dirt race track set in Arizona, and a few eight-shaped destruction derby tracks. Read more for download links.

Everyone's favourite hero Link, returns to the Nintendo GameCube on 7 January 2005, when The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures launches in the UK. In this first multiplayer Zelda game for the Nintendo GameCube, up to four people can battle together to save Hyrule, by using their Game Boy Advances with Nintendo GameCube Game Boy Advance Link Cables.

WWII Tank Commander is Sylum Entertainment's military arcade-style action game. Take command of a Sherman tank in General Patton’s Fourth Armored Division as you destroy enemy armor and infantry, escort Allied convoys, rescue hostages, and help free Europe from Nazi rule.

Brigade E5: New Jagged Union is a tactical turn-based game. The scene of action is a small country called Palinero somewhere in the tropics. Recently a coup d'etat has happened in the country and civil war is about to break out. The main character of the game has to hire a band of mercenaries and take control of the situation. Read more for new screens ...

Atari announced that the French, German and UK editions of Firaxis' Sid Meier's 'Pirates' have gone gold, and will be in stores on December 3rd, 2004. In Sid Meier's Pirates! you take the leading role of a Pirate Captain in the 17th century Caribbean amassing fortune and fame in an attempt to seize your rightful place as one of the most revered (and feared!) pirates in history.

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 :

• Boiling Point - Trailer
• Need For Speed Underground 2 - Trailer

Way back in June we already reported that the North Korea government was "angered by Ghost Recon 2," and now it seems South Korea’s Media Rating Board officially banned Ubisoft's military shooter Ghost Recon 2 from being sold.

Eidos released its financial statement for the current year in which it is revealed that they are already working on a sequel to Shellshock. The statement reads, "ShellShock: Nam '67 (launched in September), has proved to be a successful new franchise with shipments to date of circa 800,000 units, and with strong sell through, which exceeds our original forecasts. A sequel is already underway." They also provided a update release list for 2005, read more for details ...

"Darkwatch" is an original first person shooter combining the Western and Horror genres to create a cinematic experience with unparalleled depth and game play variety. As half-vampire Jericho Cross, players must hunt down a powerful vampire lord whose undead minions have overrun the Wild West. The result is a stylistic premise blending western and vampire-horror milieus, and one injected with innovative concepts.