Valve announced today it finally plans to release Half-Life 2: Lost Coast next week. Lost Coast is a free level for everyone who owns Half-Life 2, and serves as an HDR technology demo based in an unreleased section of the "Highway 17" chapter of Half-Life 2. After Lost Coast is released, Valve says it will be working on getting some new content for both Counter-Strike: Source and Day of Defeat: Source, along with an update to the SDK, out the door.

Music distributor Handleman today announced that it has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire multiplatform video game distributor Crave Entertainment Group. The transaction, which is expected to close in the next 45 days, is subject to regulatory approvals, the obtaining of adequate financing and other customary closing conditions.

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

• Gears of War [X360] - X05 Trailer
• Aeon Flux [PS2/Xbox] - Trailer #2
• Vietcong 2 - Trailer
• NFL Head Coach [PS2/Xbox/PC] - Trailer
• Shadowgrounds - Trailer #2
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

In Law & Order: Criminal Intent, players scour the crime scenes for evidence, interview witnesses and interrogate suspects in hopes of tracking down the elusive killers. Legacy Interactive has released a playable demo allowing you to check out an intro sequence and solve one of the full game's four murder cases, playable as detective Robert Goren (thanks DemoNews). Read more for download links ...

This patch will upgrade the Nadeo's TrackMania: Power Up! edition to the new TrackMania Original version, allowing you to experience the game with a new graphics engine, new modes, multiplayer and plenty more. Read more for download links ...

Resident Evil: Deadly Silence will be a remake of the first RE title, released in 1996, but unlike the original, the DS version will not use pre-rendered graphics, but be in full 3D. One of the features will require you to wipe the blood covered screen in order to proceed, and the dual screen will most likely be used for inventory and map. RE:DS will also support coop and other multiplayer modes.

SEGA revealed that original Sonic creator Yuji Naka, and character designer Naoto Ohshima, are bringing Sonic back to its roots to create the most intense sensation of speed ever experienced in videogames with an innovative combination of art, physics and game design. Not many details are available at this point, but we do have some new screens...

Galactic Civilizations II takes place in the distant future, when mankind has become a space-faring civilization and must contend with other extraterrestrial powers for domination of the galaxy. The sequel is a true evolution for the series, with rethought fundamentals and exciting new changes.

Sierra Entertainment has shipped Crash Tag Team Racing to retail outlets for the PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube. Developed by Radical Entertainment, creators of The Simpsons: Hit & Run, the newest addition to the franchise lets gamers of all ages play as Crash Bandicoot and his friends in an over-the-top theme park filled with zany tracks and even zanier characters.

Sony Computer Entertainment announced today that the cumulative production shipment of its PSP player had reached 10 million units worldwide, as of October 21st, 2005, the fastest penetration speed in the PlayStation platforms introduced in the past.