Black Bean announced today it has signed a publishing deal with Haemimont Games for the incoming Rising Kingdoms for PC. Rising Kingdoms is a Real-Time Strategy set in a fantasy world, which focuses on empire development and dynamic tactical battles. This impressive title stays true to Haemimont's long tradition of RTS and RPG type games that started with Tzar: the Burden of the Crown and Celtic Kings series – Celtic Kings: Rage of War and Nemesis of the Roman Empire a.k.a.Imperivm II.

Sparta: Ancient Wars is only the first part of a planed Ancient Wars series. Its main goal is to deliver innovative and high quality real time strategy based on historical events and timelines, and not to feature myths or legends. Based on the historical background of Spartans' high culture, there will appear huge ancient battles on your screen, enabled by a brand new stunning 3D engine.

EA has released a new patch for its 3D RTS Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth. This update brings your retail game (English & German) to v1.02 and a slew of game balance fixes, and the usual bug/crash fixes (thanks Patches Scrolls). Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Stargate SG-1: The Alliance will be an action-based game playable in the first- or third- person perspective. Depending on the mission, there will be other tasks that have elements of team tactics, puzzle-solving and stealth. First and foremost, you will never walk alone – your team will be there to look after you, but you will also have to look after them, so it differs from most "straight" shooters. We sat down with Perception's Radek Majder to ask more details about Stargate SG-1: The Alliance.

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 :

• Stoked Rider - Trailer
• MoH: European Assault - Trailer
• Pariah - Trailer (2)

Variety is reporting that Al Pacino will have to "nod" hello to his little friends, as he is allowing his likeness, but not his voice, to be used in Vivendi's upcoming Scarface video game. Pacino's voicework will be done by an "unnamed low-profile actor." Fellow Scarface actors Steven Bauer and Robert Loggia, on the other hand, are lending likeness and voice to their respective characters.

Dutch Streamline Studios announce today that it is currently servicing several next-generation developments at its studio. "We've spent time refining our systems and field testing our pipeline to ensure a one-stop solution for next-generation development hurdles and the results have been superb" stated Harpp Seble, SLS CFO. Titles currently being serviced include two platform launch titles as well as developments that utilize Unreal 3 technology. Streamline Studios will be attending E3 this year and will be holding meetings with developers and publishers regarding their next-generation creative and engineering needs.

Control the fate of the galaxy in LucasArts' all new RTS game Star Wars: Empire at War. Set a few years before the events of Episode IV A New Hope, the game will let players rewrite history as well as experience the aftermath of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, the creation of the Rebel Alliance, and Darth Vader's rise to power. Read more for new screens ...