Valve's Doug Lombardi sent out a note to let us know that Day of Defeat 1.1 is in the final stages of development and will be available for wide beta testing via Steam later this week. The team-based multiplayer game sends players into Axis vs. Allies battles set in Western Europe during WWII. Version 1.1 adds enhanced animation through the incorporation of Valve's nine-way blending system. DoD 1.1 also includes new maps plus a host of tweaks and fixes. For more information visit www.dayofdefeat.com or www.steampowered.com.

Eidos has shipped to stores across North America the highly anticipated Legacy of Kain: Defiance for the PlayStation2 and Xbox . This next installment is the continuation of the popular Legacy of Kain series, which has sold over 1.5 million units to date in North America alone.

The Batfish Studios office closed on 15th October, having completed the release candidate for Captain Scarlet. The reasons for the office closing are unrelated to Captain Scarlet, the team did not have a suitable project and in the current climate it wasn't possible to continue working speculatively. The release candidate of the final game and two demos were delivered to our publisher Digital Workshop on the 15th October. However, Batfish Studios was informed on 7th November that Digital Workshop will not be publishing the game (thanks Homelan).

Step into the boots of a Marine Corporal, survive the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor and engage in a life and death struggle to drive the Japanese Army from the Pacific as Electronic Arts has begun shipping Medal of Honor Rising Sun to retailers nationwide under the EA GAMES brand. The fourth console installment of the award-winning series, Medal of Honor Rising Sun is an immersive and authentic WWII experience in either single-player or multiplayer mode and is available for the PlayStation2, Xbox, and the GameCube.

Unleash the beast! Konami Digital Entertainment - America Inc., today announced it has shipped Bloody Roar 4 for the PlayStation2. Published by Hudson Soft, Bloody Roar 4, the most ferocious title in the popular fighting game series, packs a powerful punch.

Konami Digital Entertainment - America announced today that Yu-Gi-Oh! The Falsebound Kingdom for Nintendo GameCube and Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sacred Cards for Nintendo GameBoy Advance has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. Both titles include three limited edition Official Trading Cards that help to further enhance the Yu-Gi-Oh! gaming experience.

Wartime Command: Battle For Europe 1939-1945 is the stunning World War II tactical real time strategy game from Russian developers 1C Company in Russia. The game development project has been retitled from Battlefield Command to give it prominence in a cluttered market of similar product brands. Wartime Command will launch for PC in the spring of 2004. Read more for some new screens ...

Microsoft Game Studios, iGames and EB Games today announced signups have officially begun for the Halo for Windows Worldwide Championship. The international event will pit thousands of top Halo players from around the world against each other for a chance at some big-time prizes; after the dust settles, only one player will emerge to be crowned the world's best Halo gamer. For information about registration and a list of participating iGames centers in North America, visit http://www.igames.org/Events.asp?Event=1596, any local EB Games store or online at http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/ads/promos/halotournament/.

Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that Spawn: Armageddon, the Todd McFarlane-inspired action adventure title, will feature music from one of today’s most talked-about and controversial musicians, Marilyn Manson. In what is seen by many to be the perfect pairing, Manson’s title “Use Your Fist and Not Your Mouth” from the album The Golden Age of Grotesque is featured in the Spawn: Armageddon video game soundtrack. Video game fans will have an opportunity to enjoy the gothic-like Spawn: Armageddon soundtrack in the game this November when the title ships for the GameCube, the PlayStation2 and the Xbox.

Ubisoft has released a demo for Cyan Worlds 3D Adventure game Uru: Ages Beyond Myst. Uru: Ages Beyond Myst is the next chapter of the Myst franchise and the most immersive and ambitious Myst experience ever created. This demo features only a very small portion of what awaits you; a brief doorway into what lies beneath - a vast and complex world in which endless Ages are waiting to be rediscovered by today's world. Read more for download links ...