4D Rulers has released a new version of their in-house AMP II Game engine (engine used in Secret Service Security Breach, the first game to ship with stencil shadows, bump mapping, specular lighting and per pixel lighting). The SDK and Tools are also available so the mod community and prospective developers can create content and code before license the engine (thanks HomeLan). Read more for download links ...

Sports Interactive has released a new patch for their management title Championship Manager 03-04. This upgrade brings your retail game to v4.1.3 and features the usual fixes and enhancements as well as some new backgrounds and the language packs for English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Portugese, Danish, Dutch, Norweigan, Swedish & Polish. Save games are compatible, however Sports Interactive does suggest you start a new game for the best results. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Cenega has released the mod tools for ALTAR Interactive's 3D turn based strategy game UFO: Aftermath giving you the chance to get creative and make your own missions. Thispackage also features a model and level viewer, some data conversion tools, documentation, and more (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

Sonalysts Inc. disclosed the initial details of the inaugural title to their Sonalysts' Combat Simulations brand, dubbed "Dangerous Waters" (S.C.S - "Dangerous Waters"). S.C.S. - "Dangerous Waters" will be the first title of its kind, allowing the player total control over multiple air, surface and subsurface platforms in a modern-day naval environment. Read more for details and screens, or check the freshly launched official website.

Wrestling fans with a thirst for nostalgia will once again have an opportunity to see "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes drop his trademark "bionic elbow," as Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. announced that it has exclusively signed Rhodes to appear in SHOWDOWN: Legends of Wrestling. The video game is currently under development with Acclaim Studios Austin and is scheduled for release in April 2004 across the next-generation gaming platforms. Read more for details & screens ...

Developer S2 Games and iGames Publishing announced today that the one-of-a-kind real-time strategy shooter Savage: The Battle for Newerth has been named one of the top ten finalists in the Open Category of the 2004 Independent Games Festival (IGF) competition. The IGF competition will take place at the 2004 Game Developer’s Conference in San Jose, CA from March 24-26, 2004.

Vivendi Universal Games announced that it has hired Chance Thomas as the Tolkien Music Director in charge of the creation and production of the musical themes for all of its videogames based on The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

You are Paul de Raque, Knight of the Temple, as you set out on a holy crusade across a forbidding, mediaeval Europe to join your order in the Holy Land. Armed with your sword, axe, bow and shield, you must fight with all your strength to complete your journey, for saving the future of the world is your ultimate goal! The core of the game is medieval style fighting with the classical weapons of European knights, coupled with stunning graphics of the historical milieus of the 12th century crusades. Check these 60 new screens.

On its 1 year anniversary, the DesertCombat team has released the next major public alpha of DesertCombat. Happy Birthday! Public Beta 0.6F is a patch to be used to upgrade from 0.5L and features a slew of bug fixes, new vehicles, 3 new maps and additions aimed at creating on of the best war game experiences on the PC. In this stage of development each is roughly balanced with some minor advantages to each, making gameplay much more fun and exciting. Read more for download links ...

UPDATE:We now also have the win32/Linux dedicated server patches available for download.