Microsoft Game Studios today announced that the award-winning real-time strategy (RTS) game for Windows, Rise of Nations, is now available at local retailers for an estimated retail price of $29.95 (U.S.). Now is the perfect time for gamers to pick up a game at an unbeatable price that has won several major awards, including Game of the Year and Strategy Game of the Year. The price drop comes hot on the heels of the recent announcement that Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots is slated for a Spring '04 release, and will allow gamers who haven't yet picked up the original to practice and prepare for this expansion pack.

Take 2 UK has released a demo for Illusion softworks third person tactical shooter Hidden & Dangerous 2. You lead a small squad of Allied soldiers deep behind enemy lines, to carry out secret missions during World War II. The demo features a single mission, 'Operation Overlord: Blade Dancer', from the full game. The dedicated server files have also been released (thanks Blues). Read more for download links ...

In this innovative game, players can upload Pokémon from their Game Boy Advance games Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire, and battle against friends on their televisions through Nintendo GameCube. With a collection of arenas to choose from, players can enter their Pokémon in a tournament or battle it out in four-player multi-battles, making each experience unlike the last. Players also can join with a friend to combine strengths in new two-on-two battles and demonstrate their Pokémon prowess as a team.

Strategy First and Made by Kiddies are pleased to announce that their PC arcade shooter hit, Alien Blast – The Encounter is now available on retail shelves in North America. In this first-person arcade shoot'em-up, you must gather up all your courage to defend yourself and defeat the alien horde. Alien Blast is an exciting sci-fi action combat game for everyone.

Ubisoft today announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with SOE to publish Gates of Discord, a new expansion for the incredibly popular PC Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), EverQuest, in Europe. This expansion will offer exploration of a newly discovered continent; a new class (the Berserker) and Alternate Advancement Abilities that will offer new and unique skills to master. Gates of Discord will be available February 12th 2004 in Europe, only 72 hours after the American release. Read more for details and some new screens ...

World Tour Soccer 2005 prides itself on being built from the ground up with the die-hard international soccer gamer and fan in mind. With more than 900 international and league teams from around the globe, 18,700 players from 30 divisions and 22 leagues, 989's game aims to capture the size and popularity of international soccer. Read more to check out a few screens ...

Built from the ground up to deliver the bone-crushing action of championship boxing, EA SPORTS Fight Night 2004 is an all-new boxing game that features revolutionary new gameplay mechanics and a dramatic new-school attitude to immerse players like never before. Innovative new analog Total Punch Control allows gamers to throw punches, block, bob, and weave with unprecedented fluidity and precision. The game also includes a deep create-a-player option, career mode, and online play* for the PlayStation 2 console via EA SPORTS Nation.

Electronic Arts and UK-based developer Criterion Games, today announced a development and publishing partnership for the upcoming title Burnout 3. The latest title in the critically acclaimed Burnout series is slated for worldwide release in September 2004 for the PlayStation2 and Xbox. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Read more for details and the first screens ...

IGN broke word that, talking about how to create games and how to get a job in the industry, Gas Powered Games' Chris Taylor admitted during the Q&A session after his speech, that a TA sequel is in the works. A member of the student body asked if we would ever see a sequel to Cavedog's RTS Total Annihilation and after a slight pause, Taylor shared a little bit of information about the franchise. While Taylor said he couldn't give too many details to the crowd, he did confirm that Gas Powered Games was working on "an RTS follow-up to Total Annihilation." The game already had a publisher but chris Taylor said "a big one... one that doesn't also publish operating systems", hinting it would NOT be Microsoft, but possibly Atarti who holds the right to the old GT Interactive libary which includes Total Annihilation (thanks VE3D).