Atari is expanding the gameplay of Unreal II: The Awakening this December with Unreal II: The Awakening ­ Special Edition for the personal computer. The Special Edition package will include the original single-player campaign, first released in February 2003, as well as an all-new multiplayer experience called XMP, or “Expanded Multiplayer.” Developed by Legend Entertainment (an Atari studio) in conjunction with Epic Games, Unreal II: The Awakening is the follow-up to Epic Games’ 1998 smash hit Unreal and incorporates the same story-driven gameplay, cunningly ferocious enemies and nail-biting tension that made the original title a best seller.

The Elemental is a total conversion of Gas Powered Games Dungeon Siege. Elemental is set in an alternate mythical version of ancient Judea that is gritty, mean, and profane. In a world full of Romans, thieves, and monsters the only real way to describe the Elemental experience is with one word, Biblepunk (thanks Jason). Read more for details and download links ...

Atari, Inc. has announced that the sequel to last year's hugely successful Dragon Ball Z: Budokai game has shipped to retail stores nationwide. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 for the PlayStation2, takes the best-selling fighting game of 2002 and 2003 (through October)*, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai, and transforms it into a heart-pounding new way to immerse fans in a quest to recover the seven Dragon Balls and the battles between good and evil that define the DBZ world.

ESPN Videogames has announced its newest sports title set to debut in Spring 2004 - ESPN Major League Baseball. Formerly known as the "World Series Baseball 2K" series, ESPN Major League Baseball will deliver the exhilarating drama and heart-pounding action of the "Major Leagues." ESPN Videogames is proud to announce that New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi will be the official spokesperson and cover athlete for ESPN Major League Baseball. Providing players with the complete ESPN experience, ESPN Major League Baseball will feature two stalwart ESPN baseball veterans: Jon Miller and Karl Ravech. Miller, who is set to begin his 15th season on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, will handle the play-by-play duties on the virtual diamond, while Ravech, the host of ESPN's Baseball Tonight, will provide the in-studio analysis. Read more for details & screens ...

Shrapnel Games and Stormcloud Creations has released an updated for the upcoming fantasy gladiatorial management sim, Coliseum. The demo gives players an enormous taste of what to expect in the full title to be released later this month. This v1.01 fixes a few bugs but also adds or modifies many features and addresses some perceived balance issues. Read more for download links ...

Enemy Technology has released a demo for their upcoming sci-fi RTS game I of the Enemy, featuring 2 extra missions (a total of 5) from the first campaign. I Of the Enemy is a "science fiction, real-time strategy war game in the genre of Command & Conquer and Warcraft and will blast its way onto the retail scene in a simultaneous launch across all territories across the world in Spring 2004." Read more for download links ...

Diversions Entertainment today announced that One Must Fall: Battlegrounds, the long-anticipated online action fighter for the PC, has gone gold. One Must Fall: Battlegrounds offers players a fun and engrossing single-player tournament campaign experience complemented by a comprehensive online multiplayer mode, offering players the opportunity to match their fighting skills against up to 15 other players at once!

Get your Sims off the couch and out of the house! The Sims Bustin' Out for PlayStation2, Xbox, and GameCube has gone gold and is scheduled for release on December 16, 2003, just in time for the holidays. Read more for details & some new screens ...

Eidos today announced its Fresh Games line will bring R-TYPE FINAL, the newest iteration of the classic R-TYPE franchise, to North America for the PlayStation2 this Winter.

IGN Entertainment and GameSpy Industries, on Thursday said they will merge to create a company offering gaming news, information, downloads, data services and community features. San Francisco-based IGN and Irvine, California-based GameSpy, both of which are privately held, said the deal is expected to close in the first half of 2004. IGN Chief Executive Mark Jung will be CEO of the combined company, and GameSpy Chairman Mark Surfas will be chief strategy officer. Both the IGN.com and GameSpy.com brands are expected to be retained after the deal closes, the two sides said in a statement.