GMX Media today announced that it has secured the rights to publish the PC RTS title – Cold War Conflict in the UK. "Based on the Gameplay of the award winning Sudden Strike 1 & 2 but with flair of the cold war theatres, this is certain to take the UK by storm." Commented Barry Leonard COO of GMX Media. “We are due to kick off a massive marketing campaign in 2 weeks which we hope will all but guarantee a chat position on release.” Read more for details and a bunch of new screens ...

In the gaming industry, the free playable demo is one of the most popular and powerful tools to interest gamers in the final product. It therefore seems logical to expect publishers will maximise the game's exposure by giving the demo the widest possible release. Unfortunately this is not always the case, and sometimes a demo is given the most restricted release: to one site for several days or even a week. This hurts the industry at large much more than it can help a single relationship. Read more for the full letter ...

Electronic Arts today announced that The Sims Bustin' Out for the PlayStation2, Xbox , and GameCube has shipped under the EA Games brand. For the first time, Sims console players can get their Sims out of the house and into all-new locations to play, work, and meet a cast of outrageous new characters.

Slated for release in Spring 2004 for the Xbox and the PC, Race Driver 2 will provide gamers the most diverse and thrilling range of motor sports ever seen in one game. Designed as the definitive racing experience, the game will feature complete head to head Xbox Live and PC online functionality. Read more for details ...

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 :

• Spellforce - Trailer
• Hitman: Contracts - Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Codemaster has released a new upgrade for their stealth/action game IGI 2:Covert Strike. This upgrade will bring your retail game to v1.3 and adds anti-cheating features and framerate optimizations. Read more for details and download links!

Microsoft Game Studios and Valve today announced that two new multiplayer maps for Counter-Strike for Xbox are now available for free download via Xbox Live. The red-hot "Inferno" and fan-favourite "Office" are the latest urban battlefields on which to stage Counter-Strike's world-famous, action-packed multiplayer gameplay.

With noses red from their victims' blood, Running With Scissors announced the release of POSTAL 2: Share The Pain. The brazen videogame developer's Christmas balls were hanging with joy as they landed their first title as a publisher onto the shelves of retailers across North America.

Eidos today announced the eagerly awaited return of the world's deadliest assassin in Hitman: Contracts. The game is the third installment in the critically acclaimed, multi-million selling Hitman series. Hitman: Contracts is being developed by Io Interactive and will be available for PlayStation2, the Xbox, and PC in spring 2004.

Experience the thrill of top speed racing and high flying freestyle action in the most authentic motocross video game to date. Choose from more than a dozen top pro riders and battle it out for first place in fast-paced, realistic racing on a variety of Supercross (indoor) and Motocross (outdoor) levels or take on challenges outside the circuit. Read more for a few new screens ....