If you bought an Xbox 360 at launch or shortly thereafter, and it has recently died, you are in luck. Microsoft finally acknowledges that their units manufactured in 2005 have a higher failure rate than ones purchased after January 1, 2006. Microsoft is now fixing them for free, or if it cannot be addressed within two days, will send you a replacement at no extra charge. If you have the three rings of death and your systems predate 2006, then call 1-800-4MY-XBOX.

SEGA of America announced Shining Force EXA exclusively for the PS2, making an entirely new storyline that builds upon the fast-paced action-RPG and stunning anime cut-scenes in the legendary Shining series.

The Sims 2 Pets allows players to create and control digital characters throughout their lives while determining the outcome of their relationships and choosing their destiny. Each platform will feature customized content.

Virtua Fighter 5 raises the bar for console fighting games including all the features fans know and love plus enhanced gameplay mechanics, additional characters and new fighting styles, as well as newly redesigned 3D environments.

SparkForge Entertainment announced its formation, stating that it will create games and platform technologies for a new category it called “Massively Scalable Online Games.”

On September 12th we have shipped a Goldmaster version of Gothic 3 for replication. However, due to several problems that got known only afterwards no production has taken place, instead we decided to create another, new goldmaster. This new master is currently (Sep 21st) still being worked on! Therefore, no one has had any access to the version that will start selling on October 13th in various European territories. No testing (by external persons) of this version can have been done. All test results that have been published up to now are based on the scrapped goldmaster or in many cases on even older preview versions.

Ubisoft officially announced Far Cry: Vengeance, and confirms it will be a Wii launch title. Based on the Far Cry Instincts Evolution, Far Cry: Vengeance has a new storyline, new maps new weapons, and takes of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk allowing players to drive, shoot, slash, jump and climb their way through a rebel-infested, tropical hell.

In Just Cause, you take on the role of the flamboyant Rico Rodriguez, an undercover CIA operative specializing in regime change, as he tries to overthrow the corrupt government of San Esperito. This rogue South American island is suspected of stockpiling WMDs and it's your job to negate the threat to world peace.

Another day, another batch of games shipped to stores. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are announcements for:

• NHL Eastside Hockey Manager 2007 (PC)
• NRA Gun Club (PS2)
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new announcements become available. Read more for details ...

Paradox Interactive and Nival Interactive will collaborate around a new RTS series where players are taken to the frontline, where the gameplay is going back to its RTS roots - inspired by games like Blitzkrieg. With state of the art graphics and an overhauled interface, players will find themselves challenged in many different environments and settings.