Eidos Inc. has shipped to stores the highly-anticipated PlayStation 2 version of Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This at Home across North America. Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This at Home for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft will begin to arrive in major retail outlets across the US on Monday, October 13th.

Infinium Labs announced today it has launched an official forum for an ever-growing group of avid gamers and friends who are interested in the Phantom Game System and the PhantomNet - VPGN (Virtual Private Game Network).

Ubisoft today announced that the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon action/adventure game is now available on the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system for a suggest retail price of $39.99, and on the Nintendo Game Boy Advance for a suggest retail price of $29.99. Developed by Genki Co., Ltd. under license from Sony Pictures Consumer Products and based on Sony Pictures Classics' Academy Award-winning movie, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is rated "T-Teen."

Buena Vista Interactive, a publishing label of Buena Vista Games, Inc., today announced that mod tools for TRON 2.0 are now available for download. These powerful tools will allow gamers to create new TRON 2.0 levels, maps, skins, weapons and voice packs for the critically acclaimed first-person action adventure game that received Editor's Choice Awards from the industry's leading PC game publications. In addition, players will be able to exchange their mods on the TRON 2.0 Web site beginning in November.

Gotham Games a publishing label of Take-Two announced today that Conflict: Desert Storm II - Back to Baghdad for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, and PC has shipped to retail outlets in North America. The game follows up on the successful title Conflict: Desert Storm, which sold over 750,000 units in North America since its launch in September 2002. Conflict: Desert Storm II captures all of the intense, third-person squad-based action of the original and builds on it as players command U.S. Delta Forces or British SAS over the sands of Iraq to crush what remains of Saddam's evil regime.

2 million Game Boy Advance SP sold across Europe.. Figures released this week show that Nintendo continue to lead the handheld market across Europe. For gaming on the go you can't beat the Game Boy Advance SP, the must have gadget this Christmas.

Strategy First is pleased to announce it will publish Primal Software’s, I of the Dragon for the PC in Q2 2004. I of the Dragon is an Action-RPG where players take on the role of a Hero Dragon. As the player moves through the many levels his dragon will mature in strength and power as the player is rewarded with new spells and skill upgrades.

Digital Jesters is preparing for the imminent launch of its blistering PC racer TrackMania with the launch of the game's very own community Website. Located at TrackManiaGame.com, the online resource will be the port of call for those keen to know more about the genre-busting racing game. Screens and desktop themes are online now – and the forums are open for those eager to discuss track-building theory. But most importantly, the Website will be the only place for users to download the demo – which is due online on the 1st November.

Earlier today VU Games president of international operations, told Reuters the source code theft would result in a four month delay (Valve, though, has not confirmed that delay), pushing Half-Life 2 back to April 2004 (story). Now CNN reports following:

When hackers broke into the computing system of Valve Software, they stole more than just the source code to Half-Life 2. They also stole enough game maps and other components to put together a playable build of the game. Today, five days after the first leak, they have released that build.

Today's release of a playable version of the game brings Vivendi's comments from earlier today into question. Ramboz told Reuters "a third of the source code was stolen". However, with the stolen game now out, it's possible a more complete version of the source code was taken...

PC.IGN let us know that Commandos 3: Destination Berlin from Eidos has received gold status and is heading to production. While this applies to both the German and English versions of the game, the only shipping date confirmed is for Germany, where the game is set to ship October 24.