Microsoft Game Studios today announced that Rise of Nations has gone gold and is scheduled to ship to stores on 23rd May (UK) and May 20th (US). Virtual field commanders will soon get the opportunity to "Conquer the World" in single player, or lead their troops into battle online with this revolutionary real-time strategy (RTS) game from Brian Reynolds. To celebrate this milestone, gamers will be able to chat live with Reynolds on Zone.com today, 22nd April, at 1am GMT. For more information on the chat, check here .

Ubi Soft Entertainment and Alienware Corporation today announced details of a cross-promotional deal for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield for the PC. The contest will offer consumers the chance to win online prizes, including a grand prize of an Alienware system with a copy of this highly anticipated sequel in the award-winning Rainbow Six series of games. The promotion will launch in April and continue through December 31st 2003.

SEGA Europe Ltd today announced the development of Headhunter: Redemption, a cinematic third-person action epic for the PlayStation2 and the Xbox . The title is in development by Amuze and is slated for release in North America and Europe in late 2003. The title will debut at the E3.

Xbox today announced the launch of a Limited Edition Xbox, available across Europe from 2nd May, 2003. The stylish new console is translucent green, comes with two translucent green controllers and will retail for €229.99/£149.99. Set to be a collector's item, the Limited Edition Xbox will turn gamers green with envy. Style-conscious gamers who want all the power and great games that Xbox offers will be delighted with this mean, green machine and drawn to the clean white packaging it is supplied in.

Juventus, the current Serie A champions, have boosted their (excellent) chances of winning a second successive Scudetto by adding another huge name to their already stellar roster of international talent. This new signing is not another household name player, but the best-selling football management game, Scudetto 4 Championship Manager. The latest version of the best-selling football management game was released in Italy on Thursday, April 17th 2003.

Digitalo has released a dedicated Windows server for the retail edition of Devastation, the new first-person shooter by Digitalo Studios. The server is compatible with clients updated to the latest (version 380) patch, and word is that running a devastation server is very much like running a UT2003 server, so most of the stuff at UnrealAdmin.org is relevant. This is an updated Windows server (v380) for the retail version of the game (not for the demo). Read more for details and download links ...

Available for free download in Spring 2003, "Insect Invasion" is an add-on MOD for Impossible Creatures, the latest 3-D real-time strategy game from Alex Garden and Relic Entertainment, creators of the critically acclaimed "Homeworld." Building on the popularity of "Impossible Creatures" and its' MOD-friendly engine, Relic ups the ante with 15 new creatures, 9 new abilities and other game enhancements that add even more to Impossible Creatures already unprecedented gameplay features. Read more for details and the first screen..

Activision, Inc. and Raven Software are giving gamers and Marvel fans the world over the chance to build their X-Men dream team with the announcement of X-Men: Legends for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, Xbox video game system from Microsoft and Nintendo GameCube. In this real-time RPG, players get the chance to assemble, train and lead their own X-Men fighting force in a battle against some of the deadliest foes in the Marvel Universe including the Morlocks, the Brotherhood of Mutants and robotic Sentinels. To be successful, players will have to draw on the powers of a diverse pool of X-Men and use teamwork to unleash the full power of their squad. X-Men: Legends is expected to ship in 2004 and has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

Atari announced today that Test Drive and Stuntman for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system will be relaunched as part of Sony Computer Entertainment America's "Greatest Hits" program this summer. To be eligible for the special collection, each game must be available at retail for more than nine months and boast sales in excess of 400,000 units.

Atari announced today that Test Drive for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft has been selected for inclusion in Microsoft's "Platinum Hits" program. The "Platinum Hits" program recognizes the most popular and best-selling games for the Xbox and repackages the titles with the "Platinum Hits" banner and a suggested retail price of $19.99.

This world-builder title is inspired by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment's Jurassic Park franchise-the studio's most successful film franchise. Jurassic Park allows you to fulfill Dr. John Hammond's dream by successfully designing and managing your very own Jurassic Park. Create the most amazing dinosaur theme park the world has ever seen, OR battle your way through 12 intense missions that will truly test your skills against the awesome powers of nature and its most dominant creatures.

Icculus has released a dedicated Linux server for the retail edition of Devastation, the new first-person shooter by Digitalo Studios. The server is compatible with clients updated to the latest (version 380) patch, and word is that running a devastation server is very much like running a UT2003 server, so most of the stuff at UnrealAdmin.org is relevant (thanks 3DGamers). This is an updated linux server (v380) for the retail version of the game. Read more for details and download links ...

Game publisher and developer Playlogic International will be in attendance at the E3 game exhibition in Los Angeles with a 2000sqft booth, where it will be presenting four upcoming titles. The four games, entitled Cyclone Circus - Power Sail Racing, Xyanide, Airborne Troops, and Alpha Black Zero - Intrepid Protocol are set for global release in Q4 of 2003. The highly experienced, international employee team of the company, which was established in 2001, guarantees the games' quality and originality.

KOEI Ltd. today announced that it will be bringing Dynasty Warriors 4, the latest instalment of the worldwide best-selling Tactical Action series, to the European market this June. With more than one million units sold in Japan in little less than one month of release, and with the US version due in store next week, Dynasty Warriors 4 appears poised to become an instant hit in the European market as well.

CDV Software, master of the wartime strategy genre, has announced that its 3D perspective, World War II-based, real time strategy game Blitzkrieg, will be published on May 16. Blitzkrieg will test the gamer's strategic expertise to the limit. It requires finesse, precision, a command of military tactics and sound man-management techniques. Your troops, if commanded skilfully, will gain experience and fight more effectively.

Another day, another batch of game trailers were released. Instead of giving them all their own post, we grouped them and so far there are trailers for :

• Sacred (Ascaron)
• SX Superstar (Acclaim)
• Broken Sword 3 (THQ)
• 
  
  Read more for download links ...

Starting with a single loyal supporter, a tiny secret HQ and a very small base of local support, you must build up a nationwide faction powerful enough to oust the President and rule the Republic of Novistrana. Up to 16 other factions (human or computer controlled) will be doing everything in their power to stop you and seize control for themselves. And of course, most formidable of all is the President - he’ll go to any lengths necessary to hold onto power. Read more for a batch of fresh screens ...

Publisher Strategy First and developer Stardock are pleased to announce the release of update version 1.02 for Galactic Civilizations, their hugely successful 4x space strategy game that was released on March 26th. This upgrade brings a few new features and playability enhancements as well as some AI fixes. The update can be downloaded through the ingame Stardock Central. Read more for detailed fix list ...

Mythic Entertainment, developer and publisher of Dark Age of Camelot, plans to release a free download-only expansion called Dark Age of Camelot: Foundations that adds player housing to the immensely popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game. The expansion enters closed beta testing this week and will be available for free via optional download to all subscribers in mid-June.

TransGaming Technologies, a leading developer of software portability solutions for the video games industry, announced today the much-anticipated release of WineX 3.0, TransGaming's flagship Linux portability product that allows PC games and applications to seamlessly and transparently run on the Linux operating system, directly out-of-the-box.

Codemasters today confirms that Operation Flashpoint 2, a true sequel to the million-selling military simulator, has been commissioned. The setting and theme for the game will be revealed at E3, the global games expo (Los Angeles Convention Centre, May 14-16). Operation Flashpoint 2 is in design and development at Bohemia Interactive Studio, the Prague-based creators of the original title, and will launch late in 2004 for PC.

Another day, another batch of game trailers were released. Instead of giving them all their own post, we grouped them and so far there are trailers for :

• Sacred (Ascaron)
• Brute Force (Microsoft)
• 
  
  Read more for download links ...

This world-builder title is inspired by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment's Jurassic Park franchise-the studio's most successful film franchise. Jurassic Park allows you to fulfill Dr. John Hammond's dream by successfully designing and managing your very own Jurassic Park. Create the most amazing dinosaur theme park the world has ever seen, OR battle your way through 12 intense missions that will truly test your skills against the awesome powers of nature and its most dominant creatures.

Responding to criticism that it was trying to take advantage of the Iraq war for commercial gain, Sony Corp said on Wednesday it will not use the phrase "shock and awe" for PlayStation videogames made by a subsidiary. A U.S. unit of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc has withdrawn an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to register the phrase for commercial use, a Sony spokeswoman said.

Konami of America, Inc. announced today that Yu-Gi-Oh! Worldwide Edition: Stairway to the Destined Duel for Nintendo Game Boy Advance has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. The latest installment in the best-selling Yu-Gi-Oh! video game series, Worldwide Edition brings to life the enormously popular Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game with stunning accuracy. Worldwide Edition features more than 1,000 game cards and updated Trading Card Game rules. As an added bonus Worldwide Edition comes with three powerful limited-edition Trading Game Cards only available with the game: Harpie's Feather Duster, Sinister Serpent and Valkyrion The Magna Warrior.