After reuniting for a fall tour, Korn and Limp Bizkit are ready to throw down. Don't go looking for Back 2 Brawling Tour tickets just yet, though, as the bands are set to battle only in the cyber world, in a video game Jonathan Davis is developing called "Pop Scars." Read more for details ...

This evening during his keynote address at the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Microsoft Corp. Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates unveiled Windows Media Center Extender Technology. The software will power a new generation of products that will extend the Media Center Edition PC experience allowing consumers to access their favorite digital entertainment, such as live and recorded television, photos, movies, and music that reside on their Windows XP Media Center Edition PC, from any room in the home - regardless of where the PC is located. Media Center Extender Technology will not only provide access to rich content and services, but will enable devices throughout the home to utilize the full processing and storage capabilities of the PC creating new opportunities for services and providing unprecedented choice and access to content for consumers

Midway Games Inc. announced today new appointments to its North American marketing and sales teams. Leading these new appointments is Steve Allison, who was named chief marketing officer, a new position at the Company. Midway also announced the marketing appointments of Mona Hamilton, vice president of marketing; Greg Mucha, director of channel marketing; and Reilly Brennan, director of media relations. Additionally, further bolstering the leadership of its North American sales team, Midway named Brad Wildes director of sales and Paul Flynn as regional sales manager of its operating subsidiary.

Square Enix U.S.A., Inc. announced today milestones that were reached due to the successful holiday sales of Final Fantasy XI. The PlayOnline service has surpassed 500,000 registered users in North America and Japan combined, with the total online community population (number of active characters) of "Final Fantasy XI" at nearly one million characters.

Gamers who always wanted to play a Massively Multiplayer Online Game but were put off by the costs should take a look at BiosFear, Tiscali Games' forthcoming realease. No need to spend your hard-earned money on the software - the client is free. Also, monthly subscription fees will be cheaper than most other MMORPGs. Combine this with BiosFear's easy accessibility and you have the ideal game for online-gaming beginners. But veterans needn’t panic – there is more than enough hard fighting action to keep your blade sharp!

From the far corners of Middle-earth, new adventures come forth to face the growing evil in the East. The forces of Mordor are mobilizing as the Nazgül hunt for the One Ring. The land itself is in peril and its fate lies in the hands of those who possess it. Adventuring alone or in groups, join thousands of players online in the massive world that is Middle-earth. Support the forces of good in an epic struggle to drive back the forces of Sauron. This is Middle-Earth Online, your home in the world of Tolkien. Read more to check some screens ...

Noticed on The Fall official website that Silver Style's message boards seem to have an interesting announcement about one of the Black Isle developers teaming up with Silver Style to work on The Fall: Last Days of Gaia . "We're glad to welcome Game Designer Damien Foletto in our team! Formerly he worked at Black Isle on Hits like Baldur's Gate 2 or Fallout 3. He will support Lead Designer Carsten Strehse on the development of The Fall: Last Days of Gaia." No further details are available (as to whether he would move from the US to Germany and such), but we will keep you posted!

EA SPORTS has released the FIFA 2004 Creation Centre giving you the chance to create new players, edit all attributes, change formations and export it all for later use (thanks FIFA 2004 Online). Read more details & for download links.

DreamCatcher Games is today requesting that Painkiller fans steer clear of the latest multi-player builds that have appeared on various fan and download sites, as the releases are NOT official demo releases and are intended for press evaluation purposes only. The company is encouraging fans of the game to wait until early February for the official single-player demo release. This leaked build contains just a glimpse of the multi-player maps planned and lacks the depth, weapons, levels and A.I. sophistication that will be present in the official demo.

GarageGames announced today the launch of its partner site Gamebeavers.org and the demo version of the content now available for independent game developers who want to contribute to gain membership in the nonprofit organization.

The entire Worthplaying team wishes everybody a Happy New Year! We hope everybody had a safe transition from old into new and may 2004 be even better than last year. We here at Worthplaying have tons of exciting new stuff lined to even better serve you all. Behind the scenes we are working very hard to expand the website in various ways which will start showing in the months ahead, until then, party on!

As the US army’s elite special operations soldiers you are the most potent ‘smart weapon’ known to man. You are the ‘tip of the spear’ for covert operations around the world - you are the first line of attack. Nothing stands in your way. From the war torn streets of Somalia you have been re-deployed to take out targets in Colombia and Iran. As the US military’s preemptive strike force you must work with your team to get the job done. Novalogic has released a few small trailers (thanks Tiscali) and some new screens, read more to check them out ...

Join a secret squad of pilots dedicated to thwarting the most heinous plans of the Third Reich. Fly over twenty authentic aircraft across thirty daring missions in this new WWII action-flyer. Lawrence Holland, the legendary creator of Star Wars: X-Wing, Star Wars: Tie Fighter and Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe returns with an exhilarating new game of action and intrigue. Can you be trusted with the most dangerous secrets of the war?

Sid Meier’s Pirates! is among the most popular and loved titles in gaming history. Originally released in 1987, Pirates! received unprecedented critical acclaim for crossing multiple game genres to offer unique, unrivaled gameplay options. Pirates! set the industry standard for innovative game design with its unique blend of open-ended role-playing, real-time adventures and thrilling action sequences. Read more for details ...

Rockstar reaches out like a touchy-feely department store Santa, with a special holiday gift for all our devotees. The second in our series of complimentary full game downloads is now available - a vintage title from Rockstar North, then known as DMA Design. Wild Metal Country (1999) is a 3D strategic vehicular combat game set in a distant land, in which you command armed roving vehicles to disrupt dangerous automated military units that have overtaken the Tehric planetary system. All you need to do is sign up here, and it will email you a unique download link (170mb). Njoy!

A Warrior Slave…Chosen by the Gods…to Re-store the Glory of an Empire In the Year 106AD the Roman Empire is in terrible decline. After the untimely death of the much-liked Emperor Trajan, the despotic Emperor Arruntius has bled the once powerful Rome to its knees. Badly fought wars, famine and plague are rife in all corners of the Empire, whilst the Emperor and his elite enjoy every excess and vice that the emptying coffers can afford. As herald to this age of degradation, Arruntius has destroyed large portions of the city of Rome to create the battleground for the bloodiest gladiator event ever staged.

In Tribes: Vengeance's single-player campaign, gamers become immersed in a roiling galactic thriller. Throughout the game, the player catches glimpses of other, interrelated stories that are unfolding behind-the-scenes. In addition, gamers are given the opportunity to experience the full scope of the single-player story through multiple viewpoints and characters. Check out these new screens ...

As a holiday gift to EverQuest fans, Sony Online Entertainment today released a puzzle that will reveal the highly anticipated class tree for EverQuest II, on the company's EverQuest II game site. EverQuest II features 48 classes available through a tree branch progression, allowing you to choose your class as you advance in the game. The answer to the puzzle will be announced after the holiday break, but fans are sure to solve it much sooner.

Vivendi Universal Games and Massive Entertainment today unveiled the third faction in Ground Control II: Operation Exodus - the Virons - an alien warrior race.

Acclaim Entertainment today announced that it has entered into an exclusive global publishing agreement with Reno-based developer BattleBorne Entertainment, Inc. for their soon-to-be announced video game for the next-generation gaming systems. Comprised of former members of the celebrated Fallout 2, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon teams, BattleBorne is currently utilizing the critically acclaimed Snowblind Studios technology and their own proprietary tools to develop the game.

BiosFear will enter its Open Beta phase today, December 22, around noon. After a successful Closed Beta with many enthusiastic players, Tiscali Games decided to let everybody in before Christmas. Read more for details ...

Sonalysts Inc. disclosed the initial details of the inaugural title to their Sonalysts' Combat Simulations brand, dubbed "Dangerous Waters" (S.C.S - "Dangerous Waters"). S.C.S. - "Dangerous Waters" will be the first title of its kind, allowing the player total control over multiple air, surface and subsurface platforms in a modern-day naval environment. Read more for details and screens, or check the freshly launched official website.

Akella and Step Creative Group announce that a new 3D tactical strategy/action game DEactivation was released. Players will control one of the antiterrorist units of droids to neutralize acts of terrorism. Destroy the hostile robots-kamikazes and set the hostages free! For every mission there's a set number of droids. Terminate the shot firing system, destroy the hostile robots and set the hostages free! The missions are held in distinct types of building that differ one from another in the number of floors and rooms. Read more for details ...

Deep Silver is pleased to announce that X²: The Threat, by German development team EGOSOFT has gone GOLD in anticipation for its 6th February 2004 UK release date. Sequel to the classic space trading / combat PC game X Beyond The Frontier, X² has been in development for over two years. X²: The Threat from EGOSOFT is launched on Windows PC at £34.99 SRP (UK) on 6th February 2004.

Imagine one guild dominating the land. Imagine another one getting ready to challenge them. Your guild? Eternal fame may just be one battle away - a battle where hundreds of armed players fight a siege to dominate the Castle of Shilon! The forthcoming action-MMORPG BiosFear features what must be amongst the most massive and bloody battles ever seen in any online game. Thanks to its fast graphics engine, which allows for smooth gameplay, in BiosFear's battles the screen is crammed with players and packed with action. Are you ready to join the battle?