Atari and Epic Games have announced pricing and packaging details as well as a rebate program for Unreal Tournament 2004, the highly anticipated follow-up to last year's smash hit Unreal Tournament 2003, which has become the standard for competitive multiplayer gaming since it shipped in November 2002. Read more for details ...

Plastic Reality/Cenega have released a demo for their squad-based Korean War game Korea: Forgotten Conflict. The demo features a tutorial level and one mission in Seoul, where you have to rescue medic and few allied soldiers and then leave by train (thanks Tiscali). Read more for download links ...

The Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas computer game has shipped to retail stores nationwide, Atari, Inc. announced today. Based on the animated film from DreamWorks Pictures, the PC game combines the epic adventure of the movie with the latest PC technology - the Intel Pentium 4 Processor with HT Technology - to deliver a state-of-the-art game experience.

Buka has released the English demo for Steamland, their funny and beautiful RTS, set in the fantastic world of lively trains, which fight with each other making their way to victory. This game is easy to play both for children and grown-ups without sacrificing keen gameplay. 3D landscapes, changing weather conditions and shadow effects give us the overview about the fabulous world. Striking variety of fantastic units and weaponry completes this surprising civilization. Read more for download links ...

Microsoft has released a map pack for Relic Entertainment's 3D RTS game Impossible Creatures. Impossible Creatures is a 3-D real-time strategy game that pits the player against an evil villain in an action-packed campaign across a chain of remote and diverse islands. Using Earth's most formidable animals as building blocks, the player creates an army of unique, mutant monsters in a desperate struggle to protect an unsuspecting world from a horrible fate. This map pack requires you to have the latest v1.1 update patch (also available on our file servers) and features a few new multiplayer maps :Ring, 2Fort4, Rival Islands, Double Twisted Bill and Shinwa (thanks Relicnews)Read more for download links ...

Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios today announced that a limited edition Kings & Myths: The Age Collection holiday compilation package, which includes four award-winning games, is now available at select North American retailers for an estimated retail price of $59.99 (U.S.). The compilation, which includes Age of Mythology, Age of Mythology: The Titans, Age of Empires II, Age of Empires II: The Conquerors and Sybex’s Age of Mythology Strategy Guide, will be available only at Best Buy, EB Games and GameStop. The Kings & Myths package is a great way for players to experience the finest real-time strategy titles available.

Encore today announced that it has signed an exclusive North American agreement with Black Ops Entertainment LLC to publish Fugitive Hunter: War on Terror for the PlayStation2. This game blends first-person shooter (FPS) and fighter genres in a hunt for terrorists and other criminals; in one of the key missions, players track and capture Osama bin Laden -- America's most wanted terrorist. Read more for details & the first screens ...

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. Powered by an enhanced version of the Unreal Engine, the world is brought to life with characters that have facial expressions and fully-realized personalities, vehicles that kick up dust as they pass by, and weapons that display spectacular effects. Check out these 30+ new screens ...

Gotham Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, announced today that MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch for the PlayStation2, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. Based on the MTV claymation hit series, MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch is available for the MSRP of $19.99. MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch will be shipping to retail in Europe on October 31, 2003.

Radica UK and Electronic Arts today announced a co-operative partnership agreement that will bring bespoke peripheral and game bundles to the UK market.

Beginning in October 2003, the deal will see the launch of limited edition double packs featuring a leading EA release and a unique Gamester peripheral. First to market will be SSX 3 and a unique version of the Gamester Sportsboard for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, which has been developed exclusively for the title. This will be followed by versions of Medal of Honor Rising Sun for PlayStation 2 and the Xbox video game system from Microsoft with the Gamester FPS Master, which has also been designed exclusively for the title.

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... Today we received descriptions of the Supply Buggy and Rocket Pod additions, included is also some new screens!

Reload, rev up and ride out. The new Tournament is faster, higher and meaner. Land and air based vehicles take combat to a new level; while an arsenal of new weaponry, daunting arenas and battlefields and the challenge of the Assault and Onslaught modes make the gladiator blood sport of the future a brand new experience... Atari now released the system requirements, can your computer handle it? Find out below!

Desert Thunder: 7th Cavalry Heavy Armored Division puts gamers in the driver’s seat of an Abrams M1A3x Advanced tank. Action fanatics will get a thrill from driving and blasting through fully destructible highly detailed environments while completing adrenaline-charged challenging missions on the way to victory over a tyrannical terrorist regime... Check out some screens below!

Team 17 reports that Worms 3D is Gold! That's right, All 4 formats of Worms 3D (Cube, Box, PS2 and PC). All 4 (internally produced) versions are now in production for the European release date of 31st October.

This release date is for Europe only, there is still no word when the game will be released in North/South America and Far East. This is due to it having a different distributor (Atari) and separate approval processes.

Sierra has released a small patch for Papyrus' racing simulation NASCAR Racing 2003 Season. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.2.0.1 and adresses a startup problem due to the securom protection. If your game starts fine, you do not need to download this fix (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

GarageGames announced today has launched the official Demo of the Torque Game Engine version 1.2 on Windows, OS X and Linux. The Torque Game Engine (TGE) is a commercial quality AAA game engine available to Independent game developers (those making less than $500,000 annual income) at a special license price of $100. TGE is the game engine that powers Tribes 2 developed by Dynamix. TGE features the latest in scripting, geometry, particle effects, animation and texturing, as well as award winning multi-player networking code.

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. Check the new screens!

Computer and video game publisher Gathering and Take-Two's critically acclaimed software developer PopTop Software, today announced the release of the Railroad Tycoon 3 mini game. In this minigame, the player must place track to allow the train to reach its destination. Choose quickly and carefully, as the engineer has a schedule to keep! Check the official website or read more for details ...

Korea: Forgotten Conflict is a 3D Real Time Strategy game based on the war that no-one, save for those involved, wants to remember. In game film sequences will reinforce the atmosphere and realism within this fully interactive environment. Although there were 450,000 Allies lost in conflict (and, to date, there are still more than 8,000 servicemen unaccounted for), Communist casualties amounted to nearly 2 million. Maybe you can lessen these numbers (thanks GenGamers). Read more for some screens ...

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...

Loaded Studio is working on a new upcoming fast-paced action game Storm Angel. It combines the latest 3D visual effects with the classic side-scrolling shoot'em up formula. Storm Angel is a very fast-paced action game with 13 full-action packed level. The player will have to take control of the Storm Angel, an attack and defense ship ,which can support 10 different weapons with 7 levels of power. Read more for some screens ...

Exclusive to Xbox, Breakdown is a sci-fi thriller that combines the best elements of shooters and fighters in a first-person action/adventure game. The game's intense storyline is told through high-quality real time rendered graphics that bring an unprecedented level of realism to the player. The game features fierce weapon-based first-person shooter combat, challenging puzzles to solve, surreal dream sequences, advanced AI, and massive detailed environments for exploration. Read more for some new screens ...

ESPN Videogames today announced details of the ESPN Videogames Online Leagues for PlayStation 2 gamers who eagerly await the company's sports game lineup for the 2003-04 season. ESPN Videogames Online Leagues invite ESPN NFL Football, ESPN NBA Basketball, and ESPN College Hoops players to create and manage their own leagues with other sports gamers across the country. The leagues are now accessible at the ESPN Videgames' website by clicking on the 'PS2 Online Gaming' link. This feature can be accessed through any PC with an Internet connection.

Nokia, together with Electronic Arts (EA) today announced that the true authority in soccer gaming, FIFA Soccer 2004 will be released for the Nokia N-Gage game deck. The soccer season of FIFA Soccer 2004 on the Nokia N-Gage game deck will get players into amazing 3D stadium graphics, and head-to-head multiplayer gameplay via Bluetooth wireless technology.

Atari and Game Network are proud to announce that the award winning Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game 'Horizons Empire of Istaria' has now entered the European Beta phase of its development. Horizons aims to redefine the genre, taking it to new levels, offering superior graphics and a new way to 'experience' interactive gaming.

The sign-up of the Beta has started, go to www.betatests.net and register now! Don't miss the opportunity of being one of the selected players to gain access to the European Beta test.