Valve Software has released the Steam update tools for the Half-Life dedicated servers. These updates will allow server admins to upgrade to v1.1.2.0, they are required if you want to keep your Win32/Linux servers in sync. These updates also address a large amount of tweaks, improvements and bug fixes. Read more for details & download links ...

Demonstrating the massive appeal of the PlayStation platforms and its software libraries, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. today announced three additions to its PlayStation2 "Greatest Hits" lineup, including: SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs, Ratchet & Clank and Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus.

Turn Steve McQueen on... on your PCs from September 12th.. Digitally resurrected to star in the new computer game based on the World War II adventure classic, Steve McQueen stars in THE GREAT ESCAPE released on PC on September 12th.

It's your chance to take part in the largest breakout in history from the "escape proof" Stalag Luft III and participate in the most famous motorbike scene in Hollywood. The game offers a huge variety of gameplay which takes you from tension-filled stealth scenes to adrenalin-fuelled action and chase sequences.

Codemasters will announce the evolution of racing video games revealing details of Race Driver 2: The Ultimate Racing Simulator at X03, Microsoft's European showcase event for Xbox, on September 16th and 17th.

Race Driver 2: The Ultimate Racing Simulator is now in development at Codemasters' UK studios. The title will launch in 2004 and be a significant gear-change for the award-winning TOCA Race Driver series.

In an attempt to take over the world, Dr. Calamitus has kidnapped the one person who could possibly stop him, Jet Fusion (one of the greatest spies/ movie stars)! However, he never thought that a boy genius would be brought into the picture. Jimmy Neutron has been contacted by the BTSO: Big Top Secret Organization to rescue Jet Fusion. This game will include crazy inventions created by Jimmy Neutron to battle bullies and take on the evil Dr. Calamitus. The spy element also allows the game to include secret gadgets and high-tech vehicles such as the light ray, Jimmy Bot and Trajectory that will definitely aid Jimmy on his mission to rescue Jet Fusion.

Rainbow Studios, creator of ATV Off Road Fury and Motocross Madness, returns to their heritage of motocross by developing the definitive next generation MX game. MX Unleashed is a unique blend of racing and freestyle that provides a realistic experience where the rider is now affected by real-world forces. Players can race through 50 unique tracks and explore six open worlds. Highly optimized graphics offer incredible eco-systems and texture resolution. In MX Unleashed players can select authentic gear and equipment from the top manufacturers in the world, set records, play mini games, race a helicopter - do it all on the power of a dirt bike... Check out a product sheet for this bike sim thing below!

In SOCOM II, players don combat threads and tactical prowess as an elite SEAL commander in the solo mode. You bark orders through the accompanying voice-recognizing headset (sold separately), you move in the shadows with pin-drop precision, and you don’t evacuate until every last objective is scratched off the list. Twelve epic, international missions are your theater, spanning the globe from intense urban cities to the thick jungles of South America (thanks Gamer.nl). Read more for some small screens ...

EA has released the eagerly anticipated multiplayer demo of Medal of Honor: Allied Assault Breakthrough. This demo sports 2 maps (Anzio and Palermo) featuring the new Liberation mode. Read more for download links ...

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 ...

Midway Games Inc. announced today that noted producer and composer Chris Vrenna will score the music for Area 51, the ultimate “sci-fi meets government cover-up” first-person shooter. Area 51 is scheduled to ship in 2004 for the PlayStation2 and the Xbox. Read more for details ...

Jarhead Studios' Wild West first person shooter has gone gold and should be in stores (published by Groove Games) end of this month.

You are the Stranger, a man hardened by your years as a gunslinger. The only thing harder than you are the rocks you sleep on at night. You have arrived in a troubled town looking for peace and quiet, but you're not that lucky. Framed for a crime you didn't commit, you must use your skills as a gunslinger to evade the law and fight to stay alive in a corrupt western town where everyone wants you dead. Fight your way through ten action packed levels. Save the day by thwarting a train heist, go one on one with other gunslingers, fight your way through an abandoned mine and save the girl from a rich tycoon Hell-bent on seeing you dead. Then ride off into the sunset, if you're still alive.

Gamesindustry.biz let us know that the public beta test of broadband games-on-demand service Steam will end on Tuesday evening Pacific time, and the first full version installer will be made available on Wednesday morning at 11am PDT via www.steampowered.com, Valve Software has announced.

With the new release on Wednesday, Valve plans to reset the account database. Any future registrations will have to be allied to a genuine CD-key, drawing to a close the honeymoon period of free Half-Life, CS and mod access - not to mention Half-Life 2 movie releases - for the two or three people still without a copy of the original game.

With over two years of development time going into the project, the team at EGOSOFT have crafted a dynamic, active universe, in which to immerse the player. Tagged as the "21st Century Elite" by PC ZONE, the game has already received vast amounts of coverage; with press overwhelmed by the quality of graphics and depth of game play. Read more for details and a batch of new screens ...

Dead to Rights is an intense, action thriller that is currently available for PlayStation2, Xbox, and GameCube. Dead to Rights features model Grant City officer, Jack Slate, who's been framed for murder and seeks revenge on those who have killed his father and set him up. What Slate discovers during his journey sends him on a downward spiral into a labyrinth of corruption, betrayal and crime. Best-selling, Dead to Rights has qualified for and is now selling as Platinum Hits for Xbox. Read more to check a fresh batch of PC screens ...

Xicat Interactive, Inc., a publisher of computer games such as Jane's Attack Squadron and Iron Aces II, has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with KOCH Media for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The company will be responsible for all aspects of sales and distribution for Xicat's titles.

Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes thrusts players into the stunning 3D world of espionage and stealth action created by celebrated producer, Hideo Kojima. Playing as legendary videogame hero, Solid Snake, gamers will infiltrate an Alaskan nuclear missile disposal facility occupied by a terrorist organization called FOXHOUND. Only in this game will players truly feel like they are in the heart of the action, as if every step taken leads them closer to danger.

A new release schedule for Microsoft's Xbox reveals that many key titles for the console have slipped even further into 2004. Halo 2 has slipped back a further two months, and is now scheduled to arrive in April. Ninja Gaiden has fallen back a few more months on top of already announced slippage. Kameo: Elements of Power is scheduled for a June launch. Fable is slated for an optimistic Q2 2004 release. Sudeki is confirmed as Q1 2004 release.

As U.S. Army Sergeant John Baker, players join the battle at Kasserine Pass in North Africa, race to capture Messina in Sicily, and finally repel the German army at the historic battle of Monte Battaglia in the heart of Italy. Armed with a new arsenal of weapons, players will fight alone and with squad mates as they rush to stop the Axis powers. Some more screens from the multi-player demo...

Flying Labs Software decided to push the release date out to Q1 2004 for The Pirates of the Burning Sea "MMORPG". It gives them time to schedule a whole milestone without new features so that they can focus on performance and stability.

Pirates is broadband only, with high-end hardware specifications for graphics -- a GeForce 3 or better is required in at least a 1GHz machine, and the game is optimized for the latest DirectX 9.0-class cards. Pirates is being published on-line directly to gamers using Valve's new Steam technology, the same delivery system used by Half-Life 2 and Counterstrike 2. Check out the new seaworthy screens ...

SWAT: Global Strike Team was founded in 2018 as an international offshoot of the U.S. SWAT organization. Primarily established to supplement the income of the U.S. SWAT establishment, the Global Strike Team contract their personnel and expertise to companies and countries around the world to help “resolve” situations for those who have the funds but not the means to do so. The GST is made up of specially selected SWAT officers and ex-military personnel who have shown the ability to adapt to and overcome any situation they encounter. Like the U.S. SWAT organization, SWAT: GST is a life-saving institution whose mission is to uphold the laws of its operating country, so all efforts must be made to use only necessary force.

The Steam Beta has delivered several Valve games and popular Half-Life MODs to over 300,000 gamers, and will come to a close Tuesday evening (Pacific Daylight Time). The first full version of Steam, Valve's broadband platform for the delivery and management of digital content, will launch at 11 am PDT on Wednesday. Set up installers for the full version, which will be free of charge to existing Half-Life and Counter-Strike players, will be available from www.steampowered.com and leading game sites.

Rebellion, developer of the forthcoming Judge Dredd: Dredd Vs. Death for PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube announced today that due to a duplication error at a third party, unfinished beta builds of the game have been sent out for review as 'finished' games to a number of magazines across PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox formats. It has also been announced that the release date for Judge Dredd: Dredd Vs. Death on PC, PS2 and Xbox has now been moved back to the early part of October. A specific release date will be announced when it is confirmed. Currently the GameCube release date of 21 November is unaffected.

Atari and Digital Brothers are proud to announce the launch of the Horizons Empire of Istaria European website. This European website will be the central hub for ‘Horizons’ game info and will be localized in 5 languages: English, French, German, Spanish and Italian. This highly anticipated next generation online multiplayer experience is coming to the PC for Xmas 2003.

Developer Valve has revealed that it plans to offer a $9.99 monthly subscription system to purchasers of Half-Life 2, as well as releasing three separate versions of the game - which has now seemingly slipped to November. (thanks Gamesindustry.biz)

In an email, later confirmed as authentic, posted to forums on Half-Life2.net, and a later follow-up on the forum thread, Valve boss Gabe Newell confirmed that the company intends to offer an optional subscription which will grant members free additional content for Half-Life 2, delivered over the Steam digital distribution system.

Developer Beenox has revealed their Twister project which is in fact "Wakeboarding Unleashed featuring Shaun Murray"! THE one and only amazing Wakeboarding action title is coming for the PC and Macintosh! The title is being ported by Beenox and will be published by Aspyr Media. Read more for some details ...