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.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3 for Xbox will offer the most intense single- and multiplayer experiences available on the Xbox, thanks in large part to a voice-activated command system that lets players issue orders to their team and communicate with each other through an Xbox headset. To showcase this groundbreaking feature, and to thrust players right into the intense action of Rainbow Six 3, a limited-edition Rainbow Six 3 bundled with a specially-branded headset will be available at participating Best Buy, Electronic Boutique and GameStop locations, as well as the online Ubisoft store.

Viva Media/FrogWares have released a demo for their just released game, Journey to the Center of the Earth. Epic in scale, this extraordinary adventure will offer PC gamers an incredible voyage at a remarkably affordable price. No specific details on what the demo contains are available at this point. Read more for download links ...

The Berlin/Germany based studio Silver Style Entertainment (previously known for Soldiers Of Anarchy) develops 'The Fall: Last Days of Gaia' for PC, an innovative Post-Apocalyptic Role Playing Game with tactical combat and a highly original, disturbing storyline. The game is scheduled for Q1, 2004. The Fall will be the first 3D-RPG set in an endtime scenario on the market. Read more for details and the first screens ...

Namco and Todd McFarlane Productions announced today the official name of Mammon, a character known by many "Spawn" enthusiasts for his mysterious appearances in numerous past comic book episodes. Until today, Mammon has been portrayed as a background character that appeared in dark, hidden shadows. Mammon is now slated to take on a much more proactive, even major, role in both the upcoming video game as well as in future episodes of the "Spawn" comic book series, with appearances beginning in issue 133. The video game, "Spawn: Armageddon," is scheduled to release in November 2003 on the PS2, GameCube and Xbox.

Midway Games announced today that Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance has shipped as a Greatest Hits title for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and a Platinum Hits title for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft. A Player's Choice title for the Nintendo GameCube will be available on October 27.

Ubisoft revealed plans today to expand its line of flight Sims through a partnership with 1C: Maddox Games. The publishing deal includes the announcement of The Battle of Britain, a brand new World War II flight simulation game, which is expected to build on the enormous success of the IL-2 Sturmovik franchise. Ubisoft also plans to publish an expansion pack for IL2 Sturmovik Forgotten Battles that will let owners of Forgotten Battles take to the skies again, to engage in more World War II dogfights alone or with players around the world via the internet.

THQ today announced that Scooby-Doo! Two: Monsters Unleashed, based on the Warner Bros. Studios feature film of the same name, is in development for Game Boy Advance and PC. Scooby-Doo! Two: Monsters Unleashed is scheduled to ship in early 2004, in conjunction with the film's theatrical release.

The New Orleans Media Experience is a "MediaFest" to join such signature events as The Big Easy's world-famous Mardi Gras and Jazz & Heritage Festival. "The Experience" will be held in New Orleans for the first time ever from October 26th to November 1st, 2003. "The Experience" will highlight the convergence of film, advertising, music, videogames, graphic design, and more. It will also offer an array of panels, symposiums, professional speakers and moderators all aiming to connect these industries and heighten the progress of each. There will film premiers such as "Hypnotic", video game pre-release exhibitions and demos, as well as Photography and Digital Video Workshops, where one can learn from world leaders in the intuitive development of today's and tomorrow's creative storytellers and image makers!

Shacknews got some more details on the recent Half-Life 2 source leak from Gabe Newell (thanks Blues). Here is a clip:

1) We've taken our network connection down to pretty much a minimum. We're still finding machines internally that have been compromised.

2) The suite of tools that the attacker was using included the modified version of RemotelyAnywhere (basically a Remote Desktop-style remote admin tool), Haxker Defender (a process, registry key and file hiding tool), the key logger, and various networking utilities that allowed them to transfer files (compressors, NetCat, and FTP). We also are pretty sure they were sniffing our network to gather passwords and other information. Haxker Defender includes a file system driver that allows an attacker to have stuff on your machine that is invisible, unless you do something like mount the drive under another OS that has NTFS support.

We have determined one way of detecting some infected machines, which is using a connection viewer to detect connections to anomalous hosts external to our network.

We still don't know their entry method.