Vivendi Universal Games has canceled the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Treason of Isengard for Xbox/PS2. Scheduled for release in Q4 2003, Treason of Isengard was dropped from the release schedule when it was determined that the game was not shaping up as strongly as anticipated and would likely not satisfy the expectations of Tolkien fans. Vivendi Universal Games remains committed to developing and releasing quality games based on the literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien and we look forward to the release The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring this November, as well as Middle-Earth Online next year.

For the first time ever, EA Games console titles including The Lord of the Rings; The Return of the King will feature online gameplay for the PS2, Electronic Arts announced today. Along with The Lord of the Rings, The Sims Bustin' Out, Need for Speed Underground, and Medal of Honor Rising Sun will allow gamers to connect and play online this holiday season. Read more for details ...

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 ...

Entertainment software developer and publisher NovaLogic, Inc. is pleased to announce that the first expansion pack for the number one selling PC title Delta Force: Black Hawk Down is currently under development at Dallas-based Ritual Entertainment.

The hunt is on with the release of "Cabela's Deer Hunt 2004 Season" from Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision, Inc. The follow-up to last year's hit for the PlayStation game console, "Cabela's Deer Hunt 2004 Season" expands upon the realistic Cabela's hunting games franchise by including new regions, more deer, and plenty of action for both novice and expert marksmen. "Cabela's Deer Hunt 2004 Season" for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and Xbox video game system from Microsoft is currently available at retail outlets nationwide for a suggested retail price of $29.99 and carries a "T" (Teen -- content suitable for persons ages 13 and older) rating by the ESRB.

Valve has released the official Steam client which you now need for future Halflife, as well as Counterstrike, update patches and other Valve goodies. No more beta patches, this is the official release (thanks Shacknews). Read more for download links ...

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. Read more to check out some new Xbox screens ...

"Unreal Tournament 2004 is the next evolution of the greatest competitive computer game ever created," said Jean-Philippe Agati, senior vice president and general manager of Atari's Los Angeles studio. "The addition of new modes, mods and maps as well as the controllable land-, air- and space-based vehicles, means Unreal fans are getting an entirely new experience featuring devastating vehicular combat and wide scale warfare." Check out some new screens ...

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.