Crystal Dynamics has made Tomb Raider Underworld more realistic with fluid movements due to motion capturing. Set a few years after the last game, it also features persistent destruction and lush locales across the globe. Lara gets muddy in the game, but with the weather system, rain will wash it away.

RACE Pro recreates a breathtaking reality giving you the ultimate racing simulation experience with precision physics and handling.

While Guitar Hero: Metallica isn't officially announced yet, we know that it will feature an Expert+ difficulty setting for people with two kick pedals, pop-up video style tracks, new guitar and bass tones, allowing you to play a Metallica member in either single instrument or band career game modes, and additional tracks from bands such as Slayer, Foo Fighters, Judas Priest, Kyuss, Machine Head, as well as 28 Metallica tracks, of course.

Another day, another batch of games shipped to stores. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are announcements for:

• Rise of the Argonauts (PS3/X360/PC)
• WordJong Party (Wii)
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  We will update this throughout the day when new announcements become available. Read more for details ...

NDOORS has acquired the North American rights to SBSi's 2D side-scrolling casual MMO WonderKing. Challenge the demonic forces of Valron in real-time combat and strive to become the “Wonderking” that will bring light to the shadows of darkness.

Nintendo has opened its Club Nintendo in North America, allowing fans to register products, complete surveys, and receive Nintendo Coins, which in turn can then be redeemed for limited-edition Nintendo rewards available only to Club Nintendo members.

Taking Monster Jam monster trucks onto the streets and other urban settings and being rewarded for the scale of the damage and destruction is one of the new key features of Monster Jam: Urban Assault. Feel the crunch of twisting metal underneath as you drive legendary and world famous monster truck favorites, demolishing every vehicle you see.

Autodesk has become a member of Epic Games’ Integrated Partners Program, allowing it to integrate its Autodesk HumanIK animation middleware with Epic’s Unreal Engine 3. Kynapse artificial intelligence middleware was also previously integrated with UE3.

Red Alert 3 takes players on an epic RTS adventure to an alternate future spawned by time travel run amok, featuring a fully co-operative campaign, the series' light-hearted style and classic, action-oriented gameplay. While there is no official announcement yet, it should be no surprise that the Red Alert 3 team is already working on the first expansion, Uprising.

During the holidays Microsoft kicked off two global 30-day specials to bring great deals on select Xbox Live content (every monday a deal on either a movie rental, a map pack or even an XBLA game) and even free multiplayer for a list of great XBLA titles. This week Bomberman Live lowers its price from the usual 800 to 600 points.

the Hunter is a free to play online hunting game that artfully combines the most realistic hunting action, with the community and functionality of a social networking site.

Alone in the Dark returns with a heart-stopping survival experience realized through combining the use of real-time physics and environmental interaction to deliver an exhilarating action-orientated experience within a highly detailed, open environment.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 will unleash a new tag team experience, allowing players to build momentum and attributes, eliminate opponents with high impact double teams and finishers, as well as get the “hot tag” for the win. S vs. Raw 2009 fans will soon have the opportunity to download updated costumes and even new Superstars for the game.

Austrian indie developer Bplus announced its upcoming arcade platformer Niki: Rock 'n' Ball, a jump'n roll game where you must collect all the 6 ZeLeLi pearls in sequence, in a stage, and conquer all the monsters to open the portal to the next stage.

Project Origin continues F.E.A.R.'s supernatural suspense story of an escalating paranormal crisis that threatens to destroy a major American city. Alma now has free reign, and the consequences will be unimaginable. Originally banned in Australia for too much blood & violence, after Warner Bros. appealed the decision, F.E.A.R. 2 has now received a MA15+ rating, without cutting or making any changes to the game's content.

Another day, another batch of game trailers was released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for:

• Uncharted 2: Among Thieves [PS3] - 2008 VGA Trailer
• Mafia II [ALL] - 2008 VGA Trailer
• Brutal Legend [PS3/X360] - Kinda Sexy Though Trailer
• Watchmen: The End is Nigh [PS3/X360/PC] - Trailer
• Terminator Salvation: The Videogame [ALL] - Trailer
• Fight Night Round 4 [PS3/X360] - 2008 VGA Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Pandemic has constructed a whole new "playground of destruction" from the ground up, fully stocked with the hottest vehicles and weapons. Pandemic has released the free Blow It Up Again DLC on Xbox Live, adding our new missions, as well as Urban Rampage, Death Race, Arms Race and Mercs Blitz modes to the game.

Gearbox Software wants to share its holiday spirit with gamers everywhere, and are playing a Family Feud-style game with the community this year – everyone fills out what they think will be the most popular answers to our list of gaming- and Gearbox-related (mostly!) categories, and the top five scorers from the community will win some great exclusive Gearbox prizes – posters signed by the team, special editions of our games, t-shirts, and more!

In Game Factory Interactive's Alexander the Great, developed by World Forge, you take the might of Macedonia to a new level of greatness. With the global map being the key element of strategy, you choose the territory that you ants to conquer, develop your own strategy, conduct battles and observe the result of the chosen actions, which are then reflected on the global map.

A Stroke of Fate is a detective story set in the authentic surroundings of 1940s fascist Germany, giving you the opportunity to conduct a compelling investigation of the most mysterious secret veiled by the 20th century – Adolf Hitler's premature death.

GTA IV: The Lost and Damned features a new main character and plot that intersects with the storyline of Grand Theft Auto IV; new missions that offer an entirely fresh way to explore Liberty City with new multiplayer modes, weapons and vehicles; and a diverse soundtrack with additional music.

Women's Murder Club: A Darker Shade of Grey is a suspenseful casual seek-and-find mystery adventure game with new features including dialogue with characters, a point system and greater adventures.

EU: Rome covers the time period from the first Punic War to the start of the true Empire. Players will have thousand of gameplay choices ranging from country, culture, and character options etc., making every game infinitely customizable and unique.

Battle for Atlantis is an RTS where the action takes place around the conflict between the ancient race of atlantis and mankind. The gameplay is based on the combination of underwater and land battles and maximum full interaction of the game world.

SCi/Eidos' takeover talks that it declared were "over" in early 2008 were back on track with EA, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros., and last month, Square Enix came into the mix. The stakes have been raised as MCV reports that Warner Bros., which already owned 10% of the British publisher/developer through a strategic partnership, has now acquired another 10%.