The State of Michigan must pay the video game industry $182,349 in attorney's fees and costs as a result of successful litigation challenging an unconstitutional effort to enact a law banning the sale or rental of violent video games to minors, Judge George Caram Steeh, US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, ruled yesterday.

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:

• PDC World Championship Darts (PC/UK only)
• Crazy Frog Racer 2 (PS2/PC/UK only)
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  We will update this throughout the day when new announcements become available. Read more for details ...

Since Troika is no longer amongst the living this patch is not official, so use at your own discretion. This update brings Activision's Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines retail game to v3.2 (requires v1.2 patch installed) and addresses a number of known issues, gameplay tweaks, bug fixes and so forth (thanks 3DGamers).

TrackMania United is the complete TrackMania game, regrouping all the TrackMania games released until now and all their add-ons. Ascaron unveils TrackMania United's new connected functionality, allowing players to directly exchange all their creations through the game, its interface and its closed Internet network.

Introversion Software announced that it was teaming up with Philips to produce an amBX version of DEFCON. In time, the company also hopes to amBX enable their two previous critically acclaimed titles: Darwinia and Uplink.

Frontline: Fields of Thunder is a new RTS series where players are taken to the frontline, where the gameplay is going back to its RTS roots - inspired by games like Blitzkrieg. With state of the art graphics and an overhauled interface, players will find themselves challenged in many different environments and settings.

iBase Games closed its doors, and laid off all its game development workers (including Leisure Suit Larry creator Al Lowe) while its parent company, iBase Entertainment seeks additional financing. As a result iBase Games' action comedy Sam Suede: Undercover Exposure, has been put on hold indefinitly. iBase Entertainment hopes to revive the project at a later time ...

Echoes of Faydwer introduces a new playable race, The Fae, as well as over 350 new quests, new hats, cloaks, armor, and new horse mounts available to players of all levels, over 40 new types of creatures, more than 20 new zones and adventure areas, new PvP rewards, plus all-new items, equipment, spells and tradeskill recipes.

LucasArts and SOE announced that Star Wars Galaxies Chapter 4: Armed and Ready for Action is now available for all SWG subscribers who will automatically receive updates throughout the remainder of 2006 and into 2007, as part of their regular subscription to the game.

id Software announced the hiring of long-time industry veteran and former Ritual CEO Steve Nix as id Software's new Director of Business Development. Marty Stratton, id’s director of business development since 2000, is moving into a production role within the company as an executive producer.

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 :

• Penumbra: Overture - Physics Trailer
• Spectrobes (NDS) - Trailer #3
• World Snooker Championship 2007 (PS2/PS3/X360) - Trailer
• EVE Online: Revelations - Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Gamers can now download real video games for free and play them in a secure, online, multiplayer environment, and they can win cash while they’re doing it. An initiative of Groove Games, SkillGround is the world’s first platform where people of all skill levels can play real video games head-to-head for cash prizes or just for fun.

Europa Universalis III delves deeply into the areas of exploration, trade, warfare and diplomacy and is an epic strategy game where players take control of a nation and guide it through the ages to become a great global empire.

EA announced that the development team at Utah-based developer Headgate Studios, known for Tiger Woods PGA TOUR and Madden NFL titles, has joined EA. The development team will remain in Bountiful, Utah and will continue to work in partnership with the EA development teams in California and Florida.

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:

• Forge of Freedom: The American Civil War (PC)
• Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman’s Mine (PC)
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  We will update this throughout the day when new announcements become available. Read more for details ...

On Monday December 4, 2006 Microsoft and Bungie launch the Halo 3 offensive with the unveiling of the official Halo 3 website, openinig sign-ups for the Halo 3 multiplayer beta, and simultaniously launching a new pre-rendered CGI TV ad which will air on ESPN's Monday Night Football between 8:50 pm and 9:20 pm EST, which will then be downloadable at Xbox.com.

Armed Assault is a realistic, combat gaming offering freedom of action and immersive complex environments, blended with a unique touch of total simulation. Morphicon has released the first patch, bringing your German retail game to v1.01 and addressing various AI issues, engine updates, general performance and stability issues.

The game will provide players with extremely dynamic gameplay of fast and tough combats, where players are to oppose dangerous and wise enemies, a large set of multifarious weaponry, possibility to control various machinery, incredible detailing and game world interactivity, story-driven single player with original team gameplay, a well-balanced multiplayer with numerous modes.

EA announced today that former Long Beach State University pitcher and Major League baseball Rookie of the Year finalist Jered Weaver will grace the cover of MVP 07 NCAA Baseball, scheduled for release in Feb. 2007.

Cipher Complex, the first completely original title from Edge of Reality, is an intense, cinematic military combat game that will deliver a brutal shot of adrenaline straight to the hearts of next-generation gamers.

With all-new features, improved gameplay and a depth only seen from Sports Interactive, Football Manager 2007 offers a management simulation that is second to none. SIGames has released the first patch, bringing your game to v7.0.1 and making various tweaks, updates and bug/crash fixes.

Left Behind Games announces plans to develop a Left Behind: Eternal Forces sequel, and has signed a multi-year technology license with Rise of Nations and Rise of Legends creators Big Huge Games.

Runaway 2: The Dream of the Turtle is an adventure game with 3D characters with a cartoon look and high-impact visual features that include 2D and 3D in an unmatchable style. This German demo features the beginning of chapter 4, but with dialogue and a solution specifically written for this demo.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. announced some management shuffling as President, and Group CEO, Ken Kutaragi, becomes Chairman, while former President and CEO of SCEA Kaz Hirai, replaced by SCEA EVP and co-COO Jack Tretton, steps up as President and Group COO of SCEI, effective December 1, 2006.

Splinter Cell Double Agent reinvents the spy action genre by introducing a double agent concept and a new breed of game play that adds an exciting new dimension to the gaming experience. Ubisoft has issued a patch for the Xbox 360 version, available through Xbox Live, fixing various multiplayer problems, such as lag, and freeze issues.