In Sid Meier's Pirates! you take the leading role of a Pirate Captain in the 17th century Caribbean amassing fortune and fame in an attempt to seize your rightful place as one of the most revered (and feared!) pirates in history. Test your skills as a sea captain exploring the high seas and exotic ports in a richly detailed 3D world. Overtake the enemy and seize valuable booty. Exchange plank-shattering broadsides in fierce naval battles, and engage in duels with worthy opposing captains. Read more for some new screens ...

DreamCatcher UK has just announced they are bringing GolemLabs' "SuperPower 2" to the UK this coming Winter. Helping to realise player's dreams of world domination, SuperPower 2 is the only global geopolitical simulation game that allows players to control entire countries in the three major areas of politics, economics and the military. Read more for details and new screens...

Groove Games and ARUSH Entertainment today announced that their upcoming, highly anticipated title Playboy: The Mansion, published under license from Playboy Enterprises, will feature celebrity guests Carmen Electra and Tom Arnold on its interactive game play roster.

Vivendi Universal Games announced today that Thunderbirds for the Game Boy Advance video game system is shipping to retail stores nationwide August 4th. Kids ages six and older take command of the Thunderbirds fleet on a heroic mission to save members of International Rescue ... and the world!

Nokia announced the latest addition to the N-Gage platform, the N-Gage QD game deck, is now available for the US market. Bundled with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and with a street price as low as $99.99, the N-Gage QD game deck offers consumers unparalleled mobile gaming featuring a compact package, new ergonomic design and enhanced gaming features.

PRIMEDIA and Destineer's Bold Games today announced a new 3-D fishing simulation, In-Fisherman Freshwater Trophies. Available now for the PC, In-Fisherman Freshwater Trophies combines the editorial expertise of PRIMEDIA's In-Fisherman magazine with remarkably realistic graphics and innovative gameplay features.

NCSoft has released new information about the second content update for their super hero MMORPG "City Of Heroes." "A Shadow Of The Past" update will feature two new zones (The Shadow Shard & The Hollows), two new villian groups (Rularuu & Igneous), plus plenty of new features and mission enhancements. Head on over to the official City Of Heroes website or read more for details...

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

• Leisure Suit Larry - Trailer
• Lord Of The Rings: The Third Age - Trailer
• Rome: Total War - Trailer Packs (3)

Sony Online Entertainment announced today that EverQuest: Platinum, an affordable, all-inclusive collection that offers the original game as well as the first seven expansion packs, The Ruins of Kunark, The Scars of Velious, The Shadows of Luclin, The Planes of Power, The Legacy of Ykesha, Lost Dungeons of Norrath, and Gates of Discord will be available in stores tomorrow for the suggested retail price of $29.99.

Warthog today announced that they are working on a follow-up to the critically acclaimed Conquest: Frontier Wars and will be using the original team. Read more for initial game detailsthe first screens, or download the in-game trailer ...

As we reported last week, Electronic Arts has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Far Cry developers Crytek, which made us wonder what would happen with the 'Far Cry Instincts' console edition. Recently, Ubisoft announced that Far Cry Instincts was pushed back for both Xbox and PlayStation2 to Q1 2005, which makes sense in light of the new developments. Today it came to our attention that Crytek is no longer in charge of the 'Far Cry Instincts' project, but it is instead under the internal wings of Ubisoft Montreal.

For the first time, Sims are living in the city where reputation (rep) is everything. Players will custom-create these new Sims, called Urbz, by customizing their unique style and building their status to become the biggest "player" in the city. Check the new screens or get the trailerpack.

'Universal Combat: Hold the Line' is 3000 AD's upcoming standalone add-on to its 3D action/space-combat game 'Universal Combat'. Probably the last of its kind in the Battlecruiser series as we have come to know it, 'Universal Combat: Hold the Line' is all-encompassing game with as much advancements and fun filled gameplay in first person planet-side careers as is currently seen in the space borne careers.

WWII's Pacific theater was the backdrop for some of the most famous aerial battles in history. In places like Midway, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, allied fighters and bombers went head-to-head against the air power of the Japanese empire. Pacific Fighters provides the opportunity for players to experience the realistic action, intense flight combat and immersive gameplay of WWII's Pacific air war.

NCsoft Corporation and Cryptic Studios are giving 2,000 copies of their City of Heroes game packs to U.S. Navy personnel returning from duty in the Middle East. This game giveaway program, dubbed "Heroes for Heroes," is a way for NCsoft and its employees to show gratitude to the military men and woman returning from difficult duty.

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 & ingame footage trailer ...

Going where no previous James Bond game has dared to tread, the upcoming GoldenEye: Rogue Agent first-person shooter from Electronic Arts breaks all the rules by transporting players to the dark side of the Bond universe to experience life as a high-rolling, cold-hearted villain. Read more for new screens & a new trailer.

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

• Halo 2 - Theatrical Trailers (2)
• 'History of DOOM' - Trailer
• Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Trailer

EA today announced a worldwide strategic partnership to develop and publish a new game franchise with developer Crytek. The agreement builds on Crytek's success with its first title, the chart-leading first-person shooter, Far Cry, and brings together the creative talent of Crytek with the publishing expertise and unrivalled reach of Electronic Arts. The highly regarded German developer will create an exciting new game franchise for the PC based on original intellectual property.

UFO: Aftershock follows directly from one of the endings of UFO: Aftermath, where the player agrees to hand over the Earth to the Alien scientists, who are trying to change the planet into a giant living organism. The Council of Earth and their followers take refuge on an orbiting satellite prepared for them by the aliens, but not all the survivors of the original invasion where re-located.

Monster Hunter is an exciting new online action game for the PS2, offering gamers the challenge of exploring vastly detailed environments confronting mammoth creatures and completing the numerous quests that await them. The game can be enjoyed either single player offline or four player online. Monster Hunter is scheduled for release throughout North America in the fall 2004. Read more for details ...

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

• Shadow Hearts: Covenant - Trailer

In Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Ratchet and Clank once again team up for an all-new adventure combining diverse gameplay with elements of action, exploration, adventure, puzzle-solving, strategy, role-playing and fierce gunfire into one riveting experience. Sony has released a Q&A with Insomniac, the developers of 'Ratchet & Clank 3.' Check out what they had to say ...

Created and developed by Naughty Dog, Inc., Jak 3 combines a variety of genres including driving, adventure, action-platform, puzzles, strategy and exploration. Jak 3 promises to deliver one of the most entertaining and interactive experiences to gamers this holiday season! Sony has released a Q&A with Daniel Arey, Jak 3 Creative Director. Read more to check it out...

Vivendi Universal Games announced today that Thunderbirds for the Game Boy Advance video game system has a UK street date of August 20th 2004. Kids take command of the Thunderbirds fleet on a heroic mission to save members of International Rescue ... and the world!