This evening during his keynote address at the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Microsoft Corp. Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates unveiled Windows Media Center Extender Technology. The software will power a new generation of products that will extend the Media Center Edition PC experience allowing consumers to access their favorite digital entertainment, such as live and recorded television, photos, movies, and music that reside on their Windows XP Media Center Edition PC, from any room in the home - regardless of where the PC is located. Media Center Extender Technology will not only provide access to rich content and services, but will enable devices throughout the home to utilize the full processing and storage capabilities of the PC creating new opportunities for services and providing unprecedented choice and access to content for consumers

The US Army has finally released the linux version of the latest patch for America's Army: Operations. This upgrade brings their team-based multiplayer game to v 2.0a and adds a various improvements and fixes as well as adding a totally new map 'Sandstorm". Read more for details and download links ...

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 :

• Blowout - Trailer
• NFL Street - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Take-Two Interactive's Gathering publishing division has shipped Conflict: Desert Storm II: Back to Baghdad for the GameCube. GameCube owners will be able to storm the sands of Iraq in this intense, squad-based shooter alone or with up to three other friends in four-player cooperative multi-player mode for the ultimate in team-based combat.

Square Enix U.S.A., Inc. announced today milestones that were reached due to the successful holiday sales of Final Fantasy XI. The PlayOnline service has surpassed 500,000 registered users in North America and Japan combined, with the total online community population (number of active characters) of "Final Fantasy XI" at nearly one million characters.

James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, as the world’s greatest secret agent returns in his fifth interactive adventure under the EA GAMES brand. First, you will think like Bond, using espionage, tactical skills, and gadgets from the Q-Lab to analyze your situation. Then you will act like Bond, using his stylish physical skills, clever subterfuge, and bold personality to once again save the world. Check these 40 new screens ...

Following on from the success of Perfect Ace last summer, International Golf Pro is Oxygen Interactive's second sports title, founded on the same firm principles of ease-of-play and accessibility. From the power of the drive to the precision of the putt, International Golf Pro puts you in control. Compete with a score of individual computer opponents, or go head-to-head with your friends across a selection of international courses that will push your skill and test your mental strength.

EverQuest II returns to the culturally diverse world of Norrath in the future of the original EverQuest, with the sheer size and graphical detail greater than ever seen before. Larger in scope than its predecessor, EverQuest II will allow players from every corner of the earth to explore familiar areas and new, undiscovered territories of Norrath. Read on to check out the latest screenshots!

Developed by The Fighter Collection, Lock On features today's most modern, technically advanced military aircraft in the most graphically rich, audio-intense game environment ever created for a combat flight simulation. Ubisoft has released the first patch for Lock On: Modern Air Combat and is designed to address many of the significant bugs identified with the initial release of the product. This patch is however not designed to fix all identified bugs. We plan to provide additional patch(es) that will address problems not fixed in this first patch. Read more for download links ...

In their immeasurable greed and constant thirst for power, the thirteen most powerful Mages of all time doomed the land, hurling it into an endless spiral of chaos and despair. Entire countries were wiped out in the blink of an eye when the devastating power of the Elements was unleashed – Elements summoned by dark rituals. Continents shattered like glass, the pieces strewn about like leaves in the wind. Huge armies, bound by the the power of ancient runes, brought war and destruction to the lands that survived the initial onslaught. All that was left were a few islands, connected by magic portals. Read more for 4 tasty new screens ...

With Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Ubi Soft and Jordan Mechner are channeling their combined talents to breathe new life into the action/adventure genre. They’re creating rich characters, white-knuckle action and a plot with more twists than the exotic, elaborate castle featured in the game,” said Serge Hascoët, Editor in Chief, Ubi Soft Entertainment. “We’re thrilled to move forward with the legendary Prince of Persia brand and eagerly await the launch of the next masterpiece from our world-famous Montreal studio.

Arsenal Overthrow is Deadline Interactive's upcoming post-apocalyptic action title for Xbox, with Xbox Live! support. In Arsenal Overthrow you are an elite soldier by doing what's best for civilization, you face yourself up against the most ruthless clans in history! All hope for the sanity of man lay in your hands, for a lethal chemical is wiping out the human race, find and eliminate the ones responsible (thanks Gamegossip). Read more for details & the first screens ...

Electronics Boutique Holdings Corp. today announced that total sales for the nine- week holiday period ended January 3, 2004 grew 24.4 percent to $544.4 million, up from $437.6 million for the same period a year ago. Comparable store sales increased by 2.5 percent for the nine-week period, outpacing the company's forecast. Read more for details ...

Encore today announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with Paris-based developer and publisher Monte Cristo to publish Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps, a tactical real-time strategy game inspired by campaigns waged in North Africa during World War II. Under the agreement, Encore is managing sales, distribution and marketing for the game in the U.S. and Canada, while Monte Cristo is producing the game. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Geleos development has been running for the whole 2003 trying to catch one of the escaped ostriches from their game. To set up a good track trying to use it as a decoy, funky developers of a funky Ostrich Runner game have decided to build a new home for their game making a new design for the place where ostriches live. After seeing the new home of his, the ostrich has returned - and it was right on time - the game is in beta-test stage and it's essential to check everything. Read more for some new screens & download links for the news demo...

Developed internally by Empire's award-winning Strangelite Studio, the game will be released on PC, and all current and next generation consoles. The length of the agreement will allow Empire to produce multiple titles. The game will be based on the movie of the same name and animated series franchise. Read more to check out the first screens ...

SEGA of America, Inc. today announced the launch of "Sonic Heroes" for Nintendo GameCube – the first original Sonic The Hedgehog console game in three years. SEGA's most anticipated game launch of the year is expected to ship on Xbox and PlayStation2 January 27.

Noticed on The Fall official website that Silver Style's message boards seem to have an interesting announcement about one of the Black Isle developers teaming up with Silver Style to work on The Fall: Last Days of Gaia . "We're glad to welcome Game Designer Damien Foletto in our team! Formerly he worked at Black Isle on Hits like Baldur's Gate 2 or Fallout 3. He will support Lead Designer Carsten Strehse on the development of The Fall: Last Days of Gaia." No further details are available (as to whether he would move from the US to Germany and such), but we will keep you posted!

Can you save the world from the ICEWorm microchip? You are special agent Ethan Hunt — back to battle international espionage as the fate of the free world hangs in the balance! A microchip nicknamed ICEWorm is disabling the security systems of the world’s largest organizations, and providing free access to the highest bidder. Your mission – should you choose to accept it – is to destroy the chip and prevent its creators from bringing the free world to its knees.

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 :

• Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow - Trailer
• The Suffering - Trailer
• Psychotoxic - Trailer
• Realms Of Torment - Trailer
• Bloodrayne 2 - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

KOEI Corporation today announced the development of 'Naval Ops: Commander' exclusively for the PlayStation2. The action shooting game will ship to North American Retailers in March 2004. The original Naval Ops: Warship Gunner was honored with PSM's Must Buy Bronze Award in August 2003. Read more for details & screens ...

DreamCatcher Games is today requesting that Painkiller fans steer clear of the latest multi-player builds that have appeared on various fan and download sites, as the releases are NOT official demo releases and are intended for press evaluation purposes only. The company is encouraging fans of the game to wait until early February for the official single-player demo release. This leaked build contains just a glimpse of the multi-player maps planned and lacks the depth, weapons, levels and A.I. sophistication that will be present in the official demo.

Fenimore Fillmore: The Westerner is one of the most ambitious projects of the present videogame scene in Spain. This entertaining graphic adventure, produced by Planeta DeAgostini Interactive, relies on the long experience of the game developer Revistronic. This programming group from Madrid has released several titles which have had repercussion on the international market. Its members' professional experience dates from the 8-bit-computer times.

Unleashing the horror throughout nine levels, The Suffering features dynamic lighting that illuminates frightening visions of horror-filled exploration and frantic combat sequences. In the dark world of The Suffering, creatures attack from the shadows and emerge from jail cells, chambers, the ground and trees, surprising the player in the most disturbing ways possible. As Torque, the main character, players encounter a cast of uniquely hardened criminals, prison guards and grotesque apparitions.

The King Of Fighters 2000 and 2001 will boast numerous upgrades and additions exclusively for the PS2, including "Memory Mode," which will give players access to opening movie demos from previous KOF games. Additionally, brand new Strikers, never before seen in the arcade or on any home system, will join the KOF battle on the PlayStation2. The King Of Fighters 2001 will feature original 3D stages and an additional game mode, "Party Mode," where randomly generated computer opponents appear one after another to compete against the player character in matches with limited life energy and match times.