The relationship between Jerry Bruckheimer and video game creator American McGee grew even closer with the news that McGee will write the script for the film adaptation of his video game "Oz." Bruckheimer has the option for a trilogy of Walt Disney Co. films based on the property, which is a prequel to the classic L. Frank Baum book "The Wizard of Oz."

TRON 2.0: Killer App is an epic FPS that digitizes players inside the world of a war-ravaged computer system on the verge of collapse from a seemingly unstoppable army of corrupt programs lead by the evil "user" Thorne. As Thorne's relentless army grows, it infects helpless programs, converting them into savage digital mercenaries aimed at spreading viral agents throughout the system.

Massive Entertainment has released a new multiplayer map or its sci-gi RTS Ground Control II: Operation Exodus. This Water Ways bonus map, created by Massive's Andreas Palmgren, needs to be installed in the standalone copy in the game's Custom_Maps folder. Massive Entertainment will be releasing new maps every Friday for the next few months. Read more for download links ...

German site Gamesweb made a quick phonecall to their local Activision office and receive word that Troika is working on a patch for their just released action/RPG Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines. No specific release date was ,mentioned yet bit the update is supposed to address various performance issues and other glitches.

Taking place in a massive, free-roaming city featuring five distinct interconnected neighborhoods, Need for Speed Underground 2 delivers an immersive game world where the streets are your menus. As players explore the city, they'll encounter rival racers who will school them in the ways of the underground and tip them off to the hottest racing spots in town.

Race Driver 2 will provide petrol head gamers with the most diverse range of challenging motorsports ever seen in one game. Over 30 global championships will be featured, with players competing in events including GT Sports Car Racing, Street Racing, Rally, DTM, V8 Supercars, Global GT Lights, Rally Cross, Formula Ford, Open Wheel Grand Prix and Classic Car Racing.

A few days ago we revealed that KD-Labs has formed a new label KDV Games and today they announced the signing of a deal which will see Codemasters publish their first, yet unannounced, title. KDV Games is focused on the development of new technologies and professional toolsets for the effective creation of quality entertainment software and the new project will become the first testing ground for its brand new Vista Engine.

id Software released an updated Linux client/server patch for their sci-fi FPS DOOM 3. This update brings your linux game to v1.1.1286 and addresses some sound issues and other bug fixes. Read more for download links ...

Following a successful growth of the interactive business, developer and publisher Paradox Entertainment announces the formation of a new company: Paradox Interactive. The new entity will be handling all of the interactive business previously dealt with by Paradox Entertainment. Paradox Interactive will continue to build on their renowned franchises including Europa Universalis and Crusader Kings. The first game to be released under the new name is the much awaited Grand Strategy title Hearts of Iron 2, sequel to the acclaimed Hearts of Iron.

Picking up right where the game’s story left off, Battle out of Hell includes an additional single-player chapter with 10 levels, as well as new multiplayer modes, maps and models. It will also offer an amplified arsenal of un-deadly weapons, bigger and badder bosses and the map editor Software Development Kit. Check the new screens...

NCsoft Europe has announced the imminent arrival of the official European websites for the award-winning massively multiplayer online game - City of Heroes. Available in English, French and German languages, the official websites will be an essential resource to both the existing and the future European City of Heroes communities. They will offer localised content, news relevant to the region and, of particular interest to new players, information on the forthcoming European Beta programme which is scheduled to commence in December.

In 'Operation: Matriarchy' you are a trooper of the government army sent with the expeditionary force to attack Velian. As you accomplish missions given to you at the headquarters, you get new opportunities in selection of weapons and military equipment. Each mission will also get you closer to the secret of the origin of the Velian anomaly of the human race.

"Stranger" is a real-time strategy game, with elements of role playing games set in a world, split in two parts, surface and a subterranean one, which are in a tenuous balance. 'Stranger' will also feature multiplayer although details beyond "The players may play on their own, or unite in teams" are a bit sktechy. Check the freshly launched website, or read more for new screens...

The action role-play game Alexander: The Hour of Heroes brings the legends and battles fought by the Greek hero Alexander the Great back to life. The title is due for release on the 26th of November. Read more for details and new screens ...

WWII Tank Commander is Sylum Entertainment's military arcade-style action game. Take command of a Sherman tank in General Patton’s Fourth Armored Division as you destroy enemy armor and infantry, escort Allied convoys, rescue hostages, and help free Europe from Nazi rule.

Atari announced that the French, German and UK editions of Firaxis' Sid Meier's 'Pirates' have gone gold, and will be in stores on December 3rd, 2004. 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.

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 :

• Boiling Point - Trailer
• Need For Speed Underground 2 - Trailer

Hunted by Dahaka, an immortal incarnation of Fate seeking divine retribution, the Prince embarks upon a path of both carnage and mystery to defy his preordained death. His journey leads to the infernal core of a cursed island stronghold harboring mankind's greatest fears. Only through grim resolve, bitter defiance and the mastery of deadly new combat arts can the Prince rise to a new level of warriorship - and emerge from this ultimate trial with his life.

Future Games, previously known for Black Mirror, is working on an all new horror/adventure game, Nibiru: Messenger of the Gods. You take on the role of Martin Holan, an Thechz archeologist working in France. You are sent to investigate a newly found secret tunnel apparently made by Germans during the second World War. Nibiru is a 2D adventure featuring 80 locations, over 30 NPCs, and 50 pages of narrative.

Jowood has released yet another patch for Wing Simulations' multiplayer shooter SÖLDNER: Secret Wars. This v30830 mainly fixes about two dozen game issues and a few gameplay tweaks. Read more for details and download links ...

Hero's Journey is the new 3-D Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game from Simutronics, which is expected to be released somewhere in 2005. Simutronics will provide Hero's Journey players with frequent mini-releases as well as larger boxed expansions. Read more for a batch of nice looking screens...

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, built using Valve's Half-Life 2 Source Technology, allows players to become a dangerous creature of the night as they assume the role of a recently embraced fledgling vampire in the service of the city's dark prince. Vampire: The Masquerade- Bloodlines is being developed by Troika Games, based on White Wolf's renowned pen-and-paper Vampire: The Masquerade RPG series.

NovaLogic has released a new patch for their multiplayer shooter Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising as well as its expansion pack Escalation. This update brings your retail game to v1.5.1.5 and addresses a vehicle spawn issue, stability improvement, and a few other tweaks and game balance issues. Read more for a detailed fix list or 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 :

• Earth 2160 - Trailer
• Oddworld Stranger's Wrath - Trailer (2)
• Fire Department 2 - Trailer #2
• Prince of Persia: Warrior Within - Theatrical Trailer