Offering exceptionally strong pain relief, Painkiller is an easy to swallow, first-person shooter with a powerful combination of gaming ingredients that targets the site of pain fast, allowing computer gamers to get on with their lives. European publisher MindScape says that Painkiller, "developed by DreamCatcher Games", will be released in October for the effective relief of the symptoms of adrenaline addiction and features fast-paced, first-person horror gameplay in a world somewhere between Heaven and Hell... Read our recent preview here and read more for some new Painkiller boss level screen shots!

Painkiller is a first-person horror shooter, designed to satisfy the gamer's hunger for intense, fast-paced action. You are Painkiller, a mercenary for hire, charged with cleaning out nests of the undead. But an unholy pact with a demon unknowingly puts you square in the middle of a fight for control of the underworld... with the future of humanity hanging in the balance. We got a chance to mess around with Dreamcatcher's 3 level beta and here is the result!

Sometime in the middle of the 21st century, shortly following the development of hydrogen-based power, a global treaty prohibiting the use of fossil fuels was passed which banned all motor sports. Although the world established a culture of peace and environmental preservation, people wanted a sport that would whet their appetites for speed and competition… While a lot of people await F-Zero, NEC gives us Tube Slider. Can it ease the wait?

BAU, BAM and BOM became Gem Smashers, traveling the world to spring, spin and smash the crystal cells where their friends are imprisoned. It’s up to you to help our little heroes survive! Use their magic energy, which makes them change colors; it is only possible for them to break down the gems and free their friends if they are the same color as the gem. Smash the gems, crack the puzzle, check the screens. It’s that simple!

Yesterday there was, initally, the story that Half-Life 2 was not coming to xbox, then GameSpy got the confirmation from Valve that it WAS scheduled. Now GameSpy has talked to Microsoft Xbox Group product manager David Hufford that it is coming and explaining how the confusion about the fate of the Xbox version of HL2 came into existence in the first place. Check out the soap story!

Dungeons & Dragons Heroes gives you a chance to taste the victory as one of four heroes. It beckons you to take a journey through the world of the classic Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, to live as one of the great ones, and to do the legendary stuff that Heroes are meant to do! Check out the new screens ...

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

• BF1942: Secret Weapons - E3 Trailer
• Medal Of Honor: Rising Sun - E3 Trailer
• XIII - A.I. Trailer
• FIFA 2004 - E3 Trailer
• Evil Genius - E3 Trailer
• Rome: Total War - Trailer 2
• Dragon Ball Z: Legacy of Goku II (GBA) - Trailer
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  Read more for download links ...

GMX Media today announced that it has secured the rights to publish Firepower for the PC. "You only have to look at the movies on the web site to appreciate the fantastic job the guys at Shockwave have done, this is a must have title for any self-respecting flight sim fan." Commented Barry Leonard COO of GMX Media. Read more for details and screens ...

A biog of project leader (and keen door-opener) Michel Ancel. The creator of Rayman, a pioneering trademark in the history of video games with: more than 10.5 million copies of the whole range sold throughout the world. Huge critical success: Rayman 2 The Great Escape was voted best Dreamcast game for the year 2000 by IGN and best on-line PlayStation game by Electronic Boutique; Rayman Advance was voted best game with best graphics for portable console in the 2001 E3 trade show by IGN... Read more below!

The demo version of 1893: A World's Fair Mystery is now available for download. In it, you can begin the adventure, read a little background material, explore one of the exposition buildings, and interact with some other characters. In addition, tutorial information is embedded in the demo to help introduce players to Interactive Fiction, and explains how to use many of the basic commands.

Peer Lawther went to talk with Sion Lenton, the producer of the game, to see what he had envisioned for the game and where Club Football would be put in relation to the other football sims. Read more to check out the very brief interview ...

Gamespy has posted the transcript from their chat with the guys from Splash Damage on Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory last Friday. This stand-alone expansion pack to Return to Castle Wolfenstein is freely available and rather popular. In fact, it has become one of the top three most-played games on the Internet, regularly taking on Battlefield 1942 for the second place place, right behind Half-Life.

Enlight announced today that ClearImage PR will direct its North American public relations activities. ClearImage PR will promote Enlight's gaming titles as the company expands its product line through its development and publishing divisions. Enlight, best known for the award-winning Capitalism and Seven Kingdom series of strategy and simulation games, has recently entered the publishing industry with its debut title Restaurant Empire. Enlight Interactive, the company's publishing division, is headquartered in Parkville, Maryland and led by CEO Paul Lombardi.

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

• Soldier Of Fortune II: Double Helix [Xbox] - Trailer
• Xpand Rally - E3 Trailer
• World Of Warcraft - Gameplay Trailer
• Cypher: Code of Ruin - E3 Trailer
• Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup - E3 Trailer
• Bloody Magic - E3 Trailer
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  Read more for download links ...

A series of grisly murders brings Lara into conflict with a sinister Alchemist from the past, and a secret alliance of powerful individuals shrouded in mystery. Accused of the murder of her one time mentor, Lara Croft becomes a fugitive on the run. Pursued by the police, she follows the Alchemist into a dark world of blood, betrayal and vengeance where it is up to her to defeat this unholy alliance, and stop them from unleashing their incredible powers on the world. A few new screens ...

Majorem Ltd., developers of Ballerium - the Massive multiplayer strategy game, announce today the opening of the third and last round of Beta-0, that will take place in the next few days. This round will be shorter than the previous ones, and will include only a couple of takes during this week. About 10 to 15 additional testers will be selected to participate in this round which will be followed by a server update, and a new beta Phase, Beta-1. The next phase will require many more testers and therefore those who wish to participate are hereby invited to register at www.Ballerium.com.

Besieger introduces a world filled with feudal rivalry in which players can wage war as either Viking or Cimmerian warriors. Contenders can build flying vehicles for combat or siege towns on horseback in an effort to conquer factions such as Ogres, Werewolves, Centaurs, and other non-human races. The armored walls of a barricade can be shattered using a battering ram and competitors can pocket enemy buildings and equipment. Players can also retreat and accumulate forces behind their own armored citadel for a counterattack. Read more for some new screens...

IndyCar Series delivers the Indy Racing season, including the Indianapolis 500 (Indy 500) race, "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing". The season is an open-wheeled championship on short ovals and superspeedways throughout the US, including California and Texas, with the Indy 500 as the highlight of its racing calendar. Indy cars are similar to F1 but are powered by 3.5-litre V8 engines, used by all teams. Fast and furious, the 650 bhp cars reach 0-100 mph in less than three seconds.

Another part of the PlayStation 3 jigsaw puzzle slotted into place today, as Sony announced a partnership with Elpida Memory to supply the Rambus-based memory technology for the console. Japanese firm Elpida is a subsidiary of NEC and Hitachi, and specialises (as the name suggests) in various RAM technologies. The chips it will be supply for Sony are based on the Rambus Yellowstone technology.

Rise of Power is a game built on Garage Games' Torque engine and aims to be one of the first Role Playing first person shooter games. It is designed for multiplayer online play and will keep a database of player statistics. Its primary purpose is to provide a persistent world in which the player can advance through the ranks and develop skills and experience. Cash and bank accounts will be used to purchase weapons, bots and vehicles used by the player in battle. The player will maintain rank and be able to switch sides / teams at will. The game will feature two major opposing forces. The game pits Police forces against the Underworld. Battles and win / loss data will be kept to help the ranking system... Find out more about this game and check out screens at the official site here!

The Master of Orion III Website now offers an "official beta patch" for the PC and Mac version of Quicksilver's space strategy game sequel. This v1.2 beta patch includes a ton of new changes and fixes for Master of Orion III. The previous data patch is not compatible with the v1.2 code. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Noticed on 3D Gamers that they got word from Strategy First that their planned space-combat and first-person shooter combo Zero-G Marines has been cancelled. Word is that the "development studios have shifted their focus to new projects" and are also "still concentrating on the Disciples series."

Microsoft has released the first update patch for Digital Anvil's 3D space combat bringing your retail game to v1.1. This upgrade is primarily a server update addressing server stability and cheating. There are some client side fixes, the most important being a multiplayer ID generation issue. There is really no need to install the update unless you are running a server or are unable to play multiplayer because you can't get an ID. Read more for download links ...

Activision, Inc. has announced that id Software's Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Operation Resurrection for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system is now available at retail outlets nationwide. The epic World War II adventure fuses heart-stopping action and frightening gameplay with the pursuit to topple the Third Reich's fiendish army of elite soldiers, zombies and genetically engineered super-soldiers. Developed by Raster Productions, Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Operation Resurrection carries a suggested retail price of £39.99 and is rated 15+ by the BBFC.

Ubi Soft Entertainment today announced a distribution deal with Bethesda Softworks to publish The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon – the second expansion of the RPG-of-the-Year, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind – in European territories and Australia. Scheduled for release in June 2003, Bloodmoon takes you to the frozen Island of Solstheim where the Empire is establishing a new mining colony – a venture being threatened by the prophecy of the Bloodmoon and rumors of werewolves.