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 v5.3 (requires v1.2 patch installed) and addresses a number of known issues, gameplay tweaks, bug fixes and so forth.

Sony has rolled out the v2.35 PS3 system software update, and the relatively minor update improves stability of some PS3 titles, but unfortunately did not give any details whatsoever. However SCEA stated that "to clarify that this upcoming firmware update isn't related to GTA IV. For those of you who may still have an issue playing the game on your PS3, we have identified a solution that should resolve the issue. You can contact SCEA Consumer Services for support.

On the heels of a successful first quarter in which revenue exceeded an aggressive sales forecast, casual games developer MumboJumbo plans to release Little Farm (a farm-fresh matching game), Discovery (a seek-and-find, travel game show), Elf Bowling Hawaiian Vacation, and Little Home on the Hill.

Nintendo's new WiiWare service tears down limitations for how developers create games, and the way people receive them. Starting May 20th, 2008, European Wii owners with an Internet connection will be able to download new, creative games from a wide range of developers, from large publishers to indie shops.

Check out the following new screens and trailers from Electronic Arts' Spring Break 2008 lineup:

• 'BattleForge' - Screens & Trailer
• 'Mass Effect' (PC) - 8 New Screens
• 'Battlefield: Bad Company' (PS3/X360) - Screens
• 'Skate It' (NDS/Wii) - Screens & Trailers
• 'Battlefield Heroes' - New Screens
• 'Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning' - 6 New Screens
• 'Rock Band' (Wii) - 9 New Screens

Check out the following new screens and trailers from Microsoft's Gamers Day 2008 lineup:

• 'Gears of War 2' (X360) - Facts, Features & Screens
• ''Penny Arcade Adventures: Ep. 1' (X360/PC) Gets Release Date - Screens
• 'Fable 2' (X360) Coming This Holiday - 14 New Screens & Trailer
• 'Too Human' (X360) Coming in August - 20 New Screens & Trailer
• 'Viva Piñata: Trouble In Paradise' (X360) Announced - Facts, Features, Screens & Trailer
• 'Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts' (X360) Announced - Facts, Features, Screens & Trailer
• 'Ninja Gaiden II' (X360) - 15 New Screens & Trailer

Between May and Sept. EA Games will launch a line-up of titles from some of the world's most critically acclaimed development studios including BioWare, Criterion, DICE, EALA, Maxis and Pandemic, as well as EA partners Harmonix and Valve, that rivals any independent publisher, with offerings that appeal to the explorer, adventurer, action junkie, creator and rock star in all of us.

Black Bean's fast paced racing game SBK-08 Superbike World Championship, developed by Milestone, is the officially licensed WSBK, and will storm the next-gen consoles with brand new features and enhancements.

To celebrate today’s launch of the new WiiWare downloadable game service for Wii, there will be no Virtual Console games added today. But don’t worry – next week the Wii-kly Update will be back to its regular Monday schedule, bringing Wii owners information about the best classic Virtual Console titles and coolest new WiiWare games.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is Nintendo's latest incarnation in the popular Super Smash Bros. series of titles, featuring all-new characters ranging from Kirby and Wario to Samus and even Metal Gear Solid's Snake.

GamersGate has signed a digital distribution agreement with Gamecock, starting with FireFly's RTS Stronghold Crusader Extreme in May, followed by the episode action/adventure game Insecticide, and later this year additional titles like Velvet Assassin.

THQ and Marvel Entertainment announced that they have entered into an exclusive multi-year licensing agreement to create video games based on the burgeoning, kid-friendly Marvel Super Hero Squad franchise.

Shrapnel Games' War Plan Pacific, developed by KE Studios, is a turn-based computer wargame for one or two players (IP based multiplayer capability) covering the entire war in the Pacific from 1941 until 1945. Shrapnel Games is looking for a few good men to ensure smooth sailing.

Give your trigger finger a boost with split-screen versus mode and split-screen co-op for Super Stardust HD, the reinvigorated, High Definition version of the asteroid-blasting format that's been a classic since the early days of video arcade games.

Audiosurf is a music-adapting puzzle racer where the shape, the speed, and the mood of each ride is determined by the song you choose. You earn points for clustering together blocks of the same color on the highway, and compete with others on the internet. The FM Update, introduces a host of new features and content including last.fm audioscrobbling, the ability to run Audiosurf as a music visualizer, scoreboard comments, and much more.

THQ announced its lineup of games based on Nickelodeon properties, including the debut of The Naked Brothers Band: The Video Game, based on the TV show that follows the lives of a kids’ rock band fronted by real-life brothers Nat and Alex Wolff. Also included are Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition, and other titles based on TV shows such as Tak and the Power of Juju, Avatar: The Last Airbender and Back At The Barnyard.

Stargate Worlds, an MMORPG use Epic’s Unreal Engine 3, provides players with a form of ranged combat unique to MMORPG that will take full advantage of modern and science fiction weaponry, cover and terrain. On April 30, Cheyenne opened registration for Head on over to the Stargate Worlds to the closed beta test, which received in excess of 65k applicants on its first day.

Philips announced an amBX license agreement with Texas-based Gamecock Media Group to amBX-enable Legendary and Velvet Assassin.

Koch Media's Deep Silver publishing labal announced the opening of their office in the Los Angeles metro area. The office will serve as headquarters for US sales and marketing activities, as well as North American developer relations.

TF2 is a class-based, multiplayer team warfare game, delivering new game types, a signature art style powered by Valve’s next-gen animation technology, persistent player statistics, etc... The Gold Rush Update introduces the new Gold Rush map and Payload gameplay style, the first set of unlockable weapons, and a new set of achievements for the Medic.

Bethesda parent company ZeniMax Media Inc. announced it has begun direct publishing operations in Asia through its Tokyo-based subsidiary, through which it will publish titles under the Bethesda brand, starting with Star Trek: Conquest, Star Trek: Legacy, and Fallout 3, as well as 3rd party games, including Bully (PS2), Bully SE (X360), and MLB 2K8.

Check out the following new screens and trailers from Sierra entertainment's Spring Event 2008 lineup:

• 'Assault Heroes 2' (X360) - Facts, Features, Screens & Trailer
• 'Ghostbusters: The Videogame' (ALL) - 6 New Screens
• '50 Cent: Blood on the Sand' (PS3/X360) - 5 New Screens & Trailer
• 'Prototype' (PS3/X360/PC) - 2 New Trailers
• 'The Bourne Conspiracy' (PS3/X360) - 8 New Screens
• 'The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon' (ALL) Announced - Screens
• 'Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant' (ALL) Announced - Screens
• 'Zombie Wranglers' (X360) Announced - Screens
• 'Sea Life Safari' (X360) Announced - Screens
• 'World in Conflict: Soviet Assault' (PS3/X360/PC) - 15 New Screens

SEGA Superstars Tennis is a game that brings together some of the most treasured and well known characters from the SEGA universe, in some of the most unusual courts and outrageous settings ever imagined.

Stargate Worlds, an MMORPG use Epic’s Unreal Engine 3, provides players with a form of ranged combat unique to MMORPG that will take full advantage of modern and science fiction weaponry, cover and terrain. Head on over to the Stargate Worlds to sign up for the beta test, although there is no set date yet as to when it will commence (thanks ve3d.)