Encore and JoWooD have released a demo for Phenomic's RTS/RPG game SpellForce: The Order of Dawn. The demo features the usual tutorial as well as a singeplayer map (Rift), and a multiplayer map (2-player map Ashvale). Read more for download links...

"RalliSport Challenge 2" is the highly anticipated second installment in the critically acclaimed "RalliSport Challenge" franchise and the first racing title in the XSN Sports brand. "RalliSport Challenge 2" confronts gamers with several new features, including a new graphics engine, online play through the Xbox LiveTM service, the ability to set up leagues and tournaments using XSNsports.com, new race modes, and more cars and tracks. RalliSport Challenge 2 will test every driving skill you think you have and some you don't even know were physically possible. It's about living on the edge and white-knuckled racing that only rally can deliver.

As Scryer, players must conquer a programmed super soldier army and its psychic agents while using Psi powers. In addition to Psi capabilities, players have access to traditional weapons such as handguns and automatic weaponry. As players strategically navigate seven huge immersive levels within four distinct compounds, they encounter multiple ways to solve missions, which greatly adds to the replay value. Read more to check some new screens ...

Full Spectrum Warrior is based on a light infantry-training simulator designed by Pandemic Studios for the U.S. Army as a tool to reinforce Army doctrine and squad tactics amongst troops. Full Spectrum Warrior is a squad-based, tactical-action game that delivers the experience of squad level command in the heat of battle. Check out no less than 130 screens (some are bound to be seen before, but i'll weed those out later today, i'm running a bit late)...

Think you can steady your nerves to hit a game-deciding free throw with no time left on the clock? How about smash a cross-court backhand winner in the final set of a championship tennis match? Can you hole a 30-foot putt on 18? What about ride the rails on the world’s hottest mountains? Now try it with $25,000 on the line. Welcome to the XSN Sports World Championship, the most competitive and intense online sports tournament in the history of console video games. Read more for details ...

Just Play today announced that it had finalised an agreement with Slitherine Strategies to publish their latest strategy game Spartan in the UK, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, BeNeLux and Scandinavia plus several other European territories. Spartan is the third in a series of Empire-building strategy games that includes the best-selling Legion and Chariots of War, Spartan is expected March 2004. Read more for details & screens ...

Jowood have now released a new patch for Phenomic Game Development's 3D RTS/RPG game SpellForce: the Order of Dawn. This update patch brings your retail game to v1.03 and addresses some game play issues, save game fixe, multiplayer game version check, quest fixes and more .. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

JoWooD and Phenomic send us a notice to inform the public that they are aware of the problems if you forcing the Anti Aliasing option through the control panel for your ATI videocard. Jowwod approached ATI regarding this problem to which they responded: "ATI has already addressed the driver problems seen when forcing AA through the control panel. A solution will be provided in one of the next driver releases, most likely in December but possibly in the very early new year."

Atari is expanding the gameplay of Unreal II: The Awakening this December with Unreal II: The Awakening ­ Special Edition for the personal computer. The Special Edition package will include the original single-player campaign, first released in February 2003, as well as an all-new multiplayer experience called XMP, or “Expanded Multiplayer.” Developed by Legend Entertainment (an Atari studio) in conjunction with Epic Games, Unreal II: The Awakening is the follow-up to Epic Games’ 1998 smash hit Unreal and incorporates the same story-driven gameplay, cunningly ferocious enemies and nail-biting tension that made the original title a best seller.

ESPN Videogames has announced its newest sports title set to debut in Spring 2004 - ESPN Major League Baseball. Formerly known as the "World Series Baseball 2K" series, ESPN Major League Baseball will deliver the exhilarating drama and heart-pounding action of the "Major Leagues." ESPN Videogames is proud to announce that New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi will be the official spokesperson and cover athlete for ESPN Major League Baseball. Providing players with the complete ESPN experience, ESPN Major League Baseball will feature two stalwart ESPN baseball veterans: Jon Miller and Karl Ravech. Miller, who is set to begin his 15th season on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, will handle the play-by-play duties on the virtual diamond, while Ravech, the host of ESPN's Baseball Tonight, will provide the in-studio analysis. Read more for details & screens ...

IGN Entertainment and GameSpy Industries, on Thursday said they will merge to create a company offering gaming news, information, downloads, data services and community features. San Francisco-based IGN and Irvine, California-based GameSpy, both of which are privately held, said the deal is expected to close in the first half of 2004. IGN Chief Executive Mark Jung will be CEO of the combined company, and GameSpy Chairman Mark Surfas will be chief strategy officer. Both the IGN.com and GameSpy.com brands are expected to be retained after the deal closes, the two sides said in a statement.

"Conspiracies" thrusts the player into the dark underworld of Nick Delios, a betrayed, jilted, and down on his luck student specializing in medical software who, after a spree of boozing and gambling, needs cash and needs it quick. When a police investigator and old friend offers Nick money to unofficially help solve this murder, Nick agrees, not knowing the depth of intrigue and twists lying ahead. Read more for the full review ...

The first annual Spike TV "Video Game Awards" (VGAs), hosted by David Spade, were held last night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and revealed winners in sixteen wide-ranging video game categories. The two-hour fete will telecast on Spike TV this Thursday, December 4 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

Space Hack is a sci-fi RPG/action title with Diablo-inspired gameplay mechanics. The storyline puts you on board of a quite 'peculiar' spaceship, trapped inside a space warp. Being a tough guy, whose axe is almost as quick as his wit, it's not surprising that you promptly find yourself confronting angry monsters, one wave after another. Space Hack is scheduled to be released in first half of 2004. Read more for a few new screens ...

Adding to its library of successful anime properties, Atari, Inc. today announced the release of Yu Yu Hakusho: Spirit Detective for the Game Boy Advance. From the licensors of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, Yu Yu Hakusho: Spirit Detective is based on one of the top-rated TV series for males 9-14 and can be viewed on the Cartoon Network.

Just in time for the release of "SpellForce - the Order of Dawn", JoWooD Productions Software AG will publish the official strategy book for this unique mix of genres. The 170-page book shall provide players with the easiest possible introduction to the new genre of role-play games (RPG) and also guide genre newbies through the extensive gaming world of SpellForce.

Sensational graphics, awesome game play and absorbing scenarios will keep you riveted to this enthralling shooter, 3D extravaganza. Determination, skill and reflexes will all be required in huge amounts… Playlogic today announced that Engine Software is also coverting the shoot-'em-up Xyanide to the Game Boy Advance platform (GBA), a title that will be released in February/March. Xyanide was originally developed for Xbox Live, a version that will be available at the same time. Nine people are working on Xyanide for PSP right now. Read more for some new Xbox & GBA screens ...

Fresh new content for Starfury modders.. With its open ended gameplay and endless replayability gamers have embraced it as the thrilling science-fiction action RPG it is, but for many the action doesn't stop with what's contained on the CD. Space Empires: Starfury, like all of Malfador's games, caters to the mod crowd; those individuals that seek to modify a game's contents. From creating new weapons to brand new starships practically everything in the game can be modified (aka 'modded'). While modding the game doesn't require two decades of programming experience it can be a daunting task for those new to the world of modmaking. To help facilitate mod creations Aaron Hall, the mastermind behind Starfury and Space Empires, has released an invaluable reference guide to modding Starfury.

Bigben Interactive UK Ltd is pleased to announce that JoWooD Productions' genre-defining Role-playing Strategy game, SpellForce - the Order of Dawn, has now gone gold! SpellForce is the latest creation of Phenomic Games, the team behind the world-famous "Settlers" series. SpellForce marries the RPG and RTS genres together to give an Innovative new game experience. SpellForce takes place in an awe-inspiring 3D environment. The player can control huge armies via an isometric view and then zoom into a first person mode to control individual units.

As Geller, players must conquer a programmed super soldier army and its psychic agents while using Psi powers. In addition to Psi capabilities, players have access to traditional weapons such as handguns and automatic weaponry. As players strategically navigate seven huge immersive levels within four distinct compounds, they encounter multiple ways to solve missions, which greatly adds to the replay value. Read more to check some new screens ...

Slitherine Strategies are pleased to confirm that they are well on course for a Q1 release of SPARTAN their new Historical TBS. It's been a long wait for strategy game fans but at last we have beyond doubt an enormous game that will allow players to conduct the Grand campaigns that they truly love. The Historical notes alone are worth the price. Slitherine's fully rendered and authentically accurate campaign map of ancient Greece around 400BC really sets the scene. It has all the campaign depth of CIV and combined with their revolutionary battle engine you really do have two games in one!

Embark on an incredible journey into the Spirit World, as Atari and FUNimation Productions deliver the worldwide Anime blockbuster, Yu Yu Hakusho. The publishers that brought you the million unit-selling Dragon Ball Z video game franchise, now launch Yu Yu Hakusho to the palm of your hands with Yu Yu Hakusho: Spirit Detective for the Game Boy Advance.

Enter the world of urban street racing and high performance tuner cars with the latest title in the hit Need for Speed series: Need for Speed Underground. Take on today’s most popular tuner cars from Mitsubishi Motors, Subaru, Toyota and many more, building the ultimate street machine by earning cash to pay for custom body kits and a host of licensed car performance mods. But just creating a custom street racing machine will not get you to the top; it takes a certain amount of attitude and razor sharp driving skills to compete in the tough world of urban racing (thanks Tiscali). Check out them shiny screens!

Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that Spawn: Armageddon, the Todd McFarlane-inspired action adventure title, will feature music from one of today’s most talked-about and controversial musicians, Marilyn Manson. In what is seen by many to be the perfect pairing, Manson’s title “Use Your Fist and Not Your Mouth” from the album The Golden Age of Grotesque is featured in the Spawn: Armageddon video game soundtrack. Video game fans will have an opportunity to enjoy the gothic-like Spawn: Armageddon soundtrack in the game this November when the title ships for the GameCube, the PlayStation2 and the Xbox.

Spawn: Armageddon, based on Todd McFarlane’s best-selling comic book character, is a 3-D action/adventure game, where Spawn is caught between factions in the battle of Good vs. Evil. Players will encounter a variety of enemies through more than 30 interactive and destructible environments, as Spawn struggles to break free of the controlling forces of Heaven and Hell. The game will feature all of Spawn’s distinctive abilities including superhuman strength, hand-to-hand combat techniques, an arsenal of weaponry, Hell Powers, and his living symbiotic costume