The California State Assembly approved legislation to limit children’s access to extremely violent video games, now only needing the signature of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to become law. Assembly Bill (AB) 1179, formerly AB 450, calls for ending the sale and rental of violent video games that depict serious injury to human beings in a manner that is especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel, to persons who are under 18 years of age.

Valve announced today that Day of Defeat: Source will be made available to gamers everywhere on September 26. DoD: Source takes the classic teamplay of DoD and expands the experience with Source, the engine technology Valve created for Half-Life 2 and it's next generation of games. With this technology, DoD: Source offers state of the art graphics with optimized versions of popular maps and all new player, weapon and world models, plus support for HDR lighting.

German publisher Frogster Interactive announced that next week it will be releasing a multiplayer demo for Kylotonn's gambling-themed first-person shooter. The demo will include two gameplay modes, with and without exo-skeletons, playable on the Cargo Bay map which was also included in the single-player Bet on Soldier demo. Digital Jesters confirmed an English demo will be released on the same day.

The fourth game in the PC strategy series that has sold over five million copies, Sid Meier's Civilization IV is a bold step forward for the franchise, with spectacular new 3D graphics and all-new single and multiplayer content. Civilization IV will also set a new standard for user-modification, allowing gamers to create their own add-ons using the standard Python and XML scripting languages. Firaxis producer Barry Caudill tells us more about the new Civilization IV civics feature.

Spring 1945: World War 2 is drawing to a close and the Russians and Germans are caught in a furious battle for a devastated Berlin. The cold war starts... As a sniper, recruited by the OSS (former CIA), it is the beginning of a lonely stealth mission in the Russian territory. In development since 2003, Sniper Elite is a sniping/stealth game due to be released on PS2, PC and Xbox.

War World is a fast paced, third person online shooter where players build and battle the ultimate mech warriors, working their way up the War World rankings ladder, unlocking upgrades and enhancements for their mechs. This demo/patch brings your game to v1.06 and adds Team Death Match, customizable mechs, additional host options, improved single player AI's, enter the shop without leaving the game, major CPU speed improvements, better support for lower spec graphics cards, etc.

The Game Factory announced today the signing of a worldwide publishing deal, which will see the company launch an exciting new action/adventure video game, Legend of The Dragon, based on the brand new TV series Legend of The Dragon, which is to be launched in the spring of 2006 by BKN International AG.

X-Men Legends II introduces the epic storyline of an uneasy alliance between the X-Men and the hated Brotherhood in a fight to reclaim Earth from Apocalypse's grasp. Impressive gameplay enhancements include more than double the superpowers and customization capabilities, the debut of several new playable characters, over 100 diverse types of enemies, and a breathtaking range of exotic and real-world environments—from the Madri Temple to Egypt.

ZuxxeZ has released a new Gold Upgrade (not a patch) for its RTS Earth 2160. This upgrade brings your German/English retail game to v1.3.5 and makes the easy modes simpler, fixes campaign crashes and AI issue, infantry sped up, Alien 7 mission fixed, and more. Read more for details fix list and download links ...

Half-Life 2 for the Xbox defines a new benchmark in console gaming with startling realism and responsiveness. Powered by Source technology, Half-Life 2 for Xbox features the most sophisticated in-game characters ever witnessed, advanced AI, stunning graphics and physical gameplay.

We have just been informed that GFI company and MiST land South agreed to close down the development of African Alliance. The grounds for this decision was a desire of the team to concentrate on qualitative development of the other titles. All resources involved in African Alliance have been relocated to Jagged Alliance 3D project. The change in the company priorities is also supported by the idea of focusing on other projects of the studio - Warfare and 4th Battalion.

SEGA today announced Sonic Riders, developed by Sonic Team Tokyo, which integrates Extreme sports, high-speed racing and head-to-head battles, offering a new racing experience with Sonic which is unlike any before in other racing games. Sonic Riders is slated to ship in Winter 2006.

While the storyline of Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None follows 10 strangers who are invited to a lavish island only to be accused of murder, players assume the role of a new 11th character, Patrick Narracott the boatman who takes guests to the island. The player must reveal the killer before becoming a victim. DreamCatcher sent out a pre-canned interview with mystery writer Lee Sheldon.

SEGA today revealed that original Sonic creator Yuji Naka, and character designer Naoto Ohshima, are bringing Sonic back to its roots to create the most intense sensation of speed ever experienced in videogames with an innovative combination of art, physics and game design. Not many details are available at this point, but we do have the first screens...

In addition to tricked out new race, crash and road rage modes, Burnout Revenge takes the series' blistering speed and spectacular destruction to dizzying new heights with an all-new Revenge mode, challenging gamers to battle the clock and unleash their frustrations on rush hour traffic.

In Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, players will be introduced to the world of Ashan, the new setting for all future Might & Magic games. Ashan is a dark and unforgiving world, scarred by a bloody history and threatened by an apocalyptic prophecy: the Dark Messiah. Today we have an interview with Ubisoft's Romain de Waubert de Genlis, and Arkane Studios' Raphael Colantonio.

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 :

• Indigo Prophecy - Lucas Kane Chronicles #2
• Dark Messiah of Might and Magic - GC 2005 Trailer #2
• 50 Cent: Bulletproof - Trailer (2)
• March Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure - Trailer (2)
• Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects - Characters Trailer
• America's Army: Rise of a Soldier - Dev Diary 3 Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

After two and a half years of development, Playlogic is now finalizing beta testing of its upcoming shoot´em up Xyanide, an action packed sci-fi game developed by the company’s in house development studio, Playlogic Game Factory. With breathtaking visual effects, fast paced action and Dolby Digital sound, the game is set to revive the legendary shoot´em up genre.

Payout Poker and Casino lets players assume the role of international playboy, or playgirl, betting in luxurious casinos. Upon creating their own custom character, players will enter a living 3D casino, where they can roam the floor to try their hand at 12 gaming favorites including, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hold'em, Red Dog, Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette, Craps, Slots, Wheel of Fortune, and more.

Ubisoft Europe announced it has signed a deal with Sony Online Entertainment to publish multiple titles for PSP in Europe, Asia and Australia. The first two titles related to the deal are the platform, puzzle action-driving title GripShift and the puzzle adventure title FRANTIX.

Enlight Software secures NYC based music and record production company The Lodge to provide the soundtrack for Bad Day L.A., the highly anticipated American McGee title set to ship early 2006 for the Xbox and PC.

Scarface is now coming for the first time to game consoles & PC worldwide. In a complex world filled with excess and greed, players can take the role of Tony Montana, one of the most ruthless gangsters ever depicted on film. Developed by Radical Games and published by Vivendi, this third person action shooter is expected to ship somewhere early 2006.

Experience the thrill of facing off with some of the world’s best-known poker pros in competitions for multi-million dollar jackpots in the World Series of Poker, the official video game of the World Series of Poker tournament, available now from Activision.

Condemned: Criminal Origins allows players to experience an unnatural level of psychological tension as they use their instincts, forensic tools, and melee combat to track serial killers and bring them to justice. Gamers will play as Ethan Thomas, an FBI agent in the Serial Crimes Unit (SCU), whose pursuit of relentless serial killers leads him through detailed urban environments filled with deadly sociopaths who lurk on the periphery of humanity.

NCsoft North America has revealed the contents for the City of Villains Collector's Edition retail game pack that will be released to stores in North America when the game launches later this fall. The Col. Edition will contain a set of seven limited-edition HeroClix figures from WizKids, as well as several other goodies. Read more for details ...