When Microsoft releases the Xbox 2, presumably this year, it plans to include a storefront that will offer "microtransactions." Browseable by game, by genre, and in a number of other ways, the Marketplace will provide a one-stop shop for consumers to acquire episodic content, new game levels, maps, weapons, vehicles, skins and new community-created content.

While North American racing fans are still waiting for the retail launch of the initial GTR: FIA GT Racing Game, Simbin has revealed that they are planning to release a 'King of Ovals' addon. The free expansion pack will feature three ficticious NASCAR-style oval racing circuits and is scheduled to be released soon, most likely as a download patch. German gamers already had a similar surprise a few months back when 10tacle & Simbin released the Proximus 24 Hours of Spa expansion, which included eight new cars.

World Snooker Championship 2005 offers gamers the ultimate simulation of the beloved game. As you might expect, this game has all the big names, but this time there's simply a lot more than any snooker game gone before. More features, options, game modes and faces to make this the ultimate must have snooker title for any serious fan.

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 :

• Medal of Honor European Assault - Trailer
• Splinter Cell Chaos Theory - TV Commercial
• Jade Empire - Trailer (2)

Mythic Blades is a visually breath-taking entertainment title which places the player in the role of Legendary Hero or Terrifying Monster during combat to determine the fate of the Olympus. Ares has challenged his father; if Ares wins, he will take over Zeus' place and rule over the Olympus - but the battle does not take place there. Instead it will be fought between Man and Monster.

According to French fansite XboxMag the upcoming issue of GameInformer magazine will have the announcement that Oddworld Inhabitants is alreayd working on a new title in the Oddworld franchise. A few changes are certainly worth mentioning. For staters, the new title will apparently be rated "M" (Mature) and not be published by EA, but by Majesco instead. Unlike the Far West theme in Oddworld Stranger, the new game will take place in Fangustan, and that is also where the new title comes from "Oddworld: Fangus." Fangus is a shepperd who's quiet life is being interrupted by invaders (Fangustan = Afghanistan ?) and thus he will be called on to save the world. Gameplay will remain the same, switching between first and third person view. Oddworld: Fangus is scheduled for somewhere in 2006, Xbox or Xbox 2, more details will surely be released in a few months at E3.

After much deliberation, Valve has announced the winners of its Half-Life 2: Deathmatch mapping contest. Contest Winner is Scott M Jordan, USA with his dm_Underpass map. Congratulations! First Runner-Up Jonathan Linker, Germany (dm_resistance), second Runner-Up Michael Schulz, Germany (dm_powerhouse) and Honorable Mention Michael Visser, Netherlands (dm_avalon). Read more to check out some screens...

WrestleMania can define a legacy, and yours is about to be written. The greatest spectacle in sports-entertainment comes to Xbox with WWE WrestleMania 21. Read more for additional details & screens ...

Scrapland is an action game. In third-person, the player controls D-Tritus when he goes on foot and his gunship when he pilots on Chimera streets. The player, by hacking into the GDB, can transform himself into 15 different characters, acquiring then the special ability of every one of them. The player can also drive any gunship he finds and can create his own collection of unique gunships, freely combining pieces he finds aboard the ship.

MaxGaming Technologies has released a demo for Dark Horizons: Lore Invasion, a fast action FPS style massively multiplayer online mecha game where the player’s stats will affect the outcome of the war and ultimately write the history of the Dark Horizons universe. This demo features a Team Deathmatch map, an Assault level titled Sector 2, and a Capture the Core map called Crash Site in a choice of four mechs on either side (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

Nuclear Vision has now released the English demo version for its cyberpunk FPS Psychotoxic: Gateway To Hell. This patch brings your North American retail game to v1.04 and it deals with an issue with the weapons pick up in the dream levels and fixes some other minor bugs. Read more for download links ...

Revealed on the Korean Xbox website, it seems Microsoft and Bungie are gearing up to release a previously unannounced addon for Halo 2. Speculation has it that the Halo 2 X-Pack addon will feature eight new maps, but there is no confirmation from Microsoft in any way on the validity of the information. We contacted the Powers That Be and got the usual "no comment" reply, which could either mean it's bogus information or that an announcement is imminent and no details are supposed to be released yet. Sources also claim that after its initial retail debut, the addon will be released through Xbox Live at a pace of two maps at a time.

Intense, free-roaming, off-road racing takes on a whole new meaning as gamers will be able to blaze their own trail, anytime, anywhere with ATV Offroad Fury Blazin' Trails for the PSP.

Twisted Metal: Head-On, developed Incognito Entertainment, hits the road this spring, allowing gamers to take destruction anywhere, anytime. Featuring new gameplay designs, multiplayer modes via wireless connectivity and Mini-Game bonus levels, Twisted Metal: Head-On provides a wide variety of gameplay options for gamers on the go.

Get ready to race at blazing speeds and experience adrenaline-filled, anti-gravity racing action. Wipeout Pure provides intense, hovercraft racing action as players choose from five different speed classes and race relentlessly around 16 futuristic, anti-gravity racing tracks.

Bethesda Softworks today announced that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is currently in development for PC and future generation consoles (PS3 & Xbox 2). In development since 2002, Oblivion is another leap forward in role-playing with its combination of freeform gameplay and cutting-edge graphics.

Project: Snowblind is a the first-person action shooter putting you in the role of an elite super soldier, fighting on the front lines of a near-future war using unique weapons, abilities and high-tech gadgetry that inject depth and variety to gameplay. Windows gamers today is your day to suit up and ready your weapons for battle. Project: Snowblind for PC has shipped and is now in stores in North America.

Vivisector: Beast Inside developed by Action Forms (creators of Chasm and Carnivores series) is a unique mixture of 3D Action/Horror. The game blends a thrilling interactive story with intense, high-adrenaline action and immerses players in a rich and fascinating storyline.

Jade Empire is set in a new fantastical world based on mythical China, where sinister events have upset the peaceful harmony of an isolated martial arts school. Featuring furious action previously found only in Hong Kong cinema, the game lets players master more than 30 fighting styles and a wide range of mystical powers.

Juiced is the only racing to totally immerse you in the lifestyle and culture of the real street modding scene. Starting as a new kid on the block, without a set of wheels to your name, your main focus in life is to build up your own crew of ‘driving gods’ and dominate the established street racing scene of Angel City.

Dutch developer Team6 has now released a 'final' demo for their car racing game, Manhattan Chase, which lets you choose between the brave side of the police, or the evil side of the criminals. In short: Chase, or be chased! The single-player demo features one mission and also has a multiplayer option (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

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 May 2005.

Barely out in stores, premiere's in the UK today, Eidos has already released the first patch updating Championship Manager 5 with all the latest player stats and addressing various interface issues, fixing match engine problems, and another ton of fixes and gameplay adjustments. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Auto Assault combines vehicular combat with role-playing elements. Players explore a post-apocalyptic future in customizable cars, motorcycles, semis and even tanks. Players battle other players both in arenas and in epic race vs. race wars for control of the regions in a devastated Earth.