Fans of The Matrix Online can now look forward to the ultimate convenience in massively multiplayer online games (MMOG) - pre-paid playtime. Also, friends and family now have a convenient way to give The Matrix Online as the perfect present on birthdays and holidays. Once players buy the game, they can choose to purchase Pre-Paid Game Cards. Sold at all retailers, the Game Cards will be priced at $29.99 and allow for 60 days of playtime. Once the 60 days are up, gamers can either buy another Pre-Paid Game Card or switch to subscribing through their credit cards.

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 :

• Dragonshard - Trailer #3
• Phantom Kingdom - Trailer
• Wanda and the Colossus - Trailer #3
• Still Life - Trailer #3
• Boiling Point - Trailer #5
• Project Snowblind - Trailer #3 & #4

Combining fast paced action with strategic battle planning, Darwinia features a novel and intuitive control mechanism, a graphical style ripped from '80s retro classics, and a story concerning a tribe of video game sprites trapped in a modern 3D game world. This demo features the same level as before, but due to general demand, a tutorial has now been added (and a few minor bug fixes while they were at it.) Read more for download links ...

Utilizing the next generation of the Invictus engine which incorporates its new real-time physics module, Cross Racing Championship (CRC) will allow the player to experience the thrills of high-speed on and off road racing across vast open terrains. Read more for new screens...

Namco announced today that Ridge Racer will be available at launch for the PSP. Taking full advantage of the PSP's wireless connectivity, Ridge Racer will feature an extensive multiplayer mode.

Ubisoft has released an updated demo for the English edition of Blue Byte's 3D RTS game 'Settlers: Heritage Of Kings.' This v1.03 demo now adds multiplayer capabilities to the previously released singleplayer only demo (which was later enabled by means of a seperate patch.) Fans will enjoy fully animated 3D technology and enhanced gameplay features, but still be able to relive the experience that makes the Settlers series such a big hit. Read more for download links ...

Bringing a new dimension to stealth action games, Second Sight gives players control of a character endowed with incredible psychic abilities. The game offers multiple approaches to completing levels either via stealth, dramatic gunplay, psychic powers or a combination of all three. The ability to psychically influence characters and remotely manipulate objects and individuals provides for a totally fresh gameplay dynamic.

A job listing on the Blizzard homepage is looking for "an experienced Game Designer to help lead the team that designed Diablo and Diablo II," and have "Experience working on an RPG titles" (thanks EvilAvatar). Could this mean they are hiring for for a yet unannounced Diablo III? The job listing does not specifically mention anything relating to Diablo III, so time will tell.

SpinDrive Ping Pong's puts players at the heart of realistic game play in which you battle your opponents for the top ranking title. SpinDrive Ping Pong's fast-paced, exciting and realistic Ping Pong matches can be played in three different modes: "Tournament Mode" puts you in a competitive knockout competition, "Rally Mode" lets you enjoy a thrilling rally and in "Exhibition Mode", you can start a single match straight away!

EA has released a new patch for EA Canada's soccer manager Total Club Manager 2005. This update brings your UK/German retail game to v1.02 and addresses various bug fixes, game crashes and making several game improvements. Read more for download links ...

Atari announced today that a wet, wild and totally soaked new expansion pack to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 will ride into stores this June. RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Soaked!, the first expansion pack to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 will let players create and control their own water parks for the first time. Read more for details and the first screens ...

Sony Online Entertainment today announced that Champions: Return to Arms, the sequel to the critically acclaimed Action/RPG, Champions of Norrath, has shipped to North American retail stores.

Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata, will address the thousands of game professionals attending the 19th annual Game Developers Conference (GDC). GDC, the world's largest event exclusively devoted to the art of game creation, will take place Monday through Friday, March 7-11 in San Francisco.

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition is the third installment in the Midnight Club racing franchise which has re-defined the racing genre with its revolutionary open-ended racing and seamless integration of street racing culture. Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition is expected to ship across North America on April 12th, 2005, while Europe will have to wait until April 15th, 2005.

Constantine tells the story of John Constantine, a man who has literally been to hell and back. When he teams up with sceptical policewoman Angela Dodson to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister, their investigation takes them through the world of demons and angels that exists just beneath the landscape of contemporary Los Angeles. Caught in a catastrophic series of otherworldly events, the two become inextricably involved and seek to find their own peace at whatever cost.

Celebrate summer as hundreds of peeps catch rays and waves with an amazing lineup of super-splash flume rides, massive water slides, aquatic shows, beaches and more. Blast peeps with water cannons, build them outrageous coasters, and wow ‘em with laser light water shows! Get drenched with this splashy summertime addition to one of the biggest games of the year.

The Tastan people surrendered to extinction many years ago; their only legacy being the legendary Tastan Tombs. Much speculation surrounds the tombs, some say they hold invaluable treasure, while others believe great wealth may be attained through the technology left behind by this advanced race.

Choose your team, choose your court, choose your bikini and then serve up the attitude. Scantily-clad babes and seriously twisted dudes bring their famous "Outlaw" vibe onto the court as they bump, set, spike, AND throw punches on their way to total victory. Outlaw Volleyball provides fast, furious, and uncouth action via PS2's network adapter and everyone can experience the outrageous humor and fantastic gameplay that the "Outlaw" gang is known for.

The latest Settlers game takes the franchise and pushes it to the next level with fully animated 3D technology and enhanced gameplay features,. The game will take the player to a medieval setting, to re-conquer the kingdom currently under the domination of an evil tyrant. While Heritage of Kings is not released yet in English territories, Blue Byte is already working on an addon "The Fog Realm" with new maps, new heroes, and editor.

TrackMania Sunrise, the legitimate heir to the throne, is shifting up a gear. Sunrise moves faster, handles better and features improved air-control – vital for making the massive jumps – to ensure that gameplay never moves at anything less than fast. And it's all about the gameplay.

Based on Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the Dynasty Warriors series of action games takes players back in time and onto the battlefields of Ancient China. In the games, players experience the thrill of fighting single-handedly against nearly endless legions of enemy soldiers in historical battles that shaped an empire.

Atari has released a patch for Firaxis' action/adventure game Sid Meier's Pirates! This is a replacement executable for the DVD version that fixes an issue with SecuROM copy protection, so just overwrite the old one, maybe make a backup just to be safe (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

Tilted Mill has released the first patch for its city building strategy game 'Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile.' This update brings your UK retail game to v1.2 and resolves some pathing & stuck figure issues, allows for easier dock placement, and makes a couple of graphical additions and fixes. Read more for download links ...

Blizzard has released yet another new Warcraft III map, this time called "Highperch"... Map info: "Highperch bestows beauty and magical powers to those brave enough to withstand savage attacks from the inhabitants who protect its secret healing waters." This is a medium map and the suggested no. of players is 2v2 or 3v3. It is based on the "Barrens" tileset. Go download it here!