Valve's SteamPowered website has been updated with details regarding yet another Half-Life 2 update which performance improvements, increased cache memory usage, increased cache memory usage, weapon script files are preloaded at startup in HL2, and a few more little tweaks. Restart Steam to get the latest update...

Nintendo's lineup for 2005 comes loaded with new games that take advantage of the touch-screen and wireless capabilities of the new NDS. Likewise, GameCube and GBA owners will find new ways to enjoy new and favorite franchises. New tricks like using bongos to control characters in Donkey Kong Jungle Beat for NGC and an internal gyro sensor in WarioWare: Twisted! for GBA enhance the game experience as only Nintendo can.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory will offer a high adrenaline experience thanks to never seen before close range attacks, a totally open level design, a completely immersive and interactive environment, and challenging advanced AI. Check these new screens ...

Kuma Reality Games has designed its current online mission, Ramadi Convoy Exercise in conjunction with the Army’s Combined Arms Support Command. The Army provided military insights, helping to ensure the accuracy of the re-creation so it could be used to train U.S. troops. The mission highlights one of the most dangerous and deadly scenarios American soldiers face in Iraq today; the IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attack.

Blizzard Entertainment today announced that World of Warcraft has sold through more than 600,000 units to customers in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. The fastest-growing massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) has also shattered all previous concurrency records in North America, achieving over 200,000 simultaneous players during the holiday period.

The Arena Football League and Electronic Arts have entered into an exclusive agreement to produce an AFL video game in time for the start of the 2006 AFL season that also allows EA to share in the proceeds of future expansion team sales. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Strategy First Inc. is pleased to announce that Disciples II Gold has gone gold. Developed and published by Strategy First Inc., Disciples II Gold includes the entire award-winning Disciples II series including Dark Prophecy, all three expansion packs (Guardians of the Light, Servants of the Dark, and Rise of the Elves), as well as new and exciting scenarios. Release is scheduled for January, 2005.

Rockstar Games is proud to announce Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition and a brand new iteration of Grand Theft Auto for the highly anticipated PSP handheld system. Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition and the new Grand Theft Auto title, which will be set in Liberty City, are being developed by Rockstar Leeds in conjunction with Rockstar San Diego and Rockstar North, respectively. Both titles are expected to be available near the launch of the PSP handheld system in North America and Europe.

Ubisoft and inXile entertainment jointly announce a new European publishing deal for The Bard's Tale. This action-role playing game (RPG) with a twist has been developed by inXile, founded by Brian Fargo, the creator of the original The Bard's Tale. The terms of the agreement give Ubisoft exclusive publishing and distribution rights in most of Europe for the PS2, Xbox and PC versions of the game. The title is expected to hit stores this March.

Atari today announced that TimeShift, an innovative first-person shooter in which players control time to complete missions and defeat foes, is in development by Saber Interactive for the PC and Xbox. TimeShift will leverage first-of-its-kind gameplay abilities and functionality, the latest graphics technology, and high production values to create a truly unique action game experience.

Driven by a hatred of crime bordering on insanity, Frank Castle became The Punisher, a one-man army whose mission goes far beyond revenge. Taking on the city's high-powered crime lords, he wreaks havoc on the corrupt with methods reserved for those on the wrong side of the law. "The Punisher" video game represents the best of over 30 years of "Punisher" comic books and depicts some of the grittiest storylines in the Marvel Universe. Check these 100+ new screens ..

Matrix Games is pleased to announce the new prices for its full current line of games for 2005, effective January 10th, 2005. Throughout most of the Matrix Games line, these new prices reflect a savings for customers. These new price levels are expected to remain constant for these titles throughout 2005.

Get ready to take on the role of Spain’s most notorious police officer, Torrente. based on the top-grossing films of the same name, Torrente is a fascist, sexist, racist, drunk, and dirty cop who soon finds himself caught in the crossfire between drug cartels and the Mafia. Now he must blast his way through street thugs and hit men battling for control over Madrid’s seedy underworld.

The series that took the console world by storm is set to repeat history on handheld this spring! All the action, danger and thrills that Grand Theft Auto is famous for are coming to Game Boy Advance – promising to become the action title to which all other handheld games are compared.

Blackhole Motorsports has gotten word that EA will be releasing a Nascar SimRacing demo the week of the 17th. The cars in the demo will represent the 2004 Season artwork, but when the game releases, we will have a download available in the install that will update with all of the 2005 car art. Featuring two tracks (Indianapolis and Phoenix), and allowing you to make laps as Kurt Busch.

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 :

• The Sims 2: University - Trailer
• Battlefield 2 - Trailer

What is going on with all these MMO's getting canned? Today Mutable Realms has decided to cancel its Ultra Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game Wish. "After careful consideration of all the facts and analyzing all the data which we have gathered from the Wish Beta 2.0 test so far, we have decided to cancel the Wish project. Our Beta test will end this evening at 6pm EST, and at this time our Beta forums will close as well. We enjoyed working together with our fans very much, and we are very sorry about this development. We wish you the best of luck in the future, and hope that you continue to enjoy online gaming, even with Mutable Realms and Wish not being available anymore." Read more on the official website ...

id Software and Activision will unleash an all-new assault on humanity with DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil, the official expansion pack to the first- person action game. Co-developed by Nerve Software and id Software, DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil continues the terrifying and intense action of the already classic DOOM 3. Check the new 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 ..

Hunted by Dahaka, an immortal incarnation of Fate seeking divine retribution, the Prince embarks upon a path of both carnage and mystery to defy his preordained death. His journey leads to the infernal core of a cursed island stronghold harboring mankind's greatest fears. Only through grim resolve, bitter defiance and the mastery of deadly new combat arts can the Prince rise to a new level of warriorship - and emerge from this ultimate trial with his life.

Famed sci-fi writer Orson Scott Card revealed today that he has entered into an agreement with A Tale in The Dark developers eGenesis to create a MMORPG based on his 'Tales of Alvin Maker' work. ATITD lead designer Andy Tepper will spearhead the project which discribed as a non-combat-centered community-building game. Orson Scott Card is currently also involved in Majesco's Advent Rising trilogy.

Belgian developer Larian Studios issued a small announcement explaining that it is currently very active on its next generation titles and announced that Gamebryo will be the 3D engine powering our future titles, and that it has licensed Speedtree to power the vegetation in our upcoming games. One of the upcoming Larian titles in development is Divinity 2, sequel to its popular 2D RPG.

Developed through a collaborative effort between Pandemic Studios and Mass Media, the game's innovative design, complex artificial intelligence (A.I.) and advanced graphical prowess has been successfully transitioned to the PS2, pushing the hardware to its limits. Full Spectrum Warrior is scheduled to ship worldwide in early 2005.

Men of Valor: Vietnam is an historical action experience that portrays infantry combat during the Vietnam War. Men of Valor: Vietnam immerses the player in the humid jungles of Southeast Asia in the most controversial conflict of the modern era.

SOE's President John Smedley has put up a message in the official EQ 2 forums outlining a roadmap for continuing to evolve the world of Norrath. SOE will add content to the game in three distinct ways: Live Updates, Expansion Packs and Adventure Packs. "Live Updates" will happen 1-2 times a month and expand the game both through new zones, npcs, quests, features, spells, skills and new gameplay additions as well as fixing any bugs or issues that arise. "Expansion Packs" will happen twice a year (first one due second hald of 2005) and are going to be large, game altering additions to the game that will be sold both at retail and online via digital download. "Adventure Packs" will happen 2-4 times a year, at a minimal cost (first one at $4.99) and are a new style of content, similar to "Modules" from traditional tabletop RPGs