I want to discuss something today that isn’t necessarily games related as such, but I think is a factor that as purchasers of games we should be aware of. Over here in the UK there’s a guy on TV called Derren Brown. You may know him in the States and across the world, I don’t know. He’s one of these modern day magicians; the sort that call themselves ‘illusionists’ because pulling rabbits out of hats is no longer cool.

River City Ransom (RCR) is an exciting fighting game where you take the role of a High School student whose school and town has been taken over by punks. You roam the town fighting the various gangs and bosses who stand in your way. You do, however, have the entire town at your disposal—meaning you can shop at any of the various outdoor malls and buy food to increase your abilities and new techniques to enhance your fighting arsenal.

Strike Force Bowling is the state-of-the-art in videogame bowling, featuring the most authentic real-time pin physics ever created. Straightforward arcade-style control and multi-player performance for up to four players make Strike Force Bowling a great family or party game that anyone can pick up and play. But, the fun doesn't stop there. Strike Force Bowling also offers six modes of play, eight lane environments and a host of other features designed to make this virtual bowling experience second to none.

Enter a world of beautiful cel-shaded graphics and high-quality Anime cut scenes by renowned artist Kosuke Fujishima. Command real-time battles in a unique 3D battle system that gives you full control over the characters. Execute and combine hundreds of special attacks and magic spells. The line between good and evil blurs in this immersive, emotionally charged epic adventure where the fate of two interlocked worlds hangs in the balance.

City of Heroes enables players to realize their comic book dreams. Heroes protect the fine citizens of Paragon City in a colorful 3-D world where the victims of crimes not only thank players for their help, but they even compliment players on their costumes! With the release of the first update to City of Heroes just weeks away, Cryptic Studios and NCsoft have released some new screens.

Wish defines a new category of online game, the "Ultra Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game" (UMMORPG). Unlike existing MMORPGs that confine players to a server with only a few thousand other players, Wish's highly-scalable server cluster infrastructure allows the game to support tens of thousands of simultaneous players in a single shared world. Wish is the first massively multi player online role playing game that truly tells a story, and lets player actions have lasting implications on the world.

Designed specifically for Next-Gen First Person Shooter games, the FPS gives you unparalleled control. Featuring symmetrical left and right analog sticks, rubber grips, easily programmable buttons, and ergonomic shape, the FPS gives gamers what they want most: more control and comfort. Works with all Xbox games.

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 :

• Dungeon Siege 2 - Trailer
• Ghost Master - PS2 Trailer
• Axis & Allies - Trailer (3)
• Cuban Missle Crisis - E3 2004 Trailer
• Ground Control 2 - 'Making Of' Trailer
• Karaoke Revolution Volume 2 - E3 2004 Trailer
• Enthusia Professional Racing - E3 2004 Trailer

WWE Day of Reckoning features all the action, excitement and attitude of World Wrestling Entertainment and is designed exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube. THQ and JAKKS' World Wrestling Entertainment licensed videogames have sold more than $527 million worldwide since 1999. WWE Day of Reckoning is scheduled for release in Fall 2004.

EA has issued a community update in which they announce that a new Battlefield Vietnam v1.02 patch is expected somewhere next week, as well as revealing more details about the larger BFV v1.1 update. "DICE has been able to track down the Crash to Desktop issue that has been reported by the members of our community since the 1.01 update. We will be releasing a new BFV update that addresses this issue next week. Please note that this update is meant only to address the Crash to Desktop issue (along with a related disconnect issue)."

In CNN/Money's latest editorial on companies focussing more and more on harccore gamers, Chris Morris revealed that iD Software will NOT be showing off Quake IV at this year's annual QuakeCon. "Unfortunately, they're going to have to keep waiting. id CEO Todd Hollenshead said there are no plans to show the game at this year's QuakeCon." Head on over to CNNMoney for the full statement, Quake IV remark all the way at the bottom.

Mashed is a miniature arcade racing game under development at UK's Supersonic Studio, to be published by Empire Interactive. Up to 4 players will be able to compete at the same time, with one goal in mind: win at all costs - either by finishing first, either by destroying your opponents. Expected on store shelves June 2004 for PS2, Xbox and PC.

'Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow' will bring back more of the single-player intrigue that made the original game a bestseller. With exciting new action scenes and a strong cinematic feel, the player will experience new and even more realistic surroundings. Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow, the smashing hit game this spring from the Xbox and PC, is coming to the PlayStation 2 this June! Read more for some new screens...

It’s the season of the fan. The year of people coming together to celebrate sport. And uniting everyone is ESPN NFL Football, a coupling of “the most responsive and intense gameplay around”1 and the richest multi-player gaming experience possible. Everyone is getting in on the action with the help of our innovative V.I.P. system – allowing you to play your friends or the elite as if they were sitting right next to you! So dust off those extra controllers, grab some chairs, and get your game on!

NovaLogic today announced a contest to find out who can build the best Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising Fan Site in the US. Call for entries start on July 1st and end July 30th, 2004. A check for $500 is up for grabs for the first place winner, as well as other prizes including signed copies of the game, posters and exclusive Joint Ops merchandise. All fan sites entered in the contest will also be up for a special Community Award, as voted by NovaWorld community members World Wide.

Electronic Arts announced today that Harry Potter fans can experience the magic of Harry's third year at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban videogame, available in stores now.

Microsoft Game Studios today announced the arrival of new downloadable content for the popular Xbox golf game, Links 2004. The download takes players to The Gallery Golf Club's most private course -- the renowned North Course in Marara, Arizona. Starting today, players can download the new course via Xbox Live for $4.99 (U.S.).

Strategy First and Game Factory Interactive are pleased to announce that they have entered into a contract that will see MiST Land South (Game Factory’s development studio) develop the following titles on behalf of SFI: Jagged Alliance 3D, Disciples III and Jagged Alliance 3, all for the PC platform. MiST Land South, located in Russia has already begun work on the projects, but no specific release dates have been set.

Universal Pictures has optioned Doom for producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and John Wells, with Enda McCallion attached to make his directorial debut, reports Variety. The script, originated by Dave Callaham, is adapted from the plotline for the id Software and Activision video game "Doom 3," slated for release July 15. The story is set at a Mars space station, where an aerospace conglom is conducting secret experiments when something unleashes a demonic force that threatens to overtake the facility.

Publisher Strategy First and developer Guild Software have teamed up to bring Vendetta Online to a retail store near you this summer. Vendetta Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), set in space. Thousands of players will interact as the pilots of spaceships in a vast universe and users may build their characters in any direction they desire, becoming rich captains of industry, military heroes, or outlaws. Read more for details & screens ...

“D-Day”, an historically accurate RTS from the makers of Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps, starts making tank tracks to PCs everywhere. There is no stopping games publisher Digital Jesters as it announces yet another signing: D-Day will be released in the UK, in August 2004, for a SRP of £29.99. Read more for details and some screens ...

Further expanding their burgeoning release schedule, Oxygen have now added two new FPS titles to their release schedule, with PS2 and PC versions in simultaneous development. Due in September, Vietnam: The Tet Offensive will feature a range of action-packed missions and an innovative damage system, packed with accurate historical details. Following a month later, SAS: Against All Odds boasts counter-terrorist missions based on contemporary politics, with stealth-heavy, tactical gameplay.

SCi Games has signed a US publishing deal with Atlus U.S.A. Inc. a leading publisher of interactive entertainment, to publish GALLEON on Xbox, in North America. GALLEON, the latest creation from Toby Gard the creator of Lara Croft, is an epic tale of action, adventure, romance and mystery and will be available in the US from Autumn 2004.

Samurai Warriors takes the techniques and expertise gained during the production of the award-winning Dynasty Warriors series and combines it with new energy to create the next evolution of Tactical Action games. For the first time players will enter the world of ancient Japan to fight in both historical and fictional battles.