Hockey fans will be able to settle old grudge matches and create new rivalries online using Xbox Live. Gamers will be able to track individual and team stats, leader boards and win/loss records as well as support cooperative, team, ranked and non-ranked play. With Xbox Live, gamers will be able to download quarterly roster updates, All-Star game rosters and updated player ratings. Read more for the full review ...

Developer Stardock Entertainment has released Galactic Civilizations 1.2 today. Galactic Civilizations is a space-based strategy game set near the dawn of the 23rd century. Galactic Civilizations 1.2 fixes defects reported by users as well as adds new features such as Logistics, smarter diplomacy, Good/Evil technology handling in diplomacy, etc. Read more for details ...

God of War is a new action/adventure game developed by SCEA's Southern California studio previously known for developing Twisted Metal. You play as a yet unnamed hero, surrounded by Greek mythology. Hacking your way through hordes of enemies by means of swords and Spawn-like chains you are on a quest to kill the GReek "God Of War", Ares. Read more for some screens & trailer ...

The game that introduced stealth gameplay is back. Ion Storm has implemented a new 3rd person cinematic action view as well as the classic 1st person perspective from the previous Thief chapters. Breaking and entering, stealing, sabotage, combat, assassination, and setting up ambushes - tasks master thief Garrett is well equipped to perform. Players will enter into Garret's dark world of thievery on both Xbox and PC this Spring 2004 in "Thief: Deadly Shadows". Read more to check out some new screens ...

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 :

• Vampire: the Masquerade - Bloodlines - (3) Trailer
• Bad Boys II - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Atari has released a new patch for Shiny's 3D action game 'Enter the Matrix'. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.2, is ONLY for people with bringing their just released to v1.2, but this patch is ONLY for users who have the Intel 845 chipset. It will work for both the CD and DVD version of the game (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

CSI: Dark Motives is a first-person adventure game that will test players' nerves and intellect as they examine crime scenes, question witnesses and analyze evidence utilizing the latest in forensic equipment. The new CSI PC game features a number of gameplay improvements including in-depth evidence examination, scalable difficulty and more interactive lab functionality. CSI: Dark Motives will once again feature the likenesses and voices of the entire CSI cast. Read more for some new screens ...

In Advent Rising, a common legend pervades the galaxy - that of a powerful, ancient race that will one day unite the universe. Millions of cultures from vastly distant worlds revere and hallow these mythological beings known as humans. One race, the Seekers, know humans actually exist and are threatened by their potential power. Under the guise of benevolent explorers, the Seekers travel throughout the galaxy in a desperate attempt to eradicate any human society they unearth. Check out some new screens ...

Hitman: Contracts delivers more action-packed and suspenseful missions, with a greater variety of ways to make the perfect hit and an increased arsenal of firearms and close-combat weapons. A new graphics engine showcases Hitman's 'work' in brutal detail and brings new locations to life. An improved control system and more gradual learning curve will ensure that the game is accessible to all aspiring hitmen. Hitman: Contracts is being developed by Io Interactive and will be available for PS2, Xbox, and PC in spring 2004.

'The Fall: Last Days of Gaia' is an innovative Post-Apocalyptic Role Playing Game with tactical combat and a highly original, disturbing storyline. The game is scheduled for Q3, 2004. The Fall will be the first 3D-RPG set in an endtime scenario on the market. Read more for details and some new screens ...

'Crimson Sea 2' features over 60 missions and 3 two-player modes. Work together to bring down the enemy and clear a stage in "Co-op" mode, battle head-to-head "death match" style in "Versus" mode, or try to outscore your human opponent in "Competition" mode. Read more for details and new screens ...

SEGA of America, Inc. today announced that it will publish "Puyo Pop Fever" in North America. Developed by SEGA's Sonic Team studio, the latest version of SEGA's addictive puzzle franchise offers an enhanced two-player experience that includes an an ultra-intense Fever mode and boosted combo effects. A new story mode, revamped graphics, and new puzzle pieces make this game as irresistible as it is addictive. "Puyo Pop Fever" is scheduled to be released on Xbox and GameCube in June '04.

Midway Games Inc. announced today that The Suffering, the first game of its kind to probe into the very unsettling and seedy underbelly of a maximum-security penitentiary haunted by horrific and grotesque apparitions, has gone gold and will to ship to stores on March 8, 2004 for the PlayStation2 and the Xbox.

Ubisoft announced that they have launched the official website for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow. The site contains up-to-date news, screenshots and trailers. The site is split into two main parts: single player experience and multiplayer experience. In both sections, visitors can learn about every aspect of the game from information about the characters, weapons and gadgets, to Sam's stealth moves. Coming soon to the site will be a training course where players may test their potential as a covert Splinter Cell operative by entering a state-of-the-art 3D stealth course. Once the game has shipped, the site will also offer comprehensive online rankings. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow is scheduled to ship March 24, 2004 for the Xbox, PC and GBA.

Digital Jesters has launched the official‘Samurai Wars’ Mod website. Samurai Wars is the exclusive MOD created especially for distribution with the European boxed version of Savage: The Battle for Newerth. Set in feudal Japan, Samurai Wars builds on the strength of the Savage engine to provide an alternative and engrossing playing experience. Read more to check out some screens or visit the official Samurai Wars website.

After a beta version, Pterodon has now released the final version of their 'Frontiers' multiplayer map for their tactical shooter Vietcong. Unfortunately no specific details as to what modes it supports, or anything else for that matter, are available at this time. Read more for screens & download links ...

ike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett of the Tactical Narcotics Team are back and oh so bad in the officially licensed game of the action-packed Simpson-Bruckheimer blockbuster Bad Boys II featuring superstars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Playing as Mike or Marcus in 1st or 3rd person viewpoints as they mix it with the bad guys, Bad Boys II takes you through 15 stages of fast paced, all-action gameplay featuring multiple mission objectives. Grab an arsenal of weapons from pistols, shotguns, sub-machine guns, assault rifles and sniper rifles and smash Miami's Underworld, clearing the streets of wrong doers.

Syberia II, the sequel of the 2002 Adventure Game of The year, is currently in development at the developer/publisher Montreal-based studios. Syberia II will be the second and final installment of Kate Walker's joint adventures with Hans Voralberg. After leaving behind all her worldly possessions with the sole purpose in joining the heir of the Voralberg family on his journey, Kate's role will undergo a remarkable change. From being the pursuant, she becomes Hans' main acolyte, his support to attain the elapsed terra firma of the mammoths. Check out these new screens ...

Take an adventure as Pitfall Harry, the daring, risk-taking explorer who laughs in the face of danger. Featuring over 50 levels of fast-paced action and puzzle solving adventures, the game challenges players to swing, fight, climb and crawl through eight types of treacherous South American environments including lush jungles, dark tombs, ancient Aztec ruins and glacial mountains. Read more for the full review ...

SEGA’s legendary mascot Sonic The Hedgehog makes his historic multi-platform debut and embarks on his biggest adventure ever, with his trademark blazing speed and a new gameplay twist in “Sonic Heroes.” Sonic and his friends have evolved, adopting a configuration feature that lets gamers control three playable characters simultaneously, using Sonic’s speed, Knuckles’ power, and Tails’ ability to fly, to conquer massive worlds. Our resident Sonic fanatic got his hands on all versions and compared them to eachother, read more to read the full review ...

3000 AD has released the demo for their futuristic 3D action game Universal Combat. The Universal Combat demo is missing two asset images. This would cause a crash when trying to access those assets to repair them while playing the first scenario. Read more for details and download links ...

'Desert Combat eXtended' is a mod for a mod, believe it or not. The DCX team has released an update patch for their latest v7.1 to be compatible with the latest Desert and BF1942 v1.6. This DCX 7.2 resolves the death/spawn bug and allows the play of all bf maps. Read more for download links ...

An interesting tidbit appeared in Ascaron's official Sacred forum when forum member asked whether the US version of Sacred would have the same blood & gore level as the European edition. Ascaron's Ingo Mohr replied : "Our partner Encore wanted to get a 12+ rating for Sacred and they did. We will do nothing to endanger the rating or the distribution policy of Encore in the US. I think this is quite understandable" (thanks RPGDot). Very weak if you ask me, very weak ...

War Times is a Real-Time Strategy game that lets players follow the tumultuous era of the Second World War through the actions of Germany, Great Britain, the USA or the USSR; each nation is totally different and uses unique strategies in their attack and defense and all the campaigns are based on real historical events, bringing an unparalleled realism to the fight. Check the new screens...