S2Games has released an updated version of their recently released Savage: Battle for Newerth patch. This upgrade brings your retail game to v2.0c and addresses a few minor bugs that were uncovered in the v2.0 patch, adds a few new client features as well as some extra optimization. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Step into war-torn China of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, assume the rank of ruler, and deal with fast-paced military and political affairs. Along the way, you'll earn points and items to upgrade officers. Today we reveal game objectives and basics, new Challenge scenarios, the new Personality Dependent System, a new system for military formations, and more!

Blizzard has announced the beta signups start for their massive multiplayer online role-playing game World of WarCraft. The Blizzard Web site has word that you can start signing up as of 6pm PST on Wednesday, January 28th (will only accept applications from Canada, Korea, and the US). "The test for Europe and other countries around the world will happen later this year. Testers are not going to be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis, so you will be able to submit an application and receive equal consideration anytime during the signup period."

Set to launch during the 60th anniversary of "D-Day", Combat Elite: WWII Paratroopers' development team is comprised of former members of the celebrated Fallout 2, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon teams. In addition, the game will utilize the proven Snowblind Studios game engine and challenge players to rise through the ranks in more than 40 levels that recreate some of the most important battles of World War II. Read more for a fresh batch of screens and artwork ...

Eschaton: Chain of Command takes you directly into the heat of an epic space battle as you pilot a space-mech through an asteroid field, lead a bomber squadron during a capital ship raid, blast fighters in an interceptor, command a battleship against a space station, or play as a commander, providing strategical direction to hundreds of units, many of which are controlled by actual players.

The official Pirates of the Burning Sea website has word about the game being delayed. "Now that we've reached Alpha, we've been updating our milestone schedule for the rest of the project. Playing the Alpha has been a lot of fun -- in particular, combat is shaping up great -- but it's also made us more aware of areas that we believe need more work. As a result, we're moving our expected ship date to Q4 2004 and expanding our programming and art staff to tackle the next milestone.While we'd like to ship sooner than that, we don't want to rush the initial release. This extra time will help us ensure the stability of the game, make it more fun, and improve the quality of certain features." (thanks Blues)

Diversions Entertainment has issued yet another patch for their 3D fighting/action game One Must Fall: Battlegrounds. This upgrade brings your retail game to v2123, no details as to what it fixes are available (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

Activision has released its first patch for Stainless Steel's 3D RTS title Empires: Dawn of the Modern World. This update brings you retail game to v1.01 and has the usual bug fixes, game tweaks but also adds a new map "Peloponnese". Read more for details fix list and download links ...

Video game creator American McGee, who most recently brought a twisted retelling of "Alice in Wonderland" to gamers, has turned his imagination on The Wizard of Oz, says The Hollywood Reporter. Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Walt Disney Pictures have optioned the movie rights already, and other media deals are either signed or pending. There's no time frame for the first film of what will be a trilogy, McGee said, but screenwriters Kevin and Dan Hageman are attached. McGee said games, books and other projects featuring his unique vision of "Oz" also are being developed (thanks ComingSoon).

Legends of Wrestling: Showdown is the exclusive supercard of the immortals! Battle through the annals of time clashing with the greatest grapplers to set foot in the squared circle. Create dream matches, unlock classic feuds and travel down the path of pain in the first-ever era-based career mode to see if you have what it takes to beat the icons of professional wrestling! Read more to check out new screens and character art ...

The year is 1582 and Takeshi Kaneshiro as Samanosuke is the man who has just returned. The stage is set at the burning Honnoji Temple, as the famous Onimusha warrior Samanosuke Akechi fights. As he faces the demons in front of him, Samanosuke is compelled to move forward by hatred for his true enemy, the undying Nobunaga Oda, ever pursuing his crazed ambition. Samanosuke prepares for the long-awaited final battle against Nobunaga. Read more for a few new screens ...

Noticed on Avault that Strategy First won't be bringing the PC version of Wanadoo's Inquisition to North America. A Strategy First representative told the Adrenaline Vault that French publisher Wanadoo opted to substitute a different title rather than have the company distribute Inquisition stateside. Inquisition is a third-person stealth action game in which players take the role of a young thief who sets out to find the Treasure of the Templar Knights.

SUNFLOWERS and Black Sea Studios are looking for the right faces for two of the many Knights in Knights of Honor! Anyone who sends in a colour photo of themselves might just see their portrait in the game itself. The call for the right faces is going out over the official website, and both winners will be chosen by an official ballot cast in the Forum. Voting will take place from 11.02.2004 to 13.02.2004, inclusive. All those registered on the Discussion Board are eligible to vote. SUNFLOWERS and Black Sea Studios would like to wish all those taking part the best of luck! More information can be found at the official website.

Full Spectrum Warrior is based on a light infantry-training simulator designed by Pandemic Studios for the U.S. Army as a tool to reinforce Army doctrine and squad tactics amongst troops. Full Spectrum Warrior is a squad-based, tactical-action game that delivers the experience of squad level command in the heat of battle. Check out the new screens...

In Wrath Unleashed, powerful beings called overlords fight for supremacy in a striking and imaginative ethereal void as they struggle to become gods and maintain dominance and magic. Overlords and their minion creatures battle for control of magical floating islands represented by a beautiful world map comprised of terrain tiles. Each tile on the map is imbued with an elemental affinity of fire, earth, water or wind. Unleash your wrath and may the best beast win! Read more for the full preview ...

Silent Storm is a true 3D game combining turn-based tactical combats and role-playing set against the background of the WWII. As the war rages on, you will lead a squad of elite troopers deep behind enemy lines to perform secret missions and prevent a disaster the true scale of which could be fully appreciated by neither of the involved parties. Read more for the full review ...

Take a band of gun-toting rebels -a robot, a madman, a mole and a criminal mastermind. Put them in a vividly stunning fantasy realm. Then give them an impossible mission - pulling off the biggest heist of all time in the middle of a war. All you have to do is battle your way through dastardly enemies, giant war machines and an army of psychopathic robots. But don't worry; you have plenty of ammo and absolutely no common sense. Victory is yours in 12,000 bullets or less! Read more for the full review ...

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 :

• Downhill Domination - Trailer
• Dark & Light - Trailer
• Breakdown - Trailer
• MX Unleashed - Trailer
• Everquest 2 - Trailer
• Xyanide (GBA) - Trailer
• Desert Rats - Trailer

James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, as the world’s greatest secret agent returns in his fifth interactive adventure under the EA GAMES brand. First, you will think like Bond, using espionage, tactical skills, and gadgets from the Q-Lab to analyze your situation. Then you will act like Bond, using his stylish physical skills, clever subterfuge, and bold personality to once again save the world. Check these new screens ...

For the first time, players control The Sims over an entire lifetime for the very first time. Every choice that is made has a relevant and dramatic effect on the life of a Sim. More life-like Sims, all new gameplay, and the ground-breaking addition of genetics, with the DNA of Sims passed down through generations, gives players a more vivid, realistic, and in-depth Sims experience. All of this takes place in a new amazingly life-like 3-D world...

Set in a new fantasy universe, Divine Divinity takes the player on a fantastic quest in a land torn apart by corruption and dark magic. Throughout his journeys the player will get the chance to develop his character as one of six character types, and meet a variety of people and fantastical beings.

The Falsebound Kingdom is a real-time strategy game at heart, Falsebound Kingdom follows the adventures of Yugi and his friends from the Yu-Gi-Oh! animated TV show as they strive to escape from the sinister virtual world in which they have been trapped. Fans of the series will now be able to set their favorite TV characters against one another in exciting 3-on-3 monster team battles for heated duels that unfold on a colorful 3D battlefield.

The Natural Selection team has released the latest version of their Half-Life mod bringing it to v3.0. The NS 3.0 (beta 1) features 10 new maps, new fast and furious "Combat" gameplay mode, new upgrades and of course tons of bug fixes. Read more for details and download links for the Windows client and dedicated server files ...

Launching the next generation of solo play and online combat, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero is imminent. The #1 online action game of all time goes single-player with Counter-Strike: Condition Zero. A stand-alone product, Condition Zero is the comprehensive successor to the 2000 Multiplayer Game of the Year. Condition Zero completely replaces the current Counter-Strike, and combines six story-driven episodes, three different single player modes and multiplayer enhancements to drive the future of Counter-Strike gamers everywhere.