Noticed on HomeLAN that FilePlanet paid subscribers are getting a chance to sign up to beta test Lords of the Realm III, the upcoming historical RTS game from Impressions Games and Sierra. Only 1,000 beta testers will be picked for the test which begins on June 25.

UbiSoft let us know that the latest and greatest Raven Shield patch v1.3 is on its way out the door! The powers that be also told us that we can except to see it tomorrow morning. So what exactly does the patch do, you ask? Well for starters :

• Much improved framerate during firefights
• A new "Ban" multiplayer system linked to individual user CD Keys
• Full ASE support
• And of course, the usual batch of bug fixes, etc...
• 
  
  This is just the tip of the iceberg. We'll have the release notes available shortly so stay tuned! In a related note, it also came to our attention that Ubisoft and Even Balance have reached an agreement to integrate Punkbuster into Raven Shield. Both teams are hard at work to ensure that cheats and hacks will become a thing of the past. The patch will be available in the next few weeks, and we will keep you posted ...

MicroSoft/Big Huge Games have released a new patch for their recently released RTS game Rise Of Nations. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.02 and improves various multiplayer issues, but also a Conquer the World crash, auto-patch system support, and more. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

EA has just released yet another new patch for Total Club Manager 2003. This upgrade brings your retail copy to v1.3 and adds a few new stadiums, some new league's and a few other things. Please note this patch is ONLY for the English version, a German update is also available for their "Fussball Manager edition, upgrading it to v1.2. Read more for links where to download this puppies!

News seems to be pretty slow today, but it's Friday.. Anyway Capcom has updated its game released date schedule today, and here it is (thanks GameSpyDaily)!

• 06-17-03 Resident Evil Dead Aim (PS2)
• 06-17-03 Mega Man Network Transmission (GCN)
• 06-24-03 Mega Man Battle Network 3 (White) (GBA)
• 06-24-03 Mega Man Battle Network 3 (Blue) (GBA)
• 08-05-03 Chaos Legion (PS2)
• 08-05-03 Dino Crisis 3 (Xbox)
• 08-05-03 Pro Cast Sports Fishing (Xbox)
• 08-26-03 Group S Challenge (Xbox)
• 09-09-03 P.N.03 (GCN)
• 09-30-03 Viewtiful Joe (GCN)
• 10-07-03 Mega Man X7 (PS2)
• 10-07-03 Maximo vs Army of Zin (PS2)
• 10-07-03 Mega Man Zero 2 (GBA)

Devastation is a high-action, teamplay-oriented, first person game powered by heavily modified Unreal Engine technology. Set in the very near future, dozens of unique characters are pit against each other in urban combat spanning several devastated locales. Devastation focuses on intense multiplayer action with an equally satisfying single-player experience. Ascaron has released a new patch for the european version of Devastation bringing your retail game to v381. This upgrade adresses sound changes for weapons, stability fixes for multiplayer, tweaks to the Territories gametype, a new server browser interface, and tons of other improvements that will make the game smoother and better. Read more for details and download links ...

After we had a leaked version, EA has now finally released the official v1.4 update patch for BattleField 1942. This upgrade includes two new rifles replacing earlier versions, some gameplay tweaks, graphical enhancements, networking improvements, bug fixes etc. The update comes in two flavors, one from the last v1.31 update or the full (and much larger) version. Read more for details and download links ...

Yesterday there was, initally, the story that Half-Life 2 was not coming to xbox, then GameSpy got the confirmation from Valve that it WAS scheduled. Now GameSpy has talked to Microsoft Xbox Group product manager David Hufford that it is coming and explaining how the confusion about the fate of the Xbox version of HL2 came into existence in the first place. Check out the soap story!

Anarchy Entertainment can't seem to make up their minds about what to call Deep Sea Tycoon, switching between Atlantis Underwater Tycoon, Aquazots, and for now settled on DST. Either way, they have released an updated demo allowing you to check out four tutorials, a sandbox level set in the Atlantic Ocean, and three single levels in their underwater 3D strategy game. DST is already available in US, and will be availavble in most European countries next month (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

Purge players become members of the Order and the Chosen, with each side seeking elimination of the enemy and individual party survival. Players receive rewards as they win battles and complete objectives throughout gameplay. In addition, Purge offers several map options, innovative weaponry and extensive player customization to enhance the online war experience. Today we have some new information about the upcoming Purge patch (due in about 2 weeks) which will introduce a new map called Cargo Depot, as well as a few other fixes/tweaks. Read more to check out the first available screens ...

Majorem Ltd., developers of Ballerium - the Massive multiplayer strategy game, announce today the opening of the third and last round of Beta-0, that will take place in the next few days. This round will be shorter than the previous ones, and will include only a couple of takes during this week. About 10 to 15 additional testers will be selected to participate in this round which will be followed by a server update, and a new beta Phase, Beta-1. The next phase will require many more testers and therefore those who wish to participate are hereby invited to register at www.Ballerium.com.

Another part of the PlayStation 3 jigsaw puzzle slotted into place today, as Sony announced a partnership with Elpida Memory to supply the Rambus-based memory technology for the console. Japanese firm Elpida is a subsidiary of NEC and Hitachi, and specialises (as the name suggests) in various RAM technologies. The chips it will be supply for Sony are based on the Rambus Yellowstone technology.

Sinister Systems and Arxel Tribe have released yet another patch for their third-person role-playing adventure Mistmare, bringing your retail game to v1.6. This upgrade allows you to swich between 3 game resolutions, fixes crashes and slowdown. Read more for detailed fix list and download link.

In Vietcong you will lead as many as six expertly trained soldiers through 20 dramatic missions, and follow a storyline that captures the danger, fear and unpredictability of the war itself. The full-featured multiplayer mode also allows gamers to play as U.S. Special Forces or Vietcong soldiers and to battle over specially designed levels. Illusion Softworks has released the new Vietcong update patch, bringing your retail game to v1.2. This upgrade adresses new anti-cheat measures, a slew of multiplayer improvements, fixes and tweaks. Read more for details and download links ...

An updated playable demo for Will Rock is now available, and contains a single-player level called The Tholos Temple as well as a multiplayer map called The Rotunda. You MUST have DX 9 installed and your video card MUST support hardware transform and lighting (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for details and download links ...

Microsoft has released the first update patch for Digital Anvil's 3D space combat bringing your retail game to v1.1. This upgrade is primarily a server update addressing server stability and cheating. There are some client side fixes, the most important being a multiplayer ID generation issue. There is really no need to install the update unless you are running a server or are unable to play multiplayer because you can't get an ID. Read more for download links ...

THQ today announced that it will publish LEGO Interactive titles for the Game Boy Advance worldwide. THQ will be developing and publishing titles based on the LEGO universe, including Drome Racers and Bionicle. Drome Racers, the first title under the multi-title exclusive publishing agreement, is scheduled to ship later this month.

Mythic Entertainment, developer and publisher of Dark Age of Camelot, has joined forces with iGames, an association of game centers which works on behalf of independent and franchised game centers to organize promotions and to bring games and hardware into local enters. The two companies plan to collaborate on a series of online events to be held at iGames' member locations.

'Blupimania 2' is a real brain-crusher. In this original puzzle game, you have to solve different kinds of puzzles. Some are easy, but don't be fooled, some are really hard. Blupi, the little round yellow fellow climbs onto a really high tower. Each floor is a game level with a puzzle that has to be solved. You must help Blupi find his balloon. As soon as he grabs it he flies up to the next floor, where a new puzzle is waiting... Check out the demo, letting you check out 16 of 80 puzzles in the final product. Read more for download links ...

CDV sent out word that they have a released a new (UK, French & German)) patch for Battlefront's strategy title Combat Mission 2. The update brings your retail game to v1.03 and brings several game tweaks such as "Russian blunt-nose APBC ammo is reduced in effectiveness versus homogenous armor (e.g. Tiger, late StuG III) but increased versus face-hardened armor (some Pz IV, early/mid StuG III)." Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

UPDATE : We now also have the US v1.03 patch available!

TDK Mediactive announced today that "Shrek Super Party" has shipped for the GameCube. Along with the two versions which were released late last year for the PS2 and the Xbox, the party genre title is now available on all three major console platforms at retail outlets throughout North America.

Sony Online send word that a lot of great things are going on with PlanetSide and that they are very close to adding the first new features to the game, additional vehicles. Read more to check out the latest producer letter expressing our ongoing dedication to PlanetSide as well as descriptions of our first two new vehicles coming in the next few weeks.

Take 2 has released the first patch for their recently released RTS/Simulation game by Pop Top Software, Tropico 2: Pirate Cove. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.02 and adresses a few game crashes, adds a few new features and the usual lot. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Already available through the auto-updater earlier, Blizzard has released a new patch for its 3D RTS Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.6 and adresses balance issues for several characters, weapons, items, structures, and plenty more. Replays are incompatible between v1.05 and v1.06. Read more for a detailed fixl ist and download links ...

Will Wright, creator of video game sensation "The Sims," has signed a first-look development deal with Fox Broadcasting Co. "It could be a sitcom or something completely different," said Mike Darnell, Fox executive VP alternative programming and specials. "This deal's not about taking a game and turning it into a TV show; it's about creating new entertainment franchises."