Can you save the world from the ICEWorm microchip? You are special agent Ethan Hunt — back to battle international espionage as the fate of the free world hangs in the balance! A microchip nicknamed ICEWorm is disabling the security systems of the world’s largest organizations, and providing free access to the highest bidder. Your mission – should you choose to accept it – is to destroy the chip and prevent its creators from bringing the free world to its knees.

When Max Payne debuted in July 2001 as an award-winning, best-selling PC game, it revolutionized the action genre with its cinematic combat sequences fueled by the groundbreaking use of slow motion and compulsive narrative-driven gameplay. Now, Remedy is working closely with Rockstar Games on the highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster hit. Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne delivers the most intense gameplay experience imaginable.

EA SPORTS has released the FIFA 2004 Creation Centre giving you the chance to create new players, edit all attributes, change formations and export it all for later use (thanks FIFA 2004 Online). Read more details & for download links.

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 :

• Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow - Trailer
• The Suffering - Trailer
• Psychotoxic - Trailer
• Realms Of Torment - Trailer
• Bloodrayne 2 - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

DreamCatcher Games is today requesting that Painkiller fans steer clear of the latest multi-player builds that have appeared on various fan and download sites, as the releases are NOT official demo releases and are intended for press evaluation purposes only. The company is encouraging fans of the game to wait until early February for the official single-player demo release. This leaked build contains just a glimpse of the multi-player maps planned and lacks the depth, weapons, levels and A.I. sophistication that will be present in the official demo.

Developed by Related Designs (previously known for America & the upcoming No Man's Land), Castle Strike is a fast paced RTS game with a very detailed and authentic presentation of medieval Germany, England and France. Although strategically demanding, its core is based on action. That's why all the time consuming handling of resources and civilians is reduced to a minimum with the help of a special, never before seen peasant management system and lots of automatic functions. Castle Strike is scheduled for Q4 2003, in the meantime check these new screens ...

Fenimore Fillmore: The Westerner is one of the most ambitious projects of the present videogame scene in Spain. This entertaining graphic adventure, produced by Planeta DeAgostini Interactive, relies on the long experience of the game developer Revistronic. This programming group from Madrid has released several titles which have had repercussion on the international market. Its members' professional experience dates from the 8-bit-computer times.

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...

GMX Media today announced that it has secured UK rights to publish The PC title – Battle Mages. ”Battle Mages promises to be a fantastic title, we look forward to releasing it in the UK.” Commented Barry Leonard COO of GMX Media. "Buka Entertainment is proud of one of The Entente and believes that GMX Media will present it to the UK audience in the best way", said Maxim Mikhalev, Buka's Vice-President International. Read more for details & screens ...

Ubisoft today announced that Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3 will be released for the PlayStation2 in March 2004. Developed by Ubisoft's Shanghai studio, the game offers the most thrilling and realistic single- and multi-player counter-terrorist experience available anywhere. Read more for details & 20+ screens ...

Empire Deluxe Enhanced Edition (a.k.a. EDEE) will be version 4.0 in the continued evolution of the classic abstract turn-based strategy games of the Empire Series which has been popular for almost three decades. In Empire Series the basic objective of Empire Deluxe is global domination on a strategic scale. Read more for details ...

Unleashing the horror throughout nine levels, The Suffering features dynamic lighting that illuminates frightening visions of horror-filled exploration and frantic combat sequences. In the dark world of The Suffering, creatures attack from the shadows and emerge from jail cells, chambers, the ground and trees, surprising the player in the most disturbing ways possible. As Torque, the main character, players encounter a cast of uniquely hardened criminals, prison guards and grotesque apparitions.

The sequel to the critically acclaimed RPG, Gothic, Gothic II takes you on an even greater journey of adventure and discovery. The plot continues from the cliff-hanger of the original: After the imprisoned colony members are victorious, collapsing the magical barrier, the former Prison Colony is struck by a terrible earthquake, claiming the lives of many. The majority of survivors seize this opportunity to escape with only a handful of people remaining in the derelict prison.

The King Of Fighters 2000 and 2001 will boast numerous upgrades and additions exclusively for the PS2, including "Memory Mode," which will give players access to opening movie demos from previous KOF games. Additionally, brand new Strikers, never before seen in the arcade or on any home system, will join the KOF battle on the PlayStation2. The King Of Fighters 2001 will feature original 3D stages and an additional game mode, "Party Mode," where randomly generated computer opponents appear one after another to compete against the player character in matches with limited life energy and match times.

Diversions Entertainment has issued the first patch for their 3D fighting/action game One Must Fall: Battlegrounds. This upgrade brings your retail game to v2097, no details as to what it fixes are available. Read more for download links ...

Guild Wars takes place in a fantasy world, where guilds of characters of a wide range of professions can make a mark on history. The reason we chose the fantasy realm is that we wanted a place that was instantly familiar to gamers, and also one that offers us near-limitless opportunities for new and exciting types of friends and foes. Like the evolving worlds of Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo that we helped to build over the years, we’re creating a new place that we believe you’ll want to visit over and over. Check some new screens ...

In this gritty and darkly humorous 3rd person action adventure, players join the courageous Brotherhood of Steel, whose mission is to maintain peace in the grim post-nuclear world of Fallout. Challenged by hordes of ghouls, mutants and other radioactive nightmares, players utilize a combination of intense combat strategies including melee, ranged weapons and explosives to fulfill their daunting task of defeating the mutant army in hopes of restoring humanity in a nearly unlivable universe. Welcome to the wasteland.

XIII features a conspiracy of epic proportions, and players will unravel clues behind the story’s compelling and mysterious events. XIII includes themes of amnesia, in which players must uncover sinister plots against themselves, the U.S. government, and even the president himself. The only clues players have are the roman numerals XIII tattooed on their shoulder and a key to a safe deposit box in a New York bank.

Interplay Entertainment Corp. and Vivendi Universal Games announced today that the highly anticipated "Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II has gone gold and will ship to retail on January 20, 2004. The game will be distributed by VU Games in North America and Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan).

Data Becker has released a German demo for Related Designs' fast paced medieval RTS game Castle Strike featuring a turorial and a single mission. Although strategically demanding, its core is based on action. That's why all the time consuming handling of resources and civilians is reduced to a minimum with the help of a special, never before seen peasant management system and lots of automatic functions. Castle Strike is scheduled for Q4 2003 (thanks Giga/(Gengamers)). Read more for download links ...

This mission-based 3D adventure will allow the player to be placed in the role of a brave firefighter, who will have to hone their abilities and battle through dozens of intense, highly detailed and involving missions which will put their skills to the ultimate test. Game play in Firefighter 259 will take place in a highly-detailed 3D environment using Criterion’s Renderware technology, and although still under development, initial game concepts include over 10 massive mission environments such as a factory and an office complex, as well as the inclusion of various firefighting instruments such as hoses, wet and dry extinguishers, gas masks, ladders, and more (thanks 3DGamers).

Further extending its already deep ties within the entertainment community, Atari, Inc. today unveiled another "convergence first" between Hollywood and the interactive entertainment company. Atari announced that it has retained Ridley Scott Associates (RSA) - the commercial production company owned and run by legendary filmmakers Ridley and Tony Scott - to produce an original three-minute live-action film inspired by Atari's highly anticipated upcoming game, DRIV3R. The film short, which is the first of its kind in the video game industry, is titled "Run The Gauntlet" and will be the core component of both the DRIV3R web site, www.DRIV3R.com, and an extensive marketing and advertising campaign for DRIV3R being launched globally by Atari, beginning in late January.

Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu will stay true to the Batman franchise with intense action-packed gameplay and challenging villains. Featuring favorite super heroes from the Batman universe including Robin, Nightwing and Batgirl, the game also includes a brand new enemy unlike any Batman has ever battled, Sin Tzu, and three villains never before seen in the Batman video game world: Clayface, Scarecrow and Bane.

“Alias” is a third-person action adventure video game that allows players to step into the role of the series’ lead character, Sydney Bristow, an agent for the CIA. Bristow must use her cunning, extensive knowledge of martial arts and array of high-tech gadgetry to accomplish dangerous missions. “Alias” will encompass all of the key elements behind the series’ success, including high-action combat, stealth missions and time-based objectives, espionage, intriguing plot twists, high-tech weaponry and stunning gameplay locations that span the globe. Read more for a massive load of butt-kicking screens ...

For the first time in the series' history, Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3 uses licensed Japanese, North American and European car manufacturers. Players will be able to get behind the wheel of over 15 different car manufacture models. The game also benefits from a massive upgrade from previous games in the series. The upgrade includes the driving physics engine, graphical effects and editors, driving conditions and courses, vehicle tuning options and rival characters.