These guys know how to rip up the tunes, and they think they know a thing or two about gaming. Your chance is coming to take them on first hand, talk trash, and hang with them on Xbox Live. Dustin, Teppei, Eddie, and Riley will be giving away free autographed copies of the new Thrice CD, The Artist in the Ambulance, to those they deem worthy—either by virtue of their gameplay, their trash-talking, or their merit as a member of the Xbox Live community. They’ll be playing Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Inside Pitch 2003, and other games to be announced later.

Atari, Inc. and Firaxis Games have announced a pre-sell program for Sid Meier's Civilization III: Conquests expansion pack. Beginning today, September 24th, Civ fans everywhere will receive a free, limited edition "Best of the Net" Bonus CD when they pre-order Sid Meier's Civilization III: Conquests at select retail outlets. Read more for details ...

Already revealed a while ago, Data Becker today officially announced its upcoming PC game Castle Strike. 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. Read more for details ...

Command an elite, multinational squad of special operatives against a hidden terrorist foe. In Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3, the third installment in the wildly popular Rainbow Six series, Team RAINBOW races against time to stop terror and unravel a mystery. In locations around the world, from London to the Cayman Islands to Rio de Janeiro, lead Team Rainbow in a desperate effort to battle a madman and foil his doomsday plot. Some new screens rushed in, read more to check them out!

It's Zero Hour and time to square off against the world's most powerful generals as Electronic Arts announced that Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour is available in stores under the EA GAMES brand. The first expansion pack to one of the best-selling PC games of 2003, Command & Conquer Generals, Zero Hour gives players more weapons, more power, new battlefields, three new single player campaigns, 15 new missions, and new game modes.

Clear a path to victory as Electronic Arts announced that Medal of Honor Allied Assault Breakthrough is now available for the PC. Published under the EA GAMES brand, the new expansion pack for the critically acclaimed hit title Medal of Honor Allied Assault takes players from combat with Rommel in North Africa to the heart of Italy in the struggle to breakthrough the fortified lines of the Third Reich.

Just in time for the biggest video game thrills of the fall, Nintendo of America Inc. today announced a new MSRP of $99.99 for its Nintendo GameCube, effective tomorrow, Sept. 25. This great new price opens an $80 price advantage over its two console competitors. While the price of GameCube hardware is falling, the variety and affordability of great software is soaring. Coupled with expansion of the GameCube library to more than 320 games by the end of the year, the new MSRP of $99.99 and added exclusive offers will further boost momentum for the console throughout the holidays.

History Channel’s Battle of Britain 1940, published by Activision Value, Inc. and developed by iEntertainment Network Inc., brings brand new functionality and features to the flight simulation game market with the new AUTO CO-PILOT feature that gives players auto takeoffs, auto landings, auto formation, and auto attack. AUTO CO-PILOT makes a real authentic flight simulation accessible to all gamers without ANY flight simulation experience! Read more for details ...

Continuing its successful partnership with Namco, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is delighted to announce the Quarter One release of I-Ninja exclusively for PlayStation2. Developed by Argonaut Games PLC, this exciting character-based action game follows "Ninja", an ultra cool ninja with extreme attitude, as he masters weapons and hones his skills in order to save his world. Read more for details and some new screens ...

The highly anticipated sequel to Project Gotham Racing hits European retail on 28th November. The newest version of the million unit selling "Project Gotham Racing" franchise, Project Gotham Racing 2 rewards drivers for focusing on speed and style while still taking risks around every corner, offering circuit-based racing through highly detailed, photo-realistic urban environments... Racers can choose from more than 50 of the hottest cars while learning their way around new and exciting cities, mastering corners, and accelerating through the straightaways before moving to a different venue. Players also can race against up to three friends at once through a multi-player System-Link or match up against players online utilising Xbox Live.

Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars appeals to both RTS and RPG players searching for a new experience in already known genres. Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars continues the traditions of the award winning Celtic Kings: Rage of War and will be exploring the three Punic wars between Rome and Carthage in the period 264BC – 146BC which includes the famous campaigns of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus. We sat down with Haemimont's Ivan-Assen Ivanov, asked a few questions of historic proportion, and snagged some screens to top it all off.

In True Crime: Streets of L.A., players assume the role of rogue Elite Operations Division (E.O.D.) operative Nick Kang, a no-holds-barred badass, whose brutal reputation and lethal skills have landed him the nasty task of taking down the Chinese Triad and Russian Mafia cartel that has turned the City of Angels into a war zone. Read more to check out a few new Gamecube screens!

Ubisoft today announced it entered an agreement with French producer Monte Cristo to publish Fame Academy for PlayStation2 and PC in the UK, tying in with the popular television program currently running on BBC One in the country. Read more for details & screens...

A new page in history has begun as the most highly-anticipated fighting game ever finally arrives! The greatest 3-D weapons-based fighter will provide non-stop action, excitement and surprises as you go one-on-one against your favorite challengers. Read more for the full review ...

Midway Sports announced it will kick-off a national sweepstakes that gives hockey fans a chance to win a 2004 Dodge Durango on December 10, 2003, among other prizes. Read more for details ...

Shacknews has gotten word from Valve's Doug Lombardi that the long rumoured delay of Half-Life 2. Doug's reply states" The previously announced September 30th release date for Half-Life 2 is being pushed back. We are currently targeting a holiday release, but do not have a specific "in-store" date to share at this time. We will release that information as soon as we have confirmed a new date." Not really a big surprise, especially with the flimsy Steam service, but still a rather big disappointment.

It is the year 2083. Ten months ago the first humans landed on Argilus. They found cities, towns, industrial installations - all deserted. Doors unlocked... meals unfinished... strange machinery still operational... but no people. Scientists were brought in, research bases set up. Four months later, your supply ship the Angel, has been sent to check these bases. But when you hail them from orbit, theres no answer. The scientists too, seem to have vanished. Another 70+ screens for your enjoyment!

EverQuest Online Adventures continues to roll out great new game enhancing features as part of their online subscription. In July, EQOA added in trade skills, enabling characters to craft a host of all new items, weapons and armor. Now, EverQuest Online Adventures features a new auction system that allows players to buy and sell wares and treasures with other players. Read more for details and 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 :

• Call Of Duty - (5) Trailer
• C&C: Generals - Trailer
• Nitro Family - Trailer
• Arx Fatalis [Xbox] - Trailer
• Crimson Skies [Xbox] - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Inspired by the world of online gaming phenomenon EverQuest, Lords of EverQuest features an enthralling storyline drawing gamers to the land of Antonica as they control one of 15 Lords and manage massive armies in their quest for domination. An updated Lords of EverQuest demo is now available, offering one map from the Shadow Realm faction (same content as before but fixing several unspecified technical issues). A second & 3rd demo will be released in the coming weeks, if you "collect" all 3, bonus material will unlock (thanks Gamespot). Read more for download links ...

The official countdown has begun. Namco is less than 6 weeks away from the release of kill.switch, the company's highly anticipated third-person shooter game for the PS2 and the Xbox. The game's release marks an important milestone for Namco Hometek Inc., as kill.switch is the largest internally developed project this season for the company. With an official release date scheduled for October 28, players are days away from learning the game's highly secretive storyline for the first time. Read more to check out some screen goodness ...

A 3D snooker simulation for the PC is currently in development, and Binary Zoo are offering you the chance to be featured as one of the spectators! The game features a range of different opponents to play against, one and two player game modes, multiplayer online option, fully customisable tournaments, practise mode, plus TV-style camera angles and action replays to capture all of the action.

It's time to shape up with the ultimate groove machine! Leading videogame publisher Konami of America, Inc. announced today that the newest and most exciting addition in the Dance Dance Revolution series, DDRMAX2 Dance Dance Revolution has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. Available for the PlayStation2, the game includes chart-topping songs by high-profile musical acts, such as Kylie Minogue, The Crystal Method, K.C. & The Sunshine Band and Dirty Vegas, as well as a wealth of new game modes and features that will have gamers dancing the night away.

Electronic Arts today announced that NHL 2004, the #1 selling Pro Hockey franchise, has shipped to retail under the EA SPORTS brand. The 12th installment of EA's legendary hockey franchise, NHL 2004 is now available for the PlayStation2, the Xbox, GameCube, and PC.