'Phase: Exodus' (developed by Horns & Hoofs) is an RPG title with a strong strategy element. The action there will take place at the territory of Western Syberia, near Baikal lake - at the near future. The post-apocalyptic setting has to take us in the middle of the conflict between groups of people, which were separated when the great catastrophe took place. Read more for details ...

Sammy Studios, Inc. today announced that it has shipped Lethal Skies II to retail outlets in North America. Exclusive to Sony PS2, the sequel in the arcade-style jet combat series is a fast-paced, explosive action game that combines realistic graphics and settings with a science fiction premise. The title brings players seven brand-new jet fighters, giving them 19 playable modern-day and experimental “black ops” planes, and puts them in the midst of an epic war to fight through 20 missions to destroy a vicious new enemy. Lethal Skies II is rated T for Teen and will debut at $39.99. Read more for some new screens ...

Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars appeals to both RTS and RPG players searching for a new experience in already known genres. The multiplayer provides new strategic gameplay tuned towards the traditional RTS players. It is easy to start playing the game but there are a lot of new options to explore. 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. Read more for the first screens ...

Midway Games Inc. announced today that noted producer and composer Chris Vrenna will score the music for Area 51, the ultimate “sci-fi meets government cover-up” first-person shooter. Area 51 is scheduled to ship in 2004 for the PlayStation2 and the Xbox. Read more for details ...

S2 Games and iGames Publishing today announced that Savage: The Battle for Newerth has shipped to retail stores nationwide. The much anticipated real-time strategy shooter has had the gaming industry buzzing since its unveiling at this year’s E3. Savage is considered by many to be the first title to seamlessly meld two separate game genres, real-time strategy and first-person shooter, into one game. Savage has an MSRP of $49.99 and has been rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.

One of the greatest fighting game franchises of all time will finally come to next generation gaming platforms in the US, as SNK NeoGeo USA Consumer Corp., the recently launched US publishing arm of the SNK Neogeo Corp., announced today that they will publish The King Of Fighters 2000 and The King Of Fighters 2001 in a special combination pack exclusively for the PS2. The King Of Fighters combo pack will be available at the end of November for a special suggested retail price of $39.99.

Sony Online Entertainment announced today that EverQuest: Lost Dungeons of Norrath, a new expansion for the incredibly popular PC MMORPG, EverQuest, is available on retail shelves today. THQ and Buena Vista a publishing label of Buena Vista Games today announced that Power Rangers Ninja Storm for Game Boy Advance and PC has shipped to retail.

As expected & announced Ubisoft has now released the new patch for their FPS/Stealth action game Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.41. We have the US/UK and German versions of the patch available as well as a v1.4 dedicated win32 server (update & full), as well as client and serverside punkbuster updates. Read more for details and download links ...

Electronic Arts announced today that reigning NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart will be the official cover athlete for NASCAR Thunder 2004 from EA SPORTS. Tony's likeness will appear on all NASCAR Thunder 2004 packaging and merchandising. Read more for details ...

Kemco has unleashed the official web site for Rogue Ops today. The game’s new Web site is not only loaded with extensive detail on missions, gear and in-depth background information on femme fatal Nikki Connors, but promises to unmask special gameplay features every two weeks leading up to the game’s release. The stealth-based, action-adventure phenomenon will be available this November on the PlayStation2, GameCube and the Xbox.

Capcom today announced the release of P.N.03, a bold approach to the action genre for the GameCube. Set within futuristic sci-fi environments, players clash with complex enemy robots and mechs in a mercenary operation to rid a colonial planet of a menace that has turned the region into a killing field. Take control of Vanessa Z. Schneider and lead her though a series of intense missions to disarm the formidable threat, causing mech carnage as she pursues the truth utilizing nothing but her laser wielding hands. P.N.03 is rated “T” for teen audiences by the ESRB.

Leading video games publisher, Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that 'Soulcalibur II', the sequel to one of the most revered weapons-based fighter video games of all-time, shipped over 1.6 million units on its first day, the largest day one release in the history of Namco’s U.S. division.

Vivendi Universal Games announced today that Hunter: The Reckoning Wayward for the PS2 has shipped to retail. This fast-paced hack n' slash game marks the introduction of the gothic fantasy world of Hunter: The Reckoning based on White Wolf's pen and paper RPG, to the platform. With one of five playable Hunters, gamers will battle hordes of monsters with an arsenal of deadly weapons. High Voltage Software has developed several features that provide Hunter: The Reckoning Wayward a unique game-play experience from previous games from the franchise, including a Hub based portal system and two-player cooperative mode.

Publishing pioneer Play It challenges you to a Deathmatch in its high-energy vehicle combat game Motorsiege: Warriors of Primetime. Presented as a non-stop action televised sports show, players are challenged to compete for fame and fortune as they go head-to head in the Motorsiege Arenas. Confront your hostiles hell-bent on your destruction with futuristic high-tech vehicles armed with a barrage of cannons, lasers, missiles, mines and other explosive goodies in this highly charged, intense battle of wills, wits and weapons. Read more for a batch of screens ...

PC gamers can now embark on an interactive journey into the terrifying world of the occult, as Majesco announces the release of BloodRayne for the personal computer. Manufactured and distributed by Vivendi Universal Games, the popular action-thriller is now available for a suggested retail price of $19.99.

Broadening the reach of its portfolio of brands throughout the world, Acclaim Entertainment today announced that it has formed a new publishing label, Acclaim Connected, that is dedicated to developing and licensing interactive entertainment content for global mobile gaming platforms. In July of 2003, the Company commenced its entry into the mobile gaming market with the announcement of an exclusive agreement with Vodafone Live!, offering video game content based on Acclaim's forthcoming console release, Freestyle Street Soccer, in Vodafone countries. Acclaim Connected has since expanded its mobile gaming offerings in the European market by partnering with German mobile provider O2 to create a unique video game based on its console release of XGRA: Extreme-G Racing Association.

You are Glitch, the gun-slinging, half-ton menacing bot of Droid City who blasts his way to victory. Found as scrap metal, but transformed into destructive machinery, Glitch is determined to free his people from the evil clutches of General Corrosive and his maniacal army of Mil bots. Unleash a world of pain as you annihilate the General's sinister plan to dominate the world, and salvage the robot race. Read more for some new console screens ...

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that cumulative worldwide shipment of its PlayStation2 computer entertainment system reached 60 million units on September 6, 2003 (Figures that Microsoft and Nintendo can only dream of). Since its launch in Japan on March 4, 2000, sales of PlayStation 2 have grown rapidly around the world and it continues to gain worldwide popularity while reaffirming its position as the standard entertainment platform in homes. With year-end/New Year holiday season approaching, SCEI will further increase hardware production to meet active demands.

The Online Games company announced the launch of their new look website for leading OGC game 'Legends Of Terris'.

"Its a big change stylistically " says OGC founder, Paul Barnett "But its representative of the game. We're coming up to ten years as an MMOG, and our gameworld has changed massively. The move away from traditional fantasy imagery is a natural progression"

Our friends over at Gamestar got word that TDK is planning on releasing a playable demo for their upcoming racing game 'Mercedes Benz World Racing'. The demo will feature 4 cars (G500, SLK 230 Compressor, 300 SL and A 190 Twin) and the Alpine scenario. It will also feature 2 tracks and 2 missions, weighing in at a mere 62mb. Of course we will have this puppy on our fileservers as soon as its available!

Scheduled for release in early October, this stand-alone expansion to last year's American Conquest adds the standard new nations, units, and campaigns to the mix, along with a brand new mode of play. We take a look at an advanced beta build of the game to see how things are coming along...

Blending frenetic fast-paced 3D action with deep RPG elements that allow gamers to upgrade weapons, magic and character attributes, in addition to managing an inventory of special items, “Otogi – Myth of Demons” delivers more than 25 massive, highly-destructible environments to explore and decimate. Trees, walls, furniture and even entire buildings can be destroyed as gamers master dozens of special moves and techniques that make for the most intense, stylish combat available on Xbox.

Earlier today we attended a UbiSoft press event for Beyond Good & Evil and apart from getting some hands on time with the upcoming action/adventure title the people at Ubisoft also announced that they would be officially changing names from UbiSoft Entertainment to UbiSoft, as well as changing their logo. Read more for a little Q&A on the matter...

Purge returns to its roots. Based on FvF Jihad, Freeform Interactive announces the Purge Jihad Expansion Pack. One of the most player requested features since the beginning, Purge Jihad reintroduces to gameplay the concepts of an alignment Deity, Altar, and Mass Blesses. Purge Jihad also makes large improvements over its predecessor by adding another original new concept: a Prayer System. With the release of Purge Jihad, Purge support will be discontinued. Purge Jihad is a free upgrade for current retail Purge owners. The full Purge Jihad game will also be available.