Icculus has released the first beta for the Devastation Linux client. This release requires a full Win32 install of the game patched to v381 (coming soon) as well as a valid CD key, but does not yet include an installer, and testing feedback is invited. (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for details and download links ...

Set in the Star Trek: The Next Generation universe, Star Trek Elite Force II allows players to break out of the confines of ship bulkheads and spacestation corridors to explore all new locations including alien worlds and zero-g environments. New and more powerful weapons will be at the player’s disposal and branching levels offer a more varied gameplay experience. Ritual has released a trailer showing off various game sequences within Star Trek Elite Force II. Read more for download links ...

Factornews seems to have gotten their hands on some information regarding various Unreal titles. According to some E3 booth schedule Unreal Tournament 2004 will indeed be shown at E3, as well as an Unreal 2 Xbox version and Unreal Assault (formerly known as Reloaded) for the PS2. The Unreal 2004 title is scheduled for the second half of this year (thanks VE3D). I guess we'll find out more at E3...

In Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer, players experience an all-out adrenaline rush as they drop down huge wave faces, pull into barreling tube rides and pull off hundreds of massive trick combinations and signature pro moves. Players choose their own path as they interact with famous surfers, sponsors, magazines and photographers. Exotic real world locations and events including full beach environments with real landmarks and hazards lend authenticity to the game. Read more for details ...

Eidos Interactive today announced its groundbreaking console and PC game line-up for the upcoming 2003 Electronics Entertainment Expo held May 14-16 in Los Angeles, California. Eidos will feature several games in South Hall booth #824 this year including Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness for the PS2 and PC; Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This at Home for the PS2 and Xbox; Deus Ex: Invisible War for Xbox and PC; Commandos 3: Destination Berlin for the PC; and Republic: The Revolution for the PC. Read more for detials ...

Unreal 2 is an intense gaming experience that immerses players in an epic story-driven adventure featuring superb graphics. As a Terran Colonial Authority Marshall, you’re patrolling a sector of the frontier with three crew members when an interstellar war erupts about you! Rumors of powerful and ancient alien artifacts have driven rival factions to war in an attempt to find and control the objects. You must locate these artifacts, determine their purpose and restore order to the sector - before it’s too late. Legend Entertainment has finally released a playable demo of Unreal 2: The Awakening. No specific details as to what it contains are available reight now. Read more for download links ...

Cabela's Off-Road Challenge 3 puts players behind the wheel of one of 12 off-road vehicles to explore 16 levels through five unique terrains, from the scorching deserts of Death Valley to the snow-capped peaks of Frozen Cliffs. Activision Value has released an add-on which includes many improvements, new features, technical changes and some minor fixes which altogether add for a more challenging and longer gameplay experience. Read more for download links ...

Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon is a skillfully-woven global adventure and a landmark in interactive story-telling. George and Nico return in this epic adventure as they fight through the steaming jungles of Congo, eerie castles in Prague, the chic back-streets of Paris and the historic village of Glastonbury – amongst many other locations - to unravel the secrets of the Sleeping Dragon and save mankind from the threat of a global catastrophe. Read more to check out 20+ new screens.

Michael Vick, the All-Pro quarterback from the Atlanta Falcons and one of the most electrifying and exciting players in the NFL, has reached an agreement with Electronic Arts Inc., the world's leading interactive entertainment software company, to be the EA SPORTS cover athlete and spokesman for Madden NFL 2004. Read more for details and screens ...

The 2003 version of this game includes many innovations: exclusive new animations with no more latency in controls, super realistic courtside details like ball boys, showtime match presentations, experience points to increase your player's skills, bonus courts and players etc. And of course, for even more realism, you will find the official courts of Roland Garros and US Open as well as real life tennis stars. NGT: the true ace of tennis games.

Breed is a cutting-edge science-fiction shoot'em-up, which skilfully blends addictive, accessible, free-roaming gameplay with cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technology to expand not only the gameplay potential, but also the player's perceived freedom within the game world. (thanks VE3D). Read more for download links ...

Acting as an elite soldier, players of “Vietcong” command the A-team, part of the U.S. Special Forces, in realistically represented Vietnamese environments. Players 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. This new single player demo features the "Crash In The Jungle" mission. After your huey goes down, you and your five-man squad need to make your way through the jungle to rescue another team. Read more for download links ...

Starting with nothing except some cash and a passion for food, build your restaurant from the ground up. Hire waiters, decorate your restaurant and even cook the meals! Buy, build, outsell and out-price the competition. Enlight Software has just released a new patch for their restaurant sim bringing your retail copy to v1.14 (it comes in US and UK versions). The upgrade mainly seems to adress issues already listed in last patch. Read more for detailed list and download links ...

Gamesindustry.biz let us know that it's been confirmed that an Xbox version of Half-Life 2 is in development, with Valve's Doug Lombardi telling German Xbox magazine AreaXbox that the console port is underway.

"Yes, we're also working on an Xbox version, though not releasing any specific details on that until after E3," says Mr Lombardi.

This doesn't rule out versions on other consoles - it seems unlikely that AreaXbox would have asked about PS2 or GameCube versions - but given the difficulty of porting the title to those platforms, we'd suspect that the Xbox will be the only console to see Half-Life 2.

Digital Leisure announced today the release of a remastered version of the American Laser Games' smash arcade hit Mad Dog 2: The Lost Gold. The race with the notorious outlaw Mad Dog McCree and his gang of henchmen to the lost Spanish treasure now features superior video quality and is compatible with the full range of Windows operating systems.

Atari announced today that Stuntman for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, will be relaunched as part of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's "Platinum" range this summer. To be eligible for the special collection, each game must be available at retail for more than nine months and boast sales in excess of 500,000 units.

The Xbox version of the popular PC multiplayer shooter will contain all the current content of the PC version plus all of the content of Counter-Strike: Condition Zero single player game. There will be some Xbox exclusive content as well, including at least five new multiplayer levels, two new weapons (the Syringe and Machete) and some graphical improvements including 24 bit textures and better lighting and particle effects.. Check out the first 12 screenshots of the Xbox version below!

A post on the official forum for World of Warcraft let us know that the beta is expected to begin sometime between August and October (thanks VE3D). Here is the full clip:

The beta is expected to begin sometime in Q3 (Sometime between August and October). It will be done in stages. That is all the information we have at this time, please watch the World of Warcraft site for any news.

Colin McRae Rally, one of the games market's most valuable and acclaimed motor sport franchises, returns this year as Codemasters confirms Colin McRae Rally 04, a PlayStation 2 and Xbox addition to the genre-leading 6 million-selling series. Due this November, Colin McRae Rally 04 will have players driving on the very edge of control as the series' sublime car handling combines with new championships, new single and multiplayer gaming modes, and unique car part testing challenges to win advanced technology for your car. Read more for details and screens ...

Go ahead and dive under the falling safe, jump into the high-speed blender and flail into the blazing fire - the man of burlap can handle it! Microsoft Game Studios announced today that "Voodoo Vince" for Xbox will careen onto the scene this Autumn. "Voodoo Vince" allows players to explore and fight as a tattered but unrelenting voodoo doll as he explores the depths of the Louisiana Bayou full of outrageous levels and over-the-top characters. "Voodoo Vince" is the only game where kicking your own butt leads to victory!

Update: Added a batch of 20 new screens ...

Titans of Steel: Warring Suns is set in the far future where 4 races are fighting for Galactic domination. It was not before long that none of the fighting races could afford high casualties. The distance being battled over was over hundreds of light years. In order to be able to have an effective fighting force a new way of waging wars was developed. Fighting forces are formed into battle squads and the main fighting units are Titan Attack Techs better know as Titan-ATs.

Building on the success of its award-winning arcade racing video game, Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. today shipped Burnout 2: Point of Impact - Developer's Cut exclusively for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft. Featuring exclusive content and bonus features, Burnout 2: Point of Impact - Developer's Cut includes 21 additional custom car skins, 15 additional crash junctions, a customizable soundtrack option, true 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound support and an online worldwide leaderboard functionality via Xbox Live.

THQ today announced that Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system will be added this spring to Sony Computer Entertainment America's "Greatest Hits" collection -- one of the first third-party titles based on a kids' license to be included. Developed by THQ's internal studio, Heavy Iron Studios, Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights originally launched in May 2002. The game is based on the classic Scooby-Doo! TV series and features its original characters and villains with the celebrity voice talent of Don Knotts, Tim Conway and Tim Curry. Beginning May 1, Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.99 at retail outlets nationwide as part of the "Greatest Hits" program.

Activision, Inc.'s Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven was the #1 selling video game for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system for the month of March, according to NPD TRSTS Data. Additionally, the game was the #4 selling PlayStation 2 video game in the U.K. for the month of March, according to the U.K. Chart Track Flash Report and the #5 selling PlayStation 2 video game in Germany, according to Media Control.