The Sims Online Play Test gives you the opportunity to play The Sims Online early, before it's released to the public! It also gives Maxis the ability to test and tune the game while real people -- Sims fans like you -- are playing. Find out more and sign up HERE!

Today we received some more information from Techland Software and their upcoming racing game Xpand Rally.. "The player sits behind the wheel of a tuned-up rally car, whose power reaching 800 ps, to race on the wilderness of the world. Winning races allows the player to buy enhanced parts, such as super nitro, v-tech chip and many more to make his car even more powerful". Check out full story below and included is one new screen!

Today we serve up a bunch of PS2 screens from Capcom and following titles: Devil May Cry 2, Clock Tower 3, Capcom Fighting All Stars and Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter. Njoy!

In the dark and atmospheric world of Archangel, players discover that Michael Travinsky, an innocent family man, has been tragically killed in a horrific car crash. However, the Lord of Light decides to resurrect Travinsky as he believes he has the potential to become a hero and save the world from a deadly evil that looms in the shape of vicious demons and ghosts. Their presence is growing yet humans continue their existence utterly oblivious to their impending doom. Today we serve up the demo so all you people can check it out! Njoy!

Gameguru Mania has a new Q&A with Massive Development Managing Director Alexander Jorias talking about their upcoming submersive shooter, AquaNox 2: Revelation. Action Vault has a new Q&A with Spellbound Studios' Jean-Marc Haessig talking about their upcoming strategy game, Robin Hood - The Legend of Sherwood. InGaming has a new Q&A with Reflexive's Ion Hardie talking about their upcoming medieval RPG, Lionheart. HomeLan Fed has a new Q&A with Chris Taylor from Black Label Games talking about upcoming multiplatform Tolkien novel based game, The Fellowship Of The Ring. GameSpyDaily has a Q&A with Tesseraction Games' President Kelly Asay talking about their upcoming naval combat MMORPG (and just gond gold single player part), The Enigma: Rising Tide.

PC.IGN.COM reports that Serious Sam 3, is apparently far into development and scheduled for release in 2003. Here is a clip:

The new game, Serious Sam 2, ironically now possibly referred to either factually or mistakenly by reps as Serious Sam 3, is apparently far into development and scheduled to hit in 2003, completely compatible with the Xbox's own Live multiplayer setup. Even fewer details are known of the PC version, but assumedly it is in concurrent development, since musings of that one have been around since well before the Second Encounter even hit.

Owners of IL-2 Sturmovik and the gaming community as a whole will warmly welcome the news of the add-on. Following its release last November, IL-2 Sturmovik set new standards of realism and gameplay and swept almost every gaming award on its way to become the most critically acclaimed flight simulation title for 2001. In addition to the new campaigns set on the Finnish and Hungarian fronts and new single and multiplayer missions, several new playable and AI controlled Russian, German and British aircraft will be featured in IL-2 Sturmovik: The Forgotten Battles. Check out the new screens ...

Larian has just put up the second patch (names Hotfix Nr2) on the official Divine Divinity websitel updating all English versions of Larian Studios' RPG (including the U.S. version) to v1.32. This patch addresses a few bugs and tweaks. Read more for detailed fix list and links where to grab this puppy. (thanks bluesnews).

Heading back into space to destroy an invading armada, Majesco, one of the fastest-growing publishers of interactive entertainment software, announces Iridion II for Game Boy Advance. The sequel to the original Iridion 3D, Iridion II maintains the intense graphic detail of its predecessor, while adding exciting new features.

Race, Battle, Reign Supreme! Ubi Soft Entertainment announced it has shipped Rayman Arena for all console platforms and the PC. The first ever action-intensive multi-player game in the Rayman franchise, Rayman Arena combines intense footracing action and gladiator style battles, featuring the cast and environments of the Rayman universe. Players are immersed in up to 30 different worlds while unleashing the power of nine playable Rayman characters in the quest to reign supreme.

'Outlaw Golf' will take golf fans through realistic and challenging simulations allowing players to spin, hook, slice and break with dexterity as they compete in tournaments, exhibitions and even play for money against outlaws and social outcasts including Doc Digler and Killer Miller, a 'released on a technicality' death row inmate. An original concept for a Golf game and it sounds like fun. But WAS it fun? Read more and find out!

'BloodRayne in the Bayou' Contest Kicks-Off; Offers Gamers Chance to Win a guided vampire tour with a Playmate! Majesco, one of the fastest growing publishers of interactive entertainment, today announced they have partnered with Playboy.com, one of the premier online lifestyle and entertainment destinations for men, to promote the Halloween release of Majesco's new action/horror video game, BloodRayne.

"Crashday puts the player in a world of stunts, dents and adrenalin. His task is to scrap his vehicle with breathtaking stunts or to wreck cars in aggressive street races, showing his opponents that they made a fatal mistake in choosing him as their enemy. The battle setting place in maps partly created by the player is sponsored by a crazy video shop owner who sells new vehicles, weapons and other upgrades from time to time." Today we scored a destructive kind of trailer showing off what the game is and will be all about. Read more for links where to grab it (thanks EvilAvatar).

Black Label Games, a studio of the Games division of Vivendi Universal Publishing, announced today that it has signed an agreement to license the interactive rights to Quentin Tarantino's ("Pulp Fiction," "Reservoir Dogs") upcoming Miramax film "Kill Bill."

VR1 Entertainment President Richard P. Wnuk announced today the company has joined with Jaleco USA, a publisher of entertainment software, to form the multi-platform software gaming publisher Jaleco Entertainment.

New Riders announced today that "Get in the Game! Careers in the Game Industry" by Marc Mencher, an informative guide to employment and careers in the game industry is hitting store shelves this week. The book will be distributed to major retailers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. announced today that its Gotham Games subsidiary has shipped Conflict: Desert Storm for the PlayStation2, the Microsoft Xbox and the PC. Licensed from SCi (SEG.L) and developed by UK based Pivotal Games, Conflict: Desert Storm is now available at stores in North America. This is the first product release from Gotham Games, a publishing label established by Take-Two earlier this year.

Electronic Arts today announced the release of The Sims Deluxe Edition, the definitive version of the top-selling PC game of all time, The Sims. The Sims Deluxe Edition combines the full version of The Sims, the best-selling Sims expansion pack The Sims Livin' Large, and exclusive new content including the all-new Sim customization tool: The Sims Creator. The Sims Deluxe Edition combines the full version The Sims with the first in the series of Sims expansion packs, The Sims Livin' Large. The Sims Livin' Large allows players to put their Sim families into zany situations and settings. Its content adds dozens of extreme items like a home chemistry lab, a heart shaped bed and a crystal ball as well a cast of wild characters like the Grim Reaper, the Genie and the Tragic Clown to the lives of The Sims.

Radica UK Ltd, the manufacturer of peripherals under the highly rated Gamester brand, is to launch an NXT based compact speaker system, the 'MINI WOOFER' for use with the Game Boy Advance. The MINI WOOFER was developed by Radica UK in conjunction with NXT's engineering teams in the UK and Hong Kong. Stylish and simple to use, it easily attaches to the Game Boy Advance and by using NXT's SurfaceSound™ technology, is able to create a unique audio experience from a flat speaker panel. This latest accessory is expected to prove a hit with gaming enthusiasts when it becomes available next month (October) from leading high street retailers including Comet, Argos, John Lewis and Game.

Cinemaware, Inc recently announced the release of two new entries into its Digitally Remastered series of classic remakes. Enhanced versions of the legendary Cinemaware titles, Wings and Lords of the Rising Sun, have now been produced.

Gearing up for what's sure to be the wildest BMX ride ever created for the next-generation video game systems, AKA Acclaim, a division of Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. today announced it has launched the official web site for its November release, BMX XXX. The first action sports video game designed specifically for today's mature gaming audience, BMX XXX is one of the most talked about titles for this holiday season. Combining outrageous Hollywood humour and characters, beautiful women from New York's famous Scores club and incredible arcade action, BMX XXX will deliver an unparalleled interactive entertainment experience.. Read more for full announcement, link and six new shots!

Under its license agreement with Warner Bros Consumer Products, Thrustmaster announces the launch of its range of video game console accessories based on Harry Potter's magical world. The products will be released from the end of September 2002, in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, prior to the highly anticipated second film - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

The greatest UK wrestlers will, for the first time ever, be immortalised as Acclaim Entertainment today announces the inclusion of legendary wrestlers Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Mick McManus and Kendo Nagasaki in Legends of Wrestling II. Out on all next-generation consoles in November, the UK greats join an already breathtaking cast of characters including Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner and Jerry "The King" Lawler.

Hitman 2’s storyline begins in a Sicilian monastery. Codename 47 has been attempting to distance himself from his violent past, however the local criminal underworld discover his true identity and blackmail him into returning to his trade. Caught in the middle of a ring of deception, Codename 47 soon discovers that he has been manipulated and the hunter must now watch his back, as he has become the hunted.. Check out some new screens below!

It’s the massively popular world of Baldur’s Gate as you have never seen it before. Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance is a revolutionary action adventure with an epic tale of intrigue, fierce alliances, explosive spell effects and highly detailed creatures and environments. Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance is a benchmark of technology and gameplay. 13 new screens for you to enjoy while waiting for the game to appear on the shelves .. Njoy!