The Official BANDITS Forum is up and running like scalded goat in a lard filled sewer system! If you have any questions about the game, its development, its developers or any other BANDITS related wonderings, drop a post in the forum! GRIN staff will be around answering questions, commenting on gossip and helping you with tech-support when the game is out.

Global Star Software sends word that Age of Sail 2: Privateer's Bounty, has shipped. Word is: "This challenging real-time 3D naval combat simulator is the latest installment of the successful Age of Sail franchise, and Privateer's Bounty promises more action, more missions, more units and more fun than ever. Age of Sail 2: Privateer's Bounty will hit stores this week across North America at an estimated price of $29.99." Additionally, a demo version of the game has been released, and can be downloaded through Gigex, the file is 117.5 MB (thanks Blues).

Crave Entertainment has pushed back the release of 'Ultimate Fighting Championship: Tapout 2', 'H2O Overdrive' and 'The Lost'. The games are now slated for a Q1 2003 release. Crave stated that the delay is simply to give the developers of these games more time to add additional features and refine gameplay. Infogrames & Lost Toys sent out word today that 'Battle Engine Aquila', its sci-fi shooter for Xbox and PS2, has been slightly pushed back. Originally set for release during the holiday season, Battle Engine Aquila is now scheduled for January 2003.

Monolith, Fox and Sierra has released a great new playable teaser for the upcoming PC FPS - NOLF 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way. The teaser level is set in Akron, Ohio and sees our chick-in-charge, Cate Archer, battling ninjas while trying to avoid a rampaging tornado! Cate has come to Akron, Ohio, in search of clues relating to Project: Omega, an enigmatic Soviet plot that threatens to bring about World War III. When her mission takes a sudden turn for the unexpected, she finds herself in a trailer park with ninja assassins all around and a tornado closing in.Her only hope of escape is to defeat the ninjas and their mysterious leader, Isako, before she ends up somewhere over the rainbow or six feet underground. Get the teaser off FilePlanet HERE.

Electronic Arts just let us know that they have launched the official Web site for its upcoming game "Ty the Tasmanian Tiger". The site has a wealth of information, screenshots for the xbox/ngc and ps2 version, video clips and plenty more. Go check it out!

Today the official German Raven Shield website has been updated with a new 45 seconds gameplay footage video from the newest Rainbow Six game. Grab high res. 70MB here and medium 38MB here and low size 12MB here!

For those of you who downloaded the latest demo and can't find on-line servers any more, here's a small fix. To apply it, just replace the file data/net.cfg found in the Team Factor installation folder. Then you'll be able to play on-line again. And if you fear to do this "dirty stuff" with overwriting files in folders you didn't create, just use the latest Patch 1.06. Its only disadvantage is that it's slightly bigger. You can download the Team Factor Linux server software. Includes dedicated server option also for LAN (this option was not available in our default Win server software)

Ubi Soft today announced that Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder mission pack will hit store shelves in early November. In the tradition of its predecessor, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon--which won Game of the Year from PC Gamer and IGN PC and was the only DOUBLE PC Game of the Year Winner for 2001—Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Island Thunder is expected to blow PC gamers away with its realistic battlefield action. We got some more detailed game info, weapons list and some new artwork...

'Universal Commando' is a simulation RPG (Role Play Game) with free adoption to strategic tactics and the players point of view can be switched. It was originally introduced at the E3 held in U.S.A, 2002 and has aroused overseas interest as well as domestic for it is an epic that can evoke sympathy from the peoples living in civilized societies. The players can create a kingdom of imagination.

The waiting is almost over! 1503 A.D., the new masterpiece by Max Design and SUNFLOWERS will be released in October. The Games Convention will now provide the opportunity to discover this upcoming real-time strategy PC game. More about it!

Buka Entertainment, a front Russian leisure software publisher, is in hurry to inform its partners that at this year's ECTS its Vice-President International Sales and Marketing - Maxim Mikhalev will visit this exhibition instead arranging company's stand.

It’s been the subject of a host of films, but now you can witness the apocalypse and take part in the Vietnam conflict on your PC. Just Flight’s fantastic expansion pack comes with fourteen flyable aircraft, new scenery, the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier in exacting detail and two other airbases for FS2002. Read more for all new features and 11 - yes, 11! - screenshots. Clear the deck and get over the jungle!

The game is set in year 2010 where player's conscience is entrapped by an up-to-date virus-infected virtual reality-playing machine called FireStarter. The virus-caused failure resulted in computer changing the rules of the game - to break out of the trap, the player is to complete the game within 48 hours. Immerse in an unbelievable world, created by super-modern playing machine, where you are to make it a winner of the adrenaline-brimming action.... What would the week be without some new screens from GSC_World's Firestarter, so here they are, njoy!

PersistentWorldZ, creator of Z-Opolis, today announced that it has opened its Beta test to the public and invites new players to register at www.z-opolis.com to experience the first true massively multiplayer online community game (MMOCG) designed for younger players and teens. In limited Beta test since August 1st, Z-Opolis is the first non-violent, kid-friendly MMOG to be released in the U.S. Game play centers around positive interaction and community and Z-Opolis integrates a variety of unique technologies making it accessible anytime, anywhere through the game client, PC Internet, or wireless mobile devices.

Set during the Vietnam War, "Vietcong" is a first person shooter that also features tactical elements. As elite soldiers, players of "Vietcong" command an A-team, part of the U.S. Special Forces, in realistically represented Vietnamese environments. This is shaping up to be a VERY good looking title, check the 20 new screens

Harbinger is a single-player action / RPG set in a fantastic science fiction universe. As one of three distinct character types, players explore the world of Harbinger – journey to the far reaches of space, battle unique foes never before seen in any medium, discover powerful new weapons and alien technologies, and uncover the dark secrets buried within the massive starship’s steel walls. In human words think Diablo in a Starcraft environment! Check the screens! Njoy!

After we announced Acclaim's massive Turok campaign earlier today we now got several PS2/XBOX screens from Turok: Evolution - The Lost Land. Turok has gone gold a few days ago and should be out in stores shortly!

Sierra just informed us that the first patch for The Thing is already available for download upgrading your retail game to v1.1. No specific details apart from a vague 'contains several fixes for minor bugs' is available. Read more for links where to grab it ... If you have not yet read our killer review, check it HERE.

Straigth from the Nintendo Gamers Summit 2002 here in San Francisco we bring you some new and fresh screens from Infogrames Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee, Activisions Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 and ofcourse a Nintendo show wouldn't be complete without some Mario Part 4! Njoy...

Eidos Interactive, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software announces Frontline Attack: War over Europe (US title: World War II: Panzer Claws). Eidos has acquired the worldwide publishing rights to the game with the exception of Russia, Poland and South Korea. Produced by Zuxxez Entertainment AG, Germany and developed by In-Images, Poland, Frontline Attack: War over Europe will be released on PC in September. Noticed over at the German Eidos site that they have now a German demo available for download and a mirror is up at 3DGamers. Beware, this puppy is a whopping 320mb!!! This demo offers a tutorial and one mission playable as the Wehrmacht side.

Prepare to advance – the German gold master for the 'Cossacks: Back To War' is here! Following the worldwide success of Cossacks, 'Cossacks : Back to War' is a standalone add-on. It will be hitting German stores 20th September. It will only be a matter of time before it’s released in the rest of Europe. Stay tuned and watch your stores: Cossacks, Back to War!!!

The "scent of blood" is in the air, as Acclaim has unleashed its multimillion dollar integrated marketing campaign to drive the eagerly anticipated launch of Turok: Evolution across all next-generation systems on "Turok Bloody Sunday - 9-01-02." Led by a chilling national television commercial campaign, and highlighted by in-theater advertising with trailers that are running on more than 5,000 movie screens nationwide, Acclaim's campaign also includes print, radio and online advertising; product demos; innovative street team programs; consumer contests and extensive retail promotions. The campaign will generate more than 120 million targeted consumer impressions and continue throughout the 2002 holiday season.

IronStorm combines shoot’em-up, action and reflection.The player undertakes an infiltration mission and must possess combat skills as well as stealth if he is to survive as he penetrates behind enemy lines.Depending on the circumstances, the player can choose between first and third person views.The player must pass through 6 worlds in a Germany ripped apart by the front line: the Friedrich line (the Western front), the Anton Denikin line (the Russo-Mongol front), the “Tzar Ivan” armoured train, Wolfenburg (an enemy-occupied town), the Mad Baron’s heavy water factory and the Reichstag in Berlin. Check the sweet looking in-game action screens ...

Aces of World War I, the ultimate flight simulation meets action combat PC game, fully immerses gamers into the heat of World War I combat. Assuming the identity of Edward Rickenbacker, a great American ace, players are challenged to hold their ground against the most lethal German flyers of the Great War. Flying in one of six authentically rendered planes, players must successfully combat all of the opposing ground, air and sea German forces if they intend to win the war victoriously. We took one of our more modern planes all the way to Poland to have a chat with Lemon Interactive & Tatanka developers...

Majorem Ltd., a developer of massively multiplayer games and technology, and 7th Day Entertainment, a producer/publisher of innovative entertainment software, today officially announced an agreement that will see 7th Day Entertainment finance the development of Majorem's upcoming massively multiplayer real-time strategy game 'Ballerium'. The agreement will also see 7th Day Entertainment handle publishing and distribution of Ballerium in Taiwan. Check the screens!