Marking the end of five years of development including a nine-month, large-scale public beta test, There, Inc. today announced the broad consumer availability of its innovative online 3D world. There is the first online getaway that combines the power of chat with the fun and excitement of online games. Found at www.there.com, consumers can sign up now for a 14-day free trial -- no credit card required -- with an option to buy a There membership for as little as $4.95/month with a one time $19.95 activation fee. Read more for details ...

Empire Interactive today announces that a Collector's Edition of the hit PC title Ghost Master is now shipping. This Collector's Edition includes the original game, plus a host of extras (a DVD copy of Scary movie, amongst other things) that will send a shiver down your spine and grin to your face in time for Halloween. Read more for details ...

Encore today announced that it has begun shipping Pirate Hunter and Patrician III, life simulation games developed by Ascaron Entertainment. These two PC games offer a unique combination of trading and fighting, one on the high seas of the Caribbean, the other in the cities of Northern Europe during the Middle Ages. Both will begin reaching store shelves by the end of this week and will retail for approximately $30 and $40, respectively.

P.M. STUDIOS lets us know that they have launced the official website for Project Etrom. Etrom is an epic adventure among realms and cities, democracies and "nazi" dictatorships, a journey through space-time portals, among the Thrones of the Abyss, beyond the gates of the City of Light and many more locations, situations, rituals, secret-services plots, dark spells. Head on over there and check out the goodies!

Eudos has launched the official website for Ionstorms upcoming 3D action game Deus Ex: Invisible War. Deus Ex 2 allows players to participate in the telling of a powerful story, rich in mystery, lies and intrigue. In addition to a host of new conspiratorial friends and foes, players can expect encounters with a variety of characters from the original Deus Ex game. And, once again, players visit a variety of real world locations made more exotic by the passage of time. Approximately 20 years after the events depicted in Deus Ex, the world is only beginning to recover from a catastrophic worldwide depression brought on by technology run amok and a secret conspiratorial war. Read more for some new screens ...

CDV Software Entertainment announces that "Combat Mission 2: Barbarossa to Berlin" Special Edition for the PC is available in retail stores.

After the F1 Nurburgring disaster of 2025, the Extreme Gravity Racing Association, or XGRA, was set up as a regulatory governing body for all heavy gravity race events. The XGRA is the future sports equivalent of NASCAR or the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) – They are the rule makers, organizers and ultimately, the overlords of the racing world.

LucasArts sent out word that the official Secret Weapons Over Normandy web site has launched! The new site features a new Secret Weapons Over Normandy game trailer, the first wave of aircraft from the game, along with a look at the weapons and locations, wallpapers, screensavers and MP3s. Read up on exciting game features in the Game Info area, such as types of aircrafts, weapons and combat theaters! Infiltrate the site today!

Namco announced today the launch of the official Web site for I-Ninja, the popular new action adventure game scheduled for release on PS2, Xbox and GameCube in Q4 2003. The Web site provides a wealth of information, including the latest news, detailed game information, screenshots and a short movie of game play footage. The diehard I-Ninja follower will feast on the latest online toys, including wallpaper designs, instant message icons, message board avatars and a soon-unveiled desktop communicator. Additionally, an online message board allows I-Ninja fans to discuss the upcoming release and participate in “Sensei’s Dojo,” a forum dedicated to the creation of new Ninja principles.

Cauldron and JoWooD have released an additional map pack for Chaser, including 5 new multiplayer maps (CTF, DM, TDM). Chaser is set in the year 2044 with players taking the role of John Chaser who, at the beginning of the game, wakes up suffering from amnesia on board the spaceship HMS Majestic being pursued by a crack team of heavily armed shocktroop soldiers. The game then takes players into an apocalyptic future set on Earth and Mars. Read more for details and download links ...

Microids has launched the official website for Benoir Sokal's eagerly anticipated adventure game Syberia 2. The website features story details on Kate Walker's second adventure, some new/small screens and the usual tidbits. Syberia 2 can be expected in Spring 2004 and the website mentions a trailer & demo "coming soon". Head on over there to check all the goodies ...

The CIA is set to spend several million dollars to develop a video game aimed at helping its analysts think like terrorists, The Washington Times has learned. The agency's Counter Terrorist Center, or CTC, is working with the Los Angeles-based Institute for Creative Technologies on a project designed to help its analysts, "think outside the box," a CIA spokesman said. The project is close to approval, but officials wouldn't comment on the exact cost of the program.

Piggyback has again joined forces with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. This time piggyback will develop and publish the Jak II: Renegade official strategy guide for PlayStation 2 across Pal territories for simultaneous release with the game. The guide will be published in four separate language SKUs: English, German, French and Spanish.

Players return to the world of Aranna and start an all-new adventure in the Dungeon Siege expansion pack, an addition to the popular Dungeon Siege PC title. Players are drawn outside the original Kingdom of Ehb into the wilds of Aranna to solve an ancient mystery. Microsoft/Gas Powered Games have launched the official 'Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna' website featuring new screens (read more to check them out locally), game info & wallpapers. Head on over to the official 'Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna' website, or read more for some new screens ...

DreamCatcher Games today launched its dedicated Arx Fatalis Xbox site. After considerable success on the PC, Arx Fatalis on Xbox is the RPG that console gamers have been waiting for… and the new site lives up to the game! the official Arx Fatalis Xbox site features the official trailer, an assortment of unique wallpapers, rare concept art, in-game music files and more. The site will also feature regularly updated previews, reviews and interviews, as well as an extensive screenshot gallery. The game is set to ship in November, 2003 with an SRP of $39.99.

Encore today announced that Pirate Hunter and Patrician III, life simulation games developed by Ascaron Entertainment, have gone gold. These two PC games offer a unique combination of trading and fighting, one on the high seas of the Caribbean, the other in the cities of Northern Europe during the Middle Ages. Both are expected to be on store shelves in October and will retail for approximately $30 and $40, respectively.

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 ...

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.

Some of the nation's favourite video games are to be sold in a special pack to raise money for young people's charities. The video games industry's official charity, the ESC (Entertainment Software Charity), has lined up a special limited edition games pack for the PlayStation 2 which will be in all video games stockists from 26th September.

ESCAPE 2003 Special Edition pack will comprise three titles: Commandos 2: Men of Courage from Eidos, WRC II Extreme from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and SSX Tricky from Electronic Arts.

KOEI today announced that the official Dynasty Warriors4 Xtreme Legends website has gone live. With a distinct artistic style and story-based format, dw4xl.com will take gamers on an exciting journey through the compelling universe of Dynasty Warriors. Created by BigSmallWeb, dw4xl.com will be the premiere online destination for news, information, downloads and more- directly from the game's creators.

At www.weirdwar.techland.pl players will have a chance to see screenshots and download files related to the game from Techland , as well as read news and info abort the game. Weird War is a cRPG with a very intriguing plot, numerous fascinating locations and a large dose of humor. Nonlinear gameplay combined with exciting quests, various weapons and equipment makes this title very interesting.

Altar Interactive would like to invite you to third official chat with representatives of developer and publisher of upcoming tactical strategy UFO: Aftermath. Meet with Martin Klima and Robert Hoffmann from ALTAR interactive and with Ondrej Laba from Cenega Publishing and ask them whatever you like to know about the game itself, distribution channels, demo features or our favourite coffee brand! The chat takes time on Thursday, September 11th, at 19 o'clock (GMT +1, CET +0) at EnterTheGame.com.

More info about chat, time zones and using IRC channels can be found here.

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.

The Adventure Company today announced the launch of a dedicated website for their upcoming title Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon. The site includes cool movies, the storyline, a wealth of regularly added screenshots and information you just can’t find anywhere else. So head on over there and check out the freshly launched website.

Thanks for Michiel from TAFN for sending us a note about the previously released Commandps 3 demo that supposebly came from a "Spanish" magazine. Eidos has this to say about it "It’s simply an unfinished demo. The one that is out there was not properly tested and was released pre-maturely. We’re working on a proper demo as well as the final game and both are far better than the demo presents. We’re unsure as to when the final demo will be ready as we are very focused on finishing the full version in a timely manor." Guess we'll have to wait and see, but in the meantime you can still download the old demo ...