The Consumer Electronics Association released some projections for consumer electronic sales in 2006. CEA expects factory-to-dealer sales to increase by 8% to $140 billion, with display technologies as the front runner with $22 billion. Games are expected to reach $12.5 billion in 2006, and fueled by the next-gen consoles, should amass $15 billion by 2007.

Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War is a detailed RTS game letting you completely command one of the four mightiest empires of the ancient world: Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Persia. This patch brings your US/UK/German and French retail game to v1.14, although details as to what exactly it fixes are not available at this point.

Atari plans to release a limited edition of Obsidian Entertainment upcoming fantasy RPG Neverwinter Nights 2, containing a powerful new feat called Blessed of Waukeen, which will generate +1 bonus to all saving throws, two special items, access to a unique weapon, a magical golden aura which lights above your character Cloth map showing in-game locations, book of art, depicting characters and scenes from the game, two silver antique rings: Good & Evil

Another day, another batch of game trailers was released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for:

• Neverwinter Nights 2 - Trailer
• Broken Sword: The Angel of Death - Trailer #3
• The Hustle: Detroit Streets [PSP] - Trailer
• Enchanted Arms [X360] - Speed Tactics Trailer
• Legend of the Dragon - Trailer
• Avencast - Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

European Goth Rock band Within Temptation,build around front woman Sharon den Adel, will rock the expo twice as they perform two mini concerts during which exclusive new Spellborn songs and platinum selling hits like 'Stand my ground' will be played. Within Temptation will perform their show in Hall 4 during the expo.

Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar adds a multitude of new features and options to further enhance the strategic depth of the game. A gripping new single-player campaign sees the elimination of two of the game’s alien races and the introduction of several others.

After the announcement of the downsizing E3 next year, GSTAR Organizing Committee said it would enable GSTAR to expand in size and content as well as establish an exhibition identity. GSTAR (Game Show & Trade, All-Round) is to be held on November 9 - 12 in Korea.

You play John Armstrong, a young medical student, drafted into the National Guard during a world-wide alien invasion. During a critical mission, your team is wiped out and success depends on you. This updated demo includes 4 SP, 4 MP maps, and fixes stability problems in Internet Matchmaking.

In Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, players will be introduced to the world of Ashan, the new setting for all future Might & Magic games. The Collectors Edition contains a bonus CD with 1 exclusive multiplayer character skin, 4 exclusive single player weapons and 26 minute Making-Of documentary with Arkane, Kuju and Ubisoft, exclusive soundtrack CD, grained paper map of the multiplayer world, and a Heroes of Might & Magic V demo.

In the 30 years of video game development, the art of making console games has been reserved for those with big projects, big budgets and the backing of big game labels. Now Microsoft Corp. is bringing this art to the masses with a revolutionary new set of tools, called XNA Game Studio Express, based on the XNA platform.

You are a DevastationZone Trooper, one of the Blue Star Alliance’s toughest, hardened in combat and trained for action. During a space border patrol in the vicinity of planet Ardanis, you receive a code red distress call. The Rakkai Empire is invading the planet. This v1.34 fixes a crash issue and sets the sound device to Generic Software by default.

Another day, another batch of game trailers was released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for:

• Okami [PS2] - Reflector Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Earlier this week Atari not only released its quarterly results but also held its annual gamers day in Las Vegas where it presented an updated look at the lineup for this coming holiday season, and beyond. While preview coverage is scheduled for later next week, the event opened with a rather candid speech ...

Big Huge Game has released the first patch for its 3D RTS Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends, bringing your retail game to v2.0. Only available through the in-game auto-updater, the patch addresses multiplayer issues, fixes bugs and crashes, adjusts game balancing, adds new features, and a new 4-player map Inferno.

Oblivion is a single-player game that takes place in Tamriel's capital province, Cyrodiil. You are given the task of finding the hidden heir to a throne that sits empty, the previous emperor having been killed by an unknown assassin. Bethesda has released the final v1.1 German patch which addresses various bugs, crashes, quests and plugin issues.

Another day, another batch of game trailers was released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for:

• Frankie Dettori Racing [PS2/Xbox/PC] - Trailer
• WH40K: Dawn of War - Dark Crusader - Grey Knights Trailer
• Madden NFL 07 [ALL] - Trailer
• Mortal Kombat: Armageddon [PS2/Xbox/Wii] - Trailer #2
• NBA Live 07 [X360] - Trailer #4
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Europa Universalis III delves deeply into the areas of exploration, trade, warfare and diplomacy and is an epic strategy game where players take control of a nation and guide it through the ages to become a great global empire.

Lost Planet is a sci-fi action shooter set within the merciless frozen tundra of a hostile planet, humans struggle for survival as conflicts arise between man, the surrounding indigenous creatures and the monstrous beings that have invaded.

The Consumer Electronics Association, organizers of the consumer technology tradeshow, announced today that it is forming an advisory committee to solicit gaming industry feedback and explore the viability of a West Coast event in late spring 2007 focused on the gaming and entertainment marketplace.

Sierra Entertainment has signed a development agreement with Spark Unlimited, known for Call of Duty: Finest Hour, to create an action game for next-generation consoles, which is expected to ship in 2007.

Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers builds upon the ground-breaking, genre-blending game play of the original, integrating an all new robust multiplayer system, player-controlled coalition forces, mechanized units and enhanced character abilities and advanced enemy A.I.

Another day, another batch of game trailers was released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for:

• Bully [PS2] - Trailer
• Dark Messiah of Might and Magic - Intro Movie
• Kengo Zero [X360] - Jap Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

United States District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly ruled yesterday that the state of Illinois must pay the video game industry $510,528.64 in attorney's fees for its unconstitutional effort to enact a law banning the sale of violent video games.

SEGA today announced the SEGA Genesis Collection, known in Europe as Mega Drive Medley, for the PS2 and PSP. SEGA Genesis Collection will be the most comprehensive gathering of classic SEGA products ever assembled; with over 30 titles in one compilation.

Sony Online Entertainment today announced that it has acquired key assets of independent online trading card game developer Worlds Apart Productions. Key employees of Worlds Apart will form the core of the new SOE-Denver, integrating into SOE's worldwide group of studios.