While we already had the unveiling last week, Atari today unveiled first details of the Act of War expansion pack for its near-future, geopolitical techno-thriller RTS, Act of War: Direct Action. Loaded with new features, including modern-day naval combat and mercenaries, the Act of War expansion is set for release in March 2006 for the PC.

Washington-based game studio Secret Lair Studios, boasting founders from such prestigious studios as NCsoft, Microsoft, Blizzard, SOE, Monolith, Origin and Arena.net, is developing a next-generation online world and today announced that they have selected the BigWorld Technology Suite as their development platform for future games.

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 :

• Bounty Hounds [PSP] - Trailer
• NBA 2k6 [X360] - Trailer #3
• Star Wars Battlefront 2 - Jedi Temple Trailer
• Vietcong 2 - Multiplayer Trailer
• Frame City Killer [X360] - Intro Movie
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

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 :

• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - E3 Demo Video 1-6
• Kameo: Elements of Power [X360] - Elemental Warrior Trailer #1
• Pac-Man World Rally - Trailer
• Star Wars Galaxies: Trials of Obi-Wan - Trailer #2
• Tales of Legendia [PS2] - Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

At the Austin Game Conference Sony Online Entertainment President John Smedley revealed that SOE is looking to break from its traditional subscription-based MMO formula. Plans are on the board to release a game by next fall that can be played free of its monthly charges. With this new approach SOE hopes to make up for the steady cash flow by attracting more people to the game and make up revenue by continuously adding new weapons, levels and special items.

When earlier this week Eidos revealed Zero Tolerance: City Under Fire no additional details were available on this seemingly new product. As it turns out Zero Tolerance is not entirely new, as in a previous life it went by Roll Call. Zero Tolerance is an FPS set in the not too distant future and lets you play as Nick Mason, a member of the newly formed G18 Counter Gang Division; an elite enforcement unit granted special emergency powers over all other public services and tasked with securing the city and its citizens at all cost.

KOCH Media has released the first patch for EgoSoft's space-combat exploration game X³: REUNION. This update brings your UK retail game to v1.2 and adds more joystick support, fixes voice and audio synchronisation, performance optimisations, better cutscenes and menu system, the usual crash and bug fixes, etc..

Atari revealed today revealed the first details of what is an expansion pack for Eugen Systems' RTS Act of War. While there is no official name for the addon just yet, Atari did disclose it will expand into naval warfare with over a dozen different vessels, such as AEGIS cruisers, frigates, aircraft carriers and submarines. Less scripting, better AI and camera handling. More details surely to come soon, but in the meantime, check the first four screens ...

Vicious Cycle Software announced that it has officially joined the Sony Computer Entertainment Tools and Middleware program for PSP. The company will offer its Vicious Engine toolset to developers and publishers of games for the PSP platform as a licensed middleware solution.

KOCH Media announced today a further co-publishing deal has been signed with JoWooD for Panzer Elite Action, in addition to the contracts already signed for the games Gothic 3, SpellForce 2 and The Guild 2. KOCH Media has the exclusive licensing and distribution rights for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the UK and Italy.

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 :

• Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None - Trailer
• [eM] -eNCHANT arM- [X360] - Trailer #2
• Aeon Flux [PS2/Xbox] - Trailer #2
• City of Villains - Trailer #8
• Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones [ALL] - Dev. Diary #4
• True Crime: New York City [ALL] - Chinatown Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

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. Oblivion is another leap forward in role-playing with its combination of freeform gameplay and cutting-edge graphics.

X³: Reunion utilises a new generation game engine, developed to immerse the player into the most realistic, living universe, ever experienced. The economy model in X³: Reunion is more complex than any previous X game. Coupled with the massively enhanced A.L. (Artificial Life) system, X³: Reunion will present players with an ever changing, evolving universe; where a player’s actions really can shape the future of the universe.

On October 25 Florida state Rep. Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla introduced a bill that would ban the sale or rental of violent video games to minors, a near clone of legislation recently signed into law by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who himself is featured in several video games based on his action film roles.

The Adventure Company today announced that the company mystery adventure game Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None has shipped into retail stores in North America.

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. Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers is scheduled to release this winter.

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 :

• Age of Empires III - Theatrical Trailer
• The Lord of the Rings Tactics [PSP] - Trailer #2
• Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure - Trailer #11
• The Matrix: Path of Neo - Trailer #2
• Need For Speed Most Wanted - Trailer (3)
• RF Online - Trailer #2
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

2K Games informed us that due to a assembly error French tech tree posters have snuck into some of the North American Civilization IV boxes. If you are only of the unlucky owners of such a game, and ne parlez pas frenchie, you do not have to return your game to the store but instead you can go online and fill out a form to get an English version sent your way, for free of course. If you are too antsy to wait for it, 2K Games has also made a downloadable .pdf version available so you can be on your merry way until the mailman brings you the proper poster.

Canadian software maker Zi Corp. said today that it has signed a licensing deal for its Decuma handwriting recognition technology with Japan's Nintendo. Nintendo developers can use Zi's technology while creating software for the Nintendo DS.

Dynasty Warriors 5 Xtreme Legends serves up a banquet of 18 all-new maps, 5 sizzling modes, and so much more! In 'Legend' mode, gamers will take part in never-before-told stories, including the first showdown between the Kingdoms of Wei and Shu, and the attempt to kidnap the Emperor.

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 :

• City of Villains - Trailer #7
• Soul of the Ultimate Nation - Trailer #2
• Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows [PS2/Xbox] - Trailer #7
• Flow: Urban Dance Uprising [PS2] - Trailer
• Virtual Skipper 4 - NightSea Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

KOEI is pleased to announce the expansion of KOEI Canada, Inc. This state-of-the-art studio is the headquarters for the company's North American product development, and will have a significant effect on the city's game development landscape.

NovaLogic has released a new patch for their multiplayer shooter Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising, as well as its expansion pack Escalation. This update brings your retail game to v1.6.9.2 and addresses issues with Awon Atoll mao and commander option, as well as incorrect vehicle displays, ammo hiccups and a few other multi-player tweaks (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for a detailed fix list or download links..

SEGA of America today announced the release of Spartan: Total Warrior for the PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube. Spartan: Total Warrior, a game steeped in richly-detailed cinematic action, represents the first console title from SEGA studio The Creative Assembly.

In this sequel to Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, the brothers travel back in time to retrieve Princess Peach, only to come face to face with baby versions of themselves, the princess and Bowser. Teaming up with their young selves will soon send Mario and Luigi on a quest of lunatic proportions as players must control both the adult AND baby versions of the Mushroom Kingdom heroes.