The Civilization IV website has been updated with word on the imminent patch for Firaxis latest strategy title. "Some of the highlights include multiple AI improvements and tweaks, worker behavior tweaks, MANY game play improvements (ex Animal Husbandry reveals horses), promotion tweaks, a softer pillage sound (requested by many, many people), fixed diplomatic exploits (gold for gold, peace treaty exploit), multiplayer tweaks (Hot seat, Lobby, etc.), memory, caching and performance improvements, etc. There were also a number of video card specific fixes." We will of course have the patch on our fileserver network as soon as its released.

KOEI announced its hack & slash Dynasty Warriors 5 Xtreme Legends is now available in North America, serving 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 :

• 50 Cent: Bulletproof - Lead Character Artist Video Interview
• Prince of Persia The Two Thrones - Dark Prince Trailer
• Kameo: Elements of Power [X360] - Music Composer Video Interview
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

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.

Nintendo today announces its nextgen Revolution console will include a play control system. By using a password-controlled setting, adults can decide what flexibility they'll allow younger players to have in playing video games rated 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+ or 18+. The system also ensures dedicated adult gamers can opt to play without limitations.

Dynasty Warriors 4 Hyper is a first for the series and will see the spectacular massed battles that the Dynasty Warriors games are famed for brought to a whole new audience. Striking visual, twice as many characters on screen, double the draw distance of previous versions, anti aliasing, texture filtering, dynamic shadows and much improved enemy AI.

Activision and DreamWorks announced today that the companies have agreed to a new long-term, broad-based strategic alliance. The companies signed a multi-year agreement which grants Activision the exclusive video game rights to upcoming feature films from DreamWorks Animation.

Even Balance has been contracted by Monolith to integrate PunkBuster into VUGames' FPS F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon). PunkBuster will be available for F.E.A.R. in an upcoming downloadable game update patch (thanks FEARHQ). We will of course have the patch available on our fileserver network when its released.

KOCH Media has released the first patch for EgoSoft's space-combat exploration game X3: REUNION. This update brings your European retail game to v1.2.01 and fixes several crash issues, improves storyline, optimizes performance and a few other tweaks. This updated patch now also works with Win98 SE & WinME. Read more for detailed fixlist and download links ...

Nintendo's official Wi-Fi Service website reveals that people who purchase Mario Kart DS may be experiecing problems in multiplayer as the "Global Wi-Fi Service is experiencing intermittent problems." The problems are only for Mario Kart as the only other multiplayer enabled title Tony Hawk's American Sk8Land seems to have a clean bill of health. There seems to be no particular reason for the hiccups but Nintendo asks to maybe move location or turn of interfering devices such as wireless LAN, microwave ovens, cordless devices, computers.

Aspyr announced today it will publish the PC edition of True Crime: New York City in January 2006. You are Marcus Reed, a former criminal turned cop, using and abusing your authority to hunt down the murderer of your mentor while cleaning up the 'hoods of New York City, from Harlem to Chinatown.

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 :

• 25 to Life - Trailer #4
• Kingdom Hearts 2 - Japan Trailer
• Ski Alpine 2006 - Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Bandai today announced that The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion for the PSP has shipped to retail outlets. This role-playing game recounts the epic tale of Avin, a 17-year old boy in search of his sister who was taken by the disciples of Octum, the god of Darkness.

Buena Vista Games brings gamers and Narnia fans an unforgettable adventure with The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in which players are thrust into a mysterious frozen world where they will play as four heroes -- Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy Pevensie -- to free Narnia from a cold, bleak eternity under the control of the evil White Witch.

A few months back EA's Mark Skaggs took an extended leave of absence after completing Battle for Middle Earth, and now it seems he won't be coming back, at least not to EA. Together with EALA Vice President Rick Giolito (Medal of Honor) and VUGames' Michael Pole, Mark Skaggs has licensed the Unreal Engine 3 technology and got indie funding for its new Santa Monica, Calif. based development team Trilogy Studios.

Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War is the first real-time strategy game to place players directly in the heart of combat with Hero Mode, allowing them to fight side-by-side with their troops from a third-person perspective as the ultimate super-weapon. Check the freshly launched official Rise & Fall website, or read more for new screens ...

Capcom today announced the appointment of new members of senior management. Mark Beaumont, senior vice president of sales and marketing; Midori Yuasa, general manager and senior vice president of the new mobile and interactive division; and Michael Rubinelli, vice president, business development/third party product acquisition and development.

Sony announced today the release of the EyeToy: Operation Spy, exclusively for the PlayStation 2. EyeToy: Operation Spy presents players with an immersive spine tingling narrative, where they join the SIA (Strategic Intelligence Agency) in order to take down a sinister global network of master criminals.

EA announced that The Sims 2 Holiday Edition has shipped to store shelves across North America offering Sims fans the original and its 2 expansion packs for only $14.99.

That sound you hear is the thunder of video gamers worldwide revving their engines for the launch of Mario Kart DS and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The online gaming service for Nintendo DS lets users connect wirelessly to race. From the very start, users can log on easily to shoot shells and burn rubber against opponents from all around the world.

Galactic Civilizations II takes place in the distant future, when mankind has become a space-faring civilization and must contend with other extraterrestrial powers for domination of the galaxy. The sequel is a true evolution for the series, with rethought fundamentals and exciting new changes.

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 :

• America's Army: Rise of a Soldier [PS2/Xbox] - Career Mode Trailer
• Condemned: Criminal Origins [X360/PC] - Trailer #5
• Exteel - Trailer #2
• Free Running [PSP] - Trailer #2
• The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion [PSP] - Trailer #2
• Prince of Persia The Two Thrones - Trailer #11
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

In conjunction with the November 22 launch of the Xbox 360, Activision announced today that it will ship the Xbox 360 versions of Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 2 and Neversoft's Tony Hawk's American Wasteland and GUN to retail outlets nationwide on November 15.

Combining an optimised driving engine with an innovative concept, Black Bean and the Italian software house, Milestone, are ready to deliver an electrifying racing title for fans of the genre. Enter the Evolution, where the main keywords are realism and driver improvement.

During a Nintendo press conference, Spanish website Meristation received information from a Ubisoft spokes person that Ubisoft Canada (team behind Beyond Good & Evil) is working on a FPS for Nintendo's next-gen Revolution console, to be unveiled at E3 2006. While details are obviously limited the website claims that the unnamed title will take full advantage of the Revolution's unique controller and that it will take place in a Doom-like environment.