An interesting tidbit appeared in Ascaron's official Sacred forum when forum member asked whether the US version of Sacred would have the same blood & gore level as the European edition. Ascaron's Ingo Mohr replied : "Our partner Encore wanted to get a 12+ rating for Sacred and they did. We will do nothing to endanger the rating or the distribution policy of Encore in the US. I think this is quite understandable" (thanks RPGDot). Very weak if you ask me, very weak ...

War Times is a Real-Time Strategy game that lets players follow the tumultuous era of the Second World War through the actions of Germany, Great Britain, the USA or the USSR; each nation is totally different and uses unique strategies in their attack and defense and all the campaigns are based on real historical events, bringing an unparalleled realism to the fight. Check the new screens...

Soldiers: Heroes of World War II (previously known as Outfront) is a dramatic, fast-paced tactical strategy game, due summer 2004 exclusively for PC. Created by Ukrainian company Best Way, under the development title of "OutFront", Soldiers is a further signing for Codemasters from 1C Company. Codemasters will also publish two other 1C Company titles: Perimeter and Wartime Command. Read more for screens...

Diversions Entertainment has issued yet another patch for their 3D fighting/action game One Must Fall: Battlegrounds. This upgrade brings your retail game to v2151, no details as to what it fixes are available (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

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

• Advent Rising - Trailer
• MTX Mototrax - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Invictus has released the first patch for Monster Garage, car building game based on the Discovery Channel's TV series, published by Activision Value. This update patch brings your retail game to v1.03 but no details as to what it fixes are available at this time. Read more for download links ...

Lifeline is a heart-pounding action adventure set high above Earth in the futuristic surroundings of a space station hotel. Players will begin LifeLine by finding themselves mysteriously trapped in the hotel’s security monitor room. In the first-ever voice activated action adventure, players must work together with their virtual partner by verbally directing them through numerous obstacles and challenges including deadly duels with horrifying creatures. Read more for some new screens ...

Ninja Gaiden is on the cutting-edge of action as the player takes on the role of powerful ninja, Ryu Hayabusa, who seeks revenge after his clan is massacred by the Vigor Empire. Taking full advantage of three-dimensional space, you follow the story with only your wits, your ninja skills, and your deadly sword, cutting down opponents in the Vigor Empire as you attempt to beat the Holy Emperor and reclaim the magic sword "Ryuken". Realistic battle actions and acrobatic ninja actions add another dimension to the game, restoring Ninja Gaiden to its rightful place in the gaming pantheon.

"Unreal Tournament 2004 is the next evolution of the greatest competitive computer game ever created," said Jean-Philippe Agati, senior vice president and general manager of Atari's Los Angeles studio. "The addition of new modes, mods and maps as well as the controllable land-, air- and space-based vehicles, means Unreal fans are getting an entirely new experience featuring devastating vehicular combat and wide scale warfare." Check out some new screens ...

No discriminating special forces operative wants to be caught in the heat of battle with just one set of fatigues. Xbox gamers no longer need worry about this messy predicament as Gathering announces the first Xbox Live downloadable content for its hit title Conflict: Desert Storm II - Back to Baghdad. Four new alternate uniform patterns for special forces operatives Bradely, Foley, Conners and Jones are now available for download to Xbox users who own a copy of Conflict: Desert Storm II - Back to Baghdad and have active Xbox Live accounts.

Newsarama.com has word from that Image comic book Sword of Dracule is making its way into a first person shooter under development at Critical Mass Interactive (previously known for SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman on PS2). While the comic series has a broader narrative, in the game, the player will be an agent under the command of Veronica “Ronnie” Van Helsing, who leads a UN-connected and armed to the teeth covert operation called the Polidorium. Unlike traditional vampire stories, the Cain said the CMI creators have patterned Sword of Dracula after games like Medal of Honor and Call of Duty, where action is wide, relentless and highly technological (thanks HomeLAN).

Battlefield: Pirates is a mod for EA's Battlefield 1942 and shortly after last update the BFP team has released another update mainly to address the lag introduced with the Alpha.22 update. Well, they're not going to leave you stranded on lag island, so they've released Alpha.23. This was mainly to fix the lag, but they've made a few other minor adjustments to increase your piratey pillaging pleasure. Read more for download links ...

Eventhough the game is still several week away from release, Sierra has already released the first patch for their RTS title Lords of the Realm III. This update will being your retail gamer to v1.1 and adresses several game crashes, gameplay fixes. Lords of the Realm III has already gone gold according to our Sierra source and is expected in stores Mid March. Read more for details fix list and download links.

Vivendi Universal Games today announced the next installments in the best-selling Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon videogame franchises. Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage and Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy are scheduled to ship on the Game Boy Advance video game system in second quarter 2004. For the first time, the two renowned characters will meet up in each other's respective adventures in these upcoming action platformers. Albany, New York based studio, Vicarious Visions, is developing the games.

Bethesda sent out notice to announce the launch of the official Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth web site. The new site includes info on gameplay and story in Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, as well as new screenshots, renders, and wallpapers. Learn about the player character, Jack Walters, the creepy town of Innsmouth, and find out more about HP Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos he created. In addition, Bethesda Softworks producer Dennis Cheng's team diary provides an update on the game. Read more for some new screens ...

Publisher Whiptail Interactive and developer MediaMobsters have released the highly anticipated single-player demo for their upcoming action game Gangland, scheduled to ship on March 3rd. The demo lets gamers take on the role of Mario, an up and coming mafia foot soldier, and features two Conquest Missions and one Challenge Mission from the game. Read more for download links ...

Hitman: Contracts delivers more action-packed and suspenseful missions, with a greater variety of ways to make the perfect hit and an increased arsenal of firearms and close-combat weapons. A new graphics engine showcases Hitman's 'work' in brutal detail and brings new locations to life. An improved control system and more gradual learning curve will ensure that the game is accessible to all aspiring hitmen. Hitman: Contracts is being developed by Io Interactive and will be available for PS2, Xbox, and PC in spring 2004.

Enlight has released the demo for Nemesis of the Roman Empire (aka Celtic Kings: Punic Wars) featuring two playable nations, the Carthaginians and Romans and features two missions, one from each of the single player campaigns. There's also a multiplayer mode and tutorial play. Plus, in the Carthaginian campaign, players can control the Great General Hannibal. Read more for download links ....

Scheduled to ship in spring 2004, Freedom Force vs. the Third Reich is a comic book-inspired tactical role-playing game features a brand new league of heroes and villains, overhauled combat system, and spectacular graphic enhancements. Read more for details & screens...

Eve of Destruction is a mod for EA's Battlefield 1942, and they have released a new & massive v0.3 update that includes 8 new vehicles, 6 new weapons, 5 new levels, and a huge number of tweaks and fixes. Eve Of Destruction will contain not only new skins, vehicles and new objects, it features 8 complete new custom maps. Each map is different in their own way (from realistic to fun maps) and partially adapted to the Indochina Vietnam Conflict. Head back to the jungles in this modification replicating the deadly and vicious Vietnam War. Read more for download links ...