Big Huge Games sent out notice announcing that they are looking for beta testers to try out an upcoming patch for their RTS game Rise of Nations (thanks HomeLAN). If you are interested you can sign up for the beta test right here, or read more for a detailed list of what fixes to expect in the update patch.

PC and Macintosh gamers can now experience the ultimate skating challenge with the release of Activision Inc.'s Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 video game. The multi-platform game was developed by Beenox and published by Aspyr. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 lets players take on the role of legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk and 13 other professional skateboarders as they skate through enormous free roaming levels, choose from 190 progressively harder goals and build their skills to perform 14 of the greatest skateboarding stunts of all time.

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 :

• Worms 3D - Trailer
• Commandos 3 - Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is delighted to announce the release of Arc: Twilight of the Spirits available exclusively for the PlayStation2. Arc: Twilight of the Spirits, a traditional, fantasy role-playing game (RPG), encompasses an intriguing storyline, an innovative turn-based battle system and a variety of exciting characters with unique abilities. Set in a vibrant, striking world, with stunningly realistic graphics and motion-captured cutscenes, Arc: Twilight of the Spirits delivers an epic adventure experience, perfect for fans of strategy, adventure and RPG games.

Commandos 3 takes the stunningly detailed graphics and compelling gameplay of the series to a whole new level. The game features a new interior engine that enables you to rotate the detailed environments and zoom in and out. Prepare your Commandos as enemy bombing raids lay waste to environments, requiring you to change your tactics and approach.

Check out the new site here and download the new trailer here!

Atari today revealed plans to bring the Trivial Pursuit game, the most popular trivia game in the world, onto PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft with Xbox Live and Windows PCs. The famous trivia game will come to life on console with innovative gameplay, multimedia clips and entertaining question topics that will be presented by six celebrity hosts from both television and movies.

As the anticipation surrounding EGOSOFT's upcoming space trading / combat sim, X²: THE THREAT reaches supernova proportions, UK software publisher KOCH MEDIA are pleased to announce the release of the X²: THE THREAT ROLLING DEMO. Using actual game code, this non-playable rolling 'movie' shows many of the game's key features. The demo will be released to an eager worldwide audience on FRIDAY AUGUST 22nd 2003.

Arx Fatalis is a first-person RPG, which plunges players into an amazingly complex fantasy-world of trolls, goblins and 'Snake-women'. Creating weapons, solving puzzles and completing amazing quests, gamers become heroes as they battle in an evil world. Players will also need to master a unique real-time magic system to cast more than 50 different spells based on 20 different runes... Read more for a cocktail of screenshots!

Since the announcement of the XGameStation, the world's first build-it-yourself video game console designed to teach electrical engineering and hardware design to a new generation of game programmers, news sites and even TV stations from around the world have been hammering them for more details, demo units, and interviews. To keep up with this demand for information and help maintain a close connection with the game development community, XGameStation chief developer Andre' LaMothe will be hosting a one-hour IRC Q&A session in #XGameStation on Afternet. The chat will take place at 6 PM PST (California time) on Friday, August 15th 2003.

The Complete Official Guide to Soulcalibur II is piggyback's largest publication to date. Covering more than 3,500 moves, the 246-page tome teaches the player to master all Soulcalibur II character moves where the guide explains every offensive and defensive action and weapon available, in a clearly illustrated step-by-step format... More about it below!

The DesertCombat team is pleased to announce the next major public alpha of DesertCombat. Since the alpha tests have been so successful, we were able to get valuable feedback and bug reports to make this mod even better. Public Alpha 0.39 features a slew of bug fixes and additions aimed at creating one of the best war game experiences on the PC. In this stage of development each is roughly balanced with some minor advantages to each, making gameplay much more fun and exciting. Read more for download links ...

Unleashing the horror throughout nine levels, The Suffering features dynamic lighting that illuminates frightening visions of horror-filled exploration and frantic combat sequences. In the dark world of The Suffering, creatures attack from the shadows and emerge from jail cells, chambers, the ground and trees, surprising the player in the most disturbing ways possible. As Torque, the main character, players encounter a cast of uniquely hardened criminals, prison guards and grotesque apparitions. Check out these new screens ...

Codemasters' Club Football range of 17 team-dedicated games is coming to PlayStation 2 and Xbox this October. It's a whole range of games featuring an individual and official video game for 17 football clubs - from Manchester United Club Football to Real Madrid Club Football. Each club-headlined game will be published simultaneously. Everything in each individual game is officially licensed from the club. Every player from the 17 clubs' first team is unique, having had their likenesses individually modelled.

Command an elite, multinational squad of special operatives against a hidden terrorist foe. In Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3, the third installment in the wildly popular Rainbow Six series, Team RAINBOW races against time to stop terror and unravel a mystery. In locations around the world, from London to the Cayman Islands to Rio de Janeiro, lead Team Rainbow in a desperate effort to battle a madman and foil his doomsday plot. Another 20 Xbox screens just rushed in. Check them out!

More news from QuakeCon and the shooter 'DOOM III'..

• DOOM III multiplayer preview on IGN
• DOOM III multiplayer preview on CVG
• DOOM III impressions on GameSpot
• DOOM III preview on Eurogamer
• DOOM III MP impressions on Homelan
• DOOM III screenshots on Worthplaying

ATI Technologies Inc. today announced it has entered into a technology development agreement with Microsoft Corp. Under the agreement, ATI is developing custom, leading-edge graphics technologies for use in future Xbox products and services.

In case you cannot wait a few more weeks until the English demo is available, you can now now try out the Russian playable demo for Nival Interactive 3D turn-based tactical combat game Silent Storm. This russki demoski containski a tutorial and two missions, but you will need to speak russki for maximum enjoyment, if not then either skip this puppy or start guessing (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ....

What would James Bond do? That’s the question players will answer in every dramatic moment of James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, as the world’s greatest secret agent returns in his fifth interactive adventure under the EA GAMES brand. First, you will think like Bond, using espionage, tactical skills, and gadgets from the Q-Lab to analyze your situation. Then you will act like Bond, using his stylish physical skills, clever subterfuge, and bold personality to once again save the world.

Brace Yourselves! Your Sims have Magic! In this supernatural edition, Sims are granted magical powers with the ability to cast spells that are playful or deviant. Players can venture to an all-new magical, carnival-themed destination, experience exciting new gameplay, gain over 150 new items, and encounter a whole new cast of quirky characters in this powerful pack of magical high jinx. Check the new magical screens ...