Microsoft Train Simulator 2 provides the opportunity to command a 200-ton modern diesel locomotive or operate a steam-breathing behemoth from the past.

The demo version of 1893: A World's Fair Mystery is now available for download. In it, you can begin the adventure, read a little background material, explore one of the exposition buildings, and interact with some other characters. In addition, tutorial information is embedded in the demo to help introduce players to Interactive Fiction, and explains how to use many of the basic commands.

CDV Entertainment announces the simultaneous worldwide release of their latest 3D-RTS-Game No Man's Land – Fight For Your Rights which will hit shelves August 2003. In No Man's Land, the player leads the colonisation of the American continent between 1600 and 1900. In three campaigns, divided into 30 diversified missions, the player sees the historical development of this era from the viewpoint of six different ethnic groups: Englishmen, settlers, American patriots, Spaniards, Forest- and Prairie Indians.

Purge players become members of the Order and the Chosen, with each side seeking elimination of the enemy and individual party survival. Players receive rewards as they win battles and complete objectives throughout gameplay. In addition, Purge offers several map options, innovative weaponry and extensive player customization to enhance the online war experience. Today we have some new information about the upcoming Purge patch (due in about 2 weeks) which will introduce a new map called Cargo Depot, as well as a few other fixes/tweaks. Read more to check out the first available screens ...

On the 24th of June Shrapnel Games will re-release RuneSword II in a new package, at a new price! The game will now come in a slick DVD box, and will sell for $24.95! And from now until June 20th if you pre-order, Shrapnel Games even take another $5.00 off the price! Imagine hundreds of hours of RPG goodness for less than the price of dinner and a movie!

Gamespy has posted the transcript from their chat with the guys from Splash Damage on Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory last Friday. This stand-alone expansion pack to Return to Castle Wolfenstein is freely available and rather popular. In fact, it has become one of the top three most-played games on the Internet, regularly taking on Battlefield 1942 for the second place place, right behind Half-Life.

Evil Avatar dug up some Half-Life 2 news from Seattle Bizjournals, were product manager David Hufford from Microsoft Xbox group says "As of now, Half-Life 2 is not going to be on the Xbox... Here is a small clip:

Raisys, who owns Microsoft stock, expressed disappointment that the combat game Halo 2, the sequel to one of Microsoft's few exclusive smash hits, won't be available for the holiday season. Halo 2 isn't expected to be available until March 2004.

In addition, Hufford acknowledged that another anticipated combat game sequel, Half-Life 2, made by Seattle game developer Valve Software, won't be available for the Xbox as had been previously announced.

"As of now, Half-Life 2 is not going to be on the Xbox," he said. "Valve is sending us mixed messages on that."

Enlight announced today that ClearImage PR will direct its North American public relations activities. ClearImage PR will promote Enlight's gaming titles as the company expands its product line through its development and publishing divisions. Enlight, best known for the award-winning Capitalism and Seven Kingdom series of strategy and simulation games, has recently entered the publishing industry with its debut title Restaurant Empire. Enlight Interactive, the company's publishing division, is headquartered in Parkville, Maryland and led by CEO Paul Lombardi.

Nintendo of America Inc. is reaffirming the status of its new Game Boy Advance SP as the hottest selling video game system in the United States. More than 1.1 million units of the new self-lit, flip-top portable unit have sold in America less than 10 weeks after its introduction. The new model has sold at a rate of more than 10 per minute, non-stop, since launch.

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

• Soldier Of Fortune II: Double Helix [Xbox] - Trailer
• Xpand Rally - E3 Trailer
• World Of Warcraft - Gameplay Trailer
• Cypher: Code of Ruin - E3 Trailer
• Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup - E3 Trailer
• Bloody Magic - E3 Trailer
• 
  
  Read more for download links ...

Radical Tactics Experts, who evolved out of the military's special forces, are the smartest and toughest members of the armed services, uniquely known for their strategic thinking, adaptability, and pure military muscle. Individuals from this elite unit are trained for insertion into undefined combat situations where even a small team is too large and unwieldy. In RTX Red Rock players immerse themselves into the role of Wheeler, who engages in fierce tactical combat, investigates mysterious, foreboding environments, and solves challenging puzzles to reclaim the Red Rock colony on Mars. Check this new batch of screens!

A series of grisly murders brings Lara into conflict with a sinister Alchemist from the past, and a secret alliance of powerful individuals shrouded in mystery. Accused of the murder of her one time mentor, Lara Croft becomes a fugitive on the run. Pursued by the police, she follows the Alchemist into a dark world of blood, betrayal and vengeance where it is up to her to defeat this unholy alliance, and stop them from unleashing their incredible powers on the world. A few new screens ...

"Greyhawk: The Temple of Elemental Evil" finds adventurers in a fight for their lives as a simple rescue mission uncovers a much more sinister plot with far-reaching implications. As the story unfolds, adventurers will travel the world of Oerth, discover the besieged village of Hommlet, survive the filthy shire of Nulb and ultimately penetrate the ruins of the Temple of Elemental Evil, a beacon of darkness and despair in a world without hope. Check a few new screens & character art ...

The world's greatest secret weapon is being unleashed for the first time on videogame consoles as Natalie, Dylan, Alex and Bosley unite once again for an all-new, action-packed adventure. Incorporating a completely new and unique storyline, the Angels will go undercover to unravel a worldwide mystery and foil the devious plans of a criminal mastermind threatening to steal the world's most famous monuments. Read more and check out these sexy screens!

Majorem Ltd., developers of Ballerium - the Massive multiplayer strategy game, announce today the opening of the third and last round of Beta-0, that will take place in the next few days. This round will be shorter than the previous ones, and will include only a couple of takes during this week. About 10 to 15 additional testers will be selected to participate in this round which will be followed by a server update, and a new beta Phase, Beta-1. The next phase will require many more testers and therefore those who wish to participate are hereby invited to register at www.Ballerium.com.

Mayhem Studios today announced one of their new projects, a time-traveling strategic RPG game already in the works for the past two years, called Shadow Vault. Shadow Vault takes you to an enjoyable surrounding of a nuclear war, fighting your own ancestors with large-scale strategic and genetic possibilities. Read more for detailes and screens ...

Besieger introduces a world filled with feudal rivalry in which players can wage war as either Viking or Cimmerian warriors. Contenders can build flying vehicles for combat or siege towns on horseback in an effort to conquer factions such as Ogres, Werewolves, Centaurs, and other non-human races. The armored walls of a barricade can be shattered using a battering ram and competitors can pocket enemy buildings and equipment. Players can also retreat and accumulate forces behind their own armored citadel for a counterattack. Read more for some new screens...

CDV created a special info brochure about No Man´s Land for their guests at the E3, and it was very successful. This is why they now offering this brochure for download. It's a zipped PDF file about 7MB in size. Find out anything and everything about No Man´s Land. You'll find in-depth information about the multiplayer features as well as descriptions of the key characters. Everything is finely portrayed in this brochure. Get it here...