Microsoft wants to let people know that DVDs aren't just for viewing anymore. Users of Windows-based PCs can participate in movies in ways never before imagined by creating their own commentary or actually becoming movie characters. And everything necessary is likely included in the DVDs users probably already own.

IOL reports that a mother in Israel actually stabbed her 26-year-old son to death in a dispute over his refusal to get off the computer and make his bed. The mother, Yelena Avramenko, 49, even later admitted to killing her son, Denis, and re-enacted the crime in front of investigators.

"I asked him a number of times to stop playing on the computer and to go and make his bed," the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot quoted the mother as saying. "After a while I saw him lying on his bed. I asked him again to make his bed but he just cursed me. I got angry and went to the kitchen, and in the heat of the moment I took a knife and stabbed him."

Twilight Software is proud to announce that its adventure game The Sydney Mystery is now available for online purchase at the official website. The Sydney Mystery is an adventure game photographed and filmed on location in Sydney, Australia by a small group of enthusiasts and friends on a shoe-string budget. The Sydney Mystery contains over 240 scenes, 11 characters, 17 authentic Sydney locations and loads more puzzles, music and exploration. In the adventure, you play the niece of a retired private investigator. When your uncle is kidnapped, it's up to you to unravel the mystery. Who kidnapped your uncle? Who is behind the bombings in Sydney? Why is this happening? Only by playing the Full Game while you discover all this and more!

After the U.S. version of the game already made it's way into the stores, the 1503 A.D. web team are proud to announce that the international version, entitled ANNO 1503 - The New World, is now available in more than 70 countries around the world. To celebrate this event and to give you a first impression of the tensing story line, they present you an audible appetizer of the game's first mission briefing in five different languages.

HD Interactive today announce that the European version of Devastation, the next-generation Unreal engine-powered first person shooter, is now GOLD. It is currently being sent for duplication, and will be on retail shelves throughout Europe in the next couple of weeks. Devastation features amazing graphics, an intriguing and involved storyline, intelligent NPC and enemy AI, incredible weaponry, the ability to pick up and throw items in the environment, and a brand new style of multiplayer gaming called Territories. Read more for details ...

CCP is now accepting applications for the upcoming beta test of EVE: The Second Genesis. The beta test will operate in a number of phases, with a large group of players working in concert to play the game. It will start early in the year 2002 in a closed beta testing phase with limited numbers of participants, later evolving into a larger community testing the game´s performance. They will initially select a small group, but will gradually increase the numbers of participants as the beta testing progresses. This gives participants several opportunities to contribute to the creation of EVE. Sign up here!

Etherlords II is the sequel to the innovative turn-based strategy game originally released in November 2001. Similar to Etherlords I, which was highly praised for its tactical depth and stunning graphics, Etherlords II promises to be even more spectacular, changing the emphasis of the game from simple exploration and resource gathering to a more enriching story-driven adventure. check out these 3 brand new screens ...

Paradox Entertainment announces that they have entered into an agreement with Swiss company Inca Gold GmbH to acquire the Rock Solid Studios Technology, known as RSSTech. Inca Gold recently acquired all the assets in the Swedish Rock Solid Studios AB bankruptcy, including the world leading graphics engine RSSTech. A consortium led by Paradox Entertainment has now entered into an agreement with Inca Gold to develop and commercialise the technology, which may be renamed.

Diversions Entertainment, Inc's One Must Fall: Battlegrounds will ship in Q2 2003. One Must Fall: Battlegrounds promises to deliver the next-generation of hand-to-hand robot action-combat bringing players the most intense and visually stunning 3D fighter on the PC. Building on the growing popularity of PC fighting games, One Must Fall: Battlegrounds features unique, out-of-this-world characters; stunningly detailed graphics; lightning-paced and fluid gameplay; and a unique 3rd person fighting point of view.

Face of Mankind is a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) within a persistent world. Thousands of players throughout the world can compete in this realistic and futuristic world of the 24th century. It combines an epic story-driven mission system over years with a complex economic system which can also affect the story deeply. Although roleplaying takes a large part, Face of Mankind is not like usual RPG´s. You have control over a very intuitive interface like known from famous realtime shooters, where you are able to explore the game world easily without learning through pages of a manual. The cutting edge graphics engine will present you a world of 5 huge cities on earth and several distant colonies in outer space. Sign up now for the first of 4 beta test stages (starting November 2003).

Publisher Strategy First and developer Just Flight Games announced today that The Dam Busters, their add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000/2002 and/or Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2, has shipped to retail stores nationwide. “The Dam Busters brings one of Europe’s most historical raids to life on the PC,” says Steve Milburn, Director of Marketing for Strategy First Inc. “Any fan of MSFS® and MSCFS® will enjoy this game.”

Rainbow Six: Raven Shield utilizes graphics technology provided by the next-generation Unreal engine to power 15 new single-player missions that include the discovery of a cache of biological weapons and stopping an armed gang from terrorizing a London bank. As promised, Ubisoft has now released the update patch for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield (UK & US versions). This patch was created in response to the issues some people have with the CD Key system and brings your retail game to v1.1. Read more for full details and download links ...

Purge is an online-only, hybrid FPS/RPG using highly modified Lithtech Talon Engine technology. Purge allows players to build custom characters: choosing from 7 player attributes, 8 science-fiction and fantasy classes, 32 weapons, and 24 skills. Purge has fully realized non-combat roles where players can succeed without ever directly fighting. New patches have been released for the Purge retail and demo versions. The patch fixes minor bugs, improves netcode, and adds UI tweaks and features to simplify Purge for new players. The lighting in the Riley's Gap map has been completely reworked to remove the dingy, muddy yellow hue. Purge 1.4.4d Demo is available in both a patch and full installation flavour. The Purge 1.4.4 Retail Patch includes all the above fixes and an additional bonus map: Pumpstation. Read more for details & download links ...

Publisher Big City Games and developer Techland announced today that their new adventure game, Indiana Jack, has shipped to retail stores nationwide. "Indiana Jack is a terrific children's game," says Steve Milburn, Director of Marketing for Big City Games. "The graphics are great, the plot is addictive and how can you not love Jack?" Read more for details & features ...

Shadowbane is the first MMO to incorporate the Dynamic World Model, in which players' actions and decisions permanently change the history, politics and landscape of the game. Each player impacts this dynamic world whether they choose to be a simple adventurer, shopkeeper or heroic leader. Bugs causing crashes when changing the interface or using a specific combination of keys have been fixed. Users of 56k modems or Windows 98 will experience less stalls and disconnects. Players should also take a look at the service announcement regarding stability and lag issues that was posted today (thanks GameSpyDaily).

U.S. based Netamin, developer of the first Massively Multiplayer Online Sports Game – Ultimate Baseball Online (UBO), has increased its international reach with the opening of an office in Taiwan. The new facility, called Netamin Asia, allows the company to strengthen its presence in Asia and establish itself with the growing online gaming community in the region.

Our buddies at VE3D send over the following MicroSoft announcement. Historic hockey rivals will face-off this week as the quest for the coveted Stanley Cup begins. With intense NHL Playoff battles opening throughout the league, Microsoft Game Studios announced today its first hockey title for the Xbox, "NHL Rivals 2004." The game is scheduled to “go top shelf” in stores this fall. “NHL Rivals 2004” will have all the modes of play that hockey fans want including single game, playoff mode, season mode and online play. Read more for details and the first batch of screens ...

Codemasters is to increase the number of individual team-specific football action games in its Club Football series to a total of 17 titles, each officially licensed and headlined by a major European football club. Now Real Madrid Club Football and Celtic Club Football will join the already impressive roster of football clubs Codemasters is working with to produce individual PlayStation 2 and Xbox football action games for. Read more for additional details and screens ...