Valve's SteamPowered website has been updated with details regarding yet another Half-Life 2 update which performance improvements, increased cache memory usage, increased cache memory usage, weapon script files are preloaded at startup in HL2, and a few more little tweaks. Restart Steam to get the latest update...

Nintendo's lineup for 2005 comes loaded with new games that take advantage of the touch-screen and wireless capabilities of the new NDS. Likewise, GameCube and GBA owners will find new ways to enjoy new and favorite franchises. New tricks like using bongos to control characters in Donkey Kong Jungle Beat for NGC and an internal gyro sensor in WarioWare: Twisted! for GBA enhance the game experience as only Nintendo can.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory will offer a high adrenaline experience thanks to never seen before close range attacks, a totally open level design, a completely immersive and interactive environment, and challenging advanced AI. Check these new screens ...

Kuma Reality Games has designed its current online mission, Ramadi Convoy Exercise in conjunction with the Army’s Combined Arms Support Command. The Army provided military insights, helping to ensure the accuracy of the re-creation so it could be used to train U.S. troops. The mission highlights one of the most dangerous and deadly scenarios American soldiers face in Iraq today; the IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attack.

Phantom Dust is an anime-inspired game set in a post-apocalyptic era where chaos has forced people underground for safety. Players must journey above ground in a quest to learn who and what was behind the destruction, but the surface is a place of deadly evil filled with unimaginable abominations. It is also home to mysterious particles known only as Phantom Dust, a force unlike any other that has given some members of the human race unimaginable super powers.

Blizzard Entertainment today announced that World of Warcraft has sold through more than 600,000 units to customers in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. The fastest-growing massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) has also shattered all previous concurrency records in North America, achieving over 200,000 simultaneous players during the holiday period.

The Arena Football League and Electronic Arts have entered into an exclusive agreement to produce an AFL video game in time for the start of the 2006 AFL season that also allows EA to share in the proceeds of future expansion team sales. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Strategy First Inc. is pleased to announce that Disciples II Gold has gone gold. Developed and published by Strategy First Inc., Disciples II Gold includes the entire award-winning Disciples II series including Dark Prophecy, all three expansion packs (Guardians of the Light, Servants of the Dark, and Rise of the Elves), as well as new and exciting scenarios. Release is scheduled for January, 2005.

Rockstar Games is proud to announce Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition and a brand new iteration of Grand Theft Auto for the highly anticipated PSP handheld system. Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition and the new Grand Theft Auto title, which will be set in Liberty City, are being developed by Rockstar Leeds in conjunction with Rockstar San Diego and Rockstar North, respectively. Both titles are expected to be available near the launch of the PSP handheld system in North America and Europe.

Ubisoft and inXile entertainment jointly announce a new European publishing deal for The Bard's Tale. This action-role playing game (RPG) with a twist has been developed by inXile, founded by Brian Fargo, the creator of the original The Bard's Tale. The terms of the agreement give Ubisoft exclusive publishing and distribution rights in most of Europe for the PS2, Xbox and PC versions of the game. The title is expected to hit stores this March.