Tecmo and Xbox Live announced today that online registration for all three rounds of the North America Master Ninja Tournament will begin on Monday, May 3rd. Starting then, participants in North America will be able to register online (http://www.xbox.com/MasterNinjaTournament) for tournament competition as gamers help ninja Ryu Hayabusa seek revenge for his clan who was massacred by the evil Vigoor Empire.

ShellShock: Nam '67 depicts the true horrors of the Vietnam War for the first time in a video game. ShellShock: Nam '67 focuses on one man's experience of the most controversial war of modern times. You take on the role of a rookie soldier on his first tour of duty as he experiences the fear, chaos and atrocities of the Vietnam War. The game is being developed by Guerrilla and will be available for PS2, Xbox and PC in June 2004.

Atari has released the first patch for Human Head's Western FPS Dead Man's Hand. No version indicator but at it seems this patch addresses various game bugs and adds 6 new multiplayer maps (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

According to a top secret report from the British Secret Service, a PANZERS demo is on its way. Initial details communicate that there will be a single player demo in the beginning of May. Other unconfirmed information suggests that the age rating will not be under 18! Of course we will have it on our fileservers as soon as its available...

Take-Two Interactive announced today that its Global Star publishing label has shipped Serious Sam: Next Encounter for the PlayStation2 and GameCube to North American retailers and is expected to be released in Europe and Australia on April 30, 2004. Developed by Climax, the newest addition to the popular first-person shooter franchise features online play for up to eight players and two-player split screen action on the PlayStation 2, a four-player deathmatch option on the Nintendo GameCube, and two-player cooperative mode for both platforms. Serious Sam: Next Encounter is rated M for Mature and is available for the suggested retail price of $19.99.

Featuring exciting espionage action, "Spy Fiction" follows the exploits of two special agents in an underground spy agency. As members of the elite S.E.A. Phantom strike squad, Bishop and Sheila are dispatched to disable a diabolical plot that begins with an ominous message sent to world governments. To spare millions of lives from a new horrific biotech weapon, they must embark on missions spanning the globe to seek and destroy a shadowy terrorist organization. Read more to check out some new screens & trailer.

'Operation: Matriarchy' is an upcoming first-person shooter under development at MADia, due 1st quarter 2005. You are a trooper of the government army sent with the expeditionary force to attack Velian. As you accomplish missions given to you at the headquarters, you get new opportunities in selection of weapons and military equipment. Each mission will also get you closer to the secret of the origin of the Velian anomaly of the human race. Read more for details & screens ...

Ascaron has released a new update patch for their RPG game Sacred. This update brings your retail game to v1.6, available for UK/US versions, adresses various multiplayer bugs & fixes, and various other game fixes and tweaks. Read more for download links ...

PT Boats is the first simulator of the Mosquito-fleet, created with the use of technologies of a level never seen before in naval combat simulator games. The key features are: astonishingly beautiful dynamic sea, historically authentic World War II ships and weapons, possibility to control any member of the crew and a multiplayer game. Patrol Torpedo Boats were used in WW2 mainly to attack large cruiser due ot their maneverability and speed. Check out the new screens ...

Atari, Inc. and Wizards of the Coast today announced that Duel Masters - the number one toy in Japan according to Weekly Toy News - will be released for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance in June 2004. Already an incredibly successful trading card game, television series and comic book in Japan, Atari's Duel Masters: Sempai Legends will launch hot on the heels of the newest round of the Duel Masters trading card game from Wizards of the Coast.