Using an enhanced ‘Tomb Raider: Legend’ game engine, the graphics, technology and physics bring Lara’s adventure and pursuit of a mystical artifact known only as the Scion right up to today’s technology standards and will offer gamers a completely new gameplay experience.

A recent 1UP podcast with editor Shawn Elliot included an interview with Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney, revealing that Microsoft is not letting them release free Gears of War maps. "We already released two (maps) and we have four more maps that we've built. We've been wanting to give them but actually Microsoft has been pushing back on us. They're trying to build this business model around selling additional content for games and that's a valid idea, but we would definitely like to release more stuff for free, and we haven't been able to do so yet."

UPDATE: According to Epic's Mark Rein, both parties have made a compromise. The maps will be sold at first, then made free after a few months, much like the previous Halo 2 map pack.

Black Element Software announces that its single-player oriented sci-fi FPS will be available on IDEA Games' digital distribution service Sprocket later this month. Alpha Prime features a varied balance of combat and more technical activities such as hacking and remotely controlling robotic devices.

Adds layers of strategy to your gaming experience by building mobile bases, wielding the power of terrifying Ion Storms on the battlefield, or customizing your armies by combining units. EA has released the v1.04 patch fixing more lobby issues, video playback hiccups, battlecast desync issues and more...

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

• World in Conflict - Combat Briefing Trailer #1
• Sam & Max Ep. 5: Reality 2.0 - Trailer #2
• Sacred 2 [X360/PC] - Trailer #3
• Mass Effect [X360] - Trailer
• Rush for Berlin: Rush for the Bomb - Trailer #2
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Revealed by forumite michi.be over at the MapCore chatboards, it seems GSC World might have been using assets from DOOM 3 and Half-Life 2. Screen captures allegedly comparing the light image folders from S.T.A.L.K.E.R. to those of DOOM 3 reveal they had been modified in various ways, such as having hue or saturation adjustments, but the original filenames were kept (for example, a file with the Doom-esque name "lights_impflash.dds), referring to one of the game's enemies. id Software CEO Todd Hollshead commented they are aware of the issue and are looking into the matter, indicating the use may not have been authorized.

While there has not yet been any official announcement, Final Fantasy Tactics A2 is Square Enix's latest foray in presenting the FF franchise as a turn-based strategy. The PSP has Final Fantasy Tactics: The Lion War and now the NDS gets the first Tactics title since the GBA. A formal announcement is expected next month at the Square Enix Party 2007.

As promised, Turbine and Midway kicked off their massive, free "World Tour of Middle-earth," beginning today until its April 24th launch. Over one million players will be invited into The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar world, and also serves as a head-start for pre-order customers, allowing them to roll their characters into the launched game.

Shadowrun is a team-based FPS set in a world where ancient magic blends with modern weapons and advanced technology to form a revolution in multiplayer FPS gaming, allowing PC and X360 gamers to play against each other.

Steam Guest Passes are now available to all owners of Counter-Strike: Source. Just like the Steam Guest Passes recently issued for Day of Defeat: Source, all CS:S players now have the ability to invite a friend to their favorite online game. Upon receiving and activating the Steam Guest Pass, the invited friend has 3 days of Counter-Strike: Source play available to them for free, with no obligation to purchase.