Activision has released a new movie for The Movies, showcasing this upcoming sim-tycoon title in the works at Lionhead Studios. The Movies is a life simulation game that lets players build and control their own Hollywood motion picture studio. Players create unique mini-trailer-style movies choosing everything from script selection and the hiring of cast and crew, to film production and premieres. Gamers build their entertainment empire by making hit movies, researching and introducing the newest cinematographic technologies and nurturing the biggest stars. The Movies will be published by Activision on PC, PS2, Xbox and GameCube on November 8th.

As promised, independent developer Nucleosys has released a playable demo of Scratches, allowing you to try out their upcoming first person adventure title. The main character of the game is Michael Arthate, a blooming writer flush with cash from the sales of his debut hit novel. He moves to an imposing Victorian mansion he has just bought, set on the outskirts of a small rural town in north England. As Michael seeks inspiration to complete his long awaited follow-up story, he uncovers terrible secrets concealed within this mansion – the mystery surrounding the eccentric Blackwood family, its previous inhabitants.

LucasArts has released the retail standalone PC server for Star Wars Battlefront II, the sequel developed by Pandemic Studios (thanks: 3DGamers). It includes the Basic Dedicated Server Manager Application, two Beta versions of the much more Enhanced Dedicated Server Manager as well as a Remote Server application.

3000AD, Inc. has released a new demo for Universal Combat: A World Apart, giving you another chance to try out the second title in the Universal Combat series to v1.00.08. This new demo consists of all scenarios from the first three demos but features various revisions in the scenarios scripts as well as the latest v1.00.09 game kernel.

Namco sent us a huge batch of screenshots from Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, showcasing the next installment of the Ace Combat franchise scheduled for the PlayStation 2. Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War is developed by Namco and it is scheduled for North American and European release in 2006. The story begins 15 years before the events of Ace Combat 5 and reveals the events that led up to the last chapter of the franchise. You will play the role of a mercenary hired to fly for Ustio, a small country bordering Belka, and face off against rival pilots throughout the game. Press 'read more' for details.

THQ today announced that Hello Kitty Happy Party Pals, a game for kids aged three or more and developed for the GBA, will be released on November 4th. In the game you must help Hello Kitty to plan the perfect party, so you will meet with all her friends and you will play lots of games.

The fourth batch of screenshots from 24: The Game has been inserted in our gallery, illustrating this action adventure game based on the popular TV show. 24: The Game lets you take control and live a brand new day in the life of Jack Bauer and the Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit. The launch is planned for the beginning of 2006, exclusively for the PS2.

AGEIA Technologies today announced that German game developer FAKT Software GmbH will use the power of the AGEIA PhysX processor in Crazy Machines II, populating the game's world with a vast number of rigid bodies, as well as complex fluid dynamics, particles and other advanced physics features. Physics will even be incorporated into gameplay to create an exceptionally immersive gaming experience. Press 'read more' for details.

Electronic Arts released a new batch of screenshots from the DS version of Burnout: Legends, so you should check them out. The game is developed by Criterion Games and features eight gameplay modes, including crash, road rage and pursuit, multiplayer via WiFi and a GameShare option allowing you to wirelessly share a demo level of the game with others.

Eidos today announced that the game previously known as Roll Call has been re-named and will be released during Q2 2006 as Zero Tolerance - City Under Fire. The game is developed by London-based Rocksteady Studios and you get to play as Nick Mason, an ex-US marine and part of T-Zero, the elite counter-gang unit. Specially trained in all areas of urban combat and armed with the very latest high-tech weaponry, T-Zero is all that stands in the way of total anarchy. Check the latest screenshots from our gallery.

Oxygen Interactive today announced Winter Sports for the PC and PlayStation 2, a game inspired by the forthcoming Winter Olympics and due for launch in February 2006. You can check the screens from our gallery here. We hope more details will be available soon.

Vivendi Universal Games has issued the second patch for F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault and Recon), bringing the game developed by Monolith to v1.01. It includes a new multiplayer map (Asylum) and fixes minor issues within localized versions of F.E.A.R. It also pre-patches the game in preparation for the release of the F.E.A.R. SDK/ Mod tools. Don't forget to grab the single-player demo which offers an cinematic introduction together with an early mission from the full game. The multiplayer demo can be found here - it offers two maps: Factory (Deathmatch) and Facility (CTF), along with the option for dedicated servers with 16 players support.

Activision has released a new trailer from Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, showcasing the game developed by Treyarch for Xbox, PlayStation 2 and GameCube. The E3 2005 trailer can be found in our download area (hi-res and low-res versions). Press 'read more' for the fact sheet of the game.

Strategy First, Inc. today announced that S.C.S - Dangerous Waters has gone gold and that it will be available for purchase at all major retailers on November 22nd, 2005, at a suggested retail price of $39.99. A playable demo is located here.

The Adventure Company today announced that And Then There Were None, the first title in a series of games based on the books from legendary mystery author, Agatha Christie, will be available in Europe on November 25th. If you read the book, you know the story: 10 people, each with something to hide and something to fear, are invited to a lonely mansion on Shipwreck Island by a host who, surprisingly, fails to appear. One by one, they share the darkest secrets of their wicked pasts, and one by one, they die. Compared with the book, there will be a 11th character, the player, a boatman who brings the others to the island and then is trapped there himself. To save the lives of the intended victims, the player must unravel the motives behind the murders and uncover the identity of the killer. If successful, he will spare not only the lives of the remaining guests, but also his own.