Of all the things developed for UT2003, the stats page was by far the largest disappointment for many people. Introduced as an answer to the realtime ngStats feature (which was bought to Microsoft and then discontinued), the Epic UT2003 stats debuted with a new site and a new look and hopes were high right out of the gate. However, the stats started falling behind almost immediately, ranging from a couple of days to a couple of months late, were reset at one point, and then taken down altogether when it was clear that they weren't working.

GameSpyDaily has a report up quoting Valve's Doug Lombardi as he confirms Half-Life 2 production for the Xbox gaming console:

Lombardi today told GameSpy Half-Life 2 is certainly in development for the Xbox. "Half-Life 2 is planned for the PC and Xbox. We've announced the shipping date for the PC version [September 30, 2003 - ed.], and we'll announce a shipping date for the Xbox version later in the year.

Quicksilver and Atari have released the first official beta patch for Master of Orion III.

This patch is incompatible with the previous data patch (see the enclosed read me for full installation instructions). The installation validator will be updated, possbily by next week, in order to accomodate the patch.

3DGamers.com reports that an updated playable demo for Will Rock is now available that was released right before E3 but slipped through the cracks so far (understandably, with all the media mayhem at that time :) to offer another chance at trying out this imminent fast-paced FPS by Saber Interactive. The demo contains a single-player level called The Tholos Temple and now also a multiplayer map called The Rotunda. The original file needlessly included a DirectX 9.0 distribution, so our copy is a 32 MB smaller download by removing that.

Battlefield 1942 mod Eve of Destruction has been released.

This release will contain not only new skins, vehicles and new objects, it features 8 complete new custom maps. Each map is different in their own way (from realistic to fun maps) and partially adapted to the Indochina Vietnam Conflict. Infantry Combat in EoD is more realistic and more action than in Battlefield and similar to more infantry-based games like Raven Shield or Counterstrike.

This is the ultimate modding competition brought to you by Nvidia in association with Epic Games and Atari Inc. There are prizes to catch up worth more than $1.000.000! Included are a full prepaid license of the Unreal Engine - worth $350.000, a couple of high-end PC's, and loads of cash prizes in the different categories. The contest has 3 phases for all categories. The idea behind having three phases is to encourage people to enter early and often, and to keep improving their mods over time. You can enter the same mod in all three phases of the contest but, in order to be judged, there must be noticeable improvements to the mod upon the second or third submission. Grand Prize finalists will be invited to collect their prizes at the Game Developers Conference on March 22, 2004. Epic will fly, at least one team member from the five Mods chosen to GDC, all expenses paid, to compete for Grand Prize consideration.

Take2 and Pterodon studio have finally delivered the second update to the recently released tactical first person shooter settled in the Vietnam conflict 1967. This new multi-region patch updates and improves numerous features of the retail game, too many to mention here. For a full listing of the updates, click here to see the patch's readme file. Read more for download locations and the Freelancer patch.

GGmania.com reports that a new downloable level for the Xbox version of Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides of War is now available for download via Xbox Live. The new map thrusts Tides of War players into a winner-take-all battle to locate and destroy a cache of ammunition secretly held by Axis forces, who intend to re-supply battle-weary troops on the front lines. The Allied squad must use well-coordinated teamwork and overwhelming firepower to infiltrate the Axis held barn and destroy the weapons cache.

GamersHell.com reports that VU Games has now released the first teaser for Metallica: The Game , offering a bit more than 45 seconds of CGI footage for this upcoming multi-platform vehicle combat action game.

Take2 and Pterodon studio have announced the second update to the recently released tactical first person shooter settled in the Vietnam conflict 1967. This new multi-region patch updates and improves numerous features of the retail game, too many to mention here. For a full listing of the updates, click here to see the patch's readme file.

LONDON, Uk -- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell from UBISoft Entertainment, has announced yesterday that they will set out a demo game disks for the Nintendo Gamecube gaming console. Read More at TC Gamer.com for more information

Myth v1.4 adds over 100 enhancements, bug fixes and new features to Myth II: Soulblighter, in the areas of graphics; interface improvements; elimination of plugin lag; elimination of chat lag; elimination of the 'walking bug', new mapmaking features; AI improvements and bug fixes; optional vTFL (virtual TFL) gameplay, which effectively brings both games and communities to the same program; and much, much more.

Independent developed online racing simulator Live for Speed! has a new Patch out vE1 !

Announcing patch E1. (was test version, has become official patch) There are various improvements including a new single player replay file known as SPR. Check the list below for fixes and improvements. The new automated hotlap tables are now open and you can submit your hotlaps on the website www.liveforspeed.net in the Top Performances section! Victor has already set up a handicap and rank system. This has been excluded from the site at this moment, because we would like YOU to set the benchmark times for that system. In seven days from now, the fastest lap from each table will be taken and used as the benchmark.

Blizzard has issued new patches for WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos, upgrading the English and international editions of their 3D real-time strategy game to version 1.06. This release brings a slew of balance changes for characters, weapons, items, structures, but apparently no other fixes.

The promised patch for the playable demo of Colin McRae Rally 3 is out, the upgrade enhances steering wheel and force feedback support, sound effects, track lighting, frame rates, and more.

The guys @ Gta3mta.tk have released a new unofficial multiplayer patch for Grand Theft Auto III.

As you have probably already read on your games related site, we're working on a GTA3 Multiplayer Mod, called GTA3: Multi Theft Auto! The third release, v.0.3b is now ready to be downloaded! Please check the downloads section for the file. This version has been tested a couple of times now, but of course there are some bugs in it. Please post any bugs or problems with the program in the forum under the 'problems/bugs' section.

id Software and Activision, Inc. are enlisting players for frontline combat with the free, online release of Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory. Developed by Splash Damage, Ltd, and executive produced by id Software, Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory enlists players to battle across multi-level WWII campaigns as one of five classes, gaining skills and promotions, constructing strategic assets, and battling with weapons ranging from tank-mounted machineguns to mortars. The standalone game does not require the original Return to Castle Wolfenstein and is rated "M" (Mature) by the ESRB.

Computer and Video Games have thrown up their 11 page Half-Life 2 preview. This is the online version of the print preview that appeared in the recent issue of PC Zone UK magazine.

This is it. This is the day you've been waiting for. For four and a half years you've wondered, you've speculated, you've guessed. You've talked about its existence endlessly with friends, family, strangers, your pet dog and even Rodney, your hamster. But today, all that will come to an end. Because today is the day you find out all about the game which every gamer has wanted to hear about more than any other PC title in history. No more speculation. No more hoping. It's time for your questions to be answered.