Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie have announced the upcoming release of two new downloadable maps for Halo 2. To be available starting April 17, the maps will be paid content for Halo 2 players on both the original Xbox and the Xbox 360.

The two maps are called Tombstone and Desolation. The first map is the remake of Halo’s Hang ‘em High that replaces the original’s blue look with stone and metal textures. The second map - Desolation - is the remake of Derelict and is set in a forest outpost; it a deathmatch-oriented map.

Sega has announced Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms, an expansion pack for one of last year’s biggest strategy games. Set for release this Autumn, the add-on will offer loads of new content, giving gamers over 75 hours of new gameplay.

Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms will feature 4 brand new campaigns, including an opportunity to more fully explore The New World that was unlocked toward the end of Medieval II. In the Americas campaign, players will be able to retrace the steps of Hernán Cortés in 1519, as he seeks to explore and conquer The New World. Players can earn the support of Spain and explore the mystery and riches of the New World, or take control of the Aztec or Native American factions and call on the Gods and the bravery of vast armies to see off this new threat.

Three other campaigns will offer more detailed “magnifying glass” campaigns within Great Britain, Northern Europe and the Holy Land, with many more regions than were originally shown in Medieval II. Featuring 13 new playable factions and over 150 new units, Kingdoms will allow players to control thousands of men on a single battlefield and lead them into conflict with new hero characters such as Richard The Lionheart and Saladin, each armed with new, powerful battlefield abilities. In addition, players will use moated forts to garrison vast armies or seize control of key strategic points and explore new technology trees, governed by religion and prestige.

Players can experience a bloody clash between pagans and Christians in the Northern European Teutonic Wars, or take control of one of 5 factions in the Britannia campaign when England faces war on 4 fronts as once conquered lands rise up against them. Kingdoms will also include a new expanded Crusades campaign, where players renew their fight for control of the Holy Lands, with new factions, devastating new units (such as the terrifying Greek Flame Thrower), legendary heroes and powerful holy relics.

Kingdoms will also include six new multiplayer scenarios, and 20 new Custom Battle battle maps. Each of the campaigns is also fully compatible with a brand new Hotseat multiplayer mode, making this an essential addition to any Total War fans’ collection.

Want to take UFO: Afterlight to the beyond? ALTAR Games wants you to, too; they are hosting a modding competition, having players change the game to their hearts content, with the best ones winning the following prizes:

First Prize

• Your work will be hosted at the official UFO: Afterlight site as well as StrategyCore.co.uk
  
• UFO: Afterlight signed by the developers at ALTAR Games
  
• Poster, t-shirt, plastic figure and other props from UFO: Afterlight
  
• UFO: Aftershock and UFO: Aftermath, the prequels to UFO: Afterlight
  
• El Matador game, together with t-shirt, sunglasses and notepad
  
• Free download of all 8 games at Sprocket (Armed Assault, Shade: Wrath of Angels etc.)

Second prize

• Your work will be hosted at the official UFO: Afterlight site as well as StrategyCore.co.uk
  
• UFO: Afterlight signed by the developers at ALTAR Games
  
• Poster, t-shirt, plastic figure and other props from UFO: Afterlight
  
• UFO: Aftershock and UFO: Aftermath, the prequels to UFO: Afterlight
  
• El Matador game
  
• Free download of Armed Assault at Sprocket

Third prize

• Your work will be hosted at the official UFO: Afterlight site as well as StrategyCore.co.uk
  
• UFO: Afterlight signed by the developers at ALTAR Games
  
• Poster, t-shirt, plastic figure and other props from UFO: Afterlight
  
• Free download of UFO: Aftershock and UFO: Aftermath, the prequels to UFO: Afterlight, at Sprocket
  
• Korea: Forgotten Conflict

Anyone can modify UFO: Afterlight; those who have 20 minutes can go through a guide up at the official ALTAR forums. A list of released mods can be found on the forums as well. The last date for contributing is April 30.

The latest installment in the G1 Jockey series was announced by Koei for the Wii. Simply dubbed G1 Jockey Wii, the game will recreate the horse racing experience using the console’s unique controller, letting players use the remote as the whip and the nunchuck to steer and drive the horse.

As well as giving gamers the opportunity to whip themselves into shape while striving to be the king of the final furlong, G1 Jockey Wii also contains an incredibly deep career mode where players get the chance to work their way from rookie status to horse racing legend.

This game will also give you the opportunity to breed your own horses and develop them into a stable of true thoroughbred winners. G1 Jockey Wii is all about making the most of your initial opportunities and building up your renown within the racing world. The more you and your horses impress the more chances to make it into the big time will be presented to you.

G1 Jockey Wii is set for release in the UK and Europe on June 29.

Another firmware update for the PSP has hit the web, updating the handheld to v3.30. The biggest feature in this update is the inclusion of a free offer for North American users: gamers can play multiplayer games, surf the web and download podcasts at more than 7,000 T-Mobile Hotspot locations, including select Starbucks coffee shops, Borders bookstores, Hyatt Hotels and more than 70 major airports across the US.

This offer will last for six months starting at the initial log-in on the T-Mobile Hotspot network for PSP owners. Once the six month period is complete, users are given an option to purchase a subscription at a special rate.

Additional updates in the firmware include the much-needed support for full-resolution video - 720×480 and 480×272; and thumbnail support for video and RSS content.

Microsoft and Epic Games have jointly announced the Gears of War 2007 Global Xbox Live Tournament, offering gamers the opportunity to chainsaw their way to the Grand Final in Prague, Czech Republic. Presented by World Cyber Games, the tournament will be held over Xbox Live, having players compete in ranked matches on the network for four weeks of leaderboard play. The top 11 finalists in the world with the highest individual scores will receive the grand prize - a trip for two to Prague, the setting that influenced the game’s scenic imagery - to compete in the Grand Final in July. The grand prize also includes a four-day, three-night trip to Prague with round-trip coach air transportation for the winner and a guest, standard hotel accommodations, basic ground transportation in Prague, and a $200 Visa gift card.

The top four eligible ranked players from each participating country will win a three-day, two-night trip to their country’s 2007 World Cyber Games National Championship event. The trip includes round-trip transportation for the winner, standard hotel accommodations and a $300 Visa gift card. Secondary prizes include an Xbox 360 package - featuring an Xbox 360 Pro System console, “Viva Piqata,” “Project Gotham Racing. 3,” “Xbox LIVE Arcade Unplugged Volume 1,” “Kameo: Elements of Power” and a 12-month Xbox LIVE subscription, as well as “Gears of War” bonuses such as faceplates.

Registration for the tournament will run through April 29, with official play beginning April 9 and continuing through May 6. Winners will be announced in May.

Sega has released three titles from its Genesis library on to the Wii Virtual Console service. These titles - Sword of Vermillion, Sonic Spinball and Beyond Oasis - are now available for 800 Wii points each.

Sword of Vermilion - When the evil wizard-king, Tsarkon, invaded Excalabria, King Erik V had no choice but to turn his infant son over to his most trusted warrior, Blade. As his castle burned, King Erik hurriedly gave Blade an ancient family heirloom, the Ring of Wisdom, and asked him to leave at once in the hopes that the young heir to the throne would survive. Blade raised Erik VI as his own, knowing one day the prince would fulfill the prophecy of the Malaga fortune tellers. Now, eighteen years later, Erik VI returns to Excalabria to avenge his father’s death and reclaim the kingdom.

Sonic Spinball - With his Veg-O-Fortress built high up on an active volcano, Dr. Eggman is turning all the cute, furry creatures of Planet Mobius into robot slaves! Sonic and Tails rush to save the animals and quickly discover the only way to stop the mechanizing madness is to trigger a volcanic eruption. Sonic knows this can be done by removing the Chaos Emeralds that keep the volcano stable. However, Dr. Eggman is also aware of the fragile relationship that exists between the Emeralds and the mountain, and he’s set up an elaborate Pinball Defense System to make sure the precious jewels don’t go anywhere.

Beyond Oasis - You are the young Prince Ali in a desperate fight to defeat the evil that has returned to threaten your island empire, Oasis. Long ago, a war raged between a wicked sorcerer who used a silver “armlet” to unleash destruction on the island and a wizard who defied him with a gold armlet that could summon four powerful spirits. Both armlets had been lost until recently when someone unearthed the silver band and began using it for their evil gain. Just when you think all is lost, you discover the precious gold armlet and finally have the power to combat the wearer of the silver band…but can you stop them in time?

Prisoners across UK will not be able to enjoy the PlayStation 3, as it is banned due to the fact that it can “send and receive radio signals”. In a letter by Home Secretary John Reid, the machine had to be barred entry from prisons since it has built-in Wi-fi capability and can also communicate with the PSP. The Xbox 360 and Wii do not have integrated Wi-fi transmitters, but can be connected to wireless routers for said connectivity.

The Cult of Rapture has word that BioShock will be given the Limited Edition treatment for both the PC and Xbox 360 versions. According to the post, 2K Games promised that they’d release a Limited Edition if the cult’s online petition collected 5,000 signatures; as of this writing, it carries over 15,000 signatures.

Expectedly, no details on the contents of the Limited Edition have been released. However, a poll is being run on the website, asking visitors what they want in the Limited Edition. Unsurprisingly, “Big Daddy” figurine is winning.

BioShock will be released this August on PC and Xbox 360.