A free demo of the Xbox 360 version of Splash Damage's objective-oriented multiplayer shooter Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (PC, PS3, 360) is now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

The demo allows players to check out online play on a single level, Sewer, as well as access to the game's single-player training mode.

Released late last month, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 ports of Quake Wars were developed by Nerve Software and Z-Axis, respectively. For more on the title, check out our interview with id Software's Kevin Cloud.

To promote the new console port of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, publisher Activision has released a pair of videos advertising tie-in products that may help to cure some common gamer ailments.

Interested in a consolized version of ET: QW? Take a walk down your local PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 aisles on May 27. Also, be sure to check out our recent Quake Wars interview with id's Kevin Cloud.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Registered users can use the HD Stream

Click through for the second video. ... Read more

Publisher Activision recently revealed that its Foster City, CA-based Underground Development studio will be closed by the end of May, GamesIndustry reports.

The studio, which employs some 45 people, most recently worked on the PlayStation 3 port of Splash Damage's Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (PC, PS3, X360). Activision noted that it is trying to find opportunities for all of its employees at other studios owned by the company.

Underground Development was formerly known as Z-Axis, which developed the Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX and Agressive Inline series. The developer was acquired by Activision in May of 2002 and renamed Underground Development in February of this year.

id Software's Kevin Cloud revealed that the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Splash Damage's Enemy Territory: Quake Wars will hit retail shelves on May 27. Publisher Activision also revealed new screenshots and a new trailer for the upcoming title.

Released for PCs last September, Quake Wars is being developed for the PS3 and Xbox 360 by Z-Axis and Nerve Software, respectively. The title will run gamers $59.99 on both platforms.

For more on Quake Wars, check out our interview with executive producer and id Software lead artist Kevin Cloud.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Registered users can use the HD Stream.

Fresh off of a hands-on demonstration of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars on the Xbox 360, I had the opportunity to sit down with id Software's Kevin Cloud, executive producer of the upcoming shooter.

During our time together, the developer spoke about the simultaneous development of Quake Wars on consoles and PCs, creating an all-in-one objective-oriented experience, and more. Click through for the full interview.

Kevin Cloud: The classes have a real meaningful role to play in the game--they're not just equipment load-outs. When you're playing a medic, you're definitely doing the job of a medic... That doesn't really exist in a lot of the other games where, really, the only difference is in what weapon you're carrying. Read more..

The console editions of id Software and Splash Damage's class-based multiplayer shooter Enemy Territory: Quake Wars will hit Europe on May 30, IGN reports. Both are based on the PC edition that arrived late last year.

While publisher Activision has yet to specify a date for North America, several retailers--including EBGames and Amazon.com--are listing a May 27 release. While retailer dates are usually considered placeholder until confirmed by a publisher, the date's proximity to the European release gives it some credence.

Shacknews has contacted Activision for more information. Check back with us later this week for hands-on impressions of the console versions, which were ported to the Xbox 360 care of Nerve Software and the PlayStation 3 by Activision Foster City, previously known as Z-Axis.

There's a Enemy Territory: Quake Wars preview on GameSpot this evening, taking a first look at the Xbox 360 version of the game which is in development at Nerve Software.