Sony Online Entertainment Inc. today announced that Champions of Norrath has shipped to North American retail stores. Champions of Norrath, available exclusively on the PS2, brings gamers into its immersive fantasy universe as they experience exciting hack-and-slash action. Champions of Norrath has more game features than any other game in the genre, including five playable character types, randomly generated dungeons and voice chat during online, four players co-op action. Champions of Norrath carries a suggested retail price of $49.99.

Resolution Interactive has acquired full rights from Daydream Software to computer games Clusterball and X-Team Racing, and the game concepts Scarcefreak and Billion Dollar Disc. The agreement includes code, design and community servers, as well as customer databases. One exception is South America, where Daydream keeps the Clusterball and X-Team Racing rights for 3 years in order to complete unfinished business. Daydream is also allowed to use existing Autobahn code in its future production.

The year is 1582 and Takeshi Kaneshiro as Samanosuke is the man who has just returned. The stage is set at the burning Honnoji Temple, as the famous Onimusha warrior Samanosuke Akechi fights. As he faces the demons in front of him, Samanosuke is compelled to move forward by hatred for his true enemy, the undying Nobunaga Oda, ever pursuing his crazed ambition. Samanosuke prepares for the long-awaited final battle against Nobunaga. Read more for a few new screens ...

Burnout 3 takes the series even further, now featuring a unique 'crash and burn' racing concept and a one-of-a-kind special effects engine that delivers spectacular visuals. The intensity heats up as players race, and often crash, their way through oncoming traffic in an attempt to claim the top spot. Boasting multiple single-player, multiplayer and online* crash and race modes, Burnout 3 offers players the opportunity to race through busy city streets and be rewarded for taking risks that result in heart-pounding action and electrifying crashes.

NVIDIA Corporation today announced that it will be the main sponsor of the Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC). NVIDIA also participated in the official press conference that took place in Paris last week. Read more for details ...

Simply Gaming PR is proud to announce eXtreme Demolition, The most over-the-top demolition game ever! Cars and levels are more varied than any other. High tech eXtreme level designs will have you ramping between skyscraper rooftops and dealing with artificial gravity that changes direction and makes driving up walls and on ceilings an option. Add to this a bevy of game modes, ranging from single player to online team modes, and you have a demolition experience like no other.

Take 2 UK has now also released a multiplayer demo for Illusion Softworks' third person tactical shooter Hidden & Dangerous 2. You lead a small squad of Allied soldiers deep behind enemy lines, to carry out secret missions during World War II. The demo features an Occupation map called Normandy3 as well as an Objectives map titled Czech, which are compativle with the retail version of the game (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

In "Dead Man's Hand," players will step into the boots of El Tejon, a master gunslinger riding with one of the roughest gangs in the West, known as The Nine. When the ruthless leader of The Nine betrays El Tejon, El Tejon turns to a life of vengeance, vowing to put every member of his former gang six feet under. Through an epic single player story of vengeance and betrayal, the player will travel the American Frontier, experiencing bar fights, shoot outs, stagecoach chases and other definitively Western scenes.Read more for some new screens ...

Take an adventure as Pitfall Harry, the daring, risk-taking explorer who laughs in the face of danger. Featuring over 50 levels of fast-paced action and puzzle solving adventures, the game challenges players to swing, fight, climb and crawl through eight types of treacherous South American environments including lush jungles, dark tombs, ancient Aztec ruins and glacial mountains. Check out some new screens ...

Using the latest Unreal Technology from Epic Games, developer Zombie Games is creating an ultra-realistic game world spanning Middle Eastern cities and towns to the secret military bases in the frozen backcountry of Russia to other global hotspots in the Philippines, Bosnia and Western Europe. Check the new screens ...

In SÖLDNER - Secret Wars the player takes command of one of these special teams. As Commander he leads the small high tech army consisting of soldiers, light armoured vehicles, helicopters and VTOLs to fulfill a wide variety of mission. The Simulation of a highly complex political system creates a dynamic campaign: each decision has direct impact on the flow of the game. Read more to check some awesome screens ...

Budding Al Capone's across the world are set to play out their gangster dreams thanks to leading game publisher Whiptail Interactive's latest offering Gangland, developed by Danish gaming experts MediaMobsters, which is due to be released across the UK, Europe and North America in November 2003. In a new hybrid format that combines the best elements of real-time strategy, role-play and simulation gaming genres with a totally new style of in-game combat, Gangland delivers a menacingly fresh PC gaming experience.

Got Game Entertainment today announced that "A Quiet Weekend in Capri" has "gone gold". A first person adventure for the PC, "A Quiet Weekend in Capri" comes bundled with a bonus CD soundtrack, including extra tracks, and features non-linear gameplay, realistic puzzles, and unique graphics. Awarded an "E" for Everyone rating by the ESRB, the game will retail for $29.99 USD and should hit store shelves across North America in early March.

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. today announced that EverQuest: Gates of Discord, the newest expansion for the incredibly popular PC Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), EverQuest, will be available at retail stores tomorrow and will contain both a magical "in-game" item and a unique in-box gift, the Taelosian Staff (while supplies last). The retail version of Gates will carry the suggested retail price of $29.99. Additionally, a digital version will be available on February 10, 2004, for secure download from www.everquest.com for $29.99.

Microsoft Game Studios today announced that the award-winning real-time strategy (RTS) game for Windows, Rise of Nations, is now available at local retailers for an estimated retail price of $29.95 (U.S.). Now is the perfect time for gamers to pick up a game at an unbeatable price that has won several major awards, including Game of the Year and Strategy Game of the Year. The price drop comes hot on the heels of the recent announcement that Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots is slated for a Spring '04 release, and will allow gamers who haven't yet picked up the original to practice and prepare for this expansion pack.

Take 2 UK has released a demo for Illusion softworks third person tactical shooter Hidden & Dangerous 2. You lead a small squad of Allied soldiers deep behind enemy lines, to carry out secret missions during World War II. The demo features a single mission, 'Operation Overlord: Blade Dancer', from the full game. The dedicated server files have also been released (thanks Blues). Read more for download links ...

In this innovative game, players can upload Pokémon from their Game Boy Advance games Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire, and battle against friends on their televisions through Nintendo GameCube. With a collection of arenas to choose from, players can enter their Pokémon in a tournament or battle it out in four-player multi-battles, making each experience unlike the last. Players also can join with a friend to combine strengths in new two-on-two battles and demonstrate their Pokémon prowess as a team.

Strategy First and Made by Kiddies are pleased to announce that their PC arcade shooter hit, Alien Blast – The Encounter is now available on retail shelves in North America. In this first-person arcade shoot'em-up, you must gather up all your courage to defend yourself and defeat the alien horde. Alien Blast is an exciting sci-fi action combat game for everyone.

Ubisoft today announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with SOE to publish Gates of Discord, a new expansion for the incredibly popular PC Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), EverQuest, in Europe. This expansion will offer exploration of a newly discovered continent; a new class (the Berserker) and Alternate Advancement Abilities that will offer new and unique skills to master. Gates of Discord will be available February 12th 2004 in Europe, only 72 hours after the American release. Read more for details and some new screens ...