The much anticipated sequel to the highly acclaimed X-COM : UFO Defense is making babysteps towards the final product expected by the end of 2002. Altar Interactive just let us know that they now have put up a new layout and mini-website for UFO: Freedom Ridge sporting some more information about their progress, some sketches and random information. Go check it out!

Strap on your combat boots and get ready to kick some Nod... er... booty! Westwood Studios announced that Command & Conquer Renegade ships to stores in North America today, and should be fully distributed worldwide by March 1. Renegade is published by Electronics Arts under the EA GAMES brand.

Westwood today released a dedicated server for Command & Conquer Renegade. This file is 42.0 MB to grab and is the first beta release. So if you want to run a server and have Windows NT, 2000 or XP, then grab it here!

Sega Sports, the brand that continues to set new standards in sports gaming, today announced the release of the highly anticipated "Sega Sports™ NBA 2K2" for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft. Developed by Visual Concepts, a member of the Sega group and the development house behind the sports video game revolution, "Sega Sports NBA 2K2" is the pinnacle of basketball simulations, allowing gamers to experience all the strategy of the actual NBA game along with the unsurpassed athleticism of its star players, from the preseason tip-off all the way to the NBA Finals.

TimeGate Studios and Strategy First are pleased to announce that Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns, the critically acclaimed and award winning real-time strategy game is nominated again, this time for "Computer Strategy Game of the Year" by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. The ceremony will take place Feb 28th, 2002 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Codemaster let us know that they are working furiously on the multiplayer code for IGI 2, and expect to have the phase 1 test code out later next month. Some of the design features in there show a lot of promise, and they just hoping they turn out as well in-game as they did on paper! Sounds interesting? In that case, read more below!

The story takes place in the future, at a time when mankind has learnt to travel the Universe and discovered new frontiers. The humans created the Animal-Man, an artificially evolved animal. But one group of animal-men, the Zooligans, has rebelled against the humans, planning to dominate mankind and control the whole universe. The only hope now are the Cosmo Keepers, a group dedicated to keeping the peace in the galaxy. There is one animal-man in this elite group, whose name is Blender...

Over the past few weeks we have given you various in-game screens so we now bring you an array of technology trees showing off the various buildings you will be able to construct in the different races/heroes in Heroes of Might & Magic IV. Find out more below!

Codemasters’ forthcoming real-time strategy epic – World War II (working title) - will feature an original system dubbed Frontline that gives individual soldiers and units the potential to display everything from heroism to confidence, despair and cowardice, thanks to a new morale-based system.

Strategy First is pleased to announce that they have acquired the worldwide rights to Dragon Throne: Battle of Red Cliffs after recently signing the North American publishing agreement with developers, Object Software.

Revolt Games and Russobit-M company are happy to announce the development of Neuro, a brand new FPS title. The game is set in the RG-created universe of their upcoming space combat sim - Homeplanet.

Superhero cartoon innovatively gets turned into scrolling beat-'em-up. The Ripping Friends are a team of the most manly men in the world. Their mission is to “RIP” anything that stands in the way of freedom and goodness.

The folks on the official site for Meridian 59: Resurrection tossed up a mesage about that Meridian 59 have completed client testing and the game has been sent to the CD manufacturer for duplication. Expect to be able to purchase the game in a couple short weeks!

BAM! Entertainment today announced that it will publish WRC: World Rally Championship for PlayStation 2. Developed by Evolution Studios for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, WRC: World Rally Championship has received rave reviews since its release in the European market in the fall of 2001. Incorporating all aspects of the real World Rally Championship, WRC: World Rally Championship offers more than 70 tracks all featured in the real 2001 FIA WRC rally stages.

MPH is an arcade-racer that lets players experience incredible speeds while illustrating down-to-earth real world locations and vehicle designs. MPH features gameplay-friendly arcade physics, an effective damage model, and performs various tricks with the camera setup in order to simulate insane speeds without making the game uncontrollable. The game is expected to hit retail shelves Q3 2002.

Sega send us ten new screens from their upcoming title Virtua Striker 3 Ver 2002. Just hit the read more link below to check them out!

The official 1503 A.D. community site has been updated with Part XI: In the King’s Halls. Here follows a sample from it:

"Elinor! Where are you?" My younger brother runs through the streets of our hometown excitedly. Sighing, I drop my book: my grandfather's diaries. The former King and founder of our town handed them over to me on my 20th birthday. Since that day, I have regularly been hiding from my noisy younger siblings in the library in order to read my grandfather's records in peace. Well, it seems like this is it for today... Read more.

Get ready to fight an honorable battle of sorcery and enchantment in JoWooD Productions innovative new PC title, Etherlords due to be released in March 2002.

JoWooD Productions announces the latest addition to every PC gamers diet.. The vicious battle between the Pigs and the Rabbits is about to commence. S.W.I.N.E (Strategic Warfare In Nifty Environment), the latest real time strategy PC Game from JoWooD Productions is due for UK release in March 2002 and will invite gamers to explore their animal instincts.

The well-known Australian developer, Tantalus has produced a new Woody Woodpecker game for publishers, Kemco - ‘Woody Woodpecker Crazy Castle 5’. Check out some gameinfo/facts below.

Take 2 let us know that the Hidden and Dangerous 2 website has been updated by Illusion softworks. There’s been a few additions to the H&D2 website hidden-and-dangerous.com and, by the sound of it, the game has undergone a few changes too! Developers of the game, Illusion Softworks, have recently posted some news on their upcoming masterpiece – H&D2.

Based on the Emmy-award winning Warner Bros. animated series The New Batman Adventures and featuring the DC Comics legendary hero, Ubi Soft is developing the first 3D Batman title for Microsoft's Xbox, Batman: Vengeance. Developed internally in Ubi Soft's Montreal studios, with a story scripted specifically for the game. Does this game live up to the hype or should we hide it inside our batcave?!

Determined to make it as real as real can get, the most dangerous videogame developers on the planet, Running With Scissors, today announced that POSTAL 2's malicious motion-capture data is "in the can" for the new first-person shooter to be released this Fall.

On the eve of its ship date, Westwood Studios revealed that it is testing two new multiplayer maps for Command & Conquer Renegade that will allow players to control air-based vehicles from the original Command & Conquer RTS game. Electronic Arts will publish Renegade under the EA GAMESTM brand and it ships to retail stores tomorrow.

Have you ever wanted to get a Sneak Peek of game before it hits the shelves? Do you like to win prizes? Well, here is your chance! Global Ops will be visiting select GameCenters across America to give you an opportunity play this awesome new team-based action game. Make plans for the Ultimate Gaming Experience! Read "more" for locations!