It's spike or die as players choose their team and head out to one of the 16 different volleyball courts. 'Outlaw Volleyball' will draw on the Xbox graphic capabilities to provide extremely well-rendered and fun environments with dynamic elements. From the beach house beach to the big house, the courts will feature such graphic treats as deformable sand, dynamic backgrounds and highly detailed crowds. Today we scored some new screens and a trailer showing off some in-game footage...

UFO: Aftermath is a 3D isometric, turn-based strategy game (TBS) with a rich and compelling sci fi story. Combining global strategy with small squad tactical combat, the challenge offered is to fight against an alien invasion. Featuring run time generated tactical missions with innovative simultaneous combat action; the genre is also enhanced with strong RPG elements, offering a quite unique mix of strategic ideas. Check out the new screens!

1080°: White Storm brings its unique tradition of authentic 3-D snowboarding action to Gamecube. Game play satisfaction snowballs as players master snowboarding physics and an all-new trick system. Favorite boarders, such as the well-balanced Kensuke, the technical master Rob or the incredibly fast Dion, charge jumps, grab huge air and complete twisted combos. Watch out though, a potentially impressive stunt could lead to a board-breaking disaster.

Activision has just released the official beta patches for Star Trek Starfleet Command III, bringing the US and UK editions of the space strategy game by Taldren to v1.01. This release brings a handful of new features along with a massive list of client and server fixes, and for multiplayer it requires you to play on a beta server instead of a regular Dynaverse 3 server. Read more for a detailed fix list and download links ...

Microsoft has released a playable demo of Freelancer, allowing you to try this imminent 3D space combat by Digital Anvil. This demo "offers the chance to explore the entire Liberty System, giving access to more than a dozen bases and five flyable ships. Experience the trading system, sample the open-ended nature of the game and immerse yourself in the intense combat of Freelancer today". Unlike the exclusive Fileplanet demo a few days ago, this one is totally free! Read more for download links ...

Sony Computer Entertainment held a press conference in South Korea earlier to reveal upcoming titles for the Playstation 2. During that event, Ken Kutargi showed off some major "online" titles that will hit South Korea sometime this year or in 2004. One of the titles that got revealed was Syphon Filter Online. Rumours about a new SF game are not new but no further details about its online capabilities were revealed. I am sure we can all expect more details at this year's E3 (in May) where Sony will showcase their latest. Stay tuned for more details (thanks GamingHorizon)!

Eidos Interactive today announced its exciting partnership with multi-platinum recording artists the Insane Clown Posse (ICP), Psychopathic Records and the Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This At Home video games for the PS2 and Xbox. The games are scheduled for release this summer. Read more for details ...

Konami of America today announced that the celebrated videogame franchise Castlevania will debut on the Sony PS2 in Fall 2003. Castlevania for PS2 is being reinvented from the ground up by legendary game producer, Koji Igarashi at Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, and the creative team behind the critically acclaimed Castlevania Symphony of the Night (PS1), the award-winning Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance (GBA) and the all-new adventure Castlevania Aria of Sorrow scheduled for release on May 6, 2003 (GBA). Set against the backdrop of a gothic Transylvania, Castlevania for PS2 will plunge players into a fantastic new vampire-hunting adventure. Maximizing the processing power of the console, the ominous drama of the franchise will be realized through exhilarating action, a rich story, breathtaking environments, dazzling next-generation graphics and a sweeping musical soundtrack.

Mega Man Network Transmission uses the popular chip system introduced in the original Battle Network RPG. By collecting chips, players can equip Mega Man with special weapons and support items that enhance his abilities. For example one chip will improve Mega Man’s jumping skills, while another creates a protective shield to deflect enemy attacks. Check these 16 new screens ...

Sammy Europe Ltd. today announced the release date for great beat-em-up title in PAL region for PS2. Guilty Gear X2, the newest sequel in the exceptional 2D anime fighter series, will be available on 21st March 2003. The title will have an RRP 29.99 GBP. With fan momentum for the Guilty Gear series continuing to dramatically escalate worldwide, Guilty Gear X2 brings the newest and most complete title in the series to European PS2 players. The title combines the traditions that set the fighter apart with new characters, new moves, new animation and bonus features, with improved reaction speed by 50Hz/60Hz option added answering users’ requests. Guilty Gear X2 adds six new characters to the most unique cast ever conceived for a total 20 playable fighters, and delivers new modes like Story, Mission, Medal of Millionaires and Gallery to build on the series story of war between humans and the bio-weapon Gears. Guilty Gear signatures such as amazing character and backdrop animation, super-fast gameplay speed and eye-popping special moves return, as does the brilliant character design of renowned artist Daisuke Ishiwatari.

Rainbow Six: Raven Shield features a brand new Tom Clancy storyline in which Team RAINBOW is led all over the world in a string of dramatic operations. The game will utilize graphics technology provided by the next-generation Unreal engine to power 15 new single-player missions that include the discovery of a cache of biological weapons and stopping an armed gang from terrorizing a London bank. More Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield intel available today. This time: key strategic information for multiplayer missions. Read more for screens and in game trailer ...

Hang on for your life in Wakeboarding Unleashed featuring Shaun Murray as you get ripped across a lake by a high-powered speedboat and trick through dangerous terrain. Feel the rush as you crash into houseboats and catch huge air in nine exotic levels with seven world-class wakeboarders. Tired already? Then drive the boat and help your friend pull off challenging technical tricks on the most realistic looking water ever. A new batch of screens as well as a new trailer. Njoy!

Empire Interactive announces a further agreement with Black Cactus on the exclusive rights for the original, multiple award winning, top 10 chart success Warrior Kings title. Empire will publish its sequel, Warrior Kings: Battles, a real time strategy title for the PC, in March 2003. Following on from this Empire and Black Cactus will release an updated and enhanced version of the original, called Warrior Kings: Gold Edition in June at mid price. Empire also has the rights to release the game as a double pack with Warrior Kings: Battles and on its budget label, Xplosiv later in the year.

Microids has just released a patch for their top selling adventure hit, Syberia. This upgrade is for European and Canadian versions only and addresses the random freezing problem in the area with the Giant Robot in Komkolzgrad and the characters freezing bug for the Pentium 4 Hyperthreading or Xeon processors users. Additionally, it addresses a problem with overlapping character voices, and a problem with character movement speeds on portable computers. Read more fore links where to grab it ..

EA has just released a new patch for Total Club Manager 2003 is now available bringing your retail copy to v1.22. The v1.22 patch fixes two small issues in the Database Editor. Please note this patch is ONLY for the English version. Read more for links where to download this puppy!

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE) announced today the release of EverQuest: The Legacy of Ykesha, the first digital extension for the best-selling, critically acclaimed EverQuest series. Breaking new ground by offering numerous technical advances and improvements to gameplay via digital download, The Legacy of Ykesha expands the world of Norrath for current EverQuest players by adding new adventure zones, quests, spells, items, a new playable character race and more. The new digital extension can be downloaded in-game for $21.99. Additionally, select retailers will receive a limited number of retail CDs for the benefit of narrowband customers in the coming weeks. Retail pricing will vary.

Initially, Söldner: Secret Wars was designed to only offer a third person view because of the incorporation of stealth elements in gameplay. However, the huge online community that have followed each stage of Söldner: Secret Wars development expressed a desire for a first person view. In an attempt to create the ultimate gameplay experience, the developer, Wings Simulations, have listenened carefully and have now included an optional first person view. To make perspective changes as easy as possible, gamers will be able to switch view at any time with a simple key stroke. Read more for details and a few new screens to show off the different views ...

Four new grabs from this Ukrainian FPS 'Xenus', which is looking more verdant by the day. Down the pub, this time... Read more for all details!

Kemco and Vidis, two veterans of the games industry, agreed exclusive distribution for all Kemco-titles for the German market... Since 1984, Kemco has produced over 100 titles including the popular Top Gear racing games and Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle series for a wide variety of video game platforms. An original Nintendo licensee, Kemco works closely with DC Comics, Warner Bros. and Universal Studios on ongoing video game projects. Currently Kemco's development teams are creating games for Nintendo's next generation platforms, as well as Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's Xbox.

Astral Tournament is a magic combat simulator with the best features of "Magic: The Gathering". Long ago the Great Tournament was declared in Astral and mages from the Universe has arrived to gain the astral power. And you play for one of these mages who with the help of magical and tactical skills wants to win the Tournament. You can cast numerous spells and summon fantasy creatures to win your opponents. Besides the tournament game there is a capability of playing single duel with computer or your friend. Version 1.16 contains new computer AI and highly improoved sounds, and also enables you to play over local network.