Restricted Area is an action-based roleplaying game with realtime combat, which combines a fascinating gameplay similar to Diablo 2 with innovative technology, tactic-shooter elements and a dark future scenario. Read more for a few new screens ...

The game will provide players with extremely dynamic gameplay of fast and tough combats, where players are to oppose dangerous and wise enemies, a large set of multifarious weaponry, possibility to control various machinery, incredible detailing and game world interactivity, story-driven single player with original team gameplay, a well-balanced multiplayer with numerous modes: DeathMatch, CTF, Cooperative, various team games and much more. Read more to check out 2 new screens...

Today Midway Games had their financial results conference call for the 4th quarter of 2003 and while we could dazzle you with meaningless numbers of net losses and revenue's the interesting part was where Midway looked ahead and revealed some new/upcoming titles. Their upcoming action/horror titles (check our Xbox preview) now also seems to be heading to the PC. The next, yet unnamed, Mortal Kombat 6 is scheduled for Fall 2004, will feature online multiplyer for both Xbox & PS2, same goes for Inevitable's (previously know for The Hobbit) Area 51. Overall the conference called revealed Midway has about 20 upcoming titles, including several PC titles. Stay tuned for more ...

Enlight has released the demo for EgoSoft's sci-fi shooter 'X²: The Threat'. Expanding on the original, X: Beyond the Frontier, X²: The Threat allows players to construct a massive fleet of ships to aid them along whatever path they choose within the open-ended X-Universe. This demo features 4 tutorials for trade, fight, build and think (each representing one of those themes), one additional tutorial for beginners and four sectors of the actual game, playable for 4 hours with a medium ship and 1 million credits (thanks Factornews). Read more for download links ...

Far Cry is set around 2020 on a set of tropical islands in the pacific. And has a strong tropical-paradise feel, scenic in its beauty, but, harbors a terrible threat. It is a mix of jungle / primal / and next-gen technology. As the player you find yourself drawn into a secretive plot involving secret research facilities with scientists involved in military genetic-research, a secret "security" force of mercenaries, and, advanced next-generation weaponry and equipment. Check these 4 new 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.

Space Hack is a sci-fi RPG/action title with Diablo-inspired gameplay mechanics. The storyline puts you on board of a quite 'peculiar' spaceship, trapped inside a space warp. Being a tough guy, whose axe is almost as quick as his wit, it's not surprising that you promptly find yourself confronting angry monsters, one wave after another. Space Hack is scheduled to be released in first half of 2004.

Noticed on Gamespot that Ubisoft has announced they will no longer co-publishing The Matrix Online with Warner Brothers. "Ubisoft has been a great partner and we look forward to continuing our publishing relationship with them on several other projects," said Warner Senior Vice President Jason Hall. "Ubisoft will continue its strong and positive relationship with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment now and in the future on other games" said Gilles Langourieux, Managing Director of Ubi.com.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. today announced the second title to utilize the EyeToy camera technology. EyeToy: Groove, exclusive to the PlayStation2, is the first interactive videogame that enables players to dance in time with one of the 28 licensed songs, from such artists as Elvis, Madonna, Jessica Simpson, Jamiroquai, and Fatboy Slim, with no controller or dance pad necessary. Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment London Studio, EyeToy: Groove is scheduled for release in Spring 2004 and will be available at an SRP of $49.99 with the EyeToy USB camera or $29.99 without.

Conan is a 3rd person action game, with few elements of RPG and adventure. TDK has released a patch for Cauldron's recently released 3rd person action/adventure title demo Conan, adressing some issues with Windows XP and GeForce4MX-based cards. Read more for download links..

For years, the world record on NES' legendary Super Mario Bros. video game was stalled at 5 minutes and 20 seconds. In recent months, however, increased media publicity on classic gaming has re-ignited player enthusiasm for breaking long-standing records, with world titles falling on titles like Legend of Zelda and Metroid.

One of the most anticipated video games of 2004, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow will make its big screen debut next month, in a first ever coast-to-coast video game tournament that will connect participants playing the game in New York and Los Angeles. The world premiere event will take place on March 15, at the Loews Cinemas movie theaters as hundreds of fans watch gamers battle it out in the "Spies vs. Mercenaries" online tournament.

Barely released in the UK, Empire Interactive has alreadyreleased the first patch for Blitz Games' 3rd person shooter Bad Boys II. No details as to what this patch does, contains, not even a version number, so we will just have to take Empire's word for it (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

To celebrate its European launch Digital Jesters has released the promised v2.0 demo for S2 Games' 3D Online Action/Strategy game Savage: the Battle for Newerth. The latest game demo includes three new maps (Alpenglow, GlacierPoint and SacrificeLedge), alongside new human and beast units and structures, Xfire support, as well as a host of other improvements and enhancements have been introduced, it has been updated with the latest code and contains all the fixes and updates that were made with the previous v2.0 retail patch. Read more for details and download links ...

The Adventure Company today announced that it will publish Aura: Fate of the Ages on PC. Aura’s powerful story is based on an ancient legend that decrees that four sacred rings will bring great strength, power and immortality to he/she who collects them. Read more for details and screens ...

Enlight announced today that X²: The Threat is experiencing great sales across North America and debuted as the top selling PC game in the UK and Germany during the second week of February.

According to published reports Electronic Arts' Origin Systems division is expected to inform its employees today that the company will be closing Origin and relocating its operations to California sometime in the near future. While the Austin game development community is obviously disappointed by the EA's decision, the Austin region will continue to thrive as the 3rd largest hub of game development activity in the United States, with more than 50 companies in the local area making major contributions to the game industry, including game development, publishing, tools, middleware, chips and hardware.

Yee-haw cowboy, time fer ya' to wipe the dust off tha't horsey! Iridon's PC Western title has been signed to BigBen Interactive GmbH for publishing and distribution in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Under the deal a German edition will be produced which is scheduled for release on March 26, 2004. The title will carry a value price point. The Wanted Guns website is located at www.wantedguns.com

Vivendi Universal Games announced today that Counter-Strike: Condition Zero, the follow-up to the number-one on-line action game in the world, Counter-Strike will hit the streets worldwide March 26th, 2004. Co-developed by Valve and Turtle Rock Studios, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero introduces a brand-new single-player experience to the Counter-Strike series, along with special enhancements for on-line play.

A few weeks ago SOE announced that they would be making significant upgrades to the EverQuest engine which will allow SOE to provide players with the great game, but on a much more stable and efficient platform. SOE anticipates patching in the new engine sometime during the next month or two. Part of this change will result in the need for all EverQuest players to upgrade to DirectX 9 (DX9). Our resident MMORPG guru cornered EverQuest producer Robert Pfister and asked a few questions...

In the year 2093 the Nazi's control Earth after winning the Second World War. They appear to possess a time machine, which gives them ultimate power. As one of the members of the conspiracy, you decide to move back to the year 1944 to change the course of the war. Unfortunately the mathematical calculations fail and instead of landing in the time machine room you find yourself just outside the snowy castle.

Mafia is a 3D action game, seen through the eyes of third person. Player assumes the role of a gangster in an American town of the thirties, and gets a chance to live through gangsters rise and fall. In a spell-bounding story of human hunger for power, he will be able to live through everything that was taking place in underworld during this stormy period: mad car chases, bootlegging, assassinations, and bank robberies.