The game has already attracted a massive fan base with well over an incredible 120,000 applications from online gamers to take part in Dragon Empires' Beta Test programme, which rolls out later this year. The full game is due to launch in the spring of 2004.

At E3, Codemasters will showcase Dragon Empires' stunning scenery, landscapes and buildings that will form Fortitude, the game's world of five very different mystical empires. Each empire is ruled by a mighty dragon whose personality shapes the unique look and feel of each empire and the magnificent cities. From the intelligent yet quick-tempered dragon of the bird empire, to the primitive, practical and rough living dragon of the monkey empire, and the spiritual dragon of the insect empire.

E3 will also mark the first showing of some of the playable and non-playable characters. On Fortitude, the lives of humans, monsters and dragons have intertwined forming three playable races - the magical Humans, the heroic Dragonblood and the deeply eerie Shadow.

The game's incredible climate engine, based on a real weather models, will also be in full effect. With naturally evolving climatic effects, lightning, rain, snow, blizzards, shimmering water, rainbows, fog and even meteors are all to be seen when experiencing the world. The climate model also provides for a wide range of naturally evolving land environments including sandy deserts, hot plains, tropical forests, misty swamplands, lush grasslands and treacherous icy mountains.