Paramount Pictures has reached an agreement to acquire the worldwide film rights to Midway Games' "AREA 51," a state-of-the-art video game which is scheduled for release in March of 2005, available for use on the PlayStation2 and the Xbox. Christine Peters will be collaborating with the game developer to produce the film, which will be an action-packed thriller.

Get ready to trick out your ride and lay it all on the line… Leading video games developer and publisher Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that Street Racing Syndicate (SRS), one of the most realistic, high-speed multiplayer street racing games to date, has shipped to retail outlets nationwide for the PlayStation2 , the Xbox and the GameCube.

Developed by Mad Doc Software and due for release in the first half of 2005, Empire Earth 2 will build upon the award-winning formula of its predecessor by adding features requested both by casual game players interested in a brief spin through history and by more hard core gamers who demand a real-time strategy game that will challenge them for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours.

The original Hidden & Dangerous was released in 1999 to widespread acclaim, and was the forerunner for the squad-based tactical action game. With sales in excess of one million copies, Hidden & Dangerous established itself as a leading title in the genre. Its creators, Illusion Softworks, have for the last four years been quietly developing and perfecting the sequel. Read more for a few new screens ...

Ubisoft today announced that it will be the publisher in PAL territories for Champions: Return to Arms, the sequel to the critically acclaimed Action/RPG, Champions of Norrath. Champions: Return to Arms, developed by Snowblind Studios (Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance and Champions of Norrath) by Sony Online Entertainment, will be available exclusively for the PS2 in the first quarter of 2005.

Psychotoxic is a first person shooter with an exceptionally exciting story line. The setting is New York, in the year 2020. Three of the four horsemen of the apocalypse have caused terrible damage on Earth. The fourth horseman is now preparing for his return. Violence and aggression are increasing drastically. Humanity's last hope is protagonist Angie Prophet.

UT2004 mod developers Pandora-Studios revealed today that after wrapping up their Frag Ops mod they want to branch out and start working on their next project : a stand-alone multiplayer fantasy title, 'Chronicles of Nevermore.' Read more for details...

Aspyr today announced it has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement with Wideload Games, to publish its premiere title. Wideload is the new game development studio founded by Alexander Seropian, industry veteran and founder of Bungie Studios of Halo, Myth and Marathon fame. This upcoming action game, based on an original intellectual property and powered by the Halo game engine, will be published worldwide in 2005.

'Kult: Heretic Kingdoms' is a 3D isometric RPG, that combines 3D technologies and the traditional ways of isometric RPG's. 'Kult: Heretic Kingdoms' will take you from heroic fights against hidious monsters - using weapons and spells - to seeking wisdom and clues for your quests, while interacting with the many NPC's such as spirits and astral enemies.

Star Wolves is a 3D space RPG with strategy elements. The game thrusts players into a world of freelance space hunters in the XXI-XXII Century A.D. during a time of political crisis for the all-powerful Empire and the three mega-corporations that control all the known worlds. Star Wolves is being developed by Xbow Software and published by 1C.

Knight Rider 2 will address much of the customer feedback received on the first Knight Rider game as well as add many new features, which will improve the gameplay dramatically whilst maintaining the authentic atmosphere of the series. Knight Rider 2 will contain more action, in-game animations, special effects and dialogue than its predecessor.

Alien Hominid, is the debut console title from O~3 Entertainment, and developer, The Behemoth. It is an evolution of classic 2D side-scrolling platform shooters, blending old school play mechanics with stunning hand drawn graphics (in other words, it looks pretty AND plays great).

Another day, another batch of game trailers were released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for :

• FIFA 2005 - Trailer
• Knight Rider 2 - Trailer
• Miami Vice - Trailer
• The Urbz - Trailer #5
• Project Freedom - Trailer #3
• Brothers In Arms - Trailer Pack
• Devil May Cry 3 - Trailer

Captured, conveniently forgotten, tortured, and left for dead, MI6 agent Andrew Sterling awaits execution in a Chinese prison. The story begins when a mysterious friend from his past rescues him, setting off a chain of events that could rock the very foundations of global security and wreak chaos on a worldwide level. Just another day in paradise... Anti Social, Anti Normal, Anti Bond, Anti Hero... It's a cold, cold winter. Read more for a fresh batch of screens ...

Spyro: A Hero's Tail, developed Eurocom and scripted by Emmy Award-winning writer J. Stewart Burns, is a new 3D action platformer and will feature five fully-playable characters, brand-new Spyro breath attacks, power-ups and moves. Spyro: A Hero's Tail will be available on Gamecube, PS2, Xbox and is expected to hit retail shelves Q4 2004. Read more for new screens...

For the first time, Sims are living in the city where reputation (rep) is everything. Players will custom-create these new Sims, called Urbz, by customizing their unique style and building their status to become the biggest "player" in the city. Read more for some new screens or download the walkthrough trailer.

Medieval Lords takes aspiring city governors to the middle ages, combining rich city-building challenges with evolving military forces to defend against relentless attacks from neighboring enemies. A first for the genre, Medieval Lords features a full 3D engine that enables innovative new gameplay elements. The city building game genre will take on a whole new dimension when Monte Cristo Games ships "Medieval Lords: Build, Defend, Expand” in Fall 2004.

With their heads sporting leaves, buds and flowers, the alien Pikmin might be mistaken for garden plants. But this is one hyperactive garden club. A single whistle mobilizes a multitude of Pikmin to gather treasure, fight enemies and solve puzzles. The only place these tiny, hard-working creatures can be found is in Pikmin 2, a video game made only for GameCube that launches today.

As promised, Vivendi has released the demo for Evil Genius giving you a chance to try out Elixir's strategy game and plot for World Domination. The demo features a tutorial after which you can build out a small base, and build some of the advanced minion types, such as the machine-gun toting mercenary, and then ready your turf for an all-out assault (thanks GameSpot). Read more for download links ...