Midway Sports announced today that NHL Hitz Pro will feature cover athlete Nicklas Lidstrom, star defenseman of the Detroit Red Wings, as well as coaching legend Scotty Bowman. NHL Hitz Pro, the reinvented version of the successful NHL Hitz videogame franchise, is in development and scheduled to ship September 25, 2003 for the PlayStation2, the Xbox and Nintendo GameCube.

Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars appeals to both RTS and RPG players searching for a new experience in already known genres. The multiplayer provides new strategic gameplay tuned towards the traditional RTS players. It is easy to start playing the game but there are a lot of new options to explore. Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars continues the traditions of the award winning Celtic Kings: Rage of War and will be exploring the three Punic wars between Rome and Carthage in the period 264BC – 146BC which includes the famous campaigns of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus. We got some new in-game images from Celtic Kings: The Punic Wars show aspects of the life which Carthaginians had those days. Their markets often shared space with the barracks - a combination best describing an expansionist nation of merchants. Their key to success was simple - strong economy fueling constantly campaigning imperial army of skilled and highly paid mercenaries.

Electronic Arts today announced the release of the first expansion pack for SimCity 4, SimCity 4 Rush Hour Expansion Pack. For the first time in SimCity history, players can take charge of vehicles in their cities to drive or solve missions that earn reward buildings and vehicles. Players have the ultimate level of control over their city's transportation network by completely taking charge of roads, rail, air, and even waterways. SimCity is on the move in SimCity 4 Rush Hour.

KOEI Corporation today announced that Dynasty TacticsT2 will be in stores on Wednesday, September 24, 2003. Consumers eager to purchase a copy of the game can still order the title now at gamestop.com, ebgames.com, amazon.com, bestbuy.com, and walmart.com. Dynasty Tactics 2 is a turn-based Tactical Simulation where players must annihilate enemy armies by forming high-intensity chain reactions of offensive and defensive maneuvers.

Vivendi has released a playable demo for their upcoming RTS LotR: War Of The Ring. The demo includes two single-player missions from the game - "The Siege of the Iron Hills" and the "Pursuit of Gollum." In both missions, players take the side of the forces of light in their attempt to destroy the One Ring. Read more for download links ...

Shrapnel Games and Malfador Machinations are proud to announce that gamers can try out the latest entry in the Space Empires series, Space Empires: Starfury, thanks to the newly released official demo. The demo, which provides players with a nice sense of what to expect in the final release. Read more for download links ...

The battle for Middle-earth is about to begin...Electronic Arts officially announced today the development of The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth for the PC under the EA GAMES brand. Developed at EA Los Angeles by the same team that created the award-winning real-time strategy (RTS) PC hits Commander & Conquer Red Alert 2 and Command & Conquer Generals, The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth game will capture the epic battles from The Lord of the Rings films and deliver them to PC gamers in summer 2004.

P.M. STUDIOS announces the on-line publishing of the first images from ETROM Comic. Here is a clip from the announcement:

"The development of ETROM project goes on with great enthusiasm and effort. As people know since last July announcement, ETROM is a multi-faceted project, which consists in a Videogame, a classic RPG and a Comic. We decided to publish on-line the first images from the Comic to give everyone that has enjoyed our work since its genesis a further step into the amazing Universe of the Knight of the Absolute, "Etrom Zediostruin". We're sure that the visual and the "feel" of the published images will make your curiosity and interest for our project grow "in fieri". Enjoy them!"- Fabio Belsanti Managing Director & Lead Designer-P.M. Studios.

Konami of Europe has announced that Pierluigi Collina - the most respected referee in the modern game and arguably one of the most regonisable faces in football - will be on the packaging of Pro Evolution Soccer 3. The publisher has also confirmed that the PlayStation 2 game will be launched October 17th, while a PC version will follow later in the year.

NDL, a leading developer of 3D graphics technology for the computer and video game industry, announced today that its Gamebryo technology is being used in *The Adventure Company's much anticipated Traitors Gate II: Cypher. The publisher agreement with DreamCatcher Interactive Inc, announced earlier this year, allows their development teams to create unique and compelling video games for the PC, Xbox, PlayStation2 and Nintendo GameCube.

Oxygen Interactive, the UK based computer game publisher can today announce the release date for the retail version of the multi-award winning Massively Multiplayer Online Real Time Strategy Game – Time Of Defiance. Oxygen have planned a comprehensive marketing campaign which will see this highly anticipated title launched into the High Street on 7th November 03.

Knights of Honor features two main game views, the World View and the Close View. Each of these views is closely bound to different aspects of the game’ s objectives. The two views have been designed to eliminate the need for further zooming and to provide the player with any important information they might need to successfully play and enjoy the game. Read more for details and screens ...

Nokia, together with Electronic Arts today announced that NCAA Football 2004 will be developed for the Nokia N-Gage game deck. One of the best-selling titles from the EA SPORTS range, NCAA Football on the Nokia N-Gage game deck gives mobile quarterbacks the chance to lead their team to the championship anywhere, anytime. The first college football season of NCAA Football 2004 on the Nokia N-Gage game deck will focus on a range of unique mobile features, including multiplayer gameplay via Bluetooth wireless technology.

THQ today announced a worldwide agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products naming THQ the interactive game licensee for the upcoming animated movie adaptation of the internationally acclaimed children's book, "The Polar Express." THQ's multi-platform agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products includes video games for console, PC and Game Boy Advance systems scheduled for release at Holiday 2004.

Electronic Arts today announced that its EA Partners division has signed an exclusive distribution and publishing agreement with Square Enix Co., Ltd for FINAL FANTASY X-2 on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system throughout Europe and all PAL territories. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Cenega UK today let us know that the eagerly awaited global strategy and tactical warfare PC game, UFO: Aftermath got a European release date of 3rd October settled ...

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.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products has granted the license to its record-breaking television series “ER” to Hollywood-based Legacy Interactive, to create the first computer game based on the show. Legacy Interactive, known for its expertise in developing entertaining simulation games and the successful launch of the first “Law & Order” computer game, will allow fans of the series and gamers alike to experience first hand the excitement of life in the emergency room. The “ER” computer game, distributed by Take 2 Interactive, is scheduled to release in fall 2004 to coincide with the 10th season premiere of the television series. Read more for details ...

Atari is bringing all the action and intrigue of the "Mission: Impossible" movie franchise to video games with "Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma" for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and the Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance. Developed by Atari's Paradigm Entertainment and scheduled for release in November, "Mission: Impossible -- Operation Surma" provides players with a chance to become IMF super agent Ethan Hunt in the stealth action game of the year... In Surma-ry, ten screenshots from the GBA version.

GMX Media today announced that it has secured the worldwide rights to publish Euro Club Manager 03/04. Will you be able to place yourself in competitive world of professional football? Face up the challenges : buy and sell players to build your dream team, plan your tactics, coach your team and manage your club's finance and resource to became the number one. Read more for details ...