Codemasters announced today that its internationally acclaimed rally game, Colin McRae Rally 04, has shipped to North American retail outlets for the Xbox. The title is available at a suggested retail price of $19.99.

Activision, Inc. is taking the inside line to retail stores nationwide with the release of MTX: Mototrax, the fastest, most complete motocross game, and the first to ever take the intense racing action online. Players embark on a quest to become the ultimate MX athlete, using their skills and savvy to beat the pros and up to seven of their friends in motocross, supercross and freestyle competitions.

Digital Jesters & Encore have released a multiplayer demo for their RTS Desert Rats Vs. Afrika Korps. The demo features one map, Conquer 1 (which is in the full game, for four players) with the multiplayer modes Occupy all HQs, Kill All Enemies and Occupy 5 HQs. The goal of the map is to capture all the flags, while getting reinforcements for both sides every 3 minutes. Read more for download links ...

Set in a virtual, persistent online universe in which millions of players around the globe can participate, The Matrix Online will feature cutting-edge graphics, real-time martial arts combat and a rich storyline that picks up where The Matrix Revolutions, the third chapter in The Matrix film trilogy, leaves off. Currently being developed for the PC by Monolith Productions and EON Entertainment, the company owned by the Wachowski Brothers, creators of The Matrix trilogy...

'SOLAR' is a new project from Brat Designs (Breed developers) and the first to use the Mercury II engine. Taking place across three theatres of war, The Earth, Moon and Mars, ‘SOLAR’ follows the progress of the Eastern Collective Democracy (ECD) and the United Western Alliance (UWA) as they clash in a decades old struggle for resources. Read more for some new screens ...

Atari and Epic Games are pleased to announce that development is complete on Unreal Tournament 2004, the highly anticipated follow-up to last year’s smash Unreal Tournament 2003 and the third installment in the mega-selling Unreal Tournament franchise. The game is expected to be available at retail stores worldwide on March 15.

Following on from the success of Perfect Ace: Pro Tournament Tennis, which sold 80,000 units across Europe last summer, Oxygen Interactive have announced they are to launch a sequel title Perfect Ace 2: The Championships in time for the Wimbledon Championships. Featuring new stadiums, new player models, full player editor, new game mechanics and new animations, Perfect Ace 2: The Championships offers the finest Tennis simulation yet.

'Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow' will bring back more of the single-player intrigue that made the original game a bestseller. With exciting new action scenes and a strong cinematic feel, the player will experience new and even more realistic surroundings. Read more for some new screens...

The Three Lions, Sven-Goran Eriksson, the full squad including Beckham, Rooney, Gerrard, Owen and Campbell, the full home and away strips – Codemasters has scooped the lot by securing the exclusive and official England football team video game rights from The Football Association and will publish England International Football for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, complete with Xbox Live online play. Read more for details and screens ...

Eidos announces that it has reached agreement to acquire IO Interactive, the Danish based studio responsible for the hugely successful Hitman franchise. The acquisition of IO secures the future rights of the Hitman series and significantly strengthens Eidos' European creative base and development resource. In addition, the deal will facilitate the use of IO's leading edge technology platform across the Group, which will play a key role in the development of next generation titles.

"RalliSport Challenge 2" is the highly anticipated second installment in the critically acclaimed "RalliSport Challenge" franchise and the first racing title in the XSN Sports brand. "RalliSport Challenge 2" confronts gamers with several new features, including a new graphics engine, online play through the Xbox Live service, the ability to set up leagues and tournaments using XSNsports.com, new race modes, and more cars and tracks.

Jerry Bruckheimer Films is negotiating a seven-figure deal to acquire the feature film rights to bestselling videogame "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time." Pic is being earmarked as a feature film for Disney. Deal includes a script being penned by game creator Jordan Mechner. John August is exec producing and supervising Mechner on the script.

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. announced today that its Global Star publishing division will release Serious Sam: Next Encounter for the PlayStation2 and GameCube. Developed by Climax, the all new alien-blasting adventure will feature online play for up to eight players and two-player split screen action on the PlayStation 2, a four-player deathmatch option on the Nintendo GameCube, and two-player cooperative mode for both platforms. Read more for some new screens ..

Enlight announced today a partnership with gaming visionary American McGee. Founder of the independent game design and consulting firm TMIEC, McGee has signed on to be Enlight's creative director. Praised for his unique design talents by publications ranging from PC Gamer to Rolling Stone, American McGee developed Alice, a darker gothic version of the Lewis Carroll children's tale Alice in Wonderland and American McGee's Oz, a film trilogy currently being developed by Disney Films and Jerry Bruckheimer.

GMX Media today announced that it has secured the World-Wide rights to Byte Software's First Person/Tactical Shooter "SPECNAZ: Project Wolf" . Read more for details and 40 or so screens ...

Sammy Studios has been busy today with several announcements and now we have a buttload of new screens delivered to your doorstep directly from their 2004 Gamers Day. Read more to check out new material for :

• DarkWatch
• Iron Phoenix
• Seven Samurai 20XX
• Spyfiction
• 
  

Delphieye, Inc. has released a demo for their Serious Sam engine powered FPS Nitro Family giving you the chance to try out 2 levels (including a boss 'Monk') from the full game giving. “Nitro Family” mainly focuses on images of the deepest desires of man like violence, sensuality and beauty, with a pure enjoyment of game. Read more for download links ...

UPDATE: Demo was not meant for public release so it has been pulled. Legit public demo coming soon ...

Majesco Sales Inc. today announced plans to publish Super Collapse! II for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance. Developed by GameHouse Studios and already a Web-game favorite with over 15 million users, the popular downloadable PC game is one of the most-played puzzle games on the Net and among the most-acclaimed Internet titles in its genre.

Hip Interactive announced today the signing of a license agreement with ARUSH Entertainment to be the exclusive North American distributor for the PC and console video game Fear Factor: Unleashed based on the TV hit series Fear Factor. The game is expected to release for the 2004 holiday season. Read more for details ...