Belgium developer Larian Studios today announces the first details of their upcoming RPG, Riftrunner. Based on the award winning fantasy universe first introduced in Divine Divinity, Riftrunner is set to capture the imagination of RPG players yet again, and provides a strong stepping stone for the planned extension of the Divinity World.

Bringing the cold, hard steel action of one of today's most popular comic book series to the next-generation gaming systems, Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. today announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with DC Comics for the interactive publishing rights to 100 Bullets. An award-wining pulp noir comic, 100 Bullets was created by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso, and chronicles the dark, moral-testing exploits of Agent Graves, a rogue member of a secret organization, who provides people with the opportunity of a lifetime -- an attache case containing the proof, the gun, and the carte blanche immunity to exact revenge on a person who's done them an irrevocable wrong.

Nokia Corp. is aiming its N-Gage gaming console at a different and potentially larger market than that of the likes of Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s GameBoy, the head of the Finnish company's entertainment and media arm said Wednesday.

"GameBoy is for 10-year-olds. If you're 20 or 25 years old, it's probably not a good idea to draw a GameBoy out of your pocket on a Friday night in a public space," Ilkka Raiskinen said.

Raiskinen said this older audience, targeted by Nokia's hand-held game-and- cellphone-in-one, presents a "bigger opportunity."

Ubi Soft Entertainment today announced that Prince of Persia: the Sands of TimeTM has won Best Action/Adventure Game by the prestigious Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 2003. The Game Critics Awards are the only independent Electronic Entertainment Expo awards, voted on by editors from nearly 40 leading outlets that cover games - including top magazines, online sites, newspapers, and television programs nationwide.

Offering exceptionally strong pain relief, Painkiller is an easy to swallow, first-person shooter with a powerful combination of gaming ingredients that targets the site of pain fast, allowing computer gamers to get on with their lives. European publisher MindScape says that Painkiller, "developed by DreamCatcher Games", will be released in October for the effective relief of the symptoms of adrenaline addiction and features fast-paced, first-person horror gameplay in a world somewhere between Heaven and Hell... Read our recent preview here and read more for some new Painkiller boss level screen shots!

PUPPY GAMES today announced that Alien Flux, their ground breaking web based arcade game, went live today to coincide with the game's US preview at JavaOne taking place in San Francisco 9-13 June. One of only a handful of Java based games in the world, Alien Flux is being heralded as a flagship for Java gaming by Sun Microsystems, who will be demonstrating the game on their booth at the show.

BAU, BAM and BOM became Gem Smashers, traveling the world to spring, spin and smash the crystal cells where their friends are imprisoned. It’s up to you to help our little heroes survive! Use their magic energy, which makes them change colors; it is only possible for them to break down the gems and free their friends if they are the same color as the gem. Smash the gems, crack the puzzle, check the screens. It’s that simple!

Noticed on GameSpot that Enlight Studios is working on a third-person 3D game based on the life and battles of Joan of Arc. The game will feature a new proprietary 3D graphics engine designed to render detailed terrain and vast legions of French and English troop. The game will combine fast-action combat, RPG character development, and real-time strategy elements in an epic military campaign that will include some of the most intense historical battles of medieval Europe. Expected in November. Read the full article at GameSpot.

Yesterday there was, initally, the story that Half-Life 2 was not coming to xbox, then GameSpy got the confirmation from Valve that it WAS scheduled. Now GameSpy has talked to Microsoft Xbox Group product manager David Hufford that it is coming and explaining how the confusion about the fate of the Xbox version of HL2 came into existence in the first place. Check out the soap story!

Dungeons & Dragons Heroes gives you a chance to taste the victory as one of four heroes. It beckons you to take a journey through the world of the classic Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, to live as one of the great ones, and to do the legendary stuff that Heroes are meant to do! Check out the new screens ...

Plunged into a mysterious world, Kya must seek her way through multiple dangers to find her brother and a way back home. She discovers the Nativs, a peaceful tribe, oppressed by the Wolfens - the menacing army of the evil Brazul. Kya must lead the rebellion of the Nativs for their freedom. Mastering magical powers, Kya can liberate the Wolfens from their mystical imprisonment and restore their true Nativ identity. A new boatload of screens just sailed in ...

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

• BF1942: Secret Weapons - E3 Trailer
• Medal Of Honor: Rising Sun - E3 Trailer
• XIII - A.I. Trailer
• FIFA 2004 - E3 Trailer
• Evil Genius - E3 Trailer
• Rome: Total War - Trailer 2
• Dragon Ball Z: Legacy of Goku II (GBA) - Trailer
• 
  
  Read more for download links ...

Providing an exciting opportunity to take part in the largest breakout in history from the "escape proof" Stalag Luft III German POW camp, gamers are invited to participate in the most memorable and famous motorbike scene in ever to emerge in Hollywood. Following the massive hit Conflict: Desert Storm, The Great Escape offers a unique variety of gameplay that builds you from slow, tension filled stealth scenes to adrenalin-filled action and chase sequences. Fans of the film and all gamers will certainly appreciate this stylish masterpiece. Check out the screens ...

Strategy First announced today that the first expansion pack for Disciples II: Dark Prophecy, Disciples II: Guardians of the Light, has shipped to retail stores nationwide. “We are very happy to be giving Disciples fans even more to get excited about,” said Don McFatridge, President Strategy First Inc. “Guardians of the Light will have die hard fans coming back for more and will give newcomers to the franchise a chance to experience the Disciples world we love so much.”

With super-responsive flipper control and ball movement, Pure Pinball gives players the feeling of experiencing full size pinball machines on hand. Featuring the Excessive Speed, World War, and Runaway Train pinball tables, Pure Pinball delivers an unprecedented level of silver-ball realism, making it the state-of-the-art computer pinball simulation of all time. The demo is time limited and contains the Excessive Speed table along with a comprehensive game manual. Read more for download links ...

Ubi Soft has issued another multiplayer map for their squad-based tactical shooter Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield. The author describes this as "I was tired of those HUGE multiplayer map.. so I made one for small team deathmatch and survival. Best for 1 on 1 to 4 on 4." A very small map for fast games, best used in Survival and Team Survival modes. Read more for download links ...

GMX Media today announced that it has secured the rights to publish Firepower for the PC. "You only have to look at the movies on the web site to appreciate the fantastic job the guys at Shockwave have done, this is a must have title for any self-respecting flight sim fan." Commented Barry Leonard COO of GMX Media. Read more for details and screens ...

Anarchy Entertainment can't seem to make up their minds about what to call Deep Sea Tycoon, switching between Atlantis Underwater Tycoon, Aquazots, and for now settled on DST. Either way, they have released an updated demo allowing you to check out four tutorials, a sandbox level set in the Atlantic Ocean, and three single levels in their underwater 3D strategy game. DST is already available in US, and will be availavble in most European countries next month (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

In Advent Rising, a common legend pervades the galaxy - that of a powerful, ancient race that will one day unite the universe. Millions of cultures from vastly distant worlds revere and hallow these mythological beings known as humans. One race, the Seekers, know humans actually exist and are threatened by their potential power. Under the guise of benevolent explorers, the Seekers travel throughout the galaxy in a desperate attempt to eradicate any human society they unearth. Check the new screens ...