Back in the driving seat, Acclaim Entertainment today announced it will release Dakar 2, the all-action arcade version of the most radical endurance rally in the world, across all console platforms in February 2003. The game sees a radical departure from the original, offering a wealth of options and gameplay advancements which will leave off-road race fans gripped and on the edge of their seat as they battle for the finish line. "Dakar 2 Builds On Success Of Paris-Dakar Rally By Delivering Exciting New Features, Adventure And Full-On Arcade Action"

The squad-based, action-adventure game, which will be presented in 3D real time, will be divided into three phases. The initial part of the game will involve stealth and strategy. Players will have to gather their escape squads and the equipment (wire cutters, digging tools, identity cards, etc.) necessary to succeed. The second phase will involve selecting the best method of escape and implementing it successfully - timing will be crucial. Read more below for all you need to know about the film and the game (if all you need to know is a little about them).

NVIDIA Corporation, the worldwide leader in visual processing solutions, today announced that it is working closely with Square Co., Ltd., (‘Square’), Japan's leading third-party developer and publisher of home video game console software, on the development of Final Fantasy XI for the Microsoft Windows platform. Square has selected NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti graphics processing units (GPUs) for the development and deployment of the next instalment in the Final Fantasy series, one of the best-selling game franchises of all time. The first PC game developed by Square and the first massively multiplayer online game in the Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy XI delivers crisp 3D graphics and unique visual effects, made possible only by NVIDIA GPUs.

BAM! Entertainment today announced that it has teamed up with acclaimed Japanese developer, Cavia Inc., to develop and publish titles for next generation gaming systems. Members of the development team have worked on award-winning titles, including Sega GT, Ridge Racer and Ace Combat. The first game to come out of this partnership is scheduled to ship in September 2003.

Today Global Star Software, a subsidiary of Take-Two interactive has announced plans to release Vietnam MEDEVAC. This title is the latest installment in their critically acclaimed Search and Rescue series, and will be released in conjunction with another SAR title, Coastal Heroes. Vietnam MEDEVAC represents a new direction in the SAR series, taking the most popular and realistic helicopter rescue simulation series of all time into the stifling hot jungles of war-torn Vietnam at the height of the infamous ideological conflict. But even though the time and place have changed, the ongoing SAR mission remains the same, to save American lives.

Burnout 2: Point of Impact boasts bigger tracks, fully decaled motors and all-new thrilling crashes. Reckless driving is rewarded with an improved Burnout meter: take to the air, slide through corners or swerve to avoid a near head-on collision to fill the meter before unleashing an adrenalin fuelled power surge. A new points system allows you to unlock challenges and modes throughout the game. One of the new modes is 'pursuit' that allows you to drive a police car in hot pursuit to try and ram the opponent off the road. Burnout 2: Point of Impact gives 'boy racer' kicks to gamers – it's only the most assertive and aggressive drivers who'll get past the post in pole position.

Join Isador, the inquisitor monk, on an epic journey through Europe ravaged by years of conflict. The fate of the world lands squarely on your shoulders, as you visit great European cities isolated from each other for hundreds of years, trying to find the person who escalated a personal conflict into a quickly unfolding drama that encompasses the known world.. Check out the latest 40+ screens from Axel Tribe's upcoming epic adventure ..

GGMania has posted an edited chat log (colorized HTML version) from a recent ALTAR Interactive IRC chat. The chat log is quite lengthy as Jiri Rydl and Martin Klima answered tons of questions about UFO: Aftermath, their upcoming strategy game which should be a spiritual successor to the legendary X-COM. According to the chat, they are close to sign a contract with "yet-unknown" UK publisher. If you havent yet, check out our new screens from earlier today...

In the game, Sub Rebellion, players are taken to 2139, a time when the earth’s tectonic plates began to shift, producing massive seismic activity throughout the world. As most of the worlds land began to sink into the sea, civilizations changed forever. Survivors of this era had to adapt to the new conditions of life under and above the sea.. By 2145 two factions arose, the Melgis Empire and the Alliance Army. The Alliance, in a desperate attempt to turn the tides on the war, deployed the experimental Clonos attack submarine. Today we give you 20 wallpapers (in 800*600 and 1024*768 format), just in case you are into submarine's and stuff ..

Earlier we brought you the announcement about THQ signing distribution of Lethal Skies and now we bring you a boatload of goodies to show you what we were talking about .. 50 or so screens .. njoy!

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City will surpass the unprecedented gameplay, cinematic graphics and immersive audio experience that gamers associate with Grand Theft Auto 3, which was released in October 2001 and has rapidly become the fastest selling, highest grossing game for PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system to-date, with global sales exceeding 6 million units. Rockstar Games will release additional information about the game's content in July, but the following details are clear: It's an entirely new game set in the '80s, the location is Vice City, and the vibe is glamour, power and corruption... A few new screens for you to njoy!

Ubi Soft and Sony Online Entertainment Inc. today announced an exclusive publishing agreement to release EverQuest in Mainland China. SOE will bring its already-acquired technological expertise to the partnership while Ubi Soft's online arm, ubi.com, will provide the necessary local infrastructures to host and operate the game.

The official Blizzard web site is getting hit hard now that they have announced their secret title - 'Starcraft : Ghost', a mission based tactical console shooter set in the Starcraft universe, developed by Nihilistic Software andco-published by Capcom and Blizzard Entertainment in Japan. The game is targeted for next-gen consoles for release in late 2003, with no PC releases planned. Read more for details and 20+ screens!

Along with hosting the official No One Lives Forever 2 Demo, Nvidia has a sweet little interview posted with Monolith's Craig Hubbard (Lead Game Designer) and Chris Miller (Fox Producer). There are some nice screens included as well. Go check it out.

John Rowe, president of the global entertainment company Sammy Studios, announced today the expansion of its Hollywood presence by establishing a new facility to focus on video game development, animation and all licensing activities, both acquisitions and placement. He also announced the appointment of well-respected industry veteran Michael Haller as Executive Vice President and former DreamWorks Interactive and Walt Disney Imagineering executive Tami Hathaway as Director of Licensing.

In honor of Myst III: Exile for Xbox and PS2 shipping to retail stores nationwide today, following is screenshots and a movie of Exile's Age of Energy, Voltaic. Voltaic is a U-shaped canyon lined by forbidding sandstone cliffs. Players must get power flowing to the Small Isle connected to the island by harnessing, transforming, or channeling various forms of natural energy to activate a series of mechanisms. Read more to check the screens and download the trailer!

Infogrames, Inc. is bringing the Company’s hit PlayStation2 game, Men in Black II: Alien Escape, based on the smash movie franchise under license from Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc., to the Nintendo GameCube. Men in Black II: Alien Escape is a fast-paced third-person perspective action game that features the films’ trademark one-liners and bizarre, humorous situations.

Black Isle Studios and leading console game developer High Voltage Studios today announced their plan to bring the Baldur's Gate : Dark Alliance franchise to the Nintendo GameCube video game system. The PlayStation2 computer entertainment system version of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, developed by Snowblind Studios, has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide.

CDV Software Entertainment today announced "Sudden Strike II" and "Divine Divinity" for the PC are now available in stores. Sequel to the worldwide hit "Sudden Strike," World War II real-time strategy "Sudden Strike II" adds Japan as a playable nation and includes 50 new historically detailed units. Called "massive, ambitious, and exciting" by GameSpy, wildly anticipated "Divine Divinity" offers over 200 hours of fantasy role-play.

Ubi Soft announced Myst III: Exile for the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox has shipped to retail stores nationwide. For the first time, the intrigue and adventure of the Myst franchise will be fully realized through the power of these next generation consoles. Developed by Presto Studios, Myst III: Exile is the award-winning third installment to the best-selling Myst franchise -- named "Best Adventure Game" by Computer Games Magazine and "Best Game in its Genre" by Gamespot. Exile for PS2 and Xbox is available at retail stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $19.99 (PS2) and 39.99 (Xbox), respectively.