Microsoft Corp. announced the release of beta version 1 of the Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 API, the latest version of Microsoft’s suite of multimedia application programming interfaces. Beta 1 features Microsoft’s innovative new high-level shader language (HLSL), a powerful new programming model that offers the easiest-to-use graphics creation toolset for developers.

Infogrames is working on a pinball game, "Akira Psycho Ball", for the PS2. So here we have a few (rather fuzzy) screens of what it looks like. No specific details nor a scheduled release date is known yet, but we will keep you posted.

Fresh from a hit unveiling at E3, Codemasters today reveal new screens from "World War II: Frontline Command", the forthcoming real-time strategy epic for PC, being developed by The Bitmap Brothers.

UPDATE: Codemasters was so nice to send us another 7 additional screens to the previously posted. Enjoy!

At 3 p.m. EST on Saturday, June 1st, Blizzard’s very own Bill Roper will return to the airwaves as a guest on The Gaming Files radio show. Bill will be discussing the upcoming international release of Warcraft III as well as offering some tidbits about World of Warcraft. The show will air on WXBH AM 1190 in upstate New York, and it’s also available over the Net at www.wxbh.com.

Today we received 38 tiny screens from Capcom and their upcoming horror game for GameCube, Resident Evil 0.. Check them out!

The official Project Nomads website is now online! The website for this award winning action adventure ("Game of the Show" at the ECTS 2001), comes up with fantastic graphics and offers plenty of screens and artwork. There are also more details of the story, features, FAQ and more.

CDV have been inundated with requests to release the first ingame sequences. The really impatient ones among you can now download a first in game movie (German/English)! The in game sequences of the pre-alpha version feature a clip of a typical mission, from the take-off up to the landing, and of course, they also show the required combats, landing crafts, tanks, and GRUNTS. The in game movie is available in two formats: as MPEG (37 MB) to download under gamesweb.com and as streaming RealVideo at CDV.

What's Cossacks: Back to War? What's it all about? Which new nations can I expect? And, how's life in Switzerland? Now you can find the FAQs of the eagerly awaited second add-on of the RTS blockbuster Cossacks: European Wars on the official homepage.

American Conquest is a RTS game, that deserves its name. Twelve "tribes", each with 6 to 12 representatives, offer about 16.000 units altogether. This will enable the gamer to have great mass battles. The single units are presented in a detailed and historically correct way. Those who want to form up with British and confederate troops during the 18th century to battle against the Mayas, can also do this in American Conquest … Check out some new screens.

No Man's Land is a new 3D RTS from CDV. It's now possible to have first impressions of the game by checking out an early, but recent, ingame movie. The movie is available in two formats: as an MPEG (52 MB) to download under gamesweb.com and streaming RealVideo at CDV.

If you like to do a lot of socialising, then check this out: the outstanding fantasy game Divine Divinity offers you a lot of non playing characters (NPCs). The non playing characters will be able to interact with around 3000 characters! Do NPCs react to the gamer's performance? Sure, at least the most of them. They certainly do not hang about looking into the space. But if the hands and feet of an NPC should be tied up, don't expect too much … Check out new screens!

This Neverwinter Nights MPEG movie shows a character single handily taking on the likes of Minotaurs, Red Slaads, Earth Elementals and more. It runs for 41 seconds and is 12MB to download. Read more below for links! "Neverwinter Nights (NWN) is a computer game set in a huge medieval fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons. This role-playing game (RPG) puts you at the center of an epic tale of faith, war, and betrayal"

The community chat organized by the Nexus and the GDC which was originally scheduled for this Sunday past, has been moved to tonight at 8pm EST. The topic will be: "What is the player community's Next Step? How can the community of players, DMs, and Creators best organize themselves to provide quality gaming experiences for as many people as possible?" Find out more below! (thanks Neverwinter Vault)

UPDATE: 'Neverwinter Haven Beta Contest' Neverwinter haven is proud to present a Beta Contest for 2 spots in the Neverwinter Beta. Time is of the essence contest Ends JUNE 2nd. More about beta test here!

Galactic Civilizations is a space-based strategy game in which the player becomes the leader of the human civilization at the dawn of the 23rd century. The galaxy has 6 major civilizations including humans and a race is on to colonize, conquer, and dominate the galaxy using whatever means necessary. Read more for links where to grab the intro movie

Reload with Unreal Tournament 2003 – the sequel to 1999’s multiple ‘Game of the Year’ award winner – Unreal Tournament. We just got another eleven Unreal Tournament 2003 screenshots, bringing the total in our archive to - spookily - 2003. More or less. Check them out below!

UPDATE: On the infogrames forum, Mark Rein just tossed up following information for the upcoming beta:

The demo WILL include bots so you'll be able to play offline against bots. The single player campaign is more elaborate than choosing a level, a bot skill level, number of bots, etc. To play a botmatch you simply choose Instant Action whereas to play online you choose Multiplayer.

Shrapnel Games is proud to announce the official launch of sgsportz.com and gamersfront.com. Further details can be found on the following websites: shrapnelgames, sgsportz, gamersfront.

The officiall site for upcoming Hitman 2 has today been updated with some new bodyguard japanese mafia characters and 2 new small movies. Check it out!

Already announced earlier we now have more specific details on the going GOLD of Gathering Of Developers and Thriumph Studios TBS ''Age Of Wonders II: The Wizards Throne". Delivering an invigorating mix of empire building, role-playing, and warfare, "Age of Wonders II: The Wizards Throne" offers the ultimate in fantasy turn-based strategy. This game is set to ship June 2002.

Codemasters will digitally recreate Europe’s finest soccer players in striking photo-realistic visual detail for its series of Club Football games, coming to America next year to the PlayStation®2 and the Xbox .

BAM! Entertainment today announced that its action fighting game, Way of the Samurai, for the Sony PlayStation 2 begins shipping to stores this week.