Sphere, PC: Sphere is a Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) that immerses players in the world of medieval Europe where they have complete freedom to shape their own destiny. Absorbed into the universe created by a rouge monk, players find themselves forced to adapt to a new, hostile world. Sphere's huge continents are crammed with NPCs, monsters and other players inhabiting every square foot of the world. Within the universe of Sphere, cities protect players and are used as main trade and political centers, with markets offering goods, weapons, potions, miscellaneous items and alchemy components. There are dozens

Riverdeep today announced the upcoming release of School Tycoon an all-new life simulation strategy game that presents kids with the ultimate fantasy ? the opportunity to rule their own school. The product combines classic "build and management" simulation with wacky and hilarious comic mischief, as kids endeavor to balance the super-cool elements they have created within their school, with the typical administrative policies and procedures required to run an orderly campus. School Tycoon will be available this fall on Windows for a suggested retail price of $29.95.

School Tycoon sends players on a mission to design, build, and master the Ultimate

Under license from Hasbro Consumer Products, Atari has announced plans to take one of the most popular trading card games ever created to the Xbox videogame system from Microsoft with the release of "Magic: The Gathering - Battlegrounds." A PC CD-ROM version of the game was also announced. Currently in development by Secret Level, "Magic: The Gathering - Battlegrounds" is filled with faithful translations of classic creatures, spells and enchantments from the premier trading card game in a visually stunning 3D game environment rife with real-time strategic fighting, devastating wizard arsenals and intense creature combat.

"`Magic' represents one of the best

Perimeter, PC, Q4 2003 release date

Perimeter is an original RTS experience combining innovative warfare and terraforming capabilities with traditional RTS gameplay. The gamer will create modifiable combat units using advanced nanotechnology – units that can be modified in mid-mission as tactical situations change - and launch a campaign to seize territory. Once land is captured, powerful defensive perimeters are arrayed and the land is converted into the principal energy source. Developed by K-D LAB.

Rig'n'Roll, PC, 2004 release date

Rig'n'Roll (from creators of famous Hard Truck series) is delivering players the ultimate truck driving experience with authentic models of trucks and their

StarRush, PC: StarRush is a spaceship simulator set in the action of a distant galaxy, which suffers from gold-rush fever. One of the game’s distinctive features is an original concept of continious gameworld. Players can actually land on the planets by going through the atmosphere and even battle in the skies as well as in outer space. The game world of StarRush is inhabited by enemies and friends, pirates hiding in asteroid fields and merchants traveling from one planet to another. StarRush is a story-driven action spaceship simulator that immerses gamers in an incredible atmosphere of gold-rush of the distant-future,

Star Wolves, PC: Star Wolves is a 3D space RPG with deep strategy elements, thrusting players into a world of freelance space hunters in the XXI-XXII Century A.D. during a time of political crisis. Corruption prospers planet-side and only space can give a man his freedom, but human space pirates, rouge AI computers and Empire patrol ships roam space in search of easy prey. Players can control a party of up to six bounty hunters, each possessing different skills, abilities and personality. Team tactics give players vast opportunities in battles when shear fire power isn't enough. Tactical ruses, planning and

Particularly in the spotlight this year, six blockbuster games are expected to wow fans and rack up record sales:

• Beyond Good & Evil: Based on an original idea by Michel Ancel and developed by Ubi Soft's in-house studios, this title blends an ambitious, fluid new gaming experience with an epic storyline. Its Jade engine ensures that players benefit from the most advanced technologies available in the industry today.
• Far Cry: This cunningly detailed action shooter - which boasts a meticulously designed, next-generation Far Cry engine - pushes the boundaries of virtual combat to shocking new levels.
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time:

Swashbucklers: Legacy of Drake, PC: Swashbucklers: Legacy of Drake is a third person action game chronicling the adventures of a young and desperate daredevil Captain Abraham 'Nightingale' Grey. As Captain Nightingale, player leads his 'Warble' cutter through bloody waters of the Caribbean. Gamers can sail the seas fending off naval attacks from the pirate scourge and English warships embroiled in the War of 1812. Players also can disembark the ship, fight and shoot enemies one on one to capture opposing ships, towns and beach villages. The game's narrative uses black humor and irony that follows the feel of the Caribbean

Pop Idol, set to be the mass-market game of the year for PlayStation 2 and PC, will be exclusively presented from a themed stage on the booth. Codemasters will challenge show-goers to see how well they can perform as a virtual Pop Idol singer as they control the in-game voice of a contestant through the music-based rhythm-action gameplay.

Every in-game performance is judged by a computer-generated Simon Cowell, and there may be some very familiar Idols faces at Codemasters' E3 booth too...

Codemasters will also unveil the next level for its power-brand games including Colin McRae Rally, Operation Flashpoint and LMA Manager.

Premiering

Brigade E5: New Jagged Union, PC: Brigade E5: New Jagged Union is a squad-based tactical game that places gamers in the small tropical nation of Palinero on the verge of civil war. The mission: hire a band of mercenaries and take control of the deteriorating situation before the country finds itself in complete ruin. The story offers players the opportunity to experience three different viewpoints of the conflict, to fight for either faction or work outside the political structure to achieve your own goals in the global domination. Unlike standard turn-based systems, Brigade E5: New Jagged Union does not use