Electronic Arts today announced the release of its highly anticipated PC game, The Sims Online. The Sims Online is the Internet, multi-player version of the top-selling PC game of all time, The Sims. The Sims Online is a massive virtual world created and populated by thousands of players from around the world. In this never-ending alternative reality players can be themselves or "Be Somebody. Else." In The Sims Online, players create and control the actions of a character known as a Sim. Players enter the world with a small amount of money to spend as they wish. They can purchase their own piece of land to do with as they please or they can join with other players to create shared homes and businesses or host wild events.

Illuminati Entertainment a trailblazing management and production company focusing on clients with backgrounds in comic books and video games launches with an A-list talent roster. Illuminati founder Ford Lytle Gilmore is a producer and the former Vice President of Development at Goodman/Rosen Productions, where he worked on licensed properties, including video game franchises "Crazy Taxi" and "Perfect Dark."

CNN Money reports that we can expect another round of price cuts before mid-year, most likely right around the same time as the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the gaming industry's annual trade show. Most execs are predicting another $50 reduction, taking the Xbox and PS2 to $149 and the GameCube to $99. While unlikely, they acknowledge it's not inconceivable that PS2 and Xbox prices could fall to $99 (and, by default, the GameCube would slip to $50).

AIM listed developer Warthog have dramatically expanded their operation with the acquisition of Zed Two Game Design Studio. Warthog plc is one of Europe's leading independent games software developers. The Company, based in Manchester, UK was established in 1997 and has been profitable since creation. Warthog prides itself on its highly experienced 200 + strong development team, whose combined experience covers more than 1500 games titles across all major platforms and most games genres. At present, the Company is working with numerous high profile licensees to develop video game versions of such entities as Robot Wars, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs and X-Men as well as its own game creations Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter and X10.

WorthPlaying is giving away IronStorm goodies from DreamCatcher. Enter the sweepstakes and have a chance to either win one of 5 IronStorm PC game copies or one of 5 IronStorm T-shirts. IronStorm is a 1st/third person shoot'em-up/action video game set in an alternate world. Imagine, 1964, the First World War never ended and you are in the middle of it! (Earlier winners of IceWind Dale 2 is announced here)

Based on Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated futuristic thriller, Minority Report is the only game that lets the player relive the movie experience, combining hand-to-hand combat and futuristic weapons and devices straight out of the movie. Today we have 9 new screens from the GameCube version.. Go check them out!

The new Cenega Publishing game 'Korea: Forgotten Conflict' has its own website. It contains all information about this strategy game taking place during the Korean war.. Check out news, screenshots, features and more here!

Last week we posted up the announcement about Microids has commissioned Scandinavian game developer UDS to develop an action sports game called “Tennis Masters Series 2003” (TMS 2003) for PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube. Today we received 15 exclusive screens from UDS that you can drool over below.. Njoy!

Artifact Entertainment Inc. is now accepting applications for the upcoming beta test of Horizons. Horizons is a massively multiplayer fantasy world that is currently in development. The beta test will operate in a number of phases, with the first phase commencing in early 2003. If you are selected for a phase of beta testing, you will receive an email and a CD will be ground mailed to your home address. Click here to sign up!!