Kicking off the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), co-publishers ARUSH Entertainment and Groove Games today announced that Massachusetts developer Cyberlore has begun development on Playboy: The Mansion. Gamers worldwide will get the chance to build Hugh Hefner's Playboy Empire on their PCs and console gaming systems in late 2004.

Rockstar Games, the world-renowned publishing division of Take-Two Interactive Software is proud to announce Manhunt, the next project from Rockstar North, the developers behind the global blockbuster Grand Theft Auto franchise. Manhunt will be available for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and is expected to hit retail shelves in North America in Fall 2003. Manhunt will continue in the tradition of world-class gameplay, incredible production values, and sardonic sense of humor that has become synonymous with Rockstar North. Details surrounding the game remain shrouded in secrecy. To date, Rockstar has only admitted this: Manhunt explores the depths of human depravity in a vicious, sadistic tale of urban horror.

Mindscape today delivered a double volley with the announcement of Agassi: Tennis Generation for PS2 and Game Boy Advance, due to be released in July for only £19.99, around the time of the Wimbledon 2003 Tennis Championships.

Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) announced today that the PC Strategy / Simulation game Evil Genius will be shown behind closed doors at the 2003 Electronic Entertainment Expo held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, May 14-16. Evil Genius is being developed by London-based Elixir Studios, and is scheduled for a Q3 2004 release.

We added following screens & news this morning to our E3 2003 section..

• Full Spectrum Warrior (XB) Screens
• Warhammer Online (PC) E3 Screens
• Alter Echo (PS2) Screens
• Alter Echo (XB) Screens
• Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior (PS2) Screens
• Finding Nemo (PC/PS2/XB) Screens
• Finding Nemo - Nemo's Underwater World of Fun (PC) Screens
  
  
• GameCube release schedule
• GBA release schedule
  
  Check them out here! (more to come).. Previous E3 news here!

In Dead Man's Hand, players will step into the boots of El Tejón, a master gunslinger riding with one of the roughest gangs in the West, known as The Nine. When the ruthless leader of The Nine betrays El Tejón, El Tejón turns to a life of vengeance, vowing to put every member of his former gang six-feet under. Five shots of Wild West shootouts from the makers of Rune (Infogrames/Atari).

Atari will showcase more than 30 cutting-edge video games at this year's E3 in Los Angeles, including games based on major motion pictures; titles from Wizards of the Coast's Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) franchise; hard-hitting action games; the Company's first massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG); and titles aimed at the mass entertainment market. Find out more below!

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.

Atari, Inc. and TimeGate Studios, Inc. announced today a partnership to develop a new PC installment of Axis & Allies, the popular World War II game franchise. Axis & Allies: RTS (working title) is inspired by the game of war, strategy and economics found in the best-selling Axis & Allies board game, but features unique elements that allow players to change the course of history in new ways. Axis & Allies: RTS is being developed for the PC by TimeGate Studios, creators of the award-winning Kohan series, and is scheduled for release in fall 2004 for the PC.