Developed by Big Huge Games, Rise of Nations combines the epic scope and depth of traditional turn-based strategy games with the pulse-pounding thrill and speed of RTS games, providing unprecedented excitement while maintaining rich gameplay. The game allows players to create new cities, improve their city infrastructure and expand national borders. Read more for a batch of 15 brand new screens ...

ARUSH Entertainment, Groove Games and Digitalo plan to release a multiplayer demo of the just-finished FPS Devastation. The MP demo will contain two of the maps from the final version of the game, and will showcase Devastation's amazingly detailed levels, beautiful OFX Particles, and real world physics for maximum interactivity with the environment and objects in LAN and net games. Read more for further details and some screens ...

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that five additional major recording artists have agreed to provide music and video content for the upcoming rhythm-action game, Amplitude, developed exclusively for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system. Rounding out the music roster for Amplitude with additional rock, dance, rap and electronica, newly signed acts include P!nk, BT, The X-ecutioners, Slipknot and Game Boyz. These artists will join other major recording artists on the Amplitude roster that include Baldwin Brothers, blink 182, David Bowie, Dieselboy, Garbage, Herbie Hancock, Logan 7, Mekon, Papa Roach, P.O.D., Quarashi and Weezer. Developed by Harmonix Music Systems, Amplitude allows players to become a rhythmical DJ and jam with more than 25 diverse songs in virtual, vibrant interactive musical environments while mixing and remixing hit songs during offline and online gameplay.

A few weeks ago Ubi Soft Entertainment announced plans to release Kola Cell, a new level for the highly successful videogame Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell available for download via Xbox Live. Sam Fisher fans won't have to wait much longer! The new mission for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell will be available to Xbox Live subscribers beginning March 14, 2003. In the meantime UbiSoft was so kind to once again send us a few new screens to keep you happy ...

Just noticed on GameSpyDaily that BigHugeGames has delayed the release of their highly anticipated RTS, Rise Of Nations. According to Gamespy beta tester feedback compels Big Huge Games to hold off until May 20th. In Rise of Nations, you'll create new cities, improve city infrastructures and expand national borders. Conquer foes through military might using everything from sling-shots to cannons to stealth bombers to nuclear weapons; corner the market on key commodities and consolidate power under your rule; wheel and deal across time with history's eminent cultures.

It is 1588 A.D., a critical year of an alternate history hauntingly familiar yet fantastically alien to our own. Because of one fateful event during the Third Crusade, the history of this world diverged. This event, the Disjunction, ripped open a long-sealed breach to other worlds. Magic energy and powerful spirits flowed into the world, changing the lands and the people forever. Cast into this world, you are a character of your own devices, strengths, and abilities. Set upon by human factions and powerful spirits, you must decide how to best develop your skills in order to triumph over obstacles that lie between you and your true fate. A fresh batch of Lionheart screens has arrived!

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Oblivion Lost will provide players with extremely dynamic gameplay of fast and tough combats, where players are to oppose dangerous and wise enemies, a large set of multifarious weaponry, possibility to control various machinery, incredible detailing and game world interactivity, story-driven single player with original team gameplay, a well-balanced multiplayer with numerous modes: DeathMatch, CTF, Cooperative, various team games and much more.

ScanSoft today announced that ScanSoft's speech recognition technology is incorporated in the latest PlayStation2 game title Operator's Side developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ). The title incorporates ScanSoft's speaker independent speech recognition engine which allows users to interact with game characters using voice commands.

Get ready for the ultimate value in front line realism as Ubi Soft Entertainment, one of the world's largest videogame publishers, announces Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Gold Edition has shipped for the PC.

Crowd Control Productions (CCP) announced today fans of the highly anticipated Massive Multiplayer Online Game "Eve Online: The Second Genesis" have created an online radio station now on the air 24 hours a day (EVE ONLINE is rated "T" by the ESRB; shipping May 6, 2003). The "Galactic News Network (GNN)" has taken to the airwaves of the Internet playing hot music, group discussions on the world that is Eve, and delivering the latest information on EVE ONLINE through interviews with developers, corporation CEOs and others. Read more for details and a few new screens.

Strategy First announced today that it is releasing two new stand- alone expansion packs for its award-winning strategy game, Disciples II – Dark Prophecy. Read more for details ...

A dedicated edition of the million-selling military simulator Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis is coming to the Xbox video game system from Microsoft. Codemasters will publish a customised Xbox version of the multi-award winning game this autumn. The Xbox edition is being developed by Bohemia Interactive Studio, creators of the original PC title, and will contain the entire original game along with an additional prequel campaign called Resistance.

ARUSH Entertainment, Groove Games and Digitalo today announce that Devastation, a next-generation Unreal engine-powered first person shooter, is now GOLD. It is currently being sent for duplication and manufacture, and will be on retail shelves throughout North America in a couple of weeks. Devastation features amazing graphics and textures, an intriguing and involved storyline, intelligent NPC and enemy AI, incredible weaponry, the ability to pick up and throw items in the environment, and a brand new style of multiplayer gaming called Territories. Check our recently posted preview here!

Sony Computer Entertainment America announced today that MLB 2004 from the 989 Sports group is now available in stores, marking the first time this critically acclaimed PlayStation baseball franchise hits the PlayStation2 ... Live by honor, kill by stealth ... Activision is calling on gamers to take the ninja oath and step into the shadows in Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven, the only stealth-based ninja game for the PlayStation2. Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven is currently available at North American retail outlets... MVP! MVP! MVP! Electronic Arts today announced the release of MVP Baseball 2003 from EA SPORTS on the PlayStation2 and Xbox. A PC version will ship on March 25, 2003.

"MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries" allows players to play for fortune, not honor, as they become leaders of a fledgling mercenary company in the latest standalone installment of the critically acclaimed MechWarrior action-simulator franchise. Players control 100 ton 'Mechs while leading up to eight hired guns into the heat of battle in the quest for the all-mighty C-Bill. MicroSoft has just released a new patch (Point Release 1) for MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries which mainly adress some cheat explots, crashes and other fixes. Read more for details fix list and download links ...

Sony Corp., the world's second- largest consumer-electronics maker, will introduce the PlayStation 3 video-game console this year, two years ahead of schedule, to widen its lead over rivals, the Commercial Times said, citing unidentified people at Taiwanese parts suppliers. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. of Taiwan, which assembles the PlayStation 2 for Sony, and other parts suppliers on the island will start trial production next month, the report said.

Warrior Kings - Battles maintains the excitement that made Warrior Kings a leading RTS, but now introduces the player to a proficiency of computer AI not yet seen in an RTS product. AI Generals not only build a functioning economy, offensive / defensive armies, correctly control formations, but intelligently probe your defenses, looking for your weak points. AI Diplomacy, a major new feature, makes you think you are playing a human opponent(s), giving a new depth to single and multiplayer internet gaming. The demo contains a tutorial of four missions along with a skirmish mode, read more for download links ...

The official site for Vietcong is updated with a new developer diary, part #3 (thanks Unrealik).. This time they discuss characters, equipment and missions.. Check it out!

Slow news evening so only a few new trailers for various games were released. Instead of giving them all their own post, we grouped them and so far there are trailers for :

• Outlaw Volleyball (SSI)
• CSI (UbiSoft)
• Splinter Cell (UbiSoft)
• Clock Tower 3 (CapCom)
• PN 03 (CapCom)
• Neighbours From Hell (JoWood)
  
  Read more for download links ...

Publisher Strategy First and developer Stardock are pleased to announce the availability of Stardock Central to players of their upcoming 4x space strategy game, Galactic Civilizations. Stardock Central is a program that consolidates software updates, message boards, chat, documentation updates, and more into a single easy-to-use program.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Oblivion Lost will provide players with extremely dynamic gameplay of fast and tough combats, where players are to oppose dangerous and wise enemies, a large set of multifarious weaponry, possibility to control various machinery, incredible detailing and game world interactivity, story-driven single player with original team gameplay, a well-balanced multiplayer with numerous modes: DeathMatch, CTF, Cooperative, various team games and much more. Read more to check the usual Friday screens ...

Battle your way to the sales counter March 21st - There's a Limited Edition Collector's Edition Pack - While Stocks last! Just to add to the wonder that is Warrior Kings: Battles, Empire Interactive have announced that a special limited edition pack will be available at launch, but at launch only. Reversing the trend for certain companies to milk the franchise after the first couple of months, forcing the die-hards to purchase the game twice - Damn their eyes! The Collector's Edition contains a set of art prints as well as other items that will not be available after the first print run - so I guess if you want it, you'd better hurry or even better still pre-order to be certain of getting one. You have been warned!

Sammy Studios Inc. today announced that it has expanded its U.S.-based video game development operations. The company unveiled a team based in Los Angeles that is currently working on its second internally developed title, a flight combat game for home consoles, along with plans to launch a state-of-the-art studio located in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley before the end of Q2 2003. Sammy Studios' founding team has been working on the company's first-ever U.S.-developed title, a console-based first person shooter, since launching its San Diego studio last year. Sammy Studios also revealed that it will begin development on two additional titles and will be looking at applicants for all projects in both studios at the Game Developers' Conference (GDC) in San Jose, California, on March 5th - 8th, 2003.

Sony Computer Entertainment UK (SCE UK) today announced further details of its plans for PlayStation2 broadband network gaming. Consumer trials for the service will commence from March 31st 2003.

The Dynasty continues for KOEI Corporation and developer Omega Force as Animation Magazine named Dynasty Warriors the winner for Best Overall Game Animation at the 2003 Game Developers Conference in San Jose. The category represents the best use of animation in all aspects of game design. As Overall Winner, Dynasty Warriors series developer Omega Force will receive one seat of 3ds max courtesy of Discreet.