My fellow Comrades of Novistrana! The time has come to rise up and fight for our freedom. We have suffered in silence under the regime of President Karasov for too long. His regime of fear and oppression is crumbling and it is the time of the people. Now is the time to take back the power that is rightfully ours, now is the time for the revolution. Sign up your allegiance to the cause and make yourself heard at www.republictherevolution.com and prepare to make a difference. While you're there, don't miss their exciting new Republic: The Revolution trailer which is available to download on the website!

Midway Games Inc. announced today that Universal Pictures has obtained an option to the rights to develop the classic 1980s Spy Hunter videogame into a major live action motion picture. SpyHunter 2, the latest iteration of the classic videogame, is scheduled to ship fall 2003 for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox and Nintendo GameCube.

Galactic Civilizations is designed to give players a number of ways to win, including military conquest, diplomatic alliances, economic domination, technological advancement, and other strategic methods. The game is a turn-based single player game, however players who play on Stardock.net will be able to play as part of a “metaverse” where victories, defeats and campaigns can be recorded. Will these features combine to give the game a high degree of replayability? Read more and find out!

Taking dramatic steps to become a major player in the global games publishing industry, Kemco will disclose some of the company’s major developments at the upcoming 2003 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), May 14-16, in Los Angeles (West Hall, Booth 2808). Kemco will unveil its hot new original property, Rogue Ops and provide a sneak peek at Lobo, an edgy new title based on the DC Comics character. Other titles that will be showcased include Top Gear Rally and Woody Woodpecker in Crazy Castte 5. Kemco is also on the acquisition hunt for new game properties that will strengthen its portfolio for the future.

Republic: The Revolution is the ground breaking new strategy title boasting jaw-dropping visuals utilising the most advanced graphic engine ever seen. Republic: The Revolution, developed by London based Elixir Studios, has you build up a nationwide faction powerful enough to oust the President and rule the Republic of Novistrana. A new trailer has been released letting you check out a bit more than one minute and a half of footage. Read more for download links ...

Activision, Inc. and Valve are taking World War II fans online to the battlefield with the retail release of Day of Defeat. The title, a multiplayer WWII first-person action game powered by Valve's Half-Life technology, provides intense team-based gameplay that pits gamers in Axis vs. Allies squad-based combat in Western Europe at the height of the war in 1944. Day of Defeat is available at retail outlets nationwide for a suggested retail price of $29.99 and carries a "T" (Teen -- Blood, Violence -- content suitable for persons ages 13 and older) rating by the ESRB.

Codemasters today reveals that Operation Flashpoint 2, the sequel to the internationally acclaimed military action simulator, will feature three different theatres of combat set in environments across Southeast Asia, Central Europe and Africa. The game's mission-based campaigns will take gamers through fictional conflicts based upon authentic events during the years around 1970.

DreamCatcher Games is proud to announce that its new website, dedicated to Battlecruiser Generations, has gone live today! The much anticipated title from legendary-producer, Derek Smart, is due to ship in the fall, and this dynamic site gives a great snapshot of what to expect! The site includes a great forum to get an insight from Derek himself and legions of other fans. There’s also a ton of exclusive screenshots, detailed information about the game, some great downloads and a chance to pre-order the game right now. So pull up a mouse, and head to the official 'Battlecruiser Generations' website where it’s all about to kick-off!! Read more for some new screens as well as details about the online engine.

Activision will debut a show-stopping slate of games at the 2003 Electronic Entertainment Expo, which takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 14-16. The company's blockbuster lineup includes high-profile Hollywood licenses such as "Shrek 2: The Game" (working title), "Spider-Man 2" (working title) and "Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure"; id Software's gripping 3D action game "DOOM III"; Peter Molyneux's innovative new simulation title, "The Movies"; The Creative Assembly's "Rome: Total War"; an all-new "Pitfall Harry" game, based on the Activision classic; a no-holds barred driving action game "True Crime: Streets of L.A."; and "Call of Duty," a first-person action game that captures the gritty drama, intensity and camaraderie of World War II... Read more for all details!

THQ today announced it has acquired the worldwide publishing rights to the highly anticipated "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Oblivion Lost" (working title). Developed exclusively for PC by Ukraine-based GSC Game World, "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Oblivion Lost" is the first game to utilize GSC Game World's proprietary X-Ray engine that allows for massive indoor/outdoor environments, real-time physics and the capability to push more than one million polygons per frame at 60 frames per second. "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Oblivion Lost" provides players with an intense first person action experience that incorporates elements of survival horror and role-playing while taking place in the forbidden zone of the Chernobyl nuclear facility. "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Oblivion Lost" will be available in 2004.

Today we got screens from another one of Jaleco's upcoming title, World Championship Pool being developed on all platforms. No details are known at this point but at least we got some spiffy looking screens for you to enjoy! Read more to check them out!

Galactic Civilizations is a strategy game set in space at the dawn of the 23rd century, where you become the leader of the human civilization. The galaxy has 6 major civilizations and the race is on to colonize, conquer, and dominate the galaxy using whatever means necessary. Strategy First/Stardock have released a new demo which lets you play the Federalist party in a small galaxy until the year 2190. Read more for download links ...

Empire Interactive plc ("Empire") is pleased to announce a key distribution deal with Canadian company Digital Leisure Inc. ("Digital Leisure") to launch the eJay music software range for PC in North America. The deal, which covers the USA and Canada, consists of 24 SKUs scheduled to debut from mid May 2003.

Logitech announced today that the Logitech USB Headset for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system will be available on retail shelves in the U.S. and at logitech.com later this month for a suggested retail price of $39.95 US.

Another day, another batch of game trailers were released. Instead of giving them all their own post, we grouped them and so far there are trailers for :

• True Crime:Streets OF L.A (Activision)
• Mythica (MicroSoft)
• 
  
  Read more for download links ...

Ground Control 2 : Operation Exodus takes place during the year 2741 AD, roughly 300 years after the events in the original game. The democratic and freedom caring Northern Star Alliance (NSA) is being hard pressed by the warmongering Terran Empire. The war has recently entered a new stage; a brutal and deadly ground war, as the Empire has managed to land their first troopships on the last NSA controlled planet – Morningstar Prime... Read more for a few new screens!

Available for free download in Spring 2003, "Insect Invasion" is an add-on MOD for Impossible Creatures, the latest 3-D real-time strategy game from Alex Garden and Relic Entertainment, creators of the critically acclaimed "Homeworld." Building on the popularity of "Impossible Creatures" and its' MOD-friendly engine, Relic ups the ante with 15 new creatures, 9 new abilities and other game enhancements that add even more to Impossible Creatures already unprecedented gameplay features. Check out the new screens!

Command & Conquer Generals, from Electronic Arts has taken the market by storm claiming victory at retail outlets nationwide for two consecutive months. The modern warfare-based game has been ranked the No. 1 selling PC game for February and March, according to NPD Group/NPD TechWorld.

Electronic Arts and LEGO Interactive today announced that BIONICLE, a fast-paced action adventure platform title based on one of the LEGO Company's most successful play materials of recent years, is under development. The game is slated to ship in fall 2003 for the PlayStation2, PC-CD, Xbox and GameCube.

Update: Screens added for PC/Xbox and PS2!

Icculus has released the first beta for the Devastation Linux client. This release requires a full Win32 install of the game patched to v381 (coming soon) as well as a valid CD key, but does not yet include an installer, and testing feedback is invited. (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for details and download links ...

The 2003 version of this game includes many innovations: exclusive new animations with no more latency in controls, super realistic courtside details like ball boys, showtime match presentations, experience points to increase your player's skills, bonus courts and players etc. And of course, for even more realism, you will find the official courts of Roland Garros and US Open as well as real life tennis stars. NGT: the true ace of tennis games.

Atari announced today that Stuntman for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, will be relaunched as part of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's "Platinum" range this summer. To be eligible for the special collection, each game must be available at retail for more than nine months and boast sales in excess of 500,000 units.

A post on the official forum for World of Warcraft let us know that the beta is expected to begin sometime between August and October (thanks VE3D). Here is the full clip:

The beta is expected to begin sometime in Q3 (Sometime between August and October). It will be done in stages. That is all the information we have at this time, please watch the World of Warcraft site for any news.

THQ today announced that Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system will be added this spring to Sony Computer Entertainment America's "Greatest Hits" collection -- one of the first third-party titles based on a kids' license to be included. Developed by THQ's internal studio, Heavy Iron Studios, Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights originally launched in May 2002. The game is based on the classic Scooby-Doo! TV series and features its original characters and villains with the celebrity voice talent of Don Knotts, Tim Conway and Tim Curry. Beginning May 1, Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.99 at retail outlets nationwide as part of the "Greatest Hits" program.