START! games is pleased to announce a partnership deal with Criterion Software to provide games developers with access to the acclaimed RenderWare platform. The new licencing arrangement supports developers in the crucial early stages of development without any up front costs.

JoWood just tossed up the official site for Cultures 2. Meet historic heroes and legendary scoundrels. Cultures 2 provides different options for reaching your targets, whether you are a diplomat or a warrior.

The PunkBuster site has been updated with the news that they have activated a "test" server for people who encounter possible cheats to test them, giving the PB people a chance to examine and incorporate them in new PB version ... they also address a few oher items .. read more ...

Tiscali Games send us a note about that Activision announced Star Trek Elite Force II for PC. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed first person action game, players resume the role of Alexander Munro, chief of the Hazard Team, Starfleet’s elite security unit. Now assigned to the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC 1701-E, players will explore strange new worlds, battle against both new and familiar civilizations and go on the most dangerous assignments in the galaxy. Star Trek Elite Force II is being developed by Ritual Entertainment and has not yet been rated by the ESRB. Full pressrelease here and first two screens here.

Squeegee your TV 'cause Xbox is getting wet. Infogrames, Inc. , a leading global publisher of interactive entertainment software, is adding another smash title to its Atari lineup this summer when its wild water racer, Splashdown, races onto the Xbox from Microsoft. Complete with authentic Sea-Doo watercraft, a crazy cast of characters and the most insane waters found on Earth, Splashdown brings the speed and skill of watercraft racing to the stunning world of Xbox.

The Monster Jam Web site has launched for your viewing pleasure. Visit Monster Jam Web site for detailed information on Monster Jam: Maximum Destruction for PS2 and GBA. The GBA version launched on arch 26th and the PS2 version is targeted to launch later in May. The Monster Jam Web site features new screenshots, movies and information about the game. The site also links to the United Hot Rod Association's Web site and MonsterMania.com for in-depth information about the actual Monster Trucks featured in the games

Today we have a small interview with Terry Dowling, the man behind Project3 and Mindscape's Schizm: Mysterious Journey. Slates for release somewhere this summer. If you never heard of the game let me put it briefly. ’Schizm: Mysterious Journey’ is a non-violent single-player innovation in the adventure game genre, with fascinating non-linear game play and stunning 3D graphics. Written by the highly acclaimed science fiction writer Terry Dowling and developed in Poland by LK Avalon, ‘Schizm: Mysterious Journey’ will literally keep you playing for hours on end, in this massive double DVD-Rom or 5 CD-Rom release.

3DO just tossed up the official site for Might and Magic IX. Follow this link to check out some game features screens and more. "The game will be released on Friday".

Crave Entertainment, a leading publisher of videogame entertainment, today announced the official Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter Web site, www.huntthemdown.com, dedicated to its game being launched Fall of 2002. Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter, an original title from Crave, offers a compelling combination of first person action and arcade space combat, as Mace Griffin unravels a deep, and dangerous, mystery.

Termite Games tossed up the official site for their upcoming action title New World Order. The site features FAQ, screenshots of the game in action and more. New World Order is a team-based multiplayer game which features environments that could easily be taken right out of a film. It's fast paced team-action simulator with gritty attitude.

On the Game Developers Conference, GameSpy managed to get an interview with Peter Molyneux, where he amongst other things admits to having plans for Black & White 3. Here is a spot from the interview:

Early development of Black & White 3 will begin in a few months with a small team devoted to developing a new engine for the game. The storytelling will allow more branching instead of a straight linear variety. There will be different resolutions to problems, bringing a slight RPG aspect to the game. "I'm incorporating what we are learning from Project Ego to enhance the game experience," Molyneux said. Full interview here!

LithTech™, Inc., a leading developer of licensable game technologies and tools, announced today the release of an updated version of its advanced Jupiter system, the foundation for the highly anticipated sequel to No One Lives Forever. Jupiter now delivers an even broader range of features including a new polygrid system that supports dynamic lighting, Fresnel reflections and dynamic surface animations as well as the addition of cubic environment mapping. Other new features include an improved command editor to more easily create cinematic events and more robust support for dynamic texture effects.

Sony Online just tossed up the official site for their upcoming MMORPG expansion, EverQuest: The Planes Of Power. You can find FAQ's, screens, features and much more on this new "flash" site. Check it out.

The official site for the upcoming space fight simulator game Homeplanet is today updated with some new screens in the gallery section and new pictures of the ships from the game in the ships section. Check it out!

GarageGames announces the kick off of Realm Wars, the first GarageGames Community Project and Demo to be built on the popular Torque Game Engine (their modified Tribes 2 engine). Realm Wars will allow massive numbers of players to team up and fight battles in a real time, team based, FPS, action format. To prepare for battle, the player chooses a race, customizes his character's abilities and appearance with a wide array of weapons, armor and items. Characters can join simple team based skirmishes, controlled battles, or epic wars, with persistent stats kept on the player's performance. They us know that they've just launched their official website for Realm Wars and have a 6mb demo available that gives you an impression of what to expect ... and for that small a demo, i can tell you its packing some serious heat! read more for links and other goodies

Today Microsoft tossed up its official site for Ensemble Studios' upcoming 3D RTS, Age of Mythology. The site offers FAQ, features, screens and much more. Check it out!

Westka Interactive today unveiled Westka.com, the company's new Web site that invites English speaking visitors to explore the world of this up-and-coming game developer. Whether it is calling on a hero to save the fate of humanity in the eagerly anticipated The Y Project, or sending a player on an epic quest in the European RPG hit Arcatera, the gaming masters at German-based Westka Interactive continue to push the boundaries of computer entertainment.

Barbican Gallery today announced the launch of its microsite dedicated to "Game On", the first major and most comprehensive UK exhibition to explore the 40-year history of computer gaming (1962-2002). The general public will now be able to book advance tickets by accessing the new microsite.

ARUSH Entertainment today tossed up the official Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project Site. Take a closer look at this third-person platform action game HERE.

The official site for the RTS, Sudden Strike II, is now available. The site offers FAQ, some screens, game overview and much more. Check it out.

Midway Games Inc., a leading software industry publisher and developer, announced today that the Web site for Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance has launched. The new Mortal Kombat Web site contains a download section, featuring various Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance-themed items to choose from, such as wallpaper, screensavers and banners. Additional content such as FMV, gameplay video footage and bulletin boards are planned.

Today Blues tossed up following announcement.. LithTech, Inc., a leading developer of licensable game technologies and tools, announced today the release of an updated version of its advanced Jupiter system, the foundation for the highly anticipated sequel to No One Lives Forever. Jupiter now delivers an even broader range of features including a new polygrid system that supports dynamic lighting, Fresnel reflections and dynamic surface animations as well as the addition of cubic environment mapping. Other new features include an improved command editor to more easily create cinematic events and more robust support for dynamic texture effects. Full pressrelease here. Six new No One Lives Forever 2 screenshots is also available here!

Reality Pump Studios today launched the official site for their new title, KnightShift. The game NightShift is a combination of RTS with RPG elements. The game plays in a mystic world with many fantasy elements. The player has the control of wizards, witches, and many other fabulous creatures.

Rage, the computer games publisher and developer, today announces that it has launched a new dedicated web site for its forthcoming PC title, Mobile Forces.

The official site for the 3D real-time strategy game by Edgies, Dark Planet: Battle for Natrolis is now available. The site offers features, screens, some movies and FAQ.