Vivendi Universal Games announced today that the next installment in the best-selling Spyro the Dragon video game franchise, Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs is scheduled for release on the Game Boy Advance in fourth quarter 2003. In this platform action/adventure game, Spyro and his friends have inadvertently torn a hole in the fabric of space between the Rhynoc and Dragon Realms. At the command of the elusive Ripto, droves of Rhynocs are now pouring into the Dragon Realms. Spyro must help close the hole quickly before the portal and Ripto's ego grow too large and the two realms fuse together permanently. Read more for details and a dozen screens ...

Vivendi Universal Games announced today that the universe of the classic science fiction TV series Battlestar Galactica will expand in the form of a multi-platform video game. Battlestar Galactica will debut on both the PlayStation2 and the Xbox in fall 2003. Battlestar Galactica delivers a compelling and immersive space action experience as players move seamlessly between stunning cinematics and epic space battles against the insidious, mechanical power of the Cylons. Fight the insidious Cylons in epic space battles utilizing advanced tactics and an arsenal of weaponry, including the greatest weapon mankind ever conceived — The Battlestar Galactica.

Lords of the Realm III (Lords 3) is a real-time strategy game of historic medieval conquest that spans castle building, siege, politics, religion, and conquest. The game is set in the Middle Ages, between 850 AD and 1350 AD, and features authentic castle designs and characters. Various scenarios and campaigns encompass the British Isles, Germany, France, Normandy, Brittany, Flanders and Denmark. Extending the medieval world beyond combat, Lords 3 takes into account the powerful clergy and merchant classes of the time which are important factions in the player's quest to become King.

Vivendi Universal Games announced today that it will publish Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat, a 3D action-adventure game inspired by the upcoming Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Pictures/Imagine Entertainment presentation of Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat. Developed by Magenta Software for console and Digital Eclipse Software for the handheld and PC, Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat interactive game will make its multi-platform debut in the fourth quarter 2003. Read more for details on all platforms ...

Vivendi Universal Games announced today its plan to release the next installment in the Crash Bandicoot franchise, a new character-based racing title named Crash Nitro Kart. The game is scheduled for release fourth quarter 2003 for the PlayStation2, the Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and the Game Boy Advance. Albany, NY-based studio Vicarious Visions (Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure, Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced) is developing the game.

Konami has issued a new patch for their recently released stealth action game Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance, bringing your retail copy to v1.01. This upgrade only fixes issues associated with ATI Radeon 8500 and above. Owners of video cards other than the aforementioned cards should not apply this patch. Read more for details and download links ...

Nintendo of America Inc. and Square Enix today announced three new titles in the incomparable 'Final Fantasy' and 'Mana' game series will be published and distributed by Nintendo of America Inc. for exclusive play on Nintendo platforms. Developed by Square Enix, the three titles, 'Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles', 'Final Fantasy Tactics Advance' and 'Sword of Mana' are each scheduled to launch in North America this year, followed by European launches shortly thereafter.

Vivendi Universal Games today announced development of Tribes: Vengeance, the next installment in the world-renowned and award-winning Tribes videogame series. Due in late 2004 only for PCs, the game is being developed by Irrational Games, known for some of the game industry’s most respected and revered titles, including System Shock 2 and Freedom Force (thanks TribalWar). Read more for details ...

Breed is continuing to win awards and honors from the industry. The title, being developed by newcomer Brat Designs, is one of the latest to be signed up by the market-leading graphics processing unit (GPU) developer NVIDIA Corporation for its The Way It's Meant To Be Played program. This programme is designed to showcase the very best PC games which take advantage of the hardware features of NVIDIA's award-winning GeForce technology. Check some new vehicle screens ...

Reel Fishing III sets itself apart from other Bass Sports Fishing titles by offering a true to life fishing experience. Using the PlayStation 2 technology, Reel Fishing III will offer beautiful scenery, a real-life 3-dimensional fishing engine, true sounds of nature in Dolby Surround Pro Logic II, inspiring soundtracks and fish so real that most will want to keep them in an aquarium. Read more for details and some fishy screens ...

Codemasters will reveal the breathtaking new visual style, enhanced landscape engine and character races for its MMORPG Dragon Empires at this year's E3 exhibition (booth 746, South Hall, Los Angeles Convention Centre, May 14 –16). Dragon Empires is set to deliver a online fantasy world that is immersive and compelling, where thousands of players will socialise, trade and fight alone or in clans to battle for control of the game's 50 cities. Read more for details and new screens ...

EA announced today that former All-American USC quarterback and 2002 Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer is the spokesman for the EA SPORTS' NCAA Football 2004. Palmer, who is expected to be a first round pick in the NFL Draft this weekend, will appear on the cover of the newest iteration of the best-selling and most popular college football videogame, NCAA Football 2004 (Xbox/PS2/NGC). His image will appear on all of the game's packaging and merchandising. Read more for details ...

Aspect Simulations announces the development of their World War I combat flight simulation, KNIGHTS OVER EUROPE. Brought to you by a team whose collective experience includes Red Baron II, the Falcon 3 series, the Close Combat series and Fly II, KNIGHTS OVER EUROPE brings the dawn of aerial combat up-to-date with leading edge graphics, high fidelity flight models and precision damage modeling. Dozens of highly detailed aircraft with historically accurate markings will set the stage for an experience that will attract both hard-core flightsim fans and novices alike. Read more for details and screens

DreamCatcher Games today announced its full line-up for the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). The company will be showcasing 5 new products, including the much anticipated Painkiller on PC and Arx Fatalis on Xbox.

After months in development on a far and distant tropical isle Tropico 2: Pirate Cove is making its sailing the seven seas into stores. An addictive real time strategy, empire building game for the PC this swashbuckling adventure is a treasure that can be discovered in stores on 25th April 2003.

At last the eagerly-anticipated release of the new patch for Unreal Tournament 2003 has been released. This upgrade brings your retail copy of the multiplayer first-person shooter by Digital Extremes and Epic Games to v2225. This patch can be applied to any previous version and has a buttload of gameplay tweaks and fixes, HUD/menus, AI, networking, mod support, D3D/OpenGL, audio as well as demo recording and playback. Read more for detailed fix list and links where to grab it ...

Inspired by its celebrated Secret Weapons series of classic World War II flight combat games, LucasArts' Secret Weapons Over Normandy brings the historic air battles of that era to PS2, Xbox, and PC this fall. Secret Weapons Over Normandy presents a dynamic, deeply engaging story-driven flight action experience that puts players in control of authentic World War II aircraft and challenges them to undertake the war's most dangerous missions. Check 4 new PS2 screens ...

Gamers get ready to finalize war plans and ready the reinforcements as Valve's Day of Defeat has gone gold. The multiplayer action-packed WWII game pits players in Axis vs. Allies squad-based combat in Western Europe at the height of the war in 1944. Day of Defeat is powered by Valve's Half-Life technology and is the first title to be published by Activision, Inc. under its new strategic partnership with Valve. The title is scheduled for release this May.

SEGA Europe Ltd today announced the development of Headhunter: Redemption, a cinematic third-person action epic for the PlayStation2 and the Xbox . The title is in development by Amuze and is slated for release in North America and Europe in late 2003. The title will debut at the E3.

NCsoft is pleased to announce Guild Wars, a mission-based competitive online role playing game, produced by its Seattle-based ArenaNet studio. Guild Wars will have its first major public showing at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), May 14-16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Created by EALA and developed by TKO Software, Inc., the new expansion pack for the critically acclaimed Medal of Honor Allied Assault, takes players from the sands of North Africa to the heart of Italy in the struggle to defeat the Third Reich. Medal of Honor Allied Assault Breakthrough is planned for release on the PC in fall 2003.

There was an email sent to the global beta sign up list this afternoon about pre-ordering EVE and getting into the beta (and pay for it). This does NOT apply to those who signed up for the beta through Worthplaying. Those that have signed up via WP site will be in for FREE, hence the word "beta give-away." You can still signup for the Eve Online beta, either click here or use the banner at the top of the page

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. Read more for details and the first screen..

Atari announced today that Test Drive and Stuntman for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system will be relaunched as part of Sony Computer Entertainment America's "Greatest Hits" program 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 400,000 units.

Rich Vogel Executive Producer for Star Wars Galaxies has updated the official forum with a status report (thanks Blues). Here is a clip from the posting:

Well, it’s been a while since I last posted. Some people probably don’t know who I am. I am the Executive Producer of SWG. I thought I would give you guys an update on where we are in development.

The client team is busy working on adding more visual effects, polishing and enhancing UI, adding more optimizations to the client, and fixing bugs. The Beta Testers have already seen the results of some of our efforts with a faster frame rate, less hitching as you walk around town, new character system features (such as pitch-pointing weapons in combat, or the soon-to-be-released head-turning towards your look-at target). There’s more to do here, and like art, we’re grateful to have a little time to really polish up the client.

Our current plan is to go to Open Beta in early May. This all depends on how polished we are. I realize lots of you want to play but it is important that we make your play experience an enjoyable one.