Easily one of the most anticipated games of 2003, Infogrames send out word that Legend Entertainment and Epic Games' "Unreal II: The Awakening" has reached gold status and is to be expected in stores early February. For previously posted screens, trailers and other goodies, check here

Midway Sports, the sports brand of leading software industry publisher and developer Midway Games Inc. announced today the kickoff of a national search to find the next two MLB SlugFest cheerleaders. MLB SlugFest 20-04 is scheduled to launch in March of 2003 for release on the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, the Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance. The MLB SlugFest franchise is the first and only aggressive-style baseball videogame franchise, delivering a proprietary blend of hardcore, lightning-fast, adrenaline-style gameplay combined with key baseball features that will please even the most diehard sports fans.

It's not just driving – it's blisteringly fast, nerve-shatteringly intense, pure professional racing and unlike any motorsport video game before. This is Indy Racing League, the official video game of the gruelling US open-wheel championship, due spring 2003 for PS2, Xbox and PC from Codemasters.. Behold the first screenshots of all-American racing Codies-style. Seven PC shots & ten Xbox shots taken from giddying angles.

Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. today announced its results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2003 ended December 1, 2002.. (Yawn) But! It lists Acclaim's releases for the rest of this year..

Talk about a southern island fantasy! Imagine being in Paradise for two whole weeks, with no-one but the lovely ladies of Dead or Alive to keep you company! Except instead of fighting - it's all about another exciting and reaction testing activity - beach volleyball. In "Dead or Alive Extreme Beach Volleyball", you play as a character you select out of all seven of the Dead or Alive ladies, along with one new character and enjoy holidays at various spots on the island playing beach volleyball games. Don't all rush at once for these 13 new pics. No, seriously - don't... Please... Aargh. Man the pumps!

Esimgames' tank combat simulator Steel Beasts 2 is expected to be released Summer 2003, but today we have a few new screens showing off some tank bliss. Read more to check them out ...

Interplay and Vivendi Universal Games today announced the development of Hunter: The Reckoning Wayward for the PS2. Hunter: The Reckoning Wayward, developed by High Voltage Software, continues the story of the successful action adventure franchise Hunter: The Reckoning. High-speed action combined with top-notch graphics translate the dark fantasy world of the White Wolf role-playing game and bring the essence of the game to life, fully submerging the player into the realm of The World of Darkness. Wayward comes to the PS2 this summer with an all new story, game-play features, weapons and terrifying monsters.

Ubi Soft Entertainment announced today that it has acquired all developing and publishing rights related to the Nightmare Creatures 3, Angel of Darkness (working title) video game as well as the Nightmare Creatures trademark. As a result, the development for Nightmare Creatures 3, started by Kalisto Entertainment, is now being handled by Ubi Soft. The game is slated for release on the latest generation of consoles in 2004.

Entertainment software publisher NovaLogic Ltd. today announced that they are looking forward to their busiest ever Q1 in 2003 with the release of three PC titles, Delta Force - Black Hawk Down, Highland Warriors and Devastation... Delta Force - Black Hawk Down will ship on February 28th, 2003, Highland Warriors on March 21st, 2003 and Devastation on March 21st, 2003.

The company also announced that a single and multiplayer demo for Delta Force - Black Hawk Down would be available at the beginning of February. More details about the demo will be released shortly.

Midway Games announced today that Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance has sold through more than one million units across all platforms between its November 22 launch and the end of 2002. The game is currently available for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance. Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance is scheduled to launch in Europe in February 2003.

SMH.com reports that a Hong Kong computer game enthusiast has been found slumped dead at a terminal in a game centre after playing non-stop for hours. The 28-year-old was found slumped at his screen early on Saturday after he apparently had played the online game Diablo II since early Friday evening.

A policeman found him in the game centre shortly after 1am, five hours after he began playing the popular game, according to reports. His death at a game centre in Hong Kong's Yuen Long district came eight months after a 17-year-old game centre employee was found dead after playing Diablo II through the night.

Warnings were posted in cyber cafes around Hong Kong advising customers not to spend too long playing games uninterrupted after the death of the teenager last May. A police spokesman said today that an autopsy would be carried out to determine the cause of the death of the man.

J.P.Eekels Lead Designer @ Digital Extremes posted up some information at the Infogrames forum, regarding 'Unreal Championship' Update.. Here is a small clip from his posting:

I just wanted to drop you guys a note on the planned update (fixes for exploits) and thereby opening an option for other fixes as well that we have for you.

Although Unreal Championship can be patched to fix exploits, this is not by all means an easy task. I will not go into detail here other then saying that it is not the same situation like updates for PC based games. I will also go on and say that we do listen to our public and are in fact working hard to make sure that you have an awesome time playing our games.

So, I will have you know that there is some substantial work put into the upcoming patch that will fix some exploits that people have listed on this board. Some things were known (stats for instance) and some things just came up through the woodwork.

Follow this link to see what they currently working on! (thanks GameSpy)

Whew! Three giant adventures in one tiny package! The Rugrats team up with The Wild Thornberrys to bring you the excitement from around the world... Read more for features and 10 screenshots!

Digital Extremes Press Officer, Maven Meridith Braun send out following information about the upcoming bonus pack for Unreal Tournament 2003..

They're still working hard on it. The team was a little worn out before the holidays so unfortunately they didn't get it completed in time for Santa to deliver to all the good boys and girls but they art testing this week and next and hopefully it will be out before the end of January.

I saw on the official Unreal 2 forum that "Unreal Brand Manager" from Infogrames posted up some information about release date for Unreal 2.. Here is the clip:

Soon is the day it hits the shops - Feb 4th here in the US of A and I think the 7th for the excellent Europeans.

Black Isle Studios, Reflexive Entertainment and RPGCodex are pleased to present a chat with members of the Lionheart development team on Wednesday January 15, 2003 "Wednesday January 15th 2003 at 5:00PST (8:00 EST)". Here are all details:

Lionheart Chat Channel - #lionheart (fans using IRC clients can connect to channel #lionheart on the GamesNET network. Direct your IRC client at one of the following servers, on port 6667, and then enter the channel using /join #lionheart)

The official Korea: Forgotten Conflict site (a upcoming 3D tactical RTS/action game with a Korean war backround) is updated with the first information about medic Sarah ‘Honey’ Parker.. "She is a very professional nurse, who asked to be moved from a MASH troop to this Commando unit".

The stars are coming together for a great cause ­ TO BEAT THE HELL OUT OF EACH OTHER! Gotham Games has released the list of sacrificial celebs who have signed on to lend their likeness to MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch, a new game coming later this year to the PS2, Xbox, PSOne and GameCube. Based on the gore-filled, MTV claymation hit, MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch will feature digitally rendered versions of teeny-boppers, tabloid princesses and other notorious superstars. Read more for details ...

JoWooD is proud to announce Gothic II, the breathtaking role-playing action adventure game, will feature 400 Non-Player Characters when it has its UK release in Q1 2003 on PC. Players will need to keep their wits about them at all times to survive in this deadly world. As the player progresses through his epic journey, he will encounter hundreds of highly intelligent NPCs who will either help or hinder him depending upon both their disposition and their past interactions with the player. Read more for info and check out the screens ...

As an elite SEAL commander, your team has been called to fight terrorists in 12 of the most deadly operations ever. With more than 60 weapons, superior intelligence, intense training and unparalleled skills and tactical maneuvers at your disposal, protect freedom wherever it is in danger. Desire. Determination. Victory... These eight new grabs get our SEAL of approval.

Team SAS is an elite Special Forces game developed using the unique experience and knowledge of Special Forces expert, highly decorated SAS soldier and best selling author, Andy McNab DCM MM. Take on any one of four unique roles in the team; heavy weapons support, jungle warfare scout, long range sniper or team commander and battle through the most intense jungle environments ever seen in a videogame, including fully 3D moving foliage, shafts of sunlight and volumetric fog... Today we have 27 new Xbox shots of muscly men running about in the jungle.

Vulcan Software Ltd. is proud to announce the release of Episode 6 of the Valhalla Classics Speech Adventure. This episode, entitled The Dungeons, requires the player to accompany the Lord of Infinity on his ongoing quest to murder his goody-two-shoes brother King Garamond. The Dungeons provide the backdrop for yet more headache inducing puzzles, illustrated by the dry humour of the Lord of Infinity, who speaks to the player throughout the episode with approximately 500 phrases of digital speech.

Imagine a world where great white sharks stalk on land, hippopotamuses soar overhead with bat-like wings, and rhinoceroses move with the speed and agility of leopards. Today, Microsoft announced the retail availability of just such a place in "Impossible Creatures." Read more for details or head on over to the nearest game store and pick up your copy .. NOW!

Unreal II is an intense gaming experience that immerses players in an epic story-driven adventure featuring superb graphics. As a Terran Colonial Authority Marshall, you’re patrolling a sector of the frontier with three crew members when an interstellar war erupts about you! Rumors of powerful and ancient alien artifacts have driven rival factions to war in an attempt to find and control the objects. You must locate these artifacts, determine their purpose and restore order to the sector - before it’s too late. Check the new batch of Unreal-istic screens as well as the in-game action packed trailer !!!

Polish developers Mirage have just released a new update patch for their recently released first-person shooter "Sniper: Path of Vengeance" This upgrade brings your retail game to v2.33. Although it being a whopping 42.5mb in size there is no info available on what exactly it does fix/update (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for links where to grab the goods ...