Akella, mostly known for the naval titles like Pirates of the Caribbean and Sea Dogs, is launching a new website for the Metalheart: Replicants Rampage project, their tactical role-playing game set on a deserted planet where the main characters find themselves after the spaceship crash. Read more for some new screens or check out the freshly launched Metalheart: Replicants Rampage website.

NVIDIA Corporation today announced that NASA is using its technology to reconstruct Martian terrain from transmitted rover data in photorealistic virtual reality, allowing scientists to explore Mars in 3D as if they were actually moving freely on the planet's surface. This NVIDIA-powered environment serves as a precise vision and planning system for NASA scientists, allowing them to rehearse a variety of Mars rover scenarios, mapping out moves and experiments, prior to directing the vehicle to undertake actual tasks by "flying" through highly realistic, 3D reconstructions of the Martian surface.

Maintaining law and society order is veteran Headhunter Jack Wade, older, wiser and battle hardened. At his side is the reluctant new sidekick, the rebellious street kid Leeza X. Whether ripping up the highways of the silver metropolis on a super bike or stalking the criminal masterminds of the shadowy underworld, they are led into the greatest danger of their lives and must overcome something much more sinister than a simple human threat. Each must face their darkest fears. Together they must redeem a world facing chaos...

LucasArts/Sony Online ent. dropped us a note that starting Tuesday January 20th, 2004 and ending February 2nd 2004, they are reactivating all old 'Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided' accounts giving people a chance to try out all the new content they have been adding since the launch of the MMORPG. If you do not remember your login information anymore, you can check out their login/password recovery page.

Noticed on VE3D that Legend Entertainment has today been shut down by the powers that be at Atari, according to credible sources. Legend recently completed work on the XMP addon, which added an excellent multiplayer mode to Unreal 2. This was released free on the internet for existing owners of Unreal 2 and also in a special edition version of the game that was released recently. The patch that is currently being tested will be released and that the master server for the game will continue to operate. The LEgend Ent. website has already been taken offline and the Unreal 2 Xbox port (developed by Tantalus) is still on track for release. No Atari representative could be reached for comments, no surprise there... Thanks Andy!

While we just recently reviewed DBZ Taiketsu it seems a new Dragon Ball Z game is on its way to the Game Boy Advance. According to the latest issue of Famitsu, Dragon Ball Z: Bukuu Tougeki in due for the GBA platform in Japan this Spring. Bukuu Tougeki is a 2D fighting game that is being developed by Guilty Gear's Arc System Works and published by Banpresto. Let's hope its better than Atari's poor attempt, read more for details ...

In an unprecedented event, Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow will premiere at an event coinciding with the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. This unveiling marks the first time a video game has debuted in or around a film festival and demonstrates the increasing prominence of video games in the entertainment pantheon. Published by Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow is already one of the most anticipated video games of 2004 and was recently featured on MTV's "Ultimate Video Game Countdown."

Enlisting gamers to embark on one of the most important military campaigns of the 20th century, Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. today announced that it is preparing for its June retail invasion of developer BattleBorne Entertainment, Inc.'s forthcoming next-generation World War II video game, Combat Elite: WWII Paratroopers. Set to launch during the 60th anniversary of "D-Day", Combat Elite: WWII Paratroopers' development team is comprised of former members of the celebrated Fallout 2, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon teams. In addition, the game will utilize the proven Snowblind Studios game engine and challenge players to rise through the ranks in more than 40 levels that recreate some of the most important battles of World War II.

Electronic Arts and Sony Music Entertainment have jointly announced a cross promotional marketing agreement to support the in-game soundtrack of the upcoming EA game, NFL STREET, which promises to be the most significant yet between a video game publisher and a music label to date. NFL STREET will be available January 15, 2004 on the PlayStation2, GameCube, and the Xbox.

Delta Force - Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre for PC CD - ROM will be in stores on January 21st 2004. Delta Force - Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre features two new single player campaigns that take Delta Force deep into the jungles of Colombia in search of drug lords, then on to battle terrorist factions in and around Iran's island oilfields. Team Sabre will also contain a number of new multiplayer features, including over 30 new multiplayer maps. On Saturday 17th January, customers in select iGames centers across the country will get the chance to play the full retail version of the game.

Hell Forces is a classical FPS (First Person Shooter). Stephen Geist – the main hero of HF is trying to find out, what has happened to his missing friend. During this search he is mired in a satanic conspiracy, and is trying to stop dread forces of Baphometh, the servant of Satan. Infernal legions are uncountable, but Stephen is not. Only with Your help he can find out the truth and stop the invasion...

Russian developer MiST land (previously known for Paradise Cracked, currently also working on Alfa Antiterror) is working on another 3D tactical/cyberpunk action game Power of Law. Not much info available (unless you speak Russki) but read more to check the first screens & ingame trailer.

SUNFLOWERS has signed an agreement with Electronic Arts. Under the agreement, Electronic Arts will publish ANNO 1503: Treasures, Monsters and Pirates worldwide. With an amazing variety of new features the "Treasures, Monsters and Pirates" Expansion Set is the perfect addition to ANNO 1503: The New World, which was one of the most successful PC titles in 2003. It took over 700,000 enthusiastic players an amazingly short period of time to discover, settle and create their own wonderful world. Read more for details & screens ..

Tempe-based Limelight Networks announced today that it has been selected by Valve, the leading entertainment software company responsible for critically acclaimed games such as Half-Life, to host its Steam platform servers and provide services for the distribution of its online content. The partnership provides gamers across the globe with fast, reliable and uninterrupted access -- via Limelight Networks' powerful delivery network -- to Valve's newest offerings and leading games, as well as offerings from others distributing their content via Steam.

4DRulers has released a level building SDK for their AMP II engine first person shooter Secret Service Security Breach. This package includes everything needed to create your own content and levels for Secret Service: Security Breach. Read more for download links ...

Earlier today we had CDV's 2004 lineup, and it seems Vivendi has now also revealed their upcoming titles. Apart from the anticipated Half Life 2, Men of Valor, X-Files, Tribes Vengeance, World of Warcraft, Ground Control 2, Starcraft Ghost and Evil Genius we also note a few yuet "unannounced" titles such as 2 new Tolkien based titles, yet unnamed Crash Bandicoot and Spyro The Dragon products, a new game based on the Predator franchise and a cryptic discription of a new "Unannounced Pandemic console title" (currently working on Full Spectrum Warirors). Read more for the full list ...

KOEI today announced that it is publishing Crimson Sea 2 exclusively for the PlayStation2. The action-adventure game will ship to North American retailers on March 30, 2004.

Today CDV announced their lineup for 2004, revealing quite a few interesting developments. Breed is about to hit the streets, but CDV/Brat Designs seems to be already working on an addon for end of the year. On deck for release are also Panzers, Lula 3D, Cossacks II, Vultures and a Blitzkrieg addon, as well as an yet unannounced addon for Panzers. Read more for details ....

Konami of Europe has confirmed the latest installment of its best-selling Suikoden series will be released across Europe within the 2004/2005 fiscal period. A sprawling role-playing game, Suikoden IV marks a huge step forward for the series, with a fantastic 3D play area populated by an incredible 100+ heroes and villains.

The release of Suikoden IV sees the popular series make its PlayStation 2 debut in Europe, and Producer Noritada Matsukawa and his award-winning team have pulled out all the stops to produce an absorbing role-playing title wherein the player guides a party of heroes through a number of missions, facing an increasing danger as they explore.

Game Developer Master Creating announces today that they have cancelled their publishing agreement for RESTRICTED AREA with 4am Entertainment for a major breach of contract. Spokesman Jan Beuck: "4am didn't pay the advance payment in time – this is a substantial and un-remedied breach. We are currently considering legal action."

RESTRICTED AREA is an action-RPG set in the dark future and is already in the alpha phase. Master Creating, an independent game development studio based in Hamburg, Germany, is now seeking a new publisher.

The third Secret Weapons Over Normandy Xbox Live content package has officially been released! This package features one additional flyable plane, an all-new single player mission, and an alternative camo scheme for the Ju-87 Stuka. Combining Italian design skills, with a German inline engine, the Macchi 202 is a more than capable fighter plane. Secret Weapons Over Normandy players will get the chance to pilot this aircraft for the first time as they fly for the Axis in combat against Allied invaders in a brand new mission named "Escape from Tripoli." Also added to Xbox Live is an updated camo pattern for the Ju-87 Stuka. Read more to check out some screens of the new content...

Join a secret squad of pilots dedicated to thwarting the most heinous plans of the Third Reich. Fly over twenty authentic aircraft across thirty daring missions in this new WWII action-flyer. Lawrence Holland, the legendary creator of Star Wars: X-Wing, Star Wars: Tie Fighter and Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe returns with an exhilarating new game of action and intrigue. Can you be trusted with the most dangerous secrets of the war?

Purge Jihad is an online-only PC computer game. It is a hybrid First-Person-Shooter / Role-Playing-Game set in the near future accounting a war between the diametrically opposed forces of science-fiction (the Order) and fantasy (the Chosen). Technology versus magic. Science versus religion. Using ESD (Electronic Software Distribution), Purge Jihad is offered in both a free (unregistered) and paid (registered) mode. "We are allowing everyone to have fun together," explains Freeform's Lead Artist Joerg Ecker. "Unregistered and registered players can play together on the same server." The free, unregistered trial includes the full game without any time limits but is simply limited to 4 classes. Registered players will have access to all 8 classes.

Pirates is broadband only, with high-end hardware specifications for graphics -- a GeForce 3 or better is required in at least a 1GHz machine, and the game is optimized for the latest DirectX 9.0-class cards. Pirates is being published on-line directly to gamers using Valve's new Steam technology, the same delivery system used by Half-Life 2 and Counterstrike 2. Check out the new seaworthy screens ...

In X²: THE THREAT you have the freedom of exploration and uninhibited style of game play. A first person space experience, X²: THE THREAT immerses the player in a dynamic, living, breathing universe, where every event and action has 'cause and effect' upon the entire gaming universe. Discover new worlds and life forms across countless sectors of space, players can become either a trader, bounty hunter, pirate, miner or a strategic combination of them all. The choice of how the player experiences the X² universe is up to them.