One of gaming's most treasured franchises will be given new life this holiday season as Tecmo's esteemed internal development group, Team Ninja, and the powers of Xbox join forces to bring you 100% action in one of the most anticipated games of the new millennium. Ninja Gaiden is on the cutting-edge of action as the player takes on the role of powerful ninja, Ryu Hayabusa, who seeks revenge after his clan is massacred by the Vigor Empire. Taking full advantage of three-dimensional space, you follow the story with only your wits, your ninja skills, and your deadly sword, cutting down opponents in the Vigor Empire as you attempt to beat the Holy Emperor and reclaim the magic sword "Ryuken". Realistic battle actions and acrobatic ninja actions add another dimension to the game, restoring Ninja Gaiden to its rightful place in the gaming pantheon.

Rockstar Games, the world-renowned publishing division of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. has announced the North American release date for Midnight Club II for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and the PC. Midnight Club II for the Xbox will be in stores on June 4th in North America and June 6th in Europe. The PC version of Midnight Club II will be available on June 25th in North America and June 27th in Europe.

Empire Interactive plc, a leading AIM listed computer games developer and publisher, announces that it has signed a distribution deal with leading Japanese games company, SEGA for the release of Warrior Kings: Battles and Ghost Master in Japan. Under the terms of the agreement, SEGA will distribute the titles on the PC Platform.

Toronto-based Groove Games, a global publisher of interactive entertainment software, announced today at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the signing of a game development deal with Brainbox Games. Also based in Toronto, Brainbox Games, a wholly owned subsidiary of Digital Extremes, will create two games under the agreement with the first title for the PC already in development.

Tiger Hill Entertainment, a new interactive entertainment studio backed by famed film director, John Woo, today announced its operations and its mission to redefine the action/adventure video game genre with its innovative approach to interactive entertainment development and production. Founded to take advantage of the creative talents of John Woo and his producing partner, Terence Chang, the company announced world-renowned video game developer, SEGA as its premier partner to establish itself as a leader in the interactive entertainment industry (thanks VE3D). Read more for details ...

Logitech today announced the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro and Logitech Attack 3 joysticks for PC and Mac. On display at the E3 tradeshow in Los Angeles, the joysticks will be available this summer on retail shelves in the U.S. and at www.logitech.com. Pricing is not yet available. Read more for details ...

Alias is a third-person action adventure containing a unique blend of action and stealth that puts you under fire and under pressure. Utilize your incredible spyware and array of disguises to complete the most dangerous covert missions across the globe. Experience all the heart-stopping action and tension of the award winning TV series.

The swashbuckling action of one of this summer's highly-anticipated movies will be coming to life in an interactive PC action adventure game, Atari, Inc. announced today. The Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas game will be based on the upcoming DreamWorks animated film of the same name and will combine the epic adventure of the movie with the latest innovation in PC technology from Intel to deliver a state-of-the-art game experience.

One of the most ingenious and suspenseful films of all time, MGM's The Great Escape is a World War II escape-adventure classic that hits the Xbox, PS2 and PC this summer. Providing an exciting opportunity to take part in the largest breakout in history from the "escape proof" Stalag Luft III German POW camp, gamers are invited to participate in the most memorable and famous motorbike scene in ever to emerge in Hollywood. Following the massive hit Conflict: Desert Storm, The Great Escape, published by SCi Games, offers a unique variety of gameplay that builds you from slow, tension filled stealth scenes to adrenalin-filled action and chase sequences. Fans of the film and all gamers will certainly appreciate this stylish masterpiece. Check out the screens and a nice little tailer mixing movie as well as ingame action!

Transporting players to an era when emperors reigned and warrior slaves battled savagely to their deaths, Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. today unveiled Gladiator Sword of Vengeance for the next-generation consoles. Currently under development with Acclaim's Manchester studio, Gladiator Sword of Vengeance is an epic adventure set in ancient Rome, where warriors' fates are decided by the cold steel of a sword. Gladiator Sword of Vengeance will feature an intuitive fighting system that allows players to fight multiple opponents and unleash an array of deadly combo attacks and bloody finishing moves.

Put Fry, Leela, Bender and Dr Zoidberg through their 31st Century paces this summer when Matt Groening's EMMY award winning cartoon hits 21st Century Consoles. Good news everyone... Futurama the game is here! Futurama is a comprehensive 3rd-person platform shooter, which combines the humour, character development and innovation of the highly popular & award winning TV Show, with the best in platform game play & strategy..

iParkBoston today announced that they are presenting a range of Korean game development companies and their products to potential publishers and software distributors in the U.S. at the Electronic Entertainment Expo next week. Read more for details ...

'The Great Escape’ video game is based on the 1963 Oscar nominated film staring Steve McQueen and revolves around actual events during WW2. The game is set in a number of unique locations, from POW camps to a mountain-top castle. Game levels include a busy hospital, a chase through a moving train and escape from an active Luftwaffe airfield.

LucasArts unleashes the wrath of the gods in the highly anticipated original title Wrath Unleashed, a brutal action game where mythological creatures roar to life in a spectacular and deadly fantasy world. Players engage each other in mighty battles in a struggle to gain dominion over vast magical islands, awesome beasts and enchanted temples. Wrath Unleashed is being developed in collaboration with The Collective, and is expected to release in winter 2003 for the PS2 and the Xbox. Read more for details and screens ...

Bethesda today announced that it will release a Morrowind Game of the Year (GotY) edition for the Xbox that will include the original version of its award-winning RPG The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, along with content from the two Morrowind expansions: Tribunal and Bloodmoon. This new product will allow gamers to continue their existing games of Morrowind and experience the new quests and areas offered by the expansions, while players who have never played the Best RPG of 2002 can experience Morrowind on Xbox for the first time with all of the added content. Read more for details and screens ..

Vivendi Universal Games announced today that it has entered into a production agreement with Turbine Entertainment to develop "Middle-Earth Online," a massively multiplayer (MMP) game to launch in 2004. The game will be developed as part of VU Games' long-term agreement with Tolkien Enterprises to create interactive entertainment based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic novel "The Lord of the Rings." Read more for details and 4 hi-res screens ...

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.

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. A new trailer has been released showing off the game's setting and cinematic footage. Read more for download links ...

Noticed on VE3D that Microsoft has announced the pricing structure for Xbox Live that will come into effect during the third quarter of this year: Xbox Live one year renewal/subscription - $49.99, Xbox Live monthly rate - $5.99, Xbox Live Voice Communicator - $29.99, Xbox Live Starter Kit - $69.99 (contains demos, headset and one year subscription). In a brief interview with GameSpy, Xbox Live Group PR manager David Hufford suggested that Microsoft might include free trial subscriptions with certain titles that feature online play.

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.

THQ Inc. today announced that MotoGP: Ultimate Racing Technology 2 will start at the front of the grid when it is released for Xbox and Xbox Live! on 16th May. The two-wheeled wonder has won high praise scoring top marks across the computer gaming media and is expected to be one of the biggest performers for the Xbox to date.

The Adventure Company today announced that it will publish Broken Sword:The Sleeping Dragon in North America on PC. Terms of this exclusive deal with Revolution Software were not discussed. The Broken Sword series has drawn critical acclaim from hard-core and adventure gamers alike, and the third in the series is set to further broaden this appeal. Broken Sword:The Sleeping Dragon brings a unique and fresh approach to adventure games, with a revolutionary interface, strong story-line and stunning graphical presentation.

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.

Australian developer Tantalus Interactive today announced that it had begun work on a ground breaking new title for PS2 and XBox. Metal Shell (working title) is arcade combat in high-speed, purposebuilt tanks, with online tournaments, and environments that destruct and deform as you play. With a huge selection of single and multiplayer modes, and over twenty different custom designed tanks, Metal Shell promises to blast fresh life into the action genre. Read more for details, screens & trailer ...