Constantine "Chantz", producer @ Infogrames has updated the MOO3 forum with some news regarding that Master of Orion 3 has not gone gold yet (thanks VE3D). Here is the full clip:

I'm going to keep this brief. The game has *not* gone gold yet, as i've said before, when it does, we'll let you know.

PLEASE stop the speculation. The game is SIMPLY NOT READY ACCORDING TO IG STANDARDS. We're very pleased that *some*, NOT ALL, of our beta testers feel it can go; that says a lot about the state of the game. However, there ARE crash bugs and we want them fixed. This is a collective decision made DOWN THE LINE by QA, PD, Marketing, Sales and QSI. Period, end of story.

Strategy First has released a new patch for their WWII based strategy war title Hearts of Iron. Fixes include: interface and gameplay tweaks, generic bug fixes, AI fixes, scenario setup and events adjustments.. Read more below to download this 4.23MB patch and for a more detailed listing!

Infinite Ventures, an independent game producer, today announced the release of the first interactive horror game for DVD Video, . This unique DVD production is playable on any DVD video player but thanks to its innovative design the same DVD disc is also fully playable on the Sony PlayStation2, Microsoft Xbox or a PC with DVD-ROM drive.

JoWooD Productions is proud to announce the first official details of the 50 defensive and destructive magic spells set to feature in Gothic II, the breathtaking role-playing action adventure game... Read more for all details of the game's 50 magic spells - just the ticket for making it through Friday 13th, and four screenshots of spells in action.

Previously, Phantagram Europe has announced in celebration their Top 20 entry in ChartTrack, Phantom Crash, which was released 22nd November 2002, with a prestigious event titled Phantom Crash Battle Royal Competition. Already they have been receiving many entries but time is running out. With the deadline on 29th December 2002, competitors that have already entered the competition have demonstrated their skills greatly. This is all in bid to win a "Year supply of Phantagram titles on all formats", "Phantarama CD", "discount" off your purchased copy of Phantom Crash and a free copy of "Kingdom Under Fire Gold". For competition entry, the player has to play Phantom Crash playable Demo on Official U.K. Xbox Magazine that was released 27th November 2002. They have to defeat 25 opponents in the fastest time possible and prove the results to Phantagram Europe via Photo or Video Tape... Find out more below!

In 'Wallace & Gromit' players will rescue young animals from the clutches of mischievous monkeys and thwart Feathers McGraw's twisted and diabolical plan for total zoo domination. Set in an immersive 3D world, the player is cast as Gromit and is challenged to solve puzzles and locate keys in order to rescue the young animals. Machine parts, located throughout the game's many testing levels, must also be gathered so that the ever-inventive Wallace can create a marvellous contraption with which to deal the final knockout blow to the dastardly Feathers and his vile plans. Check out the new load of Xbox and PS2 screens ...

Today Global Star Software has announced that they have signed a agreement with developer Digital Fusion to release an as-yet-unnamed 3D Bowling title for the PC Platform. Although still in the early stages of development, the game will feature multiple characters and environments, as well as online play. The game is tentatively set for release some time next summer. Apart from these 2 screens, not much else known about the product ..

A new beta of the dedicated server software for Counter-Strike is now available. There is a Counter-Strike Win32 server v4.1.1.0c version available as well as a Counter-Strike Linux server v3.1.1.0c version. Meanwhile, a new version 1.25 dedicated Linux server for Team Factor has been released which allows the hosting of a server for the European version of the game only (thanks Blue's News). Read more for details, install help and links where to grab the goods ...

Paradox Entertainment has licensed the British developer Virtual Programming Ltd the right to convert the award-winning historical strategy games Legion and Hearts of Iron to Apple´s PowerMac. The games will be released during 2003. Paradox Entertainment has previously licenced the Macintosh rights to Europa Universalis 2 to Virtual Programming Ltd who has specialist competence in converting into the MacOS.

It is 1588 A.D., a critical year of an alternate history hauntingly familiar yet fantastically alien to our own. Because of one fateful event during the Third Crusade, the history of this world diverged. This event, the Disjunction, ripped open a long-sealed breach to other worlds. Magic energy and powerful spirits flowed into the world, changing the lands and the people forever. Read more for links to grab the very first trailer with in-game footage from Black Isle Studios/Reflexive Entertainment's "Lionheart". Njoy!

Sammy Studios Inc. today announced the addition of Clinton Keith. Clinton comes to the company from Rockstar San Diego, the developer formerly known as Angel Studios, Inc., where he served as director/lead programmer. He joins Sammy Studios as lead tools programmer, working with teams currently creating the company’s first internally-developed video games in North America.

NVIDIA the worldwide leader in visual processing solutions, today announced a series of new corporate initiatives that will extend the Company's leadership position in the Linux market and ensure that NVIDIA graphics and multimedia processors continue to be the highest performing in the industry. As part of the Company's ongoing commitment to the Linux community, NVIDIA today revealed details of a technical support program for end users and professional customers; a new software driver package that includes performance enhancements and new features for NVIDIA's advanced graphics features, including NVIDIA's CineFX architecture delivered by NVIDIA's Unified Driver Architecture (UDA); and support for the latest PC technologies, including AGP 8X and OpenGL 1.4.

"Spyro 2: Season of Flame" tells the story of Spyro's return to the Dragon Realms where he is surprised to discover that a mysterious enemy has stolen the Fireflies, the source of all dragon firepower, including Spyro's. Now it is up to everyone's favorite purple dragon to save the Fireflies before it is too late! Does the purple little monster score or get scorched? Read more and find out!

Samurai Jack is a bold adventure show on Cartoon Network. In the distant past, an evil shape-shifting wizard named Aku brought destruction upon the land. As the citizens’ last hope, a young Jack is sent away to train in the various combat and philosophical arts to become a samurai warrior. When Samurai Jack returns to find the people of his town oppressed, his mother gives him his father’s magic sword. To free the people, Jack goes in search of Aku. A few new sword yielding screens for you to enjoy!

Electronic Arts Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Larry Probst said the video game maker could gain market share in the personal computer segment next year if new versions of its popular "Sim City" games continue to draw in players. The latest entry in the build-a-virtual-world series is "Sim City 4," and an online version that allows for Internet play is scheduled to be released next week. These two, along with "Command & Conquer: Generals," should drive market share gains, Probst said Wednesday at the UBS Warburg 30th Annual Media Week Conference. He added that the company should maintain its mid-20% market share on Playstation 2 and a mid- to high-teens share on Microsoft Corp.'s XBox and Nintendo's GameCube.

Bam Ent. is hard at work on their cross platform title "A Sound Of Thunder" based on Ray Bradbury's classic story (and also upcoming movie). Its all about hunting dinosaur's Jurrasic Park style. Don’t change anything in the past, don’t leave anything behind and don’t bring anything back. Unfortunately someone screwed up… Today we have a ton of screens for all platforms .. Njoy!

Simon & Schuster Interactive announced today additional details of its next installment in the Outlaw series of sports games that is being developed by New Jersey-based Hypnotix Inc. "Outlaw Volleyball: Spike or Die" (shipping: June 2003; Rated: "RP" by the ESRB) for Xbox, will feature 10 courts, 16 characters, and will be the first volleyball game on Xbox Live. Check out the asselicious screens ..

Wild Earth, which will be officially announced next month, is a departure from the sci-fi reputation of the studio. Wild Earth is set deep in Africa on the plains of the Serengeti, where the player takes the role of a photo-journalist on assignment for a fictional news magazine by the same name. Amazingly lifelike animation and immersive environments will make it a winner for all ages.

Tecmo announced today that Controversial King Dennis Rodman has signed on to play the voice of Zack in the newest chapter of the million-selling "Dead or Alive" Series, "Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball." The first-ever "Sports Fantasy Simulation" video game featuring Zack and all the sexy fighting girls from "Dead or Alive 3" is coming to Xbox video game this January.

German development team Deck 13 is the newest addition to Octagon's client portfolio. Octagon will be shopping the team's vehicular tactical action game Stealth Combat to publishers in North America, South America and Asia. Development for the PC title is complete... Players take on the role of a military special unit leader that has been assigned the task of averting nuclear conflict in threatened areas. Jeeps, tanks, choppers, amphibious units and even walking vehicles (Mechs) are all part of the armory. Players may assume the command of any vehicle or order units to carry out tasks independently. The player can often solve missions by careful exploration of the area, sneaking towards the enemy and a executing fast and effective attack. Other missions are more fire-intensive and the player must prove that he has the quickest finger on the trigger.

Bam Entertainment's "Ice Nine" is one of their upcoming PS2 (also coming for the GBA) titles, inspired by the upcoming Al Pacino and Colin Farrell movie "The Recruit". Ice Nine suggest a stealth action game, aimed at the effort to stop the Ice Nine computer virus. Today we have some more detailed info and screens for you to enjoy!

Developed with the full support of creators Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, and Bruce Campbell, Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick allows players to assume the role of Ash, the chainsaw-armed hero from the Evil Dead trilogy. Players will fend off hordes of Deadites with several weapons including the shovel, gatling gun, shotgun and chainsaw. Massive game environments include all new Evil Dead locations as players attempt to save the town of Dearborn from the influence of the Necromonicon ex Mortis – the Book of the Dead. Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick mixes the comedy and fun of a campy horror movie with intense combat missions for the most complete Evil Dead game yet. Check out 45 new screens below and the features!

Team Factor is a stand-alone multi-player action game designed with team play in mind. The games mission, environment and objective is inspired by the "shadow" military operations - whether real or fiction style. 7FX has just released another patch for their team-based first-person shooter, Team Factor, bringing the European retail game to v1.25. No details available at this point, read more for links where to grab the goods ...

Alawar Entertainment has released a few new things of interest to the gaming public today including an updated demo of Brickshooter, and a free level pack for its Gold Sprinter game. Gold Sprinter is a classic 2D platformer, while Brickshooter is a classic game similar to Breakout. You can find demos for both games, along with a bunch of other classic games, over at the Alawar site (thanks GamespyDaily). What can i say, its a slow news day ;)

The 3DO Company today announced Heroes of Might and Magic IV: Winds of War for the PC. In the second expansion to the best-selling fantasy turn-based strategy game, players battle fantastic creatures and face fierce armies across 40 action-packed maps. The Expansion Pack is scheduled to ship this Spring. Read more for details and 4 new screens ...