Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE) announced today that it is finalizing plans to create SOEGames.net , an online game matching service that will allow gamers to find each other and battle it out across the Internet. The first games to take advantage of SOEGames.net will be Lords of EverQuest and Champions of Norrath, two upcoming Sony Online Entertainment titles. SOEGames.net will also be the first game matching system designed to host both console and PC games.

To help voice its upcoming space shooter, Battlestar Galactica, Vivendi Universal Games announced today an all-star cast of actor. The talent signed to lend voices to the highly-anticipated game includes Dirk Benedict and Richard Hatch, who starred as hotshot Viper pilots Starbuck and Apollo in the original television series, as well as Dwight Schultz, known for his roles as 'Howling Mad' Murdock on the A-Team and Lieutenant Barclay on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Kristanna Loken, who plays the T-X in the theatrical release, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

Further immersing gamers into its gritty, first-person war-torn thriller Call of Duty, Activision, Inc. has enlisted Jason Statham and Giovanni Ribisi to provide their trademark voice talent in key roles. Additionally, accomplished writer/producer Michael Schiffer ("Crimson Tide, "Colors," "Lean of Me," "The Four Feathers" and "The Peacemaker") has added his screenwriting stamp to the game's action-filled script. Call of Duty will be available this fall for the PC and is currently rated "RP" by the ESRB.

Renowned UK game development veterans The Bitmap Brothers, creators of hit titles across almost every generation of hardware, today announced that they are one of the first companies to be accepted for the Government's new 'Access to Finance' initiative for expanding businesses.

3D Prophet 9600, Hercules' new 256MB mid-range graphics board based on ATI's RADEON 9600 chipset, is about to make a splash in the world of 3D gaming. 3D Prophet 9600 is the highly-anticipated newcomer in Hercules's celebrated range of 3D graphics boards, providing fast, high-quality rendering for a lifelike gaming experience with an excellent performance/price ratio.

Mindscape today served gamers a slice of liver 'with some fava beans and a nice Chianti' with the announcement of Hannibal - The Game, an action-packed first person adventure for PC in November priced £29.99.

Due to be published by ARXEL TRIBE, Hannibal - The Game brings all the suspense, fear and psychology of Ridley Scott's original movie release to the PC, with a unique blend of action, adventure, investigation and a new plot; enough to whet the appetite of the tubbiest man-eater.

Global Star Software has announced plans to release the Friday Night 3D series of popular leisure games for PC, beginning with Friday Night Bowling this summer. Individual games will consist of Bowling, Pool and Darts, with Slots and Casino arriving next year, and all will feature gorgeous 3D graphics coupled with authentic rules and physics. The M.S.R.P. for each of these titles will be $19.99. Read more for some bowling details ...

Today Global Star Software has announced plans to release Mall Tycoon 2 for the PC. Under development at Fusion Digital, Global Star plans to incorporate all the features of the popular original Mall Tycoon which to date has sold more than 300,000 copies, while adding scores of new features and improvements. Global Star Software currently plans to release Mall Tycoon 2 in the fall of 2003, just in time to double your shopping pleasure for Christmas. Read more for the first screens ...

Ubi Soft rounded out its AAA cast of voice talent for its highly anticipated action-shooter, XIII, by signing David Duchovny as its title character as well as Adam West (TV's Batman) as General Carrington. Previously Ubisoft already signed actress/musician Eve. XIII is an epic, conspiracy-driven thriller set in a highly stylized graphic-novel world and is scheduled to release on all game consoles as well as the PC in Fall 2003.

KOEI Corporation, the creators of the Dynasty Warriors series, announced today that in a continuing effort to listen to your opinions, KOEI has launched a new polling feature on koei.com. “Over the years, we have sensed what our customers want to see in future KOEI games - from letters, emails, and even phone calls. Now with the Polls, we have a way to accurately measure our customers' opinions on a variety of issues,” said Ben Stockwell, Webmaster for koei.com. “It's an invaluable tool and a major step forward in KOEI's efforts to incorporate user feedback in the development of our games.“ Check out the poll (questions will change periodically) right here ...

iEntertainment Network announced today the launch of Dawn of Aces III, a major new addition to the award winning TotalSims series of products. The new release, Dawn of Aces III, includes a new World War I terrain, 7 new airplanes, and new flight models designed to perfectly match the flying characteristics of World War I aircraft.

Vivendi announced today the development of Contract J.A.C.K. – the official prequel to GameSpy’s 2002 PC Game-of-the-Year, No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.’s Way. Contract J.A.C.K., developed by one of the industry’s elite developers, Monolith Productions, showcases the award-winning storytelling of Monolith in a new singleplayer standalone experience focused on giving PC gamers more action and less stealth while adding new robust multiplayer content as well as a suite of mod-making tools.

Today Global Star Software has announced plans to release Jetfighter 5 for the PC Platform. This latest installment of the successful Jetfighter franchise is under development at Interactive Vision and will be featuring licensed aircraft from Lockheed Martin, and is scheduled for release in the winter of 2003. Read more for details ...

NovaLogic Ltd. today announced plans to release Joint Operations, a brand new multiplayer based PC title during Q4 2003. Set in Indonesia in the near future, Joint Operations takes the player to a country on the verge of disintegration. Regional independence movements have acquired advanced weaponry as the nation's military splits into competing factions. Escalating violence threatens innocent civilians and Western economic interests. Read more for details & screens...

Prepare to unleash the absolute latest in modern weapons technology against the world's most powerful Generals in Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour (working title). Published by Electronic Arts and developed by EALA, Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour is the first expansion pack* for Command & Conquer Generals and is targeted for release on the PC this fall 2003 under the EA GAMES brand.

Today Global Star Software has announced plans to release Emergency Services Sim for the PC Platform. This Real-time city builder simulation will allow players to control every aspect of a large city’s fire, police and health care services. By performing these duties well, players will enable their cities to grow and prosper. The game is currently under development at Interactive Vision and will release during the fall of 2003 at a M.S.R.P of $29.99.

Apparently ignoring the launch debacle the first 2 days, LucasArts' Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided, the first Star Wars massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, experienced unprecedented success in its first week of availability, garnering more than 125,000 users and receiving accolades from gaming press and players alike.

Today Global Star Software has announced plans to release Airport Tycoon 3 for the PC Platform. Under development at Interactive Vision, Global Star plans to incorporate all the features of the popular original Airport Tycoon, and its sequel Airport Tycoon 2, while adding scores of new features and improvements. Global Star Software currently plans to release Airport Tycoon 3 in the winter of 2003.

TechRanch USA, a resource founded and funded by BizDev, Inc. announced today that TechRanch Roundup, a monthly column dedicated to delivering relevant, timely information and business strategies to independent game developers worldwide, is now available.

Thrustmaster has taken the pole position in the race to create multi-platform accessories and is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of its Universal 360 Modena Racing Wheel. Under official license from Ferrari, Universal 360 Modena is 100% compatible with all video game consoles on the market: PlayStation2, PS one, GameCube and Xbox.

Midway Sports Asylum announced today that Freestyle MetalX, the first true freestyle motocross game, has shipped for the PlayStation 2 with the Xbox and the Nintendo GameCube versions to follow.

THQ Inc. today announced Star Wars: Flight of the Falcon for GBA. Flight of the Falcon is scheduled for release during summer 2003. In Star Wars: Flight of the Falcon, gamers can pilot the Millennium Falcon, the most popular vehicle from the classic Star Wars universe, in 14 combat-filled missions interweaving the movie storylines with all new plot twists. Featuring highly detailed environments and ships, frantic battles and high-speed flying action, Flight of the Falcon lets gamers battle the Galactic Empire in the skies of Yavin, Endor and beyond.

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), today announced Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest, marking the company's entrance into single-player console gaming for the PlayStation2. Champions of Norrath, developed by Snowblind Studios (the creators of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance) and published by Sony Online Entertainment, is expected to ship to U.S. and Canadian retail stores this Fall. Read more for details & features ...

Capcom today announced it is developing a PC version of its PlayStation 2 title Chaos Legion. Due for a simultaneous global release this autum, Chaos Legion for PC will not only support Windows 98/ME/2000/XP but also eight languages covering all key territories. Read more for details!

3D Prophet 9600 Pro, Hercules’ new mid-range graphics board based on ATI’s RADEON 9600 PRO chipset, is about to make a splash in the world of 3D gaming. 3D Prophet 9600 Pro is the latest powerful offering in Hercules’s high-quality range of 3D graphics boards, providing impressive performance and rendering quality for a truly cinematic gaming experience. Read more for more details