GarageGames today announced its Game Developer's Conference (GDC) showcase of games. The company plans to premiere ThinkTanks a cartoon styled tank game from BraveTree Productions, preview a new release of Orbz with a single player mode from 21-6 Productions and display the highly acclaimed Marble Blast from GarageGames and Monster Studios.

Riding it hard, fast and anywhere, Freestyle MetalX is a totally unique offering that caters to the action sport and mass-market gamer with diverse, lawless freestyle motocross mayhem. Gamers and motocross fanatics can “be sick all over” as they experience firsthand the extreme thrills and spills of the first freestyle motocross videogame. Featuring a seemingly unlimited stunt system, expansive worlds, eight insane game modes and sub-games, Freestyle MetalX lets players cancan and rodeo their way through vast environments as they interact with and trick-off everything from swimming pools to skyscrapers. Freestyle MetalX also offers extreme side events where players can gain popularity and money in career mode by executing flawless maneuvers such as Bus Jumping, Wall of Death, Longest Wheelie, and more.

Ubi Soft announced today an exclusive agreement with Natsume Inc. to distribute Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life on the Game Cube and Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town on the GBA. The agreement will cover all PAL territories and is expected to ship on both formats in October 2003. "Ubi Soft is looking forward to distributing the delightful Harvest Moon games later this year. The series has a loyal following and a well-deserved reputation for top-quality gameplay" Commented Sally Cormack, Product Manager for Ubi Soft "The latest titles will bring many exciting new elements to the series"

CyPR Media invites you to rediscover the soul of PC gaming, the independent developer. At the 17th annual Game Developers Conference in San Jose next week, CyPR Media will showcase four titles that are excellent examples of what independent developers can create.

Eidos Interactive, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, announces an exciting partnership with multi-platinum recording artists the Insane Clown Posse (ICP) and Psychopathic Records for the forthcoming video game Backyard Wrestling. The partnership allows Eidos usage of ICP songs for the in-game soundtrack and multiple marketing co-opportunities at ICP concerts and Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) events in addition to events at retail. Gamers will be able to unlock exclusive ICP content on the game disc as well as play as ICP's lead-singers Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope in the game.

Codemasters announced that its latest installment of the critically acclaimed racing series, Colin McRae Rally 3, shipped today for the Xbox. Colin McRae Rally 3 reintroduces gaming fans to the excitement of rally racing, as players assume the role Colin McRae himself in his quest for the World Champion Rally title. The game, available on store shelves for a SRP of $49.99, has already sold over 1.25 million units in Europe.

Design it. Build it. Race it. Atari shipped APEX, the ultimate racing game for racing enthusiasts, to retail stores nationwide this week exclusively for the Xbox. Developed by Milestone, the creators of the popular Superbike series, APEX takes racing on Xbox to an entirely new level with more than 80 cars to choose from, including models from Toyota, Lotus and Dodge; more than 50 race tracks; numerous environments including mountain courses, city street races and traditional circuits; and, the engaging Dream Mode, which allows players to design, build and race their own dream cars as they attempt to build a racing dynasty.

Entertainment software developer and publisher NovaLogic, Inc. is pleased to announce the arrival of the ultimate covert operations compilation – The Special Forces Pack. This exciting three game pack contains two of the best selling titles in the history of the tactical first person genre: Delta Force and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six. Combined, these ground breaking franchises have sold more than 10,000,000 units. In addition, the pack also includes the acclaimed title Shadow Force: Razor Unit. The Special Forces Pack is in stores now, SRP $19.99

THQ Inc. today unveiled Sphinx -an original interactive adventure game. Developed for the PS2 and Gamecube by game design veterans Eurocom, Sphinx takes the character-based, action-adventure genre to new heights with sophisticated gameplay mechanics, original character designs, amazing visuals and superior technology. Eurocom has created successful titles based on some of the strongest intellectual properties in the world of entertainment including Crash Bandicoot, James Bond, Hercules and Disney's Tarzan. Sphinx is an entirely original property inspired by the mythology of ancient Egypt and is Eurocom's most ambitious project to date. Sphinx is scheduled to ship in fall 2003.

In the 23rd century, after having stimulated a subspatial breach and opened our solar system to an unknown system, a scientific expedition is attacked under appalling conditions by a quarrelsome species : a terrible war engaged between these two worlds. Men, in their will to maintain peace and discover new civilisations engaged into a military campaign in order to explore new planets and understand the major motivations of this species. You, Captain Demetrio, you lead a troop of elites and will discover during a perilous adventure the mysteries and dangers of areas filled of history and past and maybe reveal the secrets of ancestors who will lead you to the victory. Read more for features, screens and trailer...

BigWorld Pty Ltd, Micro Forte's official licensing agent for BigWorld massively multiplayer technology today announced its Early Access Program for the highly anticipated BigWorld Technology. With over $8M and three years in development, the technology offers the world's most scalable, fault-tolerant, and customisable MMOG middleware available. Microsoft is using BigWorld technology in its eagerly-awaited new title by MicroForte on the Xbox.

NEC Interchannel, Ltd., a subsidiary of NEC Corporation, today announced its plans to enter the gaming industry as a third-party publisher for the PlayStation2, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and the Xbox. NEC comes back after an eight-year hiatus and plans to publish for all next-gen consoles. At the same token NEC Interchannel announces their first NGC game "Tube Slider". Read more for details...

Got Game Entertainment and Knut Mueller today announced a North American publishing agreement for "RHEM," an intricate pure-puzzle first person adventure game. Made for PC and Mac, RHEMthrusts the player into a strange land and on an adventure to uncover thesecrets of a mysterious letter. Read more for details and the first screens ...

HiTech Creations, producer of the award winning online combat simulation Aces High, has announced plans to launch the next generation of the game, Aces High II: Tour of Duty, in Q3 2003. Aces High is the most popular massively multiplayer online flight simulator on the market, with players from over 50 countries worldwide participating in virtual combat 24 hours a day (thanks VE3D).

Tri Synergy announced today that it will release Purge, an online-only title that delivers a compelling combination of first-person-shooter gameplay and role-playing character development in Q1 2003. Developed by Freeform Interactive LLC, Purge immerses players in a strife-torn world that blends science fiction and fantasy. In Purge, players will find themselves engrossed in a war between two opposing forces, the Order (humans genetically modified to scientific perfection) and the Chosen (religious believers who reject all forms of technology).

Ubi Soft Entertainment announces the immediate availability of Scrabble 2003 Edition for the PC. This follows the successful launch of Junior Scrabble in November 2002 and precedes Scrabble for Sony PlayStation 2 scheduled for Q1 2003.

Atari Interactive today announced they will be releasing the much-anticipated hit Japanese game Ikaruga for the Nintendo GameCube next generation console system. With an MSRP of $39.99, Ikaruga is expected to land in America in April 2003. Read more for details ...

Capcom Entertainment announce four Nintendo GameCube titles, Dead Phoenix, Killer 7, P.N.03 and Resident Evil 4 each promising to take interactive entertainment to a whole new level. This impressive line up of games will have players exploring the far reaches of the sky, fighting futuristic enemy mechs, assuming the role of an assassin with seven different personas, and investigating the origin of the progenitor virus. P.N.03 is scheduled to release this summer, Dead Phoenix this fall, Killer 7 in 2004, and the release date for Resident Evil 4 is TBD. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating for all four titles is pending. (thanks GameSpyDaily)

THQ Inc. today announced that Disney Princesses for Game Boy Advance is currently in development and is scheduled to release in Spring 2003. The game is based on the Disney Princess characters in Disney's animated classic films "Cinderella," "The Little Mermaid," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Sleeping Beauty," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin."

Radica UK Ltd, manufacturers of the market leading Gamester peripherals have announced that they will be launching a complete range of accessories Game Boy Advance SP. Details of the line up are due to be confirmed over the coming weeks, but will continue to uphold the strong Gamester brand values of high quality and innovation.

Games development is set to get cheaper and quicker, following the announcement today of a new development tool for the Nintendo GameCube, by SN Systems Ltd, the leading provider of development tools to the console games industry. The new hardware, developed as part of a collaboration between SN Systems and Nintendo, can be used with SN's development tools "ProDG for Nintendo GameCube" to build, debug, view and optimise games.

THQ today announced that it will publish Rainbow Studios' "Splashdown 2," the sequel to the critically acclaimed, top-selling "Splashdown." Inspired by the spectacle and excitement of theme parks and thrill rides, "Splashdown 2" will have players blasting through massive, imaginative locales with amazing sights and startling events around every corner. "Splashdown 2" is scheduled for release on the PlayStation 2 in summer 2003. Read more and check out the first screens ...

THQ Inc. today announced that agreement in principle has been reached to settle the class action lawsuit first filed against the Company in February 2000. The settlement remains subject to negotiation of a final written agreement between THQ and the plaintiffs, as well as court approval.

Today Global Star Software has announced plans to release Austin Powers Pinball for the PC platform. Under license from New Line Cinema, and developed by Wildfire Studios, Austin Powers Pinball will feature a score of characters from the blockbuster Austin Powers feature films, including Dr. Evil, Vanessa Kensington, Felicity Shagwell, Fat Bastard, Mini-Me, the Fembots and many more.

Majesco today announced one of its newest offerings for 2003, BlowOut, a next generation 3D side-scrolling shooter intended for release for the PlayStation2, Xbox, and PC. Developed by Kaos Kontrol, BlowOut is slated for release next fall.

UPDATE: Just added the first few screens .. Njoy!