During the month of April 2004, Valve is extending a special offer to Cyber Cafes. During this time, a 12-month cyber café license for Valve's games is being offered at a savings of 33%. The license includes all of Valve's available Steam content, including Counter-Strike: Condition Zero, Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Day of Defeat, Team Fortress Classic, and more. Licensed Cyber Café's also receive product key protection, promotional materials, tournament licenses, and priority access to Valve support. This offer ends at 11:59 pm PST on April 30, 2004, is subject to change and is not available in every territory. For more information, please email cafe@valvesoftware.com.

The console dubbed the sexiest video game system is becoming even more attractive. Effective March 30, the Xbox will be available for a handsome $149.99 in the United States and $199.99 in Canada, representing a significant savings of $30 for consumers in both regions. In addition, Microsoft will reduce the price of the Xbox console in Mexico to $1,999 pesos, which translates to a consumer savings of $500 pesos or roughly $45 (U.S.).

Microsoft Corp. today announced XNA, a powerful next-generation software development platform. XNA empowers developers to deliver breakthrough games while combating rising production costs and ever-increasing hardware complexity. Games for future iterations of all Microsoft game platforms — including Windows, Xbox and Windows Mobile-based devices — will be unleashed by tools and technologies from the XNA development platform.

NCsoft Corporation announces plans to begin open beta testing for its soon to be released online game, Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle. The free open beta period will begin at 12:00 AM Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, March 28 and last approximately one month. The game is scheduled for commercial release on April 28.

Got Game Entertainment and developer Knut Mueller today announced a publishing agreement for "RHEM 2," an intricate pure-puzzle first person adventure game, and the sequel to the popular "RHEM". Made for PC and Mac, "RHEM 2" rejoins Zetais and Kales as they now explore a hidden city far beneath the earth’s surface. Got Game will publish the game in North America and Australia with a targeted release of Q4 2004.

The player starts of as a normal citizen in the society governed by the UCF. The "Freedom Front" offers the player a chance to join the group. The player can either join, or decline and join the UCF group. The player is then assigned the post of an army general, commanding a small army. From here, the story can go in any direction based on the way the player plays. Read more for some new screens ...

Ubisoft CBS Consumer Products and Alliance Atlantis today announced an exclusive licensing agreement for Ubisoft to publish games based on the popular television series CSI: Miami for the PC. This new CSI game is slated to launch worldwide on PC for Winter 2004-05. Read more for details ...

In a first for a Massively Multiplayer online game, the actions of players have resulted in an entirely new playable race for Horizons: Empire of Istaria. The event, which was started upon release of the game in December, was an epic achievement to free the race from their subjugation from the undead hordes of the Withered Aegis. Read more for details ...

The newest hit during prime time television hours is not showing on any of the major networks. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. said today the audience for online gaming with the PlayStation2 grew to 2.6 million this month and the majority of gamers were online during traditional prime time television hours.

Codemasters announced today that its internationally acclaimed rally game, Colin McRae Rally 04, has shipped to North American retail outlets for the Xbox. The title is available at a suggested retail price of $19.99.

PlayStation today announced a unique partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), exclusive licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for Interactive Entertainment software, to develop a PlayStation 2 game based on the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Scheduled for release in July 2004 just prior to the start of the next Olympic Games in August, Athens 2004, The Official Videogame of the Olympic Games will be the only official licensed videogame product of the IOC on PlayStation 2.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. today announced the second title to utilize the EyeToy camera technology. EyeToy: Groove, exclusive to the PlayStation2, is the first interactive videogame that enables players to dance in time with one of the 28 licensed songs, from such artists as Elvis, Madonna, Jessica Simpson, Jamiroquai, and Fatboy Slim, with no controller or dance pad necessary. Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment London Studio, EyeToy: Groove is scheduled for release in Spring 2004 and will be available at an SRP of $49.99 with the EyeToy USB camera or $29.99 without.

Vivendi Universal Games today announced the next installments in the best-selling Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon videogame franchises. Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage and Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy are scheduled to ship on the Game Boy Advance video game system in second quarter 2004. For the first time, the two renowned characters will meet up in each other's respective adventures in these upcoming action platformers. Albany, New York based studio, Vicarious Visions, is developing the games.

What does the future of gaming look like? What are your hopes, dreams and fears? Do you wish you could influence game developers’ decisions, but feel powerless to do so? Microsoft’s “If You Ruled the Gaming World” contest gives you the power to change gaming forever. Tell us what games would be like if you ruled the world and be heard by the biggest developers and publishers in the business. Read more for details ...

Mythic Entertainment announced “Dark Age of Camelot: New Frontiers,” a free downloadable expansion that reinvents the game’s unique Realm vs. Realm combat system, where player characters from the game’s three different Realms engage in life and death struggles across numerous battlegrounds, keeps and through the expansive frontier areas. Mythic plans to make “New Frontiers” available in Q2 2004.

You are a part of the CT Special Forces unit, the elite Counter-Terrorist Special Forces commando and have all the necessary means for putting an end to the threat of terrorism. In CT Special Forces players take on the role of three elite soldiers--a paratrooper, a helicopter pilot, and a sniper--who are equipped with high-tech weaponry.

Sony Online Entertainment has exciting news for all EverQuest players. As the world of Norrath evolves and expands, so too does the technology powering EverQuest. Sony Online Entertainment is making significant upgrades to the EverQuest engine which will allow SOE to provide players with the great game, but on a much more stable and efficient platform. SOE anticipates patching in the new engine sometime during the next month or two.

With the launching of Profiteer, a new era opened up in Browser-Based Massive Multiplayer On-line Gaming. Profiteer has added an innovative level of player interactivity with its Quest Design Interface (QDI). The QDI allows players to direct the future of Profiteer, by writing and designing quests that set others off into a universe of adventure. Incorporated into all quests is the name of the creator thus allowing the best designers to quickly build a reputation within Profiteer.

Nintendo's Vice President, Merchandising, John A. Sakaley III, retires at the end of this month from the position he served with distinction for more than 16 years. Sakaley, who joined Nintendo of America Inc. in 1987, pioneered the first shop-within-a-shop in-store display in the video game industry. He also created the first hands-on interactive displays allowing customers to try video games before they buy them. Since 2000, his team at Nintendo has placed more than 40,000 interactive displays at more than 15,000 retail locations.

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...

The world's intelligence services suspect the evil terrorist organizations. These criminals would have created a new molecule capable of modifying human DNA. By reinforcing agression and strength genes, they create a new breed of superwarriors. Only the CT Special Forces can defeat such powerful enemies. You will need to lead your team through the most dangerous and demanding missions. Use your skills and all the modern weaponry available! Put an end to the threat of terrorism!

An unprecedented approach to video game play -- holding two separate game screens in the palm of your hand -- hits the scene later this year when Nintendo introduces a new portable game system, code-named Nintendo DS.

Who says video games are a waste of time? Certainly not those who will be competing for thousands of dollars in this year's V Games (www.thevgames.com), sponsored by Ziff Davis Media Group and EB Games. From March to October of 2004, 30 cities will host qualifying rounds of the 2004 V Games, the first ever live-action, console and PC based video game tournament. An estimated 30,000 people will compete in eight top video games nation-wide.

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...

Konami Digital Entertainment - America today announced three new games to be released in the blockbuster Yu-Gi-Oh! series. Further expanding the rich Yu-Gi-Oh! world, Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship Tournament 2004 will be available for the Game Boy Advance, Yu-Gi-Oh! Xbox (working title) for the Xbox, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos: Kaiba the Revenge for PC, in spring 2004. Each game stars the ever-popular Yugi and his loyal card-battling friends and ships with three exclusive limited edition game cards. Read more for details & screens ...