These days, racing sims tend to come in three flavours: boring, boring and more boring. Some developers are happiest encouraging users to fiddle with gear ratios and big ends. But not French coder Nadeo - its forthcoming, blisteringly fast PC racer TrackMania, due to be published in the UK by Digital Jesters on November 28th 2003, takes the computerised Highway Code, rips it up and chucks it out the rear window.

Digital Jesters crack champagne against PC and launch Virtual Skipper 3.. Owning a yacht is something only most of us can dream about. They're expensive from the off - and that's without running costs nor mooring costs; not to mention the hassle of actually learning to sail the things in the first place. But soon PC owners will be able to experience the thrill of competitive sailing in the most advanced simulator of its kind: Virtual Skipper 3, released on November 28th 2003 by Digital Jesters.

Another day, another batch of game trailers were released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for :

• Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes- Trailer
• Resident Evil 4 - Trailer
• Trainz Railroad Simulation 2004 - Trailer
• Commandos 3 - 'Spy' Trailer
• Unreal Tournament 2004 - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

After yesterdays news about Interplay sueing Vivendi, this is not really a surprise. Interplay Entertainment Corp. announced today it has terminated its distribution agreement with Vivendi Universal Games.

City of Heroes is the first superhero themed online RPG and will offer a host of exciting and compelling gameplay features. Players create their own heroes, choosing from hundreds of different powers, skills, abilities, and items and design their own unique costumes. Then they can band together with other players to fight evil, build their own secret headquarters and strive to become the premiere hero group in the city.

Battlefield Vietnam will drop players into some of the Vietnam War's fiercest battles. Fighting in theatres from jungles surrounding the Ho Chi Minh Trail to the city streets of Hue, players will choose from two well-equipped forces, the United States or the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Vietcong. Read more for screens and the first in game action packed trailer....

Larian Studios upcoming RPG Riftrunner is based on the award winning fantasy universe first introduced in Divine Divinity. Riftrunner is set to capture the imagination of RPG players yet again, and provides a strong stepping stone for the planned extension of the Divinity World. Read more for some screens ...

The gamers will be bumping and grinding in the upcoming rhythm-action video game Lowrider as the hip-hop hit "Get Low" is featured on the game's soundtrack, video game publisher Jaleco Entertainment announced.

Legacy Interactive has released a playable demo for its highly anticipated title, Law & Order II: Double or Nothing. The demo gives players a first taste of the new game, including exploration of the investigation and trial proceedings. Additionally, the demo contains several areas where players can directly link to the game’s website where they can order the game. Read more for download links ...

DreamCatcher Games today announced that it is accepting applications for its Painkiller Multiplayer Test (PC). This is not a Demo, but a closed beta to stress test the netcode and playtest maps. Interested gamers should fill out the Painkiller application form. The company will be selecting a team of 200 from the applicants over the next few weeks, and will notify the chosen recipients by email. The testing itself will take place in Mid-October.

In this platform action/adventure game, Spyro and his friends have inadvertently torn a hole in the fabric of space between the Rhynoc and Dragon Realms. At the command of the elusive Ripto, droves of Rhynocs are now pouring into the Dragon Realms. Spyro must help close the hole quickly before the portal and Ripto's ego grow too large and the two realms fuse together permanently... A set of character biographies. We'll know AI has really moved on when we start to receive character autobiographies. Check it out below!

The president of the Japanese software game maker, Satoru Iwata, said Friday that game consoles equipped with super-large chips and ever more functions may not be the answer for the future of the struggling games industry. Instead, easy-to-play games requiring no prior knowledge may be a better way to attract potential users, Iwata said, referring to Nintendo's surprise hit series of Pokemon software including "Pokemon Ruby" and "Pokemon Sapphire."

The owner of the factory, Anna Voralberg, has just died. The heir to the factory, Anna's brother, Hans, who is a genius inventor, has been missing for decades, lost somewhere between the Alps and Syberia. Kate must find this enigmatic man to finalize the deal, but in her journey from the West to the East, she will progressively discover and understand the reasons which have made Hans leave his family and never return.

Vivendi Universal's video game arm has sued one-time partner Interplay Entertainment Corp., alleging Interplay breached a distribution deal between the two. The suit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, accused Interplay, which is controlled by French publisher Titus Interactive, of trying to get out of a product distribution deal by making claims of unpaid payments under the pact (thanks Gamers.nl).

James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, as the world’s greatest secret agent returns in his fifth interactive adventure under the EA GAMES brand. First, you will think like Bond, using espionage, tactical skills, and gadgets from the Q-Lab to analyze your situation. Then you will act like Bond, using his stylish physical skills, clever subterfuge, and bold personality to once again save the world. Check the new Xbox screens ...

Secret Service II Security Breach is an upcoming title from Activision Value's. The game is being developed by 4D Rulers using the latest version of the AMP II. In Secret Service II Security Breach you play the role of a secret service agent starting out by investigating a counterfeit ring, but the game quickly changes to a game about protection. In nearly every level, you will need to escort and protect someone through a hostile environment. Eventually, your duty will be to protect the president of the United States. Read more for some screens ...

Havana, 2009. Castro is dead, and Cuba is under threat of a drug lord's power. The Ghosts, an elite faction of the U.S. Army Green Berets, are deployed. Take command of an elite squad of military personnel equipped as you battle against opponents in Cuba's lush jungles, tropical islands, and deadly, decaying urban streets. Grab a friend to form a two-player team and get to your local iGames center to battle against competitors from across North America in the Ubisoft-sponsored Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder tournaments on Xbox LIVE!

Conflict: Desert Storm II focuses on the events of the 1991 Gulf War, and follows the activities of Bradley, Foley, Connors and Jones 300 km further behind enemy lines; taking the level of gameplay and realism to new heights, with a story-led campaign across a variety of missions, beginning with an urgent call to rescue a downed UH-60 Black Hawk's crew in a heavily fortified city, and ending with the allied endeavours to liberate Kuwait City. Read more for some screens ...

World Snooker is a 3D snooker simulation for the PC currently in development over at Binary Zoo. The game features a range of different opponents to play against, one and two player game modes, multiplayer online option, fully customisable tournaments, practise mode, plus TV-style camera angles and action replays to capture all of the action. World Snooker will also feature a number of locations, including snooker hall, pub, and several other 'surreal' environments!

Encore today announced that Grooverider: Slot Car Thunder for the Xbox and Nintendo GameCube has begun shipping to retailers. This completely new game brings the nostalgia and excitement of slot car racing to consoles for the first time. Designed for ages eight to adult, it retails for approximately $20 and carries an "Everyone" rating.

Another day, another batch of game trailers were released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for :

• Rome: Total War - (3) Trailer
• Daredevil (PS2) - Trailer
• Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm (PS2) - Trailer
• R-Racing Evolution (PS2/Xbox) - Trailer
• Crash Nitro Kart (Xbox) - Trailer
• Pax Romana - Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Lock On: Modern Air Combat lets players fly a variety of combat aircraft in the most graphically rich, audio-intense game environment ever created for a combat flight simulation. Filled with action-packed missions, realistic flight modeling and flexible game options, Lock On provides unlimited gameplay action to both novice and veteran flight simulation fans. Read more to check out the new movie and screens!

Atari today announced that Beyblade: Super Tournament Battle for the Nintendo GameCube video game system has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. Based on the Japanese sensation that has become a hit TV series and a blockbuster line of Hasbro toys, Super Tournament Battle invites legions of fans to become active competitors and live the complete Beyblade experience on console.

Original, provoking and rich in storyline, Yager captures your imagination as you battle for your life in tomorrow’s hostile skies. But is all what it seems…? Keep your wits about you, and use what you learn, as your struggle evolves to become the fight against constitutional power, conspiracy and control. With the genre-busting mix of 3D action-adventure and air combat, coupled with the highly motivating storyline and nail-biting campaigns, Yager is next generation gaming at its finest. Read more to check out some new screens...

Achim Heidelauf, Producer of PC games like 'EARTH 2150', 'Knights & Merchants' and 'No Man’s Land', would like to welcome you to his website, where you will find valuable info on his projects, starting with lots of 'PANZERS' exclusives like screenshots, work-in- progress and unit galleries, photos from the motion capture sessions and much, much more!

You’ll get a look behind the scenes of upcoming titles and on past releases including 'Odium/Gorky17', 'Septerra Core' and 'World War III'. Beside photos from the E3 conventions and news on other games and music releases you might find interesting..