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!

WorthPlaying is giving away IronStorm goodies from DreamCatcher. Enter the sweepstakes and have a chance to either win one of 5 IronStorm PC game copies or one of 5 IronStorm T-shirts. IronStorm is a 1st/third person shoot'em-up/action video game set in an alternate world. Imagine, 1964, the First World War never ended and you are in the middle of it! (Earlier winners of IceWind Dale 2 is announced here)

Infogrames has just announced that its hugely successful V-Rally brand is speeding onto the Xbox in April 2003. Following on from the unprecedented success of the PlayStation 2 version, V-Rally 3 on Xbox will be the definitive version of this great racer and leave other rally games trailing in its dust.

The newest issue of Computer Games magazine has a brief article on an upcoming Dungeons & Dragons PC RPG called "The Temple Of Elemental Evil". Based on a classic 1985 D&D pen-and-paper module from its creator Gary Gygax, the article states that the developer of the game will be Trokia, who previously developed the "steampunk" RPG Arcanum. The game is scheduled to be released via publisher Infogrames in the latter half of 2003, according to the report (thanks HomeLan).

Today Global Star Software has announced plans to release Airport Tycoon 2 for the PC platform. This long awaited, highly anticipated sequel to the original 3D airport management sim, Airport Tycoon (2000), will be released in February 2003. Read more for details and the first few screens ...

Incoming Forces is an action game that allows players to take command of an alien defense force to protect their worldly planets at all costs. Players will control one of 10 different crafts at anytime throughout the game including gun-ships, fighters, tanks and an array of others as they protect various alien worlds. Battle will take place on four uniquely molded planets, each with its own 3D modeled terrain, environmental features and world specific objects.

Sierra Entertainment, Inc., announced today the latest addition to their NASCAR racing franchise. Developed by Massachusetts-based Papyrus Racing Games, NASCAR Racing 2003 Season will feature new 3D graphics, an enhanced physics model developed with the input of official NASCAR team engineers, and informative driving aids for both seasoned and novice drivers. In addition, the game will include 2003 NASCAR Cup series teams, sponsors, and tracks.