Tri Synergy today announced that it has signed a Joint Publishing Agreement with Buka Entertainment a leading Russian developer and publisher for Paradise Cracked. Through this agreement, Tri Synergy will have exclusive rights to publish Paradise Cracked in the North American market. The addition of such a creative and quality title is the perfect compliment to the Tri Synergy line-up. If you dont know what Paradise Cracked is all about, check our Paradise Cracked preview!

Criterion Software announces that its de facto game development technology, RenderWare, will be used by SEGA's SONICTEAM, Ltd. development studio in the creation of "Sonic Heroes" for the PlayStation2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube.

Boolat Games unveal their next project (thanks Blues), a weapon-supported arcade racing game named Lagster.. Here is a clip from the game description:

“Lagsters” is the fascinating weapon-supported arcade races in tubes! One to eight racers can participate in a race struggling for survival and, of course, for money.

The concept of the race inside of the pipes displaces some aspects of a “flat-road” race, in particular those of the spatialization and gravitation. Spatialization sustains pivotal change: left and right in terms of the pipe plane eventually acquire a sort of a new meaning, not evident at the first sight though, and gravitation based on “repelling” objects out of the center of the pipe will be constantly dragging the car onto the pipe surface. The tracks are annular in their shape and they will have different length and number of tours in a bout. Every track has various hurdles and various accelerating and decelerating surfaces, etc. There are also sparse bonuses on the track, which can either help or hopple the player.

You find more info on the new official site here!

The Canadian Press reports that Microsoft has a vision for just how its Xbox video game console should fit in consumers' homes. It's a hub-and-spoke strategy. The personal computer is at the hub of the home, where people store their music, digital photos and other files. But when people want to share that experience, it's usually in front of the family TV.

All you need is Music Mixer, a product unveiled at the recent E3 Convention in Los Angeles. It allows you to transfer digital music and photos from the PC to the Xbox, play DVDs or CDs, strip lyrics off music - even karaoke. You can also customize your own soundtrack and visuals.

Check out the full scoop here!

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

• BattleMages Trailer
• Iridion II (GBA)
• Fair Strike
• The Hulk Interview/Trailer
• The Entente: World War I Battlefields
• Full Spectrum Warrior (Xbox)
• 
  
  Read more for download links ...

Set in 19th Century China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a martial arts fighting game based on the classic teachings and techniques of the Wudan style. Combining adventure and intense, dynamic combat with the ability to explore lush, interactive environments, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon suspends the laws of space, gravity, and the human body. Players represent one of four characters: Li Mu Bai, Yu Shu Lien, Jen Yu, or Lo. A few new PS2 screens on this slow news day...

Take a band of gun-toting rebels -a robot, a madman, a mole and a criminal mastermind. Put them in a vividly stunning fantasy realm. Then give them an impossible mission - pulling off the biggest heist of all time in the middle of a war. All you have to do is battle your way through dastardly enemies, giant war machines and an army of psychopathic robots. But don't worry; you have plenty of ammo and absolutely no common sense. Victory is yours in 12,000 bullets or less!

Arxel Tribe is proud to announce it has secured the publishing and distribution rights for most European countries (France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia and Croatia) to Nival Interactive's upcoming PC game ETHERLORDS 2, the sequel to the critically acclaimed ETHERLORDS released in 2001.

Fragzone let us know that the Ultima Online monthly service rate will be changed June 25:

The Ultima Online monthly service rate will change from $9.95 per month to $12.99 per month on June 25, 2003. This rate change will allow us to increase the level of quality we provide our players. To make the change easier for you, we’re also introducing the following two multi-month discount packages, which will be available on June 25th:

• 3 Month Prepaid Discount Package — $34.99
• 6 Month Prepaid Discount Package — $59.99
  
  You can find out more details regarding these changes here!

Captain Scarlet is a real time tactical strategy game that puts you in control of a team of up to six Spectrum Agents, each with their own unique abilities, as they attempt to stop the Mysterons from carrying out their threats. Check out these new screens ...

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

• Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse E3 Trailer (3DO)
• LotR: The Return of the King E3 Trailer (EA)
• Judge Dredd vs Judge Death E3 Trailer (Vivendi)
• James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing E3 Trailer (EA)
• World Of Warcraft E3 Trailer (Blizzard)
• Xenus E3 Trailer (Russobit-M)
• Perimeter E3 Trailer (1C Company)
• Homeworld2 (Vivendi)
• NwN: Shadows of Undrentide E3 Trailer (Atari)
• Neuro (Russobit-M)
• Chaser Multiplayer (JoWood)
• 
  
  Read more for download links ...

The story takes place in the very near future. Gamers play a rookie member of the Global Assault Team, a commando squad created by international powers to take on a dangerous group of freelance terrorist factions better known as The Syndicate. Is this the CounterStrike killer as many people claimed it "could" be? Read more and find out!

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 2003 brings to life golf on the PC and snaps it into 3D, allowing the player to feel the pressure of taking on Tiger Woods as well as some of the top courses in the world, with accurate shot-making finally at the fingertips. Electronic Arts has released a new patch for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003, bringing your retail game to v1.2. This upgrade adresses an issue with 256 MB video cards and is required for EA Sports Online Play. Read more for download links ...

Codemasters has released a new multiplayer map for its stealth-based FPS, IGI 2: Covert Strike. IGI2 must be installed on your PC before you can download/install this new "Dockside" beta map. Read more for download links ..

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines will -- for the first time on next-generation console systems -- allow players to become the Terminator Series signature icon, Arnold Schwarzenegger as the original Terminator. This marks the first time Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice and likeness has ever appeared in a home videogame. A few new Aaahhhnold screens...

Bethesda Softworks announced today that The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon - the expansion pack for its critically acclaimed RPG, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind for PC - has gone to gold master and will ship to stores the first week of June. In Bloodmoon, you'll help build a mining colony and face the threat of werewolves, or decide to become a werewolf and indulge your thirst for the hunt. Either way, Bloodmoon offers a completely different experience from anything you've seen in Morrowind. To celebrate Bethesda sent us 3 new screens, as well as a cutscene trailer ...

Conker is a cartoon rodent with a penchant for booze, wild women and lewd conduct, and the world he lives in is a reflection of him. With a wide variety of customizable multiplayer scenarios available, the game centers on teamwork and fun. Each scenario has its own objectives, rules, environment and back story that provide hilarious gameplay and wacky entertainment. Also included is the original, critically acclaimed single-player game, “Conker’s Bad Fur Day,” with never-before-seen, uncensored content and completely revamped, only-on-Xbox graphics and sound. Check out some new screens ...

Nearing the end of my E3 Screens Gallery list is one of the smaller developer/publishers but big in quality. Sammy Studios is a fairly new addition to the battlefield but with last year's Guilty Gear X2 and Galerians Ash they proved to have what it takes! This year they have 2 equally impressive titles (and a few more not yet announced in house developments coming) such as:

• Lethal Skies II (PS2)
• Seven Samurai 20XX (PS2)
  
  Hit this link for the screens!

Next at bat is 3DO's E3 screen gallery and one particular title i am eagerly looking forward to is the Four Horsemen. They have a few other interesting titles coming up such as :

• Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse (PS2/NGC/Xbox/PC)
• Jacked (PS2/NGC/Xbox)
• Street Racing Syndicate (PS2/NGC/Xbox)
  
  Hit this link for the screens!

Smash up Derby is a fast and dynamic arcade racing game bringing the idea of destruction derby back to the new millennium! In this game, like in no other, you will face competition with expanded, heavily tuned cars who, apart from aiming to win, will do all to crash your car and get you out of the race. This demo allows you to take a choice of two cars for a spin in single-race mode on the Night Arena and Lacroix Long tracks (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links.

One of the promising publishers with a bunch of nice upcoming titles i checked out at the E3 was Majesco. Check out the screens on their E3 lineup, such as :

• Black 9 (Xbox/PC)
• Bloodrayne
• Drake (Xbox/PC)
• Blowout (Xbox/PC)
• Advent Rising (Xbox)
• Iridion II (GBA)
• Block Party (GBA)
• Quad Desert Fury (GBA)
  
  Hit this link for the screens!

Forget about Columbus! Each attempt to conquer the New World failed. Then a plague wiped out the European population. Those who were able to flee to America saved themselves, yet were enslaved by the native Americans. Now, centuries later - no traceof progress whatsoever. For entertainment for the broad masses, the outlawed "Vultures" fight in huge arenas. And you are one of them. You only think of one thing: To become the number one gladiator in order to win your freedom! This can only be achieved by ability, skill, and cold-bloodedness as the only valid Vultures rule is: You either leave the arena as the winner or in pieces!

Slow news day as it seems so an opportune time to catch up on some more E3 screens galleries. Next at bat is Eastern European publisher Cenega with some of their upcoming titles, such as :

• UFO: Aftermath
• Korea:Forgotten Conflict
• Gooka 2
• Shade: Wrath Of Angels
• Timothy
• Mortyr
  
  Hit this link for the screens!

Slow news day as it seems so an opportune time to catch up on some more E3 screens galleries. Next at bat is Empire Interactive with some of their upcoming titles, such as :

• Starsky & Hutch (PC/Xbox/PS2)
• Ghost Master (PC)
• Vega$: Make It Big
  
  Hit this link for the screens!

Set to be the most accessible, exciting and entertaining open-wheel racing game designed, Indy Racing League features adrenaline-fuelled, ultra-close pack racing, with up to 33 cars racing on track, and requires total focus to handle the incredible overtaking manoeuvres at speeds well over 200mph. In a video game competition that ended in classic IndyCar Series fashion, Sam Hornish, Jr. earned his first virtual victory of the 2003 season. To celebrate the 87th running of the Indy 500 and the launch of the IndyCar Series video game for the PS2 on May 20, Codemasters conducted a pre-race simulation of the race in which Sam Hornish, Jr. emerged triumphant. Check some new screens ...