Thrustmaster infiltrates Splinter Cell, the long-awaited PlayStation 2 title from Ubi Soft Entertainment, and will be releasing an official Splinter Cell gamepad and cheatcodes. Fans of the cutting-edge spy thriller will be keen to pick up these two special weapons, both of which will be available for the game's scheduled release at the end of March 2003.

THQ Inc. today announced that it will distribute Empire Interactive's "Big Mutha Truckers" for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox video game system from Microsoft and PC. "Big Mutha Truckers" places players behind the wheel of an 18-wheeled big rig deep in the heart of the South with a cast of colorful characters and plenty of campy humor.

Softwrap today announced three new agreements with gaming companies Blue Tea Games, Alawar Entertainment and Grass Games.com. The three companies will adopt Softwrap's technology to distribute secure versions of their games online. The growing adoption of Softwrap's technology by games developers demonstrates the appeal of 'try before you buy' solutions. Steve Zi Kun Zhao from Blue Tea Games revealed that it was Softwrap's "secure and professional approach to online distribution" that appealed to him in distributing the game Save The Meeklits, along with the "reasonable commission based fee".

Datel, the world's leading developer and manufacturer of innovative video game enhancement products, is proud to announce the release of PowerBoard for the Nintendo GameCube console. The perfect companion for online games like Phantasy Star Online, PowerBoard is the first full-size, computer-style keyboard designed specifically for GameCube.

Majorem Ltd., a developer of massively multiplayer games and technology, is pleased to officially announce that they are now finalizing preparations towards the E3 tradeshow at Los-Angeles California. 'Ballerium' is meant to be the main company's display at the famous tradeshow. Majorem's booth on E3 this year would be located at the Kentia hall, booth #6345. The public is invited to test the game's Beta on site.

Icculus has issued another updated dedicated Linux server for MoH: Allied Assault Spearhead, allowing Linux PCs to host multiplayer games for v2.15 of the World War II FPS expansion by EA. This is still in beta stage (v4) so not the final product and the developers encourage email support! Read more for details & download links ..

Conflict: Desert Storm lets you take charge of the best known and most feared special operations forces in the world: the elite British SAS or the US Delta Force squads. You're the best trained, best equipped and best organised Special Forces in the world. The area that has been assigned to you is yours for the taking. Seek, locate and destroy enemy targets and personnel. Create havoc and confusion throughout the enemy's lines of communication and supply. What lies before you is an opportunity in a soldier's lifetime. Take your equipment, take your training and use it well.

In Line of Sight: Vietnam your job is to locate elusive enemy soldiers and pick them off one-by-one. Whether patiently waiting for the enemy to show himself or delivering a pre-emptive strike, the method is the same – be quick, be quiet, and be careful. That’s what will get you home alive... The 172MB demo is now available on FilePlanet. When you install the file, you will be given a KEY in a web browser window. You must use this KEY to unlock the demo preview. Also DirectX 9.0 is required!

Capcom has updated the PN03, in development by its internal studio, Production Studio 4, Japanese website. P.N. 03, directed by Shinji Mikami, is described as an action game starring a female soldier named Vanessa Z. Schneider. She's a mercenary armed with a high-powered laser--and she's a robot killer. Robots at a colonial settlement have gone wild on a nearby planet, and it's up to Vanessa--whose parents were killed by the same system overrunning the settlement--to stop them. Not much is known about the game's action, but it is described as containing dodging capabilities and transforming mechs. The game is due to hit Japan in spring of 2003.

Uplink brings players into the depths of one of the world’s most intriguing settings: cyberspace. Players take on the role of an Uplink agent, working for large corporations and hacking into rival computer systems, stealing research data, sabotaging other companies, laundering money, erasing evidence, and framing innocent people. Stock markets can be influenced, personal records can be altered, and money can be transferred... sometimes into the wrong hands.

Man, talk about a boring Friday. Today only a few trailers for various games were released. Instead of giving them all their own post, we grouped them and so far there are trailers for :

• Vietcong (Take2)
• Rayman 3 'Battery' (UbiSoft)
• Star Wars : Knights Of The Old Republic(LucasArts)
• Splinter Cell PS2 Intro (UbiSoft)
  
  Read more for download links ...

The Netherworld - a realm darker than the deepest abyss, located far beneath where mortals tread. It is a cursed land where evil reigns and foul beings dwell. Nobody knows its whereabouts, but everybody fears its existence... The story takes place two years after the death of King Krichevskoy, the ruler of the Netherworld. His son Laharl awakens from a long sleep, unaware of his father's death. Meanwhile, scheming demons vie for supremacy over the Netherworld. With the help of his subordinate Etna and her underlings, the egocentric, self-absorbed Prince Laharl must fight to regain the throne and claim his birthright.

Atlus U.S.A. released some screens and a trialer for "Lufia: The Ruins of Lore", the next title in the wildly popular Lufia role-playing series. Developed for the Game Boy Advance, the title will be released in North America in the Spring of 2003. This exciting new chapter follows the adventures of Eldin and his childhood friends, Torma and Rami, as they strive to solve the mystery of the ancient ruins and halt the resurrection of an evil beast whose power could eradicate humanity. Read more for the goodies ...

The year is 2178 and the galaxy is evolving at an alarming pace. Years ago, human scientists introduced a new technology, the “Hyper-drive”, which vastly improved interstellar travel, but instead of forging closer bonds throughout the galaxy, communication between civilizations has ground to a halt. Colonization and a battle for supremacy have become the primary goals but only one race can dominate…and survive. Strategy First has released a new trailer showing off what this game is all about. Read more for download links ...

For those of you who have finished Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell and are craving a fix of your favorite Xbox game: WAIT NO MORE! Beginning today (and NOT yesterday like some other places reported), you can revisit the tense stealth-action of Splinter Cell by simply downloading the Kola Cell mission for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell from Xbox Live--at no additional charge. But be forewarned! This mission is tough. Real tough. Ubi Soft's Montreal team put a lot of thought into how to best test the skills of the most creative Splinter Cell players. We invite you to guide Sam Fisher through a Georgian warehouse, find cyber-terrorist Philip Masse's computer terminal and steal a sample code. Just don't get caught. If you do, the United States government will disavow any knowledge of your existence.

Syberia II, the sequel of the 2002 Adventure Game of The year, is currently in development at the developer/publisher Montreal-based studios. Microïds is also excited to release today the first images, screenshots and artworks, of Syberia II. The game will be released in the Fall of 2003. Check out these new screens ...

Interplay Entertainment Corp. announced today the company has sold all future interactive entertainment publishing rights to the "Hunter: The Reckoning" franchise to Vivendi Universal Games. Interplay retains the rights to the previously published "Hunter: The Reckoning" titles on Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube. The "Hunter: The Reckoning" franchise is a property of White Wolf Publishing Inc.

Today several trailers for various games were released. Instead of giving them all their own post, we grouped them and so far there are trailers for :

• XIII (UbiSoft)
• Humvee Assault (Infogrames)
• Line Of Sight : Vietnam (Infogrames)
• Splinter Cell PS2 Intro (UbiSoft)
• Lock On (UbiSoft)
• Tom & Jerry : War Of The Whiskers (UbiSoft)
  
  Read more for download links ...

Hunter: The Reckoning returns to the Xbox with even more frenetic multi-player action than the original game. Based on the gothic fantasy world of White Wolf's pen and paper RPG system, players act as human monster-hunters combining melee, ranged and spell-driven attacks. In Hunter: The Reckoning - Redeemer, the hunt continues as a new Hunter joins the original team of 4 in their fight to save the citizens of Ashcroft from a twisted plot to take over the innocent town. Players battle against hordes of supernatural enemies in single-or multi-player mode - they do whatever it takes to get the job done.

You’re Indiana Jones. Legendary adventurer. Daring rogue. And the most butt-kicking archaeologist the world has ever seen. It’s 1935 and this time you must prevent a powerful Chinese artifact from falling into evil hands. This globe-spanning adventure pits you against evil Nazis and the Asian underworld with a mysterious and alluring partner, Mei Ying. It’ll take more than just a trusty whip and pistol to avoid deadly traps and navigate through all the dangerous environments. Do you have what it takes to make it back alive? LucasArts is pleased to announce that Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb for PC has Gone Gold and will be in stores March 26th! PlayStation2 version is coming soon.

WarBirds, PTO, Pacific Theater of Operations is launched in Beta! Come fly the Battles of the Pacific in the Philippine Islands! The new product launched in Beta today and is expected to go live on 20 March 2003. WarBirds, PTO, Pacific Theater of Operations is a major new product from the award winning WarBirds III Family of products. New Terrains, new airplanes, new flight models, new strategy, new graphic features, and new fun all will be had with this exciting new product! This is the first new product since the release of the original WarBirds III was launched in 2000!

Mid October 2002 Paradox announced the purchase of 20% in Conan Properties. Only four months later Paradox has executed a definitive agreement to acquire all remaining stock of Conan Properties. There is no doubt that Conan is one of the greatest character franchises in the world. The line up of partners surely tells the strength of the property. A wide range of international companies has been working with Conan over the years. Current licensing deals include a feature film option with Warner Brothers, computer games license with TDK, publishing license with TOR books a comic license with Dark Horse Comics and many other key licensees world wide. This, if anything, shows that the great barbarian is a strong and vital character, says Theodore Bergquist, CEO at Paradox Entertainment.

In their immeasurable greed and constant thirst for power, the thirteen most powerful Mages of all time doomed the land, hurling it into an endless spiral of chaos and despair. Entire countries were wiped out in the blink of an eye when the devastating power of the Elements was unleashed – Elements summoned by dark rituals. Continents shattered like glass, the pieces strewn about like leaves in the wind. Huge armies, bound by the the power of ancient runes, brought war and destruction to the lands that survived the initial onslaught. All that was left were a few islands, connected by magic portals.

Thrustmaster infiltrates Splinter Cell, the long-awaited PlayStation 2 title from Ubi Soft Entertainment, and will be releasing an official Splinter Cell gamepad and cheatcodes. Fans of the cutting-edge spy thriller will be keen to pick up these two special weapons, both of which will be available for the game’s scheduled release at the end of March 2003.

Perfect Ace! – Pro Tournament Tennis. Oxygen Interactive can today announce Perfect Ace, for the Playstation 2 and PC. Developed by Leamington Spa based Aqua Pacific Ltd (UK), the title is currently being developed by Aqua Pacific, a Leamington Spa based studio headed by notable Games Veteran of 20 Years – Paul Ranson. Perfect Ace presents the next evolution of PS2 Tennis Game play, offering a pulsating and electrifying tennis Simulation environment offering Gamers the chance to experience the exaltations and despondency of a professional tennis player.