The world market for video games is growing at a faster rate than ever before, according to a new report by analysts Screen Digest on behalf of ELSPA, the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. The popular games console systems, Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube and Microsoft Xbox have sold 30 per cent more than the previous generation of gaming technology at the equivalent point in time.

SEGA of America, Inc. officially announced today the release of "SEGA Sports World Series Baseball 2K3" for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft. "SEGA Sports World Series Baseball 2K3" launches with a host of gameplay and visual enhancements, including an ESPN telecast-style presentation, Hall of Fame legends, retro uniforms and ballparks, and new player moves and animations. Produced by Visual Concepts Entertainment, a SEGA development studio, and developed by Blue Shift Inc., "SEGA Sports World Series Baseball 2K3" will once again be in a league of its own.

Line of Sight: Vietnam is the "next installment in Infogrames' repertoire of authentic military games with pick up and playability, coupled with an affordable price point". Developed by nFusion Interactive LLC, this FPS "follow the story of a young sniper assigned by the U.S. Army to the 5th Special Forces compound in Kontum, Vietnam". We had a sit down with N-Fusion's Jeff Birns and Jason Zisk...

Spring 1945: World War 2 is drawing to a close and the Russians and Germans are caught in a furious battle for a devastated Berlin. The cold war starts... As a sniper, recruited by the OSS (former CIA), it is the beginning of a lonely stealth mission in the Russian territory. Here are some of the first screens ..

"MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries" allows players to play for fortune, not honor, as they become leaders of a fledgling mercenary company in the latest standalone installment of the critically acclaimed MechWarrior action-simulator franchise. Players control 100 ton 'Mechs while leading up to eight hired guns into the heat of battle in the quest for the all-mighty C-Bill. MicroSoft has just released a new patch (Point Release 1) for MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries which mainly adress some cheat explots, crashes and other fixes. Read more for details fix list and download links ...

Artifact Entertainment has debuted the first website theme based on creatures from its highly anticipated PC title, Horizons. Gamers can now log on to Istaria and select the "Fiends," one of the many playable races from the forthcoming MMORPG. The new theme will change the experience and design when navigating through the game's site to reflect the world of the beautiful, horned, blue skinned offshoot of the human race. When selecting a theme, gamers will be presented with a new look and feel to the Horizons website. The standard presentation of the site can always be selected and as new designs are introduced, with the official launch of additional races, fans will be able to switch between their favorites. The themes give gamers yet another sample of the flexibility and customization Artifact Entertainment has built into the Horizons community.

Gunner II may be a household name for you or a complete enigma. It all depends on whether you are a hardcore fan of indie-produced 3D shooters. Good old motto "Kill 'em all" is probably the best way to precisely describe the game's purpose. The game is divided into tree different episodes - World War II style Episode I one, with old fashioned crafts and weapons, Episode II with modern crafts and weapons, and futuristic Episode III with UFOs and plasma weapons.

The official site for Vietcong is updated with a new developer diary, part #3 (thanks Unrealik).. This time they discuss characters, equipment and missions.. Check it out!

Gamespy has a very interesting article regarding the future of Sierra/Monolith's stealth FPS, No One Lives Forever 2. According to the article there are plans at Monolith for future releases of both a tool package and an expansion pack for NOLF2. An add-on is expected later this year, as well as a new (mainly multiplayer patch (in the next 2 weeks), and tools for the mod community. The new patch will have 10 new maps (mostly adapted single player maps), a new multiplayer mode "Doomsda". Gamespy also hints to a possible NOLF3, which we here at WP have been suspicious about for a while, especially since the NOLF3.com is already registered to Fox Interactive.

When Nintendo began development of the Game Boy Advance SP in June 2001, the 20-strong team at the headquarters of Nintendo Co., Ltd in Kyoto, Japan decided to take a new approach. The sleek Game Boy Advance SP has been developed using the powerful engine already found inside the Game Boy Advance, but the addition of a screen light, a compact silver metallic casing and flip top design have combined to create something sexy & stylish. The result is a truly pocket-sized console that sits shoulder to shoulder next to the latest mobile phones, PDAs & minidisk players, providing the ultimate in handheld portable entertainment.

Indy's latest adventure plays out in dramatic fashion thanks to new gameplay features such as brawling combat. This time, in addition to using his trademark whip and pistol, Indy can engage in fierce hand-to-hand combat against foes, many of whom are well-versed in martial arts. Improvised weapons such as shovels, chairs and table legs also can be used to fend off adversaries. The result is a more immersive and more Indy-like gameplay experience, set amidst spine-tingling movie-like action sequences, such as a rickshaw chase in Hong Kong and a spectacular battle atop moving gondolas in the South China Sea area. Check out some new PS2/PC screens ...

Trailer Park Tycoon gets the real neighbourhood party started with a colourful cast of characters, distinct settings and outlandish events. This parody of a classic slice of Americana uses humour to engage the gamer and expand on gameplay elements. Trailer Park Tycoon incorporates enhanced 3D graphics and expanded direct control features to distinguish it from other tycoon titles.

Slow news evening so only a few new trailers for various games were released. Instead of giving them all their own post, we grouped them and so far there are trailers for :

• Outlaw Volleyball (SSI)
• CSI (UbiSoft)
• Splinter Cell (UbiSoft)
• Clock Tower 3 (CapCom)
• PN 03 (CapCom)
• Neighbours From Hell (JoWood)
  
  Read more for download links ...

Jaleco Entertainment announced today that it is developing and will publish Goblin Commander: Unleash The Horde, an innovative action-strategy game for the next-generation consoles set in an epic fantasy universe. A fourth quarter release is planned.

Valve, L.L.C., creators of Counter-Strike and Half-Life, today announced immediate availability of a 64-bit version of the Counter-Strike dedicated server using the upcoming AMD Opteron processor. Counter-Strike has the largest service footprint of any game on the Internet, with 35,000 servers generating over 4.5 billion player minutes per month.

CM3 will Cover up to 10 World Cup races including the Tour de France, Giro, Vuelta, three 7-day stage races & five semi classics. Manage your teams (finance, strategy, fitness.….. ) and race tactics. All new improved graphics will represent different locations of the individual races of Spain, Germany, Belgium, Italy etc, mountain backdrops in the Alps / Pyrenees or the Arc de Triomphe in fine detail. Read more for details, features and new screens ...

Harbinger is a single-player action / RPG set in a fantastic science fiction universe. As one of three distinct character types, players explore the world of Harbinger - journey to the far reaches of space, battle unique foes never before seen in any medium, discover powerful new weapons and alien technologies, and uncover the dark secrets buried within the massive starship's steel walls. As promised Dreamcatcher has now made the official demo available giving you a change to try out this promising game. Begin play as level 6 Human powered up with advanced weaponry, armor and skills. See original quest dialogs not found in the retail game and play two entirely new levels. You’ll also encounter 12 of the 65 enemy types present in the game. Read more for download links ...

Hot on the heels of the just released BF1942 v1.31 patch is the updated dedicated Win32 server. This update is needed to host games bringing it on par with the update patch. The upgrade optimizes network and client issues. Read more for links where to grab the goods ...

State of Emergency is a "man against the mob" arcade-like fighting game where you are a member of an underground resistance movement, dedicated to liberating your people from the oppressive Corporation. Use hand to hand combat, weapons, and anything you can find on the street. Hundreds of people are rioting as you fight for freedom - be careful! A fresh batch of screens, njoy!

JoWooD Productions is proud to announce the first official details of the gaming engine that will power the cutting-edge first-person shoot ‘em up, Chaser, the PC CD Rom game scheduled for a UK release in Q2 2003. Read more for details as well as a few new screens ...

Australian Adam Scott, the third-place finisher at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship this past weekend, has signed a deal with Electronic Arts to appear in EA's interactive golf software products, including Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 2004. Scott, a 22-year old phenom who won the Qatar Masters and Scottish PGA in 2002 will now get the opportunity to compete with the likes of Woods, Colin Montgomerie, Jesper Parnevik and Charles Howell III on the virtual links in the latest installment of the best selling golf title from EA SPORTS.

SCi today announces that it has acquired the interactive rights from Artisan Entertainment, Inc. to Reservoir Dogs. Originally released in 1992, 'Reservoir Dogs' received critical acclaim when it screened at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1991. The director was Quentin Tarantino who has since developed a cult movie following around the world.

Thrustmaster is pleased to announce the upcoming release on themarket of three accessories for Game Boy Advance SP, Nintendo’s latest handheld console:the Thrustmaster Starter Pack, Thrustmaster Carry Bag and Thrustmaster Protector Pouch.These three accessories will be available in Europe at the end of March 2003, to coincide with the GBA SP’s release.

To make the experience of modern war as immersive as possible, EA Pacific is using a proprietary state-of-the-art 3D engine, code-named “Sage,” which delivers unprecedented detail and interactivity. Because of Sage, Generals’ battlefields will include fully modeled urban cityscapes, rugged deserts, vast forests and frozen wastelands. Amazing special effects will allow players to crush cars with hulking tanks, blow out the windows of skyscrapers, or lace the skies with smoke from dueling fighter planes. Read more to check out our lengthy review!

Sony Online Entertainment let us know that registrations are now being accepted to participate in the EverQuest for the Macintosh beta test. The first phase of testing is scheduled to begin soon. Check out the beta test website and see what you'll need and to fill out the application.