NDL today released its much anticipated 3D graphics toolkit and engine, Gamebryo (www.gamebryo.com), at the Game Developers Conference. Gamebryo, the next step in the evolution of game development, is a cross-platform 3D graphics toolkit and engine that offers game developers unparalleled flexibility with crafting cutting-edge 3D technology in their games. Gamebryo, based on NDL's NetImmerse technology, also gives game developers the unique ability to leverage and extend their legacy tools in creative ways.

SCi Games today announced that its WWII escape adventure game, The Great Escape, will hit the Xbox, PS2 and PC this summer. The game "offers a unique variety of gameplay that takes you from slow, tension filled stealth scenes to adrenalin-filled action and chase sequences. Fans of the film, and all gamers will appreciate this masterpiece".

Warlords IV: Heroes of Etheria is a fantasy turn-based strategy game in which players build heroes - their main characters - as battles progress, gaining new skills, spells, and levels, and ultimately becoming the mightiest force in the Realms of Etheria! Warlords IV: Heroes of Etheria features a brand new engine, and introduces players to a new level of resolving battles with the addition of tactical battles. A slow day so far, so a few new screens to keep the news rolling ...

1503 A.D. (a.k.a Anno 1503) – Return to the dawn of a New World in an epic saga of adventure and discovery. As a young lad, you've heard tales of opportunity and unimaginable power and fortune in this New World. Now grown up, you're ready to embark on and venture into these unfamiliar lands of the Renaissance world in ANNO 1503, an exciting new PC title that blends the excitement of real-time strategy with the depth of empire building. It's not only the challenging gameplay that makes 1503 A.D. something very special, it's also the carefully crafted details. The vivid gaming environment is supported by numerous cutscenes, absorbing the player even deeper into the living, breathing world that is 1503 A.D.

Activision Value, a division of Activision, Inc. and Baric/Maxwell LLC are giving gamers the opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the forces of the Union or the army of the Confederacy with the release of a new PC game "Gods and Generals." Based on the events portrayed in the feature film of the same name, "Gods and Generals" puts the player in the role of a company captain serving on the front lines and challenges them to lead a cadre of soldiers through the hellish battlefields of the Civil War. "Gods and Generals" is currently available at retail stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $19.99 and has been rated "T" (teen) by the ESRB.

JoWooD Productions is proud to announce that March is the month of CMM in the year of Söldner: Secret Wars, the revolutionary online tactical military shooter coming to PC CD ROM in 2003. To celebrate this announcement, JoWooD Productions have created a stunning range of free and exclusive Söldner: Secret Wars wallpapers for gamers to download. Details of CMM will be announced later this month. More information on Söldner: Secret Wars can be found at secretwars.net.

Colin McRae Rally 3 is set to give PC gamers the professional rally driver experience as this massive console hit gets a special PC edition. Colin McRae Rally 3, coming to PC this summer, captures the emotions and consequences of being a professional rally champion. It's an unbelievably personal gaming experience, as you become the globe's greatest rally driver - Colin McRae himself.

Logitech today announced that the Logitech NetPlay Controller is scheduled to arrive on retail shelves in the U.S. and at www.logitech.com later this month for a suggested retail price of $69.95 USD. The NetPlay Controller will be on display at the Logitech booth (#1008) at the Game Developers Conference.

Immersion, a leading developer and licensor of force feedback technology, today previewed (booth No. 536) an industry-first consumer innovation, a beta version of a new software product called TouchWare Gaming that can bring the sense of touch to every PC game.

Today, Lik-Sang.com, Alternative Gaming Community, has acquired the copyrights, development rights, know-how and domain names from the once famous Smartjoy (or Smart Joypad) project. Smartjoy was the very first 100% compatible (except rumble features) USB adapter for PC allowing the hardcore gamers worldwide to use their Playstation Dual Shock controller enjoying the same gameplay quality as on consoles.

Videogame publisher Capcom has launched a special telephone helpline for consumers scared from playing its latest title Resident Evil Zero. Available now on 08700 46 55 20 (calls charged at national rates), the line has been designed explicitly to offer comfort and reassurance to terrified gamers. Players simply ring up and listen to the two-minute recorded message scripted by a top psychologist. Once the call is completed, they should feel much more calm.

NO RULES, NO BOUNDARIES! FOUR ON FOUR EXTREME FOOTBALL... Urban Freestyle Soccer takes the sport back to its street roots with teams competing against their rivals for the right to be crowned Kings of the Streets. Build your own team and make them a force to be reckoned with ready to annihilate all comers. Attitude and aggression are just as valuable as skill. battleground for the duration of the match. No offsides and limited boundaries ensure flowing gameplay and fierce, frantic competitive matches.

BioWare Corp. is pleased to announce that Neverwinter Nights was named the Computer Role-Playing Game of the Year by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) on February 28 at the Sixth Annual Interactive Achievement Awards in Las Vegas. The AIAS achievement award event recognizes outstanding achievement in interactive content and in the interactive community. This is the fourth time in the past five years that BioWare's products have received honors at the AIAS awards: three times for PC Role-Playing Game of the Year (Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, Neverwinter Nights), and once for Character or Story Development (Baldur's Gate II). BioWare will be expanding upon the Neverwinter Nights universe with two upcoming expansion packs: Shadows of Undrentide, set for a Spring 2003 release; and "XP2," the currently unnamed second expansion pack, scheduled for release later in 2003.

Hercules is delighted to announce the launch of a complete new range of its popular 3D Prophet graphics boards. This new 3D Prophet series, based on ATI's latest chipsets, features perfectly-adapted solutions for all PC users, from ultra-hardcore gaming to general family needs. As always, Hercules' aim is to provide the very best solutions for every market sector.

A few weeks ago Ubi Soft Entertainment announced plans to release Kola Cell, a new level for the highly successful videogame Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell available for download via Xbox Live. Sam Fisher fans won't have to wait much longer! The new mission for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell will be available to Xbox Live subscribers beginning March 14, 2003. UbiSoft was so kind to send us a few new screens to keep you happy ...

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 :

• PlanetSide (SOE)
• Strike Fighter (Strategy First)
• Apache Air Assault (Activision)
  
  Read more for download links ...

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming, announced today that it has seen significant growth in the number of simultaneous user base and recently set a new record of 118,000 simultaneous players, almost four years after the game was launched. In addition, the company is opening a brand new EverQuest server, Maelin Starpyre, and for the first time ever, will offer full character transfers from existing servers including all equipment, acquired items and experience. Transfers are subject to certain restrictions.

Project 3 just let us know that there will be a New World Order official demo for the U.S. release, and it will be available within a couple of days. The demo will feature the Druglord Villa level which was in the E.U. release plus a completely new map called Restaurant. Both maps will be in the U.S. release, while E.U. players will have the opportunity to add the map to their full game by a separate download. The demo will have both singleplayer and multiplayer modes included. And of course we will have it available right here for download. In the meantime check out the revamped Project3 website.

BioWare has released a new patch for Neverwinter Nights, updating their role playing game to v1.29. This upgrade fixes the NPC warping issue, fixes the DM Client player display list, and also fixes an issue with tags > 32 characters Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Noticed on BluesNews that Renegade Generals has news & details from EA's Harvard Bonin on the next planned patch for C&C Generals. According to the post we could expect it early next week. Read more for details if you want to know what they are working on...

Ubi Soft Entertainment announced today that Shadowbane, the ground breaking massively-multiplayer online (MMO) game for both PC and Macintosh, has gone gold. Shadowbane has been designed and developed by Wolfpack Studios, based in Austin, Texas, and will be hosted and operated by ubi.com. Shadowbane makes its triumphant journey to retail shelves on March 25. Read more for details as well links for a new trailer ...

Project 3 has once again released a new patch for their team-based tactical shooter New World Order. This upgrades your European retail copy to v1.4, no specific details are available at this point. I would assume the recently gone gold North Americna version will be in stores as 1.4. Read more for links where to grab the goods ...

Hercules is proud to announce the release of the latest entry in its Smart TV range of TV cards: Smart TV Satellite. Designed for high-quality digital satellite reception on PC (DVB-S standard), the card features digital MPEG-2 VCR and time shifting functions and is fully Pay-TV compatible.

Today a team of game industry veterans announced the launch of Skylab Entertainment, a new game development studio in Austin, Texas. Skylab's founders include original team members from game developer Ritual Entertainment and publisher Gathering of Developers. Skylab Entertainment is dedicated to developing the next generation of interactive entertainment for tomorrow's gaming systems, and is hard at work on their first, unannounced title.

As the country gears up for Spring Break, Nintendo heightens the anticipation for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance SP (GBA SP) through a marketing initiative targeting teens and college students, as well as an advertising program highlighting the "Brilliance" of GBA SP. In advance of its March 23 launch, GBA SP will begin to make appearances via extensive print and broadcast advertising, plus consumer sampling cameos at some of the nation's coolest "hot spots."