Sony Online Entertainment announced today that it is adding incentives to EverQuest II, the parallel online universe to the hugely successful gaming phenomenon EverQuest, to reward current EverQuest players for the time they have invested enjoying the original title. The incentives will include exclusive crossover quest zones in each game that will be accessible only by subscribers of both games, allowing characters in EverQuest and EverQuest II to gain access to hidden treasures, an EverQuest II in-game reward for loyal fans, and additional features to be disclosed over the coming months for ongoing EverQuest and EverQuest II players. EverQuest II is expected to ship to U.S. and Canadian retail stores this winter.

SEGA today announced that it will deliver its top-selling franchise of all time -- Sonic The Hedgehog -- to the largest audience of gamers worldwide, launching four new Sonic The Hedgehog games on all next-generation console and handheld platforms this fiscal year. The highly-anticipated "Sonic Heroes," an all-new title in the Sonic The Hedgehog series, will debut on the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo GameCube and the Xbox video game system from Microsoft. Additionally, building off the success of the Sonic franchise on Nintendo GameCube, SEGA will release "Sonic Adventure DX Director's Cut" exclusively for Nintendo GameCube. Finally, Sonic will return to the Game Boy Advance with the release of "Sonic Pinball Party" and "Sonic Battle."

Alias is a third-person action adventure containing a unique blend of action and stealth that puts you under fire and under pressure. Utilize your incredible spyware and array of disguises to complete the most dangerous covert missions across the globe. Experience all the heart-stopping action and tension of the award winning TV series.

Commandos 3 takes the stunningly detailed graphics and compelling gameplay of the series to a whole new level. The game features a new interior engine that enables you to rotate the detailed environments and zoom in and out. Prepare your Commandos as enemy bombing raids lay waste to environments, requiring you to change your tactics and approach. Eidos has just released their E3 trailer showing off about 30 seconds of movie goodness. Read more for download links ...

New Libyan Village multiplayer beta map. In this mission, IGI operatives have located some papers deep inside the village, which they must retrieve. Once the papers have been recovered a computer virus must be planted in an enemy compound and a fuel dump blown up to cover your tracks. Get it from Codemasters "27.8mb" !

One of the most ingenious and suspenseful films of all time, MGM's The Great Escape is a World War II escape-adventure classic that hits the Xbox, PS2 and PC this summer. Providing an exciting opportunity to take part in the largest breakout in history from the "escape proof" Stalag Luft III German POW camp, gamers are invited to participate in the most memorable and famous motorbike scene in ever to emerge in Hollywood. Following the massive hit Conflict: Desert Storm, The Great Escape, published by SCi Games, offers a unique variety of gameplay that builds you from slow, tension filled stealth scenes to adrenalin-filled action and chase sequences. Fans of the film and all gamers will certainly appreciate this stylish masterpiece. Check out the screens and a nice little tailer mixing movie as well as ingame action!

Shortly after the big success of Conflict:Desert Storm SCI/Pivotal started working on sequels hoping to cash in even more on the trend of today's events. We scored some new screens for the Pc, Ps2 as well as xbox versions of the game. Read more to check them out!

Electronic Arts today announced an extension of the relationship with MGM Interactive and Danjaq LLC to extend the exclusive worldwide rights to develop, publish and distribute the ongoing series of interactive games based on the world-renowned James Bond franchise. The agreement, for one of the most popular video game licenses in history, will be continued until 2010. The agreement allows EA to create games based on the world of James Bond, including the entire library of Ian Fleming books, the existing 20 feature films produced by MGM and Danjaq and all new James Bond films released during the term of the agreement. EA also announced details about the next Bond game: James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, which is scheduled for a holiday 2003 release.

Buena Vista Games, Inc., the global interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Company, today announced its new line-up of exciting PC and video game titles designed to rivet players of all ages to their gaming devices at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Leading the portfolio is the much-awaited TRON 2.0 for PC. The game's new high-speed multiplayer light cycle racing feature is debuting on the show floor at the company's booth, number 924, South Hall.

Argonaut Software announces Powerdrome, an ultra-high speed racing sport of the future – currently in development for the PS2 and Xbox by Argonaut's Sheffield studio. With Powerdrome the creators have designed the ultimate future-racing experience.

Extreme 4x4 is not a racing game, it is an ACTION RACING game which will give you the extreme fun on enjoying the thrill of racing and the suspense of adventures. Unpredicted happenings such as a tornado, exploding mines, the falling of huge rocks which you will encounter during the game will not require a mere driving skill to be successful. We now have a trailer showing off some wicked in game action! Read more for download link...

Lords of EverQuest features an enthralling storyline drawing gamers to the land of Antonica as they control one of 15 Lords and manage massive armies in their quest for domination. Lords of EverQuest will set new standards for the traditional RTS genre with thousands of items, hundreds of spells, the ability for all units in the game to gain experience and abilities, and free online multiplayer options for up to 12 players per game. Lords of EverQuest is being developed by Rapid Eye Entertainment and published by Sony Online Entertainment. We had a close encounter with Lords of EverQuest Producer James Parker and fired off some of our usual annoying questions...

TOCA Race Driver delivers a racing experience packed with 42 real touring and sports cars, 13 championships and an incredible 38 internationally renowned race circuits. New to the Xbox edition is the introduction of a qualifying round to championship races; in Australia's championship players will experience the 'Shoot out' qualification system. Lets take a few laps and see if Pro Race Driver continious Codemasters' racing excellence ...

As many other companies, Midway will be present at the upcoming E3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, May 14-16, 2003. Today we have another big batch of screens representing their entire E3 lineup. We got screens from the following titles:

• Roadkill
• The Suffering
• ESPionage
• Freaky Flyers
• FreeStyle Metal X
• Justice League: Dark Reflections (GBA)
• Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition (GBA)
• NBA Ballers
• NFL Blitz Pro
• NHL Hitz Pro
• Spy Hunter 2
• Static Shock (GBA)
• Super Duper Sumos (GBA)
• 
  
  Read more and check out the goodies!

Shrapnel Games is proud to announce the next in the highly acclaimed Combat Command series. From master designer Dave Erickson and Boku Strategy Games comes Combat Command 2: Danger Forward Gold Edition, slated for release June 09, 2003 it will be available online for $39.95, those who pre-order before the end of May will save $5.00. The gold edition takes the classic company-level wargame and makes it even better. New graphics! New battles! New rule tweaks! These tweaks offer subtle, yet important, enhancements to Combat Command 2's already mesmerizing gameplay.

Championship Manager 4 is the next generation of football management games offering more players, leagues and competitions than any other title. For the first time ever in the series, Championship Manager 4 features a 2D match engine enabling you to make tactical decisions as the action unfolds. This update for the retail Championship Manager 4 title adds many fixes and additions. This upgrade comes in 2 versions, one including a big database update and one without. Read more for download links ...

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 :

• Metal Gear Sold 3: Snake Eater (Konami)
• Thief 3 (Eidos)
• Backyard Wrestling (Eidos)
• Star Trek: Elite Force 2 (Activision)
• 
  
  Read more for download links ...

World War II Frontline Command is an action strategy title set within the era of World War II that will appeal to all levels of PC gamers and war enthusiasts. The game opens with the player dropping paratroopers into Europe to disrupt the entrenched Axis forces ahead of the main invasion forces set to land on D-Day. Players must take command of their forces and turn the tide of Axis aggression while conquering fortress Europe, using a vast amount of authentic infantry, vehicles and weaponry. Here’s a quick look at World War II Frontline Command with Neil from the Bitmap Brothers.

Activision sent our a notice to update everyone on Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory progress. "Thanks to dedicated gamers and testers, we've been working on fixing bugs and other issues that have been uncovered in the recently released map test. We've also been following feedback in the community to help us address any balance issues. We're in the final phases of testing and tweaking and hope to be ready to release the full, free, stand-alone game Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory early next week. Check out the official site for more information." We also got some new screens, read more to check them out ...

Ubisoft just dropped a note to let us know that the official The Prince of Persia website is now online! Launched with screens, artwork, and a forum area, the site will continue to grow as details emerge about this action/adventure powerhouse. Go check it out!

My fellow Comrades of Novistrana! The time has come to rise up and fight for our freedom. We have suffered in silence under the regime of President Karasov for too long. His regime of fear and oppression is crumbling and it is the time of the people. Now is the time to take back the power that is rightfully ours, now is the time for the revolution. Sign up your allegiance to the cause and make yourself heard at www.republictherevolution.com and prepare to make a difference. While you're there, don't miss their exciting new Republic: The Revolution trailer which is available to download on the website!

Chaser is set in the year 2044 with players taking the role of John Chaser who, at the beginning of the game, wakes up suffering from amnesia on board the spaceship HMS Majestic being pursued by a crack team of heavily armed shocktroop soldiers. The game then takes players into an apocalyptic future set on Earth and Mars. There is a new updated demo available now which adresses several improvements over the last demo. The v1.30 demo fixes clipping issues, sound problems, bugs with weapon selection and the action mode, and more. This new version features the same Training Center tutorial and Little Tokyo mission. Read more for download links ...

SEGA Europe Ltd, today announced an agreement with Warhammer Online Ltd, granting SEGA Europe rights to publish 'Warhammer Online' for PC across Europe, North America, Canada and Australia/New Zealand. Warhammer Online is a new massively multiplayer online computer game that allows players to take on the role of outlaws and mercenary adventurers within the grim and gritty realisation of Games Workshop's dark, gothic fantasy world of Warhammer. At the heart of the game is a combination of fantastic new technologies coupled with the deep and atmospheric Warhammer background and some of the most innovative player and character development within an online RPG.

Midway Games Inc. announced today that Universal Pictures has obtained an option to the rights to develop the classic 1980s Spy Hunter videogame into a major live action motion picture. SpyHunter 2, the latest iteration of the classic videogame, is scheduled to ship fall 2003 for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox and Nintendo GameCube.