Played in massive outdoor environments with vistas rendered as far as the eye can see, the team-orientated LAN and online multiplayer games in IGI 2: Covert Strike – due February 2003 for PC – are set to be one of the title's major highpoints... New screens released today show impressive images from IGI 2: Covert Strike's multiplayer games, running under the game's enhanced graphics engine.

Infiltrate terrorists' positions, acquire critical intelligence by any means necessary, execute with extreme prejudice, and exit without a trace! You are Sam Fisher, a highly-trained secret operative of the NSA's secret arm: Third Echelon. The world balance is in your hands, as cyber terrorism and international tensions are about to explode into WWIII. We have heard and seen plenty, but now it is time for it to withstand the gruesome WP test ... or something like that. Read more for our final answer (and it's quite a lenghty read)!

Black & Bruised thrusts players into the colorful world of 18 lively boxers, each forced into competitive boxing for individual reasons. Competing in 18 different arenas, players learn the life story of each boxer and how winning will benefit them. Characters are differentiated not only by their look, but by their individual personalities, which are enhanced by the game’s advanced AI system. More than 30 unique and detailed facial animations are used to convey the boxer’s mood and reaction to landed punches. Read more to check out some new screens and a new trailer.. Njoy!

Ubi Soft Entertainment has announced two Hollywood celebrities who will play feature voiceover roles in Rayman3 Hoodlum Havoc, a video game slated for release in March 2003 that is already stirring a buzz among the gaming community. Read more for details and download a Globox sample file ...

A new beta of the dedicated server software for Counter-Strike is now available. There is a Counter-Strike Win32 server v4.1.1.0c version available as well as a Counter-Strike Linux server v3.1.1.0c version. Meanwhile, a new version 1.25 dedicated Linux server for Team Factor has been released which allows the hosting of a server for the European version of the game only (thanks Blue's News). Read more for details, install help and links where to grab the goods ...

Paradox Entertainment has licensed the British developer Virtual Programming Ltd the right to convert the award-winning historical strategy games Legion and Hearts of Iron to Apple´s PowerMac. The games will be released during 2003. Paradox Entertainment has previously licenced the Macintosh rights to Europa Universalis 2 to Virtual Programming Ltd who has specialist competence in converting into the MacOS.

It is 1588 A.D., a critical year of an alternate history hauntingly familiar yet fantastically alien to our own. Because of one fateful event during the Third Crusade, the history of this world diverged. This event, the Disjunction, ripped open a long-sealed breach to other worlds. Magic energy and powerful spirits flowed into the world, changing the lands and the people forever. Read more for links to grab the very first trailer with in-game footage from Black Isle Studios/Reflexive Entertainment's "Lionheart". Njoy!

Sammy Studios Inc. today announced the addition of Clinton Keith. Clinton comes to the company from Rockstar San Diego, the developer formerly known as Angel Studios, Inc., where he served as director/lead programmer. He joins Sammy Studios as lead tools programmer, working with teams currently creating the company’s first internally-developed video games in North America.

MindComet, the industry leading new media solutions provider, today announced that it has designed and developed an online game in support of the Nextel/National Hockey League All-Star Challenge. The Nextel/NHL All-Star Challenge is a national shootout competition, taking place in 11 NHL team markets and through a national sweepstakes (U.S. residents only) over a three-month period. The competition will culminate at the 2003 NHL All-Star Weekend presented by Nextel in Sunrise, Fla., where one fan will have the opportunity to shoot against Tampa Bay Lightning star goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin for $250,000.

When Codemasters launches the PC edition of TOCA Race Driver early next year, players will see the circuit and cars ahead and to the sides thanks to its use of Matrox Surround Gaming, which enables the gameplay to be viewed across three linked monitors... Check out two photos of a sort of serving suggestion for how this would work and four triple-screen shots.

BioWare Corp. today announced the release of Witch Wake Part One: The Fields of Battle, the first of an upcoming series of new story-based game modules for the award-winning Dungeons & Dragons computer role-playing game Neverwinter Nights. Read more for details and links where to grab the mod.

Bam Ent. is hard at work on their cross platform title "A Sound Of Thunder" based on Ray Bradbury's classic story (and also upcoming movie). Its all about hunting dinosaur's Jurrasic Park style. Don’t change anything in the past, don’t leave anything behind and don’t bring anything back. Unfortunately someone screwed up… Today we have a ton of screens for all platforms .. Njoy!

Christian Antkow, Level Desiger @ id Software updated his .plan file with following announcement today:

We're looking to contract a sound designer to work on weapon sounds, impact sounds, monster sounds, world ambience, machinery, etc for our upcoming game, DOOM 3. Basically, you will be responsible for creating a lot of sounds that will be used in the game.

Find out more below!

Vivendi has announced it is to bring the all-action adventures of James Cameron's Dark Angel to the PlayStation 2 and Xbox video game systems. The game has been developed by Radical Ent., is being published by Sierra Entertainment Inc., a studio of Vivendi Universal Games, and is due for release on 21st February, 2003 (already available in the US).

UPDATE: 12 screenshots of no readily discernible format added and 4 pics of the digital Jessica

Wild Earth, which will be officially announced next month, is a departure from the sci-fi reputation of the studio. Wild Earth is set deep in Africa on the plains of the Serengeti, where the player takes the role of a photo-journalist on assignment for a fictional news magazine by the same name. Amazingly lifelike animation and immersive environments will make it a winner for all ages.

Playboy Enterprises today announced a global licensing deal with ARUSH Entertainment in conjunction with Groove Games to create, market and distribute a set of interactive simulation video games. The first Playboy- branded game, which will be playable on multiple platforms including PC, Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Xbox consoles, is targeted to be in stores in 2004.

Wanadoo has signed an agreement with Nevrax, a developer of massively multiplayer online role playing games, covering the publication and operation of the new "Ryzom" game, beginning in late 2003. Building on the success of "Dark Age of Camelot," launched in January 2002, Wanadoo is gearing up to offer a new massively multiplayer online role playing game called "Ryzom." "Ryzom" is a third-generation 3D game that features a highly original poetic universe designed for the general public. Online gaming aficionados will discover innovative game mechanisms, along with sumptuous graphics.

Revolt Games, developer of the forthcoming space simulator Homeplanet has registered the name 3MapGames as a trademark. From now on the spacesim Homeplanet, the futuristic first person shooter Neuro and all other games from this team will also be released under the new name.

Long ago, a battle raged on between good and evil for the right to rule the Light Hemisphere of Eternia. All that was good and sacred was put to the test. King Randor and his army defeated the evil forces, but the evil Skeletor and his followers were brewing a new plot to take over Eternia. With his new powers and his mighty soldiers by his side, He-Man must take on Skeletor, but must never reveal his true identity, as it would mean the end of Grayskull. Does He-Man still have the power? Read more and find out!

eGenesis, creator of the massively multiplayer online RPG A Tale In The Desert, has signed MDO Games to publish and host a German version of the game. The German version entitled Kemet: A Tale In The Desert is slated for release in January of 2003.

Entertainment industry powerhouses are lining up to support the highly anticipated “Video Games Live At The Hollywood Bowl” concert taking place in spring 2003. Mystical Stone Entertainment has bolstered its industry’s presence through partnerships with the entertainment agency Endeavor and public relations firm Bender/Helper Impact. Endeavor will spearhead several business and development initiatives for Mystical Stone Entertainment including broadcast rights, cross-promotional partnerships and other strategic alliances.

Icculus and Electronic Arts have released the first beta dedicated Linux server for Battlefield 1942, allowing Penguin-powered PCs to host multiplayer games of Digital Illusions' vehicular first-person shooter. This beta release will expire in about 30 days but a new release should become available prior to that, and bug reports are solicited. Read more for details, install guide and links where to grab the goods...

Codemasters today announced its revolutionary PlayStation2 racing title, Pro Race Driver, shipped to stores. Pro Race Driver redefines the racing genre with the inclusion of an innovative narrative character-based storyline and the realism of more than 40 detailed cars and 38 licensed tracks in Pro Race Driver. The game is available on store shelves for an SRP of $39.99.

Codemasters just send us the latest "IGI2: Covert Strike" status update. This time they let us know that there is a new music track from the full game available for download and we also received a selection of questions that the public have sent in over the last few weeks to Codemasters founder and Creative Director, Richard Darling. Read more for music download link and the Q&A..

The CMBB Strategy Guide for 'Combat Mission: Barbarossa to Berlin' has been released today! The 300+ page CMBB Strategy Guide by acclaimed author Mark H. Walker covers… "everything from reconnaissance to reverse slope defense, flank attacks to foolish moves. If the vast array of tactics inherent to Combat Mission are twisting your brain into knots, this is the book to straighten you out." Moreover, the majority of units in the game are listed in charts with all the relevant data and statistics, providing a great printed guide what to purchase for your next QuickBattle. The Strategy Guide is available immediately for $15 (plus S&H) directly online from battlefront.com.