Unleashing an exciting new action hero within the popular platform gaming genre, Acclaim today announced that it has shipped its eagerly anticipated title, VEXX, for the PS2, Xbox and GameCube. Developed by Acclaim's internal development studio in Austin, Texas, VEXX is an original game that allows players to assume the role of the title character as he embarks on a heroic, combat-laden quest to seek vengeance on those that enslaved his people.

AlienPants Ltd has been contracted by Nicely Crafted Entertainment, creators of the Massively Multiplayer Real Time Strategy Game Time of Defiance to provide Public Relations for the company and the game. AlienPants will bring their expertise in large online communities to assist Nicely Crafted in raising the profile of Time of Defiance in the UK and Europe, as well as managing the release of information regarding the monthly updates.

Thrustmaster is pleased to introduce its first cordless controller for PlayStation 2: FirestormT Wireless. With a design based on the Firestorm RF for PC, Thrustmaster's new radio frequency gamepad will be available from February 2003, providing gamers with a new level of enjoyment and unprecedented freedom of movement in games.

The team 17's official forum is updated with information about that Worms 3 for the PC is the only version to support online multiplaying (thanks GameSpy). Here is the clip:

At this stage in our schedule, for consoles, no, not unless the publisher really needs it. Simply because it will take at least 6 months extra work - 3 months to implement everything (including specific console interfaces/system link-ups etc) and then at least an additional 3 months testing the online play.

We certainly never planned for GC online since it wasn't on the radar (rumours aside), PS2 was coming too late and XB live wasn't running when we designed the game (and also committed to a publisher schedule).

The PC version was obviously always planned to be online, but just doesn't have the same issues as console (i.e. we know the interface, we don't have hardware submission procedures with).

And we thought our puns were grim. Still, this Cheshire company reckons it's cracked the old "games for girls" chestnut... A UK Computer Games Company "Nissimo" has created a computer game which is more popular with women than men. Fruitfall is a game so simple that anyone of any age or ability can grasp how to play, with enough of a challenge to keep even the most ardent gamer amused for hours. Sales figures to January 31st 2003 show that female purchasers outnumber males by 3 to 1.

To mark the success of Junglewar: Vietcong gaining over 14,000 signups since its launch in late Dec, PC videogame publishers, Gathering have created a new scenario to keep players entertained until the release of Vietcong on the 21st March 2003 (UK release).

Xicat is set to release ChopLifter: Crisis Shield (the name was changed from ChopLifter: Search and Rescue, due to a combination of license and trademark issues). Xicat adds the finishing touches to their exciting helo-rescue title set for release in March 2003 for PS2. ChopLifter allows players to select from six different helicopters as they charge through the skies, engaging in perilous missions rescuing the wounded and helpless from certain doom. Sweat will pour from their helmets as players save victims within the game’s 22 missions - which include a hotel fire, an erupting volcano, chasing an explosive-packed bus or a mountain-top plane crash. With ChopLifter: Crisis Shield, lives are on the line, including yours. Available throughout North America for PS2 in March of 2003.

Last week we revealed that Nokia was working on a new handheld console and today Activision, Inc. confirmed that the company plans to support Nokia's highly anticipated N-Gage platform. Activision also confirmed that it expects to work closely with Nokia on developing games that would support the platform at launch. Starting to sound exciting indeed!

Screen Daily reports that the Danish computer game Hitman looks to be the next hit game to get the Hollywood treatment. The game's international distributor EIDOS is currently negotiating with unnamed Hollywood studios - although it has an existing relationship with Paramount for the Tomb Raider franchise. The Danish developers at IO Interactive have so far produced two games based on the Hitman character, and both have been international hits... Hitman 3 is set for a spring 2004 release.

THQ Inc. today announced "Moto GP 2" for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and PC. Scheduled for release in summer 2003, "Moto GP 2" is the only game that lets gamers talk trash online at 160 miles per hour.

THQ Inc. today shipped GT Advance 3: Pro Concept Racing for the Game Boy Advance. Handheld fans can get behind the wheel of the world's top cars, race multiple tracks spanning various weather climates and challenge the world's best drivers for the championship. GT Advance 3: Pro Concept Racing is available now at major retail outlets nationwide.

Codemasters has its weapons loaded for its first major launch of 2003 - IGI 2: Covert Strike, the sequel to the award-winning stealth-based first-person shooter from developers Innerloop AS. The game will launch for PC on February 21.

Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc now has the quality music to match the celebrity voices, Pixar-like graphics and engaging story -- Groove Armada's rollicking song 'Madder,' from their just-released album 'Lovebox,' provides the sonic backdrop for the official game trailer and in-game demo. In other news, Raymanzone, the worldwide community for Rayman fans, has launched and is offering a 3-level PC demo -- if you're interested, you can find that at the Rayman Zone web site. Plenty of online goings-on for everyone's favorite limbless superhero. Read more for detailed information ....

IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles will feature 20 single and 10 multiplayer missions spanning the Finnish and Hungarian theatres of conflict. Amongst the host of features will be improved flight dynamics, a full AI redesign, new ground and sea objects and over 40 new flyable and AI-controlled aircraft, including flyable, multi-crewed German and Russian bombers. Our friends over at CheckSix have snapped some purty screens from their beta build, read more to check them out....

Encore, a majority-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation today announced that its Nintendo Game Boy Advance version of Marvel's "Daredevil" has begun shipping, just in time for the February 14th premiere of the highly anticipated New Regency/20th Century Fox/Marvel Studios "Daredevil" movie starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. The "E" rated game -- which incorporates many elements of the feature film including its characters, costumes, and Hell's Kitchen, New York setting -- retails for approximately $30 and is available in major retail locations nationwide.

In a world where the Soviet Union won the Cold War, a fierce conflict is beginning to unfold in the streets of America. Red Army troops are pouring across the borders of Mexico and Canada shortly after a nuclear missile is unleashed on Washington D.C. Chaos sets in when breaking news informs Americans that their President has been killed and the Russians have invaded the country. Players take on the role of a mild-mannered blue-collar worker who evolves into a charismatic and fearless freedom fighter obsessed with finding and freeing his brother, who has been taken hostage along with other New Yorkers by the Soviets. Chekc the new batch of Xbox screens ...

Game developer, S2 Games, has opened visiting registration for beta tests of its highly anticipated first-person strategy shooter, Savage. Gamers can sign up to be among the first to battle on the side of humanity or join the ranks of the Beast Horde by visiting the Signup page HERE. An initial beta test will commence by mid-February with qualifying participants. Eventually the testing will be opened up to include additional gamers in order to test the title with various hardware configurations.

Intrinsic Graphics, developer of the innovative Intrinsic Alchemy game development platform, is announcing today that Flying Lab Software, maker of the award-winning Rails Across America, has selected Intrinsic Alchemy as their engine for game development of their next title on the PC. Recently announced, Pirates of the Burning Sea, is a Massively Muliplayer On-line Role Playing Game (MMORPG) and will be released for the PC in the Fall this year.

TDK Recording Media France has acquired the distribution rights for France of the games published by ARXEL TRIBE starting April 1st 2003. Both companies will work closely together to make sure games such as DEVASTATION, HANNIBAL or SLAYER will reach top sales when they are launched in the coming months.

Acclaim Entertainment today announced that it has signed an agreement with Disney Interactive for the rights to publish video games based on ABC Television's hit drama series, "Alias." Currently in its second season, "Alias" is one of television's most critically acclaimed series. The "Alias" video game is currently being developed by Acclaim's Cheltenham studio and is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2003 across all of the next-generation gaming platforms.

Need For Speed (NFS) is back and better than ever in Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2! Engage in the thrill of arcade racing with over 22 exclusive and exotic cars from the world's most coveted licensors including Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini… to name a few. 12 tracks (48 variations) and two career event trees, for a grand total of 66 events, provide the widest variety of driving challenges. EA has just released a new patch adressing multiplayer encryption and adding support for a bunch of steering wheels. Read more for download links...

After the triumphant return of Captain Janeway and crew to the alpha quadrant, the Hazard Team, Voyager's elite security detail, is assigned its deadliest mission yet – duty onboard the Federation's renowned flagship, the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC 1701-E. As the leader of Starfleet's latest rapid response force, players will encounter a relentless onslaught of enemies including Star Trek staples such as the Borg and Romulans as well as several never before seen alien species. Check the new batch of screens ...

BF 1942 supports up to 64 players and give them the ability to fully experience World War II combat. Playing as several infantry classes, gamers will also be able to control many weapons available to the Axis and Allies as well as command numerous land vehicles, ships and aircraft. Everyone on the Battlefield team at DICE and EA has been working late nights on another surprise for the community. We’d like to take this time to announce the Battlefield 1942 1.3 patch – it’s coming soon, maybe even sooner than you think! Read more for a sneak peek of the upcoming additions.

Driving into retail outlets nationwide with an action-packed sequel to its 700,000 unit-selling off-road racing franchise, AKA Acclaim, a division of Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. today announced that it has shipped ATV: Quad Power Racing 2 for the Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube. Developed by Climax Studios, ATV: Quad Power Racing 2 contains new features and an entirely new game engine that delivers rich graphics and incredible four-wheel arcade racing action for the first and only ATV experience available for the Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube.

Thrustmaster, well known for designing and developing the ultimate in flight simulation accessories, is thrilled to announce a three-year renewal of its close collaboration agreement with the U.S. Air Force. Under the agreement, the U.S. Air Force provides Thrustmaster with support in the development of high-end flight controllers. Thrustmaster will thus keep offering the most realistic flight simulation devices, life like in design, life like in performance as the actual controllers found in the American USAF or US Navy. USAF and Thrustmaster join forces to transport gamers to the further reaches of FlightSim technology.