The official forum for Master Of Orion III is updated with information regarding a upcoming patch. Here is a clip:

Yes, work is in progress on a patch. We have no delivery date at this time.

We are concentrating on the Military AI (offensive, defensive and build queue) and point defense problems, along with some UI glitches and any crash or easy to fix bugs. Changes which require any artwork are extremely unlikely for this patch.

The plan is to release a data-only patch fairly quickly which should help with some of the Military AI problems (and other things) and may also contain some additional documentation on use of the spreadsheets to help the modders.

This will be followed by a code patch. Code changes will be listed here as they are verified internally, so that you know what is coming.

The actual release of the patches will be controlled by the QA departments at Infogrames (for Windows) and Destineer (for Macintosh).

Recognizing that color allows people to express their individuality, Microsoft Corp. is listening to gamers who wanted color options for their Xbox controller. The company is even taking it one step further by putting the choice of colors squarely in the gamers' hands. In an exciting new twist to the Xbox experience, gamers can log onto xbox.com beginning today to help decide the colors of a special line of Xbox controllers.

Midway Sports announced today that MLB SlugFest 20-04 has shipped for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance.

Datel, the world's leading developer and manufacturer of innovative video game enhancement products, is proud to announce the release of PowerBoard for the Nintendo GameCube console. The perfect companion for online games like Phantasy Star Online, PowerBoard is the first full-size, computer-style keyboard designed specifically for GameCube.

This is quite simply a genuine match made in heaven! eJay Entertainment GmbH, one of the world's leading providers of music software, has teamed up with Ministry Of Sound's infamous record label Data Records to promote DJ Sammy.

In their immeasurable greed and constant thirst for power, the thirteen most powerful Mages of all time doomed the land, hurling it into an endless spiral of chaos and despair. Entire countries were wiped out in the blink of an eye when the devastating power of the Elements was unleashed – Elements summoned by dark rituals. Continents shattered like glass, the pieces strewn about like leaves in the wind. Huge armies, bound by the the power of ancient runes, brought war and destruction to the lands that survived the initial onslaught. All that was left were a few islands, connected by magic portals.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that five additional major recording artists have agreed to provide music and video content for the upcoming rhythm-action game, Amplitude, developed exclusively for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system. Rounding out the music roster for Amplitude with additional rock, dance, rap and electronica, newly signed acts include P!nk, BT, The X-ecutioners, Slipknot and Game Boyz. These artists will join other major recording artists on the Amplitude roster that include Baldwin Brothers, blink 182, David Bowie, Dieselboy, Garbage, Herbie Hancock, Logan 7, Mekon, Papa Roach, P.O.D., Quarashi and Weezer. Developed by Harmonix Music Systems, Amplitude allows players to become a rhythmical DJ and jam with more than 25 diverse songs in virtual, vibrant interactive musical environments while mixing and remixing hit songs during offline and online gameplay.

Sierra has just released the v1.3 patch for No One Lives Forever 2 as well as map pack #2. This new patch will include two NEW multiplayer mods - Team Deathmatch and Doomsday. Read more for a complete list of details/features! Read more for details and download links ...

Novalogic just sent out the announcement that their latest Delta Force game, Black Hawk Down, has gone gold. In late 1993, the United States launched dual military operations in Mogadishu Somalia. Delta Force Operatives and Army Rangers were sent in to capture Somali warlords and restore order. Experience the intense combat of Operation Restore Hope in this ground breaking first person shooter. As a Delta Force operative participate in a number of daring and intense raids against the oppressive Somali warlords in and around Mogadishu. The game will ship to stores March 25.

Touchdown Entertainment and Radical Technology today announced a game technology development and distribution alliance that will deliver Copperhead Technology to developers of games for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube and PC. Copperhead is a complete game development kit that combines integrated technologies including multi-platform rendering, physics, audio and animation with an intuitive suite of custom Maya content tools. Copperhead also features a modular architecture that allows developers to easily modify the technology to accommodate a wide variety of design concepts.

ScanSoft today announced that ScanSoft's speech recognition technology is incorporated in the latest PlayStation2 game title Operator's Side developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ). The title incorporates ScanSoft's speaker independent speech recognition engine which allows users to interact with game characters using voice commands.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today the release of My Street developed exclusively for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system. Set in a vibrant, virtual neighborhood, My Street, developed by Idol Minds, creators of the critically acclaimed Cool Boarders franchise and produced by Sony Computer Entertainment America, is an exciting party game for single and multi-player competition. Featuring a collection of arcade-style mini-games, My Street is the ultimate source of challenging online and offline competition, offering endless hours of action for children, teens and adults.

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.

Sony Corp., the world's second- largest consumer-electronics maker, will introduce the PlayStation 3 video-game console this year, two years ahead of schedule, to widen its lead over rivals, the Commercial Times said, citing unidentified people at Taiwanese parts suppliers. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. of Taiwan, which assembles the PlayStation 2 for Sony, and other parts suppliers on the island will start trial production next month, the report said.

Empire Interactive today announced that it has signed the interactive videogame rights to the eagerly awaited Hollywood martial arts film, Bulletproof Monk. The game, which is being developed by UK-based Mucky Foot Productions and will be published by Empire, is slated to roll out this holiday season nationwide on all leading console and PC platforms.

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.

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.

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.

NVIDIA Corporation today introduced its top-to-bottom family of NVIDIA GeForce FX graphics processing units (GPUs), designed to bring cinematic computing to all desktop PCs. The NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200, the industry's first value DirectX 9.0-class GPU, and the NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600, the industry's highest performing DirectX 9.0-class GPU for the mainstream market, were unveiled earlier today at a keynote address during the Game Developers Conference, which is being held from March 4th - 8th, in San Jose, CA..

The 3DO Company today announced that "High Heat Major League Baseball 2004" is now available on the Xbox. With eleven game modes including the new Franchise and Career modes, a new graphics engine and completely original motion captured player animations, "High Heat" is the team to beat.

Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc. announced today the immediate availability of a new suite of utilities and tools designed to speed-up and simplify the creation of games animation and effects for the Sony PlayStation 2 platform. This new Platform Development Kit (PDK) for the SOFTIMAGE|XSI software brings the industry's leading nonlinear 3-D production environment directly into the hands of PlayStation 2 title developers and artists, offering them unrivalled in-context control over their art and dramatic productivity boosts.

Logitech today announced that its USB Keyboard and Optical Mouse designed for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system is scheduled to arrive on retail shelves in the U.S. and at www.logitech.com later this month. The USB Keyboard has a suggested retail price of $29.95 USD and the Optical Mouse has a suggested retail price of $19.95 USD. Both products are 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.