Playing on accurately diagrammed rinks, players will get cheers and jeers from the realistic crowd that reacts to the action on the ice. Additionally, an upgraded Franchise Mode allows players to build a Dynasty and manage every aspect of the team; a re-tooled Hockey School Mode teaches and tests gamers' hockey skills; and a Multi-player Tournament Mode allows gamers to set up tournaments with up to 16 teams. Read more for the full review ...

And this massive shipping day rolls on with two new Xbox titles from Microsoft that are always on their way to retail shelves. Developed by Rare, Grabbed by the Ghoulies is a humorous beat-'em-up action-adventure game that takes place in a haunted house full of crazed ghoulies. Combining thrilling dogfights with the swashbuckling style of a Hollywood action-adventure movie, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge raises the bar for aerial combat. Set in an alternate 1930s world of gunship diplomacy and sinister intrigue, gamers pilot powerful aircraft against nefarious air pirates and behemoth war zeppelins. Read more for details....

Electronic Arts today announced that SSX 3 has shipped and is now available at retail under the EA SPORTS BIG brand. The third installment in EA's flagship action sports franchise, SSX 3 is now available for the PlayStation2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube. SSX 3 will also be released for the Game Boy® Advance on November 4th.

Namco today announced Dead to Rights II: Hell to Pay, the sequel to its third person console action game (which will also be available soon on PC). The story-driven action in Dead to Rights 2 promises "intense new gameplay mechanics including a lightning-paced 360-degree brawling system, vicious melee weapon battles and an innovative new spherical slow motion diving system." Dead to Rights 2 is currently scheduled for release on PlayStation 2 and Xbox in fall 2004.

ESPN Videogames today announced that the highly acclaimed ESPN NBA Basketball has shipped to major retailers across North America. Having set the standard in basketball realism and entertainment, ESPN NBA Basketball continues its dynasty delivering unparalleled visual quality, unrivaled gameplay entertainment, and true innovation that is the foundation of the ESPN Videogames brand. Furthering the commitment to creating a telecast-quality experience, ESPN NBA Basketball includes the talent of Kevin Frazier - ESPN SportsCenter anchor - and Tom Tolbert - NBA analyst for ESPN - as in-game announcers. ESPN NBA Basketball and other ESPN Videogames are produced by Visual Concepts.

Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon is a skillfully-woven global adventure and a landmark in interactive story-telling. George and Nico return in this epic adventure as they fight through the steaming jungles of Congo, eerie castles in Prague, the chic back-streets of Paris and the historic village of Glastonbury – amongst many other locations - to unravel the secrets of the Sleeping Dragon and save mankind from the threat of a global catastrophe. Read more for some new screens ...

Just as in the "Magic" card game, in "Magic: The Gathering - Battlegrounds" players will choose a duelist and up to two of "Magic's" five colors -- red, green, white, blue, and black -- to attempt to reduce their opponent's life to zero. Of course, getting an opponent to zero will not be easy; players will have to utilize lightning reflexes, strategic brilliance and, on occasion, raw power to overcome an enemy. Read more for the ful preview ...

Bugbear Entertainment announced today that it has signed an agreement with Empire Interactive to publish its smash 'em up racing game, Flat-Out. In Flat-Out players start out with junkyard cars, race the competition, earn cash, buy upgrade to fix and tune up your car and so forth. In development for the PC, Xbox and PlayStation 2 and expected 3rd quarter of 2004. To be continued....

Electronic Arts and LEGO Interactive today announced that Bionicle, a fast-paced action adventure platform title based on one of the LEGO Company’s most successful toy lines of recent years, is now available for the PS2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube. The PC-CD version of the game is scheduled for release on October 28, and will include special features that deliver a more life-like experience to consumers with PCs based on the Intel Pentium4 Processor with HT Technology.

Arx Fatalis is a first-person RPG, which plunges players into an amazingly complex fantasy-world of trolls, goblins and ‘Snake-women’. Creating weapons, solving puzzles and completing amazing quests, gamers become heroes as they battle in an evil world. Players will also need to master a unique real-time magic system to cast more than 50 different spells based on 20 different runes. Read more to check a 100 or so new screens ...

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is a dynamic single and multiplayer action experience featuring an all-new epic story. Players are immersed in the role of apprentice at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy where they learn the power - and danger - of the Force. Amidst a multitude of complex and richly detailed Star Wars environments, including twice as many unique locales as those in Star Wars: Jedi Outcast, players face a variety of powerful and insidious enemies. Check out some screens!

The theme park attraction that hosts millions of foolish mortals each year becomes both a major motion picture and video game. Solve unique puzzles, uncover hidden clues and put unwelcome evil spirits to rest, as you navigate through Disney's world famous Haunted Mansion. With amazing game environments inspired by the film and the ride, you'll be dying to give this game a try!

Dead Man's Hand will be an amazing recreation of the Old West, from the high drama of showdowns to the window-smashing action of shoot outs to the bitter plights of vengeance. Using the power of the Xbox and Unreal Technology together, Human Head is creating one of the best looking, best playing and truly unique first person shooters ever released. Xbox owners are in for a real treat, both in single player and against online foes through Xbox Live!" Read more for some new screens ...

'Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy' is an enchanting adventure filled with mystery, action and a deep, compelling storyline. The game is set in an entirely original universe that is styled upon ancient Egypt where players will embark on an epic quest exploring new worlds, uncovering dark secrets, interacting with hundreds of fantastic creatures and discovering new abilities. Traveling the world via magic portals to foil the evil plans of Set, players will guide Sphinx on a journey requiring all his wits, agility and special powers in an attempt to find the stolen mystical crowns of Egypt. Read more to check out the new screens ...

The over 6 million-selling Granddaddy of Basketball is back! Redeveloped from scratch for Xbox, NBA JAM brings the "in your face" highlights of NBA play to life with over the top, arcade-style 3-on-3 Basketball featuring spectacular high-flying dunks, ankle-breaking crossovers and "get that outta here" blocks! Read more for the full preview ...

The FPS Master, the first controller specifically designed to optimize performance in first person shooter (FPS) games on the Xbox, is now available from Radica Games under the Gamester brand. Read more for details ....

In Advent Rising, a common legend pervades the galaxy - that of a powerful, ancient race that will one day unite the universe. Millions of cultures from vastly distant worlds revere and hallow these mythological beings known as humans. One race, the Seekers, know humans actually exist and are threatened by their potential power. Under the guise of benevolent explorers, the Seekers travel throughout the galaxy in a desperate attempt to eradicate any human society they unearth. Check out some new screens ...

KOCH Entertainment in conjunction with Vybe Squad LLC is proud to announce the release of True Crime: Streets of L.A., a brand new 20-track compilation and companion piece to the highly anticipated game of the same name from Activision, Inc. The album features an incredible mix of new studio material from some of the biggest names in West Coast hip-hop. The CD is the first release of its kind to feature all new original material, all of which is heavily featured in the game. Read more for details ...

Kemco U.S.A announced today that the stealth-based action adventure title, Rogue Ops has gone gold. Rogue Ops will make its debut on the Xbox, the PlayStation2 and Nintendo GameCube on October 28, 2003. Developed by Bits Studios Ltd., the intense stealth thriller featuring the vivacious vixen Nikki Connors, thrusts players into an underground world of terrorist organizations and black ops missions.

Internet gaming just got easier! Nyko Technologies has shipped its flagship product, the Wireless Net Extender, to major retail outlets and consumer electronic stores. The Wireless Net Extender allows gamers to connect their Sony Playstation 2 or Microsoft Xbox to their Internet connection, even when they are in different rooms, for cable-free Internet game play. Comprised of two small black boxes, Nyko's wireless technology is easy to use, completely plug-n-play, and provides a secure connection. Nyko's Wireless Net Extender carries a suggested retail price of $99.99.

Gotham Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, announced today that MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch for the PlayStation2, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. Based on the MTV claymation hit series, MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch is available for the MSRP of $19.99. MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch will be shipping to retail in Europe on October 31, 2003.

Microsoft today announced additional broadband provider partners for the Xbox Live service - the ultimate high-speed gaming arena and the first and only integrated community sharing in exhilarating, always-connected broadband gaming experiences.

VIS entertainment has successfully completed the financing of a funding vehicle for the development of the sequel to its million-selling game, State of Emergency. Numerous shareholders in VIS have backed a new special-function company which will provide project finance for State of Emergency 2, enabling VIS to complete development and negotiate terms with a publisher. It is envisaged that the sequel will be launched in late 2004.

Check under the bed and keep the lights on, because Grabbed by the Ghoulies is coming soon to a haunted retail store near you! Microsoft Game Studios and Rare today announced that Grabbed by the Ghoulies for Xbox has gone gold and will ship to stores in North America on October 21 for an estimated retail price of $39.99 (U.S.). Rated E for all audiences, Grabbed by the Ghoulies features an ensemble of outrageous characters, super-scary surprises and tons of hilarious weapons to keep the baddies at bay. Grabbed by the Ghoulies is certain to provide gamers with hours of frightfully addictive gameplay -- just in time for Halloween!

Dinosaur Hunting takes place in 1910, when the British Geologist Norton Klast discovered dinosaurs living on the highlands of Guiana in the Amazon interior. Due to a tectonic shift, the highlands became enclosed by towering cliffs which cut the dinosaurs off from the rest of the world. Defying fate, the dinosaurs have survived for thousands of years, but now are facing extinction. The dinosaurs must be transported to a new location at all costs. Read more for some new screens ...