Are you ready to take on the mantle of Kain - the most evil character in gaming history? Blood Omen 2 is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, which was released on PlayStation and PC in 1995. The game will be available on GameCube in January 2003. Crystal Dynamics of Menlo Park, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eidos, is developing the game.

Sierra has just released the 1.2 Update for No One Lives Forever 2, adding multiplayer deathmatch mode, dedicated server support and a host of other updates. This version is required for online play. Sierra simultaniously released the first map pack which includes a set of new maps not included with the No One Lives Forever 2 CD-ROM. Map Pack #1 requires installation of the 1.2 Update. Read more for details and links where to grab the goods ...

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. Check out the new batch of "work in progress" screens ...

Universal Interactive, Inc. a studio of the Games division of Vivendi Universal Publishing (VU Games), announced that it will ship on November 29th “Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly” for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system to retailers nationwide. “Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly” was developed by Equinoxe Digital Entertainment and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

Acclaim, a division of Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. today announced it has released BMX XXX for the Nintendo GameCube. Currently available in more than 15,000 stores nationwide, BMX XXX is a satirical romp in the style of such popular films as "American Pie" and was designed specifically for today's predominantly mature gaming audience.

THQ is delivering its most comprehensive lineup to date this holiday season. From core gamer content like "Red Faction II" and "WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth" for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system to games that target the more mass market game playing audience like "SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman" and "Hot Wheels Velocity X," THQ is offering great gameplay for every segment of the expanding videogame market.. Read more to check out what THQ's 2002 holiday lineup includes!

Carbon 6 has announced its first project 'American McGee's Oz'.. American McGee puts his signature touch on another classic children's tale. This time the Lands of Oz are visited in a prequel adventure to the original books that will take you on a colorful journey through a unique world filled with dozens of interesting characters and stories. "Oz offers a diverse world and large range of characters to explore and meet." said American from his Hollywood design studio, "I'm really excited to be working with such rich material and amazing technology." Oz is being produced for the Microsoft Xbox and PC and is scheduled for release some time in 2004. The Oz soundtrack is being produced by Media Ventures. A line of Oz toys will be hitting store shelves soon. A book and film deal are to be announced.

We have updated our forum a little bit, added several sections (requested by forum fanatic RedSkull13) and also made a cheat code section where you can request or post your latest cheat findings. We will be expanding the current cheat codes (we currently have ORB, Zanzarah, NBA live 2003 and more) ... Head on over there and join in the fun (registration is free of course)

James Monroe, Ld. programmer at Ravensoft today updated his .plan file with information about that they just released: Star Trek Voyager : Elite Force Single Player Game Source (expansion version). Here is a clip:

Much like the game SDK for Multiplayer, this SDK will allow you to modify the menus and game behavior of Elite Force Single Player.

• Since this SDK is only the game source, you will not be able to change any features of the executable, like rendering or map loading.
• The DLLs you build with this source should work with the Expansion Pack EF Exe.
• The single player executable was not designed to read DLLs from base folders for mods.
• You will have to put your modified DLLs in their own folders, along with the stvoy.exe and add the command line +set fs_basepath [original install folder]
• This has not been tested in any way, but I wanted to get the source out there as quickly as possible.

Brian Gladman, Product Manager at DreamCatcher Games posted up some information on their forum about how to become a beta tester for Harbinger:

Harbinger is a single-player action/RPG set in a fantastic science fiction universe. As one of three distinct character types, players explore the world of Harbinger – journey to the far reaches of space, battle unique foes never before seen in any medium, discover powerful new weapons and alien technologies, and uncover the dark secrets buried within the giant starship’s steel walls.

And now, for a limited few, the opportunity to see and test this game before release! Lastly, to sweeten the pot a little, the top 5 testers will receive free copies of the final game -- signed by the development team!

Computer gaming fans can expect to see one of the most realistic games to date when Sony Computer Entertainment Europe releases "The Getaway" on December 6. The long-awaited Playstation 2 game promises high-speed chases, fires, explosions and gun battles that make players feel like they're part of an action-packed film. The setting is a 30-mile section of the foggy streets of London so realistic that players can see the cracks in the pavement. The more than 100 life-like characters and elaborate scenery would have been impossible to create in a timely manner without the help of new 3D scanning and facial morphing technologies.

Shrapnel Games announced today that the first patch for ATF: Armored Task Force, is available from their website. Richard Arnesen, of Shrapnel Games, stated "We are pleased to already have the first patch for ATF ready to go. Captain Proctor and ProSIM have done an excellent job of responding to the fans of this highly detailed simulation." Armored Task Force represents a whole new approach to wargaming.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today moved to quash speculation that it would be reducing the price of its PlayStation2 computer entertainment console before Christmas. The move follows news coverage of a reduction in the wholesale price of the PlayStation 2 in Japan, to bring it into general alignment with the current console price in Europe and North America. The Japanese price cut was made possible by increased production yields of the NTSC format console for the Japanese market (Europe use the PAL TV format). Sony Computer Entertainment Europe confirmed today that there were no plans to reduce the price of PlayStation 2 in the PAL territories before Christmas. We are very content with the sales of PlayStation 2 in Europe following our price reduction at the end of August this year,” said David Reeves, EVP Sales and Marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. “This Christmas sees a phenomenal line-up of PlayStation games, from Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, to The Getaway, GTA Vice City, This is Football 2003, Formula 1 2002 and WRC II Extreme.

Encore today announced that Dragon's Lair 3D-Return to the Lair for the Nintendo GameCube™ has gone gold. This completely new, built-from-the-ground-up version of the legendary Dragon's Lair coin-op phenomenon is scheduled to ship to store shelves by year end; the "Teen" rated game will retail for approximately $50. The PlayStation2 version,­ which will have identical content and gameplay, ­is still scheduled for release at the end of first quarter next year.

Virtual boarders can now be dope on the slopes, improve their carves in the bowl or chase bigger air on the waves thanks to a fantastic new Sportsboard from Gamester - the UK's leading video games accessories brand from Radica. Following the success of quality PlayStation 2 titles like Tony Hawks and Tricky SSX, Gamester has designed a quality board to match. The board's innovative design promises to leave it way out in front of any other products currently on the market, and offers gamers a real chance to improve their performance on the powder, in the park and on the water.

Everyone's favorite animated characters make their way to the PlayStation for the holidays. BAM! Entertainment a publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software, today announced it is shipping Disney's Winnie the Pooh Preschool, Disney's Winnie the Pooh Kindergarten and My Disney Kitchen for PlayStation to North American retailers.

Comprehensive Promotion On AOL Leading Up To The Release of EA's The Sims Online Brings Exclusive Assets and Experiences to AOL Members In anticipation of the launch of Electronic Arts' The Sims Online, the online version of the most popular PC game of all time, America Online, the world's leading interactive service, will present musical artists Avril Lavigne, Beyonce Knowles, LL Cool J and Ludacris as Sim characters appearing in exclusive scenes available only on AOL. The first "Celebrity Sim," Avril Lavigne, debuts today and a new character will be introduced each week until the launch of EA's and Maxis' highly anticipated The Sims Online. More about it..

NVIDIA today announced that the Company's new GeForce FX graphics processing unit (GPU) has garnered the support of some of the best game development talent in the world. World-renowned game developers such as id Software, Epic Games and Mythic Entertainment, as well as publishing powerhouses including Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Konami and Ubi Soft , to name a few, plan to leverage the power and performance of the NVIDIA GeForce FX GPU to further bridge the gap between games and Hollywood productions. Announced earlier today, the GeForce FX GPU is recognised as the industry's first GPU to enable real-time, cinematic-quality graphics and special effects on desktop PCs. A lenghty article with all the latest info you might want...

Xicat has given the thumbs up to ChopLifter: Search and Rescue, slated for release on February 15, 2003, for PlayStation 2. This remake of the arcade classic is sure to please action fans with its additional adrenaline soaked levels and realistic flight control systems.

For eight years, her disciples around the globe have waited. Today, Samus Aran returns: leaping forward to explore a foreboding, sci-fi future . . . tilting backwards in tribute to past days of pure video game adventure. With not one, but two brand new games-Metroid Prime for NINTENDO GAMECUBE and Metroid Fusion for Game Boy Advance -- this intergalactic bounty hunter expands her exploits from the comfort of your couch to anywhere a portable Game Boy Advance can be carried.

Midway Games announced today that Justice League: Injustice for All, based on the DC comic book franchise and hit animated Cartoon Network television series, will ship for the Game Boy Advance on Monday, Nov. 18, 2002. The popular super hero characters will also be featured in videogames currently in development for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and Nintendo GameCube.

Rockstar Games, the world-renowned publishing division of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. proudly announces Midnight Club II, the sequel to the best-selling PlayStation2 computer entertainment system launch title Midnight Club. Developed by Angel Studios, Midnight Club II is expected to hit retail shelves in the United States for PlayStation2 on February 11, 2003, with versions for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and the PC expected to hit in Spring 2003.

Atari has shipped Superman: The Man of Steel, a third person action/adventure game featuring the World's Greatest Super Hero, to retail stores this week, exclusively for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft. Based on a story co-written by DC Comics, Superman: The Man of Steel challenges players to protect Metropolis from super-villains Brainiac 13 and Lex Luthor, as well as a legion of malevolent robots intent on taking over the world.

Electronic Arts Inc. and Fox Interactive today announced the North American release of The Simpsons Skateboarding for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Join Bart, Homer, Marge, Lisa and Maggie and other famous neighbors from the popular television show, as they enjoy a wild skateboarding ride through Springfield. The Annual Skate Tour has come to Springfield, and the entire town has gone skate crazy on the half-pipes, ramps, and rails. Springfield has been converted into a skate park jammed with skate-able objects and landmarks that mirror images in the TV series, from Itchy and Scratchy Land to Sir Putt-A-Lot's, from the Springfield Gorge to Krusty-lu Studios. The Simpsons world comes to life with characters' voices recorded by the actual voice talent from the television show. The Simpsons Skateboarding was developed by United Kingdom-based The Code Monkeys. The game is rated "T" (Teen) by the ESRB and carries an MSRP of US $39.99.