A new report just published by independent market analysts Datamonitor, reveals that the next 3 years will bring buoyant growth to the electronic games market globally, spearheaded by console games.

Tiscali Games send us a note about that Activision announced Star Trek Elite Force II for PC. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed first person action game, players resume the role of Alexander Munro, chief of the Hazard Team, Starfleet’s elite security unit. Now assigned to the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC 1701-E, players will explore strange new worlds, battle against both new and familiar civilizations and go on the most dangerous assignments in the galaxy. Star Trek Elite Force II is being developed by Ritual Entertainment and has not yet been rated by the ESRB. Full pressrelease here and first two screens here.

Car Battler Joe is an exciting action game around the futuristic "Car Battles" sport. These are autofights with the sole purpose to scrap opposing cars by using many different weapons and dirty tricks. In the story mode you slip into the role of the ambitious Joe Todoroki and work your way up from an inexperienced newbie to a genuine "Car Battler". Earn cash, by completing various functions, buy hundreds of new upgrades, in order to rig and tune up your auto. There are 3 million different combination options! Naturally you can play against your friends via link cable in Multiplayer mode. Expected in July 2002.

Konami of Europe and peripheral specialist Thrustmaster have joined forces to release a flightstick specially optimized for use with Konami’s highly anticipated Deadly Skies air combat title for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft.

TriLunar, LLC announced today their newest game title, Dragonkind. Combining the action and exploration of classic platform games with the depth of story and character found in console role-playing games, Dragonkind promises to deliver a unique experience that is only possible with the power and flexibility of today’s newest generation of console platforms.

Activision today sent out some of the first/awesome screen shots showing off their new SOF2 multiplayer random level generator. Gotta see it to believe it! Yummie!

Gamers can now unleash their animal rage with the launch of Activision, Inc.’s Bloody Roar: Primal Fury, the first fighting game available for the GameCube. This latest installation in the popular Bloody Roar series delivers fast and fluid fighting action, incredible special effects and amazing characters that have the ability to transform from humans into Hyper-beast life-forms with special attack moves. Bloody Roar: Primal Fury was developed by Hudson Soft Co., Ltd. and Eighting Co., Ltd. and is rated “T” (“Teen” – Blood, Suggestive Themes, and Violence – content suitable for persons ages 13 and older) by the ESRB with a $49.99 suggested retail price.

The Amuze/Sega developed title Headhunter™ features what has been described as one of the most ambitious game soundtracks produced to date, utilizing an orchestra and a recording studio often used for feature film soundtracks. The forthcoming PS2 title features music composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced by Richard Jacques and recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, England.

On March 29th, Rangers Football Coach and Celtic Football Coach will be released on CD-ROM for the PC. So, while few fans will ever sit behind the managers’ desks at Ibrox or Celtic Park, any fan with a home PC will be able to take charge of either team through these unique simulations.

BAM! Entertainment today announced that its explosive racing game Driven for Nintendo GameCube is shipping to stores this week, making it the first true racing game available on the platform. Developed by BAM! Studios Europe, BAM!'s first GameCube project results from the company's multi-year, multi-title relationship with Franchise Pictures and is based on that studio's movie of the same name - starring award-winning actor Sylvester Stallone. In addition, Driven for GameCube is slated to ship in time for the European launch of Nintendo's next generation console in May of this year.

Entertainment software publisher NovaLogic, Ltd. released more details on the forthcoming stand-alone Mission Pack for the successful Delta Force Land Warrior, part of the Delta Force franchise that has sold over 3 million units worldwide.

Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.’s high-end video game publishing division, confirmed that its best-selling tour de force “Grand Theft Auto 3” will be available for the PC platform in May 2002.

LithTech™, Inc., a leading developer of licensable game technologies and tools, announced today the release of an updated version of its advanced Jupiter system, the foundation for the highly anticipated sequel to No One Lives Forever. Jupiter now delivers an even broader range of features including a new polygrid system that supports dynamic lighting, Fresnel reflections and dynamic surface animations as well as the addition of cubic environment mapping. Other new features include an improved command editor to more easily create cinematic events and more robust support for dynamic texture effects.

Geneforge is our newest fantasy role-playing game with a science fiction twist. In Geneforge, you are free to choose what your overall goal is, and you can seek after it with your own horde of deadly, mutant monsters. You are a Shaper, a member of the most powerful and secretive of the magical guilds. You have the power to create life and mold it to serve your own needs. For millennia, your world feared and respected the Shapers above all others. Their creations could go everywhere, do anything, all according to the wishes of the Shapers and no others. Read more for details and links.

We announced earlier today the release of Irrational Games, EA, Crave Ent.'s Freedom Force .. So ofcourse i had to snag it and put it to the test. Only 2 small missions and a character editor in the demo but i must say that its looking like quite a nice game. Lots of nice effects, weapons and you can pick up cars and throw them around, ripp out lightpole's etc... pretty cool ... I made a 40-some screens to let you people enjoy it while you download the demo left or right ... its worth it ;)

Addressing consumer demand for increased audio realism in gaming environments, Analog Devices today announced a new version of its SoundMAX Audio Rendering Technology Toolkit (SMartTools) - which now offers significantly improved cross-platform output capability and a more intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) to game audio developers.

Ubi Soft Entertainment, one of the world's largest video game publishers, today announced that Dark Planet: Battle for Natrolis, its futuristic Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game has shipped to U.S. retail stores with an MSRP of $39.99

Bringing an exciting new dimension to puzzle-solving games, Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. today announced that it will release ZooCube for the Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance. Available this spring, ZooCube has been heralded for its innovative design and is the first true 3-D puzzle game available for the next-generation systems.

Can today's PC hardware stand-up to the increasingly complex and intense computer games of tomorrow? Although game designers continue to push graphical detail and performance, hardware manufacturers are testing their wares against the existing standards of yesterday. Until now... Leading game and technology developer Epic Games today unveiled the Unreal Performance Test 2002, the first and only game benchmark indicative of the future of gaming.

As promised last night, the demo from Freedom Force, Irrational Game's now-gold superhero game, is now available for download from FilePlanet (registration required). The demo is available as a large version (87.4 MB) and a smaller version (56.1 MB), the difference between the two being that the larger version includes the music.

Irrational's Ken Levine announces that a playable demo of their recently completed superheroic tactical combat RPG is slated for released tomorrow on FilePlanet. A subsequent post refines that into two demos, one with music (around 90 MB) and one without (75 MB), while another post by Crave associate producer "Primetime" offers even more details: "Tomorrow means around 8:00 AM PST. You'll have 2 choices to download...1 is about 58MB without music and one is 90MB with. There are 2 levels of the game and the character creator. You will be able to create a hero and use it in the second mission."

Majesco, one of the fastest-growing publishers of interactive entertainment software, today announced Black & Bruised for the PS2 and Nintendo GameCube. Developed by Digital Fiction, Black & Bruised is scheduled for release across both game consoles this holiday.

Get the PlayStation2 controllers ready for the super sexy heroine, Cate Archer. The Operative : No One Lives Forever for PlayStation2 has gone gold and the warehouse is preparing to ship to stores nationwide. Now you will be able to play the "Action Game of the Year" winner - The Operative:No One Lives Forever - on your PlayStation2 console gaming system. Plus don't forget the four extra missions exclusive to the PS2 featuring Cate Archer in her younger days as a thief. The Operative: No One Lives Forever for PlayStation2 will be available in retail locations after April 16, 2002 for a suggested retail price of $49.99.

TDK Mediactive, Inc., a global publisher of entertainment software, today announced that "Shrek Swamp Kart Speedway" for the Game Boy Advance has shipped to stores. Competition and fun collide in this upbeat new title, featuring everyone's favorite ogre and other characters from "Shrek," DreamWorks Pictures' 2001 blockbuster feature film.

We already knew this a few days ago, but here is the official announcement. Infogrames announces release dates for two of the most highly anticipated sequels in the Unreal family of action games. "Unreal Tournament 2003," who won numerous awards, is poised to deliver non-stop multiplayer action starting this summer. And, "Unreal II," sequel to the blockbuster hit "Unreal," will bring single-player story-based action to new heights when it ships this winter in time for Christmas.