Namco Ltd. and Todd McFarlane Productions Inc. have announced today that a mutual agreement has been signed in which both parties are allowing the use of each other’s characters for different business opportunities. Namco Ltd. will be granted the use of Spawn for the creation of a brand new video game and TMP will be granted the use of various SOULCALIBUR II characters for the creation of brand new action figures. Read more for details and some fresh Spawn screens ...

In 2080, nine powerful illuminati are engaged in a struggle for the control of mankind. As the manipulative illuminati head towards a perilous endgame, you are a mercenary walking the gray line of right and wrong, operating in the shadows and executing dangerous missions on their behalf. Black9 is the exciting new action/RPG that weaves intense gameplay through an engrossing story line with streamlined RPG-style character development. Check the new screens ...

One of LucasArts' most loved original titles roars back with a vengeance this fall in the fuel-injected Full Throttle: Hell On Wheels. Featuring the sarcastic, bad-ass outlaw biker named Ben, this all-new adventure-action careens through a unique 3D landscape of seedy bars, greasy truck stops and desert highways on a quest for cold beer, cheap motorcycle parts and the honest truth. Full Throttle: Hell On Wheels will release this Winter for PS2, the Xbox and PC.

Hunter: The Reckoning returns to the Xbox with even more frenetic multi-player action than the original game. Based on the gothic fantasy world of White Wolf's pen and paper RPG system, players act as human monster-hunters combining melee, ranged and spell-driven attacks. In Hunter: The Reckoning - Redeemer, the hunt continues as a new Hunter joins the original team of 4 in their fight to save the citizens of Ashcroft from a twisted plot to take over the innocent town. Players battle against hordes of supernatural enemies in single-or multi-player mode - they do whatever it takes to get the job done. Check out the new screens & trailer.

Atari launched an updated Web site for Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee for Xbox today. The site includes a cool, all new flash presentation as well as additional Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee content, including new movies and screenshots, and recordings of all monster sounds. Check out the updated website!

Xbox, the video game system from Microsoft, today announced that "Controller S" becomes the standard Xbox controller and will be packaged inside all Xbox video game systems in Europe. Originally sold separately as a stand-alone peripheral, Controller S is the Xbox answer to gamers who wanted more choice. Smaller than the original Xbox controller and featuring a new button layout, Xbox Controller S has proven to be a big hit with gamers since its launch at retail in September 2002.

Step into the world of SX Superstar, an ultra-realistic trip into the essence of supercross, chock full of smokin’ arcade-racing action that will release the rock star within. In SX Superstar, you are the star. Take your rider from the poorhouse to the penthouse in the only supercross title that focuses on the lifestyle aspect of professional supercross. Pull huge air and squash the comp for a big win, then line your pockets with cold, hard cash. Rake in enough bucks and start living the good life with better bikes, bigger houses and of course, hotter chicks! It’s like your life, only better! Check the PS2 & Xbox screens...

SEGA Europe Ltd today announced the development of Headhunter: Redemption, a cinematic third-person action epic for the PlayStation2 and the Xbox . The title is in development by Amuze and is slated for release in North America and Europe in late 2003. The title will debut at the E3.

Xbox today announced the launch of a Limited Edition Xbox, available across Europe from 2nd May, 2003. The stylish new console is translucent green, comes with two translucent green controllers and will retail for €229.99/£149.99. Set to be a collector's item, the Limited Edition Xbox will turn gamers green with envy. Style-conscious gamers who want all the power and great games that Xbox offers will be delighted with this mean, green machine and drawn to the clean white packaging it is supplied in.

Atari announced today that Test Drive for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft has been selected for inclusion in Microsoft's "Platinum Hits" program. The "Platinum Hits" program recognizes the most popular and best-selling games for the Xbox and repackages the titles with the "Platinum Hits" banner and a suggested retail price of $19.99.

C.Net reports. Taking a break from working on his doctoral thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) graduate student Andrew "Bunnie" Huang decided that it might be fun to poke around the security systems protecting Microsoft's Xbox game console. With a little creative tinkering and a measure of precision soldering, Huang quickly isolated the main public security keys. Although legally prevented from sharing the keys with the world, he described his methods in detail in a widely distributed research paper, helping spur a wave of Xbox-hacking that has led to the development of Xbox versions of Linux and other homemade software. After graduating from MIT last year, Huang set up his own consulting business, specializing in reverse engineering. But he still has some more Xbox insights that he'd like to share with the world--that is, if only he can find a way.

This world-builder title is inspired by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment's Jurassic Park franchise-the studio's most successful film franchise. Jurassic Park allows you to fulfill Dr. John Hammond's dream by successfully designing and managing your very own Jurassic Park. Create the most amazing dinosaur theme park the world has ever seen, OR battle your way through 12 intense missions that will truly test your skills against the awesome powers of nature and its most dominant creatures.

'MechAssault' is a futuristic sci-fi third-person shooter game that will allow gamers to command a huge walking tank known as a BattleMech. Players will battle foes and take out enemy structures while manoeuvring a huge BattleMech, or ’Mech, through a variety of environments. A dozen powerful BattleMechs are available in 'MechAssault', each with massive firepower. 'MechAssault' features complete destruction on a level never seen before – everything in the world can be destroyed bit by bit. Gamers can play a variety of missions with multiple objectives that require tactics and skill. Day1 Studios & Microsoft are gearing up to release yet again new content in form of 2 new maps (Midtown Mayhem& Desert Storm), 2 new mechs (Loki&Hellfire) all in a nice CTF jacket! Check out some new screens ..

Inspired by its celebrated Secret Weapons series of classic World War II flight combat games, LucasArts announces Secret Weapons Over Normandy, which brings the historic air battles of that era to PS2, Xbox, and PC this fall. Secret Weapons Over Normandy presents a dynamic, deeply engaging story-driven flight action experience that puts players in control of authentic World War II aircraft and challenges them to undertake the war's most dangerous missions. Read more for details & some screens ...

Stake is the ultimate third person, multi-player 3-D arena fighting game exclusively for the Xbox. It boasts a deep action combat experience, intriguing characters and superior graphics. This game represents the essential elements of a fighting game but goes beyond that with multiple power-up weapons, lots of collectable items, insane combo attacks, special tricks, secret characters, inspiring graphics, 3-D isometric camera views, exciting locations and multiple multi-player modes. Check out the new batch of screens!

Xbox, the video game system from Microsoft, today announced the early success of its European launch of Xbox Live, the first comprehensive, online game service fully dedicated to fast-action broadband gaming experiences.

Details have emerged of Sony's plans to sell a variety of hardware bundles at existing prices through its online store in Japan - including a bundle which would feature a network adapter for free with a new console purchase. This deal would put the PlayStation 2 on an equal footing with the Xbox in terms of network functionality, as one of the key selling points of Microsoft's console has been that it requires no additional hardware for online gaming.

Activision announced today that it has signed an exclusive, long-term agreement with California-based Spark Unlimited to create a Call of Duty console game for GameCube, Xbox and PS2. The title, which has been in development since late last year, will debut for all three platforms next year. The Spark-created console title will be totally different from the Infinity Ward-developed PC game, which is slated for release later this year.

The cover story for the newest print issue of Game Informer magazine has some details about the upcoming Xbox version of Counter-Strike that is being developed by Ritual Entertainment and Valve Software. According to the article, the Xbox version of the popular PC multiplayer shooter will contain all the current content of the PC version plus all of the content of the upcoming Counter-Strike: Condition Zero single player game. There will be some Xbox exclusive content as well, including at least five new multiplayer levels, two new weapons (the Syringe and Machete) and some graphical improvements including 24 bit textures and better lighting and particle effects. There are also hints in the article that there might be support for user created gameplay modes in the Xbox Counter-Strike, although there were no specifics mentioned (thanks HomeLAN).

LucasArts today announced that Star Wars: The Clone Wars for Xbox Live has gone gold and can be expected in stores April 21st! Star Wars: The Clone Wars is the first LucasArts console game available for play over the Internet and will offer expanded combat action specifically designed for Xbox Live.

Atari has shipped "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee," a one-to-four player monster-on-monster fighting game, to the Xbox. Based on the classic movie characters created by Toho Co., Ltd., the game recreates the look and feel of the titanic film legends and challenges players to punch, kick, stomp, throw and blast each other in massive, city-wide arenas. "Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee," developed by Pipeworks Software, Inc., is currently available on the GameCube.

Following on from the news that it's possible to run unsigned applications on the Xbox by using a loophole in EA's Agent Under Fire, crackers have discovered how to mod the system without a physical modchip... More about it below!

Enhanced editions of Codemasters’ Pro Race Driver, the the worldwide hit that debuted on the PS2, steer their way onto store shelves today for the Xbox and PC. Set to be the most dynamic and dramatic circuit racer for PC and Xbox, the new editions are even fiercer than the best-selling PS2 version. Pro Race Driver lets players race as a touring car professional in a gaming experience packed with 42 real cars, 13 championships and an incredible 38 real-life, internationally renowned, race circuits. The new editions also add a qualifying round to championship races. With up to 20 cars tearing up the track simultaneously - six more cars than in the original – the game is sure to make any driver’s adrenaline race.

Drake is an action shooter of furious and brutal revenge, supernatural Hong Kong action John Woo style. Think adrenaline-pumping action as seen in the movie "The Matrix" visualized in a neon-gothic Animated Batman style, using unique custom software generated "rim light" texturing. Drake has been brought back from the dead to avenge his family "The Crow" style and brings nothing but death into our world, executed in extravagant "Crying Freeman" style. As Drake, you'll be able to somersault over knocked-over furniture, double guns blazing (double button action) Hong Kong style.