In a first for a Massively Multiplayer online game, the actions of players have resulted in an entirely new playable race for Horizons: Empire of Istaria. The event, which was started upon release of the game in December, was an epic achievement to free the race from their subjugation from the undead hordes of the Withered Aegis. Read more for details ...

Enlight announced today that the upcoming PC title Nemesis of the Roman Empire has gone gold. Based on the award-winning original Celtic Kings: Rage of War, Nemesis of the Roman Empire will allow players to experience the most brutal battles of the Punic Wars, including the infamous campaigns of Hannibal the Great. If you haven't yet, read our Nemesis of the Roman Empire preview...

Hitman: Contracts delivers more action-packed and suspenseful missions, with a greater variety of ways to make the perfect hit and an increased arsenal of firearms and close-combat weapons. A new graphics engine showcases Hitman's 'work' in brutal detail and brings new locations to life. An improved control system and more gradual learning curve will ensure that the game is accessible to all aspiring hitmen. Hitman: Contracts is being developed by Io Interactive and will be available for PS2, Xbox, and PC in spring 2004.

Shocking and evil, Mortal Kombat: Deception pushes martial arts-style fighting and the Mortal Kombat franchise to new heights with an innovative fighting system, unparalleled depth and brutally intense action that will appeal to long-time Mortal Kombat fans as well as next-generation gamers. The game features lightning-fast hand-to-hand and special weapons combat, secret and returning characters, moves and combinations with new death-dealing battles and fatalities. Read more for some new screens ...

Seal of Evil is a new A-RPG game developed by Object Software. The game uses a newly-developed GFX3D graphics engine and combines 2D and 3D technology. It displays beautiful scenes of ancient China. In the demo, players will control Lan Wei and Liang Hu to take a fascinating journey in several locations such as Rosy-Cloud Village, dense forests, mysterious caves and so on. Read more for download links ...

Sacred is the hack and slash RPG that puts you in the role of one of six different character classes, each with their own unique look, skills and customizable combo attacks; you and up to 3 other friends (via multiplayer) embark on a quest to prevent a renegade demon of the Sakkara from destroying the land of Ancaria. Desert Rats vs Afrika Korps is the real-time 3D tactical strategy game set in the North African campaigns of World War II. Command up to 70 different units on recon, search & destroy and siege operations in the African desert. Expect 20 engaging missions from the single player Axis & Allied campaigns and fight with up to four friends in multiplayer – all with beautifully detailed graphics, realistic damage and weather effects. Both titles are expect in North American store shelves March 23rd.

3000 AD has released another patch for their futuristic 3D action game Universal Combat. This v1.00.02 RC7 will be superseded by the final patch later this week and addresses a ton of AI tweaks, interface improvements, content and gameplay revisions, multiplayer enhancements, bug fixes, and more. Read more for details and download links ...

Publisher Strategy First Inc. and developer MiST land announced today that the futuristic tactical strategy game COPS 2170: The Power of Law will be released for the PC in North America in May 2004. COPS 2170: The Power of Law is a colorful hybrid of tactical strategy and RPG elements where players take on the role of a rookie cop as she patrols the mean streets of a futuristic, cyberpunk metropolis. Read more for details and a few new screens ...

Ground Control 2 : Operation Exodus takes place during the year 2741 AD, roughly 300 years after the events in the original game. The democratic and freedom caring Northern Star Alliance (NSA) is being hard pressed by the warmongering Terran Empire. The war has recently entered a new stage; a brutal and deadly ground war, as the Empire has managed to land their first troopships on the last NSA controlled planet – Morningstar Prime... Read more to check out some new screens ...

Ramses is doomed by what appears to be an evil curse surrounding this pact. His fate lies in the hands of one… Maia, a beautiful young sorceress favoured by the gods. If she fails to uncover the mystery, Ramses will die, and with him Egypt shall fall. This first person adventure has an easy to use point-and-click interface with high quality cinematics, and integrated 3D real-time puzzles. Read more for new screens and trailer ...

As King, it is your duty to lead your people in their struggle to raise your kingdom from its humble beginnings to a position of power and prestige. War, diplomacy and a burgeoning economy are the means by which you increase your power and expand your influence. A unique Knight-management system will offer you brand new possibilities to enhance your personal strategy. Read more for new screens showing off the highest development level of the citadel, the trench and drawbridge...

PC Game publisher/developer Strategy First is pleased to announce it has entered into a partnership with Trymedia Systems to use their unique distribution technology; ActiveMARK to bring SFI titles to a larger market. Read more for details...

Mindscape UK today announced the signing of a new distribution partnership with DreamCatcher Europe. The new deal includes the entire output from both the DreamCatcher and Adventure Company labels. A total of 20 titles are scheduled for release across PC, X-Box and PS2 in 2004.

Nemesis of the Roman Empire (known in Europe as 'Celtic Kings The Punic Wars') continues on the traditions of the award-winning original Celtic Kings: Rage of War from Haemimont Games. Nemesis of the Roman Empire explores the three Punic wars between Rome and Carthage in 264-146 B.C. and includes the famous campaigns of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus. We had the chance to try out a build, read more for our impressions...

InPool Paradise players spend their days playing pool on an amazing fully-animated South Pacific island where sun rises and falls from day to night whilst the sea rolls ashore and the palm trees blow sway in the cool ocean breeze. Archer Maclean's Pool Paradise will be released on PlayStation 2, Game Cube, Xbox and PC in March 2004, and sees the reunion of the code genius and Jimmy White for their fourth collaborative title. Read more for details & screens ...

Soldiers: Heroes of World War II (previously known as Outfront) is a dramatic, fast-paced tactical strategy game, due summer 2004 exclusively for PC. Created by Ukrainian company Best Way, under the development title of "OutFront", Soldiers is a further signing for Codemasters from 1C Company. Codemasters will also publish two other 1C Company titles: Perimeter and Wartime Command. Read more for new & awesome screens...

Ice Nine takes place in first person mode. The player will not only have access to gadgets such as bugs and a high-tech PDA but also heavy ballistic equipment such as rocket launchers and remote mines. The player is also able to take on many disguises in the course of the game from enemies he has neutralized. Mission briefings are supplied at the beginning of each mission, and also updated mid-mission as the scenario changes to reflect the player's decisions. Read more for screens ...

Placing you in the highlands of Vietnam, Vietcong Fist Alpha brings 7 brand new single player missions as well as 8 new multi-player maps to expand that jungle experience of Vietnam in 1967. With 6 new weapons as well as bayonets for weapons and machetes along with even more artillery raining shells down on both US and NVA alike, Vietcong Fist Alpha also brings the ubiquitous B52 Bomber and F-105 Thunderchief and F4 Phantom fighters into play.

Haemimont has released a new patch for their RTS Celtic Kings: Rage of War. This update brings you retail game to v1.16 and improves Win98 and SBLive! compatibility, adds several performance enhancements, several crash bugs fixed, and significantly improved network code. It also includes the four bonus maps Defenders, Return to the Throne, The Fall of Avalon and Ascendency (thanks Blues). Read more for download links ...

As we announced yesterday, Ubisoft held an irc community chat last night and while there was not much new being said the only REAL interesting part was the fact that Ubisoft Producer Domitille Doat revealed 'Splinter Cell : Pandora Tomorrow' has been approved by Microsoft, meaning it went gold. Not quite sure whether this counts for both the Xbox as well as the PC version, but we assume so. Now that the cat is out of the bag, an official announcement should be available soon. . 'Splinter Cell : Pandora Tomorrow' is expected in stores March 25th.

The newest hit during prime time television hours is not showing on any of the major networks. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. said today the audience for online gaming with the PlayStation2 grew to 2.6 million this month and the majority of gamers were online during traditional prime time television hours.

Games Media Properties today announced that its GameRiot expo will embark on its second national tour entertaining 75,000 gamers in 30 cities, from March through May, with the hottest releases from Microsoft Game Studio, Electronic Arts, Activision, Ubisoft, and other leading publishers. Xbox has joined as GameRiot’s lead sponsor and the exclusive console platform of GameRiot, and NVIDIA Corporation will present the NVIDIA PC Gaming Zone.

In an interview with Israel-based Globes, M-Systems' President and CEO, Dov Moran, confirmed that the Xbox 2 won't have a hard disc drive. When asked about its technology development agreement with Microsoft Corporation, Mr Moran said: ”It’s a cooperation agreement. The potential isn’t clear, but it’s in the billions of dollars. Microsoft has taken the hard disk out of its Xbox. The only thing left will be a CD; that’s all. At some point, when users want to save their e-mail messages, copy music, or anything like that, the only storage they’ll have is what we give them. It’s worth hundreds of millions to the company, spread over a few years, and we’ll be the main supplier for it; and I hope the sole supplier (thanks TeamXbox</).

'Gun Warrior' (previously known as Gunfighter) is an action shooter game placed in the realities of Wild West. The major Player's activity is eliminating hundreds enemies passing through mission-based bloody journey as well as during the duels. Gun Warrior is not only mission-based shooter. The length play of game has been increased by implementing three extra game modes: Target Range trainings, Multiplayer duels, and Gunfighter's Tournament. Read more for new screens...