Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc. announced today that the SOFTIMAGE/XSI software, the industry-leading nonlinear 3-D production environment, was used exclusively by Valve to create all the characters, models and props for the new game Half-Life 2. This widely anticipated sequel to one of the best selling PC games of all time introduces life-like in-game characters that herald the next generation of characters for interactive entertainment. To exceed the expectations of a more sophisticated audience and deliver the new title on schedule, Valve converted its production pipeline to the award-winning SOFTIMAGE/XSI environment.

Nintendo today announces a new worldwide retail offer combining its Nintendo GameCube home console with the new Game Boy Player. The combination allows players to enjoy more than 1,200 Game Boy games on the home TV screen, along with the full library of more than 300 Nintendo GameCube titles.

Empire Interactive plc ("Empire"), announces today at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, the signing of an exclusive five-year global licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Entertainment to develop and publish Starship Troopers. The game will be based on the movie of the same name and animated series franchise. Developed internally by Empire's award-winning Strangelite Studio, the game will be released on PC, and all current and next generation consoles. The length of the agreement will allow Empire to produce multiple titles.

Ian Higgins, CEO of Empire, said: "Starship Troopers is a film license that lends itself perfectly to the video game genre. We believe it will have global appeal and, combined with our award-winning development team, we will deliver a franchise that will allow gamers the chance to play their favorite scenes from the blockbuster movie."

The Darkfall Team would like to announce the Darkfall Dungeon Design competition and invite our readers to participate.

"Design a dungeon located in the human kingdom of Mercia, and - assuming you win - we'll build it, fill it with monsters, and create the in-game quests, rumors and lore associated with it. You will receive full credit for your work, and we'll even publish your original description as an in-game book. Some of you might receive more assignments and/or offers from us based on the quality of your submission".

Russobit-M has released E3 trailer from their upcoming sci-fi FPS, Kreed. The movie clocks 43MB, runs a bit over 2.5 minutes, illustrating gameplay, special effects, and some cut-scenes. Here is a download link (43MB)..

Inspired by Hong Kong action films, the game lets players assume the role of tough-as-nails detective Nick Kang, bent on settling a personal vendetta with the L.A. underworld. As Kang, players will be able to dispense their own personal brand of justice through automotive combat, a variety of rib cracking martial arts moves and the business end of dual 45s.

Garrett finds himself without allies, standing alone between the city and the forces that would crush it. Will his skills be enough to save the dying city? Can he survive betrayal, assassins, and war in the labyrinthine city streets? Will he destroy or be destroyed by the evil he awoke? And finally, what must he do to get what he wants most of all: to be left alone plying his trade as the city's greatest ... thief?

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Atari and Turbine today jointly announced plans to bring Wizards of the Coast's incredibly popular gaming universe, "Dungeons & Dragons" ("D&D"), to the world of massively multiplayer games with "Dungeons & Dragons Online." This innovative online role-playing game will be the first project developed, funded and run by Turbine Entertainment, creators of the critically acclaimed "Asheron's Call" and "Asheron's Call 2." "Dungeons & Dragons Online" will provide players with the definitive online "Dungeons & Dragons" experience, complete with dramatic dungeon crawling, terrifying monster combat and challenging puzzles, character advancement and guild-based power struggles.

Command an elite, multinational squad of special operatives against a hidden terrorist foe. In Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3, the third installment in the wildly popular Rainbow Six series, Team RAINBOW races against time to stop terror and unravel a mystery. In locations around the world, from London to the Cayman Islands to Rio de Janeiro, lead Team Rainbow in a desperate effort to battle a madman and foil his doomsday plot.

Another year, another E3. Shrapnel Games unfortunately will not be able to attend E3 this year. Fear not though! For in this news release they unveil several of their upcoming titles that shall be released in 2003 and 2004. By no means a complete list, expect plenty of surprises to be announced over the coming months. And so, without further ado, their upcoming games below...

Sammy Studios Announces Lethal Skies II (PS2): “Lethal Skies II is a thrilling title that will bring gamers a fast-paced, graphically rich jet combat game,” said John Rowe, president of Sammy Studios. “Players will be able to immerse themselves into this game’s single-player mode as an elite pilot commanding a powerful air fleet, or compete with friends for Ace status in 2-player mode.”

Sammy Studios Unveils The Seven Samurai (PS2): “Seven Samurai 20XX is an exciting video game title on many levels,” said John Rowe, president of Sammy Studios. “It takes a film that has transcended generations and recreates it as an intense action game set in the future, and pays proper homage to the masterpiece that inspired it as a collaborative and artistically-driven effort.”

Ubi Soft today announced XIII, the most stylish FPS ever, now has its own dedicated teaser web page. XIII is a stunning, conspiracy-driven thriller set in a highly stylized graphic-novel world. Fans can log on now and get a sneak preview of one of the most anticipated games of the year. The website features new screens, character images, an interactive storyline and an exclusive high-quality trailer. XIII is scheduled to ship in Fall 2003 to all consoles and PC and the full XIII website will launch in June 2003. Ubi Soft today also announced that Far Cry, the most unpredictable and technologically innovative FPS, now has its own dedicated teaser web page.With features such as its stunning graphics, unique tropical setting, unprecedented long-range view distance, freely explorable indoor and outdoor environments, authentic physics-on-demand, perfect variety of gameplay, frighteningly realistic AI and an universally acclaimed pick-up-and-play level editor.The website features new screens showcasing the amazing graphics and effects, while an exclusive downloadable movie trailer offers a first look at the game's tropical setting infested with deadly enemies.

This morning we serve up a 'Batman : Rise Of Sin Tzu' Q/A with Benoit Galarneau "Producer", who's confident he's making "the most fun Batman game ever".

A new era in Batman history begins in Batman: The Rise of Sin Tzu - the first videogame to introduce a new character into the Batman universe.

A first-person action game currently in development for all major console gaming platforms, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines will - for the first time on next-generation console systems - allow players to become the Terminator Series signature icon, Arnold Schwarzenegger as the original Terminator. This marks the first time Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice and likeness has ever appeared in a home videogame.

One of interactive entertainment's most critically and commercially successful action arcade series returns this fall in Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike from LucasArts. Available for Nintendo GameCube, this thrilling third chapter once again features the intense flight battles of Luke Skywalker and his elite unit of X-wing starfighter pilots and adds highly desired multiplayer capability and character-based and ground combat to the series for the first time.

Add one more reason to buy an Xbox video game system today: a new, lower price. Effective immediately, Xbox video game system will retail for $179.99 in the United States and $249.99 in Canada. Right out of the box, Xbox enables the most advanced online and offline gaming experiences with its built-in hard drive and built-in Ethernet port. With an attractive new price, a tremendous lineup of games, and the rapidly growing Xbox Live online gaming community, Xbox represents the best choice for a wide range of consumers. In addition to this new price, Xbox is featuring an impressive line-up of new games for the coming year this week at E3, as well as enhancements to its online gaming service and innovative new entertainment products to expand the definition of video game entertainment.

Unsigned Independent Developer LogicalVice, an Orlando based Interactive Entertainment and Games Studio announced today its plans to release a multi-genre video game for the PC/X-BOX. The game, "BoomTown" is based on a loose interpretation of the American Wild West frontier, its players, and the mystique of witchcraft, and is scheduled for the 3rd quarter of 04. Boomtown will host single player campaigns and multiplayer online scenarios in a third person default, or first person perspective. Running on Epic Games' Unreal Warfare and the Karma Physics Math Engine it infuses a fresh look and an untapped genre with action packed scenarios and gaming modes like Last Man Standing, Dueling, Siege, or 25 Card Draw. It is six-shooters and sorcery. It is bullets and blood sacrifice. It is a game that will reshape the vivid landscape of pulse-pounding, white-knuckle action.

Players will saddle up as one of 25 frontier personalities. Choose from Bryce Blackburn, a steely gunslinger that makes "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" look more like "The Meek, The Lame, and The Puny" to Elspeth, the spiritual leader of a displaced witches' colony capable of hurling an arsenal of deadly spells. Bryce, Elspeth, and an assortment of other colorful characters will traverse stunningly detailed terrain, eerie settlements, and amazingly textured towns either on foot or more quickly by horseback, stagecoach, or train. In addition, over 30 different weapons will be at the player's disposal. Classic western favorites like the Colt 45 Peacemaker and Parker Shotgun will announce their presence with authority. Finding mystical alternatives like the Angelic Bone Sword and Mace of Devouring will unlock a whole new way of disposing of your enemy.