Not really a major secret anymore but today Eidos Interactive announced that the next instalment in the Thief series is currently in development for Xbox and PC. The game is being developed by Ion Storm, creators of the award-winning Deus Ex franchise, and is due for release winter 2003. Read more for some new screens ...

SEGA Europe Ltd, today announced an agreement with Warhammer Online Ltd, granting SEGA Europe rights to publish 'Warhammer Online' for PC across Europe, North America, Canada and Australia/New Zealand. Warhammer Online is a new massively multiplayer online computer game that allows players to take on the role of outlaws and mercenary adventurers within the grim and gritty realisation of Games Workshop's dark, gothic fantasy world of Warhammer. At the heart of the game is a combination of fantastic new technologies coupled with the deep and atmospheric Warhammer background and some of the most innovative player and character development within an online RPG.

Nicelycrafted let us know that all their game servers have been upgraded, and there is a client release to support all the new features - you can get it from their FTP here! Major changes with this release are as follows:

Shadoo Quantum Nets now possible! A silo upgrade and a whole new building reveal that the Shadoo have access to the Quantum Net technology thought to be exclusive to the Cog ...

Shadoo Battlebomber blueprints discovered. All Shadoo Vehicle Constructors can now build this formidable island attack ship.

Battle platform Stone Processor now available.

All vehicles can now be given the 'stay with' command. Vehicles built by a Battle platform vehicle constructor now automatically 'stay with' the platform

Midway Games Inc. announced today that Universal Pictures has obtained an option to the rights to develop the classic 1980s Spy Hunter videogame into a major live action motion picture. SpyHunter 2, the latest iteration of the classic videogame, is scheduled to ship fall 2003 for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox and Nintendo GameCube.

Vanquishing a strange alien race on a distant ring-shaped world, battling against the end of creation as a Norse immortal, rewriting the world's past by prolonging Roman rule another thousand years, or re-creating Orville and Wilbur Wright's first flight: Microsoft Game Studios takes gamers on a gripping journey through the history of the world to distant lands with its PC games lineup at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) next week in Los Angeles, May 14-16.

BAM! Entertainment today announced its exciting roster of games to be shown at the 2003 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the industry's largest tradeshow. The lineup includes adventure, stealth action and puzzle games being developed for PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube. All the titles will be shown during the Electronic Entertainment Expo, May 14-16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center where BAM! Entertainment will be located in West Hall, room #510. Read more for their lineup!

Mad Catz Interactive today announced that it will introduce its new GameShark Media Player for the PlayStation2 (PS2) at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), May 14-16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The GameShark Media Player enables users to stream music, video, and images from their computer to their television or entertainment system through their PS2 and network adapter.

Eidos Interactive today announced it has entered a strategic partnership with Island Records, American Records and Roadrunner Records in the creation of the official in-game soundtrack for Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This At Home. Currently in development by Paradox Development, Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This At Home is an outrageous and over-the-top extreme wrestling game that takes the player beyond the traditional restraints of a wrestling ring where success is based on the ability to use and abuse the environment as well as the opponent. Set for release on PlayStation2 computer entertainment system & the Xbox video game system from Microsoft in late Summer of 2003, Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This At Home will offer an official in-game soundtrack that is as diverse and genre defying as the game itself.

THQ announced the release of Walt Disney Pictures Presentation of Pixar Animation Studios' Finding Nemo videogame for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Xbox videogame system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance, as well as two games for the PC/Mac. The game, which closely follows the storyline of the film, 'Finding Nemo' by Academy Award-winning Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios, is now available in advance of the movie, scheduled to launch in theaters nationwide on May 30. The game features music and environments inspired by the motion picture.

Australia's Torus Games announced today that it is bringing Activision's Pitfall Harry to the Game Boy Advance. The new game, Pitfall Harry GBA will feature action, adventure, and shoot 'em up fun, promising amazing handheld thrills!

Noticed on VE3D that Bungie has updated their Halo 2 site with some E3 plans for the game. Here is a clip:

A demo like Halo 2 requires a special setting and this year we’ve pulled out all the stops. As fans enter the Microsoft booth, one of the first things they’ll encounter is the glorious Halo 2 Theater (a concept drawing is pictured at left). This custom theater was built from the ground up specifically to showcase Halo 2. The theater seats about 65 people and comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect (complete with hypnotic control rays for our diabolical world domination plans). By the way, this ‘aint just another movie. The original Halo 2 announce trailer was an in-engine cinematic that was prepared in advance and released to the world. This time around, the E3 demo will consist of 100% bona fide in-engine gameplay and cinematics. Bungie team members like our Director of Cinematics, Joseph Staten, will be personally playing through the demo for everyone to experience. It’s been said a bunch already but I can honestly say after seeing this impressive display countless times around the office – It’s good. Oh so good. It might be a good idea to pack some extra under shorts because we can’t be responsible for what might happen. As mentioned in my last story, we don’t have concrete plans for an online release yet but once we get back from E3 we’ll regroup and explore options for sharing this demo with the world.

Colin McRae Rally 3, coming to PC this summer, captures the emotions and consequences of being a professional rally champion. It's an unbelievably personal gaming experience, as you become the globe's greatest rally driver - Colin McRae himself. Read more to check out 20 new screens ...

Extreme Force is an action adventure game with a heavy emphasis on strategy and tactics; Casting gamers into the role of an elite member of the Grant City Anti-Crime Squad, players will be inundated with a bevy of special weapons and items (like the night vision goggles, grenades, and door charges), while simultaneously implementing several stealth maneuvers not unlike the disarm techniques of Dead to Rights. Action fans needn't worry either though, as there are plenty of mindless run-and-gun combat missions to compete in as well. Expected in stores on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube in Q4 2003. Read more for some of the first screens ...

Freshly released and available in stores, Summitsoft Corporation has issued the first patch for Mayhem Studios' fantasy turn-based strategy game Empire of Magic. This 'Hot Fix' adresses the "Object with given ID is already in list (#)" problem. Read more for download links ...

NCsoft Corporation announced today the company's special events planned for the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo, the largest video and computer game trade show in the world taking place May 14-16 in the Los Angeles Convention Center. Ever wanted to float along the Nile, run with the bulls or visit the North Pole? Well, now NCsoft is turning people's dreams turn into a reality through a special Ego-Trip give-away each day of the show. NCsoft's games allow players to travel to other universes and be whatever and whoever they want to be. Attendees of the show will now have the same opportunity. All they have to do is play six games in the NCsoft booth (South Hall #1024) to win the adventure of a lifetime!

Armed with her camera, aikido staff, and resolute investigative skills, Jade sets out to expose the truth and to liberate the minds of her deceived people. Pushed to the very edge of her physical and spiritual will, she soon discovers that even these limits are not what they seem … Her quest for the truth knows no bounds. Check these spiffy new PS2 screens ...

Galactic Civilizations is designed to give players a number of ways to win, including military conquest, diplomatic alliances, economic domination, technological advancement, and other strategic methods. The game is a turn-based single player game, however players who play on Stardock.net will be able to play as part of a “metaverse” where victories, defeats and campaigns can be recorded. Will these features combine to give the game a high degree of replayability? Read more and find out!

Earlier today EA unveiled their lineup for the upcoming E3 convention in LA and now we have fresh screens for most of those titles, and they keep coming in. So far we got screens for:

• Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (PS2/GBA)
• Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup (PS2)
• James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (Xbox/GBA/NGC)
• Bionicle (PC/PS2)
• FIFA Football 2004 (PS2)
• Freedom: Soldiers of Liberty (PS2/PC/Xbox)
• Looney Tunes: Back In Action (PS2)
• Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 2004 (PC/PS2/Xbox)
• Madden NFL 2004 (GBA/NGC/Xbox/PS2)
• NBA LIVE 2004 (Xbox)
• NHL 2004
• NASCAR Thunder 2004 (Xbox/PS2)
• NCAA Football 2004 (NGC/Xbx/PS2)
• NCAA March Madness 2004
• SSX 3 (NGC/Xbx/PS2)
• SimCity4 Rush Hour
• Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWI
• Need For Speed Underground(PS2)

Lords of the Realm III (Lords 3) is a real-time strategy game of historic medieval conquest that spans castle building, siege, politics, religion, and conquest. The game is set in the Middle Ages, between 850 AD and 1350 AD, and features authentic castle designs and characters. Various scenarios and campaigns encompass the British Isles, Germany, France, Normandy, Brittany, Flanders and Denmark. A new trailer has been released showing off the game's setting and cinematic footage. Read more for download links ...

The world's #1 massively multiplayer online adventure has finally arrived for the Macintosh! On June 23rd Apple Macintosh users everywhere will be able to immerse themselves in what hundreds of thousands have already experienced a land with no limits to the imagination, where excitement and myth reign supreme. EverQuest for the Macintosh includes: EverQuest Classic and its first four expansions: The Ruins of Kunark, The Scars of Velious, The Shadows of Luclin and The Planes of Power.

The cat is out of the bag, the NDA liften and severla previews have surfaced as expected. We got 20+ screens for your viewing pleasure, some familiar, some character art, some editor shots and others previously only seen as magazine scans but now in hi-res. Read more and check them out! If you want to check the previews, you can find them at PC.IGN, C&VG, GameSpy or Shacknews.

Vivendi today announced its product line-up for the 2003 E3, a blockbuster roster of more than 30 PC, console and online-based titles covering a broad range of interactive content. Among the highly anticipated products are games based on theatrical and television licenses, including The Hulk, Dr. Seuss' The Cat In The Hat, The Fast and the Furious, The Simpsons and Buffy The Vampire Slayer; brand new intellectual properties such as Metal Arms and Men of Valor; and new installments to such venerable franchises as Crash Bandicoot, Hunter: The Reckoning, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings and StarCraft. VU Games will also showcase products that will be distributed on behalf of strategic partners, including Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II from Interplay, Dark Age of Camelot: Trials of Atlantis from Mythic Entertainment and Outlaw Volleyball from SSI. Read more for a summary on each title ...

Noticed on VE3D that Microsoft has announced the pricing structure for Xbox Live that will come into effect during the third quarter of this year: Xbox Live one year renewal/subscription - $49.99, Xbox Live monthly rate - $5.99, Xbox Live Voice Communicator - $29.99, Xbox Live Starter Kit - $69.99 (contains demos, headset and one year subscription). In a brief interview with GameSpy, Xbox Live Group PR manager David Hufford suggested that Microsoft might include free trial subscriptions with certain titles that feature online play.