Wanadoo and Nevrax send out word that registrations for the Ryzom beta test are now possible. The Beta Test will be composed of 3 stages, and the number of selected testers will increase steadily during each of these stages. Some of you may have to wait a little before being selected, so be patient. For those of you who have applied on Nevrax's website, it is still necessary to register on the European Ryzom website. If your application is accepted (which may happen at several moments during the course of the beta), you will receive an email with a login, a password and all the information necessary to connect to the game".

Christopher Walken, Gary Oldman and Michael Madsen lead an all-star voice cast of top Hollywood talent in Activision, Inc.'s upcoming crime game True Crime: Streets of L.A.. The actors were specially selected to add their distinctive voices and talents to True Crime: Streets of L.A.'s, vast line-up of gangsters, street hustlers, social deviants and reluctant heroes. True Crime: Streets of L.A., which will be available this fall for the PS2, the Xbox and the GameCube. Read more for details ...

UbiSoft has now released an updated US patch for their stealth third-person action game Splinter Cell, bringing your US ONLY edition to v1.2. This release implements essentially the same as the original v1.2 with the addition of a small diagnostic tool that was left out of the first one, as well as a variety of graphics enhancements and fixes, as well as gameplay tweaks and other bug fixes (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for details and download links ...

Atari and Shiny Entertainment are pleased to announce that development is complete on "Enter The Matrix" for the PS2, the Xbox, the Nintendo GameCube and the PC. The worldwide launch of the game to retail outlets will occur on schedule on May 15, 2003, day and date with the theatrical release of the highly anticipated Warner Brothers action movie "The Matrix Reloaded."

Blizzard, part of Vivendi Universal Games is looking for a European PR manager to be based at its office in Velizy, near Paris. French language skills are useful but not essential. But the successful candidate will need at least three to five years experience in PR, a degree and some knowledge of organising events. Send a CV, salary history and cover letter here or to Vivendi Universal Games Intnl, Recruitment Department, 32 Avenue de L'Europe, Immeuble Energy 1, 78 457 Velizy Villcoublay cedex, France.

The Baltimore Sun reports that Game maker Sega Corp. has received a merger offer from rival Namco, a proposal that would create Japan's biggest video game company, both companies said yesterday. Sega, famous for Sonic the Hedgehog, said the offer was being studied along with a proposal announced in February to integrate its operations with Sammy Corp., a Japanese pinball machine company. Sega wouldn't say when a decision could be expected.

On New Year's Eve, a band of renegade militia members from the hills of West Virginia seize a television station and broadcast their demands on the air. The F.B.I's Hostage Rescue Team is called in to deal with the situation. But this is only the first in a series of events that will take the team members from the mountains of West Virginia to the diamond mines of South Africa, and from the deserts of the Middle East to the corridors of wealth and power in Austria.At stake is the future of the free world, as terrorists unleash the most destructive weapon known to mankind.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Prophecy maintains the high standards people have come to expect from a Tomb Raider game.The game remains faithful to the spirit that has made previous game versions - as well as the movie - a worldwide success. Since the first Tomb Raider game was released in 1996, the series has gone on to sell more than 28 million copies worldwide.

Enter the Matrix is the story-within-the-story. It features awesome gunplay and spectacular martial arts that bend the rules of the Matrix, as well as insane driving and stunts, and the chance to pilot the fastest hovercraft in the fleet. This game isn’t just set in the Matrix universe – it’s an integral part of the entire Matrix experience, weaving in and out of the highly anticipated 2nd installment in the film trilogy, The Matrix Reloaded . Earlier today there was a batch of PS2 screens released, read more to check them out ...

Summitsoft announced today that the long awaited and highly anticipated epic, Empire of Magic, has completed development and will ship to retail stores before the end of April. Rated Teen by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, the game contains an amazing 50-120 hour single player campaign loaded with extensive side quests and extra tasks that will keep gameplay fresh and, more importantly, an incredible artificial intelligence system that promises an engaging and ever-changing gaming experience.

Gearing up for the interactive entertainment industry's largest annual event, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. today unveiled its diverse product lineup that will be on display at the Los Angeles Convention Center May 14-16. Spanning all of the next-generation gaming platforms and such popular genres as action, sports and racing, Acclaim is planning on featuring more than eight new brands, as well as making additional product announcements throughout the trade show.

Ubi Soft Entertainment today announced that its 2003 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) lineup will feature an outstanding selection of diverse titles for all platforms. Beyond Good & Evil, FarCry, RavenShield, Prince Of Persia, XIII and Uru: Ages Beyond MYST. Read more for details ...

A unique graphic engine has been created for the game. The engine is aimed to make use of the latest achievements in 3D technology. All objects are constructed in spline technology. This means the description of an object is based on mathematical curves, not on a fixed grid. It allows the creation of rounded objects and avoids angularity, so typical for 3D games. All character animations are created based on a skeletal animation system, with character skin stretched onto the skeleton. It enables the creation of smooth animation while keeping the effect of a living object. As for textures, we make use of bump mapping and per pixel specular light mapping technologies. They allow the effect of wood roughness and reflections on metal.

Three centuries of war continue - with even more frantic combat and more desperate power struggles raging across the American continent. The Spanish sound the attack on Yucatan amidst fierce Maya and Aztec resistance. The Germans put all their efforts into finding the legendary Eldorado. The Pontiac Uprising ends in a terrifying bloodbath between the Indians and the British. And the Russians will do anything to conquer Alaska at the cost of the Haida. There is a fantastic bonus for shrewd strategists: the great new "battlefield" mode in single-player and multiplayer modes! Tactical skill alone will determine victory or defeat in single-player and multiplayer games. So, plunge into battle & check out the screens!

Kreed is a dynamic FPS with its action taking place at the graveyard of spaceships, in a mysteries area of cosmic Universe. Its hero, who is an elite warrior from a semi-religious organisation, will overcome lots of danger on his way, meet representatives of unknown to the mankind races and civilisations. Original weaponry and items of equipment, dynamic battles, lots of special effects allows a player find himself in the very centre of events, and the variety of level interior brings the colours of the fantastic world of the 3d century. Burut is now accepting applications for the Kreed beta test. People interested in testing this upcoming FPS can fill this registration form. Apply within the next two weeks, and the names of the people selected will be announced on May 1.

World War II: Frontline Command is set to capture the heroism of World War II's most significant battles. As Commander of the Allied Forces, the game will see players attempting to drive the Axis forces deep back inside their own territory. With a full range of authentic troops and equipment at their disposal, players become a master of the battlefield to ensure final victory (thanks EuroGamer). The demo features one mission set in the Netherlands where you command a US Army force to capture a village and a munitions factory held by the Germans. Read more for download links ...

Midway Games announced today that RoadKill, a mission-based, post-apocalyptic combat driving game, is scheduled to ship in fall 2003 for the PlayStation2, the Xbox and Nintendo GameCube. Read more for details, features and the first screens ...

The magic of a lost island is in your hands, courtesy of TDK Mediactive, Inc. as the company made available today the latest details on one of its newest titles, "Dinotopia: The Sunstone Odyssey." Releasing in North America this summer for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and Nintendo GameCube, the action/adventure title boasts a unique blend of puzzle, RPG and exploration elements.

Game publisher and developer Playlogic International will be in attendance at the E3 game exhibition in Los Angeles with a 2000sqft booth, where it will be presenting four upcoming titles. The four games, entitled Cyclone Circus - Power Sail Racing, Xyanide, Airborne Troops, and Alpha Black Zero - Intrepid Protocol are set for global release in Q4 of 2003. The highly experienced, international employee team of the company, which was established in 2001, guarantees the games' quality and originality.

Bolstering its commitment to create diverse and innovative video game content for its hardware systems, Nintendo yesterday announced it is expanding internal development resources by establishing a new research and development facility in Tokyo. The new Tokyo facility will develop unique games for Nintendo's hardware platforms, adding to the depth and breath of Nintendo's first-party game library. Additional details about the facility, including when it will open, will be announced in the coming months.

Buka Entertainment, one of the leading publishers in Russia, is pleased to announce today its line-up for this year’s “Electronic Entertainment Expo”. The line-up will include new games which will be showcased for the first time at E3 and the titles, already demonstrated at the previous E3 show.. Find out more below!

Donning yellow trousers and mounting a shiny red engine, Monte Cristo today announced the release of Fire Chief for PC in June 2003. Offering more red-hot action than you can shake a fire axe at, Fire Chief is a tactical mission-based game which offers spectacular action in realistic settings. Players take charge of a squad of specialized fire fighters and vehicles. Under pressure, they must make the right decisions and fight against numerous fires and obstacles in order to minimise collateral damage and save lives.

KOEI Ltd. today announced that it will be bringing Dynasty Warriors 4, the latest instalment of the worldwide best-selling Tactical Action series, to the European market this June. With more than one million units sold in Japan in little less than one month of release, and with the US version due in store next week, Dynasty Warriors 4 appears poised to become an instant hit in the European market as well.

Reflecting the Electronic Entertainment Expo's (E3Expo) position as the world's leading venue for interactive entertainment products, E3Expo show management today announced that the event is on track to surpass key exhibit space and registration milestones from the prior year.