Forget about Columbus! Each attempt to conquer the New World failed. Then a plague wiped out the European population. Those who were able to flee to America saved themselves, yet were enslaved by the native Americans. Now, centuries later - no traceof progress whatsoever. For entertainment for the broad masses, the outlawed "Vultures" fight in huge arenas. And you are one of them. You only think of one thing: To become the number one gladiator in order to win your freedom! This can only be achieved by ability, skill, and cold-bloodedness as the only valid Vultures rule is: You either leave the arena as the winner or in pieces!

Slow news day as it seems so an opportune time to catch up on some more E3 screens galleries. Next at bat is Empire Interactive with some of their upcoming titles, such as :

• Starsky & Hutch (PC/Xbox/PS2)
• Ghost Master (PC)
• Vega$: Make It Big
  
  Hit this link for the screens!

Set to be the most accessible, exciting and entertaining open-wheel racing game designed, Indy Racing League features adrenaline-fuelled, ultra-close pack racing, with up to 33 cars racing on track, and requires total focus to handle the incredible overtaking manoeuvres at speeds well over 200mph. In a video game competition that ended in classic IndyCar Series fashion, Sam Hornish, Jr. earned his first virtual victory of the 2003 season. To celebrate the 87th running of the Indy 500 and the launch of the IndyCar Series video game for the PS2 on May 20, Codemasters conducted a pre-race simulation of the race in which Sam Hornish, Jr. emerged triumphant. Check some new screens ...

The action is spread across eight huge levels, encompassing indoor and outdoor areas. Robocop must use solve complex puzzles whilst fending off the bad guys – and never stray beyond his three primary objectives – Uphold the Law, Protect the Innocence and Defend the Public Trust. A playable demo of Robocop is now available allowing you to try out one level of the Robocop universe (thanks GamersHell). Read more for download links ...

ValuSoft, a division of THQ Inc. today announced the release of Midnight Outlaw Illegal Street Drag-Nitro Edition for PC. This street-smart racing game is rated "E" for Everyone and will be available at retailers nationwide for $19.99 SRP. Following on the heels of Midnight Outlaw Illegal Street Drag(TM), the industry's top-selling PC racing game for the last two quarters(a), Nitro Edition lets gamers rocket into the night behind the wheel of 10 supercharged dragsters.

Activision, Inc.'s Lost Kingdoms II, the sequel to the top-selling, critically acclaimed RPG title Lost Kingdoms, takes gamers on an all-new magical quest with its release exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube. Set 200 years after the events of the original game, the title challenges players to uncover the origin of a new evil force that is threatening to destroy the Kingdom of Argwyll. Lost Kingdoms II is currently available at North American retail outlets for a suggested retail price of $49.99 and carries a "T" (Teen -- Comic Mischief, Violence -- content suitable for persons ages 13 and older) rating by the ESRB.

THQ and SEGA Corporation today shipped 'Sega Arace Gallery' for the Game Boy Advance. 'Sega Arace Gallery' is now available at major retail outlets throughout North America. 'Sega Arace Gallery' is a compilation of four classic arcade titles, "After Burner," "Outrun," "Space Harrier" and "Super Hang On," all created by Sega's top game designer, Yu Suzuki. Combining speed, action and high-flying adventure, the SEGA ARCADE GALLERY brings four classic SEGA titles together for ultimate arcade fun on the Game Boy Advance.

Electronic Arts today officially announced plans to publish the hugely successful game Dead to Rights on the Playstation 2 and Nintendo GameCube platforms. Both versions will be released next August in all PAL territories.

KnightShift offers the best of conventional RPG and RTS games in a mystic world, full of fantasy and imagination. The player takes control over heroes, real (funny) or magic characters and leads them to victory and honor. Set in a living fully three dimensional game environment, KnightShift bewitches your PC with breathtaking graphics and effects. Read more to check out 17 new screens...

Publisher Strategy First Inc. and developer Paradox Entertainment have announced their latest title based on the award-winning Europa Universalis engine, Victoria – Empire Under the Sun.

Utilizing the technical prowess of the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and Xbox Live!, Digital Extremes, the developers of Unreal Championship in conjunction with Epic Games and Atari have completed the auto-update for the game. It will be available for download through Xbox Live! tomorrow, May 22 (thanks EvilAvatar). Read more for details ...

Japan-based video game developer Genki is revving up to immerse players in the "fast and furious" street racing lifestyle defined by cool cars and non-stop action. Players will feel the ultimate rush of nitrous-infused speed as they race their ultimate rides through the beautifully rendered city streets of Los Angeles to the pulsing beat of more than 35 musical tracks. Check these 8 furious screens!

The Italian Job lets gamers recapture the high-octane thrills of the blockbuster movie. Taking on the role of Charlie Croker and his gang members, you are left for dead in Venice after being double-crossed during one of the biggest gold bullion heists ever. Now you and your team of professional thieves must wreak vengeance on the man who betrayed you and reclaim the gold. In order to achieve this, you need to create the biggest traffic jam in L.A. history and attempt your getaway in super-charged new MINI Coopers.

The Adventure Company announced today that it has shipped Curse of Atlantis: Thorgal’s Quest for the PC. The Adventure Company’s latest release sends gamers on an epic journey where they must change the fated future of a mighty Viking warrior’s family. Set in ancient times, when Vikings ruled the earth, players take on the persona of Thorgal Aegirsson, a descendant of Atlantis. After witnessing a vision of Thorgal murdering his own son, players follow an intriguing story-line as they seek to solve this magical mystery.

Ubi Soft Entertainment confirms the next Splinter Cell installment: Pandora Tomorrow, the new episode of the critically acclaimed stealth action game. Ubi Soft confirmed today that development has begun on the next Splinter Cell game, subtitled: "Pandora Tomorrow." Readm ore for details and the first "teaser" screens !

Noticed on HomeLAN that developer Breakaway Games has launched a beta test sign-up web page for Civilization III: Conquests, giving folks a chance to test their upcoming official expansion pack to Firaxis' hit historical strategy game. The sign-up page will expire on May 27th.

Sam Fisher, the shadow agent starring in Console Game of the Year (AIAS), Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, has simultaneously penetrated Nintendo's GameCube and Game Boy Advance game systems. Developed by Ubi Soft Entertainment's Shanghai and Montreal studios respectively, both games will be released on June 5, 2003 in Europe (May 6 in the US)... Check out some new shots below!

GRIN now posts the "BANDITS - Phoenix Rising" patch for all territories. If you have installed the previous US patch 1.1 this is nothing new, only now it works on European and Australian versions as well. Read more for details and download links ...

The story of the game takes place in a past, about 3000 years B.C. Two greatest nations on the Earth - nations of Incas and Atlantis are rivals. The Atlantis are on a greater evolution level, while Incas have dominance in citizen count. The situation is balanced until an alien space ship lands on a tenth planet of the Solar System. Aliens are interested in earth raw materials, and due this reason they start to communicate with Inca nation. For trading the ore from the earth, Incas receive an alien technologies and weapons from space visitors. Read more for screens & trailer or check out the freshly launched official website!

Publisher Strategy First Inc. and developer Techland announced today that their revolutionary shooter and future vehicle simulator title, Crime Cities, has gone gold. Read more for details ...

The official Battlefield 1942 website now has a movie with plenty of ingame footage from Secret Weapons, the second expansion pack for the popular WW2 vehicular action game (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links...

Demonstrating the strength of its long-term development strategy, Majesco unveiled their new Game Boy Advance Video Pak at the E3, held last week in Los Angeles, CA. Developed in conjunction with DC Studios, the proprietary technology enables gamers to view streaming video and audio on a standard Nintendo Game Boy Advance system, without the use of additional external hardware. Read more for details..

Developed by Freeform Interactive, Purge players become members of the Order and the Chosen, with each side seeking elimination of the enemy and individual party survival. Players receive rewards as they win battles and complete objectives throughout gameplay. In addition, Purge offers several map options, innovative weaponry and extensive player customization to enhance the online war experience. The new patch fixes and tweaks all the of the player classes, adresses some map bugs/crashes, optimizes some netcode for better online performance as well as user interface and gameplay tweaks ... Read more for download links ...

New nations, new campaign missions and a new game mode. An add-on disc, basically. Except... it isn't... Strategy players who can't get enough of CDV's classic RTS American Conquest will have a new set of challenges as American Conquest Fight Back is published in August. Read more for details and screens ...