Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today the release of Dark Cloud2, an imaginative, invigorating and vibrant 3D action-adventure, role-playing game (RPG) developed exclusively for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system. The follow-up to the successful 2001 release, Dark Cloud 2 features a new character-driven story with two playable characters, an enhanced graphical look utilizing cell-shading technology, the return of the GEORAMA -- the unique ability enabling players to create, build and customize a fully interactive, 3D world, and the introduction of the Invention System which allows players to create an array of items for later use in battle and exploration.

Activision marks a new era in the historical strategy genre with the announcement of Empires: Dawn of the Modern World from acclaimed designer Rick Goodman and Stainless Steel Studios. A real-time strategy game of epic scope and breadth, Empires: Dawn of the Modern World lets players command legendary civilizations as they battle to forge mighty empires during the days of longbows and charging knights to the awesome land, air and sea battles of WWII involving Tiger Tanks, Storm Troopers, Spitfires, and stealthy submarines.

Xbox, the future-generation video game console that delivers new and unforeseen gameplay experiences, today announced that Xbox owners can get caught up on the journey of Ryo Hazuki to avenge his father's death through the "Shenmue The Movie" DVD. The DVD will come bundled with the Xbox exclusive "Shenmue II" when the game ships in Europe on 21st March. The DVD is 90 minutes long and features English or Japanese voice-overs with the option for Japanese subtitles, and is playable on the Xbox with DVD remote or PAL DVD players.

Are you a pin punisher or a gutter lover? Take off your street shoes, buff up your ball, and step into the lanes of Big Strike Bowling. Choose from a horde of unique bowlers and head out on to the craziest alleys ever created.. Five screenshots of whacky character action.

At the heart of Gladius is a unique mix of dynamic game play that requires players to develop and manage a school of gladiators who, over time, gain experience, learn new skills, improve their abilities and finally test their might in epic battles. Players fight with deadly weapons and powerful magic, learn vital combat tactics, and enhance and customize characters.

Konami of Europe has announced that Silent Hill 3 - the latest title in the hugely popular horror series - will be released for PlayStation 2 on May 23rd - several weeks before Japanese and US fans can sample its macabre delights.

Microsoft today announced that the first batch of new downloadable content is now available for "MechAssault" via Xbox Live. In this first update, players will find two new multiplayer maps which support all five of the current gametypes and two agile new 'Mechs: Raven and Corvus. The new maps include Hell's Kitchen, a fiery volcanic world; and Stone Cold, a frigid snowy environment. These new items will greatly expand multiplayer play, and this update is available for no additional charge.

Michael Rowland Community Liaison Officer @ Codemasters posted up following information in our forum:

Just though I'd let you know that IGI 2 - Covert Strike is officially released in Europe tomorrow, Friday 21st February and on March 4th in the US. Of course we still have the many demos on the Codemasters site so if you are still in doubt, have a bash at them.

Happy gaming

Mike

UIU is a suite of several applications for 3d artists and game developers. Primarily focused on the creation of environments and environmental effects, it's a good tool that's easy to learn. All components come with a help file and quick start guide to get you up and running quickly. It includes the following tools:

Eleblend - Texture blending for terrain
Ripple Rain - Alpha channel rain and water impact ripple animation
Gradient Thief - Multicolor gradients from existing images
UT Screenshot Assistant - Quick image processing for Unreal Tournament 2003
Mosaica - From image to mosaics with matching bump maps

More about it and download here!

The aim of the game is to survive, either longer than your opponent or until one player has reached a set objective. Worms Blast gives us our fifth trip to the Worms universe. You control a team of worms, you square off against opposing worm team(s) - either AI or human-controlled - in a kill-them-before-they-kill-you fight . As always in the series, Worms Blast tests the players thinking, skill, reflexes, forward planning and nerve. Read more for the final verdict!

Entertainment software developer and publisher NovaLogic, Inc. is pleased to announce the arrival of the ultimate covert operations compilation – The Special Forces Pack. This exciting three game pack contains two of the best selling titles in the history of the tactical first person genre: Delta Force and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six. Combined, these ground breaking franchises have sold more than 10,000,000 units. In addition, the pack also includes the acclaimed title Shadow Force: Razor Unit. The Special Forces Pack is in stores now, SRP $19.99

A major number one best seller for PlayStation 2, the PC edition features more cars on track in every race and adds qualifying rounds to the cut-throat career championships. A superior graphics engine will deliver the close contact, and often dangerous, racing in dramatic detail. TOCA Race Driver delivers a racing experience packed with 42 real touring and sports cars, 13 championships and an incredible 38 internationally renowned race circuits. New to the PC edition are the introduction of a qualifying round to championship races; in Australia's championship players will experience the 'Shoot out' qualification system. Call it Toca Race driver, Pro Race Driver or DTM Race Driver, these 100 screens are for one and the same game, njoy!

Harbinger is a single-player action / RPG set in a fantastic science fiction universe. As one of three distinct character types, players explore the world of Harbinger – journey to the far reaches of space, battle unique foes never before seen in any medium, discover powerful new weapons and alien technologies, and uncover the dark secrets buried within the massive starship’s steel walls. In human words think Diablo in a Starcraft environment! Read more to check the Harbinger Flash Trailer...

As if in a shadow play of a major Hollywood premiere, photographers pressed up to a procession of film stars strolling into a theater aglow with hype and klieg lights. Keanu Reeves chatted on camera with "Access Hollywood" and MTV reporters. Will Smith and his wife, the actress Jada Pinkett Smith, waved to onlookers. Carrie-Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne glittered on a black carpet ordered for the occasion. The event at Warner Brothers Studios was a sort of coming-out party for Enter the Matrix - not one of the long-anticipated sequels to "The Matrix," the cyber-chic 1999 thriller, but a video game.

EA and Westwood Studios have released another patch for Command & Conquer Generals, bringing their brand-new 3D real-time strategy game first to v1.03. This upgrade brings more fixes and improvements related to multiplayer. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Splinter Cell will grant players access to the highest echelons of national security, where shadowy operatives have the freedom to do whatever it takes to safeguard America. In Splinter Cell, the player controls Sam Fisher, a field operative of a secretive "black-ops" NSA sub-agency called Third Echelon. Sam Fisher is geared up to infiltrate high-security strongholds, seize critical intelligence, destroy threatening data and neutralize the enemy - all without leaving a trace. It's been over a month since the first batch was released but as you can see from the shots, it was definitely worth the wait!

Infogrames has released a new patch for Sunstorm Interactive's hunting game Deer Hunter 2003. This upgrade brings your retail copy to v1.23 and fixes a boatload of bugs, memory leaks, exception faults, clipping issues etc. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Praetorians is an epic 3D troop based strategy game set amidst the political machinations of an emerging Roman Empire. Gamers will be transported back to the dusty battlefields of Egypt, the combat theatres of Gaul and finally to the heart of the Empire itself, Italy in the crusade to become Emperor. After yesterday's "FilePlanet only" (requireing a Filepmanet acct/key) Praetorians multiplayer demo, there is now a "free" version allowing you to do as the Romans do in this imminent 3D real-time strategy game by Pyro Studios. This multiplayer demo offers the Crossroads level playable on LAN and the Internet, as well as in Skirmish mode with up to three CPU controlled players. Read more for download links ...

Platoon covers the period from the early days of the conflict (late 1965) to the height of battle in 1968, and recreates some of the most trafic moments of the Vietnam War: Operation "Shiny Bayonet", the Pleiku Campaign, Operation "Pershing"... Monte Cristo/Strategy First have released new patches for their 3D tactical strategy game Platoon. This upgrade brings your Platoon retail copy to v1.14, consolidates all previous patches and the "Easy" mod into one new version "as well as correcting any problems players may have had progressing from mission to mission after installing the Easy Mod." As usual, one patch upgrades the US and various international editions, while the other applies to a slew of other international editions.

Enigma: Rising Tide is an alternate history World War II naval battle game. The core project is a massively multiplayer game that may be extended to other platforms. Within a year, will be available as a Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG). Tesseraction is designing, creating, testing and releasing the MMOG game title using Intrinsic Alchemy. GMX Media picked up the distribution right for the offline version which is due in March 2003. This final offline demo offers a submarine and a corvette mission on the League of Free Nations side in the game. Read more for download links ...

Devastation developers Groove Games seem to be working on another titles called "CTU : Marine Sharpshooter". One Shot One Kill. You are a Marine Sharpshooter, member of the elite Counter Terror Unit, a covert American military force waging a silent war against terror across the globe. Dropped behind enemy lines, you have uncovered a terrorist plan to construct a nuclear weapon and detonate it on American soil. You must follow the plot from the desserts of Afghanistan through the Russian winter and into the jungles of a small south Pacific island. Armed with an arsenal of authentic sniper weaponry, your only assistance is provided by your observer, your eyes, ears and close quarters machine gun. Make every shot count, your country is depending on it (thanks HomeLAN).

Splinter Cell has barely started showing up in stores and as promised by UbiSoft, they have just released the first patch for stealth action game Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell. This upgrade brings your retail version to v1.1 and fixes a Radeon 9700 rendering issue, a "static wall/floor fire" texture issue, and some more bugs. Read more for details and download links ...

Metro3D, Inc. announced today the shipment of Wings for Game Boy Advance, as well as its availability at Metro3D’s online store located at http://store.metro3d.com. Developed by Cinemaware, Inc., Wings for GBA is an intense World War I action, air combat game, which features an ESRB Rating “E” Everyone and a MSRP of $29.99.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell sets new standards on the PlayStation2, immersing gamers in a deadly world of shadowy conspiracies and heart-pounding intrigue. State-of-the-art technology including the true-to-life dynamic lighting and shadow system, and new weather and ambient environment effects such as hazy heat, reflective surfaces, sea waves and depth and focus blurring, make Splinter Cell one of the most visually enticing titles on the system to date. Ubisoft has now confirmed that the Playstation 2 version of Splinter Cell (developed by UbiSoft Shanghai) will be released April 8, 2003.