Microsoft Game Studios today announced that gamers will soon have the opportunity to enter the Rise of Nations Sneak Preview Beta Contest for a chance to win one of 1000 copies of the Rise of Nations beta. On Friday, 14th February, fans can sign up at the official site, where complete contest information and official rules can also be found. Winners will be selected from a random drawing from all entries.

Thrustmaster is pleased to introduce its first cordless controller for PlayStation 2: FirestormT Wireless. With a design based on the Firestorm RF for PC, Thrustmaster's new radio frequency gamepad will be available from February 2003, providing gamers with a new level of enjoyment and unprecedented freedom of movement in games.

The team 17's official forum is updated with information about that Worms 3 for the PC is the only version to support online multiplaying (thanks GameSpy). Here is the clip:

At this stage in our schedule, for consoles, no, not unless the publisher really needs it. Simply because it will take at least 6 months extra work - 3 months to implement everything (including specific console interfaces/system link-ups etc) and then at least an additional 3 months testing the online play.

We certainly never planned for GC online since it wasn't on the radar (rumours aside), PS2 was coming too late and XB live wasn't running when we designed the game (and also committed to a publisher schedule).

The PC version was obviously always planned to be online, but just doesn't have the same issues as console (i.e. we know the interface, we don't have hardware submission procedures with).

Purge, delivers a compelling combination of first-person shooter gameplay and RPG character development, immersing players in a strife-torn world that blends science fiction and fantasy. This beta build primarily focuses on optimizes the netcode. All players should see large drop in ping. Player creatable base constructions (Barriers, Generators, Shrines, etc.) should no longer significantly increase ping. Purge 1.3.6 also fixes reported various bugs in Purge. Also, for players who still think Purge is played like typical deathmatch FPS, a new "helper" message system added assist new players to Purge's unique game style. Read more for a detailed fix list and download links (full download and patch).

Yesterday the official site for Sim City 4 was updated with this link for a new patch (thanks Blues).. The patch mainly adressed several game fixes and is now also available as standalone download for people having problems getting it through the website. Read more for details and download links ...

World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars is the imminent dirt track racing simulation by Ratbag and Infogrames that started out as a PS2-only game. Infogrames has just released a playable demo that sports the Knoxville and Lernerville tracks in arcade and multiplayer modes with a choice of two different cars (thanks Gamespot). Read more for details and download links ...

New budget range launched 4 April for Nintendo GameCube, including Luigi's Mansion, Super Smash Bros and the glorious Pikmin. Read more for full pressrelease!

Konami of Europe has confirmed a March 28th release date for the PlayStation 2 version of the highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance - and has also announced that the Sony version of the game will include a DVD of 'The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2' at no extra cost.

And we thought our puns were grim. Still, this Cheshire company reckons it's cracked the old "games for girls" chestnut... A UK Computer Games Company "Nissimo" has created a computer game which is more popular with women than men. Fruitfall is a game so simple that anyone of any age or ability can grasp how to play, with enough of a challenge to keep even the most ardent gamer amused for hours. Sales figures to January 31st 2003 show that female purchasers outnumber males by 3 to 1.

To mark the success of Junglewar: Vietcong gaining over 14,000 signups since its launch in late Dec, PC videogame publishers, Gathering have created a new scenario to keep players entertained until the release of Vietcong on the 21st March 2003 (UK release).

NVIDIA Corporation the worldwide leader in visual processing solutions, and Microsoft Corporation announced today that the companies have settled all issues related to pricing of the Microsoft Xbox GPU (graphics) and MCP (audio and networking) chipset and have ended the arbitration between them. In addition to resolving this pricing dispute, the two companies have agreed to collaborate on future cost reductions for the Xbox. More details will be provided during NVIDIA's quarterly conference call to be held February 13th, 2003.

With just a week to go now before American Conquest hits the shelves,things at CDV are as busy as ever. The latest pre-release news is that there are 10 exclusive new screenshots on their American Conquest: War Of Independence Tournament website. Here is a direct link to the Gallery page.

At the launch of PlayStation 2, Midnight Club redefined the racing genre by moving it from traditional track based racing to a new non-linear racing philosophy that offered players the freedom to choose their own path to victory. Set for release in March 2003, Midnight Club II continues the evolution of the franchise and features brand new tricked out cars, loads of attitude and a truly unprecedented sense of speed as you race through the city streets of LA, Paris and Tokyo. Check out these spiffy new screens ...

Perimeter is a real-time strategy game built on the concept of non-stop terraforming. The gamer will embark on territory seizure by means of especially designed units thus turning it into the principal energy resource. Then the subsequent encircling of the zones with an impenetrable perimeter will follow. Alongside unique terraforming and protecting perimeter opportunities the game provides powerful nanotechnologies, which allow managing groups of modifiable combat units. The necessity of efficient strategic territorial planning and tactical flexibility of combat units make the game appealing to any admirer of strategy genre.

Take the command of "Axis-of-Good" forces and defeat the secret alliance of "Shadow Clique" on one of 6 distant planets. The rebels decided to seize the power on Earth by first conquering the space colonies, which provide vital energy resources to A.O.G. The war for global domination will unroll on continents, at sea and in the air. Lead your divisions, fleets and air squadrons against those, who dared threaten our freedom and democracy! Check out the new screens ...

Sabotage is a first-person shooter that emphasizes stealth and the art of infiltration. In a futuristic society, dominated by large transnational companies, a man sentenced to death is offered the opportunity to be freed if he is able to sabotage an enemy corporation (thanks Blues). Read more for details and download links ...

World Series Baseball 2K3 is in development at Visual Concepts/Blue Shift for a March release on the Xbox and PlayStation 2, and includes new classic ballparks (The Polo Grounds, Forbes Field, Shibe Park, Crosley Field, and Griffith Stadium), 25 hall-of-fame players (Bob Gibson, Mike Schmidt, Rollie Fingers, Stan Musial), ESPN broadcast presentation, and revamped gameplay modes. Read more to check out 10 new Xbox screens ...

SEGA of America, Inc. today announced plans to release "SEGA RALLY" for the Game Boy Advance in March 2003. "SEGA RALLY" features six all-new courses loaded with heart-stopping Rally race excitement challenging gamers to race around the globe in an all-out blitz for the Championship Cup. Whether it's negotiating snow-covered mountains or tearing through the serpentine country backroads, "SEGA RALLY" delivers the same authentic Rally race experience on the Game Boy Advance that it pioneered in the arcades. Read more for details and some lovely GBA screens ...

Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc now has the quality music to match the celebrity voices, Pixar-like graphics and engaging story -- Groove Armada's rollicking song 'Madder,' from their just-released album 'Lovebox,' provides the sonic backdrop for the official game trailer. Read more for detailed GBA information ....

The official Arx Fatalis web site has released a new 1.16 patch for Arkane Studios' recent first person fantasy RPG. With the help of the Arx Fatalis community in the official AF forum, Arkane Studios fixed some bugs and logical errors. Read more for detailed fix list and download links (thanks HomeLan).

Eugen Systems and Arxel Tribe have released a patch for their recent multiplayer demo of The Gladiators: Galactic Circus Games, upgrading this 3D action RTS to version 3.1. This release merely fixes "the Invalid Key error message during session connection," and an updated full demo install is available as well (thanks 3DGamers).

From the publishers of Sudden Strike Blitzkrieg is the fine art of strategy, but with more finesse! Dissect your enemy with surgical precision, halt the enemy's advance and maintain your offensive momentum. Prove your tactical skills in the various historical campaigns during WWII commanding German, Soviet or Allied troops."Attack is the best form of defence". For people who can not wait until next week to lay hands on the Englisch demo, we now serve up the German version.. Read more for download links ...

Vivendi Universal Games has confirmed a March release for its highly anticipated "Bruce Lee: Return of the Legend" title for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance handheld. Developed by Vicarious Visions, "Bruce Lee: Return of the Legend" marks the first time Bruce Lee fans have been able to play as a character based on the world-renowned martial arts legend on a handheld system. Combining elements of stealth and platform elements alongside classic Bruce Lee fighting action and trademark moves, the game delivers both a dramatic movie-like story line and fast-paced action. Read more for your Brucie bonus: nine screenshots.

The approx. 165MB demo consists of four playable scenarios: the two introductory scenarios "Exploration and Colonization" and "Trade and Diplomacy" teach you the basics on how to erect and maintain a functional settlement and allow you to trade with the natives and a computer player. You can then use your new-found experience in the "Settlement" scenario, where you can erect a larger city and pursue both trade and research in order to elevate your "Pioneers" to "Settler" status... Read more for download links ...

Taufmael camps in the desert at freezing temeratures. Fortunately he has a powerful incantation at his fingertips: the ability to invoke a fire daemon. Taufmael is one of the prophets in Heaven & Hell who are taking care of your people. Their major task is to convert the people. The more they impress them the more control and power you get. Now CDV got a small clip on the official webpage which shows how Taufmael invokes his fire daemon.