Infogrames, Inc. announced today that the highly-anticipated and long-awaited sequel in the space epic Master of Orion 3 has been experiencing pre-orders significantly above expectations, and the game will ship out to retail stores globally, to more than 20 major countries around the world.

While some other places seem to have put up a 'HOMM4 Winds of War' game announcement, the game was already announced last year and went gold last month. Instead 3DO let us know that they have shipped the Heroes of Might and Magic IV: Winds of War expansion pack to stores and should appear on shelves any time now. In the second expansion to the best-sellingfantasy turn-based strategy game, players battle fantastic creatures and face fierce armies across 45 action-packed maps.

Starting August 29, 2003, Motor City will no longer be in service. After a fun run of over a year of online racing, Electronic Arts has made the decision to close Motor City Online in order to focus resources on future games. "Please check your email associated with your Motor City Online game account for updates and more information on what this closure means to you. We hope you've enjoyed the game as much as we have and that we'll see you again in another great EA game! " EA is offering subscribers a free copy of either The Sims Online or Ultima Online, provided they accept the offer prior to the end of MCO billing and are over 13 years of age. You can read the MCO team's farewell right here.

Indiana Jones is back -- better than ever and on store shelves today. LucasArts today announced the retail availability of the epic action-adventure game Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb on the Xbox (which brings everyone's favorite archeologist to life as never before). LucasArts' highly anticipated latest installment in the Indiana Jones series is already topping many editors' lists as the hot game of the season.

Pyrrhic Tales: Prelude to Darkness is a dark, sophisticated fantasy CRPG featuring complex, turn-based tactical combat, 3D graphics, a skill-based character advancement system, and an intricate, involved plot. Prelude thrives on the tradition of true role-playing games, allowing players to craft a diverse team and become part of a large and intricate world with a rich history, hundreds of non-player characters, and nearly endless paths and subplots. Hot on the heels of the previous release, a new patch for Prelude to Darkness is available to take the top-down 3D role-playing game by Zero Sum Software to version v1.46. This release addresses a save game problem that had apparently crept into v1.45 (thanks 3DGamers).

Music producer and videogame fan, Nile Rodgers who produced mega hits such as Madonna's "Like A Virgin" and David Bowie's "Let's Dance" will be lending his talents to Simon & Schuster Interactive's "Outlaw Volleyball: Spike or Die" videogame soundtrack (Xbox Live; Available: June 2003; Rated: "RP" by the ESRB). Rodgers will be the executive producer of the music in this much anticipated videogame.

Infogrames, Inc. announced today that it has optioned the film and television rights to its Driver video game franchise to Constantin Film, the leading independent production and distribution company in Germany. Impact Pictures, a subsidiary of Constantin, is slated to produce the motion picture.

Acting as an elite soldier, players of "Vietcong" command the A-team, part of the U.S. Special Forces, in realistically represented Vietnamese environments. Players will lead as many as six expertly trained soldiers through 20 dramatic missions, and follow a storyline that captures the danger, fear and unpredictability of the war itself. The full-featured multiplayer mode also allows gamers to play as U.S. Special Forces or Vietcong soldiers and to battle over specially designed levels. 10 new screens just choppered in...

Xbox today announced the line-up of Xbox Live-enabled games that will be available when Xbox Live officially launches on 14th March. With six great games to choose from, gamers have no shortage of opportunities to begin building their legend on Xbox Live... Read more for your handy guide to the European launch games, including details of what's "Live" about them.

A space combat simulation, with an epic story. Wing Commander Prophecy features a memorable, diverse cast of characters who will live or die, depending on how well you fight alongside them in the game's classic deep-space dogfights. Featuring a branching campaign that can take several completely separate courses, depending on your success or failure in your missions. Your actions determine how the story will end.

Mad Catz Inc. today announced the launch of the Mad Catz Blaster, the first available light gun for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft in the UK. The Blaster is the #1 selling light gun for Xbox in the US. Set for release on February 28th, the Mad Catz Blaster will retail at £29.99 and will be available for the eagerly anticipated launch of SEGA's "The House of the Dead III.

Eidos Interactive, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, announces an exciting partnership with multi-platinum recording artists the Insane Clown Posse (ICP) and Psychopathic Records for the forthcoming video game Backyard Wrestling. The partnership allows Eidos usage of ICP songs for the in-game soundtrack and multiple marketing co-opportunities at ICP concerts and Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) events in addition to events at retail. Gamers will be able to unlock exclusive ICP content on the game disc as well as play as ICP's lead-singers Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope in the game.

'Outlaw Golf' will take golf fans through realistic and challenging simulations allowing players to spin, hook, slice and break with dexterity as they compete in tournaments, exhibitions and even play for money against outlaws and social outcasts including Doc Digler and Killer Miller, a 'released on a technicality' death row inmate. Read more and lets swing!

Today several trailers for various games were released. Instead of giving them all their own post, we grouped them and so far there are trailers for :

• Sarge's War Trailer 1 (3DO)
• Sarge's War Trailer 2 (3DO)
• Praetorians (Pyro Studios/Eidos)
• Moto GP2 (THQ)
• Empire Earth Gold (Sierra)
• Indy Series (Codemasters)
  
  Read more for download links ...

"Sonic Adventure DX" is Sonic The Hedgehog's third blazing-fast quest on the Nintendo GameCube, and the ultimate version of one of Sonic's biggest SEGA Dreamcast blockbusters. Featuring enhanced graphics, sound and Game Boy Advance connectivity, "Sonic Adventure DX" pits Sonic and his pals against the dastardly Dr. Eggman and his wicked plans for world domination. Sega has released a new batch of 30+ screens for your enjoyment!

Winning Eleven 6 (aka Pro Evolution Soccer 2) boasts players benefiting from over 25 skill factors, including attacking nature, balance, stamina, strength and shot and pass accuracy, each of which endow the players with differing abilities and playing styles. The game's extensive 'Player Create' option also allows fans to recreate their favourite players for use in the game, determining their appearance and performance using the aforementioned attributes, while also highlighting a further 19 specific key skills and abilities. Due on North American store shelves early March we have some new screens as well as some in game action trailers ...

DreamCatcher Interactive Inc. today announced that it has shipped Harbinger for the PC in North America. Already garnering critical acclaim, the game signals a new direction for the Action/RPG genre. If you haven't yet, check out our Harbinger preview!

Legendary filmmakers John Woo and Terence Chang of Lion Rock Productions voted for their favorite student ninja film. Now it's your turn. Use your razor sharp wits and eye for detail to judge the five finalist movies in the Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven "Reel Ninja Film Contest." Beginning on March 4 through March 14, students, movie buffs and general ninja fans can log on to www.tenchu.com, view the finalist videos and then vote for their favorite ninja film. The film that earns the most votes will win a First Prize of $5,000.

Want the scoop on the only gaming hero with helicopter hair and no arms and legs to hold him back? Ubi Soft Rayman 3 site, available today, is the place to go! The site delivers the goods on Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc, the next installment in the 11-million-plus best-selling Rayman series, including the official trailer, which shows Rayman vanquishing enemies to the beat of GRAMMY-nominated Groove Armada's infectious tune 'Madder.'

Vivendi Universal Games announced today a multi-platform title line-up for its Vivendi Universal Games Faire in Berlin, Germany, February 25, 2003. Providing a pre-E3 preview for the European markets, the event showcases a number of the Company's 2003-2004 releases from studios including Black Label Games, Sierra Entertainment and Universal Interactive. In the meantime it was also revealed that The Hobbit is not only scheduled for NGC, but also PS2/Xbox/PC and GBA.

ATI Technologies Inc. today announced that the award-winning ALL-IN-WONDER 9700 PRO, featuring the world's fastest graphic chip - RADEON 9700 PRO - is now available to European customers. ATI's latest multimedia video card joins the successful ALL-IN-WONDER 9000 PRO already shipping to the European marketplace.

Game Live Events today announcedtheir "2003 Spring Game Life Tour." The 12-city tour begins on Saturday, March 1st in Houston, TX and runs through Sunday, March 30th in San Francisco, CA at top-tier regional malls throughout the US. Tour stops also include Panama City for the College Spring Break and New Orleans for Mardi Gras weekend. The tour will feature this Spring season's most highlyanticipated video and PC game titles. The tour will showcase titles that are in final build beta version or current first stage launch.

The Ghosts are back and ready for more action as Ubi Soft announces the Q3 2003 release of a stand-alone Xbox campaign disk for the award-winning Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon is the game that gave Xbox Live players the total battlefield experience and earned numerous awards for its stunning gameplay and features, "Xbox Live's most exciting experience yet" said Edge magazine in their review of Ghost on Xbox Live. The game also received an Elite award from the Official Xbox Magazine UK, and Editor's Choice Award from ign.com.

Codemasters announced that its latest installment of the critically acclaimed racing series, Colin McRae Rally 3, shipped today for the Xbox. Colin McRae Rally 3 reintroduces gaming fans to the excitement of rally racing, as players assume the role Colin McRae himself in his quest for the World Champion Rally title. The game, available on store shelves for a SRP of $49.99, has already sold over 1.25 million units in Europe.