Not that it was a secret anymore but Activision today finally announced the development of Rome: Total War for the PC, the next game to be released in the Total War series and the follow-up title to The Creative Assembly's multi-award winning Medieval: Total War. In the game players return to the golden age of antiquity to take command of the most fearsome armies in a bid to rewrite the annals of history and be proclaimed Imperator.

The game is developed on original high-tech engine The Firestarter Engine, which uses the possibilities of the latest accelerator generation GeForce 3, 4. Among the engine possibilities are work with outdoor and indoor areas, coloured dynamic lighting, dynamic shadows, vertex and pixel shaders, T&L, procedure textures, various classes of particle system-based effects, interactive and destructible level objects, realistic physics, high-polygonal character and monster models (up to 5000 of polygons), skeleton animation. It wouldn't be Friday if the official site hadn't been updated (thanks Unrealik) with 3 new screens, read more to check them out...

Noticed on Shacknews that Yahoo.biz reports Investment bank Investec believes Microsoft Corp. was in talks with French media conglomerate Vivendi Universal about buying Vivendi's video game business for as much as $2 billion. A spokeswoman for Vivendi Universal's game unit declined to comment. A Microsoft spokeswoman could not be immediately reached for comment. This can only amount to the recent rumours and speculations ..

The fusion pack people has released their latest Fusion Pack 10 today for Counter-Strike (thanks VE3D). Here is their announcement:

This version: Fusion Pack 10 is the biggest update since Fusion Pack 6.5 and is set to be the best version yet! Incorporating many of the enhancements made in version 9.5 Fusion Pack 10 includes a wide variety of replacements including bug fixes and additional enhancements. To further enhance the look and identity of our Fusion Pack we have done a majority of the 2D work our self including weapon HUD sprites, VGUI menu graphics and console graphics. One of the biggest enhancements comes in the form of an entirely new Counter-Terrorism and Terrorist team. Furthermore we have also replaced a majority of the pistols and also added a new AUG replacement! Additionally Fusion Pack 10 incorporates a list of long awaited bug fixes to further enhance the user’s experience. For full details and download click here!

The Star Wars Galaxies online game series is designed to immerse literally thousands of players into the rich Star Wars universe. The series will feature dynamic role-playing adventures across multiple planets during the classic Star Wars timeframe. Game play will offer a unique combination of combat, exploration, social interaction, specialized missions, and daring quests. Check out these delicious looking new screens ...

Featuring an original storyline written exclusively for Activision by comics' industry legend Larry Hama, and featuring the voices of Mark Hamill and Patrick Stewart, X-Men: Wolverine's Revenge allows players to assume the role of Wolverine, everyone's favorite X-Men tough guy. In the game, Wolverine faces a race against time to find an antidote to the viral time bomb that's just been discovered in his system. With only 48 hours to live, Wolverine returns to the clandestine Department H facility deep in the Canadian wilderness, to uncover the terrible secrets behind the Weapon X laboratory and the experiments that turned the mutant hero into a precision killing machine. Check out the new screens for each platform...

Celtic Kings is an RTS which combines strategy and role-playing elements in single mode, and which also includes online multi-player functions. Players must take control of the destiny of the heroic Larax and try and lead him to victory by developing a personal strategy and showing a mastery of military tactics. After a little hiccup a few days ago (due to bugs in the patch) Haemimont has released a proper patch, read more for details and download links.

Earlier today we posted up the information about that UK software publisher, KOCH Media signed the rights to publish renowned UK developer, The Bitmap Brothers latest PC-CDROM title - World War II: Frontline Command. Now we have ten gleaming new screenshots.

Nintendo and Retro Studios have combined their creative genius to bring the video game event of the year, the long awaited release of Metroid Prime, exclusive to Nintendo GameCube. 21st March marks the European launch of this blockbuster title, and the return of Samus Aran, the ice-cool bounty hunter who'll once again lock horns will the evil Space Pirates. Metroid Prime has already received outstanding reviews in the US, selling a staggering 250,000 copies within one week of its release.

Mediactive, Inc. today reported financial results for its fiscal 2003 third quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2002, and updated its fiscal 2003 guidance... It also includes information about games to be released later on this year and in 2004..

For the fourth quarter we currently plan to launch Mercedes-Benz: World Racing for Xbox, Shrek Super Party for GameCube and the Muppets: On with the Show for Game Boy Advance. For fiscal 2004, we have a strong line-up of top brands, many of which will be debut releases. In addition to our recently acquired Star Trek game shipping this summer, we plan to launch titles based on Disney's Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean feature film releases in the fall and summer, respectively. We will also launch titles based on GM's Chevrolet Corvette in conjunction this classic car's 50th anniversary, as well as initial console games based on Masters of the Universe, Dinotopia and the Muppets. Clearly our focus continues on 'T' and 'E' rated games where we see the most attractive long-term market opportunities.

No Man's Land official site is updated with first screens of the Englishmen.. Having just arrived, Englishmen settle the New World and their first ships sail under a war flag over the Atlantic to attack the fort of their eternal enemy, the Spaniards… Sail along the Magellan route and witness the battle between the two great powers! To the New World..

The official Panzers website is online, and it’s packed with information about CDV’s latest tactical combat title. You’ll find a first look at the features, latest screens, a work in progress section and much more, collected for you by the Hungarian developer Stormregion Ltd.

Infogrames Entertainment today releases its preliminary fiscal 2003 half-year revenue. The Group expects to release its fiscal 2003 half-year results for the period ending December 31, 2002 on February 13, 2003.. Scarcely riveting reading, but there's mention of Unreal 2 and Ikaruga.

Xbox today announced that it has reached an agreement with Tecmo to distribute the upcoming Xbox game 'Project Zero' in Europe. Project Zero, the survival horror hit from Tecmo, will be distributed by Microsoft Game Studios in the second quarter of 2003 and has been enhanced for its Xbox debut. The psycho thriller hit that has captivated players around the world boasts a variety of new terrifying features in the updated Xbox version. These include enhanced graphics, terrifyingly real new ghosts, unlockable new costumes for Miku, and an alternative ending that promises to reveal new answers to some of the mysteries surrounding the Himuro mansion.

Microsoft Game Studios today announced that Rise of Nations, the latest real-time strategy game from famed game developer Brian Reynolds, will launch in the UK early May. Poised to reinvent the genre, Rise of Nations allows players to overwhelm opponents with military might, or to apply the tried-and-true art of diplomacy to campaign over 6,000 years of history from the Ancient Age to the Information Age - and ultimately, to achieve global prominence.

UK software publisher, KOCH Media announced last week the exciting news that they have signed the rights to publish renowned UK developer, The Bitmap Brothers latest PC-CDROM title - World War II: Frontline Command. Set during the climax of the Second World War, Frontline Command lets aspiring Generals make the strategic commands necessary to turn the tide of Axis aggression and liberate occupied Europe.

Sunflowers let us know that 1503 A.D. is soon done.. 14th of March is the day 1503 A.D. will be released! Here is the announcement and some links to trailers and etc..

14th of march is the day you should mark on your calendars because on this very day, the international version of 1503 A.D. will be released! Have a look on the new trailer we produced to celebrate this event: The trailer outlines the rich gameplay possibilities you can experience in 1503 A.D.: Explore new worlds, establish vast settlements, trade with your allies and battle against your foes. Combined with excerpts from the game’s gorgeous video sequences, this trailer really shows how 1503 A.D. plays and feels. You can download new 77 seconds trailer in two different video formats.

We also revised the product info website and added new information about 1503 A.D. Visit the product info site to find new game info, quotes from international gaming magazines and a compact feature list.

The Downloads section has been expanded and offers a brand new wallpaper and a set of international banners in six different languages that webmasters and fans can add to their own 1503 A.D. websites.

Keep an eye open and don’t turn off the lights ... there might be something behind you! The game is set in Paris, between the two World Wars, a time that would change the world forever, a time of clashing ideas: new versus old, strong versus weak. Microids & DreamCatcher bring us another adventure game by the name of Post Mortem. Today we had a chance to check out a preview build, and our resident adventure guru was all over it like a cheap skirt...

Die Hard: Vendetta is a first person shooter (FPS) where tactics and stealth are as important as having a big gun and being a quick shot. With unprecedented character interaction, superbly rich environments and some amazing in-game cinematics, this game will explode Die Hard into the 21st century. Take on the role of John McClane, probably the unluckiest cop in motion picture history - in this brand new adventure created specifically for GameCube. Read more to find out wether this game was a blast.. or a bust!

By mixing different gaming styles, camera angles, story lines and even a hint of role playing, players can choose multiple paths through the game. Five huge modes offer players a complete tour of the world of Lotus. Stunt mode takes you to the set of a Hollywood blockbuster run by a hotshot director who gives you the play-by-play of the scene he wants you to execute. A multi-player option is available for those who want to challenge others through a championship or single race. We sat down with Kuju Entertainment's Senior Project Manager Paul Chamberlain and took him aside for a few laps .. ermm questions ..

Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced is the sequel to the smash hit Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure. The story takes place directly after the events of the first, but takes gameplay to a whole other dimension. The nefarious N. Tropy is back and up to no good again. This time, he has teamed up with an all new partner-in-crime, the hypnotically evil N. Trance, to brainwash Crash's friends and turn them into bad guys! Now Crash must face off against his friends and bring them back to the side of good... or lose them to the villainous duo forever! We now have a trailer showing off some in game singleplayer as well as multiplayer action...

Radical Tactics Experts, who evolved out of the military's special forces, are the smartest and toughest members of the armed services, uniquely known for their strategic thinking, adaptability, and pure military muscle. Individuals from this elite unit are trained for insertion into undefined combat situations where even a small team is too large and unwieldy. In RTX Red Rock players immerse themselves into the role of Wheeler, who engages in fierce tactical combat, investigates mysterious, foreboding environments, and solves challenging puzzles to reclaim the Red Rock colony on Mars. We now have the intro of the game ready for you to download and find out why Wheeler was chosen to save the Red Rock colony, all 6 minutes worth of it!

Etherlords II is the sequel to the innovative turn-based strategy game originally released in November 2001. Similar to Etherlords I, which was highly praised for its tactical depth and stunning graphics, Etherlords II promises to be even more spectacular, changing the emphasis of the game from simple exploration and resource gathering to a more enriching story-driven adventure. check out these 4 brand new screens ...

Knight Rider has already been released in Europe last year and Tri Synergy announced that Knight Rider will ship in Q1 2003. Michael Knight and Knight Industries Two Thousand (KITT) are back in action in a racing/adventure title for the PC that is being developed by Davilex Games. Knight Rider, based on the classic 80’s TV series, allows players to take on the role of KITT and assist Michael Knight in his quest for law and order. For all the David Hasslehof and KITT fans out there, some new screens for you to enjoy...