CDV Software Entertainment is asking gamers to make love AND war this Valentine's Day, through a series of radio competitions in which listeners can win replica antique duelling pistols. The competitions will be held on Friday 14th February and have been placed to celebrate the day's release of American Conquest – the latest real-time strategy epic from Cossacks developer GSC Game World. Listeners will have the opportunity to win a duelling pistol and a copy of the game on across the country local radio stations from Forth FM in the north to BBC Radio Devon in the South West. These competitions will be broadcast throughout the day, so gamers keen to get their hands on the game and replica pistols will need to keep their ears 'peeled'.

Launching next Friday, February 21, IGI 2: Covert Strike's dramatic and deadly action can be experienced today with the launch of all-new and explosive playable demo. This standalone PC demo is now available for download.. Find out more below!

Telia, one of Europe's largest telecom and Internet providers, and MindArk, the creators of Project Entropia, have entered into an agreement where Telia provides MindArk with access to the Internet backbone at various locations around the world. In addition to Internet backbone access, Telia provides server-hosting services for servers to be used for Project Entropia. Project Entropia is a three dimensional virtual universe available to download free of charge..

Gotham Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. announced today that it has signed an agreement with Disney Interactive to publish Piglet's BIG Game. The agreement with Disney Interactive will bring some of Disney's most beloved characters, including Winnie the Pooh, Piglet and Tigger, onto the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and Nintendo GameCube this Spring.

Electronic Arts today announced plans to release this May The Sims Superstar, a new expansion pack to the top-selling PC game of all time, The Sims. Players can now realize their fantasies of fame and fortune as they pursue the dream of being a Rock Star, Movie Star or a Supermodel and live the lifestyle of a celebrity. All new gameplay, new social interactions and a whole new in-game destination offer players an all access pass to the world of superstardom. In The Sims Superstar, The Sims are ready for their close up.

Eidos Interactive, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, announces Backyard Wrestling for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Backyard Wrestling is being developed by Paradox and will be released this summer. The game is based on the best-selling Backyard Wrestling video series that has become a worldwide phenomenon selling millions of copies of VHS tapes and DVDs in addition to successful pay per view events...

ARXEL TRIBE is proud to announce that the upcoming adventure RPG MISTMARE has reached Release Candidate status. The game is now entering the last phase of tests and shall reach final manufacturing green light before the end of February. Release of MISTMARE throughout the world is therefore scheduled for the end of March 2003. Developed on Lithtech's JUPITER engine (NOLF2) by Sinister Systems and Arxel Tribe, MISTMARE features a solid scenario, splendid graphics and more than 60 hours of gameplay.

Nexagon: Deathmatch is a fast paced action packed game of mortal arena combat emphasizing small unit tactics and featuring character and fortress building in a high stakes blood sport... Now Strategy First posted up a sneak peek at their upcoming Real-Time Tactical hit, Nexagon: Deathmatch, from the developers’ eyes. Take a look inside Producer Jay Podilchuk’s diary.

So, you’ve been playing the Dragon Claw Studio’s innovative and highly graphic web-based role-playing and strategy game for the past 6 months? You’ve had fun but felt that something was missing? All your soul-searching hasn’t led to any clear path? Rest your weary eyes and look no further...FaitH’s Era III has implemented changes and new features that will rock your world..! Read more for full pressrelease!

Turn-based magic moments from the life of Artemian, a budding mage... Sharpen your swords and gather up enough magic power because in the end of this summer a strategic delicacy arrives - Empire of Magic... Read more for game story and key features!

BioWare has released a new patch for Neverwinter Nights, updating their role playing game to v1.28. There have been some Aurora toolset changes, there's new ATI code for the Catalyst 3.0/3.1 drivers, and there have been some stability fixes among other things. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Republic: The Revolution is the ground breaking new strategy title boasting jaw-dropping visuals utilising the most advanced graphic engine ever seen. Republic: The Revolution is being developed by London based Elixir Studios and is already one of the most talked about titles of the year. Elixir Studios also let us know that they, as of today, will start a daily Q&A on their Forum with key members of the Republic Team where you will be able to ask questions, discuss topics and debate the fine details of the forthcoming Republic: The Revolution. They also released a new batch of screens, so read more and check them out!

The Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide site is updated with a new Creatures of the desert unite wallpaper. This new wallpaper features an abundance of many-legged creatures massing in the desert! Also in upcoming weeks, they will be showcasing aspects of the 3 new Shadows of Undrentide tilesets, starting this week with the Giant Statue Head, Chasm Stairs, and Oasis tiles from the Desert tileset! (thanks gamezone.cz)

Play from a distance so great you can't see the telly any more with this new Xbox controller. And Logic3 has its own S-styled one too... SpectraVideo plc are now shipping the new Logic3 FreeBird RF Wireless Game Pad and the S-Pad– both for the Xbox console. These two new controllers feature an improved ergonomic design, but with out losing any of the functionality found in the earlier, larger controllers.

WarBirds just got a new makeover! WarBirds, Pacific Theater of Operations is an upcoming major update to the award winning WarBirds III family of products. New terrain, new airplanes, new flight models, new strategy, and new fun all will be had with this exciting new version! The remarkable game play featured in WarBirds PTO is incomparable to any previous versions of WarBirds!

Mike at the German racing site Race-Zone let us know that they now have a complete list of all 109 vehicles from Synetic's upcoming racing game, Mercedes Benz World Racing.. The game features a revolutionary 3D Landscape Engine, which not only creates separate race tracks but facilitates the creation of kilometre long 3D sceneries allowing a virtually realistic full driving experience. The player can select his favourite model car from a nearly complete range of cars from Mercedes-Benz. Each model is sculptured based on original data from Mercedes-Benz.

Today Infogrames announced World of Outlaws Sprint Cars - the greatest show on dirt - will be available in all major retail outlets for Windows PC. The product's mind-blowing graphics are a direct-result of developer Ratbag's award-winning Difference Engine. We also got a batch of new screens for your enjoyment ...

Sierra has just launched the official website for their dinosaur theme park sim Jurassic Park Operation Genesis (developed by Blue Tongue Software). The new web site features a bunch of new but lo-res screenshots, links to the previously released demo (which we have mirror'd here), as well as a new trailer (also mirror'd here). Go check it out!

Activision, Inc. announced today that two of its acclaimed titles for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft -- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and WRECKLESS: The Yakuza Missions -- have been selected for inclusion in Microsoft's "Xbox Platinum Hits" program. The new "Platinum Hits" program launched on February 11, 2003 with over a dozen best-selling Xbox games, repackaged with the "Platinum Hits" banner. The titles carry a suggested retail price of $19.99.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that five additional major recording artists have agreed to provide music and video content for the upcoming rhythm-action game, Amplitude, developed exclusively for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system. Expanding upon a top-tier music roster covering hip-hop, rap, electronica and rock, the newly signed bands include blink 182, P.O.D., Mekon, Freezepop and Dieselboy. These artists will join other major recording artists on the Amplitude roster that include David Bowie, Garbage, Weezer, Quarashi and Logan 7. Developed by Harmonix Music Systems, Amplitude allows players to become a rhythmical DJ and jam with more than 20 diverse songs in virtual, vibrant interactive musical environments while mixing and remixing hit songs in both offline and online gameplay.

Sony Online Entertainment announced that EverQuest Online Adventures, exclusively for the PS2, hits retail stores nationwide today, ending months of anticipation for gamers awaiting this historic release. The launch of EverQuest Online Adventures marks the first time ever that North American PS2 owners can experience a persistent and vast living virtual world filled with thousands of other players from the "real" world. EverQuest Online Adventures includes a free 30-day trial and gives players what they've been looking for with non-stop action, the opportunity to explore an exciting new land, a world of fun and interesting people to meet and play with, quests, combat and more.

Capcom today announced that one of its leading fighting titles, Capcom vs. SNK 2: EO, is now available for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and playable via Xbox Live. Capcom vs. SNK 2: EO brings together 44 brawlers from the Capcom and SNK franchises and pits them against each other in cyberspace

NASCAR Racing 2003 Season has shipped to retail locations nationwide. Developed by Massachusetts-based Papyrus Racing Games and published by Sierra Entertainment, NASCAR Racing 2003 Season features new 3D graphics, an enhanced physics model developed with the input of official NASCAR team engineers, and informative driving aids for both seasoned and novice drivers. In addition, the game is the first to include 2003 NASCAR Cup series teams, sponsors, and tracks.