Shrapnel Games announced today the release of Thunder Pack Platinum by Stormcloud Creations, their new development partner. Thunder Pack Platinum brings four games to the strategy gamer just in time for Christmas. A demo is available from the Shrapnel Games website (24.9MB)..

The CPL Pentium 4 Processor Winter 2002 Event, opening tomorrow, December 18th and boasting an attendance of 1,500 gamers representing 25 different countries, will center on the $140,000 official tournaments for Counter-Strike, Unreal Tournament 2003 and Team Fortress Classic. The press and media coverage for this event will likely focus on the tournaments as well. There are, however, numerous other activities beyond the tournaments that are certain to appeal to any gaming or computer enthusiast.

THQ and Nickelodeon today announced the release of "SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman" for the Nintendo GameCube. This underwater adventure is based on Nickelodeon's pop culture phenomenon, "SpongeBob SquarePants" -- the highest rated program on kids' TV -- drawing 61.5 million viewers per month, more than 21 million of them aged 18-49. "SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman" for GameCube is now available at retailers nationwide.

Sega and Capcom today announced that Auto Modellista for PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system will utilize SEGA Network Application Package (SNAP) technology for networked gameplay. Tapping into Sega.com's extensive experience in online gaming, SNAP provides Capcom with a reliable, easy-to-use online gaming solution to take their cutting edge game to the next level. SNAP technology is the ideal custom network transport to provide optimal gameplay for Auto Modellista and SNAP Services will assist Capcom with operation, maintenance, and development of a networked game environment, as well as server hosting, in-game web development, implementation consulting, and network quality assurance.

Rise of Nations, a strategy game from Microsoft, carries the sweeping scope of epic historical turn-based strategy game, but gives the player the quick decision-making of real-time games such as Age of Empires. Release Date: Spring 2003.. Check out some new screens

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is set to launch for Nintendo GameCube on March 24, 2003. But in North America, consumers already are pushing for an early pre-sell effort so they can be guaranteed a copy of the game. Starting Feb. 16, 2003, Nintendo fans can get a double-hit of Zelda. When a customer places a deposit for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker at a participating retailer, they'll receive a special, limited-edition playable disk featuring two games: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest - an updated version of the game which was never released outside of Japan.

Electronic Arts today announced the release of its highly anticipated PC game, The Sims Online. The Sims Online is the Internet, multi-player version of the top-selling PC game of all time, The Sims. The Sims Online is a massive virtual world created and populated by thousands of players from around the world. In this never-ending alternative reality players can be themselves or "Be Somebody. Else." In The Sims Online, players create and control the actions of a character known as a Sim. Players enter the world with a small amount of money to spend as they wish. They can purchase their own piece of land to do with as they please or they can join with other players to create shared homes and businesses or host wild events.

Illuminati Entertainment a trailblazing management and production company focusing on clients with backgrounds in comic books and video games launches with an A-list talent roster. Illuminati founder Ford Lytle Gilmore is a producer and the former Vice President of Development at Goodman/Rosen Productions, where he worked on licensed properties, including video game franchises "Crazy Taxi" and "Perfect Dark."

CNN Money reports that we can expect another round of price cuts before mid-year, most likely right around the same time as the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the gaming industry's annual trade show. Most execs are predicting another $50 reduction, taking the Xbox and PS2 to $149 and the GameCube to $99. While unlikely, they acknowledge it's not inconceivable that PS2 and Xbox prices could fall to $99 (and, by default, the GameCube would slip to $50).

AIM listed developer Warthog have dramatically expanded their operation with the acquisition of Zed Two Game Design Studio. Warthog plc is one of Europe's leading independent games software developers. The Company, based in Manchester, UK was established in 1997 and has been profitable since creation. Warthog prides itself on its highly experienced 200 + strong development team, whose combined experience covers more than 1500 games titles across all major platforms and most games genres. At present, the Company is working with numerous high profile licensees to develop video game versions of such entities as Robot Wars, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs and X-Men as well as its own game creations Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter and X10.

WorthPlaying is giving away IronStorm goodies from DreamCatcher. Enter the sweepstakes and have a chance to either win one of 5 IronStorm PC game copies or one of 5 IronStorm T-shirts. IronStorm is a 1st/third person shoot'em-up/action video game set in an alternate world. Imagine, 1964, the First World War never ended and you are in the middle of it! (Earlier winners of IceWind Dale 2 is announced here)

In Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, you are invited to lead this brand-new squad as they focus on covert military strikes and international peacekeeping missions that do not always go as planned. You and your team conduct extensive missions on foot, but you’ll occasionally have assistance from troops in tanks, helicopters and close air support. In many cases, you will be working with international military forces and NATO to fight against rising dictators and rebel groups.

Based on Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated futuristic thriller, Minority Report is the only game that lets the player relive the movie experience, combining hand-to-hand combat and futuristic weapons and devices straight out of the movie. Today we have 9 new screens from the GameCube version.. Go check them out!

The new Cenega Publishing game 'Korea: Forgotten Conflict' has its own website. It contains all information about this strategy game taking place during the Korean war.. Check out news, screenshots, features and more here!

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. Developed by Ubi Soft's Montreal Studio in Canada, Splinter Cell, is a unique experience that will have the player thinly skate on the fine line that separates fact from fiction. A new gameplay trailer and a "making of" are now available for download, read more for links ...

With screaming next generation UNREAL engine technology from Epic Games, Inc., Running With Scissors is locked and loaded like never before. Running With Scissors is getting ready to frag 'em and shag 'em in extra-crispy first-person style. Why? Because everyone knows the POSTAL Dude always delivers. Read more and check out the new trailer (combining Get Milk, Napalm Factory and Vince Errand into 1 file).

Eidos Interactive has released a second playable demo for Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, once again allowing you to step into the shoes of Codename 47 if you don't own the full game yet. This demo contains a mission where you're attending a party, and have to kill a general and retrieve a suitcase (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for links where to grab this beauty ...

To make the experience of modern war as immersive as possible, EA Pacific is using a proprietary state-of-the-art 3D engine, code-named "Sage," which delivers unprecedented detail and interactivity. Because of Sage, Generals' battlefields will include fully modeled urban cityscapes, rugged deserts, vast forests and frozen wastelands. Amazing special effects will allow players to crush cars with hulking tanks, blow out the windows of skyscrapers, or lace the skies with smoke from dueling fighter planes. A new trailer has just been released, read more for download links...

Activision lets us know that they have updated the official Star Trek Starfleet Command 3 website with a new 11 meg single player add-on for Taldren's recent space strategy game. This free add-on lets you pilot the Scimitar warship commanded by Lord Shinzon, based on the just released movie Star Trek Nemesis. Read more for links where to grab this puppy ...

EA and Westwood Studios announced today that Team Player Vs. Player (PvP) will be implemented in this month's content update for Earth and Beyond. The Team PvP gameplay will be introduced as part of a storyline involving the Progen, and will be deliver to E&B players via special areas designed exclusively for this type of gameplay. Earth & Beyond's team-based PvP will be offered in "gladiator-like games" that allow players to compete using a combination of skill, combat and tactics (thanks Gamespydaily).

The "Shining" series, has been popular amongst fans of the RPG genre, and has appeared on the Mega Drive, Game Gear and Sega Saturn (Shining and the Darkness, Shining Force etc). This, the latest installment of the series, comes in the form of an exciting action RPG, taking place a thousand years before that of Shining Force, the Mega Drive game released in 1992. The character designer, Tamaki, has worked on "Shining and the Darkness" and "Shining Force", titles that have garnered critical acclaim over the years.

Last week we posted up the announcement about Microids has commissioned Scandinavian game developer UDS to develop an action sports game called “Tennis Masters Series 2003” (TMS 2003) for PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube. Today we received 15 exclusive screens from UDS that you can drool over below.. Njoy!

Artifact Entertainment Inc. is now accepting applications for the upcoming beta test of Horizons. Horizons is a massively multiplayer fantasy world that is currently in development. The beta test will operate in a number of phases, with the first phase commencing in early 2003. If you are selected for a phase of beta testing, you will receive an email and a CD will be ground mailed to your home address. Click here to sign up!!