Donald Hayes, a well known competitor in the world of classic arcade gaming has beaten a 20-year-old record on the legendary arcade game Super Zaxxon. Considered among the the top ten "hardest games of all time," the world record on Super Zaxxon had not budged an inch since Greg McLeod of Halifax, Nova Scotia, set the benchmark standard of 339,750 points on July 25, 1983 during a Twin Galaxies event. Not only will Donald Hayes be recognized as the Super Zaxxon champion in the forthcoming edition of the Official Video Game & Pinball Book of World Records, but he also holds the world records on TRON and Centipede, two of the most highly contested titles of all time. The entire story can be found at TwinGalaxies

Crashday is comparable with "Carmageddon" (SCI) and "Stunts" (Distinctive Software); mostly because Crashday's gameplay also concentrates on realistic stunt physics, absolute freedom of movement and the ability to create custom maps with a powerful track editor. A release might be possible in quarter III/IV 2003. read more for 10 new shots!

Pride FC pits the top fighters in the world from several different combative sports including wrestling, karate, judo, kick-boxing, and others into one ring under the same rules. The philosophy of Pride, known as ValeTudo, is the acceptance of any technique of any school of combat. Pride is the survival of the strongest. Not the strongest in a specific genre, but the strongest of all combative sports, period.

Tri Synergy announced today that it will release Purge, an online-only title that delivers a compelling combination of first-person-shooter gameplay and role-playing character development in Q1 2003. Developed by Freeform Interactive LLC, Purge immerses players in a strife-torn world that blends science fiction and fantasy. In Purge, players will find themselves engrossed in a war between two opposing forces, the Order (humans genetically modified to scientific perfection) and the Chosen (religious believers who reject all forms of technology).

Microids has now launched the official English web site for their upcoming RTS title War and Peace.The web site sports gameplay details, demo link (which is also mirror'd on our file servers), artwork and a batch of new screenshots. Players in War and Peace lead a nation and influence the course of 19th Century history. You'll be in charge of your country's entire governing strategy - from politics and economics to science and war. Go check it out!

Game developer, S2 Games, has opened visiting registration for beta tests of its highly anticipated first-person strategy shooter, Savage. Gamers can sign up to be among the first to battle on the side of humanity or join the ranks of the Beast Horde by visiting the Signup page HERE. An initial beta test will commence by mid-February with qualifying participants. Eventually the testing will be opened up to include additional gamers in order to test the title with various hardware configurations.

Hot on the heels of the last patch, Westwood has yet again released a new update (as well as an update dedicated server) for their fast-paced 3D action game set in the Command & Conquer universe. Fight it out on the ground, among the structures, vehicles and weapons made famous in the original C&C. No specific details are known at this point, read more for download links..

Infogrames announces the Spring 2003 release of RollerCoaster Tycoon - the game that has won the hearts of millions of roller coaster fans worldwide - on Xbox, the video game system from Microsoft.

The U.S. entertainment software industry grew 8% to a record-breaking $6.9 billion in 2002, according to data released today by the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), the U.S. association representing computer and video game software publishers. The IDSA today also released results of a new poll that shows that consumers plan to keep spending on computer and video games in 2003, with 41% of all Americans, and almost two-thirds (63%) of parents, saying that they plan to purchase at least one game this year. In addition, a majority of Americans (56%) under the age of 45 plan to buy at least one computer or video game this year; while 37% of 45 to 54 year olds, and 26% of adults ages 55 to 64, also plan to buy at least one game this year. The poll was conducted in mid-January for the IDSA by KRC Research, and dramatically illustrates the industry's popularity among adult consumers.

In a move to promote long-term growth of his businesses, George Lucas announced today that he is bringing his award-winning companies of Lucas Digital, LucasArts Entertainment, Lucas Licensing and Lucasfilm Ltd. into one organization (thanks HomeLan).

Yesterday we posted up the Ikaruga announcement for the American market, today we received details of the European release. Read more for full pressrelease!

ATI Technologies Inc. today announced that it is the title sponsor of GDFest, one of the largest LAN party events held on the West Coast. In addition to its sponsorship, ATI will be giving away 10 RADEON 9700 PRO graphics boards to gamers at GDFest.

Agetec, Inc, today announced the next addition to their Designer Series of games, COLOR QUEST will be available in early May 2003. Created by TAITO with the creative gamer in mind, COLOR QUEST will be released exclusively for the Sony PlayStation2 computer entertainment system.

Ubi Soft Entertainment announces the immediate availability of Scrabble 2003 Edition for the PC. This follows the successful launch of Junior Scrabble in November 2002 and precedes Scrabble for Sony PlayStation 2 scheduled for Q1 2003.

Intrinsic Graphics, developer of the innovative Intrinsic Alchemy game development platform, is announcing today that Flying Lab Software, maker of the award-winning Rails Across America, has selected Intrinsic Alchemy as their engine for game development of their next title on the PC. Recently announced, Pirates of the Burning Sea, is a Massively Muliplayer On-line Role Playing Game (MMORPG) and will be released for the PC in the Fall this year.

From the opening cinematics, players find themselves engulfed in Batmans world; the beginning of an episodic adventure of darkness, danger and deception. In the midst of one of The Jokers twisted schemes, during a struggle with Batman, The Joker falls from a bridge to his death. Crime sweeps Gotham City, as the likes of Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Harley Quinn, and other notorious villains step up to fill The Jokers evil shoes. Does the Batman do well on the PC, or should this game be engulfed in darkness...

TDK Recording Media France has acquired the distribution rights for France of the games published by ARXEL TRIBE starting April 1st 2003. Both companies will work closely together to make sure games such as DEVASTATION, HANNIBAL or SLAYER will reach top sales when they are launched in the coming months.

The official boards for Unreal II is updated with some info regarding an upcoming video demo instead of a real demo for Unreal II. Here you have the cut and past:

As much as we'd like to create a 'true' demo, it's simply not possible. Legend have moved on to other projects and the production of a demo - even from already existing levels would require time and effort that we just don't have. It would then have to go through QA - another organization that is working on other projects and cannot dedicate time to a UII demo. It's all about the allocation of 'assets'.

However, as I mentioned above, we plan to put something out that as you say - will allow people to see what the game looks and plays like without any editing or 'tricks'. Raw gameplay.

It's going to be hard to get this video out before launch (the game will be on shelves on the 4th (USA), 7th (Europe)), but I hope that we have it online before too long. We'll try to spread it as far and wide as we did the UT2003 demo.

A series of grisly murders brings Lara into conflict with a sinister Alchemist from the past, and a secret alliance of powerful individuals shrouded in mystery. Accused of the murder of her one time mentor, Lara Croft becomes a fugitive on the run. Pursued by the police, she follows the Alchemist into a dark world of blood, betrayal and vengeance where it is up to her to defeat this unholy alliance, and stop them from unleashing their incredible powers on the world. Eidos released 3 new trailers, so read more for download links...

Devastation is a next-generation Unreal Engine-powered, team-based FPS set in a near future technology dark age, where corporations rule and deadly Pacification Squad Troopers enforcing their will. Developed by Digitalo, and co-published by ARUSH Entertainment and Groove Games, Devastation features Hollywood-style special effects, an engrossing single player story, frenetic multiplayer modes and Karma physics for incredible real world interactions and rag doll deaths. Read more to check out an action packed in game trailer!

After the F1 Nurburgring disaster of 2025, the Extreme Gravity Racing Association, or XGRA, was set up as a regulatory governing body for all heavy gravity race events. The XGRA is the future sports equivalent of NASCAR or the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) – They are the rule makers, organizers and ultimately, the overlords of the racing world. Within the XGRA exists a deep and complex community of highly competitive teams, unforgettable riders and unbelievable sponsors, all clamoring for the right to stand atop the XGRA and claim the title of Champion. Along the way, lifelong trusts will be betrayed, bitter rivalries will be forged and some will meet a fate worse than death in this quest for ultimate racing supremacy.

Step into the world of SX Superstar, an ultra-realistic trip into the essence of supercross, chock full of smokin’ arcade-racing action that will release the rock star within. In SX Superstar, you are the star. Take your rider from the poorhouse to the penthouse in the only supercross title that focuses on the lifestyle aspect of professional supercross. Pull huge air and squash the comp for a big win, then line your pockets with cold, hard cash. Rake in enough bucks and start living the good life with better bikes, bigger houses and of course, hotter chicks! It’s like your life, only better!

It will take nerves of steel and lightning fast reflexes to make your way through these crowded streets. Introducing Speed Kings, the full-on adrenaline rush of street motorcycle racing, right in your living room. It’s a mixture of Burnout meets Road Rash that will have players weaving through traffic, pulling off insane stunts, running from police and racing to the finish line. Do you have what it takes to be a Speed King? Read more for a batch of fresh screens ...