Blizzard confirmed last night that the Pandaren Race story was an April Fool's 'joke'. Indeed, for Blizzard, a race of Panda-men seems rather sensible. "It was indeed a joke," claims Beau Yarbrough (which may also be a joke name; we're not sure). "I'm afraid we have a rather dry sense of humor here, and I apologize if it didn't scan as us being silly." Of course, given April Fool tradition, making any kind of joke after midday on April 1 means that the joke is on the joke-maker, so nah nah nah-nah nah!

Mindscape is proud to announce the acquisition of the UK publishing rights for the space RTS game Starmageddon: Project Earth from Polish developer Lemon Interactive. The game takes the best and proven elements of the real-time strategy genre to the next level, where both quick thinking and long-term strategies are important. Starmageddon: Project Earth features unique gameplay, an easy-to-use interface, 3D technical advances, and a storyline that is integral to gameplay. Starmageddon: Project Earth will be released in Q3 2002 for PC CD-Rom, priced at £24.99.

Tiscali Games tossed up the first video from Battlefield 1942, upcoming World War II simulation/action game from Digital Illusions & EA. It's available in 2 resolutions (320x240 2 MB/ 640x480 6 MB) and it offers 1 minute of gameplay scenes in DivX format. You find the movie here.

Just a few fresh screens we didn't slap on earlier ... So dig in, 6 new screens from that little Nintendo fella ;) Colorful as ever...

JoeSwammi MLB lets you choose two real major league teams, most likely a game that will actually be played in the major leagues and JoeSwammi MLB will try and predict the game using the latest statistics, freshly downloaded, for FREE! Read more for details, links and screens.

Ubi Soft® Entertainment, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced today that it will distribute Duke Nukem - Manhattan Project for PC CD-Rom in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, French-speaking Belgium and Switzerland releasing end of May 2002. Already a gaming Icon, the undisputed king of action makes a long-overdue return to alien butt-kicking, and babe-saving in this explosive platform action game from developer Sunstorm Interactive and Producer 3D Realms. The game is published by ARUSH Entertainment, and published in Europe by HD Interactive.

Pac-Man is on a brand new adventure and once again dealing with the pesky Ghost Gang. His new quest takes him through 6 new lands with plenty of new surprises. Brand new features include ice skating, roller blading, submarine diving and many other exciting puzzles to solve. Read more and find out wether the yellow pokedot still has its magic after decades or if it has decayed. Either way, NJOY!

Ubi Soft announced today a worldwide deal with 20th Century Fox to develop the popular game Aliens vs. Predator for the first time ever on the Game Boy Advance hand-held video game system. Ubi Soft has acquired the rights to develop Aliens vs. Predator until 2003. Aliens vs. Predator is a successful gaming franchise, having sold over 1 million copies on PC worldwide.

Age of Wonders 2 is the sequel to the award winning turn based strategy game, Age of Wonders. Developed by Triumph Studios and PopTop Software, the game will sport better graphics and updated gameplay. Check out game overview and some new screens below!

On Thursday, April 4, from 5pm to 6pm PST, Gas Powered Games president Chris Taylor will be in the Zone Theater Chat Room to talk about Dungeon Siege, slated to hit store shelves later this month. To participate in the chat and go behind the scenes of Dungeon Siege, click "Chats & Events" on the navigation bar across the top of any Zone.com page, and then click "Chat Rooms" and "Zone Theater Chat" in the room list.

Further enhancing its internal console development capabilities and bolstering its ability to create games for the next-generation consoles, Activision, Inc., today announced the acquisition of software developer Shaba Games LLC.

SEGA(R of America today announced that its critically acclaimed fighting game, "Virtua Fighter 4" for the PlayStation(R) 2 computer entertainment system, was the #1 selling title on the platform during its first week of sales according to independent retail data from NPD TRSTS (week ending 3/23). With lightning-fast gameplay action, breathtaking graphics and all new modes and features, "Virtua Fighter 4," was recently named the "Best Fighting Game Ever Made," by gaming enthusiast publication Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine.

Get behind the wheel of the world's top rally cars as you span the globe in quest of a championship. Listen to your navigator as he helps you through more than 40 unique tracks spanning different weather and terrain through 14 grueling stages. Fly over jumps or skid around obstacles on your way to the top of the rally racing circut. Link up with a friend using the GBA link cable for amazing head-to-head competition or watch the action again using the replay mode.

Shacknews' Raven Software Q&A HomeLAN previews the upcoming first person multiplayer team shooter "Mobile Forces", based on playing a beta version of the full game from Rage Software and Real Time Worlds. PC.IGN has posted up a new preview on "EVE: The Second Genesis ", Simon & Schuster's upcoming massively multiplayer space sim. GameSpot, Cube.IGN, The Electric Playground, and PlanetGameCube all gave "Eternal Darkness" a whirl. GameSpot and Gamers.com both review "Heroes Of Might&Magic IV" (thanks voodoo). Gamespy got the chance to take an early look at C&C Generals.

Tiscali Games tossed up two new demos for Cryo's adventure games. First one is Jerusalem (49 MB) and second one is The Secret of the Nautilus - sometimes known as Jules Verne: Under the Sea (58 MB).

Today two Q&As with Raven Software's Kenn Hoekstra (Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix) : Shacknews' Raven Software Q&A and The Evolution of the FPS part II on Computer & Video Games. RGPDOT has part 1 of a 2 episode interview with Associate Producer and World Designer for 'Archaean'. HomeLan Fed posted a Delta Force: Task Force Red Dagger interview with Zombie co-CEO Mark Long and Novalogic producer Wes Eckhart. The Czech web site Doupe has posted up a new Q&A with Cryptic Studios' Jack Emmert talking about their upcoming super hero MMRPG 'City of Heroes' (thanks Homelan). Rise of Nations Pantheon (a fansite) has posted up a short Q&A with Big Huge Games programmer Ike Ellis of course talking about 'Rise Of Nations' (thanks gamespy).

Baseball Mogul 2003 is now on sale and available for download. In addition to buying the download, users can also pre-order the boxed game, and then download the electronic version now at no extra charge, so they can start playing immediately! Find out more here. (thanks Gone Gold)!

Larian Studios today tossed up a new 30 MB - 5:47 min movie from their upcoming game Divinity. In this new movie there are five scenes. Four of them show non-combat situations and one shows how’s it like to leisure through a forest being of a much higher level than the enemies you’re meeting. Grab this new movie here!

Squeegee your TV 'cause Xbox is getting wet. Infogrames, Inc. , a leading global publisher of interactive entertainment software, is adding another smash title to its Atari lineup this summer when its wild water racer, Splashdown, races onto the Xbox from Microsoft. Complete with authentic Sea-Doo watercraft, a crazy cast of characters and the most insane waters found on Earth, Splashdown brings the speed and skill of watercraft racing to the stunning world of Xbox.

The 1503 A.D. Website is updated today with Part XVI: An Ambush in the South Seas... 1503 A.D. is an exciting new PC title that blends the action of real-time strategy with the depth of empire building. Here is a snap from the update:

We take the African tribal chief's advice and follow the sun for a whole day. The wind becomes a bit stronger, and I greatly enjoy the breeze. As I have decided not to mention it, Jeremy, too, ignores the fact that our pursuers are still visible on the horizon. Just before we reach the island inhabited by the African tribe's friends, I disclose my plans to Jeremy. Read more HERE!

G3 Studios, a developer and publisher of video games for handheld devices, Pocket PC and other platforms, today released its first title, "Black Jack Pro," which is now available for Pocket PC and Desktop PC platforms. It marks the first title in a series of video games specifically designed and developed for handheld devices, such as the Pocket PC platforms and Sharp Zaurus that will build G3 Studios' product catalog.

Buka Entertainment today announced it has signed a major license agreement with CENEGA N.V. – the leading entertainment software distributor and publisher in Central and Eastern Europe. The agreement covers seven PC games including the highly anticipated tactical RPG Paradise Cracked, the high-class action game MARCH: Offworld Recon, the perfect mix of RPG and trade simulation Spells of Gold, and more, for the territories of The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary.The two companies have already worked together successfully with Cenega publishing Echelon in The Czech Republic.

ZOO, a leading interactive entertainment company, has signed deals with Emap’s flagship Q brand – the UK’s biggest selling monthly music magazine - and The Pepsi Chart to develop two games for touch screen gaming terminals located in pubs throughout the UK. Although both games are music related they cover very different genres, enabling ZOO to attack different market segments simultaneously and extend their expertise within the interactive entertainment arena... Bizarre licensing. Oh yes!

SEGA Corporation and Nintendo Co., Ltd. today announced that the two companies have teamed up to develop "F-Zero (working title)" video game titles for the next-generation 3D-CG Triforce arcade board and the Nintendo GameCube. As part of the agreement, SEGA and Nintendo will collaborate on the projects using a new game system that will enable the arcade and console games to interact via "Memory Card 59." The announcement builds off the previously announced alliance between SEGA and Nintendo on February 18, 2002 to develop the Triforce arcade board and reinforces the companies' strategies to integrate arcade and home console entertainment.

Earlier today we revealed Trilunar's upcoming "Dragonkind" for the XBOX & PS2, now we give you some more detailed information in the form of a short Q&A ... if you have not read our previously posted announcement (and the included screens are a MUST SEE) check it HERE... or read more for the Q&A... Njoy!