Konami of Europe and peripheral specialist Thrustmaster have joined forces to release a flightstick specially optimized for use with Konami’s highly anticipated Deadly Skies air combat title for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft.

TriLunar, LLC announced today their newest game title, Dragonkind. Combining the action and exploration of classic platform games with the depth of story and character found in console role-playing games, Dragonkind promises to deliver a unique experience that is only possible with the power and flexibility of today’s newest generation of console platforms.

Its true, a lot of gamers don't have access to a large selection of video games at their local rental outlets. So when the corner video store fails us where do out-of-luck gamers turn for their fix of digital entertainment? Enter On-line video game rentals. With selections over 10 times larger then that of your local Blockbuster Video (not to mention import titles that you will never see at your local video store) delivered straight to your door, on-line rental programs may very well be the answer to many would-be gamer's prayers. Yes friend, salvation is near. We've spent the time putting a few companies who offer this service to the test so you don't have to.

Knockout Kings 2002 features an all new game engine with the fastest, most intense boxing action in the series. Lace on the gloves and experience first-hand the thrills of boxing's biggest moments, most devastating combinations, improved mobility, dazzling footwork, crushing blows and the best looking boxers ever. A long list of the greatest boxers of all time allows the fight fan to create countless dream bouts with such legendary fighters as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Roberto Duran, and Sugar Ray Leonard. Did the game REALLY knock us out, or did we just pass out of boredom?

Activision, Inc. announced that WRECKLESS: The Yakuza MissionsTM and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 were the #1 and #2 best-selling third-party titles by units for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft in Germany for the week of March 18 – 24, 2002, according to Media Control. These results followed the successful European launch of Xbox on March 14, 2002.

This summer, video game publisher Nintendo of America and film entertainment company Hypnotic combine efforts to promote the upcoming NINTENDO GAMECUBE title, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, via a pioneering online filmmaking competition, Eternaldarknessfilms.com. Nintendo is searching for a short film that perfectly embodies the haunting themes of its new video game thriller launching this summer.

We have covered a boat load of Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast single player screens last week ... in case you were still not convinced that this title is totally excellent we bring you some multiplayer action screens .. which adds extra to the replay value of this brilliant title! Njoy!

Gavin Raeburn, Codemasters’ Studio Head today confirms a dramatic departure for his studio’s next development project and his intention to shake up the “predictable” first-person action game market with Shoot to Kill: Colombian Crackdown.

The powertool of global special forces, the .50 Sniper Rifle, is one of agent David Jones’ most effective weapons in IGI 2: Covert Strike. Check the info & screens.

Sierra just confirmed us that Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza has reached Gold status! Nakatomi Plaza combines the exciting elements of the original blockbuster movie with a pulse-pounding adventure game set in an interactive 3D environment. This single-player game features an event-driven storyline that follows John McClane in his life and death struggle to overcome a group of greedy terrorists, and in the process, save his wife, the other hostages, and hopefully himself. Staying true to the original story, the entire game takes place in the 40-story Nakatomi Plaza office building on Christmas Eve, with our hero "accidentally" called upon to thwart a large scale burglary attempt by a band of trigger-happy terrorists. By the end of the night, only McClane's stealth maneuvers, desperately crazy antics, and witty comebacks will save the hostages and thwart the terrorists. Expect it in stores end of April

The Monster Jam Web site has launched for your viewing pleasure. Visit Monster Jam Web site for detailed information on Monster Jam: Maximum Destruction for PS2 and GBA. The GBA version launched on arch 26th and the PS2 version is targeted to launch later in May. The Monster Jam Web site features new screenshots, movies and information about the game. The site also links to the United Hot Rod Association's Web site and MonsterMania.com for in-depth information about the actual Monster Trucks featured in the games

Raven Software has released the Windows32/Linux versions of the Jedi Knight II dedicated server for their hit first person action game for publisher LucasArts. You can download the server at four locations over at HomeLAN. The Win32 : Download One,Download Two, Download Three and Download Four and the Linux version : Download One,Download Two, Download Three and Download Four. You can also download the file from XGR.com. Please note that the Win32 dedicated server file is offered as is with no official support from Raven Software or publisher LucasArts. (Thanks Homelan)

Disciples II: Dark Prophecy returns gamers to the magical realm of the Sacred Lands where four races - the Empire, the Mountain Clans, the Legions of the Damned and the Undead Hordes - continue the battle for the destiny of their Gods. A decade after the First Great War, the final prophecy continues to unfold. Deep within the crevices of the Sacred Lands, the Chosen One has emerged, fated to bring salvation to some and destruction to others. Braced with renewed faith and newfound conviction, each race must once again take up the sword for the sake of their people and the glory of their God. Did this game cut it? Or did we cut the game?

Warcommander is one of CDV's rather unknown and smaller titles ... it could be considered a budget version of their blockbuster hit "Sudden Strike". Warcommander could be considered a lite version with somewhat less spectacular graphics but equally as much action and we enjoyed it very much (although we ARE eagerly awaiting Sudden Strike II) ... You command a company of soldiers dumped on Omaha Beach. Check our screens.. Carry On Private!

It’s futuristic mayhem in prehistoric proportions! 245 million years of evolution collide when a starship crashes, releasing hoards of furious Jurassic beasts into the parks, sewers and streets. Eradicate the escaped carnivores or play the dinosaur and stomp, claw and bite your way to freedom. Infogrames brings us the next installment in their Carnivores series (they previously released "Carnivores : Ice Age" under their old WizardWorks label). Powered by the Serious Sam Engine we gave it a whirl ... check out what we came up with ..

Today we have a small interview with Terry Dowling, the man behind Project3 and Mindscape's Schizm: Mysterious Journey. Slates for release somewhere this summer. If you never heard of the game let me put it briefly. ’Schizm: Mysterious Journey’ is a non-violent single-player innovation in the adventure game genre, with fascinating non-linear game play and stunning 3D graphics. Written by the highly acclaimed science fiction writer Terry Dowling and developed in Poland by LK Avalon, ‘Schizm: Mysterious Journey’ will literally keep you playing for hours on end, in this massive double DVD-Rom or 5 CD-Rom release.

With “Opening Day” right around the corner, Infogrames has announced that Backyard Baseball will be the first game in the best-selling Backyard Sports series to debut on Game Boy Advance system. Backyard Baseball for Game Boy Advance as well as a new Backyard Baseball 2003 for Win/Mac will both be available in June. Both games will include the 30 Backyard Kids found in each of the Backyard Sports games as well as 30 Major League Baseball pros featured as kids, including New York Mets All-Star Mike Piazza.

HomeLAN chats with Valve Software's Gabe Newell about their plans for Steam, their newly revealed broadband delivery system. French site Nofrag.com has posted up an interview (translated to English) with Zombie Games's John Williamson, talking about their currently under development Western action game "Wanted: Dead or Alive". Strategy Games Online has posted up an interview with Iain McNeil of Slitherine Software discussing their upcoming Roman Empire strategy game "Legion" (thanks gamespy). Savegames.net has posted up a short Q&A with Thor Frølich from IO Interactive (thanks homelan) as he talks about their upcoming (and recently delayed until September) third person action game "Hitman 2: Silent Assassin".

After having to cancel the public demo a few minutes before release time, Termite Games and Project Three finally announced a new release date .. unless this is a sick April Fools Day joke the demo should be out April 2nd at 6pm Euro time (aprox noon EST). It'll be aprox 140 megs and the bug that caused the delay last week has been eradicated ... We'll know more tomorrow i guess ;)

Are you tired of playing the same 20 maps? The official Total Annihilation Legacy Map Pack site is updated with a new map pack that contains 150 maps. The pack has been compressed to 560 MB and then it has been slit up in 100 MB parts to make downloading easier. Find out more here!

Activision let us know that all the PC skater fans ought to keep an eye out for "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3" as it should be trickeling into stores and appear on shelves starting today! Skating isn't really my bag, baby!

Game Arena has a new Q&A with Cryptic Studios's Jack Emmert talking about their upcoming super hero MMRPG City of Heroes. Computer Games Online has posted up a new Q&A with Everquest co-designer Brad McQuaid. Jolt.co.uk has posted up a new Q&A with members of the Generations Arena mod team as they discuss their work on the id Software tribute mod for Quake III Arena (thanks voodoo). An interesting read over at Action Vault is the new Q&A with Marek Spanel and Viktor Bocan of Bohemia Interactive talking about Operation Flashpoint: Resistance, the eagerly anticipated expansion pack for OF. PC Game Central has a chat with Brian Martel of Gearbox Software in form of a Q&A on how to get started into the gaming business. HomeLAN chats with Rich Francis as the project lead behind the Rune Co-op mod reveals the mod team's next project: a co-op mod for Microsoft's action title MechWarrior 4 (thanks homelan). The official Microsoft Dungeon Siege Site has posted up an interview between Creative and Gas Powered Games (thanks voodoo).

The first patch for the retail game is now ready. This patch addresses the most serious issues. Most of this was done last week, but we also did a major optimization to the server that was really needed to make the game play better. We played a nice game yesterday on a server that was capped at 384K upstream, and it was smooth.

Still tweaking the WinXP setup .. Looking around i noticed on voodoo that there are a few interesting previews ... PC.IGN posted a five page preview of Counter-Strike: Condition Zero, after testing out a beta build. Shacknews posted a preview of Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project, checking out ARUSH Entertainment's upcoming 3D side-scroller. HomeLAN takes a look at Infogrames' retail UT mod (much like Counterstrike became a retail Halflife mod), Tactical Ops. The shooters are back in full effect!

JediKnight.Net has been updated with an interview of Associate Producer Dan Pettit from Lucas Arts chatting about Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (thanks Homelan). GameSpot has been put up a new interview with Lead Designer Iain McNeil on Strategy First's Legion. GameSpyDaily has whipped up an interview with Ubi Soft's Richard Dansky, the lead designer for the Tom Clancey's Ghost Recon: Desert Siege Mission Pack. GameSpyDaily also posted up a new Q&A with Jim Perkins of ARUSH Entertainment talking about their upcoming 3D side-scrolling action game "Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project".Korean Site Gaming Ground put up an interview with Phantagram Studios concerning Total Annihilation 2. They were so nice to translate it from Korean into English (thanks voodoo).