Microsoft today announced that Nightcaster has appeared at retail locations throughout North America. As the wizard Arran, players will harness the power of over 40 different magical spells from the four schools of Fire, Water, Light, and Dark. Nightcaster is available in stores now, exclusively on Xbox, for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.). Nightcaster has an ESRB rating of "T" for Teen. For more information, visit the official site at: http://www.nightcaster.com.

The RtCW Battle on the Beachhead Tournament receives another sponsor! nVIDIA has decided to donate GeForce 3 video cards to the winning team! Most excellent, that l00t sure is getting interesting! Sign-ups are until January 28th, so if you've got a team of seven players then check the BoB Site for more information!

Publisher Microids informs us that their official Warrior Kings (developed by Black Cactus) site is now open for the public. Expected end of March 2002, the site ofers news, screens, info, trailer and gobs of fun information. Check it out!

Crave Entertainment announced today "X-Bladez: In-Line Skater" for the Sony PS has shipped to stores. Based on in-line skating, one of the fastest growing and most creative extreme sports in the United States, this new racing game challenges players to get aggressive and trick, grind, and stunt their way through the levels. Rated E for Everyone, "X-Bladez" is now available at a suggested retail price of $9.95.

Playnet and Strategy First announced today that they are extending the free play time for WWII Online through January 31st, 2002 for all former account holders.

Stuck in The Crypt? Vulcan have just posted the entire walkthrough for episode one of the Valhalla Classics Speech Adventure on their website. Containing over 190 screenshots, the walkthrough will allow you to keep your hair firmly in your head. Take me there!

Shrapnel Games is proud to announce that the latest game from ProSim, BCT Commander, has Gone Gold. Details on this game and information on how to pre-order can be found on their website.

We got the first three screens from ARUSH Entertainment and their upcoming third-person platform action game, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project, developed at Sunstorm.

The alien "Breed" are already ravaging on www.breedgame.com, having occupied a world of their own in the infinite universe of the web. But now… madness! The countless banner events of Sudden Strike or Cossacks:European Wars have been highly successful, therefore they'll be repeated with •B•R•E•E•D• as well.

CDV and "Philos Laboratories" proudly present the first IMPERIUM GALACTICA: 3 trailer! Breath-taking battles in outer space after 2100 AD, in which the human race is desperately trying to survive and defeat a mysterious alien entity that is dominating the over-computerized Earth. The well-balanced mixture of space combats and missions of diplomacy and research will be in German, UK and US stores from the 3rd quarter 2002. But for now, welcome to the movies and enjoy the fantastic space battle. The trailer is 44 Mb and features realtime ingame sequences. Watch a bomber in action and observe the incredible effects and spectacular real time battles...

British gamers ready, steady… and "go" will follow February 8th 2002. The add-on COSSACKS: THE ART OF WAR will be hitting British shelves and render all Cossacks-fans happy. Well, in fact only those age eleven or older, as the ELSPA rated COSSACKS: THE ART OF WAR suitable for those ages.

We got more screens from Eidos.. This time we got five shots from the upcoming 'Fresh Games' PS2 title, Mad Maestro! Release date: PS2 - Spring 2002.

Eidos send us five screenshots of a game the Japanese prefer to call "KA". Release date: PS2 - Spring 2002. Check them out below!

Eidos Interactive announces a new brand specifically devoted to bringing high-quality Japanese video game titles to the worldwide market. 'Fresh Games' will kick-off its line-up with Mr Moskeeto, Mad Maestro!, and Legaia 2: Duel Saga, sequel to the 300,000-plus unit selling Legend of Legaia. All three games have been developed by SCEI (Sony Computer Entertainment) for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and will be available in Spring 2002.

THQ Inc. today announced "Red Faction 2" for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Developed by THQ's studio, Volition, "Red Faction 2" is the sequel to one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed original game franchises of 2001.

THQ Inc. and JAKKS Pacific Inc. today announced "WWF WrestleMania X8," their latest videogame based on the highly popular World Wrestling Federation license. Emphasizing simulation-style gameplay, "WWF WrestleMania X8" features all the action, excitement and attitude of the World Wrestling Federation designed exclusively for Nintendo Gamecube.

THQ Inc. today announced the latest installment in its highly successful MX franchise. Developed by THQ subsidiary Pacific Coast Power & Light Co., the next MX game is scheduled for release on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and Nintendo Gamecube this summer followed by an Xbox video game system from Microsoft release this fall.

Capcom send us three new pics of a bloke being attacked by a bird. (Not that sort.) Check them out!

Dawn of Fate. Currently in development for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Terminator: Dawn of Fate is the game that answers the question of what happened before the hugely popular Terminator movies. Wahey! We have nine new Xbox screenshots.

Serving up now are some random screens from Jowood's upcoming business sim "Far West" (expected release date June) and their tactical action adventure Conseal (expected later this summer). Build ranches, raise catle or shoot people .. Though decision ;)

BioWare and Interplay have reached a settlement ending the dispute between the companies. Per the agreement, Neverwinter Nights, developed by BioWare, will be published by Infogrames worldwide subject to certain pre-existing Interplay licenses. In addition other matters have been resolved to both parties’ mutual satisfaction.

For all the CS fans out there its a known fact that cheaters are slowly but surely killing the most popular online game ever. Ever since "punkbuster" seized releasing their public tool it has only gotten worse. Gamespy has put up an interesting article with Valve's Erik Johnson that should be read by all CS players ... Check it OUT!

Sierra sends word that the new/official site for Papyrus' upcoming NASCAR Racing 2002 Season is now live. It has a link to the demo and a bunch of screenshots to keep you happy untill it arrives in stores (which ought to be SOON).

Patrician II from Strategy First (Developed by German Ascaron Software) sails the high seas! Claiming to be an innovative game in the RTS genre we decided to check if the ship stays afloat or sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Find out if we needed a life jacket or not.