Namco today announced Dead to Rights II: Hell to Pay, the sequel to its third person console action game (which will also be available soon on PC). The story-driven action in Dead to Rights 2 promises "intense new gameplay mechanics including a lightning-paced 360-degree brawling system, vicious melee weapon battles and an innovative new spherical slow motion diving system." Dead to Rights 2 is currently scheduled for release on PlayStation 2 and Xbox in fall 2004.

Ultimate Arena, Inc., the leading skill-based action game web site, today announced an online 3 vs. 3 Counter-Strike tournament sponsored by ZipZoomFly. The tournament will feature prizes worth $10,000, including $5,000 in cash and $5,000 in top-of-the-line AMD Athlon™ 64 processors and motherboards. Sign-up begins today at www.ultimatearena.com. The tournament winners will also be automatically seeded in the upcoming UA League.

Matrix Games and Australian Design Group are pleased to announce that the international award-winning wargame World In Flames will be faithfully adapted for computer play. Unlike many other World War II wargames, World In Flames covers every unit in every theater of operations, making it possible to play out all of World War II in a single unified game system.

Ubisoft today announced the release of Flipnic. A new fast-paced pinball game for Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation2, developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, and will be released in Europe and Australia for the 2003 Christmas season.

Astral Tournament is a magic combat simulator with the best features of "Magic: The Gathering". Long ago the Great Tournament was declared in Astral and mages from the Universe has arrived to gain the astral power. And you play for one of these mages who with the help of magical and tactical skills wants to win the Tournament. You can cast numerous spells and summon fantasy creatures to win your opponents. Besides the tournament game there is a capability of playing single duel with computer or your friend. Version 1.3 contains new features in internet gameplay. System requirements: PII-300, 64Mb RAM, 4Mb VRAM. Read more for screens and download links!

P.M. STUDIOS announces that the Action-Rpg videogame ETROM – 'The Astral Essence' will be published in Russia (2004) and all the Russian speaking Territories by "Logrus International" and "1C Company".

"(Fabio Belsanti Managing Director & Lead Designer P.M. Studios) We decided to publish ETROM in Russia with Logrus and 1C because these companies are the best in this part of the world. ETROM is a great project for the worldwide market, dedicated to all the players of the world! Etrom will be surely a great success in Russia."

Microsoft today announced additional broadband provider partners for the Xbox Live service - the ultimate high-speed gaming arena and the first and only integrated community sharing in exhilarating, always-connected broadband gaming experiences.

VIS entertainment has successfully completed the financing of a funding vehicle for the development of the sequel to its million-selling game, State of Emergency. Numerous shareholders in VIS have backed a new special-function company which will provide project finance for State of Emergency 2, enabling VIS to complete development and negotiate terms with a publisher. It is envisaged that the sequel will be launched in late 2004.

The intense action of a Hollywood car chase takes an interactive spin as Majesco, one of the fastest-growing publishers of interactive entertainment, today announced Maximum Chase exclusively for the Xbox. Developed by Genki in conjuction with Microsoft, Maximum Chase puts players into a mission-based, driving/action game inspired by some of Hollywood's greatest chase scenes. Read more for details ...

Nokia, together with Electronic Arts (EA) today announced that the true authority in soccer gaming, FIFA Soccer 2004 will be released for the Nokia N-Gage game deck. The soccer season of FIFA Soccer 2004 on the Nokia N-Gage game deck will get players into amazing 3D stadium graphics, and head-to-head multiplayer gameplay via Bluetooth wireless technology.

Leading Italian developer Milestone, part of the Leader Group of companies, today announced FX Racing for Xbox, PS2, PC and GameCube as part of its line-up for 2004. The arcade racing game is being developed by respected race game developer Milestone, who is based in Milan, Italy. Milestone previously created Super Bikes for EA and Racing Evoluzione (aka Apex in the USA) for Atari.

Imagine a time where everything you believe and think you know becomes blurred and uncertain, a time where your darkest secrets, emotions and desires can be painstakingly extracted from your very soul and brought to light. Imagine a troubled age where speaking a few lighthearted words can turn into a death sentence and where religion mixes with politics to bend a changing society. These confusing times are recorded by history as ‘The Renaissance’. Read more for details & trailer ...

Metro3D, Inc. today announced a new colossal title to its 2003 line- up, Dinosaur Hunting exclusively for the Xbox. Developed by Microsoft Game Studios Japan, Dinosaur Hunting is scheduled for release this November 7, 2003. “Dinosaur Hunting is a giant-size action adventure, which brings pre-historic dinosaurs into the 21st Century,” said Joseph Morici, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Metro3D. “Mixing reality with a bit of fantasy, Dinosaur Hunting is a solid action adventure title sure to be popular this upcoming holiday season.”

THQ today announced that Scooby-Doo! Two: Monsters Unleashed, based on the Warner Bros. Studios feature film of the same name, is in development for Game Boy Advance and PC. Scooby-Doo! Two: Monsters Unleashed is scheduled to ship in early 2004, in conjunction with the film's theatrical release.

Get ready to experience the Falcon F-16 like you never have before! Xicat Interactive, Inc., has partnered with G2 Interactive to bring the title, Falcon 4.0 Gold: Operation Infinite Resolve (Falcon: OIR) to the PC CD-ROM in October 2003. Falcon OIR takes the award winning Falcon 4.0 and pushes it to the next level. Fans will be able to enjoy enhanced game play but relive the experience that made the original such a big hit. Xicat will distribute the title worldwide. Read more for details and screens ...

One of the most explosive franchises for the GameCube returns as Majesco today announced Bomberman Jetters, the Japanese smash-hit and newest installment to the 'Bomberman' series. The sequel to the widely-popular Bomberman Generations, Bomberman Jetters is scheduled to ship in time for the holidays, at a suggested retail price of $19.99.

Yahoo! Games today announced Microsoft Game Studios is the newest publisher to contribute titles to Yahoo! Games on Demand (http://gamesondemand.yahoo.com). With this new relationship, more than 100 titles are available to consumers for play on Yahoo! Games on Demand.

At Futuris Powerplay many big names will show their upcoming or recent releases for different platforms. Atari today announced which games will be playable at the show; these include "full products" but also several "preview games"; games which will not be releases in the near future.

DreamCatcher Games today announced that it will publish Mojo! for the Sony PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox video game system. The game will be distributed on these formats in the UK by Mindscape priced £19.99 on PS2 and £24.99 on Xbox.

Tecmo and DreamWorks Studios, the movie studio headed by Steven Spielberg, announced new details surrounding the movie based on Fatal Frame, the hit survival-horror series that will once again unleash its terror with a sequel, Fatal Frame 2, coming out this November.

SEGA of America, Inc. today announced that Hideaki Irie has joined SEGA of America as president and chief operating officer, effective October 1, 2003. As president and COO, Irie's responsibilities will include directing SEGA's console software gaming businesses in North America, including all product and business development, marketing, sales, operations and content. Irie brings more than a decade of leadership experience to the helm, which includes a previous presidential role.

At the Tokyo Game Show in Japan today, Konami of America Inc., announced that Suikoden IV, the newest installment in the popular role-playing game (RPG) series, will be released in the U.S. for PS2 in Fall 2004. Hailed as one of the greatest RPGs ever made, the series is renowned for its depth of gameplay, immersive storytelling and expansive fantasy world. The Suikoden series first appeared seven years ago on the PlayStation, followed by Suikoden II in 1999. Last year, Konami released the critically acclaimed Suikoden III for PS2.

SEGA of America today announced that "Nightshade" is the official name for the upcoming PS2 title formerly known as "Kunoichi" (it remains "Kunoichi" in Japan) as well as the release of new screenshots. Players take on the role of the sexy and dangerous female ninja Hibana as she battles legions of demonic foes with unlimited combo attacks and powerful ninja magic. Developed by SEGA's Overworks studio, "Nightshade" is slated to be released in early Q1 04. Read more for details and screens ...

We earlier posted up some information and screens regarding this new title and today Vivendi Universal Games announced the development of Red Ninja: End of Honor for the Sony PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox video game system from Microsoft. Red Ninja: End of Honor is an action-adventure title, developed by Tranji, a new studio formed by the Japanese developers New Corporation and Opus, which will feature a variety of innovative game-play features blending action, adventure, stealth, seduction and fighting. These elements have been placed in a historical Japanese environment with an event-driven story written by famed Japanese feature film director, Shinsuke Sato.

Already revealed a while ago, Data Becker today officially announced its upcoming PC game Castle Strike. Developed by Related Designs (previously known for America & the upcoming No Man's Land), Castle Strike is a fast paced RTS game with a very detailed and authentic presentation of medieval Germany, England and France. Although strategically demanding, its core is based on action. That's why all the time consuming handling of resources and civilians is reduced to a minimum with the help of a special, never before seen peasant management system and lots of automatic functions. Castle Strike is scheduled for Q4 2003. Read more for details ...