It's Friday and WorthPlaying is giving away 10 Run Like Hell (Xbox/NTSC) CD's, sponsored by Interplay. Enter the sweepstakes here! Run Like Hell puts you in the role of Nick Connor, an exiled military hero sent to work on a mining station in deep space. Returning from a mission, you find your crew members wiped out by a vicious and intelligent alien race. Your mission is to stay alive long enough to discover the aliens' plans for your ship and find any survivors in the process.

Xicat Interactive have announced its plans to bring the mystical adventure title, Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal to the PlayStation2, the Xbox, and the GameCube. Xicat is re-creating the well-received and critically acclaimed PC franchise with the help of Virtuacraft Limited. Xicat hopes the title's broad appeal, varied gameplay, and stunning visuals will tame the hearts of console gamers everywhere.

With the launch this week of PlanetSide, subscribers now have access to a new free service that can be used to track their empire's progress, their individual stats in the game and more via MyPlanetSide all of these features combine to give the player the ability to see what's happening in the game, even when they don't have time to play. Read more for some additional details ...

Ubi Soft Entertainment confirms the next Splinter Cell installment: Pandora Tomorrow, the new episode of the critically acclaimed stealth action game. Ubi Soft confirmed today that development has begun on the next Splinter Cell game, subtitled: "Pandora Tomorrow." Readm ore for details and the first "teaser" screens !

ARUSH Entertainment and Playinteractive, LLP today announced a major licensing deal with NBC Enterprises and Endemol USA to create, market and distribute interactive video games based on the worldwide hit TV series Fear Factor. Tentatively titled Fear Factor: Unleashed, the games are targeted to be in stores in 2004. Joy Tashjian Marketing Group helped broker the deal.

Sony Pictures Digital Networks announced today that it will offer gamers the chance to live the adventures of a Charlie’s Angel on their home PC, in a new online game titled Charlie’s Angels: Angel X. The game will launch in June to tie in to the debut of the feature film “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” which hits theaters on June 27. To develop the game, Sony Pictures Digital Networks has enlisted notable game developer 7 Studios, founded by veterans of the “Command and Conquer” series and known for its recent projects "Legion: The Legend of Excalibur" and "Defender” for Midway.

Capcom and Buena Vista today announced they are collaborating to bring Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas to the PS2. Based on the 1993 award-winning animated movie of the same name, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is a ghoulish tale with wicked humor and stunning animation. In this adventure action game, players assume the role of "Jack Skellington" the Pumpkin King and help reclaim Halloweentown from the mischievous Oogie Boogie. Capcom's production of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas will incorporate extraordinary worlds filled with magic and wonder mixed with enchanting and musical elements. Capcom plans to release the game in the fall of 2004.

Mindscape has teamed up with the world's best known chess master Garry Kasparov, to produce Kasparov Chessmate, a PC-based chess program that you can play anywhere, anytime. With Kasparov Chessmate, you can transfer matches in progress to Palm and Pocket PCs with all settings intact. Read more for details and screens ...

Sid Meier's Pirates! is among the most popular and loved titles in gaming history. Originally released in 1987, Pirates! received unprecedented critical acclaim for crossing multiple game genres to offer unique, unrivaled gameplay options. Pirates! set the industry standard for innovative game design with its unique blend of open-ended role-playing, real-time adventures and thrilling action sequences.

Take over the world... one conquest at a time... Sid Meier's Civilization III: Conquests takes players on a provocative journey through the ages as they pursue victory in the most famous conquests in history. What does Civ Conquests give to fans of the award-winning series? Simply put — more Civ: More to Build, More to Fight, More to Rule!

LogicalVice announced today a multi-game agreement to develop 2 titles for multiple platforms with prominent Art House Shadows in Darkness (SID). LogicalVice is currently developing a 1st/3rd person action, adventure shooter for the PC/X-BOX scheduled for release in the 3rd Quarter of 2004, and has several more titles planned. "Boomtown", a multi-genre title that plays more like a RPG than a shooter, is a refreshing break from the norm, and boast stunning levels. Early Screenshots have been released and a demo is available. For more information log onto www.logicalvice.com

" The games replay value is endless," said Mark Sullivan, Project Manager at LogicalVice. "With 25 different player possibilities, specialized character attack animations, weapons, skill sets, numerous single and multiplayer gaming modes, "Boomtown" is sure to please gamers again and again."

Another year, another E3. Shrapnel Games unfortunately will not be able to attend E3 this year. Fear not though! For in this news release they unveil several of their upcoming titles that shall be released in 2003 and 2004. By no means a complete list, expect plenty of surprises to be announced over the coming months. And so, without further ado, their upcoming games below...

Sammy Studios Announces Lethal Skies II (PS2): “Lethal Skies II is a thrilling title that will bring gamers a fast-paced, graphically rich jet combat game,” said John Rowe, president of Sammy Studios. “Players will be able to immerse themselves into this game’s single-player mode as an elite pilot commanding a powerful air fleet, or compete with friends for Ace status in 2-player mode.”

Sammy Studios Unveils The Seven Samurai (PS2): “Seven Samurai 20XX is an exciting video game title on many levels,” said John Rowe, president of Sammy Studios. “It takes a film that has transcended generations and recreates it as an intense action game set in the future, and pays proper homage to the masterpiece that inspired it as a collaborative and artistically-driven effort.”

Unsigned Independent Developer LogicalVice, an Orlando based Interactive Entertainment and Games Studio announced today its plans to release a multi-genre video game for the PC/X-BOX. The game, "BoomTown" is based on a loose interpretation of the American Wild West frontier, its players, and the mystique of witchcraft, and is scheduled for the 3rd quarter of 04. Boomtown will host single player campaigns and multiplayer online scenarios in a third person default, or first person perspective. Running on Epic Games' Unreal Warfare and the Karma Physics Math Engine it infuses a fresh look and an untapped genre with action packed scenarios and gaming modes like Last Man Standing, Dueling, Siege, or 25 Card Draw. It is six-shooters and sorcery. It is bullets and blood sacrifice. It is a game that will reshape the vivid landscape of pulse-pounding, white-knuckle action.

Players will saddle up as one of 25 frontier personalities. Choose from Bryce Blackburn, a steely gunslinger that makes "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" look more like "The Meek, The Lame, and The Puny" to Elspeth, the spiritual leader of a displaced witches' colony capable of hurling an arsenal of deadly spells. Bryce, Elspeth, and an assortment of other colorful characters will traverse stunningly detailed terrain, eerie settlements, and amazingly textured towns either on foot or more quickly by horseback, stagecoach, or train. In addition, over 30 different weapons will be at the player's disposal. Classic western favorites like the Colt 45 Peacemaker and Parker Shotgun will announce their presence with authority. Finding mystical alternatives like the Angelic Bone Sword and Mace of Devouring will unlock a whole new way of disposing of your enemy.

Electronic Arts announced today that film actress Shannon Elizabeth has joined the ranks of Hollywood talent enlisted by EA and will lend her talents to the videogame James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing. Ms. Elizabeth will provide her likeness and voice for the first original interactive Bond girl to be cast, "Serena St. Germaine". Her character will be an integral part of the original storyline in this new installment. James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing is scheduled for release under the EA GAMES brand this fall for PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube, and Nintendo Game Boy Advance.

Rockstar Games, the world-renowned publishing division of Take-Two Interactive Software is proud to announce Manhunt, the next project from Rockstar North, the developers behind the global blockbuster Grand Theft Auto franchise. Manhunt will be available for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and is expected to hit retail shelves in North America in Fall 2003. Manhunt will continue in the tradition of world-class gameplay, incredible production values, and sardonic sense of humor that has become synonymous with Rockstar North. Details surrounding the game remain shrouded in secrecy. To date, Rockstar has only admitted this: Manhunt explores the depths of human depravity in a vicious, sadistic tale of urban horror.

Mindscape today delivered a double volley with the announcement of Agassi: Tennis Generation for PS2 and Game Boy Advance, due to be released in July for only £19.99, around the time of the Wimbledon 2003 Tennis Championships.

Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) announced today that the PC Strategy / Simulation game Evil Genius will be shown behind closed doors at the 2003 Electronic Entertainment Expo held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, May 14-16. Evil Genius is being developed by London-based Elixir Studios, and is scheduled for a Q3 2004 release.

Evil Genius, a strategy/life simulation game, is a tongue-in-cheek take on the 60's spy thriller genre where you assume the role of a wicked mastermind bent on achieving global domination through the construction of the ultimate doomsday device.

Atari is bringing Unreal Tournament 2004, the newest edition of the definitive virtual blood sport, to personal computers this Fall. Unreal Tournament 2004, like its predecessors, is being co-created by Epic Games Inc. and Digital Extremes. The game will be shown at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, May 14 - 16, in Petree Hall, room 4003.

Atari, Inc. and TimeGate Studios, Inc. announced today a partnership to develop a new PC installment of Axis & Allies, the popular World War II game franchise. Axis & Allies: RTS (working title) is inspired by the game of war, strategy and economics found in the best-selling Axis & Allies board game, but features unique elements that allow players to change the course of history in new ways. Axis & Allies: RTS is being developed for the PC by TimeGate Studios, creators of the award-winning Kohan series, and is scheduled for release in fall 2004 for the PC.

Microsoft Game Studios today announced that Dungeon Siege II is currently in development and is slated for release in 2004. A trailer for Dungeon Siege II will be shown at E3, the annual video game convention taking place in Los Angeles from May 14 through 16. Visitors to the Microsoft booth (South Hall #1246) will be treated to a taste of the vision and direction of this upcoming title. This cinematic feast for the eyes showcases the extraordinary capabilities of the Dungeon Siege II engine, as the entire movie was created in-engine.

Eidos Interactive today announced that Legacy of Kain: Defiance, the next installment of the critically acclaimed, multi-million unit selling Legacy Of Kain series, is currently in development for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox video game system from Microsoft. Legacy of Kain: Defiance is currently slated to arrive in stores in Fall 2003.