Take-Two Interactive today announced another sequel in the award winning Railroad Tycoon series. Published by Take-Two's Gathering label and developed by the Company's internally owned PopTop Software studio, Railroad Tycoon 3 for the PC will be available in Fall 2003.

Continuing the epic legacy of the critically and commercially acclaimed Jedi Knight action game series, LucasArts announces Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy for Windows PC and the Xbox. Expected for release fall 2003, this latest chapter in one of interactive entertainment's most celebrated game series extends the partnership between LucasArts and Activision, Inc., through its developer Raven Software. Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is the follow up to Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, the best selling premium priced PC game in America, United Kingdom, and Germany upon initial release in 2002. Read more for additional details and some screens ...

Konami of Europe has reaffirmed its commitment to PC and the Xbox with the announcement of Apocalyptica - an epic tale of the battle between good and evil set in a desolate 3D game world. The PC game will be released in September, with the Xbox version to follow. Overseen by Konami's new European development studio and created by Telford-based Extreme FX, Apocalyptica is a stunning third-person action title, set in a bleak future. As his power grows, Satan stands on the cusp of universal domination, with his unholy troops swarming across the galaxy like a plague.

Requesting reinforcements! There are new battles to be fought and won. Electronic Arts Inc. and Digital Illusions today announced that development is underway on the latest expansion pack for the award-winning Battlefield 1942 PC game series. Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII, scheduled for release in fall 2003, will significantly enhance the multiplayer combat experience by bringing the most unique and deadly weapons from the German and Allied laboratories to life on the battlefields of World War II.

The German site GameCaptain let us know that JoWood has just announced "Railroad Giant" an upcoming railroad sim for PC to be released in Germany in September 2003. You find the first two screens here and use Bablefish to translate the announcement from German to English!

Midway Games Inc announced today that SpyHunter 2, the high-speed, mission-based, action/combat racing game is scheduled to ship in fall 2003 for the PlayStation2, the Xbox and GameCube.

The 1503 A.D. Web team let us know that the demo of 'ANNO 1503 - The New World' is now available in five different languages "French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Polish". All demo files weight around 190MB and consist of four playable scenarios: the two introductory scenarios "Exploration and Colonization" and "Trade and Diplomacy" teach you the basics on how to erect and maintain a functional settlement and allow you to trade with the natives and a computer player. Download links here!

WorthPlaying is giving away goodies sponsored by Strategy First. Enter the sweepstakes and have a chance to win one of 5 New World Order CD's... NWO is a tactical team-based first person shooter game.. "In New World Order, players meet Agent John Dobbs, one of the best military operatives in the world and GAT’s (Global Assault Team) newest recruit. Formed by some of the world’s most powerful nations, the GAT is a top-secret organization that has been brought together to stop The Syndicate, a group of militant separatists and terrorists who have set out to fill the world with fear, chaos and destruction... unless Agent Dobbs and his team get to them first"

TribalWar.com just received following information from Adam Kahn @ Sierra:

We will be announcing the next Tribes game on April 24th at a press event (for all of Vivendi Universal Games) in Los Angeles.

Atari is bringing all of the drama and fast-paced action of the Old West exclusively to the Xbox this Fall with Dead Man's Hand, a first person shooter chock full of gun fights and dripping in frontier lore. In development by Human Head studios, the creators of Rune, Dead Man's Hand uses the latest Unreal technology from Epic Games to provide amazing graphical performance, non-stop action and enhanced multiplayer capabilities through Xbox Live!

CITY interactive announces that their development team has already started working on new title called Aces WW I - working title. Development has started last year and CITY is planning to have the title ready for sale at Q3 2003. Aces of WWI - working title creates a new genre: the flying sim action adventure. People responsiple for that project are working with great enthusiasm in order to achieve very detailed reconstruction of original models and the ground, like in the best simulation games and provide high feel of reality. City wants to interest not only flying sim fans but to target all action game fans and hopes to receive enthusiastic response from special interest press all around the world. (thanks Blues)

Midway Games announced today that 'ESPionage' is in development and is expected to ship in Fall 2003 for the PlayStation2, the Xbox and Nintendo GameCube. "ESPionage is the First and Only Action/Stealth Game to Integrate Weapons Combat with Extensive Use of Psychic Mind Powers Including Telekinesis, Pyrokinesis, Remote Viewing and Mind Control"

Sega Europe Ltd, today confirmed that it is in the process of instigating its own publishing operation to bring to market videogames for all viable gaming platforms. Sega Europe will be building up areas to look after all elements of sales, marketing and PR, to join its pre-existing development infrastructure, with the aim of maximising the sales potential of its popular gaming brands across all PAL-based territories. Previously, Sega Europe had a number of agreements with third-party publishers to bring SEGA-developed titles to market across these territories.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 pits more than 50 of Capcom’s legendary characters and Marvel’s world famous super heroes against each other for dream matches of epic proportions. The game also delivers new innovations with real three-on-three tag team matches and numerous modes of play.

Activision, NVIDIA Corporation, eVGA.com Corporation and id Software have teamed up with the Online Gaming League to host the Return to Castle Wolfenstein "Battle on the Beachhead II" tournament. Gamers from across North America will hit the battlefield in a struggle for frontline domination and exciting prizes including NVIDIA GeForce FX graphics cards from eVGA.com, limited edition RTCW prints signed by id Software, GameCube, Nintendo Game Boy Advance and hundreds of popular games. The tournament will run from April 7 through May 12, 2003 at the Online Gaming League website, on the Speakeasy Network, home of the largest broadband gaming community and the official ISP of the OGL.

Following a nationwide search of college campuses to find the most promising ninja-inspired short films, two students have been chosen as the winners of the Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven, "Reel Ninja Film Contest." Legendary film director John Woo and producer Terence Chang of Lion Rock Productions awarded Joshua Gorin from the University of Pennsylvania the $15,000 Grand Prize for his submission, "The Ninja Movie," a clever three-minute live action short set in a snowy cemetery.

Summitsoft announced today that its eagerly awaited Empire of Magic is on schedule for a May 1st release. Promising a masterfully crafted blend of strategy, role playing and story driven adventure, Empire of Magic takes a different approach to strategy games. "We have received a tremendous amount of interest on Empire of Magic by the gaming community," said Bruce Lowry, President and CEO of Summitsoft Corporation. "By throwing away traditional resource management found in most strategy games and replacing it with intense story rich scenarios and interactive role playing dynamics, Empire of Magic offers an exciting and fresh twist to the strategy genre."

CDV Software today announces its new website is live. The new portal is designed to integrate the newest information on CDV's games and the company site. The new website features a very user-friendly navigational structure, as everything is a three page click away from the main site. Currently the site contains five categories: games, shop, company, investors and support.

SEGA today announced that "Otogi - Myth of Demons" is currently in development and will be released in the U.S. this September, exclusively for the Xbox. Read more for additional information ...

KOEI Corporation today announced plans to release G1 Jockey 3, for the PlayStation2. G1 Jockey 3 captures of all the excitement, action and splendor of one of America’s most beloved spectator sports, thoroughbred racing.

Vivendi and Interplay today announced the development of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II, the sequel to the award-winning hit Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. This unique action/role-playing game is being developed by Interplay's Black Isle Studios, known for their high quality role-playing games, and will be released for the PlayStation2 and the Xbox. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II will be distributed by Vivendi Universal Games. Read more for features and the first initial screens ...

Running late, but plenty of extras promised when it reaches Europe in September... Konami of Europe has announced a raft of additions exclusive to the European version of Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner, with the PlayStation 2 sci-fi action title now rescheduled for a September release. Created by the dream partnership of Metal Gear Solid producer Hideo Kojima and Yoji Shinkawa, the creative talent and mechanical designer behind the original game, Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner is a stunning 3D action title spanning the entire galaxy and boasting a mammoth task. It has been written and directed by Shuyo Murata, who gained lots of experience with past Metal Gear and Zone of the Enders titles.

CITY interactive announces that their development team has already started working on a new title called Project Earth 2. Development has started last year and CITY is planning to have the title ready for sale at Q4 2003. (thanks Blues)

Already known but finally official, Tri Synergy announced today that Purge, an online-only title that delivers a compelling combination of first-person-shooter gameplay and role-playing character development, has gone gold. Developed by Freeform Interactive LLC, Purge immerses players in a strife-torn world that blends science fiction and fantasy. In Purge, players will find themselves engrossed in a war between two opposing forces, the Order (humans genetically modified to scientific perfection) and the Chosen (religious believers who reject all forms of technology). Read more for details and a batch of fresh screens ...

Activision and Disney Interactive today announced a new video game that gives skateboarding a magical twist. Designed to appeal to children and teens ages 6 – 14, Disney’s Extreme Skate Adventure will use cutting-edge technology from Activision’s latest Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 engine to allow characters from three beloved animated films: Walt Disney Pictures’ presentation of Pixar Animation Studios’ “Toy Story 2,” “Disney’s Tarzan” and “Disney’s The Lion King” to skateboard just like the pros in their respective worlds for the first time. In addition to these characters, the new game includes a Create-A-Skater option where players can customize a youthful skater’s “look” by selecting clothing and accessories. Furthermore, as an Activision first, the company is holding a nationwide casting call search for 10 real kids who will become digitised characters in the game.