Vivendi Universal Games announced today its plan to release the next installment in the Crash Bandicoot franchise, a new character-based racing title named Crash Nitro Kart. The game is scheduled for release fourth quarter 2003 for the PlayStation2, the Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and the Game Boy Advance. Albany, NY-based studio Vicarious Visions (Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure, Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced) is developing the game.

Electronic Arts officially announced today the development of The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King for the PlayStation2, the Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and the PC. All versions of The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King game will be released worldwide in fall 2003 under the EA GAMES brand.

Darkmonth Studios are pleased to confirm the development of their first original title, Damn Dirty Apes, and are now actively seeking a publisher for the game. Developed for the PC, but designed with a view to portability to next-generation consoles, Damn Dirty Apes is a cartoon real-time action war game.

Vivendi Universal Games today announced development of Tribes: Vengeance, the next installment in the world-renowned and award-winning Tribes videogame series. Due in late 2004 only for PCs, the game is being developed by Irrational Games, known for some of the game industry’s most respected and revered titles, including System Shock 2 and Freedom Force (thanks TribalWar). Read more for details ...

SUNFLOWERS will be presenting their new product line-up in a pleasant ambience behind closed doors at the E3 2003. The publisher's meeting rooms can be found in Kentia Hall. In addition to the Austrian development team Max Design SUNFLOWERS are currently working with the Berlin-based SEK team and Bulgaria's Black Sea Studios. This year's E3 will feature exclusive sneak previews of new projects from both SEK and Black Sea Studios. Hit title ANNO 1503 - The New World remains in the news at the fair: initial details on the planned add-on will be released. SUNFLOWERS also reserves the right to hold the odd surprise in store.

Atari announced today the development of a videogame based on "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," the upcoming summer blockbuster motion picture from Intermedia, IMF and C-2 Pictures, scheduled for nationwide release by Warner Bros. Pictures on July 2. The film will also be released overseas through Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International and in Japan by Toho Towa. A first-person action game currently in development for all major console gaming platforms, "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" will -- for the first time on next-generation console systems -- allow players to become the Terminator Series signature icon, Arnold Schwarzenegger as the original Terminator. This marks the first time Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice and likeness has ever appeared in a home videogame.

One of LucasArts' most loved original titles roars back with a vengeance this fall in the fuel-injected Full Throttle: Hell On Wheels. Featuring the sarcastic, bad-ass outlaw biker named Ben, this all-new adventure-action careens through a unique 3D landscape of seedy bars, greasy truck stops and desert highways on a quest for cold beer, cheap motorcycle parts and the honest truth. Full Throttle: Hell On Wheels will release this Winter for PS2, the Xbox and PC.

Aspect Simulations announces the development of their World War I combat flight simulation, KNIGHTS OVER EUROPE. Brought to you by a team whose collective experience includes Red Baron II, the Falcon 3 series, the Close Combat series and Fly II, KNIGHTS OVER EUROPE brings the dawn of aerial combat up-to-date with leading edge graphics, high fidelity flight models and precision damage modeling. Dozens of highly detailed aircraft with historically accurate markings will set the stage for an experience that will attract both hard-core flightsim fans and novices alike. Read more for details and screens

ELSPA, the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association, today announced its wholesale endorsement of the new Pan European Game Information system ('PEGI') for new interactive entertainment titles released from April 2003. The system, which recognises the need for a uniformed age ratings across Europe, has been designed to rate the age suitability and content of computer and video games so that consumers - particularly parents - can make informed buying decisions at point of purchase.

Ubi Soft Entertainment and Alienware Corporation today announced details of a cross-promotional deal for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield for the PC. The contest will offer consumers the chance to win online prizes, including a grand prize of an Alienware system with a copy of this highly anticipated sequel in the award-winning Rainbow Six series of games. The promotion will launch in April and continue through December 31st 2003.

SEGA Europe Ltd today announced the development of Headhunter: Redemption, a cinematic third-person action epic for the PlayStation2 and the Xbox . The title is in development by Amuze and is slated for release in North America and Europe in late 2003. The title will debut at the E3.

Xbox today announced the launch of a Limited Edition Xbox, available across Europe from 2nd May, 2003. The stylish new console is translucent green, comes with two translucent green controllers and will retail for €229.99/£149.99. Set to be a collector's item, the Limited Edition Xbox will turn gamers green with envy. Style-conscious gamers who want all the power and great games that Xbox offers will be delighted with this mean, green machine and drawn to the clean white packaging it is supplied in.

NCsoft is pleased to announce Guild Wars, a mission-based competitive online role playing game, produced by its Seattle-based ArenaNet studio. Guild Wars will have its first major public showing at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), May 14-16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Created by EALA and developed by TKO Software, Inc., the new expansion pack for the critically acclaimed Medal of Honor Allied Assault, takes players from the sands of North Africa to the heart of Italy in the struggle to defeat the Third Reich. Medal of Honor Allied Assault Breakthrough is planned for release on the PC in fall 2003.

Activision, Inc. and Raven Software are giving gamers and Marvel fans the world over the chance to build their X-Men dream team with the announcement of X-Men: Legends for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, Xbox video game system from Microsoft and Nintendo GameCube. In this real-time RPG, players get the chance to assemble, train and lead their own X-Men fighting force in a battle against some of the deadliest foes in the Marvel Universe including the Morlocks, the Brotherhood of Mutants and robotic Sentinels. To be successful, players will have to draw on the powers of a diverse pool of X-Men and use teamwork to unleash the full power of their squad. X-Men: Legends is expected to ship in 2004 and has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

Resident Evil No Serenity is a Half-Life single player mod based on Resident Evil. It includes two main characters. The first one is the african american, Logan Walker. And the white female, Kim Forester.. Read more about this new mod and check out some ingame pics from Resident Evil No Serenity here!

After a nationwide search for a PR firm to take Mythic Entertainment, developer of one of the fastest-growing online games, Dark Age of Camelot, to the next level, the company has settled on The Bohle Company, Los Angeles, as its new agency. The company's Dark Age of Camelot, a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG), has become the fastest growing titles in its category and one of the most acclaimed online games of all time.

Inspired by its celebrated Secret Weapons series of classic World War II flight combat games, LucasArts announces Secret Weapons Over Normandy, which brings the historic air battles of that era to PS2, Xbox, and PC this fall. Secret Weapons Over Normandy presents a dynamic, deeply engaging story-driven flight action experience that puts players in control of authentic World War II aircraft and challenges them to undertake the war's most dangerous missions. Read more for details & some screens ...

Midway Games announced today that RoadKill, a mission-based, post-apocalyptic combat driving game, is scheduled to ship in fall 2003 for the PlayStation2, the Xbox and Nintendo GameCube. Read more for details, features and the first screens ...

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. today announced Lords of EverQuest, the next-generation of Real-Time Strategy (RTS) gaming, marking the company's entrance into offline PC gaming. Inspired by the world of online gaming phenomenon EverQuest, Lords of EverQuest features an enthralling storyline drawing gamers to the land of Antonica as they control one of 15 Lords and manage massive armies in their quest for domination. Lords of EverQuest will set new standards for the traditional RTS genre with thousands of items, hundreds of spells, the ability for all units in the game to gain experience and abilities, and free online multiplayer options* for up to 12 players per game. Lords of EverQuest is being developed by Rapid Eye Entertainment and published by Sony Online Entertainment, and is expected to ship to U.S. and Canadian retail stores this fall.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. today announced that Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits, the continuation of the popular Arc the Lad series, will launch in June 2003 exclusively for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system. Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits, a true, traditional role-playing game (RPG), takes place thousands of years after the last installment in the series with an all-new captivating storyline, an innovative battle system and a variety of playable characters with unique abilities. Set in a visually stunning world of life-like graphics and using motion-captured cut scenes to enhance an intriguing storyline, Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits delivers an epic role-playing adventure perfect for fans of strategy, adventure and RPG games.

Activision announced today that it has signed an exclusive, long-term agreement with California-based Spark Unlimited to create a Call of Duty console game for GameCube, Xbox and PS2. The title, which has been in development since late last year, will debut for all three platforms next year. The Spark-created console title will be totally different from the Infinity Ward-developed PC game, which is slated for release later this year.

Summitsoft announced today it will publish Avaria’s Endless Ages, the world’s first true real time first person shooter MMORPG (massively multiplayer role playing game). Situated in the persistent world environment of Iia, Endless Ages has proved an addictive success since the official launch of its online pilot program last year. Players can hook up with clans or go it alone as they hit the arenas, uncover thousands of quests, tame and ride wild beasts, run trade stores on- or offline, and pilot any number of vehicles including jetpacks, hover bikes, hydro crafts and submarines. Unique skills such as shape shifting and mind control further sets Endless Ages apart from others in this genre.

Midway Games Inc. announced today that The Suffering, an all-new, action-packed survival horror game, is scheduled to ship fall 2003 for the PlayStation 2, the Xbox and Nintendo GameCube... Read more for gamestory and features!

Microsoft Game Studios - Ensemble Studios today announced the Age of Mythology: The Titans expansion pack. Gamers will soon be able to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, controlling the power of Titan gods such as Atlas and Cronus in the new expansion. Age of Mythology: The Titans adds a fourth culture, the Atlanteans, to the existing Greek, Egyptian and Norse mythologies. A new single-player campaign will add yet another chapter to the franchise's expansive folklore with the addition of 12 new scenarios. Atlantean players will be able to call upon the might of the Titan gods multiple times throughout the game, and may also upgrade human units to heroes. The expansion pack will introduce 12 new god powers, 18 new human units and 10 formidable myth units to the game. Age of Mythology: The Titans may also be played with others online using the in-game matchmaking service, ES Online.