Ubi Soft Entertainment, one of the world's largest video game publishers, today announced that it has entered into a publishing agreement under which 1C: Maddox Games will develop new content for the multi-award winning WWII combat flight simulation title, IL-2 Sturmovik. IL2-Sturmovik: The Forgotten Battles will include two new maps for Finland and Hungary, expanding the battlefield for both single and multiplayer modes. It will also feature more than 20 new single player missions and ten cooperative multiplayer missions. IL2-Sturmovik: The Forgotten Battles is expected to ship to retail stores worldwide in Fall 2002.

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. today announced the launch of the Company's Fall 2002 line of peripherals for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube and Game Boy Advance. Man, these E3 line ups are starting to bore me to death .. get it over with already ;)

Grab your skateboard and a nice piece of asphalt as a skate tour has come to Springfield and the entire town has gone skate crazy on the half-pipes, ramps and rails. EA and Fox Interactive today announce that the Simpsons will be back on the PlayStation2 this summer with The Simpsons Skateboarding.

Rockstar Games is pleased to announce the return of the Rockstar Games Upload online media awards to celebrate independent artistic endeavors on the Internet. In 2001, Rockstar hosted what was considered to be the first strictly online media awards program where an astounding collection of imaginative contest entries were sent in via the Rockstar FTP site. Judging for the contest and the awards ceremony took place entirely online, making for a completely digital experience.

LucasArts will bring Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a ground and air-based combat action game inspired by and expanding upon one of the Star Wars galaxy's most dramatic and intensely fought conflicts, to Nintendo GameCube and PS2. Star Wars: The Clone Wars, to be published and distributed by LucasArts and developed by Pandemic Studios, is expected to release on both platforms in fall 2002.

Sierra Entertainment, Inc., a studio of Vivendi Universal Games, today announced development of the first expansion to their award winning real-time strategy game, Empire Earth. In development by Mad Doc Software and due on store shelves this Fall, Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest expands the scope of Empire Earth further into the future, allowing for planetary conquest. The expansion pack offers a new Space Age Epoch that covers the time period from 2200 to 2300 A.D., Earth's near future, and adds three new single-player campaigns, unique units, buildings, special powers and more to Empire Earth. Players have conquered new lands before, but this time to continue the dominance of their civilization, they must cross the boundaries of space.

Midway Games Inc. announced today that Haven: Call Of The King, a groundbreaking action and fantasy console videogame, is in development. Haven: Call Of The King is scheduled to ship fall 2002 for next-generation systems and is being developed by acclaimed London-based developer, Traveller's Tales.

Publisher and game site iGames along with developer S2 Games today announced its first multiplayer game for the PC, “Savage.” Set in a primal fantasy world torn apart by two power-hungry factions, Man and Beast, the game combines the best elements of real-time strategy with intense first person combat. With a fantastic storyline and the capacity to engage 64 players at a time, “Savage” provides gamers with the most realistic fantasy battle experience to date. Savage is scheduled to ship in the first quarter of 2003. Savage will be shown at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Kentia Hall, booth number 7336.

Rockstar Games announced today that Midnight Club 2, the sequel to the highly successful award winning PS2 launch title Midnight Club, is in production for the PS2.

THQ Inc. and SEGA Corporation today announced they will unveil three more titles in their exclusive, 16-title Game Boy Advance co-publishing agreement at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles. ALTERED BEAST: GUARDIAN OF THE REALMS and THE REVENGE OF SHINOBI are scheduled for release in late 2002, while SPACE CHANNEL 5 is scheduled for an early 2003 release.

As a world premiere, during E3 2002 Ubi Soft Entertainment will be unveiling Project BG&E, the latest creation by Michel Ancel, creator of the critically acclaimed Rayman series. Project BG&E is scheduled to ship to retail shelves in the 1st Quarter of 2003 with availability on all next generation consoles and PC.

The biggest Dungeons & Dragons adventure ever to hit a next-generation game console comes to the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and the Nintendo GameCube video game system this Autumn with Dungeons & Dragons Heroes from Infogrames.

THQ Inc. and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. today announced WWE Crush Hour. The first ever car combat experience featuring World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars allows players to engage in battle across 12 intense levels littered with deadly traps and hazards. Developed by THQ subsidiary Pacific Coast Power & Light Co., WWE Crush Hour is the latest videogame based on the highly popular World Wrestling Entertainment (NYSE: WWF) license and will be available early 2003 for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, Xbox video game system from Microsoft and Nintendo GameCube.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today the Sept 2002 release of "Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus", created exclusively for the PlayStation2. Developed by Seattle-based developer, Sucker Punch, Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus takes action-adventure platform gaming to new heights on PS2, showcasing a conceptually new type of character,extraordinary character designs and animations with toon-shading technology, innovative gameplay and spectacular graphics.

Activision, Inc. is taking on the Russian and Chinese mobs with the announcement of True Crime: Streets of L.A. for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and the Nintendo GameCube. Inspired by Hong Kong action films, the game lets players assume the role of tough-as-nails detective Nick Kang, bent on settling a personal vendetta with the L.A. underworld. As Kang, players will be able to dispense their own personal brand of justice through automotive combat, a variety of rib cracking martial arts moves and the business end of dual 45s. True Crime: Streets Of L.A. has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

Kaydara Inc. today announced the upcoming release of MOTIONBUILDER 4.0, a new generation of its award winning real-time 3D character animation software previously named FiLMBOX animation. With a completely new, redesigned drag-and-drop user interface, MOTIONBUILDER 4.0 is a compelling professional 3D character animation solution that is substantially more powerful, faster and easier to use than any other product on the market. MOTIONBUILDER 4.0 will be available to customers in August 2002.

Mythic Entertainment, creator of the multiple award winning massively multiplayer online role-playing game Dark Age of Camelot, today announced that the game's highly anticipated first expansion pack is currently in development. Dark Age of Camelot: Shrouded Islesä is set for a late 2002 release and will continue setting new standards for online game-play. The game will be developed by Mythic Entertainment and co-published with Abandon Entertainment.

Ubi Soft Entertainment, one of the world's leading videogame publishers, today announced an exclusive deal with Rage Software, to publish games based on the award-winning and beloved Rocky movies. Rocky will be available on all next generation consoles (PS2/Xbox/GameCuBe/GBA) and will launch in North and South America this fall.

THQ Inc. today announced that "Bob the Builder: Bob Builds A Park" for PC is in development. Just what we been waiting for ... NOT

Simon & Schuster Interactive announced today that it will publish “Soldiers of Anarchy” for the PC (Available: October 2002). SOLDIERS OF ANARCHY (S.O.A.) combines elements of Real Time Strategy (RTS) and squad-based tactical games to create a uniquely customizable single and multiplayer experience. S.O.A. also give players a compete level and scenario editor to create new missions for themselves and for multiplayer action.

UPDATE: Screens have been pulled on behalf of S&SI.

Matrox Graphics Inc. today unveiled the revolutionary Matrox Parhelia-512 high-fidelity GPU delivering a new level of visual quality, superior performance and a wide range of innovative new technologies. World's first 512-bit GPU delivers unparalleled image quality, superior performance and wide range of innovative features for the ultimate visual experience

Hercules is pleased to announce the impending Gamesurround Muse5.1 DVD, an amazing new sound card in the 5.1-channel market segment. Gamesurround Muse5.1 DVD - the successor of the widely renowned Gamesurround Muse XL - now includes advanced features such as its 6-channel outputs and comes bundled with Cyberlink's PowerDVD 4.0 XP, the hugely popular DVD playback application.

Ubi Soft Entertainment and MGA Entertainment, today announced an exclusive licensing agreement for Ubi Soft to develop and publish games based on the popular and fashionable BRATZ dolls for PC and all the new generation of consoles.

Empire Interactive has announced that Antonio Fargas, aka Huggy Bear, has been signed for the in-game voice-overs and to help promote the PlayStation 2 and PC versions of its new “Starsky & Hutch” game. Helping Starsky and Hutch clean up the streets, Huggy was present in almost every episode of the hugely popular 70’s show.

THQ Inc. announced that it will unveil "Red Faction II" at the (E3) in Los Angeles on May 22. Developed exclusively for the PS2 by THQ's studio, Volition, "Red Faction II" is the sequel to one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed original game franchises of 2001. Featuring an enhanced Geo-Mod engine that allows players to strategically alter and destroy the game environment in real-time, "Red Faction II" builds upon the experience and technology of the original game with more blistering action, highly detailed graphics, new multi-player options and an engaging storyline. "Red Faction II" is scheduled to release in holiday 2002.