After the F1 Nurburgring disaster of 2025, the Extreme Gravity Racing Association, or XGRA, was set up as a regulatory governing body for all heavy gravity race events. The XGRA is the future sports equivalent of NASCAR or the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) – They are the rule makers, organizers and ultimately, the overlords of the racing world. Check these new screens & action-packed trailer!!

S2 Games and iGames Publishing today announced an official release date of August 25, 2003 for the highly anticipated PC game Savage: The Battle for Newerth. The game received unanimous praise from attendees at the 2003 Electronic Entertainment Expo for its innovative gameplay and seamless melding of first-person action with real-time-strategy. Savage is currently in the second phase of beta testing and is expected to move to an open beta towards the end of July.

Fox Int. & EA have launched the official website for their upcoming sci-fi console game Aliens versus Predator: Extinction. The site sports some new, but tiny, screens, game features, info, trailer and the usual other tidbits. small details about the game & features, several new (low res) screenshots, the first trailer, and more. Aliens versus Predator: Extinction (based loosely on the Aliens & Predator movies) is expected in stores for PS2/Xbox this summer. Go check it out!

Linden Lab today officially unveiled Second Life, a rapidly growing and constantly changing 3D online society, shaped entirely by its residents. In Second Life, Linden Lab has pioneered real-time 3D streaming technologies and advanced compression capabilities to create a persistent, contiguous landscape where residents can discover a world of exploration, socializing, creativity, self-expression, and fun unlike any other.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is pleased to announce the continuation of the multi-million selling Formula One series. The only game to be officially licensed by Formula One Administration Ltd, FORMULA ONE 2003 will be released in July this year. Benefiting from a brand new deal signed with Formula One Administration Ltd, the FORMULA ONE franchise will now be exclusive to SCEE and to PlayStation2 for the next four years, ensuring unparalleled accuracy and the closest experience to being an F1 driver you'll get on any platform.

Sega.com, Inc. announced today the official launch of "Legacy Online," a massively multi-player online strategy game for the PC. Developed by Oceanus Communications, a privately held Internet software company based in Ottawa, Canada, Legacy Online provides gamers with the ultimate network gaming experience. Shortly following the launch of the game, Sega.com will be conducting MMOG Tournaments where Legacy Online players can compete to earn the right to name a new planet.

Square Enix has launched the official website for its upcoming massively multi-player online role-playing game, Final Fantasy XI. The new website sports some gameplay and game world information, screenshots etc. Expect the game on PS2 and PC this coming fall. Go Check it Out!

After the F1 Nurburgring disaster of 2025, the Extreme Gravity Racing Association, or XGRA, was set up as a regulatory governing body for all heavy gravity race events. The XGRA is the future sports equivalent of NASCAR or the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) – They are the rule makers, organizers and ultimately, the overlords of the racing world. Check these new screens!

German GameStar got word that the unofficial addon for CDV's latest real time strategy game Blitzkrieg reached the gold status. Total Challenge is expected to be released in the next few weeks and apart from the obvious new missions it will also contain 2 additional editor manuals.

Dreamcatcher has launched the official Painkiller website offering more goodies for People Can Fly's upcoming first-person shooter. The website doesnt sport much "new" information yet, some previously released screens, some game info and the E3 trailer, which we also have mirror'd locally. Check it out!

Patrician II Gold (formerly known as Patrician 3, working title) is a real-time trading simulation featuring elements of construction and the historical background of maritime trade in Northern Europe during the 1300's. Following the critical and commercial success of the release of Patrician II in International markets in 2001, Ascaron proudly announce the release of "Patrician II Gold" in Q4 2003, for English and French speaking markets. Check out the screens and the E3 trailer ...

CDV announces that "Combat Mission Beyond Overlord: Special Edition" for the PC is available in retail stores. Lauded by GameSpot as "one of the best war games ever made for the computer," "Combat Mission" combines turn-based and real-time tactical action. Previously only offered for sale online, the special retail version of this World War II game includes more than 100 additional scenarios, improved in-game environments, and new vehicles, uniforms and enhanced sound.

Ubi Soft Entertainment today announced that one of music and film's hottest stars, Eve, will play the role of Major Jones in its highly anticipated action-shooter, XIII. XIII is an epic, conspiracy-driven thriller set in a highly stylized graphic-novel world. Eve will lend her voice talents to Major Jones, a beautiful yet mysterious character in the game, who helps players unravel clues behind the game's captivating story. XIII is planned to release on all platforms in Fall 2003.

Already rumored earlier this week, it is now slowly becoming fact.Franco-American video game publisher Infogrames Inc., in an effort to increase its profile with consumers by reaching back into gaming history, on Wednesday said it would change its name to Atari. To mark the new Atari Inc. and the new ticker symbol 'ATAR', Chief Executive Bruno Bonnell is set to open the Nasdaq on Wednesday. On top of that i have noticed that one of my PR contact changed the Infogrames account to Atari.

Already revealed yesterday, but today the official announcement rolled in. Activision, Inc. will plunge players into the dark and gritty vampire underworld of modern Los Angeles with the announcement of Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines for the PC. Seamlessly combining role playing with intense first-person action combat, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines allows players to become a dangerous creature of the night as they assume the role of a recently embraced fledgling vampire in the service of the city's dark prince. Vampire: The Masquerade- Bloodlines is being developed by Troika Games, whose founding members' credits include the award-winning Fallout, and is based on White Wolf's renowned pen-and-paper Vampire: The Masquerade RPG series. Built using Valve's Source Technology - the same game technology used to power Half-Life 2, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines has not yet received an age rating and is expected to ship in 2004.

Not really a major secret since it was already mentioned in their E3 lineup but Strategy First Inc. announced today that they have signed War Times for the North American market. Developed by Spain’s Legend Studios, War Times is a Real-Time Strategy game that lets players follow the tumultuous era of the Second World War through the actions of Germany, Great Britain, the USA or the USSR; each nation is totally different and uses unique strategies in their attack and defense and all the campaigns are based on real historical events, bringing an unparalleled realism to the fight.

Rockstar Games today tossed up the official site for their upcoming PC version of, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The site includes screenshots, details and features. GTA: Vice City will be released May 2003. Check it out!

Mad Catz Interactive today announced the anticipated release of SharkByte featuring the official cheat codes for the critically acclaimed spy thriller, Splinter Cell, a Ubi Soft Entertainment game for the PlayStation2. The first SharkByte release from Mad Catz, since acquiring GameShark earlier in the year, will launch the week commencing April 7, 2003 and will retail for $9.99 US

Nintendo is celebrating the anniversary of the European launch of the NINTENDO GAMECUBE with the release of a very special Limited Edition Pak on May 3rd 2003. The celebratory pak will feature an exclusive platinum NINTENDO GAMECUBE and controller coupled with one of the most anticipated video games in history, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, also launched on this date. The Limited Edition Pak also contains a bonus disc featuring the original NINTENDO 64 title, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: The Master Quest, updated exclusively for NINTENDO GAMECUBE.

JoWooD Productions is proud to announce that their subsidiary, Massive Development, has today launched an official website and trailer to show off their upcoming PC tool AquaMark3. New details on AquaMark3 and the official trailer can now be seen at aquamark3.com.

Asylumsoft, the Austin, Texas-based game development company, is pleased to announce that its eagerly anticipated Multiplayer Online Game (MPOG) DRANSIK is available globally via download. DRANSIK combines the best in classic role-playing with innovative and fresh game play to deliver the most fun and deep MPOG experience. Asylumsoft welcomes all online game players to download the highly acclaimed game for FREE, as well as 10 days to play for free. The client is available here.

The official forum for Master Of Orion III is updated with information regarding a upcoming patch. Here is a clip:

Yes, work is in progress on a patch. We have no delivery date at this time.

We are concentrating on the Military AI (offensive, defensive and build queue) and point defense problems, along with some UI glitches and any crash or easy to fix bugs. Changes which require any artwork are extremely unlikely for this patch.

The plan is to release a data-only patch fairly quickly which should help with some of the Military AI problems (and other things) and may also contain some additional documentation on use of the spreadsheets to help the modders.

This will be followed by a code patch. Code changes will be listed here as they are verified internally, so that you know what is coming.

The actual release of the patches will be controlled by the QA departments at Infogrames (for Windows) and Destineer (for Macintosh).

Gotham Games has officially opened its doors on the Web. The new site was launched today. Gotham’s Web site offers surfers a one-stop source for news, previews, screen shots, exclusive content, Q&As and all information on Gotham Games’ exciting lineup of products. In addition, the site includes a Flash animation game based on the current Gotham title Conflict: Desert Storm, and will soon feature additional Flash games based on the Gotham’s releases.

GRIN and CDV today announced that Vultures official website is online.. The official homepage has a nice set of screens and also a developer diary from the Swedish developer GRIN. The screens already convey a nice, gothic mood, which is especially unique for the beat 'em up genre! Loads of arenas filled with traps and in complete 3D featuring the latest technology await you, so don’t be square and visit the official homepage! The game features motion capture animation and real-time shadows which will make your Xbox melt!

Videogame publisher Capcom has launched a special telephone helpline for consumers scared from playing its latest title Resident Evil Zero. Available now on 08700 46 55 20 (calls charged at national rates), the line has been designed explicitly to offer comfort and reassurance to terrified gamers. Players simply ring up and listen to the two-minute recorded message scripted by a top psychologist. Once the call is completed, they should feel much more calm.