Havok, a leading developer of middleware for the video game industry, confirmed today that the Havok Physics engine is being used by Ensemble Studios to develop Age of Empires III, which is the latest landmark release in the award-winning franchise that has sold over 16 million units worldwide. Age of Empires III is being published by Microsoft Game Studios and will be released in the fall of 2005. "Havok is an excellent physics engine. We were apprehensive about integrating physics into a realtime strategy game like Age of Empires 3, but Havok was very easy to integrate", said Dave Pottinger, … Continue reading Ensemble Goes Havok →

Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest videogame publishers, announced the return of the legendary Might and Magic brand. Credited with the establishment of the heroic fantasy genre upon its first release in 1985 on PC, the brand encompasses several product lines including the mythical Heroes of Might & Magic. Ubisoft will bring fresh life to the franchise, while respecting its heritage, just as it successfully did with cult brands such as Prince of Persia and Myst. The first game to reintroduce the Might & Magic universe to the public will be Heroes of Might and Magic® V. Gamers will … Continue reading Might And Magic Returns →

Rake in Grass Games (www.rakeingrass.com) has announced Jets N' Guns, a fast action side-scrolling shooter is available to purchase from their website. In a genre known to be stuck in the last millennia, Jets N' Guns brings side-scrollers to the modern day with an incredible sound track, blazing special effects, and a weapon variety to die for. You, a heroic mercenary bounty hunter, are thrust into a world of pirate greed and corruption, where a super-weapon may bring a cataclysmic end to a lot of the universe. Hired as a space privateer you must steal a prototype ship from a … Continue reading Jets And Guns Sidescroller Released →

Today, Eidos announces that LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game for PS2, PC, and GBA is shipping to stores across North America and will be in stores Saturday, April 2, 2005! Eidos’ starfighters are on the prowl, flying over the nation, to keep watch of all the trucks making their way to retail stores. No Force will stop these games from getting to their destination for the big in-stores extravaganza on Saturday, April 2nd. LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game will hit shelves on this big Star Wars launch day along with LEGO’s Star Wars building blocks products and more! … Continue reading Lego Star Wars Ships →

Blizzard Entertainment today announced that World of Warcraft, its massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), has surpassed the 1.5 million subscriber mark*, underscoring the game's continued success around the world. Building on its record-breaking debuts in North America, Korea, and Europe, World of Warcraft has reached global peak concurrency – the number of subscribers playing at the same time in each market – of more than 500,000 players. "All of us at Blizzard are extremely gratified and amazed at the international demand for World of Warcraft," said Mike Morhaime, president of Blizzard Entertainment. "From region to region, we've seen a … Continue reading World of Warcraft Breaks More Records →

Vivendi Universal today announced that VU Games has completed the purchase of leading independent console developer, Radical Entertainment. Under the agreement, VU Games will retain Radical’s team of more than 200 development professionals, as well as acquire the studio’s exclusive game development technologies. Radical’s founder Ian Wilkinson has been named President, Radical Entertainment, and the studio will remain in Vancouver, Canada. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "The purchase of Radical Entertainment reinforces our commitment to strengthening VU Games’ creative talent and internal console development capabilities," said Bruce Hack, CEO of VU Games. "Radical’s focus will remain on … Continue reading Vivendi Buys Radical Entertainment →

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and SEGA are pleased to announce that today, hundreds of thousands of players can now jack into The Matrix Online, a massively multi-player online game (MMOG), to participate in the continuing saga of The Matrix franchise. Developed by Monolith Productions, directed by the Wachowski Brothers and co-published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and SEGA, The Matrix Online is launching for the PC today in North America and April 8, 2005 in Europe. The Matrix Online’s story continues after the third film, The Matrix Revolutions, ended with Zion and the Machines in an uneasy truce. Capturing the … Continue reading The Matrix Online Launches →

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) today revealed that acclaimed Hollywood writer/director John Milius to be the screenwriting talent behind the WWII storyline of Medal of Honor European Assault, the latest from the widely successful Medal of Honor franchise. A graduate of the prestigious USC film school, Milius shared an Academy Award nomination with Francis Ford Coppola for the screenplay of Apocalypse Now (1979) and is perhaps best known for writing and directing fast-paced action films such as Dillinger (1973), Conan the Barbarian (1982), and Red Dawn (1984). Film fans may also recognize his signature style within the many memorable lines and … Continue reading Director John Milius Joins Medal Of Honor Team →

Got Game Entertainment LLC and co-publisher Merscom LLC today announced that "Laser Squad Nemesis" for North American release has gone gold. Developed by Nick and Julian Gollop, the team behind the "X-Com" games, "Laser Squad Nemesis" brings a new addiction to tactical warfare gamers. With its unique and innovative turn-based combat system, combined with the action of real-time strategy games, players plot battle orders, test them, and watch the results unfold as the forces of the Laser Marines, Greys, Machina, and Spawn fight for supremacy. Retailing for $19.99 (USD) and rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB for Blood and … Continue reading Laser Squad Nemesis Goes Gold →

Game Trust, the global leader in premium play infrastructure for casual games, announced today that five finalists have been selected in the first "Casual Game Evolution Challenge," co-sponsored by Shockwave.com and Macromedia. Open to any and all game developers, the contest launched before GDC seeking to identify the best single-player Shockwave game concepts for online, tournament, and download play. The contest was designed to help developers successfully release their games and to help the casual game market evolve with innovative new game concepts. The five finalists will be awarded Game Trust licensing contracts with a revenue share and guaranteed distribution … Continue reading Casual Game Finalists Announced →