Latest Articles (Page 3474)

Micro Machines! Well, no, it's "MicroMachines", apparently. Still, semantic naming issues aside, it's no surprise to see a modern day update to this classic miniature racer, although instead of "Codemasters", the byline now reads "Infogrames Sheffield". After some sort of licensing coup and a modest period of development, the next generation PS2 and Xbox versions of MicroMachines have appeared - but has the formula grown with the technology?

Nokia announced several new handsets at its annual mobile internet conference yesterday, but the most interesting of them from our perspective was a new entry in the Series 60 range, which has been dubbed 'N-Gage'. And despite a babbling, spectacularly incomprehensible press release, we've learnt that N-Gage will have a cartridge-type slot for memory cards, and will run on the Symbian OS. Nokia plans to position itself as a publisher and gatekeeper for those interested in using the platform.

Acclaim has been forced to edit scenes containing topless nudity from the PS2 version of BMX XXX, after Sony ruled that it would not accept the game in its original state. However, Nintendo and Microsoft have no plans to censor the game, which appears on November 29th on all three home console formats and GBA.

Good though WWE RAW on the Xbox was, any claims that it beats out the latest edition of SmackDown will fall on deaf ears around here. Yuke's masterful realisation of everything that makes WWE entertaining is due in PS 2 owners' sights very shortly, and we fancy that Shut Your Mouth will remain a reasonable response to Xbox owners' protestations about RAW.

Activision and LucasArts are running a UK-wide treasure hunt to promote the release of Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, the PS 2 version of which is supposedly due out on November 29 (with the Cube version delayed until early 2003). The hunt begins on December 9th, but those wishing to participate will have to first sign up by calling 0906 3027 232 (premium) or heading off to the official website, http://www.thehuntbegins.co.uk. The competition ends on New Year's Eve.

This time last year: Grand Theft Auto 3 emerged with virtually no fanfare, no PR stunts, no reviews even. But what happened over the next 12 months was nothing short of a phenomenon. For the first time in many years, the power of word of mouth became hugely apparent as people realised just how good the game was.

After the years of hype and promises, it felt slightly odd when The Getaway preview disc arrived in the Eurogamer office. There it was, unheralded, vanilla, no armed heavies escorting us to a guarded smoke filled room to play it under cover of darkness. No 'Non Disclosure' documents, not even a manual; just a grey disc and our preconceptions to go on.

Apparently it's very difficult to find beta testers these days. Everywhere you look, PC developers are running around with their hands flailing in the air screaming "my kingdom for a pan-European PC-owning focus group!" Fortunately, they've managed to convince the powers-that-be that the Internet is full of useful individuals, and that beta-testing should be open to anybody with the ability to type their name and email address into a form.

LucasArts has revealed much of the back-story to immensely anticipated BioWare Jedi-RPG Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic. You can read it here. However, for those of you too impatient to click the link, it goes something like this.

As many of you will know, Id Software's DOOM III has been leaked. Or rather, an early demo build has trickled down from one of Id's corporate confidants, and has been circulating the Net since Friday.

Panzers, a 3D tactical combat title from Hungarian studio Stormregion, has found a European publisher in the shape of CDV. "[Panzers] looks set to push the 3D tactical combat genre to a new level," CDV UK president Terry Malham commented. "The 3D graphics are simply revolutionary and the circulating tech demo caused quite a stir among editors and gamers alike."

Microsoft has issued a press release this morning reassuring those in the trade that it still has a raft of key titles due out before Christmas, despite Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball, Brute Force and others now appearing in the first three months of 2003.

Rumours have emerged that the GameCube version of TimeSplitters 2 is not on store shelves and won't be until November 15th. However, Eurogamer can categorically refute these claims on behalf of sleepy-eyed publisher Eidos in the UK. We know the game is on store shelves, because when we tired of the Beano this weekend, we toddled into a shop called Unadulterated Megastore (names changed to protect the innocent) and purchased a shiny new copy of the game. It is quite literally on sale in the UK.

If you're anything like us, then you like freebies. The notion of getting something for nothing is a titillating prospect, and like you, Nintendo believes that everyone deserves free extras at the expense of money-grabbing corporations. We invest so much love and attention in games consoles - why shouldn't we expect a prize?

Dutch publisher Project Three has revealed that New World Order, the highly anticipated counter-terrorist first person shooter from Swedish dev Termite Games, went gold last weekend. Project Three points to a mid-November release date in Europe, with other territories to follow shortly after.

Whether you're a fan of the J.R.R Tolkien novels or not, there's no denying that Peter Jackson's movie adaptation was a fine achievement, and was received as rapturously by the critics as the public. Indeed, its recent DVD release broke sales records, while the forthcoming follow up, The Two Towers, is guaranteed to be another cinema blockbuster.

More light has been shed on Sports Interactive's next Xbox release, Championship Manager: Season 02/03. In addition to many of the features which made the 01/02 release such a pleasure to play, 02/03 will include all the latest data for the new season, player and team data for over 100,000 players and staff, additional leagues and the all-new FIFA transfer window.

Grand Theft Auto 3 just keeps on breaking records. The latest official UK ChartTrack figures from the ELSPA monthly software report reveal that Rockstar's opus has now broken the one million unit barrier - thought to be the first time that a game has managed this feat since records began.

Ubi Soft has announced a sequel to Batman: Vengeance, the fairly accomplished videogame adaptation of the DC Comics and cartoon crusader. Currently called Batman 2 internally, the game is due out at the latter end of 2003 thanks to a licensing agreement with DC Comics and Warner Bros. Ubi Soft has full production and publishing rights for the game, and claims that its developers in Montreal it will usher in a brand new arcade-style of superhero game with extensive fight sequences and gorgeous visuals. A couple of rather uninspiring Batman renders accompanied the release.

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is tightening fibre wire around the Cube's neck, fresh from its success on PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC this October. Io Interactive is developing the port of its number one assassin simulation, and plans to release the game in spring 2003. "With an installed base of millions, there is a massive potential audience for a game like Hitman 2: Silent Assassin," Io's MD Janos Flösser explained in a statement. "We are very impressed with the GameCube and feel that Hitman 2 and the Cube is a perfect match."

PS2 owners struggling to fill the hours before next week's release of GTA Vice City (which has already topped a million units in the US, by the by), will be left pining, lonely in the corner this week, as, though the postbag is bursting with new releases, the PS2 goes sadly unloved by anything particularly desirable. Ecks vs Sever and Runabout 3 are both questionable, whilst Twin Caliber is a bit of a laughing stock and Total Immersion Racing is curiously absent from our code piles. Still, those with a spare £20 will find Zone of the Enders on budget a decent use of it, and those with a penchant for American sports will probably prefer NHL Hitz 20-03 to last month's EA offering.

Now that Formula One is officially the most predictable sport in the world, it must be hard for videogame makers to generate enthusiasm for something that has lost all the elements of competition and surprise that it once had.

Our sources at Sony originally told us that the platform holder's long-awaited European Broadband network gaming announcement would appear during October, and as it turns out, 12 hours short of deadline, they were right.

Medal of Honor: Allied Assault Spearhead, the nine-mission expansion pack for 2015's most excellent World War II FPS, has finished development at EALA, publisher Electronic Arts has confirmed. The game is currently set for release on December 6th in Europe, having slipped a week along with the Cube and Xbox version of MOH Frontline.

Epic Games has released a version 2136 patch for Unreal Tournament 2003, which will become necessary in order to play online if past precedents mean anything. Since you're no doubt eager to start the download, you can find a list of mirrors at Blue's News along with an exhaustive list of changes taken from the readme file.

Serious Sam developer Croteam has revealed that the sharp-tongued veteran of two PC releases and an Xbox compilation will appear in an all-new guise on GameCube in 2003. The news came up in an interview with Adrenaline Vault, which you can read here. "This will be a totally new game based on the Serious Sam character, but will have the same Serious Sam frantic action feeling," Croteam's Admir Elezovic explained. He also confirmed that in answer to demand, there will be further adventures on PC and Xbox.

Unreal Championship has slipped a fortnight from November 1st to the 15th. Infogrames' latest release schedule also reveals that Sega GT 2002 will appear a week later than expected on November 8th. We're not sure how this affects the Sega Christmas Pack (of which GT is half the bundle), which is still due out on the 1st.

Microsoft is bringing its own brand of tennis to Xbox. Developed by Power and Magic Developments, Top Spin will be an Xbox exclusive and Xbox Live enabled tennis title offering the best of simulation and arcade worlds currently dominated by Virtua Tennis (the sequel to which is due out on PS2 next month, we're guessing Microsoft have also spotted).

The European Commission has found Nintendo guilty of price-fixing charges dating back as far as 1991 and has imposed a fine of €149 million on the company as a result - the fourth largest fine ever handed down by the commission for a single offence.

With all the hype surrounding the movies, it was only a matter of time before Electronic Arts produced a game to capitalise on what is a seriously hot property right now - and just in time for the festive season!