A 3D sci-fi shooter developed by Shin’en, Nanostray boasts a wide array of weapons, un-lockable features and game modes, as well as an online ranking system that tracks the game’s top players. Nanostray’s touch screen features will allow players to track enemy movement via interactive radar and manage the various weapons and other special pick ups. Check the freshly launched Nanostray website, or read more for new screens ...

Today at the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC), Microsoft Corp. announced the first details of its next-generation Xbox, highlighting how hardware, software and services are being fused to power enhanced game and entertainment experiences. Read more for details on new features such as custom playlists, marketplace, gamer cards etc..

GarageGames announced today at the Game Developers Conference a new engine and multiple programs that make it easier for people to build their games. The Torque Game Development Platform recently added the Torque 2D engine, which joins the proven Torque Game Engine and the next-generation Torque Shader Engine to make the complete game development platform.

Singles 2: Triple Trouble offers players a whole host of new relationship possibilities to manage, along with the everyday necessities of going to work, maintaining a 'happy home' and equipping their flat with the latest furniture and mod-cons. Using a new 3D engine, SINGLES can be dressed in a whole range of different outfits, express themselves in even more realistic and recognisable ways and explore beyond their apartment to new locations, where they can meet other characters for friendship, romance, possibly more?

Finnish game developer Frozenbyte has unveiled its first PC action game Preyground. The game brings fresh air to the genre with its explosive action sequences and innovative weapon upgrade system. Preyground also features cutting-edge realistic lighting technology, a thrilling sound environment and a unique top-down perspective that create an epic gaming experience ready to launch in Q3 2005.

Atari today announced that Dragon Ball Advanced Adventure is scheduled for European release in spring 2005 for the GBA. Based around the original Dragon Ball TV series it gives fans and players alike the opportunity to play through the adventures of Goku in his courageous search for the Dragon Balls. Featuring three different game modes, multiplayer action and many un-lockable extras, Dragon Ball Advanced Adventure is destined to be an essential addition to any Dragon Ball fan's collection.

APM film and television composer Gregor Narholz, The Rookie, Saturday Night Life, Star Trek, Spongebob, will compose and arrange the music for Activision's X-Men Legends II, under development at Raven, based on Marvel's legendary Super Hero team.

Earlier today we put up SEGA's Spartan Total Warrior announcement, but what was not included was the fact that SEGA simply bought out the UK developer. SEGA Europe today announced that the company has acquired the hugely successful development studio, The Creative Assembly. Founded in 1997, headed up by Tim Ansell and operating from offices in the UK and Australia, The Creative Assembly team has produced a catalogue of hits throughout their history and notably is the team behind the award winning Total War franchise.

Super Monkey Ball Deluxe, for the first time on PS2 and Xbox consumers for the first time, features 300 stages (114 from Super Monkey Ball, 140 from Super Monkey Ball 2, and 46 Deluxe-exclusive boards). Read more for new screens ...

Battles In Normandy brings wargamers back to the western front with historical scenarios including two monster campaigns, and eight smaller historical scenarios. A full scenario editor is included and additional free scenarios are available online. This demo includes both a tutorial on the game and a full “Ardennes Offensive” scenario, also known as the Battle of the Bulge. Read more for download links ...

Capcom Fighting Evolution features a diverse cast of characters as well as additional hidden characters from each of the following titles: Street Fighter II, DarkStalkers, Street Fighter III, Red Earth and Street Fighter Alpha.

Already revealed a few days ago, SEGA of America, Inc., SEGA Europe Ltd, and The Creative Assembly, known for the Total War series, today officially announced a partnership to create the action-based Spartan: Total Warrior for the PS2, Xbox, and GameCube. The first game in the new Total Warrior franchise represents the development giant's first console release. Read more for details and the first screens ...

During SEGA's Sonic the Hedgehog induction into the Walk of Game tonight, it was revealed with a brief trailer that SEGA is working on a new title in the franchise, but this time the focus will be on Sonic's sworn enemy, Shadow. While no details were disclosed, it will be yet another platformer, albeit with some twists, and the clip showed environments and gave you a taste of what to expect, graphics-wise. Shadow the Hedgehog is scheduled for fall 2005, and SEGA promised there will be more information about "several" new Sonic titles. Read more to download the trailer and see for yourself.

Following a successful 18-month period publishing PC games in Europe, new British video game publisher Digital Jesters announced today that Bet On Soldier, the first-person shooter for PC that has all of Europe buzzing, will be the company’s first foray into the U.S. gaming market, will ship this summer.

EA Tiburon is working on the first patch for EA Sports' NASCAR SimRacing due to be released in the near future. Blackhole Motorsports managed to get their hands on a tentative fix list which indicates there are quite a few tweaks, gameplay adjustments and fixes to be made. Read more for the full fix list...

Konami today announced that it has shipped two video game titles based on the hit TOKYOPOP anime property Rave Master. Rave Master: Special Attack Force for the GBA and Rave Master for the GameCube are over-the-top fighting games that feature storylines, characters and locations from the popular Rave Master animated TV series and comic books.

Act of War: Direct Action, developed by Eugen Systems, is Atari's new action game with a storyline and game universe created in cooperation with Dale Brown, 15-time New York Times best-selling author and expert on US military, global conflict and future military technology. Not even in stores yet, but here is the first patch, although no specific details available (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

Another day, another batch of game trailers were released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for :

• Battlefield 2 - Proper BFCON LAN Trailer
• FEAR - Trailer #3
• Empire Earth 2 - Tara Teich Diary #2
• NIBIRU - Trailer #2
• Splinter Cell Chaos Theory - NSA Trailer #5
• Rayman DS - Trailer #2
• Silent Hunter 3 - Trailer #7

According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, three members of a global computer piracy ring admitted Thursday they shuttled millions of dollars in computer games, movies and software around the world through a coded system of Web sites and chat rooms. One of the three people in question is Seth Kleinberg, Executive Editor of Game-Over.net, who apparently was arrested last April as part of Operation Fastlink. Read more for details ...