Akella announces the agreement with CDV Software that Akella aquires publishing rights for Avalon Style's role-playing first-person shooter Sabotain: Break the Rules. The long awaited Sabotain: Break the Rules is a futuristic FPS/RPG based on the idea of mission-oriented adventure with varied interactions with people and places as well as varied mission types, including sabotage, infiltration, rescue, intelligence-gathering, thievery, reconnaissance, assassination, and all-out combat. Role-playing system allows characters to develop themselves by gaining experience and spending it to improve skills and attributes.

Acclaim Entertainment today announced that they have reached a distribution agreement with Avalon Interactive for the forthcoming release of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II in the UK, France, Benelux and Germany. The game, which was developed by Black Isle Studios under license from The Hasbro Properties Group, will be available on the PlayStation2 and the Xbox on February 6, 2004. Read more for details and a HUGE batch of new screens ...

Samurai Jack is the highly stylized, Emmy-winning action cartoon from Genndy Tartakovsky, the creator of Dexter's Laboratory and the director of the popular new animated epic micro series, Star Wars: Clone Wars. "Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku" was developed for a broad audience by Amaze's Adrenium Games studio. It's a free roaming, easy to control action-adventure that's perfect for fans of the television series who are both casual players and hardcore gamers.

Hitman: Contracts delivers more action-packed and suspenseful missions, with a greater variety of ways to make the perfect hit and an increased arsenal of firearms and close-combat weapons. A new graphics engine showcases Hitman's 'work' in brutal detail and brings new locations to life. An improved control system and more gradual learning curve will ensure that the game is accessible to all aspiring hitmen. Hitman: Contracts is being developed by Io Interactive and will be available for PS2, Xbox, and PC in spring 2004.

Earlier today EA had its Q4 2003 earnings conference call where the Electronic Arts executives revealed that The Sims 2 and Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault, 2 of their highly anticipated PC games, will get delayed. EA's CFO Warren Jenson said both titles will not be out until fiscal year 2005, which means at the EARLIEST July 2004, which also resulted in EA's stock to drop in value. Jenson also said "It's really about polishing the product. It's about the entertainment experience, critic meta-rating, and, ultimately, sales."

Step up to the plate and master the true art of hitting with MVP Baseball 2004. An all-new hitting model allows for complete user control over all swing types as well as signature cuts from the game's best sluggers. Featuring rich new presentation, realistic player models, enhanced animations, and an immersive audio experience, MVP Baseball 2004 takes you out to the ballgame like never before. Read more for details & screens ...

Activision has released the public source code for Splash Damage's free team-based multiplayer FPS Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory. This release contains all the game source code, header files, menu definitions and other files that all you Enemy Territory modders might need to get to work. This source code is not officially supported in any capacity by id Software, Activision or Splash Damage. Read more for details and download links ...

SEGA of America today announced the launch of "SEGA GT Online" exclusively for the Xbox. The first simulation racer on Xbox to offer Xbox Live support, SEGA GT Online allows up to 12 players to compete simultaneously in white knuckle, dead-heat races guaranteed to challenge both their driving skills and their ability to trash talk.

Linden Lab and The Game Initiative, an organization that supports game developers worldwide, today announced the Second Life Game Developer’s Competition designed for aspiring game developers. The competition begins January 31, 2004 and coincides with the Game Initiative’s “How To Break Into Video Game Industry: Mini-Conference and Resume Workshop” taking place on that day in San Francisco. Winners will be announced on June 14, 2004.