PopCap Games today announced the release of the PopCap Games Framework, the in-house development toolset used to create smash-hit titles such as "Bejeweled," "Bookworm," "Zuma," and other wildly popular casual computer games. The PopCap Games Framework is offered under an open source license and can be used free of charge by any developer for commercial or non-commercial use.

EA Europe today announced plans to co-publish Dead to Rights II, scheduled for release on the PS2, Xbox and on PC in summer 2005. Dead to Rights II marks the return of action-hero Jack Slate and his K-9 companion, Shadow. In this super-charged sequel, Jack and Shadow find themselves once again in the squalid, mean streets of Grant City, ensnared in a labyrinth of crime, corruption and betrayal.

SCAR, a brand new racing simulation licensed by Alfa Romeo, and developed by racing sim specialists, Milestone, creators of the Superbike series and Racing Evoluzione. SCAR, Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo, is a stunning racing simulation which combines both realistic car physics, and vibrant graphics together with classic Role Playing Game elements to become the first 'CARPG' ever developed.

Yes, today is the day to answer the call to save Earth and all of humankind in the tournament we've all been waiting for. Gamers have two weeks from today, 7th March, to register in what is the first stage of the Halo 2 Championship, hosted on the Xbox Live service. Registration closes on 20th March when eight winners will battle to win the title of UK Halo 2 Champion and, ultimately, the chance to take part in the Xbox Live Halo 2 Worldwide Finals in April.

Developer MAUS Software and publisher Strategy First are happy to announce the signing of the flight combat title Battle of Europe scheduled to fly into stores this spring. Read more for details ...

Epiphany Games is a new Australian game company that is currently working on a MMORPG game for the PC. They are now inviting Xbox gamers from around the world to participate in a survey to determine the viability of bringing a MMORPG to the next-generation of consoles, especially for the Xbox. For the month of March Epiphany Games has teamed up with AussieXbox homepage, Australia's very own Xbox community website to bring the survey to Xbox gamers across the world to try and get as much feedback as possible to determine the financial viability of an Xbox MMORPG.

Today at the Game Developers Conference, Microsoft Corp. announced new XNA software that will enable enhanced collaboration between content creators, programmers, management and quality-assurance staff members to speed the game production process. Based on the Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team System, the latest innovation of the company's flagship development platform, XNA Studio is an integrated, team-based development environment tailored for game production.

The latest Settlers game takes the franchise and pushes it to the next level with fully animated 3D technology and enhanced gameplay features,. The game will take the player to a medieval setting, to re-conquer the kingdom currently under the domination of an evil tyrant. While Heritage of Kings is not released yet in English territories, Blue Byte is already working on a "The Fog Realm" addon with new maps, new heroes, and editor.

Get ready to race at blazing speeds and experience adrenaline-filled, anti-gravity racing action. Wipeout Pure provides intense, hovercraft racing action as players choose from five different speed classes and race relentlessly around 16 futuristic, anti-gravity racing tracks.