It is expected that LucasArts will team up with Verant Interactive to announce their massive multiplayer Star Wars title in the next few days. Stay tuned for details.

Sudden Strike is a real-time, tactical strategy game set during World War II. The game offers scenarios and mission for specific armed forces including thew united States, Germany, Russia and Britain and France. The game offers tactics specific to air, land and sea units, historical lands and battles and accurately portrayed historical units like tanks and infantry.

Shipping Quarter 1 2001 for the PC, Myst III will feature five new ages to explore and hours of new mysteries to uncover. Gone, however, will be the outdated slideshow mechanics of the original hit and its sequel. Myst III will use new navigation technology to bring the world to life without losing the artistic beauty and interactivity of the previous games.

Myst III will also introduce a new villain, a bitter man whose home world was ruined at the hand of Sirrus and Achenar, and who returns to exact revenge against Atrus and his household at their most vulnerable time. People start the game trapped in a mysterious age, and must explore the environment and navigate its puzzles to uncover the mystery of this new adversary.

Scheduled for a Quarter 4 2000 release, Myst Dimensions uses a state-of-the-art real-time 3D graphics engine to present the original saga as it was intended--an epic tale told in an immersive world. People will be able to stroll around in real-time, glancing at the ground, the clouds, the moutain that can be climbed and the building that can be explored.

The environment promises to be a real treat: Day will turn to night and weather will change from brilliant sun to dreary rain. Also featured will be real-time lighting and ambient environmental effects, such as burning torches, swaying grass and trees, and animal life roaming the environment. Best of all, people will be able to experience a never-before-seen new age, with uncharted areas to explore and fresh puzzles to solve.

Source: AVault

In The Northern Expansion, Ardania is experiencing an era of peace and prosperity. The crown's enemies have been vanquished and the peasants are content, but beyond the charted boundaries of Ardania lies the untamed Northern region. With the prospect of new challenges, adventures and handsome gold rewards, the time has come for restless heroes to set out on all new royal quests. The Northern Expansion will feature 13 never-before-seen quests, new monsters and new spells. The expansion will also feature an improved quest-builder and an editor, allowing people to tailor solo and online quests to their preferences.

"As evidenced by Diamond's use of the ESS Canyon 3D and the broad range of support for 3D audio APIs, the MX400 is not a reference board design, but in fact is modified considerably. Unfortunately, the MX400 does not support A3Ds latest chipset, A3D 2.0 and thus it is generally a better option to choose EAX over A3D when configuring this card in games. In addition to this great API support, the MX400 has a 34-pin internal header to support Diamond's RioPC daughter card, which is supposed to do hardware decoding of mp3s (a delectable proposal), and the standard headers for CD, voice modem and pc speaker input."

Be sure to check out the rest of our comprehensive Diamond Monster Sound MX400 review, including a few visuals. Enjoy!

Other 2000 titles to be shown at E3 include the following:

Two Microsoft products destined for store shelves in spring 2001 will also have a high profile at this year's trade show:

The game starts in the 1930s and progresses all the way to the year 2000. As the years progress, buildings and professions change with the times. Players also get to interact with the residents of their 3D city, to help them decipher the needs and wants of the people. The game also features 4 player multiplayer support.

Matrix Games also noted today that Wars of Napoleon 1805 - 1815 will be out sometime in July. Wars of Napoleon 1805 - 1815 is a strategic and diplomatic game for up to 7 players that covers 10 years of warfare in Europe.

New features include the ability to race against the top drivers from the 1999 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, the ability to race a full season on all 24 tracks from the 1999 schedule, new and distinctive truck handling characteristics and full truck series rules supported, the ability to race cars or trucks on any track and Internet multiplayer truck racing.

New tracks include the Evergreen Speedway, Heartland Park Topeka, I-70 Speedway, Louisville Motor Speedway, Mesa Marin Raceway and Portland International Raceway. the expansion also includes night versions of Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway.

Set within a lush, 3D environment, players control a novice spellcaster who is stranded in a world beset by chaotic forces. Each faction is attempting to seize control of the world, using their armies to fight raging battles through the game. Armed only with a limited supply of spells and powers, players must master their magical abilities and command their armies in order to survive a variety of tactical missions. As they progress, new skills will be learned and used as the player moves through the story to reveal a sinister plot.

Art of Magic will feature state-of-the-art 3D graphics with fantastic spell effects, mythical creatures, and lighting effects. Players can smoothly zoom in close to check out the teeth on a marauding demon or zoom out to direct their armies across the battlefields.

While the game features the same intuitive interface and spell creation system as the original, Art of Magic will also feature a host of new spells and creature types that will provide increased tactical options during combat. Players can move in close on the action and attack with devastating spells, like meteor showers, or keep a safe distance and summon creatures to fight for them, like knights, skeletons, and even dragons. Once players have mastered the single-player campaign, they can compete with up to three other wizards on the Internet to find out who has truly mastered the Art of Magic.

Magic & Mayhem: Art of Magic will be released on the PC in January 2001.

Elite Force -- As a crewman of the U.S.S. Voyager and a member of an elite security force called The Hazard Team, people will defend the ship from assault, battle through derelict spacecraft, infiltrate a Borg cube and battle an alien colonization force. Throughout, gamers will face a multitude of familiar enemies, including the relentless Borg, and never-before-seen aliens in intense solo and Internet-based combat missions. Elite Force is being developed at Raven and is expected to ship this summer.

Bridge Commander -- Bridge Commander is the first space simulation to allow people to control the action from both outside the ship and from the bridge. The game will feature a variety of missions, battleship combat, the authentic voices of Captain Picard and Commander Data, as well as Internet gaming that will give users the chance to command any ship. Bridge Commander is being developed for Activision at Lawrence Holland's Totally Games and is expected to be released next year.

Call to Power II -- Call to Power II gives gamers control over an empire that spans from primitive beginnings into 2300 A.D. People will command powerful armies and utilize 6300 years worth of weaponry, politics, exploration and cultural evolution to defend their empire and defeat enemies. Call to Power II offers several new governing tools, diplomatic options and trade features. Diplomatic strategy will have a large role in the development of a civilization, as enemy states will survey the diplomatic landscape before assaulting or forming their own alliances. A robust diplomacy interface will assist people in choosing their political stance and allow counter proposals when dealing with other civilizations. Call to Power II is being developed at Activision and is expected to ship this fall.

Away Team -- Slated to ship in 2001, Away Taem speculates on what might happen if gamers were the captain of an elite commando team. In this role, people control a Special Forces unit of trained experts recruited for their unique combat, stealth and problem solving abilities. Individual teams are comprised of three to six specialists chosen at the start of each mission. As in the TV series, the commando team will have access to standard equipment such as tricorders and phasers as well as a number of other classified special issue items.

Vampire: The Masquerade -- Based on the acclaimed White Wolf role-playing system, Vampire is an action-oriented game in which people live as a Vampire over a span of 800 years. It features four gothic cities set both in ancient and modern times, a party-based role-playing system, a complex story and a faithful online re-creation of the popular paper-based version. Vampire is being developed for Activision at Nihilistic and is expected to release this summer.

Wizards & Warriors -- Wizards & Warriors is a party-based fantasy role-playing game from D.W. Bradley, creator of Wizardry V, VI and VII. In an enchanted medieval realm called Gael Serran, an evil pharaoh has overcome a curse and returned to a world unable to defend itself against him. The legendary Mavin Sword alone has the strength to bring his defeat and end a diabolical plan. Boasting an estimated 120 hours of game time, Wizards & Warriors is expected to ship this fall.

Return to Castle Wolfenstein -- People will once again assume the role of the Allies' bad boy of W.W.II espionage. The fate of the free world hangs in the balance as B.J. battles the machinations of, um, Himmler?s Nazi war machine, which is bent on world domination. The sequel will feature the same over-the-top comic-tinged action of id's original Wolfenstein. Using the graphics technology of the QUAKE III Arena engine and a new scripting system, Return to Castle Wolfenstein will feature a plotline filled with tales of bioengineering and the occult. Furthermore, devotees of online action will be able to frag it out within the unique Wolfenstein world.

Dark Reign 2 -- An ecologically unstable Earth has fallen under the rule of a repressive world police force, the Jovian Detention Authority. Charged by Earth's elite with protecting their exclusive 'dome' cities, the JDA is locked in an ongoing battle to pacify the masses of urban 'Sprawlers' who dwell in the toxic, irradiated world outside. It is not until the occurrence of a single, catastrophic event, however, that the Sprawlers unite their unconventional technologies and weaponry to engage the JDA in the violent drama of Earth's final chapter. The battle unfolds on land, sea and air, and gamers can take up the cause of either side, fighting through 20 challenging day and night missions.

American McGee's Alice -- a thrilling and distinctive rendition of the classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The game puts the player in the role of a resourceful Alice, reborn to handle the challenges of a sinister Wonderland. The game blends familiar fiction, cutting-edge 3D technology stunning graphics and sound and highly interactive levels that feature fierce action and creative puzzles. The title is slated for release in late 2000.

Black & White -- an adventure game of sorts where players take the role of a deity in a world where the surroundings are his to shape and its people are his to lord over. Players can raise a creature to gigantic proportions and teach it to do their bidding, the player decides whether he grows into an evil being or a gentle giant. Players progress through the storyline using powerful spells and battle other deities to reign supreme. The title is slated for release in winter 2000.

Command &Conquer Red Alert 2 -- a sequel to the three million selling, award-winning multiplayer, real-time strategy game Red Alert. This game brings players back to the alternate universe of Red Alert with an onslaught of new units, tactics and strategies. As in the original, gamers can choose to lead Soviet or Allied forces. Both sides are well-armed with conventional weapons and experimental technology, including Tesla weapons, Chrono weapons, weather control devices and psychic warriors. The game is scheduled for release in fall 2000.

Command & Conquer Renegade -- the world of Command & Conquer is brought to life in a 3D action game. Players will take on the role of the commando Havoc, the one-man army made famous in the original Command & Conquer strategy game. Players will wage war against the diabolical Brotherhood of Nod using not only a vast array of weapons but also more than a dozen vehicles from the Command & Conquer universe. Players can zip around on a rocket bike, fry enemies with a flame tank or throw down death from above in an Orca Fighter. The game is slated for release in winter 2000.

SimsVille -- an all new Sims game experience that gives players the power to create and control a hometown for their Sims. Players build a living community where they can explore and influence the lives of the Sims who make it their home. Players can create a town by constructing individual homes, shops and other businesses and populate the town with families, following them through their daily lives as they work, shop, play and make friends. The title is slated for release in 2001.

The Sims -- Livin' Large -- the official expansion pack for 2000's most talked about PC game. With 200 new game elements -- from a misfit Genie in a bottle to the Grim Reaper -- five new career tracks and three new architectural and decor styles, the game gives players the power to see what happens when they put their Sims into all new outrageous settings and situations. The title is expected to ship in fall 2000.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 2001 -- delivers a realistic golf simulation for cyber golfers and an emotion filled 18 holes. In addition to playing as or against Tiger Woods, game players can compete as or against top PGA TOUR pros including Mark O'Meara, Justin Leonard, Brad Faxon, Lee Janzen, Mark Calcavecchia, Stewart Cink, Robert Damron, Stuart Appleby and Steve Stricker. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001 is slated for release on the PlayStation 2 console, the PlayStation console and PC in fall 2000.

NHL 2001 -- a real hockey experience where competitors can play with or against all 30 National Hockey League teams, plus 20 international teams. The game features real player physics and new motion capture moves deliver new checks, shots and skate cycles seen in the game. NHL 2001 is scheduled for release on the PlayStation 2 console, the PlayStation and PC in fall 2000.

Sacred Amulet is currently available in Europe under the name Aztec: Curse in the Heart of the City of Gold. Sacred Amulet will be the North American name for the game. For more information on this adventure title, be sure to check out our full review of the UK version, Aztec: Curse in the Heart of the City of Gold. Enjoy!

You're Full Of It challenges players to separate fact from fiction and fool their friends with believable (yet false) answers to outrageous questions. You're Full Of It will also support Internet competitions on Hasbro's upcoming online network, www.Games.com.

You're Full Of It will feature a solo practice mode, head-to-head competition, team play, and a live multiplayer Internet game show. The game will also feature "teamplay" mode as well as observer modes so that web surfers can watch live game show via their browser. Hasbro Interactive will release You're Full Of It for Windows 95/98 this Fall.