Sega Sports gamers scored a homerun today with the announcement that World Series Baseball 2K3 which ships in May 2002, will be available exclusively on the Xbox video game system from Microsoft!

All-Star Baseball 2003 ships for the Box!

Posted Thursday, February 28, 2002 by Woody

Delivering a mighty grand slam, Acclaim Sports, today announced that it has simultaneously shipped its eagerly anticipated, award-winning hardball franchise, All-Star Baseball 2003, on all three next generation video game console systems. All-Star Baseball 2003 features many exciting new modes of play and options that deliver unparalleled hardball realism. Click here for the whole story! Expect a XSN review of All-Star Baseball sometime next week!

Nvidia NOT Dropped by Microsoft

Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2002 by Ulysses

The brawn behind Xbox - Nvidia, has dismissed talk of Microsoft dropping its chip from the next version of the Xbox game console. "It's all speculation," Michael Hara, Nvidia vice president of investor relations, said of Microsoft's plans for the next version of the Xbox. But he also pointed out that decisions on the next Xbox are likely to come later rather than sooner. Responding to a question at the Robertson Stephens technology conference, Hara suggested Microsoft is unlikely to release a new version of Xbox in the next year or two because it will take that long to recoup through royalties some of the money it is losing on the game console. Clearly prepared for the Xbox rumor to surface, Hara came to the conference armed with a statement from Microsoft saying that Nvidia is its graphic chipmaker of choice.

Pro Race Driver impressions

Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2002 by Ulysses

The game will differ from conventional racers by incorporating a story element. You'll assume the role of Ryan McKane, who begins competing for top racing honors following his father's death during a race. You'll work your way up through a variety of competitions, earning money and cars in your quest to be the best of the best. The story will be advanced by 17 cutscenes, as well as 20 additional scenes that will come up depending on how players are doing in the game. Pro Race Driver is currently scheduled for release on the Xbox and PlayStation 2 later this year.

Sega Sports NBA2K2 hits Xbox!

Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2002 by Woody

SEGA SPORTS NBA 2K2 DEBUTS ON XBOX TAKING THE ACCLAIMED BASKETBALL VIDEO GAME SERIES TO NEW HEIGHTS Sega Sports NBA 2K2 for Xbox Recreates NBA Action in Lifelike Detail SAN FRANCISCO (February 26, 2002) - Sega Sports(tm), the brand that continues to set new standards in sports gaming, today announced the release of the highly anticipated "Sega Sports™ NBA 2K2" for the Xbox™ video game system from MicrosoftÒ. Developed by Visual Concepts, a member of the Sega group and the development house behind the sports video game revolution, "Sega Sports NBA 2K2" is the pinnacle of basketball simulations, allowing gamers to experience all the strategy of the actual NBA game along with the unsurpassed athleticism of its star players, from the preseason tip-off all the way to the NBA Finals. "Sega Sports NBA 2K2," the first game in the series to be released for Xbox, combines gameplay elements such as new low-post and crossover moves, intelligent coaching decisions, intuitive defensive strategy, and the ability to scrimmage and run plays during practice, to give gamers a true sense of what it's like to be competing during an actual NBA season. An unprecedented level of user control lets the gamer set up pick & roll plays, guard the baseline on defense, fight for the rebound in the paint, and use the game's timing-based steals to intercept balls in the passing lane. Taking full advantage of the graphical prowess of Xbox, "Sega Sports NBA 2K2" delivers a visually stunning presentation, with detailed player models that are comprised of more than 6,000 polygons each and enhanced facial animations that brings all of the game's superstars to life. The arenas in "NBA 2K" are designed to the exact specifications of their real-life counterparts and individually lit to recreate their specific look and feel. Adding to the arena atmosphere, are sideline characters such as cheerleaders, camera crews, referees, bench players, and individually modeled coaches. The high level of detail is further carried onto the court, with lifelike player models that are designed in the spitting image of their real-life counterparts, right down to individual tattoos, accessories, and hairstyles. Additionally, more than 500 new animations, including new dunks, blocks, and dribble moves, add to the game's fluid pace, capturing the rhythmic nature of the game of basketball. Given its improved player models and dramatic camerawork, gamers will have a hard time differentiating "Sega Sports NBA 2K2" for Xbox from a regular NBA telecast. This game is as true-to-life as it gets, with its TV-style overlays, full commentary and analysis during replays, and exciting crowd reactions. Naturally, "Sega Sports NBA 2K2" for Xbox also keeps current with updated rosters, arenas and team uniforms.

Xbox Au Launched

Posted Tuesday, February 26, 2002 by Gareth

I have launched my Xbox Au website, which is an Xbox Site for Australian gamers. So pay a visit to Xbox Au and say hello.

All-Star Baseball 2003 vs. Triple Play 2002

Posted Saturday, February 23, 2002 by Woody

IGN has posted comparisons between All-Star Baseball 2003 & Triple Play 2002, & believe it or not, it isn't an insider! (yet) Click here for the full story

New TransWorld Snowboarding Screens

Posted Friday, February 22, 2002 by Ulysses

Take a look at the latest screenshots of Infogrames' upcoming snowboarding game, Transworld Snowboarding. Experience life on the soft powder in the arctic world of TransWorld Snowboarding. Developed by Housemarque, TransWorld Snowboarding offers huge, living real-world snowboard levels with natural snow kickers and ramps to launch off of. Treacherous terrain and steep cliffs add to the danger in TransWorld Snowboarding with rails and downed trees to jib and grind and natural half-pipes and quarter-pipes to perform tons of tricks. Housemarque is now in the final stages of the development of TWS, for a launch date set on Q3 2002. In the latest builds of the game, they have included new features such as Radiosity lighting, particle-effects, object shadows etc.

Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2: Review

Posted Friday, February 22, 2002 by Ulysses

GameFirst! has posted a review on Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 - Heres a little taste from GameFirst!: The Miracle Man is virtually back, and this time Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 is bigger and better than before. It still shares the crown of great BMX game with Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX. Neither of these titles are perfect, and I look forward to improvements in the genre of BMX games, but each has something to offer and making a decision between them can be tough. Fortunately, Mirra is the only game in town for the Xbox, and while that is sure to change in the future, right now Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 is the game to get if you love BMX and you need to play it on your Xbox. Click here to read more

World Cup 2002

Posted Thursday, February 21, 2002 by Gareth

We have added 20 fantastic screenshots of EA's upcoming title: FIFA World Cup 2002. So head over to the screenshots page and check them out.

Xbox hits stores in Japan

Posted Thursday, February 21, 2002 by Ulysses

Microsoft stands on the verge of history today, readying to launch Xbox in Japan and finally about to stake its claim as a global contender to PlayStation 2. Friday, February 22 is the day the battle of the next generation hard men is truly joined. Isn't it simply electrifying, kiddlewinks? Despite the imminent release of the machine, Microsoft is still refusing to confirm the actual amount of consoles Japan has received for launch. General consensus and solid Japanese reports are putting the figure at somewhere between 200,000 and 300,000, although Microsoft has made no confirmation of this. "We're not saying at the minute," said a spokesperson today. "We're still focusing on sell-through." While "the company line is that's it's going to be the most challenging region", speaking privately, Xbox Europe staffers have been encouraged by the unexpectedly high turn-out for the pre-launch testing event, Xbox Xperience, in Tokyo. Lengthy queues were the result of 15,000 gamers clamouring for a hand-on with the Microsoft machine. Previously, industry pundits had pointed to an impossible task for Xbox in Japan given the popularity of PlayStation 2 in the region. A tight line-up accompanies Xbox's Japanese launch. Gamers will be able to play Double S.T.E.A.L (Wreckless in Europe and America), Jet Set Radio Future, Genma Onimusha, Air Force Delta II, Silent Hill 2 and Amped, among others, this Friday. The Japanese launch comes as a pre-cursor to Xbox's far more sizeable assault on Europe on March 14. Microsoft is looking to announce its launch line-up at the end of next week, the software it hopes will sell-through 1.5 million units of hardware in the first three months of Xbox's European mission. Japan's Xbox Sports launch lineup: ESPN Winter X Games Snowboarding 2002 Hyper Sports 2002 Winter Japan gamers testing out the great Xbox for the first time!

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3: Preview

Posted Thursday, February 21, 2002 by Ulysses

The crew over at Gamestop did a great preview on THPS3. Here is a little taste: Before the intervention of a little-known game developer called Neversoft, the words "Tony Hawk" and "video game" were far from synonymous with each other. However, two and a half years and several games later, the Tony Hawk series has done nothing short of completely rejuvenate the extreme sports game genre, broaden the general appeal of video games, provide a template for dozens of other extreme sports games, and bring a greater level of credibility to the sport of skateboarding. Click here to read more

UFC: Tapout ships

Posted Wednesday, February 20, 2002 by Ulysses

Crave Entertainment today announced that Ultimate Fighting Championship: Tapout for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft shipped.UFC: Tapout captures the leading fighters in the world of mixed martial arts, putting them head to head in a simulation of the real-life Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view event. "Not only does UFC: Tapout beautifully represent the incredible graphic power of the Xbox, but the fighting action is equally intense," said Craig Owens, Senior Group Marketing Manager at Crave Entertainment. "With Tapout, we've taken the full contact combat of the UFC and enhanced the gameplay with a deeper Create-a-Fighter mode and an Arcade Mode that lasts for hours with lots of hidden fighters to unlock." UFC: Tapout features new modes, new moves, and new fighters, bringing the gaming experience closer to the intense reality of the sport. Packed with a full roster of the world's most accomplished athletes, the game features some of the UFC's classic brawlers and current champions, including UFC light heavyweight world champion Tito Ortiz and lightweight champion Jens Pulver. Offering more full contact fighting than any game ever created, UFC: Tapout recreates music, sound and visuals on par with actual UFC telecasts. Small details combine for a big difference as the technology of the Xbox makes it possible to see every detail, even down to perfectly replicated fighter tattoos. High-resolution renderings of the fighters, accurate representations of the arenas, and high-energy fighter entrances accurately capture the in-your-face, aggressive feel of the sport with jaw-dropping realism. In the new Arcade mode, players go head-to-head against fighter after fighter, wielding either their own custom-made brawler or one of 27 UFC competitors. UFC: Tapout also offers a Versus mode, a Tournament mode for up to eight players, and an in-depth Create-a-Fighter mode with more than 1,000 variations to choose from.

RalliSport Challenge Out Early

Posted Wednesday, February 20, 2002 by Ulysses

Microsoft is getting a head start and releasing RalliSport Challenge a week earlier than originally planned. Originally slated for a March 14th, release, RalliSport Challenge will get its engines reving a week earlier. Now available in stores on March 7, 2002, RalliSport Challenge will give you the chance to put the pedal to the metal and experience some great graphics and high-speed competition.

Update: FIFA World Cup 2002

Posted Wednesday, February 20, 2002 by Ulysses

Before 37 billion people worldwide come to a standstill to follow the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ competition, EA SPORTS™ offers soccer fans the opportunity to determine for themselves who will win the world's most coveted trophy in 2002 FIFA World Cup. As the official interactive games provider of the 2002 FIFA World Cup tournament, the game promises to capture every moment of glory, every emotion, every sound and every aspect of a truly global event, giving consumers the opportunity to kick-off the FIFA World Cup frenzy by playing in the tournament before it begins. Gamers will find a whole new world of showboating and high-tempo, high-impact action, obvious from the first touch of the ball. Key Features Official and exclusive content - The only interactive soccer game licensed to use the official FIFA World Cup, insignia, mascots and the 20 new World Cup stadiums in Japan and Korea. Star Players - Lifelike representation of all the star players participating in the World Cup tournament, combined with the exceptional individual talents that characterize their style of play in real life. Accessible and exciting new game play -'Air Play,' delivers intuitive one-button headers, volleys, scissor kicks, juggling, and more. Showboating and high-tempo, high-impact play is both exciting and accessible from the first touch of the ball. New player-to-player animations - New player-to-player animations result in aggressive jostling for the ball both on the ground and in the air. 'World Cup Moments' - Key dramatic moments during the tournament including the beginning of a match, the end of a match and key goals are highlighted by epic cinematics. Using replays, player animations, original scores by the Vancouver Symphony and special effects, World Cup Moments underscore the emotional range of play with increasing intensity as games become more important. 'Moment Zooms' - New camera angles and replays capture intensity of World Cup games as they dramatize nearly missed shots, fouls and goals by focusing on player facial animations as they grimace and fall to their knees in frustration or pump their fists and cheer in celebration of a goal. Tournament Mode - A seven game series beginning with round-robin play, followed by playoffs leading to the final match with a progressive story line and a rising intensity as you advance. New stadium environments- Teams will be met with a rising tide of crowd excitement with thousands of fans sporting team colors, country specific chants, and an explosion of special effects including lasers, confetti, streamers, flags.

Info on Street Hoops from Activision

Posted Wednesday, February 20, 2002 by Woody

IGN has an in-depth look & the first screenshots of Activision's Street Hoops, for the Box! "The pre-alpha version we saw today showed off exceptional motion capture work, coupled with smooth dribbling, handling, and shooting animations. It features as many as eight different camera angles, and looks better than we expected" Click here for the full story

EA World Cup 2002 News

Posted Tuesday, February 19, 2002 by Gareth

EA Sports has just announced 2002 FIFA World Cup, the latest in their international football franchise. The last version of FIFA went on sale before Christmas and was available for PC, PlayStation2 and PlayStation. This special World Cup edition will launch on Microsoft's Xbox and Nintendo's GameCube as well as the established formats, and could well prove to be a key GameCube launch title due to its on-sale date. With the real World Cup competition kicking off on May 31st, EA is planning to give us a healthy preview of the action with an April 26th release date currently set for this game on all formats. 2002 FIFA World Cup will be the only officially licensed World Cup game available and will also feature fully licensed national teams and players - so no bogus Beckhams or dodgy Djorkaeffs. 'We've gone to great lengths to set out to develop the most realistic, enjoyable FIFA World Cup experience' said the game's executive producer, Marc Aubanel. 'In order to do so we've signed an unprecedented number of licences so we can deliver soccer fans their favourite players and teams in FIFA World Cup uniforms, competing in sanctioned World Cup stadiums, replicated with life-like detail.' New game features will include updated animations and even more realistic player faces and celebrations, plus a new 'Air Play' one-button feature for trick shots, volleys and scissors kicks. A new replay system will also be in place alongside dramatic camera angles and zooms designed to give the game a more televisual feel. And of course there will be a World Cup Tournament mode - a seven game series leading through the playoffs to the World Cup Final. Reckon you can do it? We'll have more details as soon as we get a proper look at the game, but in the meantime feast your eyes on the first 20 screenshots of the Xbox version over at Gamespot UK.

First info & screenshots of Red Card Soccer 2003 from Midway

Posted Tuesday, February 19, 2002 by Woody

Lace up the spikes and don’t forget your shinguards because you’re about to get kicked in the teeth by the most entertaining Soccer game ever created. With Midway’s RedCard Soccer you’ll kick, head, & tackle your way through 32 international teams and their fans for the coveted title of World Champion. Click here the first screens & info

New reviews added

Posted Monday, February 18, 2002 by Gareth

We have added 2 new reviews today, they are as follows: NFL Fever 2002 NHL 2002 So why don't you head over to our Reviews section and check them out.

Site Extensions

Posted Monday, February 18, 2002 by Gareth

Ever wanted your own part of a website? Where you update news on your favourite game, well we are giving you that opportunity. What it involves is that we set up a page for you (with newspro so you can add news real easy), and well you maintain news for that site. If you are a Madden fan, or a Fever fan, or even an NHL fan and you want to post news for your favourite game on a special dedicated page right here at XSN then send me an e-mail and we can sort things out.

Upcoming games, American release dates!

Posted Monday, February 18, 2002 by Woody

Here are the upcoming Xbox Sports Games through March: 2/26 - All-Star Baseball 2003 3/04 - Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing 3/05 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 3/05 - Knockout Kings 2002 3/07 - Rallisport Challenge 3/26 - Triple Play 2002 Q1 - Transworld Snowboarding Q1 - Championship Manager Q1 - TransWorld Skateboarding

Tyson gets an earful

Posted Monday, February 18, 2002 by Gareth

The PAIN (Polymorphic And Interpolative Node-mapping) damage engine, created especially for Codemasters’ Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing, delivers dynamic visuals of boxers’ faces that show off the game’s promise of being the most intense boxing experience on consoles. Blood, sweat, tears and bruises – it’s all there whether it’s you or your opponent that takes the beating. Land a really bang-on punch as see your opponent’s face swell up as the PAIN engine allows areas of the boxers’ faces to expand over the textured damage effects. The developers have created the PAIN facial shaping engine to ensure their vision that Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing captures aggressive attention to fight detail. In addition to showing damage, the facial shaping technology of the PAIN engine also enables the game’s uniquely flexible character creation system. In Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing players create up to four of their own custom boxers; choosing their personal, physical and boxing attributes. Way ahead of any other fight game, the boxer creation system lets the player manipulate around 40 different parts of the body and head, altering size and appearance. Due April 26 2002 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox in the UK, Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing’s gameplay is aggressive and confrontational and, for the first time, will deliver a video game that the hard-hitting sport deserves.

Welcome to the New Look XSN

Posted Monday, February 18, 2002 by Gareth

Well to start of this is our new design, hope you like it cause its staying put. You can have your say on the design in our Forums and suggest anything you want. Also we have streamlined our site to give us a bit more bandwidth so the site runs a bit quicker, we have removed the parts of our site that took up most space and attracted little visitors, you'll probably notice that some parts have been removed. Not only the site but the forums have undergone and extreme facelift, as has our Reviews and Articles section which we will concentrate heavily on as well as the most upto date news on the web.