Developer of Crackdown, Realtime Worlds, has been flashing their latest project bling which they happily boast will change the formula of the MMO. Slated for the PC, it’s like an online game of cops and robbers but everything is said to ooze excitement, and real flashy lights.

More akin to Counterstrike than traditional MMO's like World of Warcraft, there'll be no NPC grinding so it’s all player action as gangs battle the law for supremacy. LastFM will be streaming the music ingame, also there's extensive customisation for both vehicles and the player to help make the experience as personal and vivid as possible.

While not some attack or slur upon Blizzard Entertainment the Halifax bank, with the Bank of Scotland as a subsidiary, are blocking automatic monthly payments to the MMO. They cite that World of Warcraft is experiencing high incidences of credit card fraud.

They go on to state that its users themselves and not an issue with Blizzards online billing system that is the problem. While automatic payments are being stopped, customers can still subscribe to World of Warcraft but must first contact the Halifax or Bank of Scotland to authorise future payments.

Bryan Brown played Requital from developer Primal Software. Designed as an open-ended RPG along the lines of Oblivion and Two Worlds (in design, for similarity in quality read the review), what does this game offer? Read the review to see what the author thinks.

Read the full Requital review.

Peter Hines, head of Bethesda, has confirmed that Fallout 3 won't be anywhere near as big as Oblivion was in a recent interview with Gameplayer.

With the Marvel Universe Online MMO canned, Cryptic Studios seem to have salvaged what they could from the wreckage and plan to unleash a new wave of heroes and villains. Champions Online would be in direct competition with Cryptic's own previous creation, City of Heroes that NCsoft is now in possession off with an internal development group made up of ex-Cryptics.

Champions Online will be blasting, flying and zapping its way to the PC with mentioning of consoles too but how this ambition plays out only time can tell.

The next version of Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul has been released. Gamespy's "Mod of the Year 2006", OOO is possibly the most famous Oblivion mod of all time. Read the full story for more information, or...

Download OOO 1.32 Final (Full Version) now!

During one of EA's analysis reports they have let slip that BioWare, who was recently acquired by the publishing giant, is working on a number of projects including a KOTOR title. They also mentioned they're working on a MMO project which would mean that the long rumoured KOTOR MMORPG is never going to see the light of day, much to the greater joy of fans. It would be a stand-alone RPG like the two previous in the franchise.

There's no rumblings yet though on platforms but it would mostly likely hit a next-gen console before the PC if history is any indicator. A New Hope that the BioWare Empire Strikes Back and we see the Return of the Jedi knights of the old republic.

Bioware announced this afternoon that Mass Effect will be released for the PC in May 2008. Published by EA and re-designed for the PC, Mass Effect invites players to take the role of Commander Shepard as they set out on an adventure to save the galaxy from imminent destruction. Wrought with treachery, heroism, difficult decisions and a universe filled with unique and colorful species, Mass Effect delivers a truly compelling storyline.

This could potentially cause quite a stir among many gamers. BigPond have officially announced that Pirates of the Burning Sea will be distributed for free to Australians when the game is released on 27th February 2008.

Gamers are told to pre-register at BigPond's Game Area Website where they'll be the first in line to download one of the 100,000 copies of the game. Once you've registered and received your copy you'll be able to use a seven day trial subscription, but after those seven days are up you'll be required to pay $15.95 per month if you want to continue playing.

Square Enix general manager, Taku Murata, will be hosting a special GDC 2008 session entitled, “The Technology of Final Fantasy”.

Murata will be talking about the new common technology platform which will be a new game engine that is to be used across a range of titles. Final Fantasy XII is thought to be using this new engine, but we now know that Square is also developing a new MMO title that will take advantage of it.