Your weekly update of GBA news and screens.

And here we are again with yet another edition of Advance Weekly (it's getting hard to think of a nice intro, so this'll have to do for this week). This week the scene has been revived a bit with a few newly announced games, but more about that later. Let's start with something completely different...

Nintendo and the DigiPen Institute of Technology have joined forces and the 'Nintendo Professorship of Video Game Technology' was born... Last week, Nintendo announced that they are sponsering a five-year professorship program at the DigiPen Insitute of Technology. Like Nintendo said: "The industry is always looking for talented people who can take us to the next level, and this professorship will help strengthen DigiPen's dedication to its students and our industry." So, if you're talented and still need a nice new course, this might be your big chance to break through.

On to the games! First of all, Nintendo has set the US release dates for two of their major upcoming games featuring your most favorite plumber, Mario. First of all, Mario & Donkey Kong will be released on the 24th of May, 2004. Roughly one month after that (June, 28) Mario Golf: Advance Tour will hit the American stores. But I've got more releasedates for you. Atari has given us the European releasedates for a few interesting titles. First of all, the first person shooter Ice Nine is scheduled for Februari 13, 2004. Then there's a new title called Asterix & Obelix XXL set for June 21, 2004. No information is known about this title yet. Recently announced for the US, Dragonball Z: Super Sonic Warriors will also hit the European stores. On the 27th of August, that is. Not much is known about this new title, except that it is described as an RPG. Dragonball Z: Legacy of Goku III is still on the releaseschedule, but still without a fixed date.

You might think those are the only dates set this week, but then you're wrong! We've still got Shining Soul 2 set for the 26th of March (which would make an excellent birthday present for me), Shining Force on the 30th of April and Banjo Pilot, Sonic Advance 3 and Donkey Kong Country 2 for June 2004.

Let's move on to some possible games. Last week, Electronic Arts announced that they've entered into an agreement with Marvel Enterprises. The agreement allows EA to deveop a new fighting game featuring the well-known superheroes from the Marvel Universe (like Spiderman and Superman) and the original set of EA heroes (can anyone name one please?). I can feel a Marvel vs EA coming. However, EA also gained the rights to create a game based on the upcoming Catwoman-movie. In the game, you will control Catwoman, utilizing her catlike skills, senses and cunning to defeat her enemies. Boasting incredible acrobatic skills, Catwoman can leap across roofs, run up walls, pounce on prey, utilize inimitable "cat senses" (Rrrrrr...) and avoid enemy bullets with feline grace. In addition, she can use her whip to swing through the air and utilize the interactive environments to trap or knock her foes unconscious. Catwoman is scheduled for a release in summer 2004.

Then there's Take-Two. Take-Two announced an agreement with Cartoon Network allowing them to develop and publish video games for all new Cartoon Network branded properties. The first property that will be licensed by Take-Two under this agreement is Cartoon Network's hit series, Codename: Kid's Next Door. No specific platforms have been named yet, but since the Game Boy Advance is still seen as 'kiddy' and Cartoon Network's target audience is 'six to eleven year-old', there's a big chance this game will end up between the other GBA games.

Time for some Japanese action. ZOIDS is a popular word in the land of the rising sun, and Atari will try to get that word popular here aswell. Last week, Atari therefor registered the name of ZOIDS: Legacy as a Game Boy Advance title in the US. Some other news from Japan also hit the GBA scene: Capcom is working on a third version of Rockman Zero. Rockman Zero 3 will be put onto the Japanese market on the 23rd of April. It was also said that the game will feature E-Reader+ connectivity, but no details were given yet.

Ok, after reading all that stuff, I can imagine you'd like to see some screens aswell. Luckily for you, I managed to get hold of some assets for 2 upcoming games. Let me start with introducing FightBox. In this game, you'll be able to create your own hero which you'll use to fight yourself through some arena's to gain immortality. 12 tournaments across 4 difficulty levels , 6 eliminator games and TV's Showdown fight and the possibility to battle a friend.

I was talking about 2 games. The other game was mentioned before in previous editions of Advance Weekly. His name: Sam Fisher. His game: Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow. His objective: well... actually there are 22 objectives spread through 9 missions. Compared to the first Splinter Cell game, a few things have changed. Of course there will be new NPC characters with an improved AI and new moves (sneak, force coop, human shield, grab enemies, floor roll, the capability to hide in the shadows, behind objects and walls), but Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow utilises a new light and shadow system designed specifically for stealth gameplay. Sam can now hide behind objects, shoot lights and use shadows to progress through his missions. But there's more... 14 minigames to use all around the 22 mission's objectives, 3 silent scope game modes (Camera shoot, Sniper and Laser Mic) and the ability to use Sam's night and thermal vision everywhere and anytime.

The first Splinter Cell game was pretty good in my opinion, so I'm looking forward to see how this one turns out to be.

Just like in every edition, I'll end with a small list of game-assets:

• FightBox (screens)
• Kirby: Labyrinth of the Mirror (screens)
• Mario Golf: Advance Tour (boxart)
• Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (screens)

And that was really everything for this time. Comments (I'm not gonna start about 'especially positive ones' due to last week's comments) are always welcome, so send them along.

Dennis Stam (aka Blackbird on the boards)

[email protected].