GameSpot is reporting about Croteam's plans for a new Serious Sam game. There isn't a whole lot of info, but they are working on a PC and an Xbox version of the sequel, which will use the all new Serious Engine 2. Serious Sam 2 will be released some time during 2004.

The guys at Gamers Hell have news about a Serious Sam Gold edition coming out some time soon. This Gold edition will contain the first and second game both with extra maps, along with a new episode. A total of 20 single and 14 multiplayer maps will ship. Estimated price is $19.95.

The guys at Seriously! let us know that there's a new beta patch (also on FileShack), updating Serious Sam: The Second Encounter to version 1.50. There is 5.1 surround audio support, and network code has been improved (among other things).

According to an update on the official Croteam website, a patch for Serious Sam:The Second Encounter will be released soon. It will feature all new netcode. Thanks Serious Zone.

PC.IGN finally started updated and have a story on a possible new Serious Sam game, as they heard from unnamed sources that a third game will be released some time next year on PC and Xbox. Not much else is known. An Xbox port of the original Serious Sam will be released soon. Thanks HomeLAN Fed.

Fan site Seriously! is now offering two new modelling tools for Serious Sam. There is a new SKA Tools release, and a 3D Studio Max exporter.

Serious Sam fan site Seriously! is hosting an updated SDK for Serious Sam: The Second Encounter. Source files are now in sync with the recent 1.07 patch code.

Seriously!, a Serious Sam fan site, has word of a new patch for Serious Sam: The Second Encounter. Version 1.07 includes a new skeletal animation system among other things.

Gaming Groove has posted a walkthrough for Serious Sam: The Second Encounter. For those of who you might get stuck in Croteam's latest.

Gathering of Developers sends along this press release announcing that Serious Sam: The Second Encounter is now shipping to stores in the U.S. Twelve new single player levels, seven new enemies, three new weapons and more than twenty multiplayer levels can be yours for $19.99. G.O.D. also released 20 new multiplayer screenshots. Note that some of these screenshots are rather large in download size.

Gamespy Daily has a set of new screenshots from the upcoming Serious Sam: The Second Encounter. The game will hit US stores early February.

The Croteam website has been updated with word that Serious Sam: The Second Encounter has started to show up in the U.K. Thanks Voodoo Extreme, where some of their readers sent word that the game is out in Germany as well.

PC.IGN has interviewed John Dick, who provided the voice of Serious Sam. They talk about how he scored the gig, if he plays games himself, what made him get a Serious Sam bomb logo tattoo, and a few other things. There's also 13 sound files available from Serious Sam: The Second Encounter.

Less than a year after the original Serious Sam went gold, Take 2 and Croteam today announced that next chapter, The Second Encounter, has gone gold. It should arrive in stores the 5th of February. Here's a bit from the press release

"Serious Sam: The Second Encounter" offers numerous multiplayer options including the highly acclaimed "Serious Warped Deathmatch" MOD (Version 3) created by A Few Screws Loose. Players can join forces against the swarm of enemies in cooperative play through all single-player levels, an option rarely delivered in the first-person shooter genre. Players may utilize the multiplayer option via LAN and Internet for up to 16 players in six different multiplayer modes and over 20 multiplayer maps. Title also includes exclusive split screen support on a single computer for up to four players. Other serious features include: - Seven new fiends added to Mental's evil army, in addition to all your old enemies - Over 20 multiplayer levels - Three all new weapons: Flamethrower, Sniper Rifle with 8X zoom and the ultra-wicked Chainsaw - 12 new single player levels plus over 15 multiplayer levels for Scorematch and Deathmatch - a HUGE addition to the "Serious Sam" Universe
- Four power-ups: Serious Speed, Serious Damage, Invulnerability and Invisibility for a twist to the classic Doom-style gameplay "Serious Sam" is famous for - Seriously Warped Deathmatch right out of the box, plus expanded Deathmatch straight from Croteam

I managed to get a hold of Admir from CroTeam to ask them what they are working on next with the near completion of Serious Sam : SE. Looks like they are working on their own technology again, the Serious Engine 2 and also exploring possible XBox stuff. Here ya go:

Shack: If not a specific project, any hints on directions you think you'll be going? Admir: After the holidays, we will continue the design and prototype of Serious Engine 2 which will power Serious Sam 2. Also, we will finishing skeletal animation system. This will alow us possible entrance into XBox. We made some wishes recently to switch SSam to XBox, so we are hoping it will come true. Of course, we still need to finalize the talks with our publisher. Shack: What have you learned from SS ans SS2 that you think you will be applying to the next project? Admir: We have great playability, no doubt. Fast frantic action is also there. We are working on the Serious Engine and technology which will allow us to have features the players want (more complex and advance cutsequences done in realtime, facial expressions and lipsyncing, high, really HIGH0 polycount models without impact on framerate, terrain .....) all packed in well present story. This doesn't mean action will slow down, just there will be more story telling which will drive palyer through game, more things will happen around player etc... Shack: Have you guys chosen a publisher for your next project? Admir: We are satisfied with Gathering of Developers and Take2, so they are our first pick. P.S. I know you wanted actually to give US the GOTY award but that's ok, you are forgiven.