Emphasizing substance and involving storyline, Nintendo introduces four new games for the Game Boy Advance to satisfy adventure and role-playing fans, while also meeting the current demand for all things magical and fantastic. Role-playing games are not just for hard-core gamers, but are one of the most popular gaming genres, accounting for approximately 20 percent of U.S. game sales.

The new titles -- Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Fire Emblem, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, and Sword of Mana -- continue Nintendo's pursuit of developing deep, dynamic storylines and character-development opportunities for players. Quests in these games parallel the popularity of supernatural hits like the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies. Unlike films, these new role-playing games allow players to immerse themselves in entertainment as an interactive player versus a passive viewer.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that it signed two of the best players in the National Basketball Association to assist in promoting NBA ShootOut 2004 for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and the PlayStation game console. Orlando Magic superstar guard Tracy McGrady and Los Angeles Lakers point guard Gary Payton each signed two-year deals, while All-Star shooting guard and NBA ShootOut 2003 cover athlete, Ray Allen, signed on for an additional two years as a company spokesperson. McGrady will be the cover athlete for NBA ShootOut 2004 for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation, both due out in stores this October, while Payton and Allen will be working with the company as contributing consultants, and spokespersons.

The Japanese unit of U.S. software giant Microsoft Corp. said Thursday it has appointed Yoshihiro Murayama as general manager of the unit's Xbox division. The hire of the game-industry veteran signifies the company's commitment to catching up with industry rival Sony Corp. and its popular PlayStation 2 game console. He begins his new role on Oct. 1.

Electronic Arts is inviting Harry Potter fans to live out their dream of a Quidditch victory and compete in the first-ever Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup videogame tournament event. Videogame enthusiasts in the U.S. can enter the U.S. Tournament Sweepstakes at the official Quidditch World Cup website, or at any Toys R Us location. Eight lucky winners will be flown to compete in the U.S. finals, taking place at an undisclosed location in mid-November. There players will go head-to-head on the Nintendo GameCube playing the soon-to-be-released Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup videogame from Electronic Arts, which will ship under the EA GAMES brand.

Pop Idol – The Official Video Game is coming to PlayStation 2 and PC this November. It's a music-based rhythm-action game, complete with Dance Mat mode, where you become one of the hopefuls and compete as a singer through the auditions, the heats and on to the finals. Players have to face comments on their performance from a computer-generated Simon Cowell – making him the ultimate end-of-level game boss.

Take a band of gun-toting rebels -a robot, a madman, a mole and a criminal mastermind. Put them in a vividly stunning fantasy realm. Then give them an impossible mission - pulling off the biggest heist of all time in the middle of a war. All you have to do is battle your way through dastardly enemies, giant war machines and an army of psychopathic robots. But don't worry; you have plenty of ammo and absolutely no common sense. Victory is yours in 12,000 bullets or less! Check out the new screens ...

Secret Weapons Over Normandy presents a dynamic, deeply engaging story-driven flight action experience that puts players in control of authentic World War II aircraft and challenges them to undertake the war's most dangerous missions. Read more to check some airborne screens ...

EA has released the first patch for their latest edition in the footbal sim franchise Madden NFL 2004. This upgrades updates the roster, addresses various issues such as fixing save game crashes, ati/nvidia gfx card issues and plenty more. Read more for details and download links ...

Eve Of Destruction will contain not only new skins, vehicles and new objects, it features 8 complete new custom maps. Each map is different in their own way (from realistic to fun maps) and partially adapted to the Indochina Vietnam Conflict. Infantry Combat in EoD is more realistic and more action than in Battlefield and similar to more infantry-based games like Raven Shield or Counterstrike. This patch updates the Battlefield 1942 mod Eve of Destruction mod from version 0.20 to 0.21. Includes bug fixes and balancing adjustments. Read more for download links ...

Video Game developer Running With Scissors takes the concept of multiplayer to disturbing depths never before explored outside of politics or the priesthood with POSTAL 2: Share The Pain MULTIPLAYER Edition. Vince Desi, Running With Scissors' manic madman boasted "We're coming off the most successful beta testing since the Romans discovered lions liked the taste of Christians." Read more for details ...

Get ready to pilot the world's most powerful trucks and go head-to-head in pulse-pounding off-road competitions. Whether you're grinding through mud pits in Louisiana, crunching up cliffs in California, or smashing up trees to make the ride a little bumpier for they guy behind you, keep your eyes on the prize: cash you earn on the circuit goes to buy new trucks and build up your ultimate Monster machine. Read more for some new screens!

As expected, EA Sports has released a demo for their just released golf title Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004. The demo features holes 16 through 18 on the St Andrews course. Read more for download links ...

Unleashing the horror throughout nine levels, The Suffering features dynamic lighting that illuminates frightening visions of horror-filled exploration and frantic combat sequences. In the dark world of The Suffering, creatures attack from the shadows and emerge from jail cells, chambers, the ground and trees, surprising the player in the most disturbing ways possible. As Torque, the main character, players encounter a cast of uniquely hardened criminals, prison guards and grotesque apparitions. Check out these new screens ...

Another day, another batch of game trailers were released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for :

• Metal Arms: Glitch In The System - Trailer
• Simpsons Hit'n Run - Trailer
• Asterix & Obelix : XXL - Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

DreamCatcher Games today launched its dedicated Arx Fatalis Xbox site. After considerable success on the PC, Arx Fatalis on Xbox is the RPG that console gamers have been waiting for… and the new site lives up to the game! the official Arx Fatalis Xbox site features the official trailer, an assortment of unique wallpapers, rare concept art, in-game music files and more. The site will also feature regularly updated previews, reviews and interviews, as well as an extensive screenshot gallery. The game is set to ship in November, 2003 with an SRP of $39.99.

It's time for other adventure-fantasy games to MOO-ve over as Atari, Inc. is pleased to announce that Once Upon A Knight for PC shipped to retail stores nationwide today. Once Upon a Knight offers a milk-based economy, mother-in-laws, flying witches and secretive knights named Floyd. With the best elements of conventional real-time strategy (RTS) action and role-playing game (RPG) adventure mixed together into one highly-entertaining and humorous package, Once Upon A Knight is the ultimate RTS & RPG experience for the hardcore gamer and medieval-philes.

Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne is a film-noir love story for mature audiences. Dark, tragic and intense, the in-depth story is a thrill-ride of shocking twists and revelations. Love hurts. The fierce, yet stylish action sequences and slow-motion gunplay that has become synonymous with Max Payne is back and better than ever. New and enhanced moves and options provide breathtaking cinematic game play. Max Payne 2: the Fall of Max Payne is set to raise the bar on action games all over again. Read more for screens & trailers ...

Set in 19th century China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a martial arts fighting game based on the classic teachings and techniques of the Wudan style. Combining adventure and intense, dynamic combat with the ability to explore lush, interactive environments, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon suspends the laws of space, gravity, and the human body. Players represent one of four characters: Li Mu Bai, Yu Shu Lien, Jen Yu, or Lo. Read more for some new gameboy advance screens ...

Ground Control 2 : Operation Exodus takes place during the year 2741 AD, roughly 300 years after the events in the original game. The democratic and freedom caring Northern Star Alliance (NSA) is being hard pressed by the warmongering Terran Empire. The war has recently entered a new stage; a brutal and deadly ground war, as the Empire has managed to land their first troopships on the last NSA controlled planet – Morningstar Prime... Read more to check out 2 new screens ...