Hidenori Tanaka of Japan became the first Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup videogame world tournament champion, Electronic Arts announced today. The thrilling international videogame tournament finals took place yesterday at the Tower of London in the UK, where competitors between the ages of eight and fourteen years, from twelve countries around the world, including France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Japan, Italy, USA, UK, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Holland, and Brazil competed for the prestigious world champion title.

Sports Interactive has released a fix for their latest Championship Manager 03-04 update patch. This fix addresses the disappearing matches bug that came to light with the v4.1.3 patch from a few days ago. Note that this is a fix, so you still need to apply the patch itself first if you have not done so. Read more for download links ...

World Of Warcraft fans have surely noticed that the Q4 2003 promised beta for Blizzard's WoW has not yet appeared. In a shocking turn of events Blizzard has now announced it is being delayed. "Over the past few weeks, it has become apparent that the World of Warcraft beta will not be available within the fourth quarter of 2003. The development team is currently hard at work testing the alpha version of the game, and we look forward to bringing you an outstanding beta in early 2004."

In Tribes: Vengeance's single-player campaign, gamers become immersed in a roiling galactic thriller. Throughout the game, the player catches glimpses of other, interrelated stories that are unfolding behind-the-scenes. In addition, gamers are given the opportunity to experience the full scope of the single-player story through multiple viewpoints and characters. Check out these new screens ...

Gas Powered Games has released an updated version of their Dungeon Siege Tool Kit, bringing their DSTK to v1.5, it contains the latest versions of the Siege Editor and Siege Max, and is compatible with the original Dungeon Siege (v1.11) and the latest expansion pack Legends Of Aranna (v1.5). Read more for details & download links ...

As a holiday gift to EverQuest fans, Sony Online Entertainment today released a puzzle that will reveal the highly anticipated class tree for EverQuest II, on the company's EverQuest II game site. EverQuest II features 48 classes available through a tree branch progression, allowing you to choose your class as you advance in the game. The answer to the puzzle will be announced after the holiday break, but fans are sure to solve it much sooner.

Whiptail Interactive today announced that it has shipped the action-packed kung fu RPG Blade & Sword to retail stores nationwide. Blade & Sword has an MSRP of $29.99 and has been rated M for Mature.

Linden Lab today introduced version 1.2 of Second Life, the online service that allows residents to join a rapidly growing world in which they can play, build, or live, creating anything imaginable. Second Life residents can now buy their own virtual land at auction, using either real or in-world currency. And Second Life isn’t just for the PC any more. Macintosh users with OS X.3 can help test Second Life’s new Beta version for Macintosh. Additionally, a new pricing option with no monthly fees allows you to join SecondLife for only $9.95. The Second Life v1.2 upgrade is downloadable today for a free 7-day trial at www.SecondLife.com.

Digital Reality has released a new patch for their 3D space RTS Hegemonia: Legions of Iron. This upgrade brings your retail game to v2.01 and addresses a problem in running the script editor on WinXP and now it is possible to create missions and carry over units and heroes between them like in the single player campaign. Digital Reality also released the mod tools for Hegemonia: Legions of Iron, allowing you to create your own missions for this 3D space RTS. You will need the v2.01 update patch to run your (or other people's) custom made missions. Read more for details and download links ...

Vivendi Universal Games and Massive Entertainment today unveiled the third faction in Ground Control II: Operation Exodus - the Virons - an alien warrior race.

DreamCatcher Games has today shipped Arx Fatalis for exclusive use on the Xbox, in North America. RPGs have been extremely successful on Xbox, and this trend is certain to continue as Arx Fatalis hits stores today. The game is an intelligent first-person RPG that throws gamers into a complex fantasy underworld of trolls, goblins and charming "Snake-women".

The player starts of as a normal citizen in the society governed by the UCF. The "Freedom Front" offers the player a chance to join the group. The player can either join, or decline and join the UCF group. The player is then assigned the post of an army general, commanding a small army. From here, the story can go in any direction based on the way the player plays (thanks 3DGamers). Raptor Entertainment released some new screens & trailers with in game footage ...

Acclaim Entertainment today announced that it has entered into an exclusive global publishing agreement with Reno-based developer BattleBorne Entertainment, Inc. for their soon-to-be announced video game for the next-generation gaming systems. Comprised of former members of the celebrated Fallout 2, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon teams, BattleBorne is currently utilizing the critically acclaimed Snowblind Studios technology and their own proprietary tools to develop the game.

Mythic Entertainment, developer and publisher of massively multiplayer online role-playing game "Dark Age of Camelot," and many other popular online games, announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft Corporation for trademark infringement and unfair competition.

Jowood have now released a new patch for Phenomic Game Development's 3D RTS/RPG game SpellForce: the Order of Dawn. This update patch brings your retail game to v1.05 and addresses a few Avatar issues, Quickload function key, and more .. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Developed by Reflections Interactive (an Atari studio), the masterminds behind Driver and Driver 2 - which have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide - DRIV3R is an action-packed driving adventure game that stays true to its roots, incorporating the cinematic gameplay and gritty street crime of its predecessors with ground-breaking graphics and three mammoth, wide-open city environments: Miami, Florida; Nice, France; and Istanbul, Turkey.

The anticipated sequel has arrived. Embark on a new adventure in Baldur's Gate and brave terrible dangers in search of fortune, glory, and power. Face a multitude of sinister enemies while traveling through many spectacular environments in this action-packed fantasy game. Rid the lands of chaos, mastering skills, spells, and deadly weapons … the fate of thousands hangs in the balance. Read more for the full preview ..

XIII features a conspiracy of epic proportions, and players will unravel clues behind the story’s compelling and mysterious events. XIII includes themes of amnesia, in which players must uncover sinister plots against themselves, the U.S. government, and even the president himself. The only clues players have are the roman numerals XIII tattooed on their shoulder and a key to a safe deposit box in a New York bank.

Strategy First and Object Software have released another patch for their RPG game Prince Of Qin. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.28 and addresses a handful of game crashes, optimizations, as well as all fixes from prior updates. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

Matrix Games is pleased to announce that Across the Dnepr has been completed and is available for purchased. Across the Dnepr is a new campaign scenario for the Korsun Pocket game. It recreates the events of July 1941, when Operation Barbarossa was in full swing and German armies were poised to enter the heartland of Russia. Army Group Center is aimed at the vital objective of Smolensk, located on the Dnepr river and defending the shortest route to Moscow.

BiosFear will enter its Open Beta phase today, December 22, around noon. After a successful Closed Beta with many enthusiastic players, Tiscali Games decided to let everybody in before Christmas. Read more for details ...