Revealed a few weeks ago, Activision today officially announced it has signed a licensing deal that grants Activision the global rights, excluding Japan, to develop console, handheld and PC games based on the Transformers brand. The first game will be tied to the much-anticipated July 4, 2007 movie release of the live action Transformers film.

The Wild is a single-player, side-scrolling adventure game based on the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures’ film, premiering April 14, 2006. Players take on the role of Samson the Lion or Benny the Squirrel as they journey from the New York City Zoo to the wild in search of Samson’s lost teenage son, Ryan.

Dino Crisis 2 takes place outdoors, in the lush detailed environments of the jungle, as player’s fight to survive the constant attack of vicious dinosaurs. Capcom has released a tiny patch fixing a CD in Drive bug when you use it with a fully installed game.

BFME 2 takes part in the North where a battle is raging between Sauron's forces vs. elves and dwarves. It will be possible to create/customize your own hero, apart from known figures such as Arwin, and become more powerful as you progress in the game. While BFME was all land based, the sequel will also take the action on the sea, naval battles included.

Half-Life 2: Episode One is an all-new episode created by Valve that extends the Half-Life 2 single player adventure. The player reprises his role of Dr. Gordon Freeman, who must immediately face the repercussions of his actions in City 17 and the Citadel. Freeman reconnects with Alyx Vance and her robot, Dog, as they continue their support of the resistance's battle against the Combine forces.

2K Games today announced Stronghold Legends, a standalone game based on an upgraded Stronghold 2 engine, combining beautifully crafted visuals and well balanced gameplay with the epic legends of the middle ages. Read more for details and screens..

In Tycoon City: New York, players become moguls by constructing and customizing hundreds of businesses and famous landmarks anywhere and anyway they want in a bustling simulation of New York City. Players must create and improve their businesses to outclass the competition, and become rich and famous in New York City.

THQ today announced that a deal has been signed with Painkiller developer People Can Fly to bring their forthcoming title to consumers worldwide. Under the terms of the agreement, the as-yet untitled game is expected to be developed for a global release across next-gen platforms in fall 2007.

MMO developer Red 5 Studios and Offset Software, a developer of next generation games, today announce that Red 5 Studios has agreed to license the Offset Engine for use in Red 5 Studios' upcoming massively multiplayer online game (MMO) title.

Featuring all new authentic tricks, FIFA Street 2 provides new gameplay experiences by making over-the-top moves and skills even bigger in this fast-paced sequel.

Turbine announced today that Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach has gone gold and is in final production. The world's first online roleplaying game based on the legendary pen and paper Dungeons & Dragons game is currently scheduled to ship on February 28, 2006.

Blitz Games today announced the signing of its first title for Nintendo's next generation Revolution console. Details of the game itself will be announced shortly by a major publisher.

Boasting incredible 3-D graphics to accompany classic 2-D game play, this fast-paced adventure will have Mario fans cheering as they make their way over fields, under water, through castles and into the air. New and familiar enemies are everywhere, not to mention mind-blowing challenges made possible by the dual screens of the NDS, and also wireless multiplayer with a friend.

Set in the original 60’s Bond era, From Russia With Love features movie-based missions as well as original, action-intensive sequences, a broad and deep variety of gameplay, social multiplayer experiences, gorgeous women, and classic, upgradeable weapons and gadgetry with modern mechanics.

State of Emergency 2 takes place 10 years after the original and has Spanky, Bull and MacNeill again up against the Corporation. This time, they not only have access to guns but also - for the first time - helicopters, speedboats, Tanks and APCs and new team members.

A Canadian research team performed a study of 100 university undergraduates in Toronto and concluded that video gamers consistently outperform their non-playing peers in a series of tricky mental tests. If they also happened to be bilingual, they were unbeatable. The researchers are also finding evidence that the high-speed, multitasking of the young and wireless can help protect their brains from aging.

OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast is the latest installment in the iconic OutRun series, giving a new legion of gamers the opportunity to experience the thrills. Power your way across 15 new American-themed environments from the OutRun2 SP arcade experience. Race from coast to glorious coast with a fresh new mission structure, a license mode and online play, with up to six players for a thrilling head-to-head journey.

For the first time, Football Manager 2006 will offer fans of Sports Interactive's games an opportunity to experience the highs and lows of virtual football management 'on the go'.

To promote its upcoming movie Running Scared, New Line Cinema offers website viewers a free promotional action game, but with quite some explicit (read: sexual) content. Variety is reporting that the website's traffic has doubled since its launch a week ago, even though it's only accessible to people 17 years of age or older. You need to provide your name and address, which is then checked against public records.

Malfador revealed, through an FAQ, that SE V has been pushed back from April to June 2006 (thanks Blues). Space Empires V completely updates the user interface and takes the player into a real-time rendered 3D universe. Watch space battles play out in glorious detail with realistic effects. Expand, Explore, Exploit, and Exterminate in a huge, living, breathing galaxy.