Get that magic touch. There are plenty of basketball games out there, but none with the hands-on control of Mario Hoops 3-on-3. Players use the touch screen to get their game on as they execute tricky dribbles, special passes and sweet shots – all with strokes and taps of the stylus.

Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express is a high-quality adventure game that appeals to both adventure fans and casual buyers alike. Adventure fans will appreciate the unique adaptation of the novel into a thrilling and suspenseful video game and casual buyers will recognize the Agatha Christie brand as a brand that they can trust.

Microsoft today announced the appointment of Jeff Bell as the new corporate VP of Global Marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business, reporting directly to Peter Moore, corporate VP for the overall Interactive Entertainment Business, effective June 12, 2006.

Another day, another batch of games shipped to stores. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are announcements for:

• Astonishia Story (PSP)
• Battlefield 2: Armored Fury (PC)
• Cars (GBA/NDS/PSP/NGC/PS2/Xbox/PC)
• Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure (GBA)
• Gradius Collection (PSP)
• The Movies: Stunts & Effects (PC)
• The Operational Art Of War III (PC)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Double Pack (GBA)
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new announcements become available. Read more for details ...

EA's latest football title, NCAA Football 07, comes loaded with new features such as Student Athlete mode and ESPN Radio, on top of the usual Dynasty Mode.

Today, Big Screen Entertainment Group announced that it has already begun the first phases of developing Xbox and PlayStation console video games, while also creating mobile and PDA content.

Namco Bandai Games America announced today that Naruto: Ultimate Ninja has gone gold, placing players in the vivid and vibrant world of Naruto Uzumaki. Channel chakra to unleash powerful techniques and special ninjutsu during battles.

FUNimation Entertainment, and Destineer Publishing announced today a licensing arrangement that will bring a new line of video games to North America based on the popular anime title Fullmetal Alchemist.

Viva Piñata, a high-energy, mass-appeal entertainment property created by Rare Ltd. that brings a vibrant world of living piñata animals to video games, television and beyond. The Viva Piñata universe showcases an engaging cast of colorful, wild-roaming piñata animals that entertain and challenge imaginations.

Osaka-based developer Yuke's Company, known for THQ's WWE Smackdown series and the Rumble Roses series for Konami, announced today that it has opened its first North American office, Yuke's Company of America. Yuke's Company of America is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yuke's Co., Ltd., and intends to publish games on a number of platforms including the PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, and the PSP.

Oblivion is a single-player game that takes place in Tamriel's capital province, Cyrodiil. You are given the task of finding the hidden heir to a throne that sits empty, the previous emperor having been killed by an unknown assassin. This v1.1 patch UK/US versions of the game) addresses various bugs, crashes, quests and plugin issues.

Heroes of Might & Magic V offers a highly immersive scenario, a variety of appealing factions, modern 3D graphics, a revolutionary tactical combat system, and a story-based campaign mode. Ubisoft has released the first patch bringing your retail game to v1.01 and adding some new features, fixing bugs and crashes, as well as tweaking the game.

Explore a Las Vegas-style resort from the comfort of your own home and become a virtual high roller in Playwize Poker and Casino. The game offers players four, fully 3D, virtual casinos to discover, packed with fellow gamblers to chat with and featuring multiple dice tables, poker games, slot machines and more besides.

French publisher GOA announced that it has secured exclusive European publishing and online operational rights for the Mythic's MMORPG, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.

In Battlefield 2142, players choose to fight for one of two military superpowers - the European Union or the newly formed Pan Asian Coalition -in an epic battle for survival. EA has narrowed down the BF 2142 from Winter 2006 to October 19th.

ATI announced today that it is working with middleware provider Havok to drive physics on its latest GPUs. Using Havok FX, developers can enable more convincing environments that include richer, more detailed explosions, smoke, debris, fluids, and cloth by combining the rendering of two ATI graphics cards, with a third devoted to modeling the environment.

Test Drive Unlimited challenges players online to experience the most exotic and fastest vehicles on more than 1000 miles of diverse Hawaiian roads. Gamers win races, challenges, missions and tournaments to earn credits and purchase new cars, bikes, rare performance parts, clothes, apparel, homes and garages.

Spacewars is considered by many to be the first video game ever developed by Alan Kotok, a computer pioneer who worked on the development of early Digital Equipment Corp. computers. Kotok worked with fellow MIT students to develop the Digital's PDP-1 minicomputer, which was used to create Spacewars back in the 1960s. Kotok passed away last week at the age of 64.

Baseball Mogul 2006 is version 8 of the Baseball Mogul series, in which you assume the role of General Manager for your favorite professional baseball team. Unlike action game simulation, Baseball Mogul is a game of strategy that requires sharp wits rather than an itchy trigger finger. If you like fantasy baseball, you'll love Baseball Mogul. Baseball Mogul 2006 is 100% free, no ads, electronic licenses or time limits.

Scottish newspaper Sunday Herald is reporting that DC Studios has shut down its Edinburgh studio, most recently known for wrapping up the long in development action shooter State of Emergency II. DC Studios founder and chief executive Mark Greenshields announced 29 employees have been "made redundant." Disappointing sales were only part of the reason for the closure of the Edinburgh studio, which was also working on two other projects. In early 2005, DC Studios took over SOE II from VIS Entertainment, which was later acquired by BAM Entertainment; both are now defunct.