Computer and video game software sales set a new record in 2004, reaching $7.3 billion, according to final data compiled by the NPD Group. Halo 2, one of the best-selling titles of 2004, took in more revenue in its first day of sales than any movie has ever taken in its opening day. In addition, Nintendo sold over 1 million units of its new handheld game system, Nintendo DS, in North America by the end of 2004, a mark that took Apple's iPod 19 months to achieve.

CDV has launched a new Cossacks II: Napoleonic Wars contest giving fans and gamers a chance to show off their artistic sides by putting together the best Cossacks II wallpaper they can and maybe win a prize for it. The contest runs for the next four weeks, with Cossacks II community forum members choosing the winners. Check the rules for the contest, prizes include copies of Cossacks II: Napoleonic Wars when it ships, and very cool "Napoleon hats." Also, the top three wallpapers will be posted to the official Cossacks II site for download.

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 :

• Legend of Kay - Final Trailer
• Red Ninja: End of Honor - Trailer #6
• Fight Night Round 2 - Trailer #4

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.

Project: Snowblind is a the first-person action shooter putting you in the role of an elite super soldier, fighting on the front lines of a near-future war using unique weapons, abilities and high-tech gadgetry that inject depth and variety to gameplay. Read more for new screens ...

JoWooD is apparently not doing too well financially, as today it was revealed to us that the Austrian publisher is closing down two of its development studios. One of our Jowood sources confirmed that earlier this week, it was decided that Transport Giant house Studio Ebensee and Söldner's Wings Simulations will be shutting down in the next few months. Both studios will finish up current projects and then will have a small core team still in place for future patch releases and customer support. Wing Simulations will finish its current Soldner: Marine Corps addon, which is still scheduled for March, but the previously announced Söldner 2 project has been cancelled.

Today Ubisoft announced an exclusive multi-title licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Consumer Products to develop and publish games based on "Open Season" and "Surf's Up," the first two feature-length animated films from Sony Pictures Animation.

Pure Pinball 2.0: REDUX is the Developer's Cut of the award-winning pinball blockbuster that was originally launched towards the end of 2003. This hugely improved and updated version of the most realistic PC Pinball experience to date now features enhanced PC graphics, as well as the atmospheric music and sound effects – as seen on the Xbox release of the title.

Ubisoft today revealed that Myst IV Revelation will launch for Xbox March 2005 in North America at the manufacturer's suggest retail price of $19.99. Read more for details and screens ...

Live fastballs, suicide squeezes, grass-staining dives, seventh-inning stretches, walk-off homeruns, peanuts and hotdogs… these are just some of the things that make the sport of baseball America’s favorite pastime. The victory of a baseball game can depend on the walk-off homerun in the ninth inning or a simple second base steal.