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 ...

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.