The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences announced today that it has added Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime, Valve's Gabe Newell and several others to the all-star lineup of speakers for the 2006 D.I.C.E. Summit which takes place at the Green Valley Ranch Hotel in Las Vegas February 8 – 10.

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.

Entitled 'The Stetchkov Syndicate', the expansion pack brings a host of new levels, weapons and enhancements to the highly rated SWAT 4 and is scheduled for release in Q1 2006.

RedBedlam Ltd is pleased to declare the pre-order phase open for its Roman Empire based MMORPG Roma Victor. The first 1,500 account keys are available from the Roma Victor website. The accounts, costing £14.98 each, will come complete with £5 worth of in-game currency (sesterces).

Activision announced today that Infinity Ward's critically acclaimed Call of Duty 2 for the Xbox 360 debuted as the #1 best-selling Xbox 360 title in the U.S. by dollars and units for the month of November, giving the title a 77% attach rate to the new console, according to NPD FunWorld.

Empire Earth II: The Art of Supremacy will return gamers to the front lines of the greatest battles in history with new civilizations at their command, new campaigns and a host of new features that make this year's best strategy game more addicting than ever. Bold victories on far-off battlefields, from wintry Russian plains to scorching African deserts, will establish the player's undisputable reputation as the world's greatest leader – past, present and future.

Galactic Civilizations II takes place in the distant future, when mankind has become a space-faring civilization and must contend with other extraterrestrial powers for domination of the galaxy. The sequel is a true evolution for the series, with rethought fundamentals and exciting new changes.

Massive Incorporated and Spark Unlimited, known for Call of Duty: Finest Hour, today announced that they have signed a long-term, strategic partnership that will deliver several to be disclosed AAA titles to the Massive Network, offering dynamic in-game advertising to Spark's upcoming titles.

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. The official Oblivion website has been updated with information on the magic system in Oblivion.

Dreamcatcher announced today that Painkiller: Hell Wars is scheduled to ship to stores February 28, 2006. Painkiller is a first-person horror shooter, designed to satisfy the gamer's hunger for intense, fast-paced action. You are Painkiller, a mercenary for hire, charged with cleaning out nests of the undead. But an unholy pact with a demon unknowingly puts you square in the middle of a fight for control of the underworld... with the future of humanity hanging in the balance.