Vivendi Universal Games announced today that the real-time strategy game Empire Earth II has shipped to retail stores in the US and will be available for purchase by Thursday, April 28th. The game carries a suggested retail price of $49.99 for the PC and has been rated "T" for Teen audiences by the ESRB.

Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves will entice a broad range of players with multiple tiers of gameplay to reach both the hard core and gaming novice. Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves will draw players immediately into the devious adventures of Sly and his crew by offering a unique cast of playable characters, a challenging dual analog stick multiplayer mode, new vehicles, mini-games, disguises, enhanced combat move sets and much more.

Techland's Island of Living Dead is a survival horror FPP shooter where action is situated in the near future, when all of today's threats and fears become reality. Global pestilences, mutating viruses and products of illegal genetic engineering begin to devastate mankind. The player, surrounded by mutants and half-dead enemies, will struggle for his life. "Island of Living Death" uses the Chrome Engine, among other simulation of environment devices, and all top notch vertex- and pixel-shader-based visual effects to provide an unforgettable experience of playing your own life in the amazing world of the near future.

Topware Interactive Inc. has officially entered the North American market as both a publisher and distributor of PC and console software. All three principals of Topware Interactive Inc.: Alexandra Constandache (owner), Dirk Hassinger (CEO), and James Seaman (Managing Director), are part of the prominent European game producers, Zuxxez AG of Germany.

Deep Silver will be joining the industry caravan to Los Angeles, presenting their 2005 and 2006 titles to the worldwide media. With many announcements to be made during the show, Deep Silver can confirm that the following titles will be on show at their stand in the South Hall (724) : D1rt, X3: Reunion, Singles 2, Earth 2160, Rush for Berlin and Hearth of Empire: Rome. Read more for details ...

Maxis-EA is redefining the Sims 2 franchise and will deliver classic open-ended gameplay along with exclusive new features. Aspirational gameplay and fully customizable content will give players the most authentic Sims experience to date on console.

Vivisector: Beast Inside developed by Action Forms (creators of Chasm and Carnivores series) is a unique mixture of 3D Action/Horror. The game blends a thrilling interactive story with intense, high-adrenaline action and immerses players in a rich and fascinating storyline.

Seems like Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is not the only movie tie-in title under development, as Walt Disney Internet Group revealed today that it is working on a Pirates of the Caribbean MMO scheduled for release next summer in conjunction with the second PoTC movie. Disney's Buena Vista Games recently acquired Avalanche Software and founded its own production studio in Vancouver. Whether either one will actually partake in the development is not clear at this point. Read the full article over at Variety...

Curse of Darkness introduces players to an entirely new storyline and main character – Hector, one of two Devil Forgemasters, who had once refined his skills under Dracula. Told in true Castlevania style, this action-packed tale of betrayal and revenge takes players on a journey through an expansive world filled with formidable foes and beautifully rendered environments to the ruins of Dracula’s castle.

Captured, conveniently forgotten, tortured, and left for dead, MI6 agent Andrew Sterling awaits execution in a Chinese prison. The story begins when a mysterious friend from his past rescues him, setting off a chain of events that could rock the very foundations of global security and wreak chaos on a worldwide level.