Science fiction and fantasy meld in this long-awaited continuation of the franchise from developer tri-Ace Inc. The refined gameplay features team-oriented combat, while improving upon the innovative real-time battle system that has become a trademark of the Star Ocean franchise.

Following its lower-than-expected financial result, EA said it would cut its workforce and close studios, and it keeps on doing so. After abandoning a new complex, moving Black Box into EA Vancouver's office, the Australian part of Pandemic seems to be on the block, as employees have been "set free." While there has not been any official comment from EA, rumor has it that the Brisbane studio was working on a Batman game, which had to change direction after already being a month in pre-production, which in turn made the studio miss the deadline, and consequently got complete scrubbed — together with the studio, it seems.

X-Blades, previously known as Oniblade, is a third-person, anime-style action/adventure. Your heroine wields two magical blades that can be used as swords or guns, and has magical abilities, all of which are upgradeable.

Puzzlegeddon features a clever mix of puzzle, action and strategy. Select your island of choice and puzzle for resources to defend yourself and to defeat opponents throughout the many galaxies, game modes and challenges in the world of Puzzlegeddon.

Burnout Paradise gives players license to wreak havoc in Paradise City, a seamless racing battleground, with massive traffic-heavy roads to abuse. The PC edition will be customized with expanded online features, and community driven content.

According to the NPD Group's December sales numbers, the industry grew 9%, making for an overall 19% growth in 2008 (amounting to $21.3 billion). Not surprisingly 2008's big winners are Nintendo's Wii (10.2 million units) and NDS (9.9 mill. units), followed by Microsoft's X360 (4.7 mill. units) and Sony's PS3 (3.6 mill. units). Software-wise, Wii Play took the crown with over 5 million copies sold in 2008, followed by Mario Kart Wii, Wii Fit, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, all selling more than 4 million copies. GTA IV (X360, 4.2 mill. copies), Call of Duty: World at War (X360, 2.7 mill. copies) and Gears of War 2 (X360, 2.3 mill. units) are next, with the only PS3 title in the top 10 being GTA IV with 1.8 mill. copies sold.

THQ's Deadly Creatures is a Wii exclusive 3rd person action thriller title developed internally by its Rainbow Studios. Deadly Creatures throws players into a venomous world of desert terror, where the greatest victory is survival.

NecroVisioN is a first-person horror shooter, which sees players taking on the role of American soldier Simon Bukner, who must fight his way through the bleak trenches of World War One and into the very jaws of Hell.

Creating the ultimate competitive go-anywhere racing experience, Fuel will have players competing across wildly different terrain and executing spectacular death-defying stunts as they race dozens of varied two and four-wheeled rides and explore this epic world on an unprecedented scale.

Pikmin is an inventive life simulation and action-strategy title that pushes the limits of the imagination, offering fast-paced 'thinking' action while teaching players the importance of caring for and nurturing creatures to create a symbiotic relationship. Nintendo is remaking several of its classics for the Wii, starting with Pikmin.