Fans who pre-order their copies will receive a Bonus DVD loaded with extras including the Empire Earth II Single-Player Demo, 20 minutes of exclusive behind-the-scenes video, exclusive multiplayer maps, the Empire Earth II Soundtrack, concept artwork, and more. Pre-orders are now being accepted at participating retailers. The pre-order period will last through the April 26th ship date or until supplies last. Please contact your local store to confirm availability of the Pre-Order item in your area.

THQ today announced that MX vs. ATV Unleashed has shipped for the PlayStation 2 and will be released for the Xbox on March 24. Fans can taste the dirt and smell the fumes at a suggested retail price of $39.95.

GMX Media is today announcing the street date and the unveiling of the box art for its new action packed FPS "HELLFORCES" , a blood and guts zombie killer. Licensed by Buka Entertainment, Hellforces is due for UK release on 25th March. No information on who and when will bring Hellforces to North America.

Ubisoft announced today its product catalog for fiscal year 2005-2006 (ending March 31, 2006). Ubisoft management has decided to release Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Lockdown in the first half of fiscal year 2005-2006, rather than in March 2005. Read more for other new titles suchs as 187 Ride or Die, the earlier revealed And 1 sports titles, Killing Day, World War II Squadron, new titles in the Prince of Persia, Ghost Recon, Brothers in Arms, and Silent Hunter series, and not one, but two new Might & Magic products.

Mafia developer Illusion Softworks, also known for its Hidden & Dangerous and Vietcong titles, has signed a publishing agreement with Atari for its newest action title Enemy in Sight, which is schedule for end 2005. Read more for details and screens ...

Interactive Data Visualization (IDV) today announced that SpeedTree, its hardware independent foliage solution, has been integrated with Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 3. Unreal Engine licensees will now have access to SpeedTree’s advanced content creation options, enabling them to quickly and efficiently populate game environments with highly detailed trees and foliage.

Electronic Arts today announced the March launch of four new games on its Pogo.com (free) and Club Pogo (subscription) online game sites. This highly-anticipated launch will include the extremely addicting new version of Poppit!, the multi-player bingo-scratcher game of Lottso!, and two new adventurous card games, 6th Street Omaha Poker and Casino Island Blackjack.

Back in February we reported that Rare's Conker: Live and Reloaded was delayed from its March shipdate, and new listings on EBGames and GameStop had it scheduled for June 21st. As online retailer are more wrong than they are right, it was to be taken with a grain of salt, but this time it turns out they hit the jackpot as the official website has been updated and its ambiguous TBA release date has now been changed to .... June 21st. Conker: Live and Reloaded features intense deathmatch and campaign storyline modes via Xbox Live and system link, players can compete as one of six combat specialists across multi-mission campaigns covering Old War and Future War.

Ubisoft announced today that it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement to make videogames with AND 1, the performance basketball footwear and apparel company best known for its Mix Tape Tour property and its more than 100 endorsers in the NBA.

Stoked Rider featuring Tommy Brunner' is an unique action-freesports game for PC, the first freeride snowboarding game inspired by Alaska's impressive peaks, presented in a unique 3D cellshaded graphical style. Tommy Brunner is one of the most experienced backcountry and big mountain snowboard riders in Europe, and has a string of horrifically impressive injuries to go with it, including a broken back!

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth is an eagerly anticipated first-person horror adventure based on the award winning RPG from Chaosium that in turn is based on the writings of the acclaimed American horror author H. P. Lovecraft... Some new screens showing just how dark some of those corners are.

NFL players are free from their real-world constraints to dominate the streets one stylin' move and one field at a time. Raise your game to the limits with up-the-wall passes, off-the-wall catches, and highlight-reel wall jukes that are sure to solidify your place as football's greatest urban legend. With New Exclusive STREET Events, head-to-head wireless gameplay, NFL superstars and legends playing both sides of the ball, and new PSP-specific content, the time to own the streets is NOW.

Already revealed early last year, JoWooD Productions and Massive Development todya officially announced the PS2 version of the successful underwater shooter which intensifies the fear of the dark and cold. Aquanox: The Angels Tears is the player's entry into the scaring world of Aqua, the place where his fascinating story takes part.

Ubisoft today announced that Cold Fear has shipped for the Xbox and PS2. Cold Fear is a thrilling action-horror game that electrifies with action-packed gameplay and a horrifying, suspenseful storyline. In Cold Fear, players can master every situation ­ if they keep their blood cold and use their wits. Because on a hell-bound ship, everyone is DEAD weight. Cold Fear is rated "M" (Mature) for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Language and has an MSRP of $49.99.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today announced the May 2005 release of SingStar Popworld, a perfect addition to the million-selling SingStar franchise launched in 2004 on the PlayStation 2.

Konami of Europe has announced that Enthusia Professional Racing, its incredibly realistic PlayStation 2 racing title featuring a wealth of officially licensed cars, will be released on May 6th, a mere 3 days later than the North American release date.

While the North American PSP launch is still on track for March 24th, it was confirmed today by Sony Computer Entertainment France's Georges Fornay that European gamers looking forward to getting their hands on a PSP will have to wait for several more months. Back in February we already reported that a European delay was rumored, which now turns out to be fact. The reason for the delay was to give Sony adequate time to ramp up its production and meet the demands of the European market.

This fighting-action game features up to 16 playable characters, all free to simultaneously roam and destroy a vast 3D world. With Xbox Live and System Link Play support, players can now experience cooperative and competitive gameplay with friends and foes while talking smack via Xbox Communicators. Bonus online features include downloadable items, weapons, stories, stages, characters, sound files and much more. Sega of America has narrowed down the release date from a previous vague Spring 2005 to March 29th, 2005.

Macrovision today announced the results of a gaming piracy study that shows significant losses experienced by the gaming industry due to software piracy. The surveys of 6,000 Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation 2 users show that 21% of gamers play pirated games, but 73% would have bought the game within one month if a free version had not been readily available. This high level of piracy on console systems, which are generally considered to be secure closed systems, is surprising.

That tap-tap-tapping you hear is the sound of the most innovative video game control system to come along in years. Get physical with Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, made exclusively for GameCube, by using a pair of bongos to control the game action. Mastering the game requires good timing, bongo abilities and a love of bananas.

EA revealed today that hot on the heels of the first patch, they are working on the next in line, v1.02. While the new patch will address numerous technical issues, the core of this patch will revolve around further balancing the 4 playable factions, in order to push The Battle for Middle-earth towards a more challenging and intriguing experience. The production of patch 1.02 has been largely influenced by community & fan sites feedback, top players, and dedicated fans. Read more for details ...

Tecmo's infamous creator of the Dead or Alive series, Tomonobu Itagaki, will once again take the reigns of the DOAU Mystery Gamer for this Sunday's Mystery Gamer Session of "The Dead or Alive Ultimate Mystery Gamer Competition." The upcoming online fighting session, which will be held this Sunday, March 13, 2005 from 10a.m. to 11a.m. PST through Xbox Live, will be the second time that Itagaki has stepped up to the plate as the honored DOAU Mystery Gamer.

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.

Everyone who is playing Counter-Strike: Source should be enjoying the new maps, cs_compound and de_train. Coming soon, there will be another new map for CS:S called "de_port." As a teaser, here's a sketch of the layout.

Creature Conflict: The Clan Wars boasts an extensive single player campaign, where gamers get to chose which clan they are going to control and start the process of total domination – engaging in battles with the other clans and their leaders. This multiplayer demo features the Apex and Lotus planets playable on LAN or in skirmish mode.