As was being rumored last week already, The Major League Baseball Players Association ("MLBPA") today announced that it has reached an agreement in principle to grant sweeping rights to Take 2 to develop and publish a broad portfolio of products that are expected to drive the baseball video game business to unprecedented heights.

Korea-based online games company Webzen announced today it is entering the U.S. online games market and is immediately opening a U.S. operation in Los Angeles. Webzen will be a full-scale game developer, publisher and distributor. Its first title, SUN, specifically designed for North America will be unveiled in the next few weeks...

Cold Fear is the first action-horror title to be published under the Ubisoft brand and combines the popular elements of both action and horror releases, delivering an action-packed, tension-filled gaming experience.

According to various online sources the big announcement Konami is planning on January 27th (the same day Konami is having its Gamers Day press event) could be the unveiling of a new Calstlevania title for the PS2. According to rumors the February issue of Play Magazine will have world exclusive coverage on Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, which seems to be given extra credibility by speculations on the IGN forums (tthanks Demonews). We will know more in a few days time when we come back from Konami's press event. UPDATE : The first screens from the Play preview have been brought online.

Xbox today announced European release dates for two Xbox exclusive titles from Tecmo. The first to hit European shelves is Project Zero 2, available from 4th February. The second title is the latest offering from Team Ninja's popular Japanese fighting series, Dead or Alive Ultimate, which will be available from 18th February.

A number of additional accounts and CD keys have been tied to the use of a hack or cheat program while playing Warcraft III on Battle.net. In keeping with their aggressive stance against cheating, Blizzard has permanently closed 12,000 Warcraft III accounts. 6,000 of the Warcraft III CD keys used with the now-closed accounts have been banned from ladder play for one month, and 1,000 more have been banned from ladder play permanently. Repeat offenders risk having their CD keys disabled, which will result in the permanent removal of their copies of Warcraft III from Battle.net.

Myelin Media today announced "Stacked with Daniel Negreanu," a Texas Hold 'em poker game that captures the look, excitement and drama of the phenomenon that has captivated America.

UEFA Champions League will offer soccer fans the opportunity to guide their chosen club from qualification anxiety through to big night glory, adding an element of the unexpected allowing lower league teams into the glamour world of European football. EA has released a playable demo allowing you to play as Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich (thanks Blues). Read more for download links ...

Back in November, Vivendi's community liaison Guy Welch revealed that a new v1.2 update patch for Irrationals multiplayer shooter Tribes: Vengeance was being tested, and would be released in December 2004. Meanwhile, it's more than a month later, and still no T:V patch. Today, Welch has responded to the community giving a rather cryptic reason as to why, "The patch has been delayed from our initial December release date due to an outstanding agreement between two third parties. They need to come to terms before we can proceed." Speculation has it that there is an argument between Punkbuster and Irrational Games.

Area 51 is set in the U.S. government's most top-secret and secure facility located in the Nevada desert. Players take on the role of Lt. Nick Cross, a hazardous biological waste specialist sent to investigate. Read more for details, and a few screens..

A few days ago Ubisoft announced that it was working on a plan to defend itself against what it considers "a hostile takeover" from Electronic Arts. Today French financial newspaper La Tribune may have revealed more on the matter as it ran an article in which it claims that Ubisoft is having positive talks with Take Two and Activision to form a front against EA. Ubisoft President Yves Guillemot is also quoted as saying that he is working with the shareholders to ensure they act in the best interest of the company and stay on the same page as the Guillemot family.

1C Company and KDLab revealed today that they are working on an addon for last year's innovative RTS Perimeter. Scheduled for release in Russia Q1 2005, Perimeter: Emperor's Testament will feature all new & updated graphics, tons of new units and structures, a new soundtrack by the St. Petersburg Orchestra, and a total of 25 new missions. Until we get more details, enjoy the first 20 screens ...

Ubisoft and Sony Online Entertainment today announce that an EverQuest II character creation tool is available for players who want to introduce to the world of EverQuest II. This tool is free and can be downloaded from the official Everquest 2 website. The tool sizes 365 Mo and the languages available are English, French and German. Players will be able to create and save their own hero. Please note that a full version of EverQuest II (sold separately) is required to use the character.

Area 51 takes the player through eight massive levels within a clandestine government complex. Combining intense combat, exploration, adventure, discovery, and puzzle solving, the game blends graphic violence with science fiction. Further confirming earlier speculations, the official Area 51 website now has a "PC CD ROM" logo added to the list of platforms (hover over the blank space next to Xbox logo at the bottom right of the page), indictating that Midway's shooter is indeed coming to the PC.

Valve's SteamPowered website has been updated with details regarding yet another update for its Source SDK which adds SDK bot sample code, source files for HL2 SP maps, interface plugin to add bots to mods, bspzip tool, and fixed resource leak. Restart Steam to get the latest update. The HL2: DM level design contest is over, the winners maps will be included in the HL2: Deathmatch release, as well as two new weapons (Slam and Stunstick). Later this week there will be an update to the Half-Life SDK this week which most notably will include source files for six Half-Life 2 maps.

404 Gaming today released more info about its still quite mysterious hip-hop mmog. We already know DJ Pooh “a.k.a Mark Jordan,” who wrote the movie Friday and story for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, is involved but now 404 Gaming has released a list of hip-hop stars, such as RUM DMC's D.M.C., Public Enemy #1's Flava Flav and Chuck D, but also deceased stars like Jam Master Jay and Notorious B.I.G. More info is promised in May, in the meantime, read more for additional names...

With Hidden Stroke II, the Allied Power Team created a rousing sequel of Hidden Stroke. The completely new designed damage system and many new features are waiting for the fan of strategy. Further new units are ready for action in new thrilling campaigns and missions. Cities and coasts aren't safe - The war has begun. Read more for details and screens ...

Live fastballs, suicide squeezes, grass-staining dives, seventh-inning stretches, walk-off homeruns, peanuts and hotdogs… these are just some of the things that make the sport of baseball America’s favorite pastime. The victory of a baseball game can depend on the walk-off homerun in the ninth inning or a simple second base steal.

GSC GameWorld sent out a newsletter with details on how the AI it has implemented in its FPS S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow of Chernobyl will work, react to circumstances, and how the development team faced the necessity to invent new methods of game AI. Read more for the full newsletter...

Area 51 is set in the U.S. government's most top-secret and secure facility located in the Nevada desert. Players take on the role of Lt. Nick Cross, a hazardous biological waste specialist sent to investigate.

Choose your team, choose your court, choose your bikini and then serve up the attitude. Scantily-clad babes and seriously twisted dudes bring their famous "Outlaw" vibe onto the court as they bump, set, spike, AND throw punches on their way to total victory. Outlaw Volleyball provides fast, furious, and uncouth action via PS2's network adapter and everyone can experience the outrageous humor and fantastic gameplay that the "Outlaw" gang is known for.

Restricted Area is an action-based roleplaying game with realtime combat, which combines a fascinating gameplay similar to Diablo 2 with innovative technology, tactic-shooter elements and a dark future scenario. Read more for a few new screens.

DreamCatcher Games today announced it will publish Domination, a 3D turn-based tactical strategy game previously known as Phantom Renaissance. Domination is slated for release during February in North America and during April in Europe. Read more for details and screens...

As we mentioned a few days ago, Valve announced it would release the official Counter-Strike Bot, as well as an updated version de_tides, rebuilt by Turtlerock Studios. True to their word, it is now available through steam, which also updates a few other maps and a few other tweaks. Read more for details ...

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.