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.

DreamCatcher Games today announced it has joined forces with MC2 to publish and distribute Obscure in North America. This Survival Horror game will be available for the PlayStation2, Xbox and PC, in March 2005.

After EA previously locked down the NFL, today it has signed a long-term agreement for the development and integrated marketing of EA SPORTS games containing ESPN content. The relationship will include established EA SPORTS franchises -- which will be enhanced by ESPN telecast, print and online content – as well as new sports games to be published by EA based on ESPN media properties.

Paradox has released the first patch for its strategy game Hearts of Iron 2. This update brings your retail game to v1.1 and adds interface inhancements, gameplay changes, AI improvements, addition of mod support, and a long list of bug fixes and balance adjustments. Read more for download links ...

After 2 months, 1.4 million mod profile visitors and 8,000 different voters, the 2004 Golden Spanner Mod of the Year Awards have been decided, by the visitors and gamers who know best. As expected, Half-Life based mods polled well, although mods from over 10 other games also finished up top, a testament to the talent out there. Head to the feature and read up on the top three mods from all gameplay styles (action, adventure, racing, etc.) and also the top three mods for each design area (best models, textures, maps, etc.)

Microsoft Game Studios today announced the complete car roster for its highly anticipated and critically acclaimed driving simulator for Xbox, Forza Motorsport. Slated to hit store shelves this April, Forza Motorsport will debut with more than 230 cars from over 40 of the world's top car manufacturers for gamers to own, customize, upgrade and race.

Blizzard Entertainment today announced that World of Warcraft will officially launch in Korea on January 18, 2005. Following a highly successful beta-testing period, the game is now being prepared for availability throughout the country. Once released, players can sign up for various subscription plans and experience the epic adventure of the Warcraft series in an immersive and continually evolving online environment.

IT GlobalSecure announces its new anti-piracy solution, SecurePlay Keeper to be released in the first Quarter 2005. Piracy and game hacking are growing more serious for the computer games industry. In 2004, the biggest industry news issues behind record sales were a series of serious security breaches ranging from software piracy, to code theft, and game cheating.

Electronic Arts is considering an interactive TV show that would let viewers control the actions of the characters as in its popular game "The Sims." Will Wright, father of The Sims, has been toying with the idea for quite some time, but it seems to be materializing at last...

DreamCatcher Games today announced that it will publish Universal Combat: A World Apart, the second title in the Universal Combat series. The game will release globally for PC in May 2005.

East Front is a high-tech first-person 3D-shooter. The action takes place in the alternate universe where fascist Germany won in the Second World War. A soldier of the German Resistance, Karl Stolz, turns out to be involved in the deadly play of mysterious powers, and at stake is control over the whole world. Read more for six new screens...

The current offer would have made EA the owner of more than 50 percent of the total number of shares, representing a majority vote in DICE after outstanding employee stock options have been exercised. Even though the extended acceptance period has not yet expired, EA has waived the above-mentioned condition.

Electronic Arts announced today that it plans to ship the first expansion pack for the Sims 2 on March 1st, making it arrive in stores March 3rd. The Sims 2 University is the first expansion pack for the highly-acclaimed The Sims 2, giving players of The Sims 2 the ability to watch their Sims become young adults and put childhood behind them as they settle into an all-new college town to live out their ultimate college fantasy.

Midway Games today announced that NARC will ship to retail outlets nationwide for $19.95. A mission-based 3rd-person action game set against a stylized, modern-day backdrop of the War on Drugs, NARC pits gamers as members of an elite narcotics squad; Marcus Hill, a DEA Agent with a squeaky clean image and Jack Forzenski, a cop on probation and fresh out of rehab. Together they investigate a new mystery drug that has hit the streets called Liquid Soul. In the fight against a powerful international drug cartel Marcus and Jack will face temptation as they choose to walk the thin blue line as a clean cop or follow the path of cover-ups, payoffs and unlawful brutatilty as a dirty cop. NARC will ship for the PS2 and Xbox on March 22, 2005.

"First of all, we’re putting the finishing touches on patch 1.01. This is a real meaty patch that includes some 50 tweaks, updates, and fixes of varying size and visibility. Probably the biggest feature of the patch is the addition of an online communicator. As in Generals and Zero Hour, it will let you add other users to a “friend list” that you can use to keep track of and chat with friends anytime they are logged into The Battle for Middle-earth online. Other features of the patch include a handful of technical fixes for the game itself as well as for World Builder; all known exploits addressed; balance changes; and three new multiplayer and skirmish maps. We’re targeting the release of the patch for this month, and should have a firm launch date later on this week."

Oxygen Interactive announced today that UK developer Kuju is working on a new FPS 'Conspiracy: Weapons of Mass Destruction.' Using the Fire Warrior engine, Conspiracy: Weapons of Mass Destruction, is under development for PC, PS2 and Xbox, and is scheduled for March 2005. Read more for details and 100+ new screens ...