Award-winning global games services specialist Babel Media has strengthened its on-going relationship with videogame publisher Nintendo. Babel has produced two localised game websites in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish, for Nintendo of Europe, and produced items for their VIP 24:7 loyalty scheme.

Nintendo GameCube has become the hottest selling video game console in America since its price was reduced to $99.99 on Sept. 25. Sales data from the week ending Oct. 4 reported from major Nintendo retailers indicates that Nintendo GameCube is currently outselling Sony's PlayStation 2 by 20 percent, and Microsoft's Xbox by 145 percent.

Consequently, Nintendo now claims the two best-selling video game systems in the country. The Game Boy Advance portable system continues to outsell each console, as it has done all year long.

It's been an action-packed few months for Nintendo, with some truly astounding games being released in Europe. Take a look below at some of the awards that Nintendo and these classic titles have received..

DreamCatcher Games today announced that it has shipped Spirits & Spells for the Nintendo GameCube to stores. This fun new 3D platform game takes the younger gamer on an unforgettable journey into a spooky world full of magic, eerie environments and weird creatures. Players take on the role of Alicia, dressed as a witch, and Greg, disguised as a masked-devil.

Japanese video game company Nintendo Co Ltd said on Friday it plans early next year to offer a device that allows GameBoy Advance users to play games together without the use of cables. The device will be included free of charge with the purchase of one of two "Pokemon" games, due to be released early next year, for Nintendo's hand-held game machine.

The president of the Japanese software game maker, Satoru Iwata, said Friday that game consoles equipped with super-large chips and ever more functions may not be the answer for the future of the struggling games industry. Instead, easy-to-play games requiring no prior knowledge may be a better way to attract potential users, Iwata said, referring to Nintendo's surprise hit series of Pokemon software including "Pokemon Ruby" and "Pokemon Sapphire."

Emphasizing substance and involving storyline, Nintendo introduces four new games for the Game Boy Advance to satisfy adventure and role-playing fans, while also meeting the current demand for all things magical and fantastic. Role-playing games are not just for hard-core gamers, but are one of the most popular gaming genres, accounting for approximately 20 percent of U.S. game sales.

The new titles -- Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Fire Emblem, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, and Sword of Mana -- continue Nintendo's pursuit of developing deep, dynamic storylines and character-development opportunities for players. Quests in these games parallel the popularity of supernatural hits like the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies. Unlike films, these new role-playing games allow players to immerse themselves in entertainment as an interactive player versus a passive viewer.

Of course Nintendo's lineup cannot be far behind! So far, only limited goodies are available, but we will update when more rolls in. So far, check out screens from :

• The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords (NGC)
• Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (GBA)
• Mario Kart: Double Dash (NGC)

2003 has been an incredible year for Nintendo so far having launched many amazing games such as The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Metroid Prime on NINTENDO GAMECUBE and Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire on Game Boy Advance. As well as fantastic software Nintendo also launched the stylish new handheld console, the Game Boy Advance SP ... and Nintendo are set to continue this success for Christmas 2003, with a fantastic line up that will appeal to players of all ages... Read more to check out their christmas software line up!

Nintendo Co.'s president Thursday announced plans for new products that would appeal to a broader range of game fans, saying the complexity of today's video games was scaring off consumers.

"All these complex, large-capacity games of today require enormous amount of energy and time of users," said Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo.

"I want to release a very different product, and by next spring we'll be ready to announce the details," he said without elaborating.

The time of year is approaching when all the movers and shakers of the European gaming world head to London to see the latest that the world of gaming has to offer. This year for the first time ECTS forms part of the newly created London Games Week, a packed schedule of gaming events taking place in the last week of August. As part of London Games Week the ECTS show is coming to Earls Court, London on 27th to 29th August and Nintendo will be there.

Nintendo of Europe continues to warn retailers of potential legal action over the importing of Game Boy Advance titles, with the firm now targeting those selling US versions of Advance Wars 2. Earlier this year, the company issued legal threats to a number of retailers who were selling import versions of Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire ahead of the UK launch last Friday.

Nintendo of America Inc. has recognized four esteemed employees with promotions. Rick Flamm has been named senior vice president, legal and general counsel; Flip Morse, senior vice president, administration; Bruce Meyer, vice president, real estate and facilities; and Howard Cheng, vice president, research and development of Nintendo Technology Development Inc. (NTD).

Each executive is making a tremendous impact on Nintendo's success by contributing distinctive skills and exceptional work ethics, says Tatsumi Kimishima, president, Nintendo of America Inc. We're fortunate to have these leaders shaping our business and congratulate each of them on well-deserved promotions.

PGA tour rookie Ben Curtis may have clinched the British Open from Tiger Woods, but does he have the chops to take Mario, Bowser or Princess Peach in the freshly groomed Toadstool Tour? On July 28, professional golfers and every would-be golfer dreaming of greener pastures will get their chance to tee-up against a collection of Nintendo characters in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, only for Nintendo GameCube. Looking at the scorecard, Nintendo is in position for another record year. Read more for the 'Highlights'..

The Nintendo Fusion Tour, headlined by Evanescence, one of the hottest new bands in the country, brings fully immersive entertainment from the worlds of music and cutting-edge gaming to 25 cities across North America. The tour kicks off in Los Angeles on Aug. 4 and ends in the Pacific Northwest in late September. Read more for details ...

Nintendo was awarded an interim payment of $641,000 in a Game Boy copying case, with final damages yet to be determined. In one of Nintendo's most significant anti-piracy judgments ever, the High Court of Hong Kong ruled against Lik Sang International Limited, worldwide distributor of game copying devices capable of widespread counterfeiting of Game Boy software. In the recent decision, William Waung, Judge of the Court of First Instance, High Court, ruled in favor of Nintendo Co. Ltd and Nintendo of America Inc. against defendants Lik Sang International Limited and Visoly Limited, and their principals, Ahlswede Nils and Alexander Peter Kampl. Judge Waung ordered an interim payment of HK$5 million (US$641,000) be paid to Nintendo and further ordered them to pay Nintendo's legal expenses. The amount of actual damages will be awarded at a later hearing.

Last week, Nintendo made some major announcements at the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles. Nintendo dropped jaws once again by displaying an incredible line-up of killer titles for both Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance... Click here to see the full Nintendo GameCube game list and Click here to see the full Game Boy Advance game list.

Nintendo today announces a new worldwide retail offer combining its Nintendo GameCube home console with the new Game Boy Player. The combination allows players to enjoy more than 1,200 Game Boy games on the home TV screen, along with the full library of more than 300 Nintendo GameCube titles.

Nintendo has just finished their pre-e3 conference showing off their upcoming titles. Our man in the field reported in saying "compared to last night's Xbox event, this one was sad. Most impressive title nonetheless is the newly unveiled Geist". Of course we have a boatload of screens from :

• Geist
• Kirby Air Ride
• F-Zero GX
• Star Fox 2
• Pokemon Colosseum
• Mario Kart: Double Dash
• Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
• Giftpia
• Pikmin 2
• Donkey Kong Country (GBA)
• Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (GBA)
• 1080: Avalanche
• Wario World
• Mario Party 5

The blockbuster fighting game of 2002 makes its way to the GameCube as Atari today announced that Dragon Ball Z: Budokai will be available for Nintendo players nationwide this October. Created by DIMPS, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai has shipped more than 1.3 million units in North America since its December 2002 release on the PS2.

Easter Sunday saw the broadcast of ITV1's inaugural Game Stars awards ceremony. The awards were voted for by the public, and represent one of the biggest ever polls of video gaming opinion. In a coup for Nintendo, the GAME Retail: Most Wanted Award went to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, exclusively for NINTENDO GAMECUBE, successfully seeing off very respectable bids from Halo 2, Doom III and Enter The Matrix amongst a host of others.

Atari today announced that the much-anticipated hit Japanese game Ikaruga for the Nintendo GameCube next generation console system has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. The game comes loaded with glorious graphics, awesome action and incredible firepower.

Nintendo has cut the royalty rates on GameCube software in a move aimed at encouraging third-party publishers to bring key titles to the platform, and will focus more heavily on third-party software at E3. The company, which last week announced that it had missed its 2002 shipment targets for the Cube by a massive 44 per cent, selling only 5.6 million units, admitted that major third-party titles such as Grand Theft Auto were completely overshadowing its own major franchises such as Mario and Metroid.

Riding the crest of three hit product launches, Nintendo of America Inc. currently claims the best selling console game, the best selling portable games, and the best selling hardware system in America. Since coming to market within a week of each other in late March, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker for Nintendo GameCube, Pokemon Ruby Version and Pokemon Sapphire Version for Game Boy Advance, and the new flip-top, front-lit Game Boy Advance SP portable system have leaped to the top of their respective sales charts. The new Zelda game set a Nintendo record with more than 600,000 copies pre-sold to consumers before its March 24 launch date, and retailers now are quickly burning through the entire initial North American shipment of 1.1 million games. In the same period, sales rates for Nintendo GameCube hardware have jumped 20 percent.

Datel, the world's leading developer and manufacturer of innovative video game enhancement products, is proud to announce the release of PowerBoard for the Nintendo GameCube console. The perfect companion for online games like Phantasy Star Online, PowerBoard is the first full-size, computer-style keyboard designed specifically for GameCube.