Whether this is intentional or not, or whether the dates are set or mere projections, Activision Europe has released its upcoming titles release list revealing that Guitar Hero Metallica is scheduled for May, confirming the previously revealed Guitar Hero: Modern Hits for NDS. Indiana Jones: Scepter of Kings seems to be the full title for a new Indie game on NDS, PSP, PS2 and Wii. Other titles listed are Prototype, Monsters vs. Aliens and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, all scheduled for Q2.

Activision is rocking the holiday season with a robust slate of games for the entire family, starting with music-based Guitar Hero World Tour, WWII shooter Call of Duty: World at War, intriguing Quantum of Solace, hilarious Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and super hero powered Spider-Man: Web of Shadows.

Last month THQ filed a lawsuit with the US District Court of Central California against Activision, claiming the SCORE International Baja 1000 box cover was too similar to its own BAJA title released the month before, and now the two companies have settled the case out of court with Activision admitting something was afoot as it has changed the official retail box to something not so identical.

National Geographic announced the formation of National Geographic Games (NGG), a division that will publish and develop games across major gaming console, handheld, online and mobile platforms.

Activision has acquired Iowa based developer Budcat Creations. Known for its Wii and NDS games, Budcat has worked on titles such as GH III: Legends of Rock, GH: Aerosmith, GH: World Tour, and is currently working on a new Guitar Hero product.

NecroVisioN is a next-gen First Person Shooter that starts in the rage battlefields of World Word I and leads player to much darker and brutal underground world of vampires and demons.

Last week THQ filed a lawsuit with the US District Court of Central California against Activision, claiming the upcoming SCORE International Baja 1000 box cover is too similar to its own BAJA title released last month. Both boxes show similar vehicles in almost identical positions, and although THQ contacted Activision to settle things out of court, they refused to make any changes, hence the lawsuit (thanks Patent Arcade).

IGA Worldwide announced a multi-year agreement with Activision to deliver dynamic in-game advertising into multiple video game titles on PS3, starting with integrated ads in Guitar Hero World Tour.

During Activision's Analyst Day conference CEO Mike Griffith confirmed what most of us already knew, while Treyarch is currently finishing up Call of Duty World at War, Infinity Ward is already developing the next installment in the Call of Duty series, which is expected next year. Griffith also revealed that Activision Blizzard plans to triple the amount of Guitar Hero retail titles and downloadable content by 2010, which was already hinted at with the FreeStyleGames acquisition last week. The music royalty debate got a little bit more interesting as Universal Music Group CEO Zach Horowitz stated that it has seen on average a 200-300% retail sales boost of material which is included in the Guitar Hero titles.

Relive the eighties with Intellivision Lives! Play more than 60 classic Intellivision games all in one package. In Destroy All Humans! you are Crypto, an alien warrior sent to Earth to clear the way for the Furon invasion force. Your mission is to infiltrate humanity, control them, harvest their brain stems, and ultimately destroy them. Both titles will be available through Xbox Live on Sept. 15th, 2008 for 1200 Microsoft Points.

Activision has acquired music-based games developer FreeStyleGames, currently developing localized downloadable content for the Guitar Hero franchise, as well as a yet to be announced new, intellectual property in the music genre.

Check out the following new screens & trailers from Activision's GC 2008 lineup:

• 'Call of Duty: World at War' (ALL) - 8 New Screens
• 'Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades' (NDS) - 5 New Screens
• 'Guitar Hero: World Tour' (ALL) - New Screens
• 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa' (ALL) - Screens
• 'Pitfall: The Big Adventure' (Wii) - Screens
• 'Quantum of Solace' (ALL) - New Screens & Trailers
• 'Rapala Fishing Frenzy' (Wii/PS3/X360) - New Screens
• 'Shrek (TBA)' (ALL) - New Screens
• 'Spider-Man: Web of Shadows' (ALL) - 5 New Screens

Scarface is a 3rd person action game set in a complex world filled with excess and greed, where you take on the role of ruthless gangster Tony Montana. Even though the original sold more than two million copies Activision Blizzard didn't like that license either, so the rights reverted back to Universal, who will most likely shop it around or with its new found "Wanted" developing initiative might keep it in-house.

During Activision's Q1 2009, net revenues increased 32%, and with the newly combined forces, Activision Blizzard's calender year '08 financial outlook already exceeds the '09 targets. During the follow-up conference call, Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith revealed next year will see "multiple" new Guitar Hero titles that will broaden the franchise's impact, as well as an all-new Call of Duty using leapfrog studio strategy, meaning it will be developed by Infinity Ward. Also expected are an unannounced racing game from Bizzare Creations, Madagascar 2, the re-invented Tony Hawk, Marvel's Wolverine, Monsters vs. Aliens, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, Transformers 2, the previously revealed Singularity, Prototype, Return to Castle Wolfenstein and others.

Activision will broaden its portfolio by adding Vivendi's Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age and Spyro to its lineup, as well as retain two new IPs that are currently in development, Prototype and a second, yet unannounced, game. On the flipside it will realign staffing at Radical Entertainment and High Moon Studios and is exploring options regarding Massive Entertainment and Swordfish Studios, including the possibility of sale or close. Brutal Legend, Ghostbusters, Riddick, 50 Cent, World in Conflict, WET are all MIA.

Check out the following new screens from Activision's unofficial E3 2008 lineup:

• James Bond: Quantum of Solace (ALL) - Screen & Trailer
• Call of Duty: World at War (ALL) - New Screens
• Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (ALL) - Facts & Features
• Guitar Hero: World Tour (ALL) - New Screens
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Fusion [ALL] - E3 2008 Trailer
• Singularity [ALL] - E3 2008 Trailer
• Wolfenstein (PS3/X360/PC) - New Screens & Trailer

Activision’s fall 2008 game lineup includes CoD: World at War, Guitar Hero World Tour, Quantum of Solace and Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. In addition it is currently in development on id Software's Wolfenstein; Vicarious Visions' RPG sequel Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Fusion; Raven Software' new first person action game Singularity; a game based on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen; and Raven Software's X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Vivendi and Activision announced the completion of the transaction announced on Dec. 2, 2007 to create Activision Blizzard, as the world's most profitable pure-play online and console game publisher.

GErman based 3D Game Engine developer Trinigy announced a license deal with Ubisoft studio Blue Byte, giving The Settlers developer access to Trinigy’s latest Vision Engine 7.0 which has been unveiled quite recently.

Wee 1st is Activision's a new consumer initiative to expand the company’s Wii portfolio, promoting games that were developed specifically with the Wii in mind, such as Little League World Series 2008, Rapala Fishing Frenzy and Dancing with the Stars: Get Your Dance On.

Activision announced that, at a special meeting of stockholders held earlier today, it received a 92% stockholder approval necessary to consummate the company's agreement with Vivendi, S.A. to combine Vivendi Games with Activision's businesses.

Infinity Ward announced that it has decided to reup on their contract with Activision publishing. The recently renegotiated deal may not seem like much of an impact from the outside perspective, but it has laid the ground work and kick started IW's future project, as well as the possibility of a unique new IP, that they’ll have complete control over. Don't expect any details soon as IW's director of comm. Robert Bowling says "it’s going to be quite a while before I can share any details on exactly what that project is."

Online multiplayer middleware developer Quazal, known for Net-Z, Rendez-Vous and Spark!, has signed an agreement with Trinigy, makers of the Vision Engine, to integrate Quazal’s online technologies with Vision 7.

When Activision announced last year that it would merge with Vivendi Games not all its shareholders were in agreement with the $18.9 billion deal. Wayne County Employees' Retirement System filed a preliminary injunction which has now been denied by the Delaware Court of Chancery, so the merger can move forward.

To provide its audiences with more innovative gaming and virtual world experiences, Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group has formed new Games and Virtual Worlds Groups that will encompass gaming initiatives across all relevant platforms including: online and PC games; handheld and console games; and will include the company’s casual games sites.