Hip Interactive today announced that the North American version of the multi-platform video game release, "Playboy: The Mansion," has been sent off for manufacturing, and is expected in stores January 25, 2005. Developed by Cyberlore Studios for Playboy, Playboy: The Mansion invites players to virtually step into Playboy Founder Hugh Hefners slippers and run the famous Playboy empire.

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.

Created by Texas-based Gearbox Software, Brothers in Arms is the most realistic and authentic WWII shooter ever. While other WWII games have sugarcoated the war experience, Brothers in Arms is based on a true story and will immerse gamers into the gritty, uncensored and emotionally-charged side of war. Read more for some new screens ...

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 ...

Based on the inspirational survival stories of American pilots shot down over occupied Europe during the Second World War, this action-adventure sees US Airman Bill Foster stranded and alone in Germany in the Winter of 1944. Bill must survive against both the elements and the elite German forces and only upon reaching the Swiss border is his survival assured.

In TimeSplitters Future Perfect, Cortez - the hero from previous installments - returns with humanity on the brink of destruction. With the help of some familiar faces (some very familiar!) he must chase a mystery foe across different time periods to trace the origins of the TimeSplitters and save the day.

Codemasters today announces it has secured the PAL publishing rights to Worms 4: Mayhem. The Worms series recently diversified with Worms Forts Under Siege, a tactical RTS-like spin-off created for Sega. However, Worms 4: Mayhem is a return to the series' trademark gameplay and sees Team 17's core Worms design and development team regrouping for a game of explosive annelid annihilation.

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. Throughout the game, players need to negotiate 50 unique and challenging on- and off-field missions successfully to take control of their UEFA Champions League destiny.

It's hard to know which is worse: trying to pretend that you're a warrior, wizard or secret agent when you have mile-long wires dangling from your game console, or not being able to play online or multiplayer games at all because you don't have an Internet cable running from your router to your family room. The new Actiontec 54 Mbps Wireless Game Adapter solves both problems by enabling your Xbox or PS2 to hitch a ride on your wireless home network without the need for any cabling.

It seems some people got trigger happy and jumped the gun on what was supposed to be announced tomorrow, Team 17 and Codemaster will be announcing Worms Mayhem. A preview on Gamer.nl, which has been removed on request of Codemasters, revealed that it is in the works for PC, Xbox and PS2 and is expected second half of 2005. Worms Mayhem will feature a destructible environment, more weapons than ever before (such as Iron Donkey), ability to make your own weapons which you can then use online, customize your worms' looks, it will of course have all classic online gamemodes and be Xbox Live enabled. Worms Mayhem will have more than 30 levels spread over five settings (Arabic, prehistoric, fantasyworld, wild west etc.) with five missions each and a boss fight to top it off. More details are surely to follow tomorrow, but Tiscali has the first screens..

Stolen is an ultra realistic, third person, stealth-based, action game based around a high-tech female thief. Along with innovative high-tech stealth/robbery game actions and events, Stolen also boasts some truly amazing technical and presentational features to give it a spectacular look that will captivate gamers.

The latest version of Gran Turismo 4 further demonstrates its mission to provide the most authentic driving simulation available in the marketplace. New features will extend above and beyond just pure automotive racing, providing a unique destination for automotive and PS2 enthusiasts to enjoy car culture in every dimension. Check out these new screens ...

Driven by a hatred of crime bordering on insanity, Frank Castle became The Punisher, a one-man army whose mission goes far beyond revenge. Taking on the city's high-powered crime lords, he wreaks havoc on the corrupt with methods reserved for those on the wrong side of the law. "The Punisher" video game represents the best of over 30 years of "Punisher" comic books and depicts some of the grittiest storylines in the Marvel Universe. Check these new screens & trailers ...

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.

Mercenaries is a revolutionary third-person combat-action game that delivers the next level of free-form gameplay in massive interactive environments. The game gives players the opportunity to take on the role of a soldier for hire in an open-ended world.

Konami America today announced that Suikoden IV for the PS2 has shipped to retail stores nationwide. The company's epic role-playing game (RPG) includes the long awaited return of the series' signature 108 Stars of Destiny as well as an enhanced graphical interface and a new ground breaking battle system.

In this new episode, you lead Team Rainbow, the world's most elite counter-terrorist unit, as they are called into action and unfamiliar territory to battle a bioterrorist threat. Stakes escalate as they are personally targeted by an evil terrorist organization. Used to protecting the lives of others, Team Rainbow must now embark on a mission to fight and save some of their own.

SCEA announced today the launch of its PS2 exclusive action game The Getaway: Black Monday. The Getaway: Black Monday fuses gaming and cinema into one medium, providing players with an exciting, in-depth, interactive entertainment experience, as gamers make "moral choices" in the gangland thriller that will determine their path through the story, concluding with one of the multiple endings.

Stolen is an ultra realistic, third person, stealth-based, action game based around a high-tech female thief. Along with innovative high-tech stealth/robbery game actions and events, Stolen also boasts some truly amazing technical and presentational features to give it a spectacular look that will captivate gamers. Check out the freshly launched website, or read more for some new screens ...

Shadow of Rome, an all-new action adventure game, transports players to one of the most perilous ages of man, an era when Caesar was hailed as the leader of the Roman Empire and whose sovereignty dominated all of western civilization.

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. Today's developer diary covers 'Monsters and scientific madness' with contributions from DarkWorks' Nicolas Castaing (Level Designer and Lead Level Builder), Arnaud Barros (Lead Computer Artist) and Cyrille Combes (AI programmer).

Atari today announced hip-hop artist Talib Kweli will be the voice of Trane, the lead character in Atari's Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure. The video game promises to be an homage to graffiti's rich culture and represents the culmination of seven years of story and character development by fashion pioneer Marc Ecko, himself a former graffiti artist with deep ties to the urban community.

The famous Dragon Quest RPG series is headed for the PS2 with a bold new visual style featuring cell shaded characters on top of beautifully rendered backdrops. Familiar creatures make their way back into this latest installment, and the interactivity with the environment -- such as picking up barrels and opening drawers, returns as well. While Square Enix confirmed that Dragon Quest VIII is indeed coming to North America, no release date was mentioned at all, yet ...

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is pleased to announce the release in PAL Territories of EyeToy: Monkey Mania, a wacky board game style EyeToy title created by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ) with kids in mind. Read more for details and list of minigames...