Yahoo! Games today announced Microsoft Game Studios is the newest publisher to contribute titles to Yahoo! Games on Demand (http://gamesondemand.yahoo.com). With this new relationship, more than 100 titles are available to consumers for play on Yahoo! Games on Demand.

Hercules is thrilled to introduce two new ultra-powerful graphics boards in its range of high-quality products, 3D Prophet 9800 XT and 3D Prophet 9600 XT. These innovative new boards have been designed to transform a PC into the ultimate gaming station. Hercules will benefit from the best solution based on ATI’s high-end RADEON visual processors to answer the needs of the cream of the gaming crop. Featuring best-in-class quality, design and stability, 3D Prophet 9800 XT and 3D Prophet 9600 XT deliver an extreme gaming experience unlike anything seen before.

SEGA of America, Inc. today announced that Hideaki Irie has joined SEGA of America as president and chief operating officer, effective October 1, 2003. As president and COO, Irie's responsibilities will include directing SEGA's console software gaming businesses in North America, including all product and business development, marketing, sales, operations and content. Irie brings more than a decade of leadership experience to the helm, which includes a previous presidential role.

At the Tokyo Game Show in Japan today, Konami of America Inc., announced that Suikoden IV, the newest installment in the popular role-playing game (RPG) series, will be released in the U.S. for PS2 in Fall 2004. Hailed as one of the greatest RPGs ever made, the series is renowned for its depth of gameplay, immersive storytelling and expansive fantasy world. The Suikoden series first appeared seven years ago on the PlayStation, followed by Suikoden II in 1999. Last year, Konami released the critically acclaimed Suikoden III for PS2.

SEGA of America today announced that "Nightshade" is the official name for the upcoming PS2 title formerly known as "Kunoichi" (it remains "Kunoichi" in Japan) as well as the release of new screenshots. Players take on the role of the sexy and dangerous female ninja Hibana as she battles legions of demonic foes with unlimited combo attacks and powerful ninja magic. Developed by SEGA's Overworks studio, "Nightshade" is slated to be released in early Q1 04. Read more for details and screens ...

P.M. STUDIOS announces the on-line publishing of the first images from ETROM Comic. Here is a clip from the announcement:

"The development of ETROM project goes on with great enthusiasm and effort. As people know since last July announcement, ETROM is a multi-faceted project, which consists in a Videogame, a classic RPG and a Comic. We decided to publish on-line the first images from the Comic to give everyone that has enjoyed our work since its genesis a further step into the amazing Universe of the Knight of the Absolute, "Etrom Zediostruin". We're sure that the visual and the "feel" of the published images will make your curiosity and interest for our project grow "in fieri". Enjoy them!"- Fabio Belsanti Managing Director & Lead Designer-P.M. Studios.

Whiptail Interactive, a global publisher of PC games, today announced its Q4 2003 lineup. The slate will include arcade-style racing with R.C. Cars, action-adventure with Blade & Sword and the much anticipated POSTAL 2 Gold Edition, which will include the long-awaited multiplayer feature. These three exciting titles will ship to retail stores nationwide in October and November 2003.

Konami of America, Inc. today announced that its hit psychological horror videogame series, Silent Hill, will be released worldwide as a major motion picture. Production company Davis Films will produce the feature film adaptation of Konami's popular franchise. Produced by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc. (KCET), the Silent Hill games thrust players into a nightmarish world where they must unravel twisted storylines and battle grotesque creatures and terrifying monsters.

NCsoft today announced the latest chapter to its massively multiplayer game, Lineage. The new epic, called Lineage: Dark Conquest (www.lineage.com), is a series of six new episodes to be released over the next three years. The first new episode, Light and Shadow, goes live on North American servers today. Lineage first launched in 1998 and has grown to more than three-million active subscribers worldwide.

For the first time ever, EA Games console titles including The Lord of the Rings; The Return of the King will feature online gameplay for the PS2, Electronic Arts announced today. Along with The Lord of the Rings, The Sims Bustin' Out, Need for Speed Underground, and Medal of Honor Rising Sun will allow gamers to connect and play online this holiday season. Read more for details ...

'Phase: Exodus' (developed by Horns & Hoofs) is an RPG title with a strong strategy element. The action there will take place at the territory of Western Syberia, near Baikal lake - at the near future. The post-apocalyptic setting has to take us in the middle of the conflict between groups of people, which were separated when the great catastrophe took place. Read more for details ...

One of the greatest fighting game franchises of all time will finally come to next generation gaming platforms in the US, as SNK NeoGeo USA Consumer Corp., the recently launched US publishing arm of the SNK Neogeo Corp., announced today that they will publish The King Of Fighters 2000 and The King Of Fighters 2001 in a special combination pack exclusively for the PS2. The King Of Fighters combo pack will be available at the end of November for a special suggested retail price of $39.99.

Leading video games publisher, Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that 'Soulcalibur II', the sequel to one of the most revered weapons-based fighter video games of all-time, shipped over 1.6 million units on its first day, the largest day one release in the history of Namco’s U.S. division.

Continuing its strategy of developing cornerstone franchise properties with widespread commercial appeal, Majesco, one of the fastest-growing publishers of interactive entertainment software, today announced a deal that will take their popular action/horror video game, BloodRayne to the silver screen. Vierte Boll Kino Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co. KG (Boll KG), the production company responsible for several film adaptations of video games including Alone in the Dark and House of the Dead, has purchased the theatrical film and merchandise rights for the game.

Sony Ericsson today announced innovative, fun products to go with their mobile phones. The Gameboard EGB-10 is an attachable game controller, which gives a true console-style feeling to playing mobile games. The Bluetooth CAR-100 is a small racecar that can be controlled with a Sony Ericsson mobile phone, a great example of the variety of ways in which Bluetooth wireless technology can be used.

CDV Software today announced the release of a Cossacks Anthology scheduled for October 10th 2003 in Germany, October 17th in France, October 24th in the UK and October 31st in the USA. The Anthology will be a collector’s bundle, containing all parts of the million-selling Cossacks series: Cossacks: European Wars as well as the add-ons Cossacks: Back to War and Cossacks: The Art of War. The Cossacks products have proven to be the perfect introduction for newbies to the world of strategy, and a real enrichment for collectors. It has sold over one million copies worldwide.

Akella announces the development of a new game, “Alice’s Space Adventure”. Akella, well known as the leading naval games developer, is pushing it’s own boundaries by working in an entirely different genre. Alice’s Space Adventures is an all new arcade game for children in a classic animation style. Joined by Alice, her father-scientist, the melancholy space ship captain, the good-natured and funny monster and Talker the bird, you’ll visit the future, different planets within our galaxy, deep space, pirate caves and will puzzle out some difficult detective stories. Read more for details ...

After two days of thrilling competition, the United Cyber Games Association (UCGA) has announced the winners of the Samsung World Cyber Games 2003 USA Tournament. The 17 gamers competed in regional qualifying and semi-final rounds across the country, and won in their respective categories at the Samsung World Cyber Games USA Finals, August 19th and 20th in Irvine, California.

Atari has released their list of games on display at the ECTS in London, which kicks off end of the week. If you plan on attending, Atari will be located at ECTS stand (#1640). Read more for details ...

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE) announced today that it is finalizing plans to create SOEGames.net , an online game matching service that will allow gamers to find each other and battle it out across the Internet. The first games to take advantage of SOEGames.net will be Lords of EverQuest and Champions of Norrath, two upcoming Sony Online Entertainment titles. SOEGames.net will also be the first game matching system designed to host both console and PC games.

To help voice its upcoming space shooter, Battlestar Galactica, Vivendi Universal Games announced today an all-star cast of actor. The talent signed to lend voices to the highly-anticipated game includes Dirk Benedict and Richard Hatch, who starred as hotshot Viper pilots Starbuck and Apollo in the original television series, as well as Dwight Schultz, known for his roles as 'Howling Mad' Murdock on the A-Team and Lieutenant Barclay on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Kristanna Loken, who plays the T-X in the theatrical release, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

Further immersing gamers into its gritty, first-person war-torn thriller Call of Duty, Activision, Inc. has enlisted Jason Statham and Giovanni Ribisi to provide their trademark voice talent in key roles. Additionally, accomplished writer/producer Michael Schiffer ("Crimson Tide, "Colors," "Lean of Me," "The Four Feathers" and "The Peacemaker") has added his screenwriting stamp to the game's action-filled script. Call of Duty will be available this fall for the PC and is currently rated "RP" by the ESRB.

Renowned UK game development veterans The Bitmap Brothers, creators of hit titles across almost every generation of hardware, today announced that they are one of the first companies to be accepted for the Government's new 'Access to Finance' initiative for expanding businesses.

3D Prophet 9600, Hercules' new 256MB mid-range graphics board based on ATI's RADEON 9600 chipset, is about to make a splash in the world of 3D gaming. 3D Prophet 9600 is the highly-anticipated newcomer in Hercules's celebrated range of 3D graphics boards, providing fast, high-quality rendering for a lifelike gaming experience with an excellent performance/price ratio.

Mindscape today served gamers a slice of liver 'with some fava beans and a nice Chianti' with the announcement of Hannibal - The Game, an action-packed first person adventure for PC in November priced £29.99.

Due to be published by ARXEL TRIBE, Hannibal - The Game brings all the suspense, fear and psychology of Ridley Scott's original movie release to the PC, with a unique blend of action, adventure, investigation and a new plot; enough to whet the appetite of the tubbiest man-eater.