According to Nikkei Net Interactive, Ricoh has developed a diffraction plate to be placed between the reader's laser and lens, allowing it to change the beam's spot size according to the media, either being CD, DVD, HD DVD or Blu-ray. A Ricoh spokesperson commented, "It will make it possible to build players and recorders ready for all formats, which will benefit consumers." Ricoh Technologies will unveil its new optical device this week at the International Optoelectronics Exhibition '06 in Japan.

Call of Duty 3 delivers the intensity of being closer than ever to the fury of combat during the battle for the Liberation of Paris, the most harrowing campaign of WWII, known as The Normandy Breakout.

Codemasters announced today that the number of gamers signed up for The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar Beta Test program is now approaching 100,000 and is giving away a 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings collected works, and of course Shadows of angmar special edition upon launch.

Virtua Fighter 5 is the latest installment in the critically-acclaimed series, and will elevate the arcade fighting genre to all-new heights as it takes true advantage of the capabilities of the next-generation hardware.

Played entirely in the user's internet browser, coreFootball will earn its next-generation status by being the only online title that provides consumers the opportunity to compete against each other in real-time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

NFL Head Coach reinvents football gaming by introducing the first 3D strategy sports game that challenges gamers to build and manage every aspect of a football team from the ground up. As head coach, you develop a team strategy, execute it on and off the field, and try to build a winning organization year after year.

Blue Fang Games, known for the Zoo Tycoon titles, today announced it has extended their partnership with its publisher Microsoft Game Studios, extending its multiple development projects contract through 2009.

Take command in this dynamic turn-based game and test strategies that long-past generals and world leaders could only dream of: make it happen in Gary Grigsby’s World at War. This update resolves a possible combat animations crash, a replay problem and an issue with strategic airdrops.

Aion is the ultimate MMORPG with strengthened interaction between players. Aion’s world consists of 3 realms - the heavens, the devildom and the dragon realm. Players will experience dynamic communications with the world of Aion as they conduct strategic battles.

Featuring strategic team play, persistent character promotions, day and nighttime combat missions, and the universe's most powerful weapons and vehicles, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars transports players to the front lines of an epic new war for Earth. Originally scheduled for Q3 2006, rumors about a delay started floating around last week when online retailers had adjusted their release scheduled, but today Activision confirmed that it has been pushed back, release date "when it's done." Lovely!

According to Gamers with Jobs, the source code for Hellgate: London may have been stolen when Flagship Studios' network was compromised. We tried to confirm with our sources at Namco, but the PR representative that wasn't dodging calls claimed no knowledge of the incident. This is very reminiscent of Valve's debacle with Half-Life 2, and as Yogi Berra might say, "It's like déjà vu all over again ..."

UPDATE

Flagship's response: "We've heard the same rumors. Obviously this is of concern to us and we've been looking into it, but we haven't been able to ascertain any further information to substantiate those rumors."

Swedish independent developer Silent Grove Studios today announced its first title, Dawnspire: Prelude, a team-based online action-rpg set in an original fantasy world. The game focuses on teamplay, tactics and player skill, all put into a frenzied and exciting mix to bring a new angle to the gaming experience you normally find in action-rpg's.

After two years of development Climax's Warhammer Online was cancelled after which Games Workshop granted its license to Mythic Entertainment. Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is an MMO game for PC and console set in the fantasy world of Warhammer.

The golden age of console hockey will return when NHL 07 debuts with gameplay innovations that will allow players to feel like they are actually on the ice. Featuring an unmatched level of freedom and control, NHL 07 will represent a watershed moment in the history of the console hockey.

Beginning Sept. 15, 2006, gamers can square off against the world’s best RTS players in the Rise of the Ultimate Champion tournament, sponsored by Intel, ATI, and Logitech. With $100,000 on the line, when the dust settles, the Ultimate Champion will take the lion’s share of $40,000. Equipment from supporting sponsors ATI and Logitech will also be randomly awarded throughout the tournament.

Crash Boom Bang! will allow players to roll the dice and dive into one of 40 action-oriented, outrageously funny, multiplayer mini-games, as they communicate with and bet against opponents through the never-before-seen DS Motion Panel Communicator.

Crave Entertainment today announced World Championship Cards for the PS2 and PSP, featuring over 30 different varieties of classic card games including Bridge, Gin Rummy, Solitaire, Cribbage, Hearts, Spades, Crazy 8's and more! Extensive multiplayer features allow players to compete online or wirelessly against others in the same room.

UT2004 Creative has released a new patch for Epic's sci-fi FPS Unreal Tournament 2004 with weapons sounds and music enhanced, especially to take advantage of the X-Fi card's firepower and 128 voice support. Weapons and music both now use multiple voices for a bigger sound, and three dimensional panning for use with multi-speaker set-ups to surround you with sound.

From the mind of game industry legend Gunpei Yokoi and Q Entertainment, Namco Bandai America announces Gunpey, an exciting, innovative and challenging puzzle game with dynamic music that changes as you play. Gunpey will test your reflexes, stretch your mind and dazzle your senses.

Iocaine Studios today announced their upcoming action-strategy game, ThreadSpace: Hyperbol. Set in the distant future, players will engage in highly tactical multiplayer combat as they control massive gunships capable of firing a large variety of projectiles.

In Mercury Meltdown, sequel to last Archer Maclean’s Mercury, you once again taking control of the liquid Mercury blob, avoiding various obstacles and hazards to reach the end goal.

Ghostlight has signed a European distribution agreement for Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga. Enter the world of the Junkyard, where rival tribes fight an endless war-vying for supremacy and the right to ascend to Nirvana.

UFO: Extraterrestrials, developed by Chaos Concept, is a 3D tactical/strategy title with a rich and compelling sci-fi story.

Take-Two today announced that the Company has received notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission that it is conducting an informal non-public investigation into certain stock option grants made from January 1997 to the present. Take 2 had already initiated an internal review of its option grants, led by a committee consisting of independent board members who have retained independent legal counsel and accountants to assist in the review.