RedOctane today launched their worldwide search for the next guitar hero! The Be a Guitar Hero II competition offers independent musicians the opportunity to have their song featured in game play for the upcoming title Guitar Hero II for the PS2.

WEBZEN announced today its lineup of PC and next generation MMOGs for showcase at the E3 in Los Angeles. Its lineup includes mainly the same titles as last year, Huxley, Soul of the Ultimate Nation and Project Wiki.

Buena Vista Games today announced it has entered into an agreement with Tokyo-based Q Entertainment Inc. to publish four new titles, in all international regions except Asia, such as Lumines II, Meteos: Disney Edition and Every Extend Extra.

Big Huge Games announced Rise of Legends went gold. Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends morphs the RTS genre into the fantasy space, allowing gamers to rampage through towering cities, flame-swept deserts and brutal ice plains in battles filled with mystic creatures, fantastic machines and stunning acts of magic.

In GRAW you command the Ghosts and Special Forces equipped with the IWS in the quest to save the president of the United States, recover stolen nuclear codes and eliminate a vicious band of renegade soldiers hell-bent on unleashing catastrophe. This demo features the second mission of the game, playable in singleplayer and co-op (LAN) with 3 other players.

Sword of the Stars is a breakthrough Space Strategy game that seeks to reinvigorate the sub-genre. Players will explore planets, manage their empire and research new technology. Sword of the Stars provides quick, intuitive play, state-of-the-art graphics and tactical combat that make the game instantly involving and rewardingly fun.

On Games, Planeta DeAgostini Interactive’s producing and developing brand, proudly announces the presentation of its upcoming products at the E3 trade show. On display will be 4 new titles, PC Football 2007, Wild Summer, Shadows of War, The Legend of the Dragon. Read more for details ...

Latest issue of Japanese Famitsu has word that Koei will bring its beat'em to the Xbox 360, scheduled for release in Japan this summer. Samurai Warriors 2 will feature several changes compared to the original. You will be able to select from 20 characters each offering different ways of fighting, no load times when the action changes from interior to exterior battles, and new combo configurations and better special attacks.

Infernal, previously known as Diabolique: License to sin, is a 3rd person action adventure that is set in a present day scenario, with stunning environments and strong characters. The story relates to the eternal conflict between good and evil, confronted in supernatural intelligence agencies.

As we ramp up towards E3, more and more new games are being announced. Last week Ridge Racer 7 was revealed, and the latest issue of Japanese magazine Famitsu now has confirmation that Namco is bringing Tekken 6 to the PS3. No other details, or possible platforms, were disclosed, but, as with a lot of the new titles, more info is sure to follow at E3, and we'll be there to cover it for you...

Atari today announced the forthcoming release of its PSP-exclusive title, Hot PXL. Bringing fast and furious bite-size gaming, Hot PXL is comprised of 200 deviously crafted micro-games based on a quirky and original story premise, drawing inspiration from street culture and the digital lifestyle.

CivCity: Rome is new city building strategy game inspired by the world of Sid Meier's Civilization. Developed by Firefly Studios, CivCity: Rome, gamers will recreate the glory of Rome by building a small settlement into a mighty imperial city.

SEGA announced Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz developed by SEGA Studios for the Nintendo Revolution. AiAi and all his friends have rolled their way onto Nintendo's new console with new mind-blowing puzzle levels and a wealth of new and exciting Party Games specifically designed to fully exploit the innovative Revolution controller.

Fight in the theatre of war that changed the world forever. Battle alongside your compatriots on some of the most inhospitable environments of the Eastern Front in Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 RO places you in the most realistic WWII first-person multi-player combat to date, allowing the player to fight through some of the most intense combat of the war.

In Tycoon City: New York, players become moguls by constructing and customizing hundreds of businesses and famous landmarks anywhere and anyway they want in a bustling simulation of New York City. Players must create and improve their businesses to outclass the competition, and become rich and famous in New York City.

Legacy is an epic game of Starfleet combat covering the entire Star Trek Universe. Players become the Admiral of a task force of warships and must lead their fleet to victory in large-scale battles.

As promised, EA has released The Battle for Middle-earth 2 v1.03 patch which includes numerous technical fixes, increased de-sync fixes, extensive balance changes, and the addition of five brand new multiplayer maps - all new locations to BFME 2, and one of which is the return of a popular BFME 1 multiplayer map, Fords of Isen.

Various online sources are claiming that a leaked Bethesda release schedule reveals that The Elder Scrolls IV is headed for Sony's next-gen PS3 console, as well as its PSP, and would be scheduled for November 2006 (thanks Modojo). When contacted, Bethesda's PR guru Pete Hines said there were no announced plans to bring Oblivion to any platforms other than PC or Xbox 360. This doesn't mean it's not true because if it were announced, it would not be a rumor. Bethesda has not yet released its E3 lineup, so that might shed some light on the matter ...

Delivering on the franchise's compelling story, unrivaled authenticity and intense squad-based action, Brothers In Arms Hell's Highway drops you into Operation Market-Garden, the largest airborne operation of World War II. Gearbox has launched a teaser website where you can unlock screens by answering WW II related questions, but we thought we'd save you the trouble.

Walt Disney Internet Group today announced today that its MMO Toontown Online is getting an expansion, Lawbot Headquarters, designed for advanced players and delivers more challenges and enemies, including new stealth-based gameplay and an epic final battle.

In The Hustle: Detroit Streets you are an unknown pool player, down on luck and out of money, and you must make a name for yourself by becoming the top player in the city by racking up points and earning cash.

Electronic Arts today announced a settlement on overtime wages for current and former programmers of its California studios. Under the agreement, claims will be dismissed, and EA will make a $14.9 million payment to cover claims by the class members, plaintiffs' attorney fees, incentive payments, and administrative costs.

Wild Earth is a graphically spectacular safari adventure set in the heart of Africa, offering gamers a breathtaking journey through the Serengeti National Park. This demo features one mission, capture elephants on film, but includes the full game which can be unlocked when you purchase a registration key.

Another day, another batch of games shipped to stores. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are announcements for:

• Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (PS2)
• Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny (PS2)
• Black & White 2: The Battle of the Gods (PC)
• LostMagic (NDS)
• OutRun 2006: Coast-2-Coast (PSP/PS2/Xbox/PC)
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new announcements become available. Read more for details...

Galactic Civilizations II takes place in the distant future, when mankind has become a space-faring civilization and must contend with other extraterrestrial powers for domination of the galaxy. Stardock has released a v1.1 retail patch, which includes a ton of updates and corrections. Read more for a (really) detailed change log and download links ...