NCsoft and Cryptic Studios announce the release of City of Heroes Issue 4: Colosseum, the fourth expansion of the award-winning massively multiplayer online game. This free release of Issue 4 marks the one year anniversary of City of Heroes’ original launch. During that time the game has undergone a major transformation in terms of size, population and game features, the most dramatic being Issue 4’s introduction of player-versus-player (PVP) arenas.

Bet On Soldier is a first-person shooter which presents something considerably different in order to stand out from the crowd. With a corporation-takes-over-the-world-style plot, Bet On Soldier allows players to do exactly what it promises with its title - that is, bet on the outcome of encounters with specific enemies. Before entering battle, players can wager on which particular enemy soldiers they are going to kill.

2K Games today announced Shattered Union, the latest innovative title from Take-Two's PopTop Software studio. Read more for details and screens ...

Black Bean has released the features for Haemimont Games' latest RTS. Rising Kingdoms is a Real-Time Strategy game set in a fantasy world, which focuses on empire development and dynamic tactical battles. Read more for details ...

Publisher Strategy First Inc. and developer Cinemax Ltd. announced today that their classic action-adventure game, Necromania: Traps of Darkness has shipped to retail stores nationwide.

Vulcanus Online is a mech action game under development at Korea's Zeppeto. Scheduled for release later this year, Vulcanus Online will allow players to connect with other PSP systems since it will make use of the PSP's wi-fi capabilities for multiplayer, but no details whether this is coop or deatmatch. Read more to check out some new screens ...

Imperial Glory promises to be the most extensive strategy game ever, offering an in-depth management model along with graphically stunning real-time land and naval battles in full 3D. Choose which of the five great 19th century Empires to lead: Great Britain, France, Russia, Prussia or Austro-Hungary, each with their own unique attributes.

Marie Sylla, Director of Government Relations & Counsel made a statement, "We are pleased that the California House Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media did vote out A.B. 450, the Yee bill which prohibits the sale of certain types of video games. It is evident that most of the committee members recognized the obvious flaw with the legislation - that it is wholly unconstitutional. However by no means do we consider this vote against Yee's bill a win for the industry, as it is likely that Assemblyman Yee will push for reconsideration on his bill. Retailers are making their best efforts to ensure that their stores are complying with their policy of carding for 'Mature' rated games and would like to be given the same opportunity as the movie theater owners and music retailers."

Quick, what's the first thing you think of when someone says "Star Wars?" Whatever it is, it's probably not "Lego"… but after playing Lego Star Wars, that might be different. Relive the Star Wars saga as retold in Lego form, guiding an increasingly large cast through everything from adventures on Naboo to the Pod Race on Tatooine. Sure, the ships are made out of bricks and your characters are all little guys with detachable plastic hair, but that just makes Star Wars better.

Another day, another batch of game trailers were released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for :

• Singles 2: Triple Trouble - Trailer
• Delta Force: Black Hawk Down [Xbox] - Trailer (2)
• Loco-Mania - Trailer
• Pariah - Trailer (2)
• NBA 06 - Trailer

'Age of Empires III: Age of Discovery' is set in 1500 A.D. and chronicles the Age of Discovery that started around the time that Columbus "discovered" the new world. The single player campaign follows American history up through 1850, and in multiplayer mode, you'll be able to choose from among eight different civilizations, and there will include free-for-all and team-vs-team matches for up to eight players.

Codemasters has expanded its management team with the appointment of two world class executives to lead the company's growth strategy. Following the acquisition of 40% by Benchmark Capital Europe, the top tier venture capital firm, Codemasters has secured Rod Cousens as Chief Executive Officer and Tony Williams as Chief Operating Officer.

Video Games Live features music from some of the biggest video games performed by top orchestras and choirs across the country combined with video footage, lasers, lights and live action to create an explosive and unique entertainment experience. The national tour launches this summer at the world famous Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on July 6.

"Dungeon Siege II" promises to set a new standard in role-playing games by combining an intriguing story-line with intense real-time party combat and cutting edge 3D graphics. Read more for some spiffy new screens ...

The series famous for relentless intensity is returning bigger, better looking and more frantic than ever before. Sam Stone is back to rescue the universe one bullet at a time against overwhelming hordes of time traveling enemies in Serious Sam 2. Built from the ground up with a completely new engine, Serious Sam 2 will be a shot of adrenaline to the hearts of first-person shooter fans across the world. This is serious!

Xfire and Planetwide Games have announced that starting today, they will be offering a free 14-day trial download of "RYL: Path of the Emperor" - the massively-multiplayer online role-playing game. This 14-day trial download offers new online game players the ability to experience "RYL: Path of the Emperor," which has the look and feel of an RPG and a FPS hybrid in a massively multiplayer online role playing game.

In KOTT2 players will join the ultimate battle of Paul de Raque, Grand Master of the Order of the Temple and hero of the first game, and the forces of Hell. Travelling the lands and kingdoms of 13th century Europe, Paul must unveil the secret of three mysterious ancient artefacts and fight the demon armies attacking our world.

From Software is bringing the Tenchu franchise to the PSP. Schedule for a July 28 release date in Japan, Tenchu: Shinobi Taizen is situated shortly after Tenchu 3 and revolves around the series' hero and heroine, Rikimaru and Ayame. Both characters will have their own missions in scenario mode, and there will be multiplayer head-to-head through PSP's Wi-Fi or USB connections. Tenchu: Shinobi Taizen will also include an editor to make your own missions, buildings and place enemies, all saveable on a Memory Stick Duo.

THQ today announced record sales and net income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, with net sales climbing 18% to a record $756.7 million from $640.8 million a year ago.

Sony Online Entertainment today announced EverQuest II Desert of Flames and EverQuest II The Splitpaw Saga, the first expansion pack and second adventure pack, respectively, for its MMO EQ II. Desert of Flames will launch launch September 12th 2005 and retail for $29.99 and will be showcased at the upcoming E3 in Los Angeles. The Splitpaw Saga will be available only via digital download for just $7.99 starting June 28th 2005.

World Racing 2 enhances the technology of the game's fore-runner World Racing, which introduced an innovative 3D landscape technology and sophisticated driving physics. While World Racing focussed on the simulation aspect, World Racing 2 will put the fun of driving at centre stage and offer optimised arcade racing characteristics, rich and varied range of mission modes, lively scenarios, enhanced tuning options and a great variety of cars.

Aurora Watching is a third person perspective stealth game taking place in the Arctic. During the mission, Sullivan faces many opponents, not all of whom are human and each of which can be defeated in many ways, Mini-games, puzzles, and hi-tech gadgets keep players excited from the very beginning to the end.

CDV has released the first patch GSC World's 3D RTS Cossacks II: Napoleonic Wars. This patch brings your retail game to v1.1 and addresses a game speed issue on computers with low RAM, fixes a problem with pack horses pathfinding, resolves a buffer overrun issue, map balancing in Skirmish mode, multiplayer improvements & stability, etc. Read more for download links ...

Digital Extremes barely shipped Pariah to retail stores earlier this week, and word is already out of a sequel being under development. In an interview with Canadian gaming mag Wham! Gaming, DE's James Schmalz confirmed Pariah 2 is due to follow shortly, and on current generation machines, not next-gen. James also said "Pariah 2 will be like a 'bridge' game between current and future systems." The making of a franchise, it seems ...

Heavy.com today announced that Sony has selected it to be its first content partner for its hit multimedia- media player, the Sony PSP. Heavy will make its entire library of thousands of hours of animation and live-action video shorts available for free download on the PSP.