Following a hugely successful year for its Los Angeles studio, Climax is proud to announce plans to expand its U.S. operation. The ambitious project will see the LA office relocate to larger premises and recruit new staff - a move that reaffirms Climax's commitment to creating a world-class development studio.

In addition to the PC version's signature locations, non-scripted A.I., and unprecedented view-distance, Far Cry Instincts will feature brand new gameplay scenarios that will challenge players to use an even broader range of strategies and survival tactics in order to uncover the many secrets within the beautiful-but-deadly islands. Far Cry Instincts producer Roxane Gosselin is on hand to answer some questions about the "traps" concept being used.

Ubisoft announces the release of Sprung for the Nintendo DS handheld game system, which has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. Engage in a risqué, daring adventure with sexy singles at Snowbird Mountain, a hip ski resort in Colorado. Written by North Shore (FOX) writer Colleen McGuinness, Sprung captures the essence of teen entertainment through fresh storylines, sex appeal, two gender-specific adventures 50 missions, bonus levels, cool characters and hours of stimulating fun. Developed by Guillemot Inc., Sprung is rated “T” (Teen) and retails for US$29.99.

NCsoft today announced the release of an extensive expansion for its MMORPG Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle. The expansion, Chronicle 2: Age of Splendor, includes more than 500 megabytes of new features adding three new zones, wondrous underwater areas, rideable mounts, new monsters, items and spells as well as an in-game gambling system consisting of a racetrack, throwing dice and a lottery.

Ubisoft has pushed back the original Q4 2004 release date for Blue Byte's 3D RTS Heritage of Kings: The Settlers, and it is now scheduled for Q1 2005. Heritage of Kings: The Settlers is a world-building strategy game with fully rendered 3D visuals and unavoidably addictive gameplay. Players can dive into a detailed medieval world offering a unique mix of RTS and simulation gameplay. A fully functioning community can be created; new advancements can be discovered, and enemy forces will be repelled (thanks Blues)!

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 the first screens ...

City of Heroes is now accepting Beta applications in preparation for its European release, due in February '05. Potential Beta applicants should point their browsers at the official European City of Heroes website.

Catacombs is the just released expansion pack for Dark Age of Camelot in which players are given the opportunity to explore underground cities – with attached adventuring areas – based on the backstory of one underground player race per Realm. Mythic asked us to host the first patch for the new expansion pack, so you MUST have Catacombs installed before applying the patch.

With its diverse offering of music and variety of skill levels, TAIKO: Drum Master delivers a unique experience filled with flexibility and fun for players of all ages. The game offers more than 30 songs in its catalog, including well-known hits from today’s current chart-toppers and yesterday’s favorites.

Matrix Games and Strategic Studies Group have released a new patch for their strategy game Battles In Normandy. This update brings your retail game to v1.01 and improves enemy AI, provides four levels of opponents, adds a number of hotkeys, and the usual crash and bug fixes. Read more for download links ...

Darkwatch is a cinematic 1st person shooter with an original premise that blends Vampire-Horror and Western genres. They grind their enemies for fuel, fashion their skin into protective cloaks and create weapons designed to exterminate en masse, and they are the good guys. We got some hands-on time with a build, and here are our updated impressions ...

Alpha Black Zero is a fast-paced mission based 3rd person tactical shooter with a gripping storyline to test both your fighting abilities and your intelligence. Dozens of different enemies, all possessing strong Artificial intelligence, will punish your mistakes across huge and challenging levels.

Blizzard keeps its users on a tight rope as over 300 accounts have been banned so far. "We have recently verified that certain individuals were using third party "bot" programs to automate their characters in World of Warcraft. A bot is used to play an account non-stop, allowing its user to accumulate money, items, and experience without actually requiring the user to be physically present to play the game. The use of bots is a violation of the World of Warcraft Terms of Use and is absolutely prohibited. Therefore, the accounts identified as having used bots have been banned."

EA has now released the linux patches/server files for Digital Illusions Battlefield 1942 & Battlefield Vietnam. These updates bring your server to v1.61 (BF1942) and v1.21 (BFV) and address an undisclosed exploit reported by community member Luigi Auriemma (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links.

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 :

• Shadow of Rome - Trailer #5
• Will of Steel - Trailers (3)

Just as Far Cry redefined the FPS genre on the PC, Far Cry Instincts will introduce wide open environments and unique, immersive gameplay elements that are destined to become the definition of survival action. In addition to the PC version's signature locations, non-scripted A.I., and unprecedented view-distance, Far Cry Instincts will feature brand new gameplay scenarios that will challenge players to use an even broader range of strategies and survival tactics in order to uncover the many secrets within the beautiful-but-deadly islands.

I'm working on an article for Retro Gamer magazine concerning the old censorship rules under which Nintendo of America operated during the NES/SNES period. If you're a developer, translator, or writer who worked with Nintendo back then and ran afoul of these rules, I'd like to interview you for the article. If requested, anonymity is, of course, guaranteed. Prospective interviewees can contact me at multimedia.superstar@gmail.com.

Bandai America Inc. today announced that "Battle Assault 3 Featuring Gundam SEED" has shipped. Available exclusively for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, "Battle Assault 3 Featuring Gundam SEED" is the first of the hit Battle Assault series for the PlayStation2 and combines fast-paced fighting action with the gripping storylines from the hit Gundam SEED television series.

Ubisoft announced today the Shadowbane: Throne of Oblivion expansion pack is now available at a manufacturer’s retail price of $19.99 – rated “T” for Teen. In addition, those who purchase Shadowbane: Throne of Oblivion will also receive the original Shadowbane and the previous expansion, Shadowbane: Rise of Chaos for free. The expansion for the critically acclaimed massively multiplayer online game Shadowbane features an entirely new realm and rulership system that allows players to seize and vie for control of sections of the game world.

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 50 new screens ...

Blue Byte has released a patch for the German demo of its 3D RTS The Settlers: Heritage of Kings. This demo patch brings your demo to v1.01 and adds multiplayer functionality to the demo, and one additional MP only map, 'The Great Battle,' for up to 6 players (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

Konami America today announced the signing of U.S. National Team defensive star player Eddie Pope as the official cover athlete for Winning Eleven 8. The game will be released this spring on the PlayStation 2, PC and, for the first time, on the Xbox.

UEFA Champions League will offer followers of the beautiful game the opportunity to guide their chosen club from qualification anxiety through to big night glory. It will add 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.

French Widescreen Games, previously known for Airborne Troops & Inuits, is working on a new sports title for PS2, Wild Water Adrenaline Featuring Salomon. Read more for the first few screens ...

Mythic Entertainment today announced that "Dark Age of Camelot: Catacombs" has shipped to retail stores throughout North America. The online game's fifth expansion, "Catacombs" debuts instanced Private Adventuring for solo and group quests, adds five new classes, reveals a vast new underworld to explore, and a major character and environment graphics overhaul.