NCsoft Corporation announces the beginning of its pre-order retail box campaign for Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle and City of Heroes in North America. The boxes will begin to appear on store shelves this week at computer game retail outlets throughout the United States and Canada. Both games are expected to launch commercially this spring.

Enlight announced today that its highly anticipated title Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc is now available in retail stores across North America. Inspired by the legendary story of Joan of Arc, Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc sends players to medieval France to experience the most epic battles of the Hundred Years War.

The official add-on Blitzkrieg: Burning Horizon, throws you in even more dramatic battles of WWII. Burning Horizon offers a huge 18-missions-campaign around General Rommel, giving you the opportunity to play famous battles like Ardennes, Tripolis, Tobruk, El Alamein, Sicily and, of course, Normandy. Furthermore, the add-on contains 8 single missions, with an entire new nation at war: Japan. Read more for details ...

European videogame publisher L.S.P. announced today that Hip Interactive Corp. completed the acquisition of all the issued and outstanding shares of L.S.P. Hip Interactive Corp. is a leading North American provider of electronic entertainment products. In fiscal 2003 Hip generated sales of Cdn $361,3 million, producing net income after taxes of $11 million.

Vivendi Universal Games and Radical Entertainment today announced a worldwide development agreement under which Radical will exclusively develop products for VU Games. The two companies will collaborate on the development of six multi-platform titles based on new and existing entertainment franchises. VU Games will also obtain a royalty-free license to Radical's proprietary game development technologies, as well as an option to purchase the company during contract's term. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Matrix Games has released a new patch for Freedom Games's 3D WWII strategy title Squad Assault: West Front, as well as an updated demo with the latest code. This upgrade brings your retail game to v1.60 (available for US & UK editions) and includes more Windows 98/ME enhancements, LOS and targeting improvements and solutions for some map-specific issues. Also included for download are the new v1.60 demo, with all the v1.60 fixes, an extra map and a demo update for those with previous demos. Read more for detailed fix list and download links

Digital Jesters has released the first patch for Nadeo's sailing simulation game 'Virtual Skipper 3'. This update brings your retail game to v1.1 and adresses a tons of issues suchs as creating of profiles, ISAF rules, various network code optimizations, graphics & sound issues etc. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

TKO Software, Inc. today announced an agreement for the exclusive rights for developing a PC and console game based on SAHARA -- Paramount Pictures and Crusader Entertainment's blockbuster movie. SAHARA is based on the international best-selling novel by Clive Cussler, and stars Matthew McConaughey, Penelope Cruz and Steve Zahn. TKO Software will invest $7 million in developing a 3D action adventure game to launch with the film in late 2004.

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. today announced that Champions of Norrath has shipped to North American retail stores. Champions of Norrath, available exclusively on the PS2, brings gamers into its immersive fantasy universe as they experience exciting hack-and-slash action. Champions of Norrath has more game features than any other game in the genre, including five playable character types, randomly generated dungeons and voice chat during online, four players co-op action. Champions of Norrath carries a suggested retail price of $49.99.

Resolution Interactive has acquired full rights from Daydream Software to computer games Clusterball and X-Team Racing, and the game concepts Scarcefreak and Billion Dollar Disc. The agreement includes code, design and community servers, as well as customer databases. One exception is South America, where Daydream keeps the Clusterball and X-Team Racing rights for 3 years in order to complete unfinished business. Daydream is also allowed to use existing Autobahn code in its future production.

The year is 1582 and Takeshi Kaneshiro as Samanosuke is the man who has just returned. The stage is set at the burning Honnoji Temple, as the famous Onimusha warrior Samanosuke Akechi fights. As he faces the demons in front of him, Samanosuke is compelled to move forward by hatred for his true enemy, the undying Nobunaga Oda, ever pursuing his crazed ambition. Samanosuke prepares for the long-awaited final battle against Nobunaga. Read more for a few new screens ...

The player must build a Wildlife Park from the ground up, continually tweaking it so that the little giggling visitors will happily spend their money. He starts out with only the park area, a ticket booth and a decent amount of money. From there the player has to buy some attractive animals, build their surroundings, add a few employees and then open the gates and let the visitors flow in. The game consists of several different terrains in different areas around the globe on which the player can start up his new Wildlife Park business.

NVIDIA Corporation today announced that it will be the main sponsor of the Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC). NVIDIA also participated in the official press conference that took place in Paris last week. Read more for details ...

Thieves and brigands have driven you and your family from your farmland home. Desperately seeking safety within the walls of Baldur's Gate, your family is ambushed and your sister has been abducted... YOU... are all that stands in the way of one of the greatest threats ever to strike Baldur's Gate and the Sword Coast. From the streets of Baldur's Gate, to the windtorn peaks of the Sunset Mountains, your quest to rescue your sister escalates into staving off a war that will drown the Sword Coast in blood.

Simply Gaming PR is proud to announce eXtreme Demolition, The most over-the-top demolition game ever! Cars and levels are more varied than any other. High tech eXtreme level designs will have you ramping between skyscraper rooftops and dealing with artificial gravity that changes direction and makes driving up walls and on ceilings an option. Add to this a bevy of game modes, ranging from single player to online team modes, and you have a demolition experience like no other.

Take 2 UK has now also released a multiplayer demo for Illusion Softworks' third person tactical shooter Hidden & Dangerous 2. You lead a small squad of Allied soldiers deep behind enemy lines, to carry out secret missions during World War II. The demo features an Occupation map called Normandy3 as well as an Objectives map titled Czech, which are compativle with the retail version of the game (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

Take an adventure as Pitfall Harry, the daring, risk-taking explorer who laughs in the face of danger. Featuring over 50 levels of fast-paced action and puzzle solving adventures, the game challenges players to swing, fight, climb and crawl through eight types of treacherous South American environments including lush jungles, dark tombs, ancient Aztec ruins and glacial mountains. Check out some new screens ...

Got Game Entertainment today announced that "A Quiet Weekend in Capri" has "gone gold". A first person adventure for the PC, "A Quiet Weekend in Capri" comes bundled with a bonus CD soundtrack, including extra tracks, and features non-linear gameplay, realistic puzzles, and unique graphics. Awarded an "E" for Everyone rating by the ESRB, the game will retail for $29.99 USD and should hit store shelves across North America in early March.

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. today announced that EverQuest: Gates of Discord, the newest expansion for the incredibly popular PC Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), EverQuest, will be available at retail stores tomorrow and will contain both a magical "in-game" item and a unique in-box gift, the Taelosian Staff (while supplies last). The retail version of Gates will carry the suggested retail price of $29.99. Additionally, a digital version will be available on February 10, 2004, for secure download from www.everquest.com for $29.99.

Microsoft Game Studios today announced that the award-winning real-time strategy (RTS) game for Windows, Rise of Nations, is now available at local retailers for an estimated retail price of $29.95 (U.S.). Now is the perfect time for gamers to pick up a game at an unbeatable price that has won several major awards, including Game of the Year and Strategy Game of the Year. The price drop comes hot on the heels of the recent announcement that Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots is slated for a Spring '04 release, and will allow gamers who haven't yet picked up the original to practice and prepare for this expansion pack.

Take 2 UK has released a demo for Illusion softworks third person tactical shooter Hidden & Dangerous 2. You lead a small squad of Allied soldiers deep behind enemy lines, to carry out secret missions during World War II. The demo features a single mission, 'Operation Overlord: Blade Dancer', from the full game. The dedicated server files have also been released (thanks Blues). Read more for download links ...

Strategy First and Made by Kiddies are pleased to announce that their PC arcade shooter hit, Alien Blast – The Encounter is now available on retail shelves in North America. In this first-person arcade shoot'em-up, you must gather up all your courage to defend yourself and defeat the alien horde. Alien Blast is an exciting sci-fi action combat game for everyone.

Ubisoft today announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with SOE to publish Gates of Discord, a new expansion for the incredibly popular PC Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), EverQuest, in Europe. This expansion will offer exploration of a newly discovered continent; a new class (the Berserker) and Alternate Advancement Abilities that will offer new and unique skills to master. Gates of Discord will be available February 12th 2004 in Europe, only 72 hours after the American release. Read more for details and some new screens ...