Previously, Bandai America was a division within the organization but as of January 3rd will now be an independent company, Bandai Games. Some of the new titles that will be introduced this year include One Piece, a fun game for everyone that will feature exciting pirate characters in amazing settings; D.I.C.E., a stunning and action-packed videogame that is set in a perilous galaxy; and Zatch Bell, which features unique fighting characters that will appeal to all ages. We will have more details available shortly ...

The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) announced that Bandai Visual Co. has joined the consortium that is currently almost 100 members strong and comprised of consumer electronics and PC manufacturers and content developers. With this announcement, consumers can expect to enjoy a rich high-definition library of Japanese animation, or Anime, and movies on a Blu-ray Disc.

Check out the following new screens from Bandai's 2004 E3 lineup:

• Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex (PS2)
• Inuyasha: The Secret Of The Cursed Mask (PS2)
• Galactic Wrestling: Featuring Ultimate Muscle (PS2)
• Digimon Rumble Arena 2 (NGC/Xbox)
• SD Gundam Force (GBA/PS2)
• Digimon World 4 (NGC/PS2/Xbox)
• Gundam Seed: Battle Assault (GBA)
• Ribbit King (NGC/PS2)
• Cowboy Bebop (PS2)

Bandai Co. plans to develop games for Nintendo Co.'s GameCube video-game console, the first titles from Japan's largest toymaker specifically designed for the Kyoto-based company's new game machine. The software will go on sale in Japan in November, Nintendo said in a news release distributed to reporters in Osaka. Nintendo will handle distribution of the game.