Hidenori Tanaka of Japan became the first Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup videogame world tournament champion, Electronic Arts announced today. The thrilling international videogame tournament finals took place yesterday at the Tower of London in the UK, where competitors between the ages of eight and fourteen years, from twelve countries around the world, including France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Japan, Italy, USA, UK, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Holland, and Brazil competed for the prestigious world champion title.

CCP today announced the deployment of their "Tech Level 2" expansion. Available as a free download, this update augments the richness of the existing sophistication of EVE's dynamics considerably, bringing new strategical opportunities to seasoned players as well as newcomers. The expansion, impacting the game universe as a whole, incorporates numerous new gameplay features - developed in close collaboration with the ardent EVE community - as well as many improvements to present functionality, performance and user interface. Read more for details ...

Featuring everything from Fantasy Bowling on a Pirate Ship to authentically detailed tournaments, Crave Entertainment announced today Strike Force Bowling for the PlayStation2. Blurring the line between fiction and reality, this multi-player arcade game offers something for everyone.

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. announced today that it has secured the licensing rights to develop videogames based on the internationally acclaimed anime series, "Shaman King" (by Hiroyuki Takei) for the North American and the European regions. The company will publish games based on "Shaman King" starting with one for PS2 and one for GBA. The games are slated for release in North America in summer 2004 and 4Kids Entertainment will be responsible for the licensing program for this title. The games will also ship in Europe, coinciding with the launch of the animated TV series. Read more for details ...

Electronic Arts today announced that Harry Potter fans will experience the magic and peril of Harry's third year at Hogwarts in the highly anticipated Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban videogame. For the first time gamers will play as friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as well as Harry Potter, switching between characters and utilizing their key attributes and skills to resolve challenges and overcome enemies. The three friends will need to combine their strengths and master a variety of new spells as they face Harry's most terrifying opponents yet: the escaped convict Sirius Black and the Dementors, the sinister guards of Azkaban prison. Read more for details & screens...

Rockstar Games is pleased to announce Red Dead Revolver for the PlayStation2 and Xbox. Developed by Rockstar San Diego, this stylish, western gun-fighting extravaganza is expected to hit retail shelves in Spring 2004. Read more for details ...

The second rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club. However, gamers will surely be talking, as Vivendi Universal Games announced today the development of Fight Club for the PlayStation2 and the Xbox. Due out in late 2004, Fight Club, developed by Genuine Games, is set to deliver an intense experience that will combine the characters, settings, artistic style, and story elements from the movie with a realistic fighting system that will appeal to both hardcore and casual gamers. Read more for details and the first screens ...

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. today announced Gates of Discord, a new expansion for the incredibly popular PC Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), EverQuest. 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 2004 at retail outlets such as Electronics Boutique, Best Buy and Gamestop, and as a secure digital download from SOE. The retail version of Gates of Discord will also come with a unique in-box gift and special in-game magic item. By purchasing the retail version of Gates of Discord, players will be able to claim the in- game item.

Eidos today announced the eagerly awaited return of the world's deadliest assassin in Hitman: Contracts. The game is the third installment in the critically acclaimed, multi-million selling Hitman series. Hitman: Contracts is being developed by Io Interactive and will be available for PlayStation2, the Xbox, and PC in spring 2004.

Crave Entertainment announced today the release of Future Tactics: The Uprising, an all-new action/role-playing game for the PlayStation2, in early 2004. Future Tactics: The Uprising is a tale of love, loss, redemption, hope and a slew of "ugly green muthas."

Ubisoft today announced that CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Dark Motives will be available for the PC in March 2004. The game is based on the hit CBS television series with an exclusive license from CBS Consumer Products. CSI: Dark Motives gives players the opportunity to solve a series of crimes with members of the CSI team.

Heavyweight Champion of the World Roy Jones Jr. has reached an agreement with Electronic Arts to be the cover athlete and spokesman for its new boxing game, EA SPORTS Fight Night 2004. Jones' will serve as the game's spokesman, and his image will be featured on packaging and merchandising for the game, which is currently in development for the PlayStation2 and Xbox.

THQ Inc. today announced "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War," the first real-time strategy title in its agreement with industry-leading PC development studio Relic Entertainment Inc. Based on the world of "Warhammer 40,000" -- the dark, futuristic, fantasy universe traveled by millions worldwide from Games Workshop, the world's largest tabletop wargames company -- "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War" is scheduled for release in fall 2004.

Think you can steady your nerves to hit a game-deciding free throw with no time left on the clock? How about smash a cross-court backhand winner in the final set of a championship tennis match? Can you hole a 30-foot putt on 18? What about ride the rails on the world’s hottest mountains? Now try it with $25,000 on the line. Welcome to the XSN Sports World Championship, the most competitive and intense online sports tournament in the history of console video games. Read more for details ...

Rockstar Games, the world-renowned publishing division of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is proud to announce that Max Payne is set to make its debut on the Game Boy Advance and will be in stores on December 16th, 2003 in North America.

The first annual Spike TV "Video Game Awards" (VGAs), hosted by David Spade, were held last night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and revealed winners in sixteen wide-ranging video game categories. The two-hour fete will telecast on Spike TV this Thursday, December 4 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

SEGA Europe Ltd, today announced the release of Sonic Adventure DX Director's Cut for PC. Sonic Adventure DX is a special edition of the SEGA Dreamcast video game console classic, featuring newly revamped graphics and an all-new mission mode. Recently released and reaching the top of the charts for the Nintendo GameCube, Sonic Adventure DX combines action stages with adventure elements - and is the ultimate Sonic title, providing an immersive and complete gaming experience for all true Sonic fans.

Game publisher and developer Playlogic today announced more new releases. The company will invest between 12 and 15 million euro in the development of games next year. The titles are a strong addition to the scheduled releases. In February/March the first four Playlogic titles will be available worldwide: Cyclone Circus (PS2), Xyanide (Xbox Live/GBA/mobile), Alpha Black Zero (PC) and Airborne Troops (PS2/PC). The new titles will be released by the and of 2004 and in 2005.

Atari today announced the development of a second game based on Terminator3: Rise of the Machines, the summer blockbuster motion picture from Intermedia, IMF and C2 Pictures. Terminator 3: Redemption will take players for another ride into the post-apocalyptic universe presented in the feature film as they become the series signature icon, Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator. A playable demo of the new action game is available with the retail version of Atari’s Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, which is currently available at retail stores nationwide.

Publisher and developer BumbleBeast announces the long awaited updater Big Scale Racing, rev. 1.2. The first version has been in shops in over 50 countries around the world since August 2002. This current version will be replaced by "Big Scale Racing Gold edition", including all new elements and extensions of the updater. For registered users the updater is downloadable free of charge. Read more for details ...

Nival Interactive is pleased to announce an add-on to its highly appraised turned-based tactical game "Silent Storm" set in full 3D. The work on the new project started under the working title "Silent Storm: Sentinels" in September, 2003 (thanks Gamers.nl). Read more for details and the first screens ...

Microsoft Game Studios and Big Huge Games today announce Rise of Nations: Throne and Patriots, the expansion pack to the critically acclaimed, best-selling real-time strategy (RTS) game Rise of Nations. Developed by Brian Reynolds and Big Huge Games, Throne and Patriots adds a multitude of new features to Rise of Nations, introducing six new nations, a wide variety of new single player campaigns, more than 20 new units, new wonders and an innovative new Government feature. With the new Government feature, any nation, old or new, can choose exactly how to be governed, which has far-reaching effects on how units perform in various situations. All-new single player campaigns will allow gamers to control the course of history during historical events that changed the world. Rise of Nations: Throne and Patriots is expected to ship in Spring 2004. The original Rise of Nations game is available wherever games are sold and has been reduced to $39.99 (U.S.), just in time for the holidays.

Simply Gaming is proud to announce that is it starting work on its first game, titled Operation Watchet Freedom.. Brief Story: Terrorists have taken over the small town of Watchet and none of the villagers know why. What they don't know is that the town's paper mill is a front for a secret government nuclear missile base which the terrorists have taken over. The terrorists are threatening to launch 3 nukes at London, Washington and Russia if the government doesn't pay them 500 million within 48 hours. So it's up to our hero to retake the town and secure the nukes.

Acclaim Entertainment International today announced World Championship Rugby for the PlayStation2, Xbox and PC. The game is being developed by Swordfish Studios, one of the UK's respected independent game development studios. Based in Birmingham and with over 10 year's development experience, the team was responsible for one of the most critically acclaimed rugby video games – Jonah Lomu Rugby. Read more for details and screens ...

Tantalus Interactive today confirmed the release of three new titles, rounding out a stellar year for the company. Tantalus CEO Tom Crago chose the opening day of the annual Australian Game Developer’s Conference (AGDC) in Melbourne to make the announcement. “Gamers will be well aware of all of these titles, but with the occasion of the AGDC it’s fitting to set these releases within the context of the Australian game development community,” Crago said. “As an industry here we’ve gathered a lot of momentum in recent years, and at Tantalus we’re very proud of the contribution we’ve been able to make.”