Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming, today announced that Champions: Return to Arms, the sequel to the critically acclaimed Action/RPG, Champions of Norrath, has shipped to North American retail stores. Champions: Return to Arms, available exclusively on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, carries a suggested retail price of $49.99. "Our main focus when developing Return to Arms was to create an experience that fans of the Action/RPG genre would enjoy, while introducing innovative gameplay features to excite fans of the best-selling Champions of Norrath," said Michael Lustenberger, vice president of marketing, Sony … Continue reading Champions: Return To Arms Ships →

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that the award winning computer game franchise, The Simsâ„¢, will celebrate its fifth anniversary this month. The very first The Sims videogame for the PC began shipping to stores this week in February 2000 and took the nation by storm by becoming the #1 selling PC game in four out of the last five years. Since 2000, the franchise has spawned 7 expansion packs, been translated into over 17 languages and has sold more than 54 million units worldwide. In September 2004, the next-generation sequel The Sims 2 quickly became the fastest-selling PC game. … Continue reading The Sims Turns Five →

Ubisoft, a world-leading interactive game title developer, is pleased to announce it has chosen Montreal for the next phase of its international development. Ubisoft plans to create 1000 new jobs in its Montreal division, which is internationally reputed for innovation and creativity. "The interactive games industry is growing rapidly and we expect it to double within seven years," said Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft's CEO and co-founder. "Ubisoft is home to the second-largest creative team in the industry and it has a world-leading studio in Montreal. These are two critical elements for the future, especially considering that the next generation of game … Continue reading UbiSoft Hires 1,000 In Montreal →

Mainframe Entertainment (TSX: MFE), a leading creator of computer generated (CG) animation, and WizKids Inc., makers of the popular Mage Knight, HeroClix, and MechWarrior collectable miniatures games (CMGs), have teamed up to create a feature-length direct-to-DVD 3D animated feature based on the tremendously popular MechWarrior series of adventure games, books and toys. Producer Gregory Little brought the project to Mainframe and will produce under his Machine Age banner. MechWarrior creator Jordan Weisman will produce for WizKids, along with Marc Sachnoff. The feature is slated for release in 2006. The film will introduce new characters and storylines, and will introduce innovative … Continue reading MechWarrior Game To Become Cartoon Movie →

NCsoftTM Europe is pleased to announce the arrival of City of Heroes Deluxe Edition in stores throughout Europe this week, exclusively for PC. "We are extraordinarily happy with how well the European Beta went," says Sebastian Vidal, COO, NCsoft Europe. "Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are looking forward to a similarly successful retail launch." NCsoft is going all out with the City of Heroes Deluxe edition. This expansive release exclusive to European gamers contains many bonus extras including – among other things – all three game content updates (Issues 1-3), a stunning 88-page comic digest, and serial codes … Continue reading City Of Heroes Invades Europe →

Bethesda Softworks LLC, a ZeniMax Media company, today announced it has signed a co-publishing agreement with Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) covering North American and European distribution of its highly anticipated game, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the sequel to the best-selling and critically acclaimed The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Bethesda Softworks will maintain control over development of Oblivion and continues to own all rights to the Elder Scrolls franchise. Commenting on the new arrangement, Vlatko Andonov, President of Bethesda Softworks, said, "We are very excited to be able to enhance our own publishing capabilities through this partnership with … Continue reading Bethesda, Take-Two Strike Elder Scrolls Deal →

The Adventure Company, a leading publisher of PC adventure games, today announced And Then There Were None as the first title in a series of games based on the books from legendary mystery author, Agatha Christie. AWE Games has been signed to recreate the rich storyline and characters from this best-selling novel. In the classic story And Then There Were None, 10 people, each with something to hide and something to fear, are invited to a lonely mansion on Shipwreck Island by a host who, surprisingly, fails to appear. On the island, they are cut off from everything but each … Continue reading Agatha Christie Novels To Become Games →

Twelve 12 game companies are participating in the "Seattle Video Game Industry Job Conference and Resume Workshop" taking place in the Seattle suburb of Shoreline, Washington on February 12, 2005 at the Shoreline Center. Speaker include individuals from Mobliss, Surreal, Microsoft, Microsoft Xbox, DigiPen (USA) Corporation, Monolith Productions, Sprout Games, Sony Online Entertainment, TKO Software, Gas Powered Games, Oberon-Media, Zango Games and Valve Software. Microsoft alone has 125 game development positions open. Surreal Software and Mobliss also looking for new talent. These companies and others are recruiting in force in Seattle on February 12th. Professionals and students interested in a … Continue reading Seattle Game Companies Hiring →

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) and Viacom Consumer Products today announced a videogame based on The Godfather fiction is under development and will put gamers at the center of the action in one of history's most revered masterpieces. The book by Mario Puzo and classic film by Paramount Pictures serve as inspiration for the game as gamers will join the Corleone family and earn respect through loyalty and fear as they rise through the ranks to become Don in a living 1945-1955 New York. The game is scheduled for release in fall 2005 under the EA GAMES brand for the Xbox videogame … Continue reading The Godfather Game In The Works →

Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced today that Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 for the Nintendo GameCube will be available in Spring 2005. Developed by Ubisoft's Shanghai studio, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 lets players embody Captain Scott Mitchell, leader of the elite Ghost Recon Special Forces team, in a crucial mission to defuse a dangerous situation in North Korea in 2007. To fully immerse gamers in the chaos of the war of tomorrow, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 delivers a killer Lone Wolf single-player mode based on prototypical soldier-of-the-future combat equipment currently being developed by … Continue reading Ghost Recon Heads to GameCube →