NCsoft Corporation has updated beta testing plans for its highly anticipated online computer game, City of Heroes created by San Jose-based, Cryptic Studios. For the next two-and-a-half weeks, NCsoft will be inviting customers who have purchased the City of Heroes pre-order box into the beta test. All customers who have registered their pre-order box accounts will be included in the beta by April 7, 2004.

Set in the evocative land of ancient Egypt, Children of the Nile is the first and only strategy game where citizens who behave like real people are your primary resource. As their leader, you must build a place in which they can live and work, establishing a relationship of trust and cooperation which you then leverage to build a lasting civilization, and bring it to its cultural peak. Read more for the first screens ...

EA announced an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement with start-up indie development studio, Castaway Entertainment for its new action-RPG. Comprised of members credited with titles such as Diablo, Diablo II and Diablo II: Lords of Destruction expansion pack, Castaway is beginning to staff up to produce this major title.

A few weeks ago THQ Inc. announced that it had entered into an exclusive multi-title Nintendo Game Boy Advance co-publishing agreement with SEGA Europe Ltd. THQ will co-publish three titles based on the popular Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, including Sonic Pinball Party, Sonic Battle, and Sonic Advance 3. Read more for some new screens ...

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) and Guerrilla are delighted to announce the signing of a deal that will see Guerrilla, creator of the highly-anticipated Killzone game for PS2, develop games exclusively for SCEE and Sony platforms from now on.

"Midnight Nowhere" from Buka Entertainment, Tri Synergy and developed by Saturn Plus is a graphic adventure that places you in the middle of a twisted mystery where the police are nowhere close to being able to explain the slaughtered bodies that litter the streets. The epidemic of brutality has grown so large that the leaders of the city have requested the army’s help. The only thing they’ve proven good at is cordoning off the town and praying that one of theirs isn’t next.

Electronic Arts today announced a worldwide publishing agreement with celebrated game designer Chris Taylor of Gas Powered Games. The two companies have partnered to create a Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game for the PC. The new title is slated for release in 2006. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

JoWooD Productions Software AG will handle worldwide publishing and marketing of videogames based on MGM Television's hit science-fiction series, "Stargate SG-1." As part of the agreement, Australian developer Perception PTY Ltd. will develop videogames based on the current TV series "Stargate SG-1," and any spin-off series such as the upcoming "Stargate: Atlantis." Perception PTY licensed the rights to develop "Stargate SG-1" videogames from MGM Interactive, a unit of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc.

Announced almost 3 years ago, Resident Evil 4 is giving us another glimpse at what we can expect from Capcom's gamecube exclusive title. Resident Evil 4 will further probe the carnage-filled complications caused by the zombie-spawning T Virus and its creator, the sinister Umbrella Corporation. While there is still no specific release date, it is expected to be released Q4 2004, in the meantime enjoy these new screens ...

Thrones 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. Read more for a batch of new screens ...