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.

Space Hack is a sci-fi RPG/action title with Diablo-inspired gameplay mechanics. The storyline puts you on board of a quite 'peculiar' spaceship, trapped inside a space warp. Being a tough guy, whose axe is almost as quick as his wit, it's not surprising that you promptly find yourself confronting angry monsters, one wave after another. Space Hack is scheduled to be released in first half of 2004. Rebelmind just informed us that they have reached Alpha (playable) stage, and sent us some screens to celebrate it.

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.