id Software, Raven Software and Activision, Inc. have confirmed Earth’s invasion of Stroggos with the announcement that QUAKE 4 PC has entered manufacturing and will begin shipping to retail stores nationwide on Tuesday, October 18. The long awaited sequel to QUAKE II, QUAKE 4 enlists gamers in the role of Matthew Kane, a member of the Earth Defense Force’s legendary Rhino Squad, to penetrate deep into the heart of the Strogg war machine and engage in a series of heroic missions to destroy the barbaric alien race.

“On October 18, QUAKE is dialing it up to 4.0 on the Richter Scale with this new chapter in Earth’s war against the Strogg,” said Todd Hollenshead, CEO, id Software. “Fusing an epic war-story driven single player campaign, and fast-paced QUAKE III Arena inspired multiplayer, QUAKE 4 delivers a gaming experience fans will be raving about for years.”

Developed by Raven Software and executive produced by id Software, QUAKE 4 begins only moments after the events of QUAKE II, with the Earth’s fleet launching a massive offensive to the planet Stroggos. As Matthew Kane, an elite member of Rhino Squad, gamers invade the alien stronghold, fighting alone, along side other Marines, and in mechanized walkers and hover tanks as they encounter the Strogg and their disturbing amalgamations of man and machine. Built on id Software’s revolutionary DOOM 3 technology, QUAKE 4 also features fast-paced multiplayer competition modeled after the speed style and feel of QUAKE III Arena.

Electronic Arts Inc today announced it will showcase five Xbox 360 launch titles at Microsoft’s X05 event in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on October 4th and 5th. Xbox 360 games from well-known EA franchises under the EA SPORTS and EA brands that will be available to play include: Need for Speed Most Wanted, FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup, NBA LIVE 06, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 06 and Madden NFL 06.

“It’s a great moment for us to finally put this many EA Xbox 360 launch titles into the hands of enthusiastic gamers for them to really feel what makes these next generation videogames,” said Gerhard Florin, EA Executive Vice President and General Manager of International Publishing. “The visual richness and engaging gameplay are just two of the many reasons that gamers all over the world have something to look forward to this autumn with the Xbox 360 launch.”

“EA will have our biggest game franchises like Need For Speed, FIFA and NBA LIVE ready for the launch of Xbox 360, so that the first game experience on the new system is unforgettable,” said Frank Gibeau, EA Executive Vice President and General Manager of North American Publishing. “This week at X05 gamers will get an early look at the stunning graphics and compelling gameplay that awaits them later this autumn when Xbox 360 ships.”

Additional EA titles under development for Xbox 360 include: The Godfather, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat and a new title from the Burnout Revenge franchise. Release dates for these titles and additional titles under development for Xbox 360 have not been announced.

Valve has announced that the Source remake of the popular shooter Day of Defeat, is now available for $19.99 via their Steam purchasing system.

The “Funk Doc,” Redman, headlines an eclectic NYC inspired soundtrack for Activision, Inc.’s upcoming True CrimeŇ: New York City video game with two all-new original songs and the debut of “Rush The Security” from his upcoming album Red Gone Wild, scheduled for release on November 8. Redman will also appear as an unlockable character in the gritty drama, which is slated for release this fall.

In addition to Redman’s tracks, the soundtrack perfectly defines the diverse sounds of the city and the high caliber action of the game with more than 80 licensed songs from NYC raised, or transplanted, punk, hardcore, hip hop and rock royalty who helped define the city’s music scene including Jay-Z, Fat Joe, A Tribe Called Quest, The Ramones, The Velvet Underground, My Chemical Romance, The Bravery and Bob Dylan, among others, making this soundtrack the ultimate New York experience.

According to Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, President and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, “This soundtrack is New York City.”

“As an East Coast artist who paid his dues performing in the clubs of New York City, Redman’s inspired rhymes bring the gritty realism of the city to life in our game,” said Tim Riley, worldwide executive of music at Activision. “His bold lyrics and hard-edged funk beats capture the vibes of the city from Washington Heights to Harlem and all the way down to Battery Park.”

Buena Vista Games, Inc., the interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Company, and Epic Games, world-class developers of cutting-edge video games and pioneer of the award-winning Unreal Engine, today announced an agreement to license Unreal Engine 3 for multiple next-generation BVG projects. The first game under the agreement is based on the popular “Turok” franchise, and will be developed by BVG’s new Propaganda Games studio in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“We have ambitious goals for the future and a strategy to enhance Buena Vista Games’ position as a major force in interactive entertainment. BVG’s intellectual properties, combined with Epic’s leadership in underlying technology, ensures the best game content for consumers,” said Michael Ryder, vice president of worldwide production, Buena Vista Games.

“Licensing Unreal Engine 3 is a strategic move to provide cost-effective and timely delivery of new content, allowing our development teams to leverage the enormous capabilities of emerging next-generation systems,” he concluded.

Mark Rein, vice president and co-founder of Epic Games said, “BVG has some awesome IP to work with and we feel privileged to contribute to its success. It’s great to be working with the Propaganda Games team, an amazingly talented group of people, and with a management team that appreciates the importance of providing its teams with the best tools and technology to help them deliver. We have no doubt that BVG will be one of the big success stories of the next generation.”

Yahoo! News is reporting:

The media division of theglobe.com, which publishes Computer Games Magazine and Now Playing Magazine, today announced the launch of its new auction-based Web site GameSwapZone.com.

The site is one of the first of its kind offering gaming enthusiasts anywhere in the world an opportunity to buy and sell games for Xbox, PSP, Game Cube, N-Gage, and Game Boy among many others in an online auction format.

"GameSwapZone.com connects gamers from all over the world to buy and sell the games they love," said Jayson Dubin, vice president and publisher of Computer Games Magazine and Now Playing Magazine. "This site was designed by gamers for gamers, enabling enthusiasts to interact globally and find even the most obscure titles."

The Web site offers free listing of products for a basic submission. There are nominal fees associated with larger products and more complex postings. Currently the site hosts 4,500 listings and continues to grow at a steady pace. Mr. Dubin also stated: "We at theglobe.com are very excited about this new site, and we believe that we are uniquely positioned to penetrate the auction market, via our brand. Our core readership at Computer Games Magazine and Now Playing Magazine, and their website counterparts, assures an instant flow of traffic to GameSwapZone.com, which can only mean more titles and better deals will be available for our patrons."

Electronic Arts announced today that Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 06, the newest videogame from the best selling golf franchise, featuring new dual analog swing and putting mechanics, has shipped to retailers nationwide and is available for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Xbox video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube and PC under the EA SPORTS brand. A version for the PSP system will ship on September 26.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 06 offers all new gameplay challenges with the introduction of the dual analog swing. Using the left analog stick to execute the swing, and the right analog stick, called the “Shape Stick”, to focus on the impact point allows players to help shape their shots with spin and trajectory. This new control also extends to putting where players will need to read the green and then use finesse and precision to make the putt.

The new Rivals singleplayer mode allows players to feel the pressure of competing against Tiger Woods for the title of #1 Golfer of All Time. Players will create their own ultra-detailed character and then follow Tiger Woods’ path back through time to best both Tiger’s accomplishments and the accomplishments of the greatest golfers of each era. Legends such as Old Tom Morris, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus stand in the way as players attempt to become the unanimous choice as #1 golfer of all time.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 06 has 12 licensed golf courses including Pebble Beach Golf Links, Cog Hill Golf and Country Club, Doral Golf Resort and Reflection Bay Golf Club. Three new fantasy courses will test players. A total of 19 PGA TOUR players are in the game including Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and new golfers Mike Weir, Chris DiMarco, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald.

FIFA, the world soccer governing body, Xbox and Electronic Arts, the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company, today announced the second FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC). As the world’s only FIFA-sanctioned global video game tournament, the FIWC will combine both on and off-line football gaming action featuring EA’s all-new EA SPORTS FIFA 06 for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and Xbox Live. The winner of the tournament will be named FIFA Interactive World Player 2005 and take center stage to receive his/her trophy among some of the biggest names in soccer at this year’s prestigious FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich on 19 December 2005.

The 2005 FIWC tournament follows last year’s inaugural competition in which thousands of contestants from six continents battled for a place in the final. Ultimately, Brazilian Thiago Carrico de Azevedo was crowned the first-ever FIFA Interactive World Player at last year’s FIFA World Player Gala, and he accepted his trophy alongside fellow countryman Ronaldinho, named FIFA World Player 2004.

"The first FIFA Interactive World Cup was a great success -- we witnessed thousands of gamers from around the world combine a passion for the game with a burning desire to emerge victorious. Just like in the real game. This competition is going to continue to grow in popularity and prestige and deliver on FIFA's goal of bringing soccer to new fans and players beyond our core group of soccer aficionados," said Urs Linsi, FIFA General Secretary.

Kicking off in October, the FIFA Interactive World Cup will travel to eight cities in six continents, concluding with the final taking place in London in December 2005. Regional Tournaments will be held in the following locations:

· London – Olympia 2 – Saturday 15 October
· Sao Paulo - Villa Noah – Saturday 22 October
· Seoul - Sang Am World Cup Stadium - Sunday 30 October
· Johannesburg - Acton Sport Academy - Saturday 12 November
· Los Angeles - The Globe, Universal Studios - Saturday 19 November
· Sydney - Overseas Passenger Terminal - Saturday 26 November
· Germany - Cologne – The Palladium - Sunday 4 December
· Paris - Carrousel de Louvre - Saturday 10 December

Contestants will have three ways to enter the FIFA Interactive World Cup:

· Register on site at one of the Regional Tournament venues
· Earn a place by registering for the FIWC 2005 Xbox Live Tournament
· Win a local qualifying tournament, which will lead to the Regional Tournaments and ultimately to the finals in London – information on online and off-line tournaments is available on www.FIFA.com

Soccer gamers will be able to compete in qualifying tournaments around the world for a place in one of the Regional Tournaments. The eight players who have what it takes to win their Regional Tournament will each win a pair of tickets to a 2006 FIFA World Cup match in Germany offered by FIFA.com and will compete in the worldwide finals in London on 18 December. In addition, each finalist will win an Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft plus their own copy of EA’s FIFA 06.

In an exciting addition to this year’s FIWC tournament, two out of the two million plus Xbox Live members will also qualify for the grand final, joining the winners of the eight Regional Tournaments to make up a total of ten finalists. From today through to 11 November, Xbox Live members can register to enter the fierce online competition of the FIWC 2005 Xbox Live Tournament at www.xboxfiwc.com. This global online arm of the tournament will see one Xbox Live winner from each country automatically win an Xbox 360 and a copy of EA SPORTS FIFA 06. Each winner will then be flown to London on 18 December to take part in a knock-out tournament to determine just two finalists. Those Xbox Live winners then join the eight winners of the Regional Tournaments in the grand final of the FIWC on the same day.

“We are all very excited about this year’s FIFA Interactive World Cup” said Peter Moore,. corporate vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing for the Home and Entertainment Division of Microsoft Corp. “By expanding the Xbox Live component of the competition we have really opened up the entry routes into this year’s tournament allowing even more people to participate and eventually win it. It also means that only the best, most competitive gamers will make it through to the grand final. With over 2 million Xbox Live members sharpening their skills online the competition is going to be tough and we can’t wait to see who will be crowned FIFA Interactive World Player 2005.”

Additionally, during this year’s FIFA Interactive World Cup, gamers will have the rare opportunity to get a sneak peek at EA SPORTS next generation FIFA for Xbox 360 on which the FIWC grand final will be played.

“We are thrilled to work with our long-term partners at FIFA and Xbox to help bring the second FIFA Interactive World Cup to soccer fans across the world,” said Clive Downie, Vice President Sports Marketing, EA Europe. “This year’s tournament will be the place to test your virtual skills in authentic, interactive gameplay on EA’s FIFA 06. The game will be available in stores in Europe on September 30, 2005 and around the world the first week of October, and we’re looking forward to our fans getting ready to bring the athleticism, individuality and emotions of world stars to life, and then competing for a chance to stand next to them as the FIFA Interactive World Player of the Year.”

Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today announced that the first expansion pack for Sierra Entertainment's critically acclaimed PC game SWAT 4 is in development and is scheduled for release in Q1 2006.

Entitled 'The Stetchkov Syndicate', the expansion pack brings a host of new levels, weapons and enhancements to the highly rated SWAT 4.

Crime is on the rise. More guns and drugs are appearing on the streets and the city is in crisis. SWAT is called in to take on a series of disturbances that eventually lead them to the root of the problem, an eastern European crime family that has taken up residence in the city. A final showdown will place legendary SWAT tactics against the most dangerous and ruthless criminals yet, the Stetchkov syndicate.

Consumers can now take on the role of Marvel’s Spider-Man, the world’s most famous Super Hero, and his arch-nemesis Venom with the release of Activision, Inc.’s newest entry in the Spider-Man video game franchise – Ultimate Spider-Man. Set in a massive free roaming New York City environment, console gamers are propelled into a virtual comic book world through interactive motion graphics panels and 3D Comic Inking Technology™ that bring to life an original storyline written and illustrated by the creative team behind Marvel’s best-selling “Ultimate Spider-Man” series.

Ultimate Spider-Man is available for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, and the Nintendo GameCube for a suggested retail price of $49.99 and has been rated “T” (Teen – with language and violence) by the ESRB. The PC/CD-ROM version of Ultimate Spider-Man is now available for a suggested retail price of $29.99 and has been rated “T” (Teen – with language and violence) by the ESRB. The Nintendo DS version of Ultimate Spider-Man is now available for a suggested retail price of $39.99 and is rated “E10+” (Everyone 10+ - with cartoon violence) by the ESRB. The Game Boy Advance version of Ultimate Spider-Man is now available for a suggested retail price of $29.99 and has been rated “E10+” (“Everyone 10+ – with cartoon violence”) by the ESRB.

“Using Treyarch’s amazing technological and artistic capabilities, Ultimate Spider-Man lets gamers play both sides, as Super Hero and Super Villain, in an authentic living, breathing comic book universe,” said Will Kassoy, vice president of global brand management, Activision, Inc. “With an original story, gigantic cast of characters and truly unique visual presentation, Ultimate Spider-Man is poised to be the most immersive Spider-Man video game experience to date.”

“Marvel is very excited at the launch of Ultimate Spider-Man,” said Ames Kirshen, vice president of interactive, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. “With Treyarch’s expertise working on Spider-Man games for over 5 years, the amazing new look that their 3D Inking technology gives to this title, coupled with the hands on involvement of Marvel writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mark Bagley, Ultimate Spider-Man takes the Spider-Man game franchise to a whole new level.”

Pick up where the comic books left off, in an all-new story exclusive to the game penned by Brian Michael Bendis, the comic book’s co-creator and writer, with character illustrations by comic book pencil artist, Mark Bagley. As the young Spider-Man, gamers play using Spider-Man’s fluid, acrobatic moves to triumph over evil or play as his menacing nemesis, Venom, using brute force to destroy everything in their path. With a huge variety of demanding missions, diverse gameplay and a new combat system that allows players to face off against the largest number of interactive characters from the Marvel universe ever assembled in a Spider-Man game, Ultimate Spider-Man delivers the most in-depth Spider-Man adventure yet.