Previously scheduled for this January, Frame City Killer, a next-generation action game for the Xbox 360 powered by the Unreal Engine 3, will be released in North America in the second half of this year, Namco announced. Set in a futuristic metropolis in East Asia, Frame City Killer puts players in the role of Crow, an assassin sent to Frame City to identify and eliminate Khan - a mysterious terrorist and head of a deadly new-age drug cartel. As a hitman, players track and profile targets, while utilizing numerous methods to execute the perfect hit.

Electronic Arts sent us a trailer and new screenshots from the PS2, PS2 and Xbox versions of FIFA Street 2, a sequel to FIFA Street, which is in development under the EA SPORTS BIG brand and features four on four gameplay action, a new trick stick beat system, new International locations, new authentic tricks, and more. In the works at EA Canada, FIFA Street 2 is scheduled to ship for PS2, Xbox, GC and PSP, at the end of February.

Ubisoft announced it has signed a worldwide licensing agreement with Sonnori Corporation of Korea to publish Astonishia Story in all worldwide territories excluding Korea and Japan. Astonishia Story is a role-playing game for the PSP and it will be available in North America in March 2006. Press 'read more' for details and check out these screenshots.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. has released new screenshots from MLB ’06: The Show, the next chapter in the series due to ship in Spring 2006, for PS2 and PSP. These new screenshots highlight the Release Point Pitching, Pitching Confidence Meter and Guess Pitch features. The all-new Rivalry Mode allows players to set up and maintain multi-game rivalries, while tracking stats for the life of the rivalry. Moreover, the innovative King of the Diamond Mode brings players a classic playground duel where a pitcher and batter from opposing teams square off in a head-to-head mini game that showcases the intensity of the duel. Press 'read more' for details.

Alawar Entertainment announced the release of Strike Ball 2, the 3D accelerated brick-busting game sequel developed by Owl Studio. The game features 100 levels, 23 bonuses, six types of enemies, and more. Strike Ball 2 can be purchased from the official website.

The official Prey website is now live, offering trailers, screenshots (added in our gallery) and details the upcoming game powered by DOOM III engine. Prey will include support for Even Balance’s PunkBuster anti-Cheat software, and is expected to be released this year, for PC and a next-generation console system.

The TimeShift fan site kit is now available for download, allowing you to create fan websites for this first-person shooter previously known as Chronos and scheduled for this Spring. In the works at Saber Interactive, TimeShift will feature more than 30 combat missions, each showcasing time control elements and challenges that players must complete using both their extraordinary capabilities and combat expertise. An array of devastating and unique weaponry from the world's alternate timeline will be at the player's disposal, including bizarre incarnations of traditional sniper guns, machine guns, pistols and more, as well as never-before-imagined armaments from an era humanity has never seen.

Ubisoft has released the first video developer diary for Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, showing off the Cross Com feature which keeps the Ghosts updated with up to the minute intel on the fly. It allows for an all new way to interact with and utilize your squad and gives unprecedented flexibility to the player while moving through the streets of Mexico City fighting intense enemy resistance. Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter will be launched in March 2006.

Ubisoft also announced today Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Essentials, a spy action game that will be available this Spring, exclusively for PSP. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Essentials starts where Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent ends, and takes players to the years before Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell when Sam was still a Navy Seal. The game promises unique gameplay sequences designed specifically for the on-the-go nature of handheld gaming with a new adapted interface. Press 'read more' for details and check out these screenshots.

Ubisoft today announced that the Quebec studio is developing Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Critical Hour for PS2 and Xbox, due to ship in March 2006. With an SRP of $29.99, Rainbow Six Critical Hour will offer new seven-mission single-player campaign, 18 multiplayer levels, the revolutionary Persistent Elite Creation (P.E.C.) mode, as well as the new and innovative Assassin and Free-for-All modes. Check full story for details.

NCsoft Corporation today announced the release of Episode IV: “History and Memory, the fourth major expansion to Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle which will be released in 2006. This expansion includes new geographical locations to explore, an enhanced new player experience, plus additional mage and elven magic spells. Episode IV is free to all current Lineage subscribers. Press 'read more' for details.

Midway today announced that the historical real-time strategy game Rise & Fall: Civilizations At War, previously scheduled to ship in February 2006, will be released in June 2006. Rise & Fall: Civilizations At War is a detailed real-time strategy that lets players completely command one of the four mightiest empires of the ancient world: Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Persia. The game’s development is now being led internally out of the Midway San Diego studio, with a group that includes game industry veterans from the teams that developed Heroes of Might and Magic and Lords of Everquest. Four new screenshots have been inserted in our gallery.

An English playable demo of Ankh is now available for download, allowing you to try out this humorous adventure game in the works at Deck 13 and scheduled for February 3rd, 2006. Taking place in Egypt, the game is introducing Assil who has just stolen the key to the Great Pyramid to throw a party with all his friends. That's how he catches a terrible curse, which will probably kill him in a few hours. Of course, it's your job to solve all his problems and maybe, you'll even help him meet the girl of his dreams.

3000AD, Inc. has issued a patch for the Universal Combat: A World Apart demo, bringing it to the latest version of the game (due out in boxed form later this quarter) which includes a major audio system update.

Midway Games Inc. also sent us the first screenshots from NBA Ballers: Rebound, a new sports video game developed exclusively for PSP. Due to ship this Spring, it features wireless functionality, updated & expanded rosters, new courts and an entirely new soundtrack.