Neighborhood friends ED, EDD N EDDY will soon be searching for jawbreakers on Game Boy Advance. Los Angeles-based videogame publisher Crave Entertainment has signed a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to develop a Game Boy Advance title based on the Cartoon Network series. The title is anticipated to ship in Fall 2002. The game will mirror the three friends' television quest to make money to buy jawbreakers. The object of the game is to help the Ed's win a contest whose grand prize is, of course, a lifetime supply of jawbreakers.

It's not the first time a 3D character has gone totally Hollywood (did you see SHREK at this year's Academy Awards?), but Lara Croft, the computer-generated star of the TOMB RAIDER franchise, can now say, "Get me my agent!" Is demanding her own trailer far behind? Los Angeles-based talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), announced they have signed wealthy British treasure hunter Lara Croft for representation.

Just one month after slashing Xbox prices in Europe and Australia, Microsoft has followed suit in the U.S., marking down its Xbox game console to $199, $100 less than it was originally priced. Sony and Nintendo have also announced discounts to their next-generation consoles. Sony's PlayStation2 will be available for $199 (down from $299), while Nintendo's GameCube, always the lowest priced of the three, will now be priced at $149, $50 less than before.

Classic Disney characters meet FINAL FANTASY in Square Co., Ltd. and Disney Interactive's new project KINGDOM HEARTS for Playstation2. KINGDOM HEARTS follows the story of 14-year old Sora, who meets Donald Duck and Goofy, the protectors of the Disney Castle. Sora, Donald and Goofy join forces to find Sora's friends and King Mickey and save the universe from evil. More than 100 Disney characters appear in the game including characters from ALADDIN, TARZAN, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, THE LION KING and THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Interactive entertainment software publisher Majesco has signed a licensing agreement with Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to develop and publish a line-up of Game Boy Advance games based on several of Cartoon Network's television properties. Under the terms of the agreement, Majesco will publish three titles for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance system using select characters from the series' COURAGE THE COWARDLY DOG, COW AND CHICKEN, ED, EDD N EDDY, I AM WEASEL, JOHNNY BRAVO, MIKE, LU & OG and SHEEP IN THE BIG CITY.

Game developer THQ Inc. has joined with Disney Interactive and Pixar Animation Studios in a publishing agreement that grants THQ exclusive interactive rights to the next three Disney/Pixar animated feature films, FINDING NEMO, THE INCREDIBLES and CARS. The worldwide deal extends through 2008 and includes all game systems manufactured by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft as well as PC/MAC. FINDING NEMO, debuting summer 2003, is the first property that will be transformed for gaming platforms.

Walt Disney's original animation studio is in the process of being restored, and you can get in on the action. A live Webcast documenting the restoration of the Kansas City, Missouri building where the Laugh-O-Gram Studios, Walt Disney's original animation studio, was housed is now online. The not-for-profit organization Thank You, Walt Disney, Inc. is spearheading the renovation in an attempt to return the building to its 1920s condition, including animation equipment present when Laugh-O-Gram films operated out of the second floor.

Interactive software publisher TDK Mediactive, Inc. and DreamWorks SKG have extended their exclusive video game license agreement for the SHREK franchise, including the SHREK sequel. The agreement is worldwide for all current game platforms. According to TDK, the worldwide sales of SHREK interactive titles have been highly successful, exceeding 1 million units across four platforms (Xbox, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color and PC CD-ROM). Additionally, most of the titles are available in six languages and are currently available in North and South America, Europe and Australia.

As part of their master publishing agreement with Nickelodeon, interactive software publisher THQ Inc. is in development on FAIRLY ODDPARENTS! for Game Boy Advance. Based on the Nickelodeon animated program starring Timmy Turner and his trouble-making, magical godparents, FAIRLY ODDPARENTS! for Game Boy Advance is scheduled to ship November 2002. The player will control Timmy, who enters the world of his favorite comic book hero, the Crimson Chin.

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. is developing EVERQUEST II, an upgrade to the existing popular online multi-player game. Using a new in-house 3D engine that takes advantage of a wide variety of recent technological advances in 3D hardware and software such as per pixel lighting, dynamic environment mapping, and a fully programmable surface shader system, the game graphics will be upgraded and new features will be added including the ability to own real estate, ride horses, command ships and experience increased character customization.

TDK Mediactive, Inc. has signed an exclusive three-year, renewable worldwide licensing agreement with Jim Henson Interactive, a division of The Jim Henson Company. TDK now has exclusive rights to develop and publish games based on many of the Muppet characters including Kermit, Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear for next-generation consoles, Game Boy Advance and PC platforms. TDK will reveal their gaming plans for the Muppet characters at the E3 Expo, May 22-24, 2002.

Interactive entertainment publisher Infogrames, Inc. will ship its first DRAGON BALL Z video game for Game Boy Advance, DRAGON BALL Z: LEGACY OF GOKU on May 14, 2002. The popular DRAGON BALL Z series airs in the U.S. on Cartoon Network, averaging more than 1.5 million viewers per show. The new game encapsulates the show into an interactive experience that puts the DRAGON BALL Z world under control of the player. Developed by Webfoot Technologies, Inc., DRAGON BALL Z: THE LEGACY OF GOKU will be available nationwide on May 15, 2002 for a suggested retail price of $29.99.

Seamus Blackley, co-creator of Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox, resigned Monday, April 22, 2002, less than a week after the company slashed prices on the game console in Europe and Australia. REUTERS reported Blackley intends to launch a new game-industry startup and says his resignation was not related to Xbox's sluggish sales. But just six weeks after its debut, Microsoft has reduced prices for the Xbox game console in Europe and Australia. Effective April 26, 2002, the Xbox will sell in Europe for 299 euros (US$266) or 199 pounds (US$288), and in Australia for A$399 (US$215).

Entertainment publisher TDK Mediactive, Inc. and Mattel, Inc. are releasing video games based on the 1980s animated series ROBOTECH. In ROBOTECH: BATTLECRY for the PlayStation2, Xbox and GameCube, and ROBOTECH: THE MACROSS SAGA for Game Boy Advance the player pilots the Veritech Fighter, a giant transformable mechanized robot that can convert into a jet fighter, a 40-foot tall humanoid robot and a combination of both. Each transformation mode offers new movement options, special abilities or weapons.

NewKidCo International Inc. has entered into a worldwide multi-year agreement with Nickelodeon to publish video games based on the Nick Jr. show DORA THE EXPLORER. The agreement grants NewKidCo the rights to create interactive products for all leading video game systems. The series follows Dora, a young Latina who lives inside a computer and uses her knowledge of English and Spanish to communicate with her friends, overcome obstacles and reach her goals. The series currently airs 11 times a week, both on Nick Jr. and as part of CBS' weekend programming.

Universal Interactive, Inc. has shipped THE SCORPION KING: SWORD OF OSIRIS, an action-adventure game for Game Boy Advance. The game is based on Universal Pictures' THE SCORPION KING starring The Rock, and will be in stores to coincide with the film's theatrical release on April 19, 2002. Developed for the Game Boy Advance by southern California-based WayForward Technologies, THE SCORPION KING: SWORD OF OSIRIS is an action-adventure game where players step into The Rock's role as the Scorpion King to defeat more than 30 new enemies on a quest to retrieve the Sword of Osiris.

Game publisher THQ has been named the worldwide exclusive interactive game licensee for some of Marvel Enterprises' most popular comics properties including CAPTAIN AMERICA, THE PUNISHER and NICK FURY. The all-inclusive relationship grants THQ rights to all classic TV and film versions of each of the properties for every viable game system as well as PC, through 2007. The two companies also announced they will collaborate on the upcoming comic book series, THE CALL.

Venice, California-based Max Ink Café (MIC) recently completed the game cinematics for DRAGON RAGE, the newly released PlayStation2 game console for game developer 3DO. MIC created seven movies totaling 10 minutes of animation, integrating live-action digital video footage of the ocean, a sunset and fire with pure CG environments and matte paintings that appear in the cinematics.

Gullane Entertainment has signed a deal with educational products developer LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. to create THOMAS & FRIENDS interactive storybooks. THOMAS THE REALLY USEFUL ENGINE will be created for the "LeapPad" learning system and will include curriculum-based activities that are integrated into each page of the story. This title is part of LeapFrog's pre-reading series of books and is geared toward children in pre-kindergarten through first grade. The second title, THOMAS AND THE SCHOOL TRIP, will be developed for the "My First LeapPad" learning system.

ANIMAL HOSPITAL, an irreverent new animated series about an animal psychiatric hospital, has debuted on Icebox.com and the first six episodes may be viewed for free. Described by creator Dan Bell as "R. Crumb meets ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST with a touch of ANIMAL FARM thrown in," ANIMAL HOSPITAL features the voiceover talent of Dana Carvey, Steven Weber, Caroline Rhea, Mo Gaffney and Paul Hipp. Check it out at www.icebox.com.