Brookline, Mass. - Virtual worlds developer Worlds.com on Monday announced that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against video game developer NCsoft, whose multiplayer online titles include "City of Heroes" and "Guild Wars."

Los Angeles - Video game publisher NCsoft will shut down the servers on its "Tabula Rasa" massively multiplayer online game in February, because "the game never achieved the player population we had hoped for," according to a note on its website. The game was developed by veteran designer Richard Garriott ("Ultima"). The company said it will make the game free to play in its last weeks, starting on Jan. 10.

Austin, Texas - As a promotion for its massively multiplayer online game "Tabula Rasa," which explores the destruction of Earth, developer NCsoft has announced that it will send a time capsule with the digitized DNA of select video game players and others into space. "Operation Immortality" will see game designer Richard Garriott take the capsule with him when he travels to the International Space Station in October 2008. "I'm thrilled we can offer the once in a lifetime chance to millions of gamers to virtually go to space with me," said Garriott. "A select few will have their DNA digitized and sent. And, theoretically, if anything happens to the human race, it could be their DNA that is used to resurrect humanity."

Austin, Texas - Video game developer and publisher NCsoft on Wednesday introduced NCcoin, a new micro-transaction system that will allow players to use real-world money to purchase in-game items and upgrades within its titles. NCcoin will make its debut in the game "Exteel"; NCsoft also publishes "City of Heroes," "Guild Wars" and "Lineage."

San Francisco - Double Fusion, a provider of in-game advertising services, said on Thursday that it has signed a deal with NCsoft, to serve ads within the developer's popular massively multiplayer online game, "City of Heroes."

Austin - NCsoft on Tuesday announced the formation of a new game development studio in Mountain View, California, as well as its acquisition of full ownership of its "City of Heroes" online game, which was initially split with developer Cryptic Studios. Financial details of the purchase were not disclosed. The new studio, to be headed by Brian Clayton, will be built around key members of the "City of Heroes" team from NCsoft and Cryptic Studios.

Austin - Video game developer and publisher NCsoft on Friday shipped "Tabula Rasa," a new massively multiplayer online PC game from executive producer Richard Garriott, to retailers in North America and Europe. Garriott previously developed the "Ultima" game franchise, and sold the Origin Systems game publishing company he co-founded to Electronic Arts in 1992.

Austin, Texas - Game publisher NCsoft on Thursday officially launched Carbine Studios, its new development studio based in Aliso Viejo, California. The studio is comprised of 17 former Blizzard Entertainment employees, including lead and senior developers on "World of Warcraft." The company said Carbine is currently working on an unannounced project "that promises to break new ground in massively multiplayer gaming."

London - South Korean video game publisher NCsoft's European unit has received a grant of nearly $400,000 from the South East England Development Agency, which NCsoft Europe will use to double the staff at its Brighton, England headquarters, GamesIndustry.biz reported. The publisher of online games including "Lineage" and "Guild Wars" opened its European office in 2004 and plans to count over 220 staff by 2010.

Bellevue, Wash. - Game publisher NCsoft announced on Tuesday that its massively multiplayer online roleplaying game "Guild Wars," developed by ArenaNet, has now surpassed four million units sold. The company plans to release a new expansion, "Guild Wars: Eye of the North," on Aug. 31

Santa Monica, Calif. - Korean game developer NCsoft said this week that it has signed a deal with Sony Computer Entertainment, to create several online games for the PlayStation 3 and PSP that will be accessible through the PlayStation Network. While NCsoft -- whose titles include "City of Heroes" and "Guild Wars" -- did not provide many details, the games will include both existing NCsoft franchises and new intellectual property.

Austin, Texas - NCsoft, a developer and publisher of online games, on Friday announced its slate of upcoming games to be shown at the Electronic Entertainment Expo Media & Business Summit -- the smaller, more exclusive version of the game industry conference -- that will take place next weekend in Los Angeles. NCsoft products to be featured include "Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa," "Aion," "Guild Wars: Eye of the North" and "Dungeon Runners."

Los Angeles - Game publisher NCsoft and developer Cryptic Studios have sold the motion picture and television rights for their "City of Heroes" massively multiplayer online superhero game to producer Tom DeSanto, who recently also produced "Transformers," Variety reports.