The developers of Pirates of the Caribbean Online have announced that Privateering has finally hit the live servers. This port versus port battle is available for both free and paid subscribers so you can start picking your sides right now. To find out more, head on over to the full article.

Mike Tyson isn't the only new thing in EA's Fight Night Round 4: the game will also feature a brand-new physics engine that is touted to bring more fluidity and organic movement to the Fight Night experience. More from game producer Dean Richards in the full article.

We're all curious as to how the rumored Kid Icarus game for the Wii will look like, but more importantly, how Pit will look like. It's lucky that we managed to come images were found in the web, labeled as Factor 5's concept art for the game. This much we'll tell you: the Pit they're working on - if the project is true, of course - is nothing like the Pit we all know and love. Check out the concept art in the full article.

Remember that new Freedom-2 tattoo ink we posted about late last year? It's finally getting nearer towards market availability. Here's a refresher on how it works.

The ink consists of pigments encapsulated by microscopic clear plastic beads. The pigments are then mixed in a solution for use by tattoo artists. Brown University professor Edith Mathiowitz, the microcapsule developer, said that the pigment is "homogeneously dispersed in the capsule to get the right color".

When it's time for removal, the laser bursts the beads open so the dye can be absorbed and removed naturally by the body. This makes it important for the pigments to be free of any heavy metals and other toxins. The single-treatment removal is a far cry from the six or seven laser treatments usually needed to remove regular tattoos.

The new ink is currently being used by Freedom-2 to tattoo 50 people at three test sites across the U.S. as part of a long-term study. Freedom-2 president and CEO Martin Schmieg says that the new ink should be ready for the market this fall.

First it was Microsoft relenting to the demands of the bereaved many and making the necessary adjustments to its policy regarding fixing consoles with the Red Ring of Death. Then it was Robbie Bach selling off US$6.8 million worth of shares at the height of the Red Ring frenzy.

Now, another stunning development - Peter Moore, Corporate Vice President of the Xbox 360/Internet Entertainment business division of Microsoft, has just been confirmed to have resigned from his position, with former Electronic Arts Inc. President Don Mattrick to take his place. This was the shocker that Microsoft itself announced through a press release.

So what made him go? Before we start pointing fingers at a particular crimson ring of light, it's not the reason at all - or so the announcement says. No, Peter Moore's resigning for personal reasons, deciding to move his family back to the Bay Area.

It seems that he's also secured another opportunity in the video games industry - what opportunity, we don't have any info as of yet.

What about Microsoft? Well, they're certainly sad that he's leaving but they don't seem to be that worried that one of their very staunch supporters - namely, the guy who got a Halo tattoo on his arm - left, as they're looking forward to Don Mattrick's experience and management savvy. Robbie Bach and his thoughts on the matter, verbatim:

Peter has contributed enormously to the games business since joining Microsoft in 2003 and we are sad to see him go...While Peter will certainly be missed, we are delighted to have one of the industry's most talented and passionate veterans on board to lead the business.

While we're certainly relieved that Microsoft's already found a replacement for ol' Peter, we also can't help but wonder how the Xbox 360 will fare without him. Time will only tell. Updates as we get them.

Tattoos have been a part of human culture since the dawn of civilization. The markings inscribed permanently to a person's body is viewed as an art form that conveys a message of lifelong devotion. It may not be common in gaming, but there are some who love their favorite games so much that they wear symbols of the games on their flesh as if they were medals.

A Legend of Zelda fan named Mike Corbett expressed his love for the franchise in the most sincere way possible. He had his wife tattoo the game's hero, Link, to his arm and we must say that was some handiwork by Mrs. Corbett.

One question, though- do intellectual property rights apply for stuff you put into your body? We hope not. We'd love to see more of these acts of love. Hey, anyone there with a Pikachu tattoo?

Hold your horses, girls! Here's something we all dreamed of having at one point in time. Yep, our very own pony. But this one here ain't just any kind of pony, this one's from The Game Factory, Bratz Ponyz. Now you'll have a nice pet to go along with your girlfriends in Bratz: Forever Diamonds.

Here's some of the fantastic things you can do with Bratz Ponyz:

• Incarnate one of the 8 Bratz Ponyz™, or change Ponyz during the game
• Participate in the prestigious, 'Passion for Fashion' competition which will develop your 'passion' through numerous mini-games.
• Take care of your Ponyz hairstyle, make-up, jewellery and accessories, visit tattoo workshop, and develop your artistic talents.
• Shop in Ponyz Town and collect everything related to fashion.
• Freely explore the Ponyz archipelago and discover numerous surprises.
• Experience natural and intuitive game play, using the DS touchscreen feature.
• Play numerous mini-games integrated into the adventure.
• Compare your Ponyz and exchange objects with your friends via Wi Fi.

Anyhow, Bratz Ponyz will be galloping across Europe from NEKO Entertainment's developing house this summer, so keep a solid eye out for it.

More Bratz Ponyz screens after the jump!

 

Well here's a nice bit of free publicity for Apple. In the recently released "Wild Hogs," William H. Macy is seen giving an out-of-the-blue hardcore advert for the computer maker. As seen in the picture above, there's a scene in the movie in which Macy, in an attempt to prove himself as a master of the way of the bike, gets himself a tattoo. The catch? His tattoo's the Apple logo:

Dudley: "I'm a biker, dude! I got a tat!"

Doug: "It’s an Apple…"

Dudley: "I know. Trademarked. But what are they gonna say? It's in my skin b**ch!"

Not exactly one of the best lines in movie history, but it brings a geeky tear to our eye to see our little Apple grown so big and strong. *sniff*

That Chinese character tattoo of yours may have wowed your college buddies or significant other then, but now it doesn't bring the same impression when you're meeting up with a business client. Ah, the folly of youth! But if you think you're stuck with that tattoo forever, fret not for there might be a less painful way to part with that tattoo of yours.

A company called Freedom 2, founded by doctors, mentioned that they will begin selling a removable tattoo ink that will remain in place as long as the person wants it. But the difference is that it can be removed fully and safely with a single laser treatment. The New York company is calling their product Freedom-2 LLC.

So how did Freedom 2's ink achieve that "removability" factor? It's removable because it is encapsulated in tiny beads made of polymethylmethacrylate, a synthetic material commonly used in surgical glue and in many types of artificial joints.

Because of the way these beads are formed, they fall apart when laser energy is applied. That particular laser energy would cost you around US$ 1,000, which is a small price to pay for a good impression.

As for the ink, it will most likely cost more than the usual ones being used. But according to Freedom 2 CEO, Martin Schmieg, "the new ink will be slightly more expensive than conventional ink but will likely add only about $50 to the cost of most tattoos...because most of the cost related to tattooing is for the artist's time and talent."

It may have elements resembling a GTA clone, but a military GTA clone still happens to be a lot of fun. While Mercenaries, the first game in the series, brought some laughs and a lot of firepower (Merchant of Menace FTW!), these screenshots for Pandemic Studios' Mercenaries 2: World in Flames make us both drool and smile.

Why? Because some of them deserve weird captions and they still look good at the same time!

For instance, take a look the picture above. Don't they look like some radical version of "Miami Vice"? They look good and all, especially the impressively detailed tattoo on the shoulder there, but it still brings to mind Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell. Let's hope they talk as convincingly as they look. Meanwhile, in the other four screenshots we have for you, expect to see someone walking on the cannon barrel of a tank, Mohawk Man grabbing a ride on a helicopter, and a really cool tank blowing stuff up.

By the way, did anyone notice how strangely similar the guy in the background on the top picture looks like the guy in front? We thought so. Enjoy the screenies!