Looks like no one wants to hold their own trade show anymore. Today's announcement of no X-04 from Microsoft comes not long after Nintendo decided to once again skip their Spaceworld show as well as the upcoming Tokyo Game Show (the E3 of Japan). Instead, they're both focusing on smaller campaigns directed to key markets in nations around the world. This revelation from Microsoft does lend credence to yesterday's rumor that we'll see an Xbox 2 announced at the January 2005 CES show.

	Nintendo Reveals DS Lineup for US Coming not long after NCL published their developer list, NOA has done the same. Many of the industry's biggest companies are behind the DS, such as Electronic Arts, Square Enix, Capcom, Ubisoft, Activision, and Atari. Said Will Kassoy, Activision's vice president of global brand management, "From the first time we saw the abilities of the Nintendo DS, we knew we had something extraordinary in our hands. Our developers dove right in and made the most of the unique features of this revolutionary new system."
	Microsoft Cancels X-04 Microsoft confirmed to GameSpot today that they will not be holding their annual X0 event. Previous events were used to showcase the Xbox hardware and its upcoming titles at fabulous European locations, but Microsoft decided to pull a Nintendo and concentrate on holding smaller, nation-specific demonstrations across the continent. An American rep commented to GameSpot, "We're going to be focusing on individual country activity that showcases the incredible and award-winning lineup of games for Xbox this Christmas and beyond, like Halo 2, Fable, Forza Motorsport, and Jade Empire."
	Ubisoft Delivering Next Ape Escape Ubisoft announced today that it plans to bring the latest installment of the Ape Escape series, Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed, to the United States in October 2004. Pumped & Primed takes the series in a new direction with cel-shaded graphics, two-player cooperative gameplay, and four-player party game mayhem. Ubisoft recently localized Ape Escape 2 last year.
	MechAssault 2 On-Track for 2004 Release After EBgames.com updated their website with a December 28, 2004 release date for MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf, IGN made a few phone calls. Microsoft confirmed to them that the title, originally planned for 2005, is looking good for a late 2004 ship date.
	Winning Eleven 8 Sells A Million After only a single day of release in Japan, Winning Eleven 8 broke the one million sales mark. While the last three releases of the game have gone over a million in sales, none have done so this quickly; last year's Winning Eleven took three weeks to hit the mark.
	Xenosaga II/Cowboy Bebop Coming in 2005 Namco revealed today that they plan to bring stateside the second episode of Xenosaga, Jenseits von Gut und Bose, in February of 2005. At the same time, Bandai updated their website for Cowboy Bebop with a 2005 release date, despite being planned for release this year.
	EA Shows Off FIFA Soundtrack Electronic Arts released the track list for the upcoming FIFA Soccer 2005 and it weighs in at a hefty 38 songs. The soundtrack features plenty of songs from European artists as well as a few from the US, Mexico, Brazil, and Sweden. The full list can be found here.
	7,400 Pokemon Toys Recalled Due to a "puncturing hazard," the U.S. Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 7,400 Pokemon plush toys sold through Nintendo's New York City Pokemon Center store. Some of the plushes, used on things such as keychains and beanbags, seemed to contain needles used by the machines that pieced them together. A webpage has been created with more information.
	Play with Your Sims in a Whole New Way! As if playing god with electronic replications of humans wasn't enough, gamers can now do it in the comfort of their playpens. Electronic Arts and Atomic Toys are teaming up to bring the Simlish-speaking characters of The URBZ: Sims in the City to toy shelves everywhere this November.
	Misc. Q&As/Features GameSpot talks with producer Dave Woldman about Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005.
	Misc. Media/Previews
	GameSpot updates their preview of Sly 2: Band of Thieves and tosses us a bunch of screens for Xenosaga Episode II and Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed. GamerFeed gives us the latest on Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The Magic Box shares with us screens from Metal Slug 4. IGN has a new video of Shadow Hearts: Covenant and images of Shining Tears and Under The Skin. They also show us the new ThiefNet of Sly 2.
	HomeLAN Fed clues us in on Yager in this preview. GameSpot shares with us five shots of Fable while EuroGamer offers first impressions. IGN gets in on Fable too with these videos. They also showcase an extended trailer for MechAssault 2.
	The official Pikmin 2 site updated with a new video. Game Informer does us all a favor and captures a ton of movies for Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
	Planet GameCube tells us the dillyo on Astro Boy: Omega Factor. IGN delivers shots of Mega Man Zero 3 and video of Mario Pinball Land.
	Two new images of Cold Winter (PS2, Xbox) are at GameSpot tonight. Game Informer takes an exclusive hands-on look at Colin McRae Rally 2005 (PS2, Xbox, GCN). GamerFeed get their mitts on Spy Fiction (PS2, Xbox, GCN). EuroGamer offers impressions of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 (PS2, Xbox, GCN). TeamXbox spins out of control with these images of Need for Speed Underground 2 (PS2, Xbox, GCN) and impressions of both Second Sight (PS2, Xbox, GCN) and ESPN NHL 2K5 (PS2, Xbox). Planet GameCube gives us their take on the upcoming Def Jam: Fight for NY (PS2, Xbox, GCN). IGN gives a taste of the mini-games of Mortal Kombat: Deception (PS2, Xbox) with these videos. They also have vids for NBA Live 2005 (PS2, Xbox, GCN).