After yesterday's publishing mishap, we took a couple of precautions to make sure that we were able to bring you today's News Pop! today. It's true that these things happen sometimes, but nobody said we had to like it. So whether our system likes it or not, here's today's News Pop!.

Lucasarts ships Star Wars expansion pack

Lucasarts and Petroglyph announced today that the expansion pack for Star Wars: Empire at War began shipping today. Star Wars Empire at War: Forces of Corruption puts players in a different role than the original game. Instead of playing as the Rebel Alliance or the Galactic Empire, they will now be able to play as a third faction, the Zann Consortium, in order to become the most notorious criminal in the Star Wars universe since Jabba the Hutt. New tactic features in the game include piracy, kidnapping and bribery, which players can use to control the underworld. “Star Wars Empire at War: Forces of Corruption allows fans to experience the Star Wars universe in an entirely new way,” said Nancy MacIntyre, vice president global sales and marketing for LucasArts. “People have always wanted to peek inside the shady underground of the galaxy – home to the spies, bounty hunters and smugglers – and Forces of Corruption finally gives them the chance to do so. The illicit technologies, black-market goods, and underhanded tactics in Forces of Corruption allow players to become gangsters in the wretched hives of Star Wars scum and villainy.” If you can't get your hands on a copy of the expansion pack yet, the demo is available for download at FilePlanet . Star Wars Empire at War: Forces of Corruption is available for $29.99 USD/$39.99 CAD and is rated T for Teen.

Blizzard puts a freeze on The Burning Crusade

The announcement went out at 4 AM, Eastern Time, this morning. Blizzard has pushed the release of World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, the highly anticipated expansion pack for World of Warcraft, from the assumed November 15^th date to some time in January of next year. The press release states, “By adding a few extra weeks to the development cycle beyond its original target date, Blizzard will be able to extend the closed beta test and further refine the new content that will ship with the game.” The refinements mentioned in the release were not specified in any way, nor were the exact release dates or pricing for the expansion pack. “We appreciate the enthusiasm surrounding World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, and we’re excited about putting the finishing touches on all of the new content,” said Mike Morhaime, president and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We feel confident that the extra time spent polishing the game will result in the high-quality experience that our players expect and deserve.” We're pretty sure fans of the game won't be as excited at this news as Blizzard.

Snoopy vs. The Red Baron is out

Namco Bandai announced today that its aerial adventure game, Snoopy vs. The Red Baron is available today. The game allows players to become immersed in a world only Snoopy could have dreamed up, as he transforms into a World War I flying ace on a valiant quest to defend the skies from the evil Red Baron. Players are able to send Snoopy soaring in his Sopwith Camel, in high-flying dogfights, air races and heart-pounding missions behind enemy lines. “Whether young or just young at heart, players get the chance to experience the classic Peanuts comic strip like never before,” said John Whitmore, Director of Internal and External Development at Namco Bandai Games America Inc. There is a large cast of people's favourite characters, including Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Marcie, Sally and Woodstock and there are plenty of weapons and gadgets to use for upgrades. There are over twenty different missions to explore in the game that should keep players entertained for hours. Snoopy vs. The Red Baron is currently available for Playstation 2, PSP and PC for prices ranging between $19.99 USD to $39.99 CAD and is rated E10+ for Everyone ten and up. Check your local retail stores for exact pricing, and for more information on the game you can check out http://snoopy.namcobandaigames.com .

You could get Flushed Away today

That's right, the game based on the Dreamworks Animation film Flushed Away is now available from D3 Publisher of America. Flushed Away takes players on a thrilling adventure through London's underground metrolpolis, where they will encounter enemies, waterfalls and traps as they try to stop Toad and his evil plans. The game allows players to relive many moments from the film and discover new environments which are unique to the game as well. They can take on the role of one of three characters from the film – Roddy, an adventurous character who is suddenly, and literally, flushed into a bustling world below the streets of London; Rita, a beautiful street-smart scrounger who is also a thief, and the Jammy Dodger, Rita’s boat which has a unique personality of its own. The game also has more than ten fully featured levels, various mini games, usable items like the rat trap catapult, dashing cocktail sword, pudding mix and other things to be found in the sewer for use against enemies. Flushed Away is available for Playstation 2, GameCube and Nintendo DS for $29.99 USD and CAD and is rated E for Everyone.

Stronghold Legends is out

2K and Firefly Studios announced that Stronghold Legends became available in stores today. The brand new real time strategy builds on the success of the Stronghold franchise, combining new gameplay innovations with all new multiplayer modes. Players can play as King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, Count Vlad Dracul, or the mighty Siegfried of Germany in twenty-six missions that span across three unique campaigns. Stronghold Legends is now available for PC for $39.99 USD/$49.99 CAD and is rated T for Teen. For more information on the game, you can check out the official website at www.strongholdlegends.com.

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