The Comcast deal is a partnership with professional game league Major League Gaming (MLG) and will include distribution of a MLG television show on Comcast’s On-Demand service and also the company's GameInvasion.net web site. Comcast also opened access to GameInvasion, which was previously only available to the company’s high-speed Internet service customers. The site will also feature videos from G4 Television, GameTrailers.com, and IGN.

Yesterday, the World Series of Video Games (WSVG) unveiled its own network TV partnership, announcing a series of deals with CBS, CSTV, and HD network Voom that will bring the footage to a major U.S. network for the first time. The deal will collectively bring some 20 hours of content to U.S. viewers. The WSVG also said it is investigating international distribution for the content.

CBS coverage will include a one-hour special set to air on December 30 at 3pm. The show will feature footage of a number of professional gamers, including Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel—one of the sport's best-known U.S. competitors. Mr. Wendel has appeared in a number of mainstream media outlets and, in addition to his tournament battles, now peddles his own line of game hardware, accessories, and apparel.

Comcast did not offer details about when its initial gaming broadcast will be available, saying only that it will include footage from last month's MLG national championship in Las Vegas. The footage will initially air on NBC-owned USA Network. Earlier this year, MLG announced a partnership with USA to bring several hour-long shows to the cable network.

Ubisoft is hoping that it will inform and entertain both groups with its search for a new Frag Doll, the company's sponsored roster of hard-core gamers, who all happen to possess two X chromosomes.

As such, the company announced Tuesday night its eight finalists in an eight-month-long national search for a new Frag Doll.

Among them are Nin9tyNin9, a "Halo 2" and "Quake 3" fan from Phoenix, and PerfectDark, a killer "Ghost Recon 2" player from Brooklyn.

After a weekend of auditions and competitive game play at Ubisoft's San Francisco offices in early April, the company will name its final choice.

Creative has announced the Fatal1ty 2020 Mouse, the gaming mouse co-developed for competitive PC gaming with professional gamer Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel. The Creative Fatal1ty 2020 Mouse will be available in early 2006 for an estimated street price of $69.99.

Creative will also release the Fatal1ty 1010 Mouse for casual gamers, featuring a 1600 cpi HD-Optix Engine in early 2006 for an estimated street price of $49.99.

"With the Fatal1ty 2020 Mouse, I hope to help gamers fulfill their dreams of competing at the professional level. But if they think they can beat me, they should know that I'll be using this mouse too," said Johnathan 'Fatal1ty' Wendel. "I had a vision of a mouse designed specifically for gaming, with every feature I would need to compete at the highest level. The Fatal1ty 2020 Mouse, which I designed with Creative, realizes my vision and provides me the edge I need as a champion."

The 2400cpi HD-Optix laser engine offers up to 6X the resolution of standard optical mice, and the 5.8 megapixel sensor report rate allows it to work flawlessly on virtually any surface and to track up to 15G's of acceleration, to guarantee that even the shortest or widest hand and arm movements are tracked with the utmost precision;

The custom G-Weight modular weight system allows users to replace weight modules in a central chamber that is easily accessible from the top of the chassis, providing a superior center of balance for the mouse. Five weight modules are included with the mouse, ranging from Light Caliber for extra agility and endurance, to Heavy Caliber for extra precision and sniping;

Rapid-Res One-Click Hardware CPI resolution change button allows the user to instantly change between 400, 800 and 1600 CPI with the touch of a button, and includes a color LED readout for instant visual representation of the current resolution;

Exclusive SpeedWire zero-oxygen copper wiring and tangle-proof coating and a gold-plated USB plug enable the fastest signal transfer to the PC;

Zero-resistance Teflon feet provide smooth performance on any surface;

An ultra-comfortable mouse chassis, rubberized grip points, a premium red and black finish, and an illuminated "Fatal1ty" symbol ensures that the Creative Fatal1ty 2020 Mouse looks as deadly as the performance it delivers.

Wendel, the better-known competitor, did what his fans have come to expect and dominated Kaasjager in four straight matches.

"There's a reason why they call him Fatal1ty," one spectator explained as Wendel dispatched Kaasjager in a hail of rockets.

Unlike the other competitors, many of whom still attend college or high school, Wendel plays full time and has acquired superstar status in the computer gaming community that he has turned into a business.

This year Wendel has earned about $600,000 in licensing fees and another $231,000 in tournament winnings. In trying to turn video gaming into a sustainable, professional venture, he and his licenser, Auravision, of Woodland Hills, California, have spent $50,000 helping other gamers attend gaming events around the globe.

"I can't say that I'm a superpro," he said, working the controller like an extension of his body. "I can be beat."

Those bold enough to challenge him weren't so lucky. One by one, while playing "Soul Calibur 2," their video characters were killed without mercy by Mellen's on-screen alter ego.

"I'm getting bored," Mellen said in jest as he won game after game.

Blind since birth when his optic nerve didn't connect because of Leber's disease, Mellen honed his video game skills over the years through patient and not-so-patient playing, memorizing key joystick operations and moves in certain games, asking lots of questions and paying particular attention to audio cues. He worked his way up from games such as "Space Invaders" and "Asteroid," onto the modern combat games.

"I'm so happy to make the breakthrough and win a major championship playing Painkiller," says Wendel. "The hard work and intense training schedule paid off by beating a very tough, International field."

Fatal1ty now holds 10 Major Championship titles, doing so while competing in 5 different games - an achievement held by no other gamer. Adding to his professional career totals, Fatal1ty has now finished in the top three an amazing 52 times, with 39 first place finishes while competing in 57 pro tournaments. This is his first major championship playing the game "Painkiller."

For winning the regional championship in the Netherlands, King Tuur received the following prizes:

A half-size Master Chief Statue

Personalized Xbox Live Halo 2 Championship sweatshirt and Regional Champion Plaque

A Samsung Camcorder

For winning the Xbox Live "Halo 2" World Championship, King Tuur received the following prizes:

A 50' Samsung Flat Screen DLP HDTV

A Samsung DVD Player/Recorder

A Personalized Xbox Live Halo 2 Global Champion Trophy featuring a gold Halo 2 game disc

The U.S. equivalent of $1,500 in cash