Okay, I rarely just post press releases we get — that's Crecente's job — but this is pretty awesome. BioWare has formed a new team that will work specifically on hand-held games.

Their first title, still unannounced, will be for the Nintendo DS. The thought of them somehow squeezing Baldur's Gate 2 onto a DS card makes me swoon. Of course, even better? If they ignore their library of games entirely and just give me portable Planescape: Torment.

By the way, did you know Eliza has never played Torment — only the best written, most moving and most emotionally compelling game ever made? By the power of Christ compel her in the comments. She does have a lot in common with the Lady of Pain, after all: both are widely-worshipped, contemptuous, sadomasochist females who weigh in excess of 100 tons.

Press release after the jump. Florian Eckhardt

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (September 19, 2006) - BioWare, a leading video game developer, has announced the formation of a new handheld game development group. Their first game will be produced for the Nintendo DS system and marks BioWare's debut in the handheld game space.

The group will be led by project director, Dan Tudge, former president and founder of independent video game developer, Exile Interactive, Inc. Dan has overseen development of AAA titles for such major publishers as Nintendo, Microsoft, THQ and Sega Sports.

"We're thrilled to have Dan leading our new handheld group," said Ray Muzyka, CEO of BioWare. "Dan has an exceptional pedigree of game development, and we're excited to have him bring his proven track record of successful games to BioWare's new DS project!"

Listed among Canada's Top 100 Employers* three years in a row, BioWare has begun actively recruiting for its new handheld team.

"As always, we are committed to creating the best story-driven games in the world, and the Nintendo DS offers us an exciting new platform to engage," said Greg Zeschuk, president of BioWare. "The new project offers tremendous opportunities, and we're looking for talented and passionate developers to become part of that."

Details about available positions for BioWare's handheld group can be found at http://www.bioware.com/bioware_info/jobs/edmonton_jobs/.

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