Nippon Ichi Software has announced the establishment of a North American subsidary named NIS America. The Anaheim, California-based company, which began its operations yesterday will oversee Nippon Ichi's expansion into the North American and European game markets and strengthen its Japanese parent company's brand image in the two western markets. Following next month's release of the Mastiff-published La Pucelle Tactics in the US, Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is scheduled for a May release in Europe and Australia. Furthermore, the company's 2004 title Phantom Brave will be available in the US this August and in Europe and Australia sometime next year.

• SB Games