CDS will publish a fiction line based on Cryptic Studios/NCsoft's City of Heroes online computer game…. TokyoPop is creating three manga books tied to Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft online game; other recent licenses include musicians Linkin Park and Fox's Malcolm in the Middle, Family Guy and The Simple Life, all for Cine-Manga…. Publications International will introduce six Story Reader titles based on Disney and Nickelodeon properties…. Penguin and Modern Publishing will release tie-ins to the animated series Atomic Betty, licensed from Breakthrough Animation and Joy Tashjian

Marketing Group…. St. Martin's/Priddy Books will publish infant gift books tied to

BabyGUND, represented by The Wildflower Group…. Tommy Nelson signed Talicor to create games and puzzles featuring Max Lucado's

Hermie and Friends…. DIC Entertainment added Scholastic (how-to-draw and continuity books), Leisure Arts (craft leaflets) and Meredith (sound books) to its roster of

Strawberry Shortcake licensees…. CopCorp signed Black Jack, E.S. Originals and H.E.R. Accessories as licensees for Jim Benton's

Franny K. Stein, published by Simon & Schuster…. Nelvana signed Kellytoy USA as the playthings licensee for

The Berenstain Bears…. Simon & Schuster retained Viacom Consumer Products to handle licensing for

Nancy Drew. Meanwhile, Her Interactive will publish games based on the

Hardy Boys…. Classic Media retained Evergreen Concepts to handle licensing for

Little Golden Books and

Pat the Bunny ….

Warner Bros. signed Take-Two Interactive for videogames based on Tim Burton's 2005 movie,

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.