With entertainment software holding its place as one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. economy and becoming a new field of study at colleges and universities, the ESA Foundation has established a scholarship program to help train and educate the next generation of video game developers and designers.

Sony Computer Entertainment America announced that the v2.20 PS3 firmware update, slated for release in late March, will add Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0 or BD-LIVE, enabling PS3 owners to experience interactive features (such as downloadable video content, ringtones, games, etc...), the ability to copy photo and music playlists from PS3 to PSP, and many other new features.

Future Games, known for Black Mirror, is currently working on an all-new adventurous detective story with a horror plot. Alter Ego is set in a picturesque English town at the end of 19th century, and you play as two different characters who, although on opposite sides of the law, have to fight a common enemy.

While Heavenly Sword is undoubtedly one of the better PS3 titles, and a sequel is most likely to follow, it will not be developed by the original Ninja Theory studio, at least not in the near future. According to a recent interview the UK developer is currently working on an all-new, original, multiplatform title, with an estimated production time of 2.5 years. To top things off, Ninja Theory wants to create a CGI movie using the game engine alongside the game itself.

Defy gravity in Midas’s latest and greatest futuristic racing title Zero-G for the NDS. Players compete as an elite Zero-G pilot racing against fearless rivals from across the stratosphere in 7 gut wrenching tournaments.

Another day, another batch of game trailers was released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for:

• EndWar [PS3/X360] - Gameplay Trailer
• de Blob [NDS/Wii] - Trailer (2)
• Kung Fu Panda [ALL] - Trailer #2
• World of WarCraft: The Burning Crusade - Sunwell Plateau Trailer
• Lost Empire: Immortals - Colonize Trailer
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

According to the latest issue of Famitsu, Namco Bandai is working on a Wii exclusive action/flight sim game for the Wii, based on the upcoming animated movie by Mamoru Oshii, known for such productions as Ghost in the Shell, Blood : The Last Vampire and Innocence : Ghost in the Shell 2. The Sky Crawlers is set in an alternate reality and chronicles the adventures of an elite squadron of fighter pilots. Developed by the Ace Combat team it is scheduled in Japan for late 2008.

While the PSP and PC versions of the original have yet to be released, Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors will meet again in an unforgettable crossover event, as a sequel is already in the works. Adding a Versus mode, characters from both franchises must team up to wage war against a new, powerful force in Warriors Orochi 2.

In UT3, you assume the role of a futuristic warrior engaged in contests of intense shooting battles against skilled opponents, controlled by human contestants online or by AI, fought with the most powerful sci-fi weapons and vehicles. On March 27, Epic will release the first patch for the UT3 PS3 edition making the US and Euro versions compatible, as well as fixing various issues.

Activision made no secret about wanting to bring its Guitar Hero franchise to the NDS, but the big question was the controller device. Guitar Hero: On Tour will use the GBA cartridge input to plug in a small device with the typical colored Guitar Hero buttons to activate the notes, although with only four buttons instead of the usual five on the console guitars. Guitar Hero: On Tour will feature 5 venues, 6 playable characters, and the usual clothing, guitars and accessories.