The Interactive Entertainment Institute, announce today that Ray Kurzweil is the plenary keynote speaker for the G.A.M.E.S. Synergy Summit 2006 (GSS06) held at the Wyndham Orlando Resort on January 17-18.

Today Ubisoft, Gearbox Software, and The History Channel, announced that a Brothers In Arms­ inspired two-hour documentary special on World War II will premiere on The History Channel. Produced by Foglight Entertainment, the television special, hosted by actor Ron Livingston (Band of Brothers) will premiere on The History Channel on Sunday, December 18th at 8 pm ET/PT.

GameSpot received word from Microsoft that Digital Anvil, known for Freelancer on PC, and Xbox's Brute Force, is being shut down and assimilated. Last time anybody heard from the developer was back in 2003 when it finished Brute Force, a PC title turned Xbox when Microsoft bought DA. The employees from Digital Anvil, which was based in Texas, are given the opportunity to take up other positions in Microsoft Game Studios, but need to relocate to Washington if they choose to do so.

Valve's SteamPowered website has been updated with details regarding the latest update for its online delivery system Steam. This release updates Counter-Strike Source with the previously announced new de_nuke with High Dynamic Range (HDR) lighting, as well as a slew of enhancements and bug fixes. Just restart Steam for the effects to take place.

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 :

• Starcraft: Ghost [PS2/Xbox] - Trailer #4
• RF Online - Trailer #3
• 
  
  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

Auto Assault combines vehicular combat with role-playing elements. Players explore a post-apocalyptic future in customizable cars, motorcycles, semis and even tanks. Players battle other players both in arenas and in epic race vs. race wars for control of the regions in a devastated Earth.

At a conference in Tokyo Square Enix revealed that Japanese gamers will have to dig deep into their wallet for the latest Final Fantasy title when it launches March 16. Standard PS2 titles normally retail for $59, but FF XII will be priced at $75. Square Enix is not new to the overpricing as DQ VIII had a $77 price tag and people bought it like hotcakes. North American gamers shouldn't panic just yet, despite its hefty price in Japan, DQ 8 was sold over here at the normal rate, and so far Final Fantasy XII pre-orders aren't any more expensive than the normal going price.

Reakktor Media and 10Tacle Studios are today raising the curtain to reveal the modernised game world of their action-packed MMORPG Neocron 2: Beyond Dome of York. The Evolution 2.1 Update offers numerous improvements, first and foremost a comprehensive update of the graphics engine.

EA has released a new patch for the original The Sims 2 game. This update brings your retail game to v1.0.0.1022, although no specific details as to what it fixes are available at this point (thanks 3DGamers). Read more for download links ...

Gamers will delve into a more mature, consistent fantasy universe that will appeal to fans of all fantasy genres. Heroes of Might & Magic V will benefit from the features and characteristics that established the success of the initial saga while offering a wealth of innovations such as a highly immersive scenario, a variety of appealing factions, modern 3D graphics, a revolutionary tactical combat system, and a story-based campaign mode.

Sonic Riders integrates extreme sports, high-speed racing and head-to-head battles, and offers a new racing experience with Sonic. Sonic Riders is slated to ship in Winter 2006.

The countdown has begun to the release of 24: The Game on PS2. Set to become the biggest action adventure game of the year, 24: The Game lets gamers take control and live a 'brand new day' in the life of Jack Bauer and the Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU).

Aiai, MeeMee, GonGon, and Baby are back in true classic Super Monkey Ball style, in SEGA's NDS exclusive Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll, with all-new gameplay control using the Nintendo DS stylus and wireless multiplayer modes!

Ubisoft announced today that Prince of Persia The Two Thrones is available in stores for all platforms. PoP The Two Thrones takes the best features from The Sands of Time and Warrior Within, and combines them with new gameplay elements such as a second playable character, an intuitive Speed Kill system, outdoor Babylon environment, chariot combat and more.

Southpeak Interactive signed a publishing agreement with DCStudios for State of Emergency 2. Taking place 10 years after the original SOE2 has Spanky, Bull and MacNeill again up against the Corporation. This time, they not only have access to guns but also - for the first time - helicopters, speedboats, Tanks and APCs and new team members.

After a life of small-time jobs and petty thefts you've been accepted into America's most famous criminal organization, the Corleone family. Now it's up to you to carry out orders, earn respect, rise through the ranks, and make New York City your own. Play your cards right and you could even be running everything as the next, and most powerful, Don.

Super X Studios announced that it is terminating their publishing agreement with Digital Jesters for their upcoming title Wild Earth. Super X Studios owner James Thrush stated, "It has come to our awareness that the company we signed with, Digital Jesters Limited, will not be able to fulfill its publishing role as its staff and assets are being subsumed by the new DJ Group publishing company. We wish them well on their new venture but as of this moment we are looking to place Wild Earth, which is now completed, with another publisher."

Metal Combat plans to re-invent the Fighting game genre with physics-based environments and characters, enabling fights with realistic reactions to every blow and destructible environments. The game is scheduled for release later this year for the PC and in the arcade by Solar Studios.

Since Troika is no longer amongst the living this patch is not official, so use at your own discretion. This update brings Activision's Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines retail game to v1.9 (requires v1.2 patch installed) and addresses a number of known issues, gameplay tweaks, bug fixes and so forth.

A unique mix of turn-based and role-play, Hammer & Sickle is a brand-new gaming experience. CDV has released a demo for Nival's strategy game Hammer & Sickle allowing you to check out some cutscenes and one mission from the full game.

El Matador is a third person action game with stealth elements set in the environment of the Central and South America. It takes proven features of the genre and enhances them with the latest technology, to provide the player with an opportunity to experience the excitement of espionage first hand.

Europa Universalis II invites you to a global struggle for supremacy from the dark times of Jeanne D'Arc to the flaming wars of Napoleon. This patch brings your retail game to v1.09 (works for ALL English versions) and contains fixes for features, game balance issues, general bugs, multiplayer, stability and plenty more. Read more for detailed fix list and download links ...

StarCraft: Ghost is a tactical-action console game that refines the epic experience of StarCraft to the level of the individual soldier. Engage the StarCraft universe face-to-face as a deadly Ghost operative in the employ of the Dominion. With the help of determined allies, follow story-driven missions that take you from massive planetary battles through dangerous solo operations to an unexpected turn of events that leaves the fate of the universe in your hands.

Prior to E3 Australian developer Tantalus Interactive announced that it had begun work on Metal Shell, a ground breaking new title for PS2 and XBox. During E3 a PSP version was added to the mix, but recently Tantalus has updated its website with only the PSP edition listed as platform. We contacted CEO Tom Crago who comfirmed that console development on its arcade tank/combat has ceased, and Tantalus is now concentrating solely on the PSP version.

You are Sergeant First-Class Jack Kellar, seasoned veteran of the US military and a leader of a BLACK ops team. Your squad have been sent into the heart of Eastern Europe on a dangerous mission, drawn in to the midst of a relentless combat zone to bring in a traitor.

Platinum Studios and Blue Star Pictures have hired the Pang brothers to direct The Darkness, based on Top Cow's comicbook series. Majesco is currently working on an X360 game based on the same franchise, developed by Starbreeze and scheduled for 2007. The Darkness casts players as Jackie Estacado, a fearless Mafia hitman for the Franchetti crime family who is suddenly possessed by the terrifying and spectacular powers of The Darkness.

Suikoden Tactics is set before, during and after the events of Suikoden IV and the game follows the adventures of a young new hero, Kyril as he uncovers the dark secrets behind the magical Rune Cannons.

Build your own movie studio and make films to capture the world’s imagination. Start filming in the break-neck 1920s and rewrite history as you pioneer the great cinematic advances. Be the first to introduce talkies, colour, animation or computer-generated special effects. Pick the scripts you want to shoot, design and construct the sets and hire the director, the crew and the stars.