Ape Escape 3 is pached with more content than any previous Ape Escape titles, a full 28 stages (136 total areas, compared with 84 for the previous installment) and tons of mini games. Family-friendly Ape Escape Academy makes its PSP debut and features feature ad hoc wireless functionality and more than 40 mini-games that are diverse and range in difficulty. Both titles will be available on January 17, 2006.

Last week Myriad Interactive announced it had formed the DJ Group which included Digital Jesters, Monte Cristo and Turtle Games. Today Monte Cristo has reacted strongly to the suggestion that it has become a label of the DJ Group and benefited from investment from Myriad Interactive.

Pursuit Force is a fast-paced arcade-action game, that fuses driving and combat mechanics to create a unique gaming experience for PSP. Pursuit Force follows the misadventures of a rookie Police Officer tracking down five criminal gangs across an entire fictional state in America.

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.