Reminiscent of the Gears of War debacle, Germany's ESRB equivalent USK (Unterhaltungssoftware Selbskontrolle) has refused to give Microsoft's GTA-like Crackdown game an age rating (same goes for Eidos' Reservoir Dogs). This results in Real Time Worlds' open ended action to not be publicly sold or advertised, not sold to minors and can only happen in person, no online ordering. Germany's USK has strict rules on violence in games, especially in light of the recent fatal high school shooting.

Virtua Fighter 5 raises the bar for console fighting games including all the features fans know and love plus enhanced gameplay mechanics, additional characters and new fighting styles, as well as newly redesigned 3D environments.

Valve announced that it is overhauling its Steam digital delivery service next week, adding new features such as Guest Passes, Background Client Updating, and a completely updated user interface, and more.

Namco Bandai Games and KOEI are teaming up to create Gundam Musou, a fusing of Namco Bandai's Gundam mech franchise and KOIE's Dynasty Warriors grand strategy titles. Developed by Omega Force, Gundam Musou is currently only scheduled for Japan in spring 2007.

In a move to play a dominant role in the enormous growth of the online game industry, Showtime Networks and Broadband Libraries today announced the formation of a joint venture, On Broadband Networks, offering a GameTap-like service of downloadable games and content.

MotorStorm delivers brutal off-road racing, plunging players into a stunningly realistic - but frenzied and chaotic - environment awash with grit, mud and petrol, in a game that leaves the standard rules of racing in the dust. These new screens reveal night cycle and multiplayer mode with up to 15 players ...

IDG World Expo announced the official name of its newest event: Entertainment for All Expo (E for All Expo), scheduled for Oct. 18-20, 2007, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. A naming contest to replace the original GamePro Expo attracted 3000 submissions with the winning entry proposed by California resident Dante Padre.

In its 18 years of existence Stormfront Studios has developed over 40 titles, several based on motion pictures, most recently Lord of the Rings and Eragon adaptations. Similar to the movie, Eragon was a meager success but apparently that is not stopping Stormfront as it is currently working on yet another action-adventure game based on high profile license that will appear as a major motion picture in 2008. The yet unnamed/unannounced title is planned for Xbox 360 and Wii platforms.

Revealed a while ago, Vivendi officially announced the PSP's first flight combat/racing game, M.A.C.H. (Modified Air Combat Heroes). Gamers will become outlaw pilots as they compete in deadly aerial contests of skill, speed and weaponry in this sky-high race to own the air.

Rumors have been flying for quite a while that Microsoft might be working on an updated Xbox 360, and Engadget claims to have the first photo of the Zephyr project, a second X360. While there if no official announcement, or confirmation, the new version seems to sport an HDMI port for dedicated 1080p support. The article goes on to say that it will feature the previously revealed 65nm chip (quieter, cooler, smaller) and will come with a 120gig hd for all those HD movies. No specific prices, release date, or what the upgrade program might be for those first 9 million X360 owners.