Premier of Québec Jean Charest, along with Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade Raymond Bachand and Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity Michelle Courchesne, is pleased with Ubisoft's decision to establish a major digital design studio and expand its video game studio in Montréal.

Combining hypnotic music with brain teasing challenges that everyone can enjoy, Honeycomb Beat features intuitive touch screen puzzle action across three modes of play that lets gamers try to clear hexagonal Honeycombs from the game board.

Valve has released an status update on the TF2 development and revealed "that things are really moving along in development. In fact, things have reached a point where people start getting pretty antsy around the office as we get closer and closer to the 6:00 p.m. playtest session. We will be sharing more information about TF2 over the next couple of months, and we'll make sure to point that out to people here."

Columbia Pictures is in negotiations to acquire the rights to adapt the best-selling video game "Metal Gear Solid." The studio plans to turn the PlayStation game series from Konami into a character-driven futuristic spy thriller. The game centers on Solid Snake, a Special Forces operative called out of retirement for one last mission. With terrorists threatening a nuclear facility in Alaska, Snake must penetrate their defenses and neutralize the threat.

Earlier this week Rockstar announced Manhunt 2, sequel to its controversial, and brutal action game where you play James Earl Cash, a convicted killer on death row, set free and hunted down as a sport for the masses to enjoy. Rockstar was taken to court in 2004 over a murder case in the UK, claiming the game influenced the killer, but eventually absolved by the court. Now the victim's parents are outraged over the decision to make a sequel, calling it "an insult" to their son's memory, and others are "astonished" by the announcement.

MLB 2K7 returns for the latest season, offering improved player models and animations, as well as new gameplay features and of course updated rosters. MLB 2K7 Producer Ben Brinkman revealed demos for the PS3 and X360 versions are forthcoming, although whether these will be downloadable or covermounted was not specified.

Runaway: the Dream of the Turtle is an adventure game with 3D characters with a cartoon look and high-impact visual features that include 2D and 3D in an unmatchable style. This demo introduces the 4th chapter of the game, puzzles have been reworked, the solution of the main enigma is completely different, and new dialogs have been recorded especially for this demo.

The current Last Vegas D.I.C.E. summit is not only about speeches and announcements, but also awards. Last night's Annual Interactive Achievement Awards was, once again, an overwhelming success for Microsoft and Epic as Gears of War won no less than eight awards, with "Game of the Year" being one of them.

Remember the, by now, infamous PS3 tech demo Sony showed during its pre-E3 2005 briefing with all the ducks in the bath tub? Well, according to this Gamespy interview with Sony Worldwide Studios president Phil Harrison, the demo has turned into a mini-game Super Rub-O-Dub, soon to be available from the PS3's Playstation Store, uniquely playable using the Sixaxis wireless controller, navigating your rubber duck through some sort of obstacle course.

More interesting news coming from the DICE summit currently being held in Las Vegas. While not providing any detailed information, Gamespot managed to get a hold of Sony Pictures Entertainment Vice Chairman Yair Landau, who revealed that SPE is currently working on a Metal Gear Solid action picture, a rumor started by Studio Kojima during last year's E3. Landau also mentioned that they are working with one of his favorite producers on an idea for an EverQuest movie, but declined to give a name.

The commissioner is looking into an underground operation at the Ted E. Bear Mafia-Free Playland and Casino, but the mole he sent in has suddenly gone quiet. To find the mole, Sam & Max must infiltrate the operation and become members of the Toy Mafia themselves. Give the demo a try..

Theatre of War depicts stunningly authentic battles of World War II between 1939-1945. Command hundreds of different unit types in 5 historically accurate campaigns (US, UK, Soviet, German, French and Polish). After months of additional work and development, Theatre of War is nearly ready for the international release.

S2 Games today announced a Create-a-Map contest, which will see contestants designing a map concept for its upcoming MMO Savage 2: A Tortured Soul. The winner will have his map included in the final version and receive a Nintendo Wii, as well as a production credit in the game.

SEGA is releasing the second Bleach episode in Japan mid February, adding new characters to its 2D Fighting game, bringing the total to 40, as well as online multiplayer capabilities for up to 4 players. Bleach DS 2nd also features a scenario by manga guru Tite Kubo.

Only operational for about three years, EA confirmed today that it will be closing down its Japanese development studio as part of a consolidation, and instead will focus on working with external Japanese developers. The studio's three titles still under development, Theme Park DS, Sim City DS, and Dragon Zakura DS (based on a Japanese TV & Manga series), will continue until completion, after which it will close its doors.

Sony has released a new v3.11 PSP firmware update, and while details are still sketchy, it adds a Game Reset feature fixing compatibility issues for certain PlayStation Network titles (such as R-Type). Of course this update currently only applies to North America and Asia, as the PS3 is not out yet in Europe.

After previously being delayed until Q1 2007, Paradox Interactive announced it has cancelled Deep Red's strategy and simulation game. Heart of Empire: Rome lets you build & control ancient Rome in glorious real-time 3D. No details as to whether this means the development is halted or just Paradox dropping the title. Deep Silver confirmed to us, they also are no longer publishing HoE: Rome.

During last night's DICE 2007 keynote speech, Sony Digital Pictures President Yair Landau revealed a yet-unannounced Sony Online title, codenamed Vista, which is a snub at Microsoft, since the game was recently delayed. Taking elements from various movies such as James Bond and Bourne Identity, Vista is spy/action game featuring cooperative, team-oriented objectives and PVP, showing lots of Bond-esque gadgetry, including a tricked-out BMW-like car, where agents were battling it out with a slew of street thugs. No further details were given, but now that the cat is out of the bag, more info should follow shortly.

Naughty Dog's Environment Lead artist Rob Adams, confirmed recent rumors that Naughty Dogs' upcoming PS3 title is indeed called Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.

Crytek will be demonstrating the capabilities of their new CryENGINE2 game middleware, powering EA's Crysis, to the public as well as potential future licencees at GDC 2007. Professional developers and modders will be able to get a first hand look at the tools and editors used by Crytek’s own specialists to create their highly anticipated PC game.

Rockstar Games today announced that Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories for the PlayStation 2 will be available in North America on March 6, 2007, and in Europe on March 9, 2007. It will give PS2 owners a big-screen experience of the same storyline and missions as the PSP version, which was released in October 2006.

Pendulo Studios is working on a follow-up to last year's hit title Runaway: A Road Adventure, an adventure game with 3D characters with a cartoon look and high-impact visual features that include 2D and 3D in an unmatchable style. Check back Friday morning if you want to sample CDV's upcoming adventure Runaway 2: the Dream of the Turtle, allowing you to check out the Alaska level.

NCsoft reported earning results for 2006, revealing that sales came to $361 million, with an operating profit of $46.1 million. Compared to the previous year, sales maintained a similar level while operating income and pre-tax profit decreased 44% and 41%, respectively. The company saw its net profit drop 43% year to year, mainly due to investment.

Dreamlords combines the accessibility of a web game with RPG character development, RTS battles and long term tactical strategy in a never before seen gaming experience.

Majesco announced that the world's most recognizable teen sleuth unravels an interactive mystery in Nancy Drew and The Deadly Secret of Olde World Park, letting fans become the teen detective in a Touch Screen based adventure.