Independent design, development and production facility Sniper Studios has hit the floor running with an all star ensemble of industry talent and strategic global partnerships. The first deal the company is announcing is with SEGA of America on a yet to be announced title scheduled for 2007.

The rock gods have spoken, and are pleased to announce further details on the Xbox 360 version of Activision's Guitar Hero II, which will feature a variety of new exclusive downloadable content through Xbox Live Marketplace, along with over 70 finger-melting tracks.

Cinema Empire is Comport Interactive's latest commercial sim products. Start small, work your way up and end up as the owner of the country’s largest chain of movie theatres. This demo features a tutorial and one campaign mission.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. provides players with dynamic gameplay of fast and tough combats, where you are to oppose smart & dangerous enemies, a large set of diverse weaponry, possibility to control machinery, detailed and interactive game world, story-driven single player with original team gameplay, and multiplayer with numerous modes.

Penumbra: Overture is an innovative first person horror game utilizing physics for interaction and puzzles. The game is set in an underground facility on Greenland where the protagonist searches for information regarding his late father.

SCEA announced that it has been recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a Technology and Engineering Emmy Award for the PS3’s SIXAXIS wireless controller.

In Gods and Heroes you become a classic hero of the ancient world, born of immortal blood. As a scion of the gods, you will have the opportunity to pursue his destiny through a series of Epic Quests that will span all levels of gameplay, over time commanding amazing God Powers and acquiring famous weapons and treasure of myth.

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:

• Motorstorm [PS3] - Intro Movie
• Nanostray 2 [NDS] - Trailer
• Crysis - CES 2007 Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

NetDevil announced Warmonger - Operation: Downtown Destruction, an apocalyptic FPS, built around the AGEIA PhysX processor, enabling unique, piece-by-piece destruction system and is designed to deliver stunning fluid and cloth-based effects unlike anything seen before.

Ascaron has released a new patch for its latest iteration in the ANSTOSS soccer management franchise. This 5th patch requires v1.04 to be installed and fixes various bugs, and game crashes.

Using an enhanced ‘Tomb Raider: Legend’ game engine, the graphics, technology and physics bring Lara’s adventure and pursuit of a mystical artefact known only as the Scion right up to today’s technology standards and will offer gamers a completely new gameplay experience.

Zoo Tycoon developers Blue Fang Games announced that award winning game designer Steve Meretzky, known for creating The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, is joining its team as Senior Designer.

In the Boxing Manager the player follows in the footsteps of legendary boxing promoters, as he walks the long and winding road to the top of the business. Starting out with a small stable and two unknown talents, he will be able to train and manage up to 30 fighters later in the game.

Jewel Summoner has an exceptional story, an intuitive battle system, a sophisticated monster-breeding system, and most importantly, extraordinary graphics! Plus, you can enjoy the unique functions of the PSP by engaging in wireless battles or trading monsters with your friends!

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. provides players with dynamic gameplay of fast and tough combats, where you are to oppose smart & dangerous enemies, a large set of diverse weaponry, possibility to control machinery, detailed and interactive game world, story-driven single player with original team gameplay, and multiplayer with numerous modes.

Hinted at by Epic a few weeks back, it is now official. Microsoft will be releasing two new Gears of War multiplayer maps, sponsored by the Discovery Channel's new show Future Weapons, which will be available for download via Xbox Live Marketplace Wednesday, Jan. 10.

While the CES in Las Vegas is mainly a technology and peripheral convention, it decided to cash in on the E3 demise and add a gaming section, so did SCEA's senior vice president Peter Dille's keynote speech, revealing that the electronics giant has now shipped, not sold, more than one million PS3 units. SCEA's VP put the bar even higher for early next year claiming that it would ship 6 million PS3s once the new console launches in additional markets such as Europe, Australia, Africa, Russia and the Middle-East.

gEasy is not only working on Soldner 2, but it is still supporting the original Soldner: Secret Wars (and its Marine Corps expansion). This v33675 patch adds a new game mode (frontline), optimizes old maps while adding 4 new ones, as well as several balance vehicle & weapons tweaks.

FIFA Manager 07 is getting an expansion to its already extensive 2,000 clubs and over 20,000 players. The Extra Time expansion adds new stadiums from all over Europe, new features such as ability to sell advertisement, start as coach, half time screens with commentary and plenty more..

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:

• Crysis - Gameplay Trailer
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl - Creating The Zone Trailer
• SSX Blur [Wii] - Trailer #2
• Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors [Wii] - Trailer
• The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar - Trailer
• Culpa Innata - Trailer
• NCAA March Madness 07 [PS2/X360] - Trailer #4
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

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.

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.

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.