The BBFC today published the results of a research project involving video games players ranging from children as young as seven through to players in their early 40s; parents of young games players; games industry representatives; and games reviewers.

Former Electronic Arts Canada, industry veterans announced today the formation of Jet Black Games, a video game development company that will focus on developing original and licensed intellectual properties for the Nintendo DS and Wii.

Video game industry veterans Ellen Fuog and Jeff Hill have created publishing venture Detn8 Games Ltd., which will focus on games for console and handheld hardware. The company has acquired all-platform licensee status with Nintendo and SCEA and is scheduled to publish its first release in June, 2007.

Electronic Arts plans to make an equity investment in Korea-based online gaming company, Neowiz Corporation, and expand the existing co-development and publishing relationship with that company.

3G Studios announced that former Chief Creative Officer of Vivendi Games has joined 3G as the Company's Tahoe Studio President. Drew Markham is known for forming Gray Matter Studios as well as involvement in titles such as Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Redneck Rampage, and Kingpin.

Video Games Live is a concert event featuring music from the biggest video games of all time accompanied by a full orchestra and choir along with completely synchronized state-of-the-art lighting and massive video screens. Nintendo composer Koji Kondo will be making a special appearance at the event and is scheduled to perform one of his favorite melodies from his long and storied career.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion lead designer Ken Rolston, who also worked on Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, has joined Big Huge Games to create a to-be-announced role-playing game.

Vivendi Games today announced the acquisition of Wanako Games, based in Santiago, Chile, who recently developed Assault Heroes for Sierra Online.

Virgin Games and Game Domain International announce the completion of the world’s first tests on A World of My Own, a 3D Virtual PC games world platform, paving the way for a lucrative new market in the $25 billion games industry.

Disney announced that henceforth Buena Vista Games will be known as Disney Interactive Studios reflecting a change in creativity, the weight of Disney content in their portfolio, and the enormous value consumers see in the Disney brand. DIS will publish both Disney and non-Disney branded video games for all platforms worldwide under the company's consumer brands including Disney, ABC and Touchstone.

PopCap Games announced that it has hired former Xbox Live Arcade GM Greg Canessa as its new Vice President, video game platforms. Mr. Canessa will be extending PopCap's puzzle, word and simple action games on new and existing video game platforms, including consoles, handhelds, and related online gaming services.

Conspiracy Entertainment, already making titles for GBA, NDS and NGC, announced today that it intends to develop games for Nintendo's Wii gaming platform.

Microsoft announced record revenue of $12.54 billion for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2006, a 6% increase compared to last year, driven by Zune, X360 and its server applications. Despite increase in sales (from $1.69 billion to $2.96 billion) for the Entertainment and Devices Division, the Xbox has yet to make a profit as it currently has an operating loss of $289 million, slightly higher than last year ($286 million). With 10.4 million consoles sold Microsoft Games Division expects to turn a profit fiscal 2008 (second half of 2007).

Last year Take Two announced closure of its Vienna studio, responsible for creating titles such as Max Payne 1/2 for consoles, GTA 3, Vice city etc. Since then it has been real quiet but now a new studio has emerged from the ashes as Hannes Seifert, Niki Laber, and Jürgen Goeldner team up once again with Games That Matter. No current projects are revealed, except for "a visionary game production business model."

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.

Not sure why there was money spent on this as it seems quite obvious, but a Mayo Clinic study, the first to scientifically measure the energy spent playing video games, indicated that activity-oriented video games triples the energy expenditure compared to watching TV or playing traditional video games.

Los Angeles based independent game developer Riot Games, Inc. announced the completion of its first round of independent equity funding, totaling $1.5 million. Riot Games is comprised of former employees of EA, Sony, Microsoft, Sega, Atari, Konami, Activision, Midway, and are working on a new action RPG/RTS hybrid title.

The World Series of Video Games announced it has signed deals with major broadcast, cable and satellite networks CBS, CSTV and VOOM HD Networks’ GAMEPLAY HD to air extensive coverage of its 2006 season, bringing professional video game competitions to major U.S. network television for the first time.

iBase Games closed its doors, and laid off all its game development workers (including Leisure Suit Larry creator Al Lowe) while its parent company, iBase Entertainment seeks additional financing. As a result iBase Games' action comedy Sam Suede: Undercover Exposure, has been put on hold indefinitly. iBase Entertainment hopes to revive the project at a later time ...

Gamers can now download real video games for free and play them in a secure, online, multiplayer environment, and they can win cash while they’re doing it. An initiative of Groove Games, SkillGround is the world’s first platform where people of all skill levels can play real video games head-to-head for cash prizes or just for fun.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Namco Bandai President Takeo Takasu reveals that developing for the PS3 comes at a hefty price. In order to turn a profit, Takeo estimates a game needs to sell 500,000 copies worldwide, as graphics for the HD games cost about 1 billion yen ($8.6 million) to create, more than double that for Wii titles. Numbers that are quite staggering considering that Ridge Racer 7 and Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire each sold a mere 22,000 copies in Japan.

Mad Catz announced today that its Arcade GameStick for Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox 360 and PC will ship to major US retailers for availability this holiday season. Through collaboration with Konami and PopCap Games, Mad Catz has introduced a joystick controller bundled with three full Xbox Live Arcade games: Frogger, Time Pilot and Astropop.

Vivendi Games' revenues were up 15% compared to last year, primarily driven by the continued success of World of Warcraft, and the solid launch revenues in North America from Scarface, based on the classic Universal Studios film. For the first 9 months of the year revenue was up 20%, partly by continuous strong sales of 50 Cent and Ice Age 2.

Buena Vista Games announced the formation of a new video game development studio. Based in Salt Lake City, Fall Line Studio’s focus is to develop games based on Disney’s characters, television shows and entertainment franchises as well as creating new intellectual property for the NDS and Wii.

The World Cyber Games 2006 Grand Final in Monza, Italy, kicks off in just six days. The WCG 2006 is planned to be the largest-scale event yet with 700 gamers from 70 countries participating, including six new countries such as Ireland and Saudi Arabia, which will send representatives to the WCG Grand Final for the first time.