Bioshock 2, the epic sequel from 2K Games, is coming to Steam and is now available for pre-purchase. Those who pre-purchase the game via Steam will save 10% off the regular price and receive a free copy of Bioshock. If you already own Bioshock, you may send the extra copy to a friend using Steam's Gifting functionality. And to help folks prepare for Bioshock 2's multiplayer action a Bioshock 2 Four Pack is also available for pre-purchase– offering 10% off the regular price plus four free copies of the original game. For more information, please visit www.steamgames.com

Applications are now being accepted for the 2010 G.I.R.L. Scholarship to helpeducate and recruit more women into the field of video game production anddesign. Sponsored by Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader inonline gaming, and administered by Scholarship America, a leadingnon-profit educational support program, applications are available a thttps://www.scholarshipamerica.org/gamersinreallife and more details, including official rules for entry are also available online at http://www.station.sony.com/girl/. "The past two G.I.R.L. Scholarship recipients were sucha valued addition to our team that we are thrilled to offer this program for thethird consecutive year," said Laura Naviaux, Vice President of Global Sales andMarketing, Sony … Continue reading Sony Opens G.I.R.L. Scholarship Program →

SouthPeak Games and TimeGate Studios are proud to announce the release of the first Downloadable Content for Section 8 on both the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games for Windows-LIVE Marketplace. The "Seek and Destroy Map Pack" expands upon the game with three new maps for Multiplayer and Instant Action modes as well as adding 10 brand new achievements. Players will be able to fight for control of a geothermal energy plant on the salt flats of New Madrid in "Devil's Backbone" and battle in the narrow confines of a hazardous valley on the planet … Continue reading Section 8 DLC Ready →

Deep Silver, the games label of Koch Media, a worldwide producer and distributor of digital entertainment products, announced today that RISEN will be published for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in North America this February. RISEN features an epic story with over 60 hours of exploration and adventuring. RISEN is a massive, open-world RPG where every decision counts and every action continuously shapes a player's reputation. In a medieval setting, the game begins with the player shipwrecked on an island in turmoil, rocked by mysterious ruins rising from the ground. Players will battle dangerous creatures … Continue reading Risen Coming To Xbox 360 →

Freeverse announced today that it has partnered with AppRelief.com to aid Haiti quake victims. App Relief is a group of App developers donating their app sale proceeds to the Haitian Earthquake relief effort through the Red Cross. From now until Wednesday, Freeverse will donate 100% of its share of profits from the popular iPhone and iPod Touch game Skee-Ball, which has sold over a million units since its October release. "We are eager to participate in this relief effort and excited to see some great developers from the community banding together to help in any way possible. I hope together … Continue reading Freeverse Helping Haiti →

Outspark, the premier North American publisher for free-to-play massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, is giving players a chance to help the victims of the devastating Haiti earthquake. Through the end of January, Outspark will donate 100% of its proceeds from the sales of its in-game "Help Haiti" bundles to Yele Haiti, a relief organization founded by Haitian-born musician Wyclef Jean, whose mission is to provide humanitarian aid and assistance to Haiti. The "Help Haiti" bundles are available for purchase in four of Outspark's online games: Fiesta, Secret of the Solstice, Wind Slayer and Project Powder. "Help Haiti" in-game bundles are … Continue reading Outspark Gamers Helping Haiti →

The 2010 Game Developers Choice Awards, the highest honors in video game development, is beginning the announcement of its Special Awards for the tenth annual ceremony, taking place at GDC 2010 this March, and has named Valve co-founder Gabe Newell as the winner of this year's Pioneer Award. The Pioneer Award — originated by the Game Developers Choice Awards organizers at the 2008 Awards, and the first award to honor breakthrough figures in the game industry — celebrates those individuals responsible for developing a vital technology or game design at a crucial juncture in video game history, paving the way … Continue reading Valve's Gabe Newell To Receive GDC Award →

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced that Mark Cerny will be the 13th inductee into the Academy's Hall of Fame, which is bestowed upon individuals who've contributed a significant advancement within the industry while demonstrating proven success and leadership. "Mark Cerny is the closest we have come to a modern-day Da Vinci," said Joseph Olin, president of the AIAS. "What he does isn't restricted to a single aspect of game creation, he really is a Renaissance man. He is a diversely accomplished game designer, producer, programmer and technologist, fluent in Japanese and one of the foremost … Continue reading Mark Cerny Inducted Into AIAS Hall Of Fame →

GCREST, an online publisher of several games including casual game @games with over one million players in Asia, today announced the opening of its first office in San Francisco, CA. In addition to its Tokyo-based headquarters, the American office will answer specific demands of US communities and expand its presence in the North American market. "We are thrilled and really excited to open our first office in San Francisco. Despite the economic downturn we have experienced a strong demand of users to expand our presence in America" said Masaru Ohnogi, VP of global operations. The strategic location in the "South … Continue reading Gcrest Expands To North America →

Crisp Thinking has launched NetModerator for U13 (children under 13), an advanced version of its popular child protection offering that introduces adaptive white list technology. The new product enables family-oriented communities with chat features — games, virtual worlds and websites — to be COPPA compliant without onerous parental authorization. NetModerator for U13 goes far beyond a "hard" list of predefined words allowed in chat. The new adaptive white list technology starts with an initial list of approved words and then continually calculates hundreds of thousands of likely variants. Until now, online properties had two equally problematic ways to meet COPPA … Continue reading Crisp Thinking Launches NetModerator For Protecting Kids Online →