New York - CBS (NYSE: CBS) is partnering with mobile social networking service Loopt on a test of location-based mobile advertising, The New York Times reported on Wednesday. Loopt currently has partnerships only with Sprint Nextel and Boost Mobile, and its service works only with phones that have GPS capabilities. The opt-in, location-based ads will appear on the sites for CBS Mobile News and CBS Mobile Sports, which counted a combined 5 million unique visitors in the fourth quarter of 2007, CBS told The Times. CBS Mobile has not yet lined up any advertisers for the test, but expects it will attract national sponsors at first, rather than local advertisers.

Los Angeles - Take-Two Interactive's (NASD: TTWO) "BioShock" for Xbox 360 has been named the 2007 Game of the Year by a group of several dozen video game journalists who put out the annual Game Critics Awards. "BioShock truly shocked, amazed, and pushed all sorts of boundaries for gaming. And while we felt it was 2007's best title, we're betting its influence will extend well beyond 2007," said Electronic Gaming Monthly editor in chief Dan Hsu. In second place, was Valve and Electronic Arts' "The Orange Box," a compilation that includes "Half-Life 2" and several expansions, while third place went to Activision's "Call of Duty 4," which was also the top-selling game of 2007. A full list of Game Critics Awards winners is available at a link below.

Los Angeles - Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) announced on Wednesday that the first game developed in collaboration with director and producer Steven Spielberg, "Boom Blox," is now slated for release in May for the Nintendo Wii. The casual-style game features over 300 levels, and allows players to remix levels and post their creations for others to play via WiiConnect24. EA said a version of the game is also in production for mobile phones, and will be available in the spring.

Los Angeles - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) has signed deals with Viacom's (NYSE: VIA) MTV Networks and major label Sony BMG (NYSE: SNE), to offer clips of TV shows and music videos on its free MSN Video service in Europe, Variety reports. The deal will bring clips of shows such as "South Park" and "Pimp My Ride," as well as music videos, to MSN Video sites in nine countries, including the U.K.

Providence, R.I. - Ando Media, a provider of Internet radio audience measurement services, announced on Wednesday that Clear Channel Radio's (NYSE: CCU) online unit will use its Webcast Metrics service for all of its streaming radio sites. Clear Channel stations will be able to measure in real-time their online audiences to plan promotions and advertising campaigns run in their online streams; Ando will also provide real-time listener statistics for Clear Channel's social networking sites.

New York - KickApps, a provider of on-demand social media technology, said on Wednesday that it will power the online community functions for "Upstaged," a new multi-platform reality TV show from Endemol that will air on the BBC in the U.K. The show will see amateurs submit audition videos of their particular talent, with the best then chosen to face off head-to-head with the goal of entertaining a live audience. Viewers will then vote on these competitions and eventually choose an overall champion.

Los Angeles - Habbo, a virtual world for teens that counts 8 million monthly users, announced on Wednesday that it has signed with the William Morris Agency, to facilitate potential cross-marketing and promotional partnerships in the film, sports, television and music industries. "As the Habbo community continues to increase, their audience will demand a mainstream in-game entertainment presence," said WMA chairman and CEO Jim A. Wiatt. "William Morris' Digital Group will be a key partner helping Habbo develop ideal business and marketing opportunities with the leaders of the entertainment industry."

San Antonio, Texas - MyToons.com, an online community where animators can post and share original animated videos, cartoons and other content, on Wednesday announced that it has partnered with YouTube to create a MyToons-branded YouTube channel.

Baltimore - Millennial Media, a developer of mobile advertising services, said that it has signed MLB Advanced Media, the interactive media and Internet arm of Major League Baseball, to its network. The company said through the deal, marketers will be able to more easily reach and engage baseball fans who visit MLB.com's mobile website.

New York - The Wall Street Journal Digital Network (NYSE: NWS) on Wednesday said it partnered with mobile applications firm Action Engine to offer a free, downloadable application for Windows Mobile phones that provides mobile access to WSJ.com, MarketWatch.com and Barrons.com. Microsoft's Windows Mobile is also the launch advertiser for the new service.

New York - Mobile virtual network operator Helio said on Wednesday that it has partnered with Buzzd, a local entertainment service that provides information on bars, clubs and restaurants, to offer location-based suggestions to Helio subscribers. The Buzzd service offers editorially-driven content in addition to reviews and ratings from Buzzd users.

Mountain View, Calif. - The Multiverse Network, a developer of 3D virtual worlds, on Wednesday announced the launch of Virtual Times Square, a true-to-life digital recreation of everything from 7th & Broadway to West 45th. The demo virtual world is viewable after users download the company's free Multiverse World Browser application.

Amsterdam - Nearly 90% of respondents in a recent survey of casual gamers on RealNetworks' (NASD: RNWK) RealGames service said they will watch in-game streaming video ads in return for free game play.

New York - Major record label Warner Music Group (NYSE: WMG) has posted a loss for its fiscal first quarter, ended Dec. 31, but saw revenue from digital music sales climb 41.9% from a year ago to $132 million, and said digital now accounts for 14% of total revenue.

Last Thursday, I spent the day at my first event of 2008 called the Social Networking Conference (SNC) in Miami to present a session called "Secrets of Creating Talkability." The event kicks of a string of speaking appearances I will be making over the next few months as I start to get ready for my book launch in March.

Los Angeles - Time Warner's (NYSE: TWX) HBO is offering free streams of the first fifteen episodes of its new series "In Treatment" on its website, in an attempt to help generate a following for the show -- the first HBO series that airs five nights a week, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Tokyo - Google (NASD: GOOG) is in talks with Chinese digital music distributor Top100.cn to launch a free music download service in China, and major label Universal Music Group has confirmed its involvement in the negotiations, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. Fellow major labels Sony BMG (NYSE: SNE), EMI and Warner Music (NYSE: WMG) are also considering joining the venture, people familiar with the matter told The Journal.

San Francisco - Video-sharing site Revver, which has raised a total of $12.7 million in financing to date, is now reportedly seek a sale of the company with an asking price of just $300,000 to $500,000, plus assumption of about $1 million in debt, CNET News.com reported, citing two sources with knowledge of the negotiations. Former employees told CNET the company's staff has been more than halved over the last 18 months.