Los Angeles - It cost the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) more than $5 million to move its mammoth E3 video game trade show from the Los Angeles Convention Center downtown to Santa Monica last year, which, when combined with the decreased profits from the downsized event, also led the ESA to substantially increase its membership dues, according to IRS documents obtained by Kotaku.

Los Angeles - LucasArts, the video game development arm of director George Lucas' Lucasfilm, has followed Activision and Vivendi in leaving the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the video game industry trade group that produces the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Next-Gen reported. However, unlike Activision and Vivendi, LucasArts will still participate in this year's E3.

Los Angeles - Video game publishers Activision (NASD: ATVI) and Vivendi Games have discontinued their memberships in the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) industry trade group, and will also not be attending this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) trade show, GameDaily reports.

Washington - The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a U.S. video game industry trade group, announced on Tuesday that it has scheduled the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit for July 15-17. Next year will figure as the second year of the significantly downsized version of E3, a change that came after game publishers saw costs associated with the previously massive event skyrocket.

Santa Monica, Calif. - Harmonix, the game developer unit of MTV Networks, announced this week that The Who's album "Who's Next" will be the first full-length album available as a digitally-distributed game level for its "Rock Band" interactive music game. The company also announced that it hired actor and producer Steven Van Zandt to head a music advisory board for the game, which will also feature tracks from The Ramones, Black Sabbath, Rush, Nirvana, Metallica and The Strokes. "Rock Band" is slated for release in the fall for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Santa Monica - Disney Interactive Studios this week previewed 10 forthcoming game titles, and announced details of its planned "DGamer" online community for the Nintendo DS at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. DGamer will allow Disney game players to create personal avatars, and chat and trade game items using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. The service will be included free in every Disney game for the DS from May 2008. The company also previewed titles including "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian"; "Turok"; "Spectrobes II"; "High School Musical: Sing It!"; "Hannah Montana: Spotlight World Tour"; "Power Rangers: Super Legends"; "Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey"; and "Enchanted."

Santa Monica, Calif. - Korean game developer NCsoft said this week that it has signed a deal with Sony Computer Entertainment, to create several online games for the PlayStation 3 and PSP that will be accessible through the PlayStation Network. While NCsoft -- whose titles include "City of Heroes" and "Guild Wars" -- did not provide many details, the games will include both existing NCsoft franchises and new intellectual property.

Santa Monica, Calif. - Video game publisher Ubisoft this week announced plans to publish a series of video games targeted at girls ages 6 to 14. The "Imagine" line for the Nintendo DS will comprise titles including "Fashion Designer," "Animal Doctor," "Babyz," "Master Chef" and "Figure Skater."

London - The president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has said that the company will no longer offer the newly-discounted 60GB PlayStation 3 in the U.S. once current stock runs out, which is expected by the end of July, GamesIndustry.biz reported.

Culver City, Calif. - Sony Computer Entertainment America said it plans to preview over 50 games for its platforms at the Electronic Entertainment Expo this week in Los Angeles, including 30 first-party titles. Games developed by Sony's stable of studios for the PlayStation 3 that will be on display include "The Eye of Judgment"; "Heavenly Sword"; "Infamous"; "Lair"; "LittleBigPlanet"; "Folklore"; "Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction"; "SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation"; "Uncharted: Drakes Fortune"; and "Warhawk." A full list of all of the new first- and third-party titles for all of Sony's platforms is available at a link below.

Tokyo - Sony Computer Entertainment on Thursday announced plans to release a slimmer, lighter version of its PSP handheld game system that also adds a video-out port.

Los Angeles - At E3 on Wednesday, Nintendo introduced three new controllers for its Wii game console, including a "balance board" peripheral that gamers will use with a new fitness title called "Wii Fit."

Los Angeles - Electronic Arts on Wednesday announced the roster of new games it will preview at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles this week. The company will showcase 2008 editions of popular sports franchises such as "Madden NFL," "NBA LIVE," "NASCAR" and "Tiger Woods PGA Tour." Also on display will be "The Simpsons," "Burnout: Paradise," "SimCity Societies," "The Orange Box," "Mercenaries 2: World in Flames," "Crysis" and "Hellgate: London." Forthcoming titles based on original intellectual property will include "Army of Two"; "Boogie"; "MySims"; "The Sims 2 Castaway"; "Medal of Honor Airborne"; "Need for Speed ProStreet"; "EA Playground"; "Skate"; "Rock Band" and an EA Casual trivia game for the Wii.

Chicago - Midway Games on Wednesday provided a list of the forthcoming titles it will show at the E3 event this week. In addition to "Unreal Tournament 3," which will be released exclusively for PC and the PlayStation 3, the company will preview "Hour of Victory"; "The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar"; "The Bee Game"; "TNA iMPACT!"; "The Wheelman"; "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends: Imagination Invaders"; "Game Party"; "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am"; "Cruis'n"; "Ultimate Mortal Kombat"; "BlackSite: Area 51"; and "Stranglehold."

Santa Monica, Calif. - Japanese developer Konami Digital Entertainment on Wednesday listed the nine upcoming titles it will have on display at this week's E3 conference in Los Angeles. Konami's line-up includes "Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles"; "Contra 4"; "Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party"; "Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA 2"; "Dewy's Adventure"; "Fishing Master"; "Hellboy: The Science of Evil"; "Konami Kids Playground"; and "Silent Hill: Origins."

Santa Monica, Calif. - Commodore Gaming said on Tuesday that it plans to launch a line of gaming PCs in the U.S. market in the third quarter of 2007. The owners of the classic gaming brand will offer four different models, ranging from one for entry-level gamers to a high-performance model for hardcore gamers. Specifications for the machines are available at a link below.

Santa Monica, Calif. - Activision said on Tuesday that guitarist Slash, formerly of Guns N' Roses, will both appear in and provide an original track for its "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock" title slated for release in the fall. The company plans to preview the game later this week at E3, along with titles including "Bee Movie Game," based on the upcoming DreamWorks film; "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare"; "Enemy Territory: Quake Wars"; "Spider-Man: Friend or Foe"; and "Tony Hawk's Proving Ground."

New York - Take-Two Interactive on Tuesday announced the roster of titles its 2K Games and 2K Sports labels will show at the E3 industry event this week. They include "BioShock," "Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution," "The Darkness," "All-Pro Football 2K8" and "NHL 2K8." 2K Sports said that it has signed Ottawa Senators center Jason Spezza to serve as the cover athlete and spokesman for the latter game.

New York - Atari announced on Tuesday the forthcoming titles it plans to show at the downsized Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles later this week. Atari will preview titles including "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3," "The Witcher," "Godzilla: Unleashed" and "Jenga."