San Diego - The global video game and interactive entertainment industry is expected to grow from about $33 billion in 2006 to as much as $47 billion in 2009, according to a forecast from market research firm DFC Intelligence.

Agoura Hills, Calif. - Video game publisher THQ on Monday shipped "Drawn to Life," the first Nintendo DS title that lets payers draw and play as their own hero, to retailers. Developed by Seattle-based 5TH Cell, the title invites gamers to use the DS stylus to draw both their hero and additional environmental elements to help them through the many game worlds.

Tokyo - Sony Computer Entertainment will release a slimmer version of its PSP handheld game system in Japan on Sept. 20, Reuters reported. The device will cost about $162. Sony hopes the new version will spur PSP sales, which have lagged behind those for rival Nintendo's DS handheld. In the year ended March 31, Nintendo sold 23.6 million DS units, compared with PSP shipments of 8.4 million.

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."

Redmond, Wash. - Nintendo of America on Monday shipped "Pokemon Battle Revolution" for the Wii console -- the first Pokemon title for the device -- as well as the first online Wii game in the Americas, and the first Wii game to wirelessly link to the Nintendo DS and let players use the handheld systems as Wii controllers. The game will utilize the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service to connect players for online play

Burbank, Calif. - Disney Interactive Studios on Monday announced a location-based feature for its "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" game for Nintendo DS, that will allow visitors to its theme parks who bring a DS loaded with the game to download new game content at hotspots hidden near the Pirates of the Caribbean attractions. The download unlocks new content such as unlimited health and "savvy," as well as additional costumes.

Agoura Hills, Calif. - Video game publisher THQ said on Wednesday that developer 5TH Cell is currently at work on "Drawn to Life," a title for the Nintendo DS handheld that will let players draw their own heroes using the device's stylus. Scheduled for release in the fall, the game will also allow players to draw various environmental elements, and allow players to trade their creations over a Wi-Fi connection.

Edison, N.J. - Video game publisher Majesco said on Wednesday that it has signed a deal with fellow publisher Eidos Interactive, which will distribute a number of new Majesco titles in the European market. The agreement focuses on Nintendo DS titles, including "Cake Mania" and "MechAssault: Phantom War," and includes several Wii titles. Eight games are due out this summer, with 15 others also in the pipeline.

Redmond, Wash. - Nintendo announced on Thursday that it plans to release two new titles in its Pokemon franchise, "Pokemon Diamond Version" and "Pokemon Pearl Version," on April 22 for the Nintendo DS. Nintendo said that it shipped a combined 5 million units of the two titles to retailers in Japan during their first three months of release, adding that over 155 million Pokemon games have been sold worldwide.