The winners for the PAX 10 Independent Games have been announced by The Penny Arcade Expo organizers, and these 10 winners just might see their games picked up by publishers. The PAX 10 is known for supporting the indie development game scene by giving them publicity to generate that interest from the bigwigs. See who's strutting their wares on this year's showroom after the jump.

LucasArts has released more details for the upcoming Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Republic Heroes game which is currently being developed by Krome Studios for PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, and Xbox 360. LucasArts Singapore is taking care of the DS version. More after the jump.

While other publishers are sacking people left and right, Koei is apparently in good spirits and is in gear to move forward. Edge reports that Koei is gonna double the manpower in their Singapore studio to strengthen the Koei titles. More Dynasty titles perhaps?

Microsoft plans on lowering the price of its Xbox 360 in its Asian markets to revitalize sales - a move similar to when it cut the prices in Europe. For more information on these price cuts and the specific regions to be affected, head on over to the full article by clicking on the "read more" link below.

The organizers of the Games Convention Asia (GCA) and Games Convention Asia Conference (GCAC) must be very happy about the success of last year's events. This year's show has already been dated so  those who plan on attending might want to start clearing their schedules. For the venue and dates, head on over to the full article.

The Singapore Media Development Authority (MDA) has lifted the ban it had earlier slapped on BioWare's controversial action role-playing game, Mass Effect, and has allowed the game to be released in Singapore under an M18 rating. The MDA officials had previously banned Mass Effect because of what they deemed to be an offensive scene in the game...

Find out the details of that scene after the jump!

It looks like it's official - the strict city-state of Singapore has added yet another ban to its list of prohibited games to reach the country. BioWare's Mass Effect, a Mature rated game based on the ESRB for the Xbox 360 won't be getting a release in Singapore due to its offensive content according to a representative from the local Board of Film Censors.

Read about the full article right after the jump!

If what we're hearing is correct, the Lion City may not have such a roaring reception readied for the upcoming release of Mass Effect for the Xbox 360. Rumor has it that Singapore has decided to ban the game from being distributed in their locale, following the showing of a love scene that's expected to take place during the RPG's gameplay. More details on this matter are readable in the full article.

Rumors often reflect the demand of the market so it's not surprising that this one has resurfaced: Microsoft, according to unnamed insiders, plans to release a new Xbox 360 model with an internal HD DVD drive. An intriguing notion but still only rumor for now so don't get your hopes up just yet.

According to Smarthouse's source, an unnamed senior Toshiba executive in Singapore says that:

An Xbox with a built in HD DVD drive is critical. They and we are working on it. It also has to be more than a gaming machine. Microsoft recognizes this. A version of the device may also be sold under the Toshiba brand name.

The idea seems to be given strength by a comment from Scott Browning, Marketing Director of JB HiFi, Australia's second largest consumer electronics retailer:

The device is ... essential for the HD DVD camp. We are told that one is coming. The PS3 has been extremely successful for Sony in getting Blu-ray off the ground and for Microsoft, the omission of a built in HD DVD player is set to hurt sales going forward as consumers are aware that the PS3 comes with a Blu-ray player.

It doesn't stop with just the internal HD DVD drive: Smarthouse also says that Microsoft may also include an HD TV tuner, EPG capability and a docking port for an MP3 player. Smarthouse suggests that Microsoft is vying to compete with the PlayStation 3's strengths as a media hub (and, consequently, the Blu-ray format).

The new Xbox 360, if it is indeed in the works, is expected to appear in the market by late 2008 or at the 2009 CES show in Las Vegas. We can expect more news (or more rumors) to surface in the following months. Microsoft recently announced that there's no new HD DVD drive in the works, but they never mentioned anything about an internal one so it's not out of the question.

The Games Convention Asia Conference is currently underway and has attracted respected delegates from over 20 countries. Industry bigwigs from North America, Asia and Europe were all at hand to share their thoughts on the state of the business.

 

The inaugural GCAC started on September 6 and wraps up on Sunday with an opener courtesy of  Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Second Minister for Information, Communication, and the Arts.

Managing Director for the Conference & Exhibition Management Services  Edward Liu and Leipzig Trade Fair President Wolfgang Marzin were also in attendance to welcome everyone. The two are the main organizers of the Games Convention events.

Marzin commended the host nation at the opening ceremonies and said, "Singapore is the gateway to the booming Asian-Pacific market, and opens up exciting new opportunities for the global games industry." Bob Wallace of Strategic Alternatives agrees:

The games business is a fast-growing entertainment market with participants from all nations. Asia, however, is the fastest growing part of this market, and many new world-class games companies are expected to emerge from Asia. GCA promises to be the first truly pan-Asian games conference showcasing game products and companies, and it is not to be missed by those who look toward the future.

The GCAC is happening alongside the GC Asia exhibit, which shows off the latest in the gaming industry, encompassing all platforms from consoles, PCs, handhelds and mobile phones.

The GCAC is expected to go off with a bang when Electronic Arts Worldwide executive of Music and Marketing Steve Schnur takes on the podium and offers his thoughts. Schnur says he is proud to be a part of GCAC and is excited about his turn to speak.