Sydney, Australia-based Digital animation studio Plastic Wax, who specialize in videogame production, are implementing global expansion plans that include extensive talent acquisition, investments in new technology and the opening of an office in San Francisco focused on business development.

Following detailed discussions with various interested parties over the last five months, Take-Two Software's board of directors has determined that it is in the best interests of stockholders to conclude its review of strategic alternatives and to continue operating and building Take-Two as an independent company.

Co-Founder/EP Saffron Case and Co-Founder/Director Mikon van Gastel of New York-based production house A Very Small Office (AVSO) have opened design and animation company Offspring. Case and van Gastel, who have spent many years with both the Los Angeles and New York offices of Imaginary Forces are taking their vision and years of design-based production experience into a new realm.

Cartoon Network will feature exclusive content during commercial breaks from the premiere of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, the first weekly television series from Lucasfilm Animation. Walden Media and EA will both utilize the high profile night of programming to promote their upcoming properties through two custom promotions.

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS premieres on Cartoon Network Friday, October 3 at 9 p.m. (ET, PT) with a limited commercial, one-hour presentation that anchors the network’s all-new night of fantasy, action and adventure.

RESIDENT EVIL DEGENERATION will be released on N-Gage later this year from Capcom and Nokia. With gameplay optimized for N-Gage, including two separate play modes, plus multiple mission types and 3D quality graphics, RESIDENT EVIL DEGENERATION illustrates the unique capabilities of the N-Gage platform.

Six months later, Electronic Arts has ended its drive to buy Take-Two Interactive, per VARIETY. EA had been in private talks with Take-Two, but declined to make a new offer. It previously had made a $2 billion offer, which was repeatedly turned down by Take-Two execs and later their shareholders.

When asked Sunday why a deal wasn't reached, Take-Two exec chairman Strauss Zelnick said, "They made their tender offer numerous times while we have continued to beat our guidance and put out hit games, so you can draw your own conclusions."

New filmmaking studio Framelight Productions is looking to add to the volume of comic book and graphic novel film adaptations, per THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

Launched by producer Jeffrey Erb and entrepreneur Robert Robinson Jr., they have options on properties including Marvel Comics' DR. DETH WITH KIP AND MUFFY from G.I. JOE author Larry Hama. Framelight has plans to make six to eight films in the next five years, all within the $20 to $80 million range.

Sales of videogame software and hardware in the U.S. rose 9 percent in August to $994.8 million, according to data from market researcher NPD Group, per the ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Sales of the portable Nintendo DS topped 514,000 in August, bringing the total sold in the U.S. to almost 22 million. Nintendo Wii was the second-highest seller with 448,000 sold, for a lifetime total of almost 22 million. Microsoft's Xbox 360 came in third with 192,000 units sold and Sony's PlayStation 3 coming in fourth with 185,400 units.

Paramount Pictures has signed Gore Verbinski to direct his first animated feature film, RANGO, starring Johnny Depp, who will voice the title character, a pet who goes on a self-discovery adventure. Release is set for March 2011.

The screenplay was written by Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Logan (GLADIATOR, THE AVIATOR, SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET). RANGO will be produced by Verbinski's Blind Wink Productions, Graham King and John Carls (OPEN SEASON). The animation for RANGO will be provided by the San Francisco-based Industrial Light and Magic.

Warner Bros. Interactive Ent. announced the new name -- F.E.A.R. 2: PROJECT ORIGIN for the sequel to the hit videogame F.E.A.R. The game is being developed for Xbox 360, Windows PC and PlayStation 3 by Monolith Productions and will be published by Warner Bros. Interactive on February 10, 2009 in North America and February 13, 2009 in Europe.

Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. Interactive Ent. have confirmed that the HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE videogame will be released globally summer 2009, alongside the Warner Bros. Pictures' film based on J. K. Rowling's sixth Harry Potter book.

Robert Nashak, VP EA Casual Studios said, "We are creating an immersive game experience that Potter fans around the world will really enjoy playing as they fly and duel their way through the story of the film. The game will feature new Wii gestures and increased gameplay capabilities across all of the platforms."

Take-Two Interactive Software reported a stellar third fiscal quarter Thursday, more than double their net revenue from the same period last year.

Net revenue for the third fiscal quarter (ended July 31) was $433.8 million, compared to $206.4 million for the same quarter of fiscal 2007. Third quarter sales were led by the blockbuster GRAND THEFT AUTO IV, as well as TOP SPIN 3 and SID MEIER’S CIVILIZATION REVOLUTION.

LucasArts, Sony Computer Ent. America and Best Buy will commemorate the release of the upcoming videogame STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED with an exclusive launch party, offering eager gamers a chance to celebrate the saga and get their hands on the first copies of the game.

The party, which will be held at the Best Buy store at 1717 Harrison St. in San Francisco on Monday, September 15, will run from 7 p.m. until Midnight and will feature appearances by special guests, including:

Eagle One Media has teamed with CAPCOM to produce a line of animated comic DVDs based on the iconic videogame property STREET FIGHTER. The DVD series utilizes the acclaimed STREET FIGHTER comics published by Udon Studios and be presented as a direct adaptation in the form of an Eagle One Media animated comic production.

Electronic Arts has withdrawn its $2 billion tender offer for Take-Two Interactive, publisher of GRAND THEFT AUTO, to enter into private negotiations, per VARIETY. This move comes six months after the public battle started.

EA received little interest in its bid of $25.74 per share, which due to the success of the latest GTA title, has been lower than Take-Two's trading price some days this summer. EA let the offer expire at 12 a.m. Monday.

A deer mime competes in the Olympic Games? Only in the world of HAPPY TREE FRIENDS! Their new Olympic-themed short video SMOOCHIE, up now on www.happytreefriends.com, is loaded with more skull-splitting, eye-popping and hair-raising comedy worthy of a gold medal. The new SMOOCHIE stars Mime, a character that has not yet seen the SMOOCHIE spotlight.

Eidos Interactive revealed that seasoned gymnast Alison Carroll will be the new face of famed videogame character Lara Croft. Carroll will portray the internationally recognized heroine for the next year, with her first appearances to be made promoting the latest installment to the gaming franchise, TOMB RAIDER: UNDERWORLD, which ships November 2008.

3D software developer Reallusion has announced the launch of iClone 3.0, the latest release of their popular and critically acclaimed animated filmmaking software, which promises to transform any PC into a robust 3D real-time filmmaking studio.

Electronic Arts and Paramount Digital Ent. have revealed the first details of THE GODFATHER II videogame, the sequel to the 2007 multi-platinum hit. Inspired by the film and Mario Puzo's Corleone family drama, THE GODFATHER II game goes beyond the film's story by setting players in the world of organized crime in 1960's Florida, Cuba and New York.

NewTek's LightWave 3D artists will be discussing their projects at NewTek booth #159 at SIGGRAPH. These professionals have contributed to projects ranging from motion picture blockbusters, including IRON MAN, Emmy-nominated television programs, video games and other impressive commercial work.