Okay, so you've got your agenda finalized. What's the next thing to do? Why, it's to announce the All-Star Speakers, of course.

Evergreen Events, the organizer of the 2008 ION Game Conference, has done precisely that. It's mentioned four important names to take note of. Find out who these four people are after the jump.

Take-Two Interactive Software, the distributor of Grand Theft Auto 4 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) and other games, has given word that it is planning to expand into Asia Pacific markets. The company has tapped an experienced senior executive to help them establish a foothold in Asia. For more information, don't hesitate to click on the "read more" link below.

Fans of Sega Sammy will be sad to know that its Korea subsidiary will be closing its doors soon. This is pretty bad news for gamers in the said regions since this may affect both arcade and video game distribution in the area. In case you want to find out more about this, head on over to the full article by clicking on "read more" link below.

They say that imitation is a form of flattery. But sometimes, imitation can unleash on you a Beat Rush + Somersault + Water Kick + Meteodrive combo (and very well into Final Heaven too). Last March, Square Enix filed a law suit against Korean media company Fantom Entertainment Group for releasing a music video that's been ruled to have plagiarized FF7: Advent Children. Exhibit A, if you please: Korean pop singer Ivy's music video for her song, "Temptation of Sonata". Read more to see the video and for more details.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Amycall's mobile offering is going for the gold. The phone manufacturer's PS3 phone carries other concepts "borrowed" from other consoles, the details of which you can pick up over in the full article.

FreeStyle Games' B-Boy is viewed by many as one of the best video games for the PlayStation Portable that never made it to North America. It was first released in Europe back in 2006 and then in South Korea earlier this year.

Now it appears that B-Boy is coming to the States after all, if we are to believe a new listing posted by rental store GameFly. Read more.

Korean game publisher HanbitSoft knew what it was doing when it introduced its hit video game golfing sensation Pangya to local gamers. From there the video game has spread across numerous countries, infecting them with online golfing fever.

Now this MMORPG-based golf game is stepping onto the handheld platform as NTreev Soft is bringing Pangya to the PlayStation Portable (PSP). This announcement was confirmed as the publishers of the PSP version of the video game said that it would be coming out during the first half of the 2008, followed by Astonishia Story 2.

So far, Pangya for the PSP is only scheduled to come out in Korea. With Hot Shots Golf coming out next year, its sure to encounter some stiff competition with Pangya's own established name in the video game world of golf. So far no game publishers have been found to localize this game as of yet, although sources from Siliconera have mentioned Tecmo as a likely candidate.

In this day and age of advertisements being lit up by (plastic) celebrity smiles, the new Korean ad promoting the PSP Slim sure is a breath of fresh air. Sony's Korean advertising agency made a brilliant move and chose a butterfly - the embodiment of lightness and grace - as the endorser of the new PSP Slim (or PSP-2000).

The full-page advertisement shows a blue butterfly carrying a PSP Slim that the ad boasts as weighing only 189 grams. Not only is the concept original, its also very effective in delivering its message. We approve.

Aside from its weight, the PSP's price tag in Korea sits lighter on the pocket as well. It costs only KRW 178,000, or around US$ 190 only.

On a related note, it looks like Korea's getting the same palette of PSP Slim colors that include pastel shades of pink, lavender, and blue. We wish that the rest of the world would be given a chance to grab them as well.

During the first ever Games Convention Asia Conference (GC Asia Conference) held in Singapore, many countries proved how the industry is also strong in Asia outside Japan. Singapore, known as a big market for MMORPGs, even took a step forward to announce that they're ready to become a games industry center of excellence.

Minister for community development, Vivian Balakrishnan, revealed that around US$ 330 million (SG$ 500 million) of government funds went to research and development in the digital interactive sector.

A student exchange program called "GAMBIT" is also under way for Singapore and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to share their expertise.

Other parts of South East Asia expressed interest in the industry. A memorandum that "signifies the recognition of each other as ideal counterparts for future collaboration and co-operation in this region for the benefit of the games industry" was signed by ten Asian game developers associations from various countries like Japan, Korea, Australia, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Asia-Pacific is expected to contribute 40% of gaming industry's US$ 39.8 billion annual revenue by the end of 2008, and Singapore wants a piece of the cake. "Singapore intends to be part of the action," said Balakrishnan.

Do you guys remember Astonishia Story for the PlayStation Portable last year? It is actually a port of the original video game released for the PC back in 1994 by Korea-based development studio Sonnori. The company eventually had an agreement with Ubisoft and made the title available in North America and Europe.

If you had fun with that game, then you will be delighted to know that a sequel is currently being developed. Currently, the only company it has working on it is Ntreev Soft, which is mostly known for its online multiplayer golf simulation game Pangya. It is highly possible that Ubisoft will again back it up though, but an official statement has yet to be made.

There are no details currently known about Astonishia Story 2 but we have here a handful of screenshots that should give fans an idea regarding the upgrades the game received. The first game delved around the story of honorable knight Lloyd and his quest to recover the sacred relic known as Wand of Kinan.

See the rest of the screenshots at the Full Article link!