GDC09 news round-up: Monday

Sony slashes PS3 dev costs
Tool prices reduced, new software introduced and UK-made PhyreEngine is updated

Former Incognito director goes solo, signs Sony dev deal
New studio LightBox Interactive on multi-year, multi-title PlayStation contract

Havok unveils new AI middleware
Latest tool from the firm behind ubiquitous Physics tech is available now

‘DRM is a waste of time’ says World of Goo creator
2D Boy boss also advises indies to stop persuing deals with publishers

Mobile Games University Competition winners revealed
Winning teams from US and Austria to attend Game Developers Conference

North Side debuts conversational game technology
Bot Colony takes developers a step closer to passing the Turing test

amBx partners with Carnegie Mellon University
Ambient experience tech to be installed at Pittsburg college’s Entertainment Technology Center

Luxology announces customised Collada modo plug-in
New functionality showcased

Neil Young on ‘why the iPhone changed everything’
Exec reveals Ngmoco will offer iPhone games platform too all later this year

Ngmoco raises $10 million
Second round of funding for iPhone specialist

Games industry’s ‘fourth console’ unveiled
Qualcomm-backed device for emerging markets uses 3G digital distribution

Dates set for Gamefest 2010
Microsoft’s developer conference returns in February next year

Dates confirmed for GDC 2010
Event to run in early March, from 9th to 13th