NewsFactor – Microsoft’s Xbox 360  video-game console moved to the top of the U.S. market in February. The software giant’s console had been number two behind the Nintendo Wii for nearly three years.

The popularity of the new BioShock 2 game may have been behind Microsoft’s sales of 422,000 Xbox 360s in February, an eight percent increase from a year earlier, according to NPD Group. Nintendo sold 397,900 Wiis and Sony sold 360,100 PlayStation 3 consoles in February.

The BioShock 2 game for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 was released on Feb. 10 and sold 750,000 units. Of those, 75 percent, or 562,900, were for the Xbox 360.
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No Comments | In: Scariest Video Games | tags: America, Dennis Durkin, misty may treanor, Misty-May, Natal, NewsFactor, nintendo wii, Ray Leonard, Reggie Fils-, U.S., Willie Gault, Xbox. | #

AP – Activision Blizzard Inc. said Tuesday that Jason West and Vince Zampella, executives at “Call of Duty” developer Infinity Ward, are no longer with the company.

Zampella had served as CEO at Infinity Ward, and West as chief technology officer, among other titles.

Activision also said it plans to form a new business unit around the “Call of Duty” franchise, focusing on online content and expanding the brand.

The shake-up comes a day after Activision said it was looking into breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at its Infinity Ward studio.

Activision did not name West and Zampella in Monday’s regulatory filing. But the filing said the company expected the “departure of key personnel” as a result. …

No Comments | In: Scariest Video Games | tags: Activision, Adam Satariano, Asia, Calif., California, chief technology officer, Europe, Hero, infinity ward, James Callan, janney montgomery scott, Jason West, Jeffrey Taylor, Maryanne Lataif, Monica, New York, Philadelphia, Philip Earl, San Francisco, Shawn Milne, Steve Ackrich, Steve Pearce, U.S., Vince Zampella, Ward. | #

PC World – Sony’s PlayStation Network has been hit by a glitch that has left users on all continents unable to connect to the online service, the company said Monday.

No Comments | In: Scariest Video Games | tags: glitch, Japan, Makiko Noda, PC World - Sony, PLAYSTATION, sony computer entertainment, Sunday, Tokyo, U.S.. | #

AP – Shares of several Chinese video game companies traded slightly lower Tuesday despite a report from an analyst that said game companies, particularly ones that focus on casual online games, performed well during the Chinese New Year.

No Comments | In: Scariest Video Games | tags: brean murray carret, China, game, Murray Carret, U.S., video game companies, Zhu Xian. | #

AP – Market researcher NPD Group said Thursday U.S. video game retail sales dropped 13 percent in January, to $1.17 billion.

Here’s a breakdown by category:

Hardware: $353.7 million, down 21 percent

Software: $597.9 million, down 12 percent

Accessories: $217 million, up 2 percent

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Reuters – Consolidation among online gaming firms is set to spark into life in 2010 with a possible deal between PartyGaming and Austria’s bwin seen as the potential catalyst for a wave of takeover activity.

“I think 2010 is going to be the determining year,” said one senior executive of an online gaming group who asked not be named.

“I do think there’s going to be a domino effect, meaning the first deal gets everybody else to run. You don’t want to be the last one left without a partner.”

If a merger of Party and bwin were to materialize, it could cajole the likes of 888, Sportingbet and Playtech into tie-ups.

Traditional betting firms like Ladbrokes, William Hill and Paddy Power may also look to make acquisitions to boost their online presence. …

No Comments | In: Scariest Video Games | tags: Alfred Reisenberger, Austria, Boris Groendahl, bwin, Daniel Stewart, David Cowell, James Hollins, merger speculation, Nick Batram, PartyGaming, Reuters, Richard Carter, takeover activity, U.S., United States, Wyn Ellis. | #

Shopping for mom can be hit or miss if you don’t have a good guide to start with. . If you are like me you have a hard time knowing what to buy Mom during the holiday. Moms are very sentimental creatures and in most cases it’s the thought that counts. Personalized or Hand Crafted Gifts may be the way to go. I’ve seen some of these lists with underwear as a present. Dude I don’t know about you but underwear shopping for your mom strikes me as kind of creepy.

Like most of us, I don’t have much time for Arts and Crafts, and really Arts and Crafts are so kindergarten. Personalize gifts always great and says, Mom I thought about you when I bought this gift. But really if I buy my Mom another personalized coffee mug I think she’d kill me. You can thank me for this later; I’ve been doing some research and I’ve compile a list of the 10 most wanted Christmas gifts for parents. This list was compiled from Amazon’s bestsellers. …

2 Comments | In: Holiday Best | tags: America, best christmas gifts, best christmas gifts For mom, Beta, Carry Your, Crystal, Crystal Bracelet, G Wireless, Gianni Versace, Joseph Bulova, Kindle, New York City, Pearl Dial, phone, Read, Sarah Palin, stainless steel watch, Sterling Silver, swiss quartz movement, top 10 christmas gifts, top 10 christmas gifts fo women, U.S.. | #