You’d think that 
with today’s proliferation of readily accessible nude pictures, adult films, and sex toys, the world of erotica is disposable; there’s always something new just a click away, so why bother to save anything?
But the depiction of sex has been a part of human culture for thousands of years. While it’s easy to think that the pornography industry is an invention of the last three or four decades, erotic expression reaches as far back as the 8th century BC.
If you thought 
that guy who bid $1,725 for an early copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was a bit too eager to play the game, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Over the weekend, two separate delivery trucks carrying copies of the heavily-anticipated shooter were hijacked in France. French police estimate the stolen shipments to be worth roughly 780,000 euros (about $1.1 million).
Activision turned 
heads last year with its eye-popping “There’s a Soldier in All of Us” campaign for “Call of Duty: Black Ops”. Now it’s upping the ante.
Jonah Hill (“Superbad”) and Sam Worthington (“Avatar”) headline the campaign’s new installment – with a quick cameo from Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. And it’s just as heart pounding as the original.
The holiday season 
is typically loaded with must-have videogames, but the number hitting shelves this year is unprecedented.
Several top franchises have new installments out and some new games are looking very promising. That’s good news for players, but it’s even better for gift buyers, since few gamers will be able to keep up with the deluge. Here are some sure-fire suggestions.
While there’s 
little doubt the videogame industry will once again end the year with negative growth, publishers are certainly positioning themselves to go out with good fight this holiday season.
The lineup of major franchises releasing games in the fourth quarter is unparalleled this year and could be a boon for both players and game makers — and, ultimately, investors.
Gameloft’s latest homage
(or, if you prefer, blatant rip-off) of the Call of Duty series might lack originality, but it has some impressive gameplay. Modern Combat 3 is definitely inappropriate for children, due to its realistic and frequent violence and overly harsh language, but adults who enjoy combat games set in the modern era will quickly embrace the game. The artwork is incredible — detailed and vibrant — and competes well with the most visually impressive games on the iOS platform. And the action is well-paced.
The single player mode is pretty straightforward — walk, crouch, shoot, repeat. Fun, but not something you’ll likely return to once you finish. The multiplayer mode, though, is very well done, with six maps and seven modes, supporting both online and local wi-fi. This gives the game legs and could keep it alive for some time. Even with its high price tag, this is a game that adult action fans will consider a bargain.
[Activision Publishing CEO 
Eric Hirshberg talks with Gamasutra about bringing new life to the Spyro series with Skylanders, and how the company’s toy-based approach with the game could pay off big.]
Over the course of its history, the Spyro the Dragon series has sold more than 20 million software units. But like any 13-year old franchise, it was getting a little long in the tooth – and had long since lost any qualities of a cutting-edge video game.
The October release of Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure has changed that, though. By combining physical action figures with a unique peripheral and a video game, the title has captured the attention of the mass market (and more than a few core gamers). While sales figures aren’t yet available, the game has buzz – often a critical factor in long-term success.
There aren’t a 
lot of surprises in the entertainment world these days — particularly when it comes to tentpole events.
Whether it’s a quick-cut trailer, the interview circuit or an online spoiler site, audiences generally have a pretty solid idea of what they’re going to experience — with movies, TV shows and videogames.
But that’s rarely, if ever, the case with new releases from Rockstar Games. The vidgame developer tightly controls the flow of information before a title’s ship date and seldom emerges from the studio to talk about its products. The reason, says Dan Houser, the veep and co-founder of creative at Rockstar, is pretty simple: Letting people peek behind the curtain spoils the fun.
Hungry Sumo scratches 
the same itch that a Fruit Ninja or Doodle Jump game does. It’s overly simplistic, but utterly addictive. The goal is simple: Fatten up your sumo to defeat floating enemes (but don’t run into them while you’re eating). Despite the 100 levels, there’s not a lot of diversity, but that’s not important, since the concept is so easy to grasp and so fun on a visceral level. It’s snack gaming in grand fashion, but it’s also a title you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again. Deep? Not at all. But fun? More than most of the games you’ll find in the App Store.
TRIVIAL PURSUIT Master 
Edition for iPad certainly has all the elements of the hit trivia franchise, but while the game can be an uproarious good time in the real world, it’s a bit restrained in the electronic world. That might be due to the looping, ever present soundtrack, which seems tacked on.
On its merits, though, it has all the right ingredients. Q&As are peppered with visual questions to shake things up a bit. And the game automatically shows you all of your move choices once you roll the dice. The questions come in three difficulty levels, but are too hard for younger children, who are likely to get upset and frustrated quickly.
Chris Morris: Journalist 