There’s 
already a ton of critical praise for Journey, the soothing — almost meditative — PSN adventure title. But the latest kudo carries a bit more weight.
Austin Wintory has been nominated for a Grammy for his work on the game’s soundtrack. This marks the first time a video game has been nominated for a Grammy.
Will 
Black Ops II be a bigger hit than its predecessor?
Activision announced Wednesday that the latest game in the Call of Duty franchise has hit the $1 billion sales mark after just 15 days on store shelves. That’s one day faster than last year’s Modern Warfare 3, and two days faster than 2009’s “Avatar.”
Agent 
47 just can’t seem to avoid trouble.
Just months after the newly released stealth game Hitman: Absolution got into hot water for a risqué game trailer, the game’s publisher is finding itself on the defensive once again for a PR gaffe that some say encourages cyberbullying.
So 
long Om Nom. Thanks for the candy-filled memories.
ZeptoLab, the company behind the runaway mobile hit Cut the Rope, today unveiled their next game. It’s called Pudding Monsters, and while it doesn’t star the candy-munching character who stole player’s hearts, it features … well, pudding. Lots of it.
OMG! 
Texting is 20!
What’s now the communications standard for the teen and tween set got its start 20 years ago today, in the little town of Newbury, Berkshire.
While America was learning who won “The Contest” on Seinfeld and watching Jay Leno take over The Tonight Show, a British researcher by the name of Neil Papworth was busy changing the world using a new technique called “Short Messaging Service” to send a message to a friend.
Enjoy 
that time as the only next-generation console on the market, Wii U. The competition is coming sooner than you might think.
Bloomberg reports Microsoft will release its next generation Xbox in time for the 2013 holidays. While the date has been widely expected, the news service says unnamed company insiders have now confirmed the time period.
“Insert 
quarter. Avoid missing ball for high score.”
That was the extent of the instructions for Pong, the first video game blockbuster.
Pong wasn’t the very first video game, by any means (that honor arguably goes to 1947’s “Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device”), but it was absolutely the first commercially successful one and remains of one the industry’s most iconic titles. Released on November 29th, 1972, it turns The Big Four-Oh today.
Nintendo’s 
global president is apologizing to gamers for the hefty, mandatory system update they’re forced to endure upon setting up their Wii U.
In a wide-ranging interview with IGN, Satoru Iwata said he regretted the need for the update, which enables the online functionality of the system.
Shopping 
for the gamer on your list should be the easiest part of your holiday gift gathering. Buy a good game and, bam! You’re finished, right?
Not necessarily. Gamers have the annoying habit of buying the best games right when they come out, ruining the plans of well-meaning gift givers. And if you don’t know precisely what game they’re looking for, you could inadvertently pick out a dud.
Gaming culture, thankfully, extends beyond games …
Nintendo 
was rightfully proud of the 400,000 Wii U consoles it sold in the system’s first week, which included Black Friday. But Microsoft has reason to be even prouder.
The Redmond-based company says some 750,000 Xbox 360s were sold over the same six-day time period, surpassing its own expectations and showing that there’s still life left in the console, which has now been available for eight Black Friday shopping frenzies.
Chris Morris: Journalist 