The 
sad truth of the modern video game industry is that regardless of how talented (or lucky) a game maker is, nobody has unlimited lives.
January was certainly proof of that. A one-time powerhouse publisher was ripped to shreds. A legendary developer was handed a pink slip. If things don’t radically reverse course, the next month or two could see another studio and another game god meet the same fate.
Given 
how phenomenally successful the Skylanders franchise has been for Activision, it was just a matter of time before the company accelerated its expansion.
Last year’s Skylanders Giants supersized the “toys meet video games” figurines. This year, you’ll be able to mix and match their components.
Okay, 
EA, this is getting a little bit creepy.
The Madden franchise added to its impressive Super Bowl prediction track record by not only correctly picking the Ravens over the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, but even managing to nail the point spread.
Rumors 
about the PlayStation 4 have been floating around for over a year now, but on February 20, we’ll finally get a glimpse at the real thing. That’s the day Sony will hold an event in New York where it reportedly plans to unveil its long-awaited next-generation console.
The company got the hype machine rolling Thursday evening with a mysterious teaser video. To amp things up further, the company posted a Twitter update reading simply “see the future.” Within minutes, news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, confirmed through sources that this would, in fact, be the company’s launch party for the PS4.
The 
console war is about to get a lot more crowded.
While announcements of next-generation devices from Microsoft and Sony are bound to grab headlines this year, a wave of new machines from various corners of the games industry is threatening to shake up the traditional three-company battle over your living room.
When 
famed director Sam Raimi dropped out of the long-in-development World of Warcraft film last summer, fans feared it would never get made.
That discouragement has turned to optimism once again, though, as Duncan Jones — whose directorial work on films such as “Source Code” and “Moon” has earned him heaps of critical praise — has signed on to shepherd Azeroth to the big screen.
Apple 
has a zero-tolerance policy for apps that contain nudity, and they’re usually quick to shut down any that promote violence against women. But an app that encourages girls to abuse their significant other is apparently fair game.
Boyfriend Trainer, which is available in both the App Store and the Android market, lets players slap, electrocute, or mace a virtual boyfriend for what most people would call minor transgressions, including drinking their girlfriend’s drink or leaving his shirt on the ground.
Video 
games — especially shooters like Black Ops II and Halo 4 — have been in an uncomfortable spotlight for the past month and a half. The controversy over violent games has overshadowed the joy that can come from immersing yourself in these virtual worlds.
That’s what makes this absolutely adorable video even more engaging. A pair of gamers invited their 84-year-old grandfather to play along – and his reactions are priceless.
Last 
week, songwriter Jonathan Coulton, who most gamers know through his legendary work on Valve’s Portal series, accused the FOX show ‘Glee’ of ripping off his cover of Sir Mix-a-lot’s “Baby Got Back.” Coulton’s version, released in 2006, transformed the hip-hop anthem into a laid back folksy jam, which apparently was so catchy that it caught the ear of the arrangers at ‘Glee’, who pretty much ripped it off.
Producers for the show haven’t made any public statements, though Coulton says on his blog that they acknowledged his complaints privately.
Stick 
your head into any arcade around the country and you’re likely to find an Air Hockey machine. Since its introduction in 1972, the fast-paced game, with its gently floating pucks and distinctive mallets, has become a favorite of kids and adults alike.
But while it’s often the source of epic, occasionally unfriendly battles between friends, few people think of it as a skill game. Turns out, it is. And if you’re looking to improve your game, following these simple tips can help you become nearly unbeatable – or at least the baddest player in the arcade.
Chris Morris: Journalist 