You 
didn’t expect Nintendo to let the launch of the PlayStation Vita go unanswered, did you?
The Sony competitor held a pair of online presentations Wednesday to tout new software that’s on the way to its 3DS system (as well as the Wii) and deflect attention away from Sony’s new, bleeding-edge gadget.
Usually, 
there aren’t a lot of deals to be found on a system’s launch day.
As early adopters and die-hard fans scramble to be the first on their block to have the latest gadget, companies capitalize on that fervor and have no trouble commanding full retail price, usually for several weeks or even months.
But the launch of the PlayStation Vita is a bit different than other devices.
You know 
a game is a hit when it sells on eBay for higher than its retail price. You know it’s a smash when pieces of that game are commanding premium pricing on the auction site. But when six of those pieces sell for well over $1,000? That’s when you’ve officially got a monster on your hands.
Activision is in that fortunate position as six Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure figures in the U.K. have sold for £797, roughly $1,260. And the winner will have to toss in another $50 or so for shipping.
Most 
mice only live a few months. But Chuck E. Cheese’s turns 35 today.
The kid-friendly restaurant chain was launched this day in 1977, bringing its curious blend of animatronic rodents, arcade games, Skee-ball and pizza to millions. It’s faced more than a few hurdles over the years, but it’s still going strong, with over 500 stores around the world and quarterly revenues of nearly $200 million.
A hit 
game sequel is a powerful thing indeed, but it can be tricky to pull off. Do you just repeat the first game? Come up with something new? Split the difference?
Maybe you should ask Zynga, who have managed to follow up their blockbuster Words With Friends with a Boggle-like game using the same elements. And it’s hitting just the right notes.
While 
Mitt Romney might be giving Rick Santorum a bruising fight in the race for the Republican party’s bid for the White House, there’s one platform where Santorum is sure he tops his opponent: gaming.
The former Pennsylvania senator, it seems, has a passion for the iPhone game Temple Run, a title that has players endlessly fleeing a band of screaming, angry simians after defiling their temple.
Sony’s 
hoping for a big splash when the PlayStation Vita goes on sale in the U.S. next week, but the news from the company’s homeland is pretty discouraging.
Sales of the handheld gaming system in Japan for the week ending Feb. 12 hit an all-time low, with less than 14,000 Vitas being sold. That’s a drop of more than 3,000 from the previous week.
Right 
around this time 50 years ago, the world of gaming was forever changed.
Spacewar! was launched in mid-February 1962 (the exact date is a matter of debate, though most people agree it was between the 13th and the 15th). And while it wasn’t the first video game ever created, it was the first to strike a chord with people, effectively kicking off the era of video games.
Sometimes, 
Cupid shoots an arrow through the knee instead of the heart.
Video games might not seem the most romantic of hobbies, but for some, they’ve been the path to true love — and in many cases, marriage.
Forget 
singles bars — if you want to find love on Valentine’s Day, you might have better luck on your iPhone.
A study of over 118,000 Words With Friends players found that scoring isn’t necessarily limited to the game. One in 10 players, in fact, said the title has directly led to a hookup at some point.
Chris Morris: Journalist 