The social war between 
Facebook and Google just got a lot more fun.
Google+, the search giant’s fast-rising social network, has added games to its offerings, encroaching on the most profitable and popular part of Facebook’s empire. And it’s boasting some big titles, too.
Retail video game sales 
nosedived in July, hitting their lowest level since October 2006.
Year over year sales were down 26 percent, with declines across the board in all hardware, software and accessories — and no breakout hits. While July is often a slow month for the industry, the dip in software sales was more than twice as bad as Wall St. analysts were predicting.
Activision is bringing in 
some Hollywood heavyweights to help it entertain the Call of Duty social community.
Director Ridley Scott, whose hits include “Alien,” “Blade Runner” and “Gladiator,” is leading the charge on “episodic entertainment” that will be available exclusively to Call of Duty: Elite subscribers. Included among the other contributors are actors Will Arnett and Jason Bateman.
Most kings adopt a regal 
air, separating themselves from the common folk. Not Jordan’s King Abdullah II. He’s a geek and he’s proud of it.
The Jordanian monarch is the chief investor in an upcoming theme park that will revolve around Star Trek. Slated to open in 2014, the park costs a reported $1.5 billion.
That’s a lot of Gold-Pressed Latinum.
For some families, Monopoly is a 
bonding experience. For others, it’s a Machiavellian affair that tosses love and loyalty aside in favor of a capitalistic bloodlust where there is but one goal: Drive mom, dad, grandma and weird Uncle Steve into bankruptcy as soon as possible.
But what’s the most efficient way to do that? Everyone has a theory about how best to win at Monopoly. Some try to buy a single property of every color, while others swear that becoming a slum lord, buying up the low rent properties, is the key to victory.
And no matter the strategy, there’s no greater jewel in a player’s crown than Boardwalk. But is that pricey blue spot — and it’s sister street Park Place — really worth it?
The annual QuakeCon video game 
expo in Texas draws a pretty dedicated crowd. Few, however, are as dedicated as engaged gamers Chaz and Stevi.
This past Thursday, the couple was sitting in a demonstration for Bethesda’s upcoming role-playing epic The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim when Stevi, who was nine months pregnant, began to feel what she thought were contractions.
This is when a normal person might go to the hospital. Not Stevi.
Add Maroon 5 vocalist Adam 
Levine to the list of musicians who are angry with Activision.
The singer and co-star of NBC’s hit series “The Voice” has sued the publisher over the use of his likeness in 2009’s Band Hero, saying he did not authorize many of the ways his image is used in the game. Sound familiar? It should. Levine’s complaints are virtual carbon copies of the ones made by No Doubt and the former members of Nirvana.
Scratch the PlayStation
Vita off your note to Santa.
Sony confirmed Thursday that its new handheld system won’t launch in the U.S. or Europe until 2012. While not officially a delay, the announcement still surprised a lot of people, who expected the company to push hard for a widespread launch before the holiday season, since that’s such a crucial sales period for the industry.
You’re on the 
iPhone, Charlie Brown.
Capcom has acquired the rights to create social games based on Charles Schultz’ s Peanuts comic empire, which will put Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the gang on Apple’s iDevices this fall.
Fans of EA Sports games 
tend to be a dedicated lot, but now the publisher is launching a program that will help it find the most dedicated.
The company’s just-unveiled Season Ticket program will give die-hard fans the chance to get a three-day head start on new versions of Madden, FIFA, Tiger Woods, NHL and NCAA Football games as well as discounts on any downloadable content.
But that access comes with a price – and a catch.
Chris Morris: Journalist 