Video Game News

(Newser) - Sony has struck a deal to bring in-game advertising to its PlayStation 3 console, the Wall Street Journal reports. Many games have already toyed with product placement and ads, but thanks to the deal with IGA Worldwide, those digital billboards can now be updated in real time. Electronic Arts will be the first game-maker to take advantage of the deal. More »

(Newser) - He has gained fame and exposure as the voice of sly Balkan criminal Niko Bellic in Grand Theft Auto IV. But actor Michael Hollick would rather see a royalty check from Rockstar Games, reports the New York Times . Though the game has raked in roughly $600 million so far, Hollick earned $100,000 for his gritty voice work and, unlike his compatriots in film or TV, will get no residuals or royalties. More »

(Newser) - Sony is seeking to boost online gaming to the next level with a pair of new adventures in the pipeline. The company's 1999 EverQuest was the first massive online game to rocket to popularity, but rivals like World of Warcraft have since taken the lead. With spy shooter game The Agency and the tweener-targeting Free Realms, Sony hopes to get back on top. More »

(Newser) - Jake Gyllenhaal has scored the lead in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time , a Jerry Bruckheimer adaptation of the popular video game, according to the Hollywood Reporter. In the blockbuster fantasy adventure, Gyllenhaal will play a 6th century Persian prince who, along with a feisty princess played by up-and-comer Gemma Arterton must save the world from a villainous nobleman. More »

(Newser) - Thinking of becoming a paparazzo? AddictingGames.com hosts an animated paparazzi game called Miley Naughty Pics, where the object of the game is to catch Miley Cyrus in varying degrees of undress, TMZ reports. You get “money” based on how much flesh you “snap” of the moving animated 15-year-old, and you lose if dad Billy Ray Cyrus gets into the frame. More »

(Newser) - Japan’s arcades are in trouble, Reuters reports. For years, they’ve been immune to the ravages plaguing arcades elsewhere, but the $6.9 billion industry has met its match in the Nintendo Wii. A new generation of game consoles, coupled with an explosion of high-end TVs, has made the arcade experience easy to recreate at home—leading to big store closings at major chains. More »

(Newser) - As if the release of the next Indiana Jones film wasn’t enough to keep him busy, Steven Spielberg launched a new video game for the Wii last week, called Boom Blox , ABC News reports. A puzzle game with cute characters and engaging animations, it was created with the intent of "bringing grownups and kids together with a great activity," Spielberg says. More »

(Newser) - Grand Theft Auto IV made off with a clean $500 million in its first week on sale, the biggest bow ever for a video game, MTV reports. The take left in the dust Halo 3’s $300 million debut, the previous record holder. It also surpasses any movie or music launch to date, manufacturer Take-Two’s chairman was quick to point out. More »