Gamers From the Sooner State Avoid an Unnecessary Tax Raise on Video Games

On February 20th, 2012, Oklahoma House Bill 2696 was defeated in the House Revenue and Tax Subcommittee. This legislation would have placed a 1% excise tax on the sale of all "violent" video games. When asked to withdraw his tax proposal from submission, Democratic Representative Will Fourkiller attempted to create a task force on linking obesity and aggression to video games. This proposal for the "Oklahoma Task Force on Video Games' Relationship to Obesity and Aggression" failed to come to fruition as well.

It was obvious that this bill would unfairly target video games and the gaming

Tips Not to Follow When Trying to Save Gas

Every year without fail, the price of gas will yet again steal its fifteen minutes of fame in news headlines across the country. And it just so happens that the prices are currently stepping in the limelight and claiming its fame for its rapid rise. I dont know how you feel about it but, gas, is personally my lest favorite item to spend money on! I would much rather spend money on things that I want and desire than things that I logically need. For example, anything that sparks my interest like videogames, photography, independent films,

Games - Homefront's Japanese version to be changed....slightly

According to this Kotaku article the Japanese publisher of Homefront explains that only a few noticeable changes will take place in their port of the game. While the oppressive North Korea dictator will still be present in the game (though his son will be the majority North Korean focus) and the North Korean flag andpropagandawill be untouched fully, the only big difference in the Japanese difference was theeditingof the opening movie that declares Kim Jong-il dead, as well as his "funeral procession" (which is actually footage of his father's

Gamestop accused of taking personal information

As seen here about Gamestop, a California woman filed the suit on Wednesday of this past week, claiming that a Alameda County GameStop store recorded her personal information such as her name, her credit card information, and her PII (personal identification information) after purchasing items with her credit card. The woman, Melissa Arechiga, believes that GameStop uses the information like addresses and various other private pieces of information to benefit sales and future aspects of their store(s).

In the view of the legal system of California, these actions of

Vietnam places a gaming curfew!

While China was facing issue with the deaths of those who were addicted to online gaming Vietnam has came up with a plan to help cut down the amount of time spent playing online games and eliminate side effects.

The Ministry of Information and Communication has asked internet service providers to block access to on-line games from 10:00pm to 8:00am. "Provincial departments of information and communication will inspect on-line games activities nationwide and deal with organizations that violate regulations by canceling their services," said the ministry's Deputy Minister Le Nam Thang (

Industry/Political News - Politician to Make Games to have Cigarette Box-like warnings

Congressman Joe Baca (D-Califorinia) tried to introduced legislature in 2009 on display a label warning of links between violent video games and aggressive behavior. The proposal was denied. Read more about the 2009 legislature here.

Cut to 2011, where he has now proposed the exact same legislature with the exact same information, only the difference now is he's backed by Congressman Frank Wolf (R-Virginia). The Virginian Congressman adds that like smokers being warned about cigarettes via labels, we should warn parents and children about the growing scientific backed

Politics in Games - North Korea not going be lead by a Gaming Loser

One of Kim Jong Il's sons is apparently too busy playing video games to take over the reins of his father and run the world's most secluded militaristic oppressive country. Wikileaks (you know that organization that just likes to be the fly in every government's luncheon soup) has released information from a 2008 U.S. government consulate cable in Shanghai to the U.S. State Department. In addition to the information about the future prospects of North Korea and its leader being in very ill health they released this:

"...the two youngest sons, Kim Jong-chol and Kim Jong-un, far too inexperienced and incapable of effective governance. xxxxx, observing that KJI's oldest son, Kim Jong-nam, is

Canada using video games to boost morale

A while back, the Canadian military had a garrison outside of Montreal opened a requisition for $25,000 (Canadian, that would be nearly $24,800US) worth of video games. People in the military scratched their heads in confusion wondering why they would ask for such an unusual proposal, but the info has now been made public. They're gifts for soldiers stationed in Afghanistan.

Canada's Ministry of Defence (that's how it's spelled) followed up with the Canadian Press, who reported the story about the earlier experience, to inform the public that they wanted to buy 500 video games

Industry News - Avenida de Super Mario Bros. opens!

November (and the whole Fall of 2010, really) marked a huge milestone for our friend Super Mario! As of this weekend, a parade of violins and cellos playing the theme song, a crowd wild wearing fake black mustaches and the signature overall/hat pairing, and mascots galore partied on the unveil the brand new "Avenida de Super Mario Bros" in Zaragosa, Spain (Super Mario Bros Avenue for those of you who don't "habla Español").

The brand new Arcosur neighborhood is still under construction and future

Industry News - Game Law has no interest to the California Courts

There was little interest on November 2nd's presentation of a California law banning the sale of violent video games to minors. The law has already been made invalidated by lower federal courts and justices appear to follow its steps.

The hour long debate took a look at the sale/rental of video games that "appeal to a deviant or morbid interest of minors". Critics of the law like those of the trade association representing video game industry, believe its too broad of a law and violates First Amendment speech protections.

The backers of the law written and proposed by Democrat Senator Leland