This Week In Gaming News

What would normally be a slow news week, it being Thanksgiving and all, is not the case. Sure we've got the obligatory people acting nuts on Black Friday story, but we also have laws regulating internet usage, bitching on the online, plus a guy getting dumped by a girl. All video game related, I swear!

New Bill That Threatens Internet Freedom Gets Backing by Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft and Apple

The Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, is a brand new piece of legislature that aims to protect IPs on the internet, but its wording is so vague that many are justifiably concerned that it will lead to massive witch-hunts on the internet by money hungry corporations. Case in point: it would be technically illegal to post, even tweet the movie poster to the new Batman flick if you don't have permission from Warner Bros films.

It was recently discovered that Apple, MS, Sony and Nintendo are all on board.Yikes! One of the basic tenants of the law is that it supports the elimination of online piracy, which is a battle they've constantly been involved in. Though in the case of some, especially Nintendo, their previous methods have also been questionable, as well as highly ineffective.

Gamers Across The Country In The Midst Of One Of The Most Intense Black Fridays Ever
It's the day after Thanksgiving, and countless video game related deals are up for grabs via every major retailer across the country. But this year it seems somewhat different: coupled with console hardware that pretty much everyone has, and which is becoming slightly harder to push, along with one particular handheld whose performance is sluggish, all in the midst of a very sluggish economy, many of the discounts are very deep.

Though not even 24 hours in and there's also one report at least of total calamity. Apparently a woman at an L.A. Wal-Mart, described by many as a "competitive shopper", went nuts in the video game section late last night and shot pepper spay every where, hitting many innocent shoppers. There are additional reports in which the crowds were so intense that many of the games on discount were destroyed in the process.

Korea's New Online Restrictions Hopes To Curb Gaming Addiction
It's common knowledge that online gaming is a huge deal in South Korea, especially among the young, to the point that lawmakers are seriously concerned about it becoming an addiction. The random occurrences of related deaths certainly doesn't help. Hence why the "Cinderella Law" was recently passed, which blocks players under the age of 16 yrs-old from playing between midnight and 6am. This ban is in effect across the board, on PCs, Xbox Live, and PlayStation Network. In response, The Korea Association of Game Industry plans on mounting a lawsuit, due to the belief that it infringes on civil liberties.

The Creator I Am Alive’s Stance PC Gaming Infuriates Many PC Gamers
Ubisoft's upcoming and "thought provoking" post-apocalyptic adventure is a download only title, but will only be released on the Xbox Marketplace and PlayStation Network. No PC release has been planned, which is a bit odd, given how downloadable only titles thrive on that end. When the game's creator, Stanislas Mettra of IncGamers explained why, many called for his head immediately afterward. His reasons are because of piracy, as well as the supposed fact that no one buys PC games anymore. He added furthermore almost everyone up in arms is doing so for the sake of bitching on the internet, and have no intentions of buying the game in the first place.

Uncharted 3's Aiming Will Be Fixed Thanks To Bitching On The Net

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While many have enjoyed the latest adventure to star Nathan Drake, a number of players have taken issue with how the aiming has felt "off" when compared to previous editions of the game. While airing their gripes on the popular message board NeoGAF, the community manager for Naughty Dog invited members to actually come to the studio and explain their opinions in person. In the end, two GAFfers showed up, along with some pals who sat down with the multiplayer programmer. In the end, a patch was produced that adjusted the aiming for those who felt the same way. It will be available in coming weeks, alongside various other pre-planned updates and fixes, but it's also entirely optional.

New Xbox 360 Dashboard Dates For December 6th
The long-awaited update to the 360's front end finally has a release date. The update brings with it numerous changes and under the hood enhancements. First off is the new look, which brings it closer to the visual scheme already in effect for Windows Phone and the upcoming Windows 8. It was also introduce customized applications, like for dedicated YouTube viewing, plus the aforementioned cable television channels. Kinect users will be able to navigate the dash with their voices, plus there will be cloud storage for your profile and saves, so one can log into their account at a friend's console.

Gaming's Funniest Twitter Has Been Silenced
Those in the know have been big fans of the @petermolydeux twitter feed, which is basically a parody account that pokes fun at Peter Molyneux, whose best know creation is Fable. He posts wacky tweets and even YouTube videos that present over the top and ultra heady came design concepts that are inspired by the real life hyperbole that game's PT Barnum is famously known for. Well, it's no longer in business. The real thing and his company contacted Twitter and YouTube to have his comedy shut down. Apparently, Lionhead Studios was sick and tired of being asked if they were indeed creating a game that combines Wii Bowling and Resident Evil.

Man Gets Dumped By Bride To Be, Cashing In Engagement Ring For Halo Armor
Philadelphia based Eric Smith was recently dumped by his fiancée, which left him naturally heart broken. Also, with a pricey engagement ring that he no longer had a use for. So he decided to fulfill a life-long dream and used the money that he got when cashing it in by acquiring replica Halo armor. Needles to say, his friends were more than a little concerned by what they felt was a cry for help. Smith more than admits that it's providing him some emotional solace. He also went out and bought the new Halo Anniversary while donning the guise of Master Chief.

May Payne 3's Special Edition Is Truly Special AND Expensive

Rockstar announced that pre-orders for their special edition of the upcoming Max Payne 3 are being accepted, but only for a limited time. At $100, it's one of the most expensive packages of its kind to not have a console included. The package contains a Max Payne statue, game soundtrack, skins for multiplayer that feature characters from past games, exclusive multiplayer weapons, and fine art prints that featured still life inspired by the game. So if you've ever wanted a framed painting of a glock and some painkillers, this is your chance.