One of the video game industry’s most consistent hitmakers is taking things to the next level.  PopCap Games, the creator of titles such as “Bejweled,” “Zuma,” “Bookworm” and “Peggle” – has raised $22.5 million from venture capitalists.

For nearly three decades, the Federal Trade Commission’s rules regarding the relationships between advertisers and product reviewers and endorsers were deemed adequate. Then came the age of blogging and social media.

The issue of whether minors should be legally prohibited from buying violent video games may soon be settled – once and for all.

What will Santa have in his bag this holiday season? Toys ‘R Us, the largest U.S. toy retailer, has issued its forecast for the hottest toys .  With consumers still watching their spending carefully, one theme that stands out  is a focus on value. Toys on the list range from $10 (squeaking Zhu Zhu interactive hamsters )  to about $350 (Disney 's  Netpals netbook computer).  Click ahead to see which toys made the cut. 

Unlike its predecessors, the new portable gaming system from Sony does not run on traditional packaged software. Any game or movie the user wants has to be downloaded — and that leaves retailers out of the loop on the most profitable part of any gaming system.

Following price cuts by its two rivals, Nintendoreduced the price of its Wii video game system by $50 later this week. The widely expected move could help the company reverse slowing momentum as it heads into the holiday sales period.

Following price cuts by its two rivals, Nintendo is expected to reduce the price of its Wii video game system by $50 later this week. The widely expected move could help the company reverse the company’s slowing momentum as it heads into the holiday sales period.

August was supposed to be the month video game sales turned around. Instead, they extended their slide for the sixth consecutive month.

The video game price wars are getting fiercer. Microsoft on Thursday announced plans to lower the price of its top-line Xbox 360 model from $399 to $299.

Nolan Bushnell has re-entered the industry, co-founding Reality Gap, a publisher exploring a new in-game economic model that can be transported across multiple titles.  The idea is a simple one.

GameStop executives, who led the call for price reductions on the PlayStation 3 earlier this year, say they were a bit surprised with the timing of Sony’s actions earlier this week. But now that Sony has capitulated, they're expecting Microsoft and Nintendo to react.

Sony, hoping to regain its momentum in the video game space, will lower the price of the PlayStation 3 video game console by $100 starting Wednesday.

Video game sales continued their downward spiral in July, the fifth consecutive month of declines in an industry many have referred to as “recession resistant.”

Analysts and investors both cheered Electronic Arts’ better than expected first fiscal quarter earnings Tuesday, but the video game publisher is still a long way from recapturing its glory days.

Sony and Nintendo may tell anybody who will listen that they’re not planning to drop console prices this year, but judging by the results from each company’s first fiscal quarter, neither video game console maker may have a choice.