The third quarter of 2009 was a pretty horrendous one for the video game industry. Year over year sales plummeted amid a lack of ‘must have’ games. Now, as earnings season draws near, game makers are about to face the consequences.

Despite an extensive marketing campaign, positive reviews and some of the most widespread media attention ever given to a video game, “The Beatles: Rock Band” had a relatively lackluster first month on store shelves.

The good news: After six consecutive months of negative numbers, the video game industry finally had a month that topped 2008’s sales figures. The bad news: It only did so by the skin of its teeth.

The November 2005 launch of the Xbox 360 marked not only the beginning of a new cycle of video game hardware, it also launched a new era in video game pricing.

IPhone downloads count both free demos and paid games — and free is always more popular. So how does a small developer make a profit?

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.

Stocks fell for a second day Thursday after the Federal Reserve announced plans to start unwinding some stimulus measures and a report showed existing-home sales fell last month.

Stocks retreated Thursday after the Federal Reserve announced plans to start unwinding some stimulus measures and a report showed existing-home sales fell last month.

An opening pop fizzled Thursday after the Federal Reserve announced plans to start unwinding some stimulus measures and a report showed existing-home sales fell last month. Stocks had opened higher after a report showed an unexpected drop in jobless claims last week.

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.

Alex Seropian, the founder of Bungie Software and co-creator of the "Halo" franchise has joined the company to oversee creative development across Disney’s in-house video game development teams.

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.

This year, though, it’s the game that publisher Electronic Arts hopes will turn around what has, so far, been a disappointing 2009.