Sales of video game equipment and software in the United States tumbled 19 percent in October to $1.07 billion, research group NPD said on Thursday, troubling figures as the industry heads into the most important selling weeks of the year.

Sales of video game equipment and software in the United States tumbled 19 percent in October to $1.07 billion, research group NPD said on Thursday, troubling figures as the industry heads into the most important selling weeks of the year.

After a brief sales increase in September, video game sales took another nosedive in October — but the bad news may finally be over.

Portraying Leonardo da Vinci or World War II in a video game is challenging game developers to mix fun with facts while academics hope this growing genre will get players more interested in history.

While the sales numbers don’t do a good job of reflecting it, 2009 has actually been a pretty good year for video game releases. As developers become more familiar with the current game systems, the level of quality in titles has increased dramatically.

Portraying Leonardo da Vinci or World War II in a video game is challenging game developers to mix fun with facts while academics hope this growing genre will get players more interested in history.

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters Life!) - Portraying Leonardo da Vinci or World War II in a video game is challenging game developers to mix fun with facts while academics hope this growing genre will get players more interested in history.

Shares of Adobe Systems Inc. should have more room to climb following recently announced job cuts, a Jefferies & Co. analyst said Wednesday.

Adobe Systems said Tuesday it is cutting 680 full-time jobs, or about 9 percent of its work force, to align costs with its fiscal 2010 budget.

The Dow eked out a gain Tuesday in light, choppy trading following Monday's rally.  Health-care, utilities and materials were the best-performing sectors.

On the surface, a video game opening a virtual pet store doesn’t sound like something investors should care too much about. But when that game is “World of Warcraft,” the stakes change.

Stocks opened slightly lower Tuesday as investors took a breather after Monday's rally — but it was a short-lived breather with stocks bouncing back within the first hour of trading.

Futures indicated a slightly lower open for the U.S. stock market on Tuesday amongst mixed reports from corporates on earnings, outlook and employment and ahead of the Veterans Day.

EA posted earnings on Monday that declined compared with last year, but profit topped analysts' forecasts. The company also announced layoffs of 1,500 positions in another round of restructuring and shares rose in extended trading.

Electronic Arts has acquired privately held Playfish for $275 million in cash plus other consideration as the maker of the "Madden NFL" series expands in the growing social gaming sector.