Video Games

Sony launched the PlayStation 3 in November 2006, and it's been a long wait for gamers for the company's next generation video game console. That wait may soon be over, as on Thursday evening Sony sent out invitations to press and bloggers for a press conference to be held in New York City on February 20th.

The invitation failed to give any details, but teased that we will "see the future" of PlayStation in a video that was released along with the invitations. It is expected that Sony will unveil it's next generation PlayStation 4 console during this event. Multiple unnamed sources have already confirmed as much to the Wall Street Journal.

In 2000, the Chinese government banned all video game consoles, meaning gamers in China have yet to get their hands on the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360, and the Nintendo Wii. They have been able to play video games on computers, so they haven't gone totally without for the past 12 years. Now, Reuters reports that China is considering lifting the ban on video game consoles.

According to Reuters, China Daily newspaper reported that the ban could be lifted. China's safety standards body issued a quality certification for the Sony PS3, which had raised speculation that China could soon be lifting th ban.

When China first instituted the ban on game consoles being sold within the country, the government said that it was to protect the mental and physical development of children.

Nintendo claims to have kickstarted the next generation of video game consoles with its recently launched Wii U, however hardcore gamers are holding out for the Microsoft Xbox 720 and the Sony PlayStation 4 because the Wii U graphics and processing power are pretty comparable to the Xbox 360 and PS3. While it had been rumored that both Microsoft and Sony would launch their next generation consoles in fall 2013, it seems as though that may not be the case anymore due to some possible delays.

According to SemiAccurate, the next Xbox is currently code named "Kryptos" and not "Durango", and the new PlayStation is code named "Thebes" rather than "Orbis."

The PS4 will reportedly feature a 28-nanometer AMD chipset and will be produced by IBM or Global Foundries.

According to a report from Xbox World, a magazine published in the United Kingdom, Microsoft's next Xbox console will feature all kinds of new bells and whistles, including Blu-ray, broadcast DVR, and augmented reality glasses.

The magazine wrote a long feature article about what it thinks the next console will be like, citing "industry experts an Microsoft's own leaky boat." The report is based in large part off leaked planning documents that surfaced in June, but with additional comments from industry experts.

The magazine claims that the next-gen Xbox will launch in November 2013, and notes that developers are already making games for it.

Nintendo announced on Wednesday that it plans to release more than 50 titles total for the upcoming Wii U by March 31, 2013, and nearly half of those will be available on launch day, November 18, 2012.

23 games will be available simultaneously with the Wii U on Nov. 18th.

The Wii U will be available in two varieties: a Basic Set and a Deluxe Set. The Basic Set, which includes the Wii U system, the Wii U touchscreen gamepad, 8GB storage, an HDMI cable, and a sensor bar for Wii remotes, will go for $299. The Deluxe Set includes all of what's in the Basic Set, but will have 32GB of storage, a Wii U GamePad charging cradle, a Wii U console stand, and a copy for Nintendo Land. The Deluxe Set will be priced at $349.

An Ohio teen recently spent four to five days holed up in his bedroom playing a marathon gaming session on his Xbox, and then collapsed from dehydration.

According to Jessie Rawlins who lives in the Columbus, Ohio, area, her son Tyler, 15, collapsed three times before she called the paramedics. Tyler was given IV fluids and taken to a nearby hospital.

Tyler had been playing the game Modern Warfare 3, and rarely left his bedroom during the gaming session.

Dehydration can be deadly because the amount of fluid in your entire body is decreased, including fluid in your blood vessels, which results in decreased blood volume. Decreased blood volume leads to decreased blood pressure, and at a certain point if the blood pressure is low enough, there is not enough oxygen getting to the brain, which can cause you to pass out. It could even lead to death. But dehydration is not the only risk of extended gaming. It's also dangerous to stay awake for long periods of time without rest. Eventually, the body will shut down and you will pass out.

Rawlins, who feared that Tyler would die, has since taken the Xbox away from her son. She says it's "gone" and he has learned his lesson and accepted the consequences.

Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis put fear in opposing defenses last season after tearing through opposing teams like they were made of tissue paper. His offensive output landed him on the cover of the most popular sports video game in the United States - John Madden Football. The bad news, however, is what seems to happen to players after landing on the cover of the game. Numerous times throughout the history of the game players have had injuries or subpar seasons following a feature on the game's cover. Hillis has had a little bit of both this season.

When the Browns dumped head coach Eric Mangini following another disappointing season, gone was a rugged offense that fit Hillis' attributes to a tee. Put in its place was the "West Coast Offense" which thrives on the short passing game. The Browns do not possess the receivers to strike fear in opposing defenses, so they line up daring Colt McCoy and company to throw the ball down field. This has attributed to Hillis' meager 3.5 yard per carry.

Social game developer Kabam will soon be bringing the mafia to social networking after announcing that Paramount Pictures has agreed to license them The Godfather to be turned into a social game for Facebook. Fans of Mafia Wars might not care all that much, but film buffs who love the classic Godfather film series might find themselves particularly drawn to the game.

The name of the game is The Godfather: Five Families. It takes place in New York City in the 1930s, one decade before where the first movie in the trilogy starts. As a player in the game, you are born into one of the five famlies that Francis Ford Coppola created. Then, you must by any means necessary find a way to be come don.

The game is free to start, so you'll get sucked in more easily, but if you want to become don, you'll eventually have to start shelling out some cold hard cash to buy the weapons and special skills you'll need.

Nintendo announced on Tuesday that the successor to the Wii video game console will broadcast high-definition video and feature a touchscreen controller featuring the ability to detect motion and broadcast video that can interact and switch back and forth to the television display.

The next-generation Wii console is named Wii U, which Nintendo unveiled at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). The white 6.2-inch touchscreen controller features a directional pad, dual analog sticks, a microphone, two speakers, a front facing camera, and pairs of shoulder buttons.

According to the Japanese company, Wii U will be compatible with Wii games and controllers and the system will be released sometime between April and December 2012.

The price of Wii U has not yet been announced.