When Google launched Lively, its web-based, browser-embeddable, Second Life-esque virtual world chat space, we said we'd "check back in with it soon" and "dig deeper to see what Google has in store." That was a lie. We never had any intention of firing up Lively on our Windows XP box ever again after hitting Save on the post.

Billboard advertising for Grand Theft Auto IV will return to Chicago buses and bus stations for six weeks as part of a settlement with the Chicago Transit Authority.

Boy, we really, really hope you didn't drop $599 (or more) of your hard-earned dollars on this "Konami.com exclusive" Metal Gear Solid 4 PlayStation 3 bundle that was going to be released in "very, very limited" quantities.

Welcome to my third annual post on new media for the Half-Life fan-created remake Black Mesa (formerly known as Black Mesa: Source).

The reason for DICE delaying the PC release of Mirror's Edge may be a little clearer.

DICE are retooling the PC version with enhanced graphics and - video card permitting - the NVIDIA PhysX engine to allow more accurate physics modelling of the virtual cityscape and the many, many things that can realistically fall off it.

Early sales on Media Molecule's LittleBigPlanet didn't quite set the world on fire.

NinjaBee's city-building strategy game A Kingdom For Keflings joins the Xbox Live Arcade line-up today, the first new game to ship with support for those beastly new Avatars you've all created. The game supports up to four players online and will set budding city planners back 800 Microsoft Points.

A judge has dismissed the court case against Capcom by The MKR Group, which claimed that mall-based Zombie satire Dead Rising was a bit too similar to mall-based Zombie satire Dawn Of The Dead.

After reviewing MKR's claims, the judge found that the game contained "profound differences" and dismissed the case.

To: Luke
From: Crecente
Re: 1680x1050

Talked to Ash early this morning via Skype. He sounds tired, but happy. Having a mini and a micro on your hands can do that to you I suppose. Sounds like he'll be back next week, at least for a bit, before taking some serious paternity time.

Half-Life isn't the only game celebrating its tenth birthday this year. Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo series is now a decade old, leading the developer of the PlayStation driving sim to hold an anniversary event called Downshift Session 2008 in New York City last month. Yes, yes, mazal tov, Kazunori Yamauchi and crew.