BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European policy makers have identified a large shortfall in computing and IT skills among young people that threatens to dent Europe’s ability to compete and could exacerbate youth unemployment in the coming decade. While young Europeans may be good at using mobile smartphones and playing video games, they lack basic digital skills that could make them more easily employable in a rapidly digitizing economy, research from the European Commission shows. …

Reuters – The $64 billion global video games industry, shaken up by the likes of Zynga in recent years, may be on the verge of another identity crisis.

Newsarama.com – Video games are digital, so why not video game comics? Dark Horse is embracing this symbiosis with an ambitious comic book project to bridge the storytelling gap between 2009′s open-world actioner Prototype with its upcoming sequel Prototype 2. A total of three two-issue miniseries will fill the empty spaces by telling three stories from three different perspectives, first from the original game’s hero, Alex Mercer, the second from a small group of civilians caught up in the biological apocalypse and the third from the franchise’s new protagonist: the vengeance-minded Sergeant James Heller.

AP – The Smithsonian American Art Museum is announcing details of its first major exhibit exploring the art and evolution of video games.

AP – The Smithsonian American Art Museum is announcing details of its first major exhibit exploring the art and evolution of video games.

AP – Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, the American sentenced to death by the Iranian government, is linked to a small New York company specializing in video games that recreate real-life conflicts in the Middle East and beyond.

AP – Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, the American sentenced to death by the Iranian government, is linked to a small New York company specializing in video games that recreate real-life conflicts in the Middle East and beyond.

love for video games with a device that many consumers are extremely passionate about,” said Ben.

The best characters in video games aren’t just awesome in the present but will remain fixated in a gamer’s brain for many years. Those characters that succeed have a strong personality, aren’t one…

AP – It’s something that players of modern single-player video games like “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” and “Batman: Arkham City” might take for granted, but an effect that die-hard fans of sprawling online role-playing games such as “World of Warcraft” and “Aion” will surely appreciate: The characters in “Star Wars: The Old Republic” can actually speak.

Appolicious – It’s a week of great video games finding their way to Apple’s iOS platform. Leading the pack is Grand Theft Auto 3, the PlayStation 2 classic that put parents and politicians in an uproar a decade ago, re-imagined with touchscreen controls but losing none of its attitude. Read all about GTA 3 and four other quality titles (including two straight out of the console video gaming world of yesterday) in this week’s best games list.

Appolicious – It’s a week of great video games finding their way to Apple’s iOS platform. Leading the pack is Grand Theft Auto 3, the PlayStation 2 classic that put parents and politicians in an uproar a decade ago, re-imagined with touchscreen controls but losing none of its attitude. Read all about GTA 3 and four other quality titles (including two straight out of the console video gaming world of yesterday) in this week’s best games list.

Violent video games Special to the Recorder Indianapolis Recorder | 0 comments Sustained changes in the region of the brain associated with cognitive function and emotional control were found in young adult men after one week of playing violent video

Reuters – French video games maker Ubisoft said it is in talks with Hollywood studios for a film version of its top-selling franchise “Assassin’s Creed”.

Reuters – French video games maker Ubisoft said it was well-positioned for the Christmas season after Thanksgiving sales proved better than last year, helped by a dance game featuring pop group the Black Eyed Peas.

A British bar has unveiled a new addition to its urinals with a bizarre distraction aimed at attracting more customers.  Male patrons will now be able to play video games while they visit the bathroom, using their urine to control the on-screen

Reuters – Black Friday turned into a black mark against American shoppers as riotous crowds brawled over video games, waffle irons and towels, drawing international condemnation and even raising questions about the state of humanity.

Reuters – Black Friday turned into a black mark against American shoppers as riotous crowds brawled over video games, waffle irons and towels, drawing international condemnation and even raising questions about the state of humanity.