GAMING

Japanese electronics giant Sony has triggered a mania among gamers in Japan by releasing Sony PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) on Dec. 17.

Sony is launching Vita in Japan on Saturday, hoping the company's first new handheld video game system in seven years will get the company's game business going again now that many consumers have turned to Apple's iPhone, the world's bestselling smartphone, for entertainment.

Here is a list of the top three tablets hardcore gamers can contemplate splurging on:

A gambler who thought he'd won a $57 million jackpot at the slot machines was shocked to receive only $100 and a free meal after casino owners brushed off the win as a computer glitch. Merlaku is suing the Austrian casino for his winnings in the biggest civil claim of its kind, saying he will fight until my death to get Casinos Austria to pay up.

Good news to smartphones and tablet users who crave for gaming without compromising on splendid graphics - OnLive, a Silicon Valley-based gaming service, has announced the launch of an application (app) which enables users of mobile devices such as iPhone, iPad and Android-based smartphones and tablets, including Amazon's Kindle Fire, to enjoy console-class gaming.

Video game companies want to turn gamers from one-time purchasers into subscribers who generate a steady and predictable revenue stream to boost business and protect against economic uncertainty.

People looking for Activision Blizzard's new children's game Skylanders this holiday season may be out of luck after the game sold better than expected, the video game maker's top executive said on Monday.

Apparently gamers just don't appreciate the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal's wacky sense of humor. The animal rights activists recently attacked gaming icon, Mario, for wearing the Tanooki-suit, a mystical raccoon in Japanese culture. PETA's site proclaims that Mario Kills Tanooki, and alleged that figure sent the wrong message by wearing the suit.

Android and iOS mobile devices have grown their presence in the mobile gaming market from 19-percent market share in 2009 to 58 percent in 2011. The two challenge long-running mobile gaming champions Nintendo and Sony.

The Radiant storytelling in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’ will ensure an infinite amount of quests to perform that will be randomly generated based on where the player has been and what they have done.

The London Games Conference names Steve Jobs the most influential person in gaming, and Apple’s iPhone the biggest product to shape the industry.

Video game maker THQ Inc posted a bigger loss than a year earlier but its quarterly sales beat Wall Street expectations as its Warhammer shooter title performed well in September.

Battlefield 3 becomes the fastest selling game of 2011 as it sells 5 million copies in its first week.

888 Holdings Plc expects 2011 earnings to be significantly ahead of current market estimates as British consumers preferred staying back home, watching TV and gambling online amid an economic slowdown.

The nation's lottery players will have a shot at nearly $245 million on Wednesday night, as PowerBall's Saturday drawing did not net any winners. Meanwhile, the MegaMillons game jackpot is now only $78 million: that drawing is Tuesday night.

With the upcoming trailer of Grand Theft Auto V being released Nov. 5, rumors put the game's setting in Los Angeles.

Blizzard's Annual Pass comes with great rewards, but comes at a great price.

Assassin's Creed character, Ezio Auditore, is the new guest character in Soul Calibur V.

Best Buy offers gamers another way to get hot games during midnight releases.

Sony Pictures and Ubisoft are close to producing a movie based on the popular game franchise Assassin's Creed.

We compare the iPhone 4S to Samsung's Galaxy Nexus and what it means for mobile gaming.