The Guild – Do You Wanna Date My Avatar (2009)

LYRICS:
Do you wanna date my avatar?
Do you wanna date my avatar?

Hang with me in my MMO
So many places we can go
You’ll never see my actual face
Our love, our love will be in virtual space

I’m craving to emote with you
So many animations I can do
Be anything you want me to be
C’mon, c’mon, and share a potion with me

Do you wanna date my avatar?
She’s a star
And she’s hotter than reality by far
Wanna date my avatar?

War Inc.: Pentagon using fun to find new guns for hire

The Pentagon’s still spending huge amounts of dollars to convince young Americans to sign up for the Army. Its close ties with Hollywood and the video games industry is helping turn military service into an attractive deal with the economic crisis and unemployment working alongside. RT’s Anastasia Churkina reports on how it’s all playing out for America’s youth.

A.V. Club Inventory: Fictional Drugs

Even in the wild world of recreational drug use, sometimes the real thing just isn’t enough. Sometimes writers need to imagine a narcotic with new effects–or new combinations of effects–to suit their needs. In this week’s Inventory, we explore Glint, Spank, and Melange.

Chinese video game targets US troops

A first-person shooter videogame available in China puts the player in the shoes of a member of the People’s Liberation Army. After undergoing basic training, the player is sent off into combat against what appears to be US troops and helicopters. “Glorious Mission,” based off an US video game, is shown in overseas news as becoming popular with military members in China.

Xbox 360 Banned Commercial

Massive make-believe shootout in public.

“Jump in–XBox 360″

Violent Video Games OK?

“It’s the thrill of victory that’s thrilling, not the production of blood and gore.”

Reassuring news for parents about violent video games: a new study released today shows that violence is not what attracts players.

Living with First-Person Shooter Disease

Duke Nukem’s disease is a scary one. Gene brings you the story of the life of a First Person Shooter.

Lampooning negative effects of video games.

Video games glorify Mexican cartel violence

Mexican media organisations have signed an agreement to cover organised crime in a way that does not elevate drug cartels.

But that is not preventing foreign companies from creating cartel-inspired video games.

And as Al Jazeera’s Franc Contreras reports, the images and storylines have some groups in Mexico worried about the glorification of violence.