Microsoft released some new apps for Xbox Live today. If you head over to the Apps Marketplace in the United States, you’ll see video apps for TMZ, YouTube, Verizon FiOS TV and MSNBC. There is also an app for iHeartRadio if you’re more inclined to listen to music rather than watch videos. Apps for other countries have been released as well.

You can now unleash your inner Carrie Underwood or Brad Paisley in CMT Presents Platinum Life: Country, a new Facebook game challenging you to become a country star.

This is Country Music Television’s (CMT) first entrant in the social gaming space. Heatwave Interactive is the developer. This is a spinoff of Heatwave’s Platinum Life, a hip-hop themed social RPG that includes rappers such as Ludacris helping you become a huge star in the music game. Some of Heatwave’s other projects include iSam Jackson, which places the famous actor on your iPhone, and PC MMOGods and Heroes: Rome Rising.

Virgin Radio in Vancouver, BC (Canada), is having a “Fake Film Festival” where the goal is to recreate a movie that runs in less than 60 seconds. That’s right, cram a full-length, feature film into only one minute.

Kial Natale and Dylan Innes, the same crew that created the wildly popular movie Pokemon Apokelypse have created a 60-second version of Scott Pilgram vs. the World.

Putting Subway subs in your stomach might soon mean some free Playstation products in your home before they are in stores.

Subway and Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced today (August 16, 2010) a giveaway that will include more than $1 million in prizes given at the (average) rate of one prize per minute during the promotion which begins August 16, 2010, and ends at midnight on October 17, 2010.

The promotion is called Fiery Footlong Frenzy Fueled by PlayStation and will focus on Subway’s lineup of spicy “Fiery Footlong” sandwiches that includes the a Turkey Jalapeno Melt and Buffalo Chicken. Game codes will be included on 32 oz. drinks, specially marked SunChips Monterey Jack and Sundried Tomato bags and certain Subway Breakfast sandwiches. Codes will need to be entered at the Subway Fiery Footlong Frenzy web site. The companies are also using the slogan, “WIN IT BEFORE YOU CAN BUY IT!”

The Los Angeles Times reports that earlier this week (October 29, 2009) a Sacramento jury awarded $16 million to the family of Jennifer Strange, who died in a ill-fated 2007 radio contest that asked participants to “Hold Your Wee for a Wii.”

The mother of three died from water intoxication after chugging bottles of water without urinating for hours during the “Morning Rave” show on Sacramento’s KDND-FM in an attempt to win a Nintendo Wii console.

For many fans, Seattle Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmanzadeh will forever be known as the receiver that meant a guaranteed fantasy championship to the guy in that classic commercial. Of course, he’s had to spend the past couple of years getting referred to as “Who’s Your Mama,” the moniker the unfortunate owner in that commercial hung on T.J.

Now the receiver is getting publicity because of his plans to boycott the latest Madden installment over his in-game player rating. Every year a few players take issue with their Madden NFL rating but Houshmanzadeh may be the first to take it to this extreme.

The idea of a video game industry awards show, one much like the Oscars, is a pretty intriguing idea. Much like the Oscars, though, it would most likely fall apart due to industry politics.

One of the great things about entertainment is that some people do it simply because they love to do it. If not, they at least love to please an audience. However, with the multitudes of industry-specific awards, most of the love and life that went into industries including music, film and literature has disappeared…

The anime turned videogame Afro Samurai has been released today (January 27, 2009) across North America. It brings a unique blend of animation and music to the hack and slash gameplay formula. Incidentally it’ll also be getting some tasty promotions from the fast food restaurant Church’s Chicken. In preparation for the games release NAMCO BANDAI has teamed up with Church’s Chicken to create another round of “advergaming” for its games. Soul Caliber IV was also subjected to a cross promotion campaign with Church’s that showed signs of success.

The promotion includes…

If you thought listening to the disclaimers at the end of a commercial for medicine or reading the warning labels on the side of a cigarette pack is funny, then get a load of this.

I read the report posted on CNet by Don Reisinger which indicates that on January 7, 2009, Joe Baca, a democratic representative of California, introduced the H.R.231: The Video Game Health Labeling Act of 2009 bill to 111th Congress requesting to make it mandatory that video games that have received a rating for violence to display the following warning:

WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior.

I thought it was funny. At first…

The last day of year (December 31, 2008), NPR’s Talk of the Nation (TOTN) show aired a segment titled titled “The Best Arts Releases Of 2008” hosted by Neal Conan.

Granted, they likely meant liberal arts, which does not necessarily mean fine art but, even so, TOTN used a video game to plug the segment. Unfortunately, not one video game was discussed during the meat of the segment.

The segment lasts about 30 minutes and highlights works that Conan refers to as “cultural contributions” which was meant to…