Foster City, Calif. - Sony Computer Entertainment America announced on Monday that it has signed an agreement giving the rights to publish PlayStation: The Official Magazine to publisher Future US. The company already publishes Official Sony PlayStation Magazine in the U.K., and also publishes Nintendo Power and Official Xbox Magazine.  Future US named Rob Smith, former editor-in-chief of PSM-Independent PlayStation Magazine, as the new editor-in-chief of PlayStation: The Official Magazine, which will debut in late November with an initial circulation of 300,000.

Foster City, Calif. - A Sony Computer Entertainment America patent application filed in September 2005 has emerged, for a device that appears to connect a PlayStation controller to its PSP handheld game device. While the filing provides scant details, potential uses for the link-up include adding analog control, force feedback and other features to the downloadable PlayStation 2 games available for the PSP.

San Francisco - Nintendo's Wii was the top-selling video game console in the U.S. in January, followed by Sony's PlayStation 2, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sales data from market research firm NPD Group.

New York - Brisk hardware sales in December helped push total U.S. video game sales for 2006 up 19%, to $12.5 billion, according to sales data from market research firm NPD Group.

Europe’s first clinic focused on treating video game addiction claims it is a growing problem that could affect as many as 20% of gamers. Compulsive gamers have similar symptoms to gambling addicts, clinic representatives say, and they risk damage to relationships, health, education and their careers.