The average age of a gamer is starting to edge higher. Gamers are also less healthy and more depressed than those who don't partake in our particular brand of entertainment. That's what a CDC survey suggests, at least.

Midway is now owned by Warner Bros. -- by default. The LA Times report that the media conglomerate has won the bidding rights to Midway for US$ 33 million. So how come they won it by default? According to reports, the big WB was the only one who had a "serious offer".

We know hardly any of you would look this way, now that your pre-order of Snake's final chapter has shipped to your doorstep. But Sony would just like you to know that they've added new things to the US PlayStation Store this week, and some of it's even angled to enhance your Metal Gear Solid 4 experience. There's also a slew of free downloadable content for both the next generation console and the PSP, as well as UMD titles finally hitting the PC store. Read more to get the full list.

Ever since the Online Game Development Conference (OGDC) started, more than a few big names have graced the event. However, it won't be known as the OGDC for much longer. Evergreen Events has announced that it will now be known as the ION Game Conference.

Want to  know more about this change? Head on over to the full article by clicking on our "read more" link below for more information.

It's never too early to reserve a place in the next Penny Arcade Expo (PAX). It was announced today that the event will be accepting registrations as early as January 2008. The last PAX had 37,000 gamers roaming its floor. Tickets were sold out so early registration may be a good idea.

PAX 2008 will be held on August 29 to 31 and attendance is expected to double again. "Again" because attendance has been doubling ever since the first PAX. The attendance grew so large that the last event was held in the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle just to fit everyone in.

Next year's PAX will mark the expo's fifth year and will continue the tradition of game exhibitions, conference programs (about games of course), concerts, tournaments, freeplay gaming and general fun times for everyone and all in the gaming community.

 

When PaRappa the Rapper is in the house, we know there's more than just chopping onions and driving lessons. Chop Chop Master Onion's Rap Showdown was announced just last month, yet hundreds of aspiring rappers and series fans already sent in their entries.

The dough is finally shaping up and the winner is about to be crowned. Ten finalists have been chosen, and it's up to you to vote for your favorite rapper. To do that, just head over to the PlayStation site, which you can find via Read link below.

We were quite amused watching the videos. Contestants range from teens, to dads dressing up their sons as PaRappa. Still, we'll have to say each and everyone in the top ten deserve their spots. Most of them are ghetto style, but some also nailed the PaRappa feel.

Whoever gets branded as crowd favorite will earn a trip for two to PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, WA, August 24, 25 and 26, 2007. One double-occupancy hotel room for three nights and spending money for meals and transportation for three days are also included in the package. Two PSPs and two copies of PaRappa the Rapper are also for grabs.

Remember when we mentioned that Sony was starting up its ad campaigns to promote PaRappa the Rapper? In case you think you've got the mad skillz to be able to create your own rap routine based on the game's songs, we've got a contest for you.

Sony has just sent word via their PlayStation site that they're now inviting gamers to their "Chop Chop Onion's Rap Showdown" competition. This contest will have players choose one of three PaRappa clips featured at the home site, with the player challenged to do their very own rap version of the song. The competitor's video must be in a Capella, and must use the original lyrics. The top 10 performers for this competition will stand a chance to receive these following prizes:

• PaRappa PSP skins
• PaRappa PSP charms
• PaRappa's signature beanie
• A copy of the game
  

Of these top ten, the lucky contestant that gets elected as the "Ultimate" PaRappa Rap Master will win tickets for this year's PAX (Penny Arcade Expo). Breaking down the details of this sweet prize:

• Airfare for you and a friend to PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, WA, August 24, 25 and 26, 2007
• One double-occupancy hotel room for three nights
• Spending money for meals and transportation for three days
• Two PSPs and two copies of PaRappa the Rapper

We advice guys planning to join up to move quickly - the first 100 registrants will also be awarded free PaRappa-themed Paul Frank T-shirts. That's the basic rundown for this latest game promo - guys interested in reading the full contest rules are advised to click on the read link for full details.

Two of Take-Two Interactive's nine board members will not be seeking re-election at the company's annual shareholding meeting according to GamePolitics.

One of the two is Seattle Police Foundation member Michael Malone, who came under criticism from police and community officials when Miami attorney Jack Thompson revealed his connection with the Grand Theft Auto publisher.

At the time, Malone said that he is "playing a temporary role in a company, with a very specific purpose."

Todd Emmel, head of the T2 board’s audit committee, is the other board member not pursuing re-election. Emmel replaced Barbara Kaczynski in that post after Kaczynski left the board under mysterious circumstances early in 2006.

Kaczynski pointed towards "increasingly unhealthy relationship between senior management and the board of directors … characterized by a lack of cooperation and respect" as the reason for her resignation.

There have been no details yet regarding who will replace Malone and Emmel.

For those like us who have grown to love Penny Arcade's razor-sharp gaming commentaries and crisp art style, then being able to attend the annual Penny Arcade Expo is something that we would gladly clear our month's schedules for. However, as everyone has discovered from the recent PAX 2006, when Penny Arcade followers show up, they turn out in full force, and small convention halls just won't do the trick anymore.

So, to solve this dilemma and as preparation for this year's PAX 2007, the folks from PA have just announced that they are expecting up to 300,000 people to attend the next event, and that a venue which is two times the size of last year's will be waiting to receive the crowd.

Having to give up Bellevue's Maydenbauer Center, PAX 2007 will now be held at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center in Seattle, Washington. Boasting a floor space of more than 200,000 square feet, they're hoping that this will be enough to hold the attendees, as well as booths and exhibits from companies such as Microsoft, Nintendo, and Wizards of the Coast, to name a few.

PAX 2007 is scheduled to be held on August 24 to 26, and according to their site's countdown, we all have 209 days to go to make those reservations. Early reservations get a chance to join the Omegathon, by the way, so if you're still green with envy over the truck that they gave to the previous Omegathon winner, then better get started.