Boys and girls, today we won't talk about the most popular console, the rate of growth of the industry, and not even about the average age of video gamers, although those would be pretty interesting topics. Today, we'll talk about the holiday shopping spree in the UK, since the race for the #1 title of the month is already over!

Well, the British didn't celebrate the Christmas and New Year just yet, but since the full holiday charts showing the best sellers of the lead-up to Christmas are ready... you can check them out below:
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1. FIFA 09
2. Call of Duty: World at War
3. Mario Kart Wii
4. Need For Speed Undercover
5. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training
6. Wii Play
7. Quantum of Solace
8. Professor Layton and the Curious Village
9. Tomb Raider Underworld
10. Wii Fit

All I can say is that I am extremely disappointed for seeing a game like Need for Speed: Undercover getting such a good ranking, but that's life. Junk food sells, and junk games... not always, only sometimes, especially when they come from EA.

These days, I am sure a lot of managers see "cost savings analysis" everywhere, and they may be even dreaming about it, but the truth is that most companies in trouble should think about "quality analysis," and that's exactly what I think about EA, one of the gaming giants that's offering a bitter present to 1,000 of its employees... their pink slips!

I know there should be more to say about this whole story, but when we're talking about big corporations and cost savings analysis, it doesn't matter if the employees who will be victims were expecting to have a good rest at the end of the year, since I am sure that, beyond any words that various people from EA's management could say, those employees are only pawns in a game, and they're the ones to fall simply because EA's is expecting to get annual savings of $120 million out of it...
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Here you have EA's blanket statement which outlines how it will examine each of its series' viability: "EA is implementing a plan to narrow its product portfolio to focus on hit games with higher margin opportunities. The company remains committed to taking creative risks, investing in new games, leading the industry in the growing mobile and online businesses, and delivering high-quality games to consumers."

As far as I can tell, all the mumbo-jumbo above doesn't necessarily mean "good games," but simply "we'll focus on games that sell, before anything else." Well, nothing new here, although they also manage to release some good games... but from now on, the chances to see good games from EA are probably going to be smaller. Much smaller.

Oh, my, things seem to get really tough for everyone these days, and the worst part of it all is that we have to see so many layoffs announced around Christmas. After all, it's not such a tragedy to lose your job - if you're really good, you can always find another one - but finding out about this just before year's most important holiday, that's a bit nasty...

First of all, it seems the closure of Free Radical Design has been confirmed. The good part of it is that a new company is being founded by Dave Doak and Steve Ellis, and 20 staff positions were offered into this new company for people at Free Radical Design, so... crisis is a game, as I was just saying.
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At last, we have EA, who decided to lay off almost 10 percent of the available workforce, so the number of soon to be former EA employees will reach the 1,000 mark. Now, that's what I can really call "crisis," but as long as they're moving in the studio in charge with Need for Speed: Undercover with EA Canada instead of sending them all to grow some tomatoes, instead of ruining great titles... that's enough for me to say.

Other than that, I think the gaming industry will slowly shift its focus toward mobiles, since the smartphone market still grows, and all those iPhone users out there are hungry for more games... but that's what remains to be seen. Anyway, as a final thought - if you're into the industry and just lost your job, or feel insecure, I advise you to think about it - you can always choose a completely different career, and that break after being sent home for good is priceless, believe me! ;)

One of these days, I was talking to a friend of mine about this so-called "crisis," and you know what he told me? "I got so much to work, I didn't notice any crisis!" Unlike him, I notice some businesses closing their gates almost daily, as I walk out the building and go somewhere else, but I don't call this a "crisis," since it's more about "customers justice," and I think the only ones really in pain these days are those who want to start a business, not those that only need to redraw their business plans.

The fact that another one bites the dust here and there is a direct consequence of the customer satisfaction provided and - of course - the specific demands of the market a certain business is operating in, and so we arrive at our topic, Free Radical Design...
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According to GamesIndustry.biz, indie UK studio Free Radical Design is shutting down, "with multiple sources claiming that staff, including senior executives, have already left the company." The worst part of it is that, according to another inside source quoted by GamesIndustry, "staff turned up to work today to find doors locked, and instructions to meet at a nearby hotel for a final company meeting." Being laid off is not such a tragedy, but being laid off just before Christmas, without any warning, now that's nasty!

To make things even worse, about a month ago, studio's director Steve Ellis was saying everything is fine, and nobody will be laid off "any time in 2008." Too bad he was not right, and another one bites the dust... but that's life!

Oh, my, I just remembered why I choose as political orientation "anarchist" each time I have to select it when entering data in some online form! I'll get to it right away, but let me say that I like order, but since anarchy in a society with decent people is better than most forms of organized government where (in)decent people make the decision...

...here you have it - as you probably know, residents of the state of New York are already paying an extremely high tax on cigarettes, but - at least from my point of view - that's a good idea, although unpopular. Less smokers means less people who will end up using their medical insurance, and so less health-related spending. <-125x125 Button - right->Obviously, the budget will get more money, overall, although a bunch of people will curse the ones behind the decision, but...what about the download tax?

Yeah, you heard that right - here's the excerpt from the official document, via Kotaku: "Close Digital Property Taxation Loophole. Imposes state and local sales tax on purchases of prewritten software, digital audio, audio-visual and text files, digital photographs, games, and other electronically delivered entertainment services to achieve tax parity. For example, with the passage of this bill, a book, song, album, or movie would be subject to sales tax no matter if it was bought at a brick and mortar store or downloaded online."

Since I always try to take hits with a smile, and this time - even if this gruesome proposition becomes a law - it won't affect me, all I can say is: ROTFLMAO! Anyway, if you're closer to the "hot zone," telling us what's your opinion about it would be a great idea, so don't be shy!