The PlayStation Vita.  Though it may not be everyone’s ideal handheld choice (the 3DS is out there, along with cheaper handhelds and that iPhone thing), it’s still a sleek little thing that’s well worth playing.  Sony has made quite a push with the system so far, with a number of impressive games and a few more on the way, including Resistance: Burning Skies landing at retail (and digitally) later this month.  But when it comes to games you MUST have, what are the best choices for the system?

Throughout the history of video games, the oldest stereotype surrounding the industry has always been do violent video games affect player behavior and personality. It is a known fact that people who play games are exposed to more violence than the average consumer. From nuking entire civilization to obliterating players online, it’s has become more and more common now that games are more focus on squarely providing violent action. For this reason alone, parents have long held an underlining negative attitude towards the industry and those who stand by it, but is this criticism injustice or have developers gone to far? Should government step in?

Mortal Kombat was a colossal hit when it came out for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 last year, reaffirming the strength in the franchise after all these years.  So, naturally, the development team wanted to continue the trend, releasing the Komplete Edition last month and following suit with the series’ debut on PlayStation Vita, coming next month.  What can fans look forward to when it comes to the portable edition?  Plenty.

The yearly EVO fighting event has become something of a phenomenon here in the game industry.  Last year, over two million folks tuned in to watch live fights from the Las Vegas tournament, watching the lines of Justin Wong and other elite game players take on each other in epic fashion.  This year looks to be the biggest one to date, as EVO 2012 has been announced, set to take place on July 6-8 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.

As part of its 11th annual Zeitgeist (German for “the spirit of the times”) 2011 list, Google revealed the Top 10 Video Games and Top 10 Online Games of the year. Surprisingly, some of the big games of 2011, including Batman: Arkham City and Modern Warfare 3 didn’t make the list. Perhaps because gamers were eager for big games coming in 2012 like Mass Effect 3 and Diablo 3. Google’s annual compilation of the most popular and fastest-rising search terms is the most detailed and data-rich yet. On the interactive 2011 Zeitgeist site, there’s additional information in all types of categories. But for games, check out the two relevant lists below the video from the top-searched game of the year, Treyarch’s Call of Duty: Black Ops.

Movies based on popular video games are usually a crapshoot.  We say this because of the history of most of these films, though a couple, like the original Mortal Kombat, have escaped unscathed.  But the future isn't looking too rosy, mainly because of the argument of who should retain control of the rights and production.  So we've decided to take a look at all sides and see what the best way to go is.  It sounds like the upcoming film adaptation of Assassin's Creed needs it.

Whether it was the hype behind the Mortal Kombat: Legacy digital series, the Freddy Krueger DLC, or the quality of the gameplay, the latest iteration of the legendary fighting franchise has sold over 3 million units worldwide, making it the highest-selling fighting game this year. Ed Boon, the creator of the bloody fighting game, talks about the transmedia landscape of the franchise in the exclusive video interview below.

Back when Mortal Kombat released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in April, the $149 Tournament Edition came packaged with a deluxe fighting stick, one that mimicked an arcade-style set-up.  However, a few folks thought the stick was a little too bulky for its own good, despite the authenticity.  Well, over the next few weeks, PDP will resolve that problem by introducing a new Mortal Kombat Klassic Fight Stick to the market, one that arcade fans will instantly recognize -- and probably pre-order.

From Kevin Tancharoen – acclaimed director of Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, the viral sensation with 12 million YouTube hits – comes Mortal Kombat: Legacy, a must-see 9 episode anthology from Warner Premiere, arriving on Blu-ray November 8 from Warner Home Video. Created by a fan for the fans, the newest release lets the consumer dive deeper into the origins of one of the most enduring franchises in history. Tancharoen talks about the series in this exclusive video interview from San Diego Comic-Con 2011.

There are several competitive video game tournaments out there that can really bring out the best in players.  This weekend, a lot of folks are invading Anaheim to see what the MLG crew can do (and with that, lots of love to Jessica and Kelly, you two got game!).  However, if you're an avid fighting fan, chances are you're watching tournaments taking place at the EVO Championship Series in Las Vegas, Nevada.  As you should be.

One, two, Freddy's coming for you.  On August 9th, WB Games will release its final downloadable character for Mortal Kombat, and it's none other than legendary film icon Freddy Krueger.  While we're mildly disappointed that we won't have the opportunity to beat the crap out of Jason Voorhees in the game (c'mon, Netherrealm, OPPORTUNITY!), we were impressed when we got a chance to play as him at a recent Gamestop event during the week of Comic-Con.

Next week is building up pretty nicely for Comic-Con 2011, with a number of game companies coming out in force with news, playable builds and tournaments galore.  But one company in particular that's turning a few heads is Capcom, mainly because they haven't quite revealed what they've got in store just yet.  If the show is any indication, however, it's something revolving around Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 -- and we're not just talking typical downloadable content.