Thom Dinsdale is an independent blogger. Contrary to erroneous reports on some linking sites, this article is not a "response" by Edge and has not been authored by anyone representing Edge.

 What role does advertising have to play in ensuring the industry makes the most of the current bad economic situation?

The UK Government yesterday announced its intentions to defend and support advertising in light of the imposing recession.

This week as seen something of a to-and-fro between Majesco, publisher of the cute culinary-sim ‘Cooking Mama’, and animal rights group Peta. The latter produced an flash game (which is well worth a play) seeking to criticise and parody the supposed lack of vegetarian dishes in ‘Cooking Mama’ by letting players pluck, stuff and behead a turkey.

New study suggests context-specific adverts well received by gamers.

 By flooding the net with games do we run the risk of making them redundant as a communications tool?

Everyone loves a viral videogame. The format is quickly becoming a mainstay of the marketing communicators toolkit, with a whole micro-industry developing around it. What is it then that makes this form of communication such an attractive one for communicators and an engaging one for consumers?

Ubisoft has announced a huge advertising push for its Wii and DS titles in the run up to the Christmas period. The £4m promotional offensive will be used to support titles from all corners of the company’s seasonal offering in the United Kingdom, with Rayman Raving Rabbids taking centre stage to the tune of £1m.

 Motorstorm lead designer Nigel Kershaw made some interesting comments at the end of last week regarding the taboo of pre-rendered footage in game trailers. Speaking to 1up.com, Kershaw expressed his frustration at the discussion and the frequency he is pressed on the issue of Motorstorm’s very first showing at E3 2005.

 User generated content is a fascinating topic for those involved in game development, especially with reference to the wider implications it bares upon the role of the audience in our media culture. Furthermore, the transformation of “consumers” into “creators” has surely got to be mind-blowing in its possibilities for those seeking out new business models and frameworks through which to design and develop games.

 German born supermodel Heidi Klum stars in the latest campaign for ‘Guitar Hero: World Tour’. The advert sees the model for Victoria Secret, in nothing but her underwear, playing along to Bob Seger's 'Old Time Rock and Roll' in a recreation of Tom Cruise’s iconic scene from the movie ‘Risky Business’.

The choice of Klum was an interesting one. She is, after all, just the latest in an eclectic line of celebrities to star in one of these adverts. Up until this point, however, the adverts have all featured men.

 Buried under all the coverage of the US election this morning is the news that videogames have become the United Kingdom’s favourite pastime!