Is retail dead? Apparently not! Sony and Universal are putting fresh investment in the physical media through the development and distribution of vending machine that will sell movies and games from the two companies. Unveiled at the Stuff Live event this weekend in London, consumers will soon find the machines scattered throughout the United Kingdom.

 This week is a big one for the first person shooter with both Resistance 2 and Gears of War 2 going head to head on behalf of their respective consoles. Both of these titles are fundamental elements in the holiday offering of each console and, both being exclusives, the choice between either of these two sequels for consumers could ultimately mean the choice between one of the two machines.

Microsoft, Yahoo and Google yesterday announced a code of conduct which they will use to cement the right to freedom of speech in all of their online endeavours. The “Global Network Initiative”, as it is being called, will aim to "avoid or minimise the impact of government restrictions on freedom of expression".

The dominating news of the weekend was the tragic and ongoing story of missing teenager Brandon Crisp. Crisp, fifteen, reportedly ran away from home after his father confiscated his Xbox and is now the subject of a manhunt by Canadian authorities.

 Yesterday was a bad day for game localisation and censorship, and especially so from Microsoft's point of view.

The ongoing US presidential election has been unique in many respects, not least because of the role played by the internet in the spreading of news, information and ideas. One of the emergent phenomena in this explosion of political blogging, social networking and viral videos has been Amber Lee Ettinger, a.k.a. ‘Obama Girl’. The young starlet who lent her name, face and talents to the Presidential aspirations of Barack Obama via YouTube.

 Nintendo is keen to cement its position as a female friendly brand by this week by setting up shop at Women's Conference.

 Capcom had the pleasure of announcing last week that it would become the first publisher to have its own dedicated digital storefront inside the PlayStation Network. The initiative displays Sony’s awareness of the flexibility of digital distribution methods in delivering and organising content, along with its appreciation for the growing role publishing brands play in consumer’s buying decisions.

 Next week sees the launch of Fable II worldwide. The highly anticipated title from Lionhead plays a huge part in Microsoft’s portfolio this holiday season and, quite understandably, they want to make sure as many people are aware and excited about it as possible.

 For a small publisher like GameCock, getting noticed amidst all the noise and clutter is no easy task. When you’re just one droplet in an oceanic industry dominated by a handful of very big names and a plethora of very small ones having a bold brand is essential. Especially when the average consumer only has any kind of relationship with the major players, developing and maintaining brand awareness can pose a profound challenge.