The U.S. Government reaches out to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, asking his company to create a "deficit-reduction video game." The purpose of the title would be to inform the public about everything that goes into balancing the national budget and let people try their hand at it. I wonder if not spending so much money on (or rather ending) wars would be an option in the game, because if it is, I think I know how to beat it already. [USA Today]

 

Fighting-game forum Shoryuken.com (SRK) helps out a member who devastatingly lost his home and family's life savings. The heads of the website have set up a donation fund for New York Street Fighter community member Chris Hu and his family after they and over 50 other families lost their homes in a recent fire. Shoryuken will be accepting donations until April 23 and have even kicked things off by throwing in an initial $1,000. Check out the page they've set up for info on how you can contribute. Our best wishes go out to those affected by this tragedy.

 

2K Games announces XCOM, a re-imagining of the tactical-game franchise X-COM, popular in the 1990s. The new hyphen-less version of the game is set to take place from the first-person perspective, as players assume the role an FBI agent seeking to identify an unknown enemy. 1UP reports that the core 2K Marin team that worked on BioShock 2 unfortunately are not leading the development of this new title, but rather 2K Marin's recently integrated Australian "sister studio" (formerly 2K Australia) is. I was unable to find a Marin in Australia using Google maps, but maybe they know something I don't? 

 

PSA: Microsoft plans to shut down the original Xbox Live service tonight at midnight. If you want to get in some last-minute quality time with Halo 2 online, today is likely your last chance. As for myself, this might be my last opportunity to show off my lack of skills in the game...I'll pass.

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