Let’s start our look back at gaming news stories in China since, well, that’s where the majority of electronics eventually are born.

After reading about China putting an end to shock therapy for video game “addicts” I have only one thought — clearly Dr. Yang’s chair is made out of chocolate.

But that’s not all from our great debt-holders in the far east. Apparently Chinese drywall isn’t good for electronics.

The state budget mess has been brought a half-step closer to resolution, but that’s not where all the crazy is. The Golden State is taking another look at trying to regulate violent video games, drawing the ire of a First Amendment expert and leading to a Supreme Court battle. Let’s just hope we don’t go the German route and try to ban them entirely.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle have joined the world of Furries and failed marketing efforts in Second Life as avatars. I’m not so sure about the realism because this Michelle doesn’t have her tickets to the gun show.

For more political fun, check out the“Where’s the Naughty Governor” game.

Bank thefts and improprieties aren’t just in the real world, there’s embezzlement in online games, including EVE Online. This robbery created a run on the artificial banks. No word on if there will be any bailouts extended to them though.

I have a thing for pinball machines. There’s just something about them that just captivates me for some reason and sucks me dry of any change I had. It’s good to see someone restoring them.

How to make the delicate transition from pinball machines to creepy posts involving video game characters on Craigslist…I won’t. Instead, I’ll just post the link.

Now for a whole paragraph about Nintendo, including the strong sales of the DS, a Wii Sports Resort review, another Wii Sports Resort review, a look at the black Wii hitting Japan next week, and New York Yankees pitcher CC “no periods for me, good sir” Sabbathia playing RBI Baseball — yes, the original NES RBI Baseball — during a rain delay at Yankees stadium.

Speaking of the Wii, here’s an interesting read on that game I’ve written so much about already, Ghostbusters, and how the developers rebuilt the game from the ground up.

Another game that I’ve put a few bytes into is Civilization IV because of its DRM technology that makes the game a horrific inconvenience. At least I can play it without an Internet connection though, unlike the upcoming Command and Conquer 4.

But as far as stupid things people do that involve video games, Amherst, New York has officially taken the cake here. The Town Council deadlocked on approving a Chuck E. Cheese’s game license because they didn’t approve of the games in the restaurant.

The good news is Supervisor Mark Manna at least showed there is brain power in the town:

Supervisor Satish Mohan and Council Members Mark Manna and Barry Weinstein voted in favor of the game room license. Manna was particularly vocal about the resolution’s defeat.
“By what moral authority does Shelly Schratz have to go into a business and say what you have is not age-appropriate?” he said. “It’s clearly Shelly sticking her nose in where it doesn’t belong. I’ve never seen games [there] that are gory or explicit. There is more violence in a Bugs Bunny cartoon.”

By the way, congratulations go out to Media Molecule on Little Big Planet passing 1 million user generated levels. They got screwed pretty hard by lackluster PS3 sales, but it’s good to see people are still playing the game.

And with that, I’ve finally cleaned out my gaming news folder