Got some cool console games under your tree? If Square Enix President Yoichi Wada's prediction holds true, that may be a thing of the past. Could digital distribution kill the console market? And would it put Santa out of business?

This week our top two columnists talk about the titles you absolutely have to find stuffed in your stocking this year. However you celebrate the holidays, make sure at least one of these great games is a part of it.

One of the newest forms of ad revenue is advertising within a game. And it’s also one of the most controversial. Listen as the fur flies this week. More money! Less fulfilling!

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 hit the ground like a bunker-buster bomb, igniting both love and extreme controversy. Infinity Ward even tasked players with participating in a terrorist attack, something sure to stir up strong emotions.

GiN business reporter Nate Wooley and chief editor John Breeden give tips about keeping safe when playing online. And we invite our business listeners to a free Webinar showing how you can easily defeat the complex problems of online payments.

In the beginning, the one advantage consoles had over PCs was getting everyone together around the TV to play a game. And while many Wii gamers know this, others might have forgotten, with rare exceptions.

Sequels sometimes get a bad rap, though most of the time they deserve a bit of lampooning. However, there are a few games where the sequel beats the original. Come celebrate number twos with us!

Japan used to be the vanguard of the game industry, leading the way by innovative examples and top technology. But lately, their influence is waning, replaced by young developers outside the land of the rising sun.

The GiN Gang looks at some major innovations found in recent games, and laments the fact that, sadly, most new titles are just more of the same. But innovation doesn’t always equal commercial success, so we understand.