Ubi Soft Entertainment

When "Myst" debuted in 1993, it introduced millions of uninitiated PC owners to the world of computer games with its breathtaking graphics and easy-to-play sensibility. But the latest version of the game--"Myst III: Exile"--is garnering public attention for entirely different reasons: Complaints over technical glitches have jammed online chat boards, forcing the game's publisher to issue a round of fixes and offer to replace one of the game's four discs.

Activision Inc. rocked its fiscal second quarter, amped by sales of its "Transformers" video game and "Guitar Hero" franchise. The game publisher strummed up revenue of $317.7 million in the quarter ended Sept. 30, up 69% from a year ago, stomping Wall Street's expectations of $262 million, according to analysts polled by Thomson Financial. "They had a stellar quarter," said Michael Pachter, a Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst.

Stocks ended a volatile session moderately higher Monday as investors eyed soaring oil prices and the pending retirement of beleaguered Morgan Stanley Chief Executive Philip J. Purcell ahead of key economic reports this week. Crude oil prices surged $2.98 to $55.62 a barrel in New York trading, in advance of this week's OPEC meeting.

An otherwise intelligent and insightful person once described "Myst" as the coffee-table book of video games--meaning one of the most popular computer titles in history was pleasant enough to look at, but really not that deep or compelling. He, like many who bought the original game, simply wandered around ogling the beautiful scenery, bored by the languid pace and stumped by often-obscure puzzles that made it difficult to progress very far into the rich story that made "Myst" interesting.

Video games aren't just for fun anymore. As games grow increasingly realistic, the military is turning to them as inexpensive ways to enhance real-life skills, from piloting airplanes to staging war. Microsoft Corp.'s "Flight Simulator" games were among the first used for training. The Flight Safety International Academy in Vero Beach, Fla., has for years used the games to teach students basic navigation, instrument reading and flight procedures.

With the world's biggest video game publishers devouring their rivals, is it game over for mid-size companies? Analysts said Monday that Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., the New York company behind the "Grand Theft Auto" franchise, seemed to have little choice but to join industry giant Electronic Arts Inc. EA pressed Take-Two shareholders to accept its unsolicited takeover bid of $2 billion.

Last week's terrorist attacks in New York and at the Pentagon created an awkward situation for those in the video game industry who create scenarios that let players combat villains. The movie industry has delayed several high-profile releases because of similarities between the plots and events of last week. But video games warrant special consideration because they let players take an active part in ever more realistic simulations.

Christa Phillips plays like a girl. And she's perfectly OK with that. Known online as TriXie, Phillips serves as a goodwill ambassador for Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox Live online game service. Her online group, GamerchiX, functions as a virtual Grand Central Terminal for women and girls who tread into the testosterone-steeped world of console gaming. American society has evolved since the advancement of women's rights in the 1960s.

Well, it's that time of year again, and if there's a computer enthusiast on your holiday gift list, you're in luck for two reasons. First, there's a ton of software to choose from, making it easy to find something for just about anyone. Second, most software these days is very affordable, typically ringing in at about $30 to $65. Let's begin with the aspiring rock stars among your friends and family.

Advertisements in video games are becoming as common as billboards on California highways. Only a few years ago, a video game company had to pay goods makers if it wanted to include their products in the virtual world for a dose of realism. But today, advertisers are handing over millions of dollars to get their brands in front of the 140 million people who play video games in the U.S. "Everquest II" players can order from Pizza Hut. Skaters in "Tony Hawk" send text messages on Nokia cellphones.