Blog Posts by Associated Press

By Erika Niedowski, Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling - whose video game company underwent a spectacular collapse into bankruptcy last year - is selling the blood-stained sock he wore during the 2004 World Series.

Curt Schilling (Credit: Getty Images)Chris Ivy, director of sports for Texas-based Heritage Auctions, says online bidding begins around Feb. 4. Live bidding will take place Feb. 23.

The sock previously had been on loan to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. It has been at Heritage's Dallas headquarters for several weeks and will be displayed at the auction house's Manhattan office before it is sold, according to Ivy.

By Anne Flaherty and Collen Long, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new shooting game for mobile devices by the National Rifle Association is no longer being labeled suitable for preschoolers. "NRA: Practice Range" changed its age recommendation on Tuesday from 4 years and up to at least 12 years of age with an added warning that the game depicts "intense" and "realistic" violence.

NRA Practice Range (Credit: NRA)The move came amid pushback from liberal organizations that called the game tasteless and its timing politically motivated. It was released Sunday. This week is the one-month anniversary of the shooting at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school that left 20 children and six adults dead, and the same week President Barack Obama is expected to announce his plan for curbing gun violence.

A progressive advocacy organization, Courage Campaign, on Tuesday circulated an online petition asking Apple to drop the free mobile application from its store.

(Credit: Jordan Stead/Reuters)

By Doug Esser, Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle residents won a place in the Guinness World Records for the largest snowball fight when about 5,800 people turned out at the Seattle Center in the shadow of the Space Needle to toss snowballs at one another.

More than 30 truckloads of snow were brought in from Cascades for Saturday's event, which included a snow fort building competition and pub crawl. Snow Day was a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County.

Vice President Joe Biden (Credit: Susan Walsh/AP)

By Julie Pace and Erica Werner, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Looking for broader remedies to gun violence, Vice President Joe Biden is reaching out to the video game industry for ideas as the White House seeks to assemble proposals in response to last month's massacre at a Connecticut elementary school.

Biden is scheduled to meet with video game representatives Friday as the White House explores cultural factors that may contribute to violent behavior.

Toys R Us says key sales figure fell 4.5 percent during holiday season

WAYNE, N.J. (AP) -- Toys R Us reported a key sales figure declined in November and December, hurt by weak demand for videogames, electronics and toys and shoppers who pulled back because of Superstorm Sandy.

(Credit: Getty Images)The two months are crucial because the holidays can account for up to 40 percent of a retailer's annual sales, particularly a toy retailer.

Toys R Us, the largest specialty toy store chain in the U.S., has beefed up its online offerings, shipping options and exclusive toys to better compete against discounters and online retailers. But that wasn't enough to offset a weak videogame industry, caution due to Superstorm Sandy and a lack of a "hot toy" this holiday season.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Credit: Activision)LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Shares of video game makers and sellers fell Thursday in the aftermath of a mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school, which has renewed debate about violent games and their potential influence on crime.

Shares of GameStop Corp., whose stores sell video games as well as systems like the Xbox and Wii, fell 5 percent in afternoon trading.

Investors are seen as being increasingly concerned that the government may impose tougher rules on the sales of games rated for "mature" and older audiences.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Credit: Activision)By Lou Kesten, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the days since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., a shell-shocked nation has looked for reasons. The list of culprits include easy access to guns, a strained mental-health system and the "culture of violence" — the entertainment industry's embrace of violence in movies, TV shows and, especially, video games.

McKenna Pope (Credit: AP/Hasbro)

By Michelle R. Smith, Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Hasbro says it will soon reveal a gender-neutral Easy-Bake Oven after meeting with a New Jersey girl who started a campaign calling on the toy maker to make one that appeals to all kids.

McKenna Pope, 13, of Garfield, N.J., got more than 40,000 signatures on her online petition at Change.org and the support of celebrity chefs including Bobby Flay, who backed her call for Hasbro to make a gender-neutral oven and to include boys in the ads.