Blog Posts by Ben Silverman

Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Credit: Activision)Notice more than a few work absentees today? Blame Call of Duty fever.  Countless gamers are expected to call in sick on account of Tuesday's release of Black Ops II, the anticipated sequel to 2010's Call of Duty: Black Ops and pretty much pre-destined to become the best-selling game -- and quite possibly the biggest media entertainment property, period -- of 2012.

The new game takes a number of leaps forward by featuring a branching storyline, near-future weapons and tech, and a host of multiplayer tweaks and changes. It's been branded as the biggest Call of Duty game yet, and considering how much content developer Treyarch packed into the original Black Ops, that's saying something.

But is it saying enough? Is Black Ops II worth a sick day?

Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Credit: Activision)Call of Duty is the biggest video game series in the world, but there's a fair chance you're suffering from a little franchise fatigue. And who can blame you? Activision has released a new Call of Duty game every year since 2005. That's a lot of war.

But the games keep selling, and critics keep digging them, and we keep playing them, so it should have come as little shock that there would be a sequel to the 25 million-selling military monster, Call of Duty: Black Ops.

What is a bit more surprising, however, is how much new flavor Call of Duty: Black Ops II (releasing November 13 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC and November 18 for the Wii U) adds to the franchise's time-tested formula. Stay frosty and check out five of the biggest changes coming to what's bound to be the biggest game of 2012.

Medal of Honor: Warfighter (Credit: EA)Seven members of SEAL Team Six, the celebrated counter-terrorism unit responsible for the death of Osama Bin Laden, are in hot water for potentially revealing classified secrets while working as consultants on Electronic Art's recently released shooter, Medal of Honor Warfighter.

(Credit: Rockstar Games/Game Informer)Video game crime is set to explode in 2013 thanks to the release of Grand Theft Auto V. And thanks to Game Informer, we finally have a few firm details about exactly what the game has in store. An 18-page cover story in the magazine's December issue reveals a wealth of info about the enigmatic open-world game, and it packs some doozies.

(Credit: Colleen Lachowicz)Don't mess with a gamer -- especially when you're playing politics.

Colleen Lachowicz, the Democratic candidate for State Senate District 25 in Maine, beat Republican opponent Thomas Martin to win the seat on Tuesday, despite Martin's attempts to characterize her as a lazy, obsessive gamer.

Last month, the otherwise unassuming race gained international attention when the Maine Republican Party set up a website detailing the adventures of Lachowicz's video game alter-ego: a Level 85 orc assassin in World of Warcraft.

GameStopIt's game over for Chris Olivera.

Olivera, former VP of corporate communications and public affairs for video game retail giant GameStop, has pled guilty to embezzling nearly $2 million from the company, reports the Dallas Observer.

According to court papers, Olivera managed to scam GameStop by setting up a fake PR firm called Cloud Communications, run by an imaginary PR rep named Jennifer Miller. Olivera then billed GameStop for work performed between July 2009 and April 2011, though no work was actually done since, after all, no one worked there.

Microsoft's flagship shooter series hits the frontlines again with the next week's release of Halo 4. It's more than just another sequel, however. Microsoft claims it's the most expensive game the company has ever made, and considering how rough game sales have been in 2012, a lot is riding on its success.

Even more nerve-wracking? Halo 4 is the first core Halo game to be developed by a team other than longtime franchise caretaker Bungie Studios. The new crew, 343 Industries, doesn't just have the weight of the world on its shoulders. It has the weight of an entire sci-fi universe.

But like iconic Halo hero Master Chief, 343 thrives under pressure. Currently averaging a 90 on Metacritic, Halo 4 is already a big hit with critics, opening a thrilling new chapter for franchise fans and taking pole position as the premier shooter of 2012. Master Chief is back, and he's better than ever.

Isaiah Triforce Johnson with Nintendo president Reggie Films-Aime (Credit: Nintendo)Still on the fence about buying a Wii U? One dedicated fan would like you to hop off and join him. Seriously, he's probably pretty lonely right now.

That's because Isaiah Triforce Johnson is currently the only person waiting in line for a Wii U at the Nintendo World Store in New York. A sign that the Wii U is destined to fail? Considering the system doesn't release until November 18, it's more likely a sign that Isaiah Johnson is nuts about Nintendo.