Auti-Sim (Credit: Taylan Kay)While there's no shortage of video games that focus on shooting, dragons and fast cars, some game makers aren’t afraid to tackle weightier issues.

A developer in Vancouver has crafted a simulation of what life is like for people with autism in an effort to raise awareness about the condition and help educate people about what it’s like for those suffering its effects.

Taylan Kay, with the help of two team members, developed the game "Auti-Sim" in just 12 hours as part of the Vancouver Hacking Health Hackathon. The title is meant less for entertainment, as you might expect, and more to help people empathize with the condition of hypersensitivity, a common symptom of those who have autism.

Dead Space 3 topped the charts in February (Credit: EA)The video game industry's retail losing streak just keeps getting uglier.

Brick and mortar video game sales were down in February, and once again they falling far short of analysts' weak expectations. Software sales, which are the most closely watched figure, were down 27 percent from a year ago to $352 million.

Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Securities, had forecast a software sales drop of just 18 percent.

Good Vibrations storage unit (Credit: Ferruccio Laviani/Fratelli Boffi)Do not adjust your monitor.

This hand-carved wooden piece is the work of furniture designer Ferruccio Laviani, and yes, it’s supposed to be doing that to your eyes. It’s called the “Good Vibrations” storage unit, for obvious reasons.

A U.S. District Court is ordering Mario to cough up some gold coins.

A federal jury in New York has found Nintendo guilty of infringing on a key patent in the creation of its 3DS handheld system and has ordered the game maker to pay over $30 million in damages.

Seijiro Tomita will be the recipient of that check. He came up with the technology that allows 3D images to appear on screen without the need for 3D glasses, a feature that was the chief selling point of the 3DS during its launch in 2011. (Tomita, somewhat ironically, is a former Sony employee.)

Playing video games isn't supposed to be upsetting. You might feel some competitive pressure during a harrowing multiplayer match or a difficult level might drive you a little crazy, but "angering consumers" isn't exactly a top priority for game makers.

Unfortunately, business is business, and what’s apparently best for game companies isn’t always best for players. A number of questionable features in new video games (and upcoming consoles) have turned otherwise happy gamers into teeth-gnashing trolls.

Some of these features are meant to curb piracy. Some aim to boost revenues. Some attempt to promote technology. Others? Well, we're really not sure why anyone thought they were a good idea. Here are five new game features we desperately wish we could unplug.

Activision is getting into the microtransaction game, and it's bringing its most notable franchise along for the ride.

Starting today, Call of Duty: Black Ops II will let players pick up small items such as extra loadout slots and gun personalization packs for prices ranging from $1 to $5.

Activision says the items, which also include new targeting reticules, a custom player Calling Card and the ability to wrap your favorite weapon in bacon (no, really), are completely optional and will not affect gameplay.

Toa Mata band (Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/opificiosonico/)You can build a lot of cool things with Legos, but we weren’t aware “functioning band” was one of them.

That’s just what Italian sound designer and all-around musical genius Guiseppe Acito managed to create, however, and the result is as adorable as it is awesome.

(Credit: GameStop)Two years ago, Frank Christopher Olivera was scheduling media conference calls with GameStop executives.

He was also illegally pocketing a lot of money from the company.

Olivera, former VP of corporate communications and public affairs at GameStop, pleaded guilty last year to embezzling nearly $1.7 million from the game retailer via mail fraud. Late last week, a District Court judge in Texas handed down his punishment, sentencing Olivera to 51 months in federal prison for the crime. We're guessing his membership in the GameStop Power Up Rewards program has also been revoked.