Ever wondered about the real length of a Slinky? Or how, exactly, an Etch A Sketch pulls off its magical disappearing act? You'll find these classics lurking in every toy closet, but how much do you really know about them? Read on for some curious facts about five legendary playthings.

An image from 'Super Tanooki Skin 2D'Oh PETA, you crazy kids. First, you get the gaming world up in arms by squaring off against one of its most-loved characters. Then, when the backlash hits, you quickly claim the whole thing was "tongue-in-cheek."

After slamming Nintendo icon Mario for wearing a 'Tanooki' suit in his latest game, the animal rights organization says the outcry, which included the creation of a disturbing parody video game called "Super Tanooki Skin 2D," was just a publicity stunt.

Shocking, huh?

Critics aren't the only people falling in love with the latest installment of The Elder Scrolls.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda)Bethesda Softworks says it has shipped 7 million copies of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to retailers, with about 3.5 million copies being sold through in the first 48 hours. Making that number even more impressive? That was just for the Xbox 360 version.

The game, of course, was also released for the PlayStation 3 and PC -- and while Bethesda didn't address sales for Sony's platform, it did note that within the first 24 hours of release, Skyrim set a record on Steam with more than 280,000 concurrent players.

Has it really been ten years since the launch of the first Halo?

Apparently so, according to Microsoft, and they ought to know. Launching alongside the original Xbox a full decade ago, Halo's one of a handful of games released this century that can genuinely claim to have made a permanent impact on the development of video gaming, turning the console first-person shooter from a curio into the dominant genre it is today.

In celebration, Microsoft is going right back to where the adventure started, re-releasing the original game in a revamped, remastered Xbox 360 version sporting all the bells and whistles modern gamers have come to expect from their shooters. High-definition visuals, online multiplayer: it's all here.

But can a ten-year-old shooter really compete with the latest and greatest Modern Warfare installment? Yes and no seems to be the answer, though with average scores well into the 80s, it's more of the former than the latter.

A little extra something something.There's no shortage of amazing games vying for your holiday cash this season, but what if the gamer in your life is already drowning in stacks of software?

Rather than buy a game they'll never play, you might want to look past the screen and find a gift that complements their pixilated pastime.  After all, video game culture extends far beyond the games themselves. Here are a few alternative suggestions you might want to consider.

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The initial criticisms surrounding Nintendo's 3DS handheld were pretty straightforward: The price was too high and there was a paucity of good games.

Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo)Nintendo took care of the pricing problem in August. Now, it's taking on the quality concerns.

Super Mario 3D Land, which hit shelves earlier this week, combines elements from the classic 2D side-scrolling Mario games as well as more recent free-roaming 3D Mario titles, plus it brings back the much-loved Tanooki suit from Super Mario Bros. 3. And critics are cheering.

More than 20 outlets have given the game a score of 90 or above, with four of those giving it a perfect 100.

Gamers love fall: the leaves turn brown, the clocks go back, and stores nationwide fill up with an avalanche of shiny new video games.

True to form, the last few weeks have been packed with a bewildering quantity of top-tier releases that are sure to feature heavily on holiday wish-lists. But what should you know before buying a game as a gift? How can you tell if it's age-appropriate, or might be too much for a younger gamer to handle?

While the Entertainment Software Ratings Board -- or ESRB -- assigns each game a helpful age rating, not all Teen-rated games are created equal. Read on for the lowdown on six of the season's top picks.

Tanooki Mario (Nintendo)The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals might be barking up the wrong mushroom.

On Monday, the controversial organization issued a press release attacking iconic Nintendo mascot Mario for wearing a 'Tanooki' suit in his latest adventure, the Nintendo 3DS game Super Mario 3D Land, which hit shelves on Sunday.

"Tanooki may be just a "suit" in Mario games, but by wearing the skin of an animal, Mario is sending the message that it's OK to wear fur," PETA says.