Chinese rhino cups set "Antiques Roadshow" record

2011-07-25T13:00:22Z

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A collection of Chinese cups carved from rhinoceros horns has become the most valuable find in the 16-year history of the television program "Antiques Roadshow" in the United States.

Social gaming firm DeNA to seek acquisitions in Europe, Asia

2011-07-11T00:00:07Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese mobile social gaming firm DeNA will seek to expand by buying more game developers, its new chief executive, Isao Moriyasu, said in an interview on Monday.

In a bid to take its highly profitable business model global, the company is set to launch a global Android version of Mobage, its successful social networki...

Champion Kasparov puts chess at heart of learning

2011-06-08T09:30:09Z

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov sees a hole in the European education system and he knows how to fix it -- one pawn at a time.

Aspiring to hone children's critical thinking, intellectual creativity and problem-solving skills, Kasparov, regar...

Hair today, shoes tomorrow for one Taiwan woman

2011-05-15T22:30:08Z

TAICHUNG, Taiwan (Reuters Life!) - Taiwanese hairdresser Tsai Shiou-ying has won many prizes for her cutting and decorative hair extensions in a four-decade career.

Now she has gone one step further, making decorations including shoes, brooches, fruit and animals from hair left on the salon floor afte...

Nintendo to release successor to Wii next year

2011-04-25T00:30:07Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nintendo Co Ltd said it would release a successor to its Wii video game console in 2012, and will release the new Wii specifications at the

Author Jeffrey Archer to auction works of art

2011-03-28T07:30:56Z

LONDON (Reuters) - British author and former parliamentarian Jeffrey Archer expects to raise over 5 million pounds ($8 million) when he sells works from his art collection including paintings by Claude Monet and And...

The magic of North Korea a disappearing plane

2011-03-15T10:00:16Z

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea, renowned for its secrecy and incredible artistic performances, is now planning the ultimate magic show -- complete with disappearing aircraft.

The North's state-run KCNA news agency reported that the capital Pyongya...

The magic of North Korea: a disappearing plane

2011-03-15T01:00:12Z

SEOUL (Reuters Life!) - North Korea, renowned for its secrecy and incredible artistic performances, is now planning the ultimate magic show -- complete with disappearing aircraft.

The North's state-run KCNA news agency reported that the capital P...

Widow of chess ace Bobby Fischer to inherit: court

2011-03-03T08:30:07Z

REYKJAVIK (Reuters) - An Icelandic court said on Thursday the widow of former world chess champion Bobby Fischer should inherit his estimated $2 million estate, which has been in dispute since his death in 2008.

Fischer spent the last years of his life as a fugitive from U.S. authoriti...

Activision pulls plug on Guitar Hero music game

2011-02-09T16:30:31Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Activision Blizzard said on Wednesday it would it would disband the unit that makes its Guitar Hero games, citing declining popularity for music-themed video games.

The company, whose first-quarter outlook was below

U.S. probes allegations of phony September 11 coins

2011-01-25T13:00:22Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. authorities said on Tuesday they are investigating a New York coin dealer accused of selling phony September 11 commemorative coins supposedly made of metal from Ground Zero.

"These allegations are enormously troubling," said Jon Leibovitz

Activision CEO sees growth in current game slate

2010-11-30T16:00:54Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Activision Blizzard Inc expects to drive growth by expanding the reach of its existing game portfolio but sees less opportunity in new markets for mobile and social games.

Activision Chief Executive Reuters) - Activision Blizzard Inc said Thursday it sold about 5.6 million copies of "Call of Duty: Black Ops" for $360 million on its first day, setting a new ...

Chess masters seek to oust Russian "alien spotter"

2010-10-13T14:31:50Z

LONDON (Reuters) - The stepping down of a remote Russian regional leader who once claimed to have been abducted by aliens has set off an unexpected battle for the world's most important chess job.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, president of the impoverished Buddhist region of Kalmykia, is better known outside

2010-07-20T11:15:27Z

LONDON (Reuters) - A British man murdered his wife after constant arguments about her ability to play bridge, a court heard Tuesday. Stephen Green, 52, is accused of stabbing his wife Carole to death in January, after fights about her card playing.

Carole Green's body was discovered at the couple's home on January 18 this year -- three days after the prosecuti...

Bridge game rows "led man to murder wife"

2010-07-20T08:15:31Z

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - A British man murdered his wife after constant arguments about her ability to play bridge, a court heard on Tuesday. Stephen Green, 52, is accused of stabbing his wife Carole to death in January, after rows about her card playing.

Carole Green's body was discovered at the couple's home on January 18 this year -- three days after the pr...

Former world chess champion Smyslov dies at 89

2010-03-27T09:00:04Z

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Former Soviet world chess champion Vasily Smyslov died on Saturday of heart failure, Russian television reported.

Smyslov, who turned 89 on Wednesday, was taken to a Moscow hospital earlier in the week after complaining of heart problems. He died on Saturday morning, NTV reported.

Smyslov was best remembered for his fierce battles against fellow Rus...

World's shortest man dies aged 21

2010-03-16T00:45:14Z

BEIJING (Reuters Life!) - The world's shortest man, China's He Pingping who was just over 74 cm tall (29 inches), has died at the age of 21 from apparent heart complications, the Guinness World Records<...

New racing videogames set to rev up sales

2010-03-10T21:00:08Z

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - Blatant disregard for oncoming traffic and speed limits will get you into serious trouble on the road, but drivers seeking similar thrills can indulge in a fleet of new racing video games due out soon.

Sony Computer Entertainment's (...

Service at sword point at "Ninja" restaurant

2010-04-16T07:02:31Z

&lt;div&gt;&lt;p&gt;TAIPEI (Reuters) - Waitresses wield swords and flare flames at diners, who have to get past a moat before sitting at their table in the dimly lit dining hall.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The same customers are also encouraged to take photos with the warrior-like waitresses, who dress in black or red to look like ni...

Service at sword point at Taipei's "Ninja" restaurant

2010-04-16T07:02:55Z

TAIPEI (Reuters Life!) - Waitresses wield swords and flare flames at diners, who have to get past a moat before sitting at their table in the dimly lit dining hall.

The same customers are also encouraged to take photos with the warrior-like waitresses, who dress in black or red to look like ninjas in keeping with the theme of a dark but lively restaurant that opened last mo...

Rare U.S. coin fetches over $3.7 million in auction

2010-04-16T07:48:29Z

MIAMI (Reuters) - A rare 1913 U.S. coin once owned by an Egyptian king and later featured in a famous U.S. TV detective series was sold for more than $3.7 million in a public auction in Florida, the auctioneers said on Friday.

The so-called Liberty Head nickel, one of only five known of that specific date and design, was sold "in ...

Wine from cellars of heiress Doris Duke to be auctioned

2010-09-08T12:57:46Z

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Wine from the cellars of a woman once dubbed the "richest little girl in the world" will be up for auction next month at Christie's in New York.

Each of the four lots of three bottles of 1929 Chateau d'Yquem, which have a pre-sale estimate of between $15,000 and $24,000, come from the collection of the l...

Hollywood's mansion of magic celebrates 100 years

2010-04-16T08:51:55Z

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - One hundred years ago, a wealthy couple built a mansion in Hollywood and installed a speaking tube allowing them to order a Scotch whisky from their servants -- a handy trick, but nothing compared to what the home's later occupants would conjure up.

Today under the name The Magic Castle, the mansion is a private club for magicians that has ...

Brad Pitt's production company enters "Dark Void"

2010-09-15T14:24:46Z

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Dark Void" will yield movie development matter.

Indian giant Reliance BIG Entertainment and Brad Pitt's Plan B shingle are developing a film version of the upcoming video game, and Pitt could we...

Wealthy Iraqis take up jet-skiing on the Tigris

2010-04-16T09:07:28Z

BAGHDAD (Reuters Life!) - Lingering violence and raw sewage in the water are no deterrents for a group of wealthy, young Iraqis who spend their free time jet-skiing along the Tigris river in a burst of white foam and spray.

Unfazed by reports that everything from chemical waste to bodies are dumped into the river, yo...

Weird and wacky world records tumble around globe

2010-04-16T09:12:47Z

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - In London, a man pulled a double-decker bus with his hair. In Memphis, 297 cheerleaders joined forces in one massive dance. In Italy, spaghetti eaters raced to get through a bowl of pasta in the least time.

Thousands of people across the wor...

"Guitar Hero" brings higher revenue for Activision

2010-10-22T13:35:43Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc reported a quarterly profit that matched analysts' estimates and revenue that was higher than expected, led by sales of the company's latest "Guitar Hero" offering...

China bureaucratic war over online Warcraft heats up

2010-04-16T09:24:56Z

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Culture Ministry has accused the publishing watchdog of abusing its authority by threatening access to the popular online game, World of Warcraft, stoking bureaucratic rivalry over control of the Inte...

Playfish sees social games as industry driver

2010-10-22T12:19:31Z

LONDON (Reuters) - The video games sector has yet to gain from a downturn where consumers stay home to play, but social games creator Playfish says the industry is just beginning a new growth spurt.

The company that invented Pet Society, Restaurant City and Who Has The Biggest Brain? -- games played by tens of millions on sites such as

Crucial holiday season arrives for video game industry

2010-10-22T13:36:03Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The holiday season is crunch time for video game publishers, who are pinning their hopes on a slew of big releases to make up for lackluster sales this year.

Price cuts from home console makers Nintendo Co, SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China has banned foreign investment into its lucrative online games industry in an effort to tighten control over its virtual worlds.

China's video game industry regulator the General Adm...

Artisanal crafts reborn from Afghan war's ashes

2010-04-16T09:57:16Z

KABUL (Reuters Life!) - Ustad Abdul Fattah once made jewelry in Afghanistan's royal studio, developing a lifetime of skills that went to waste in a country plunged into war after the king was toppled in 1973.

The silver-bearded gemcutter, however, is now back in business, teaching at an institute set up by a British charity which trains 120 pupils in intensive, th...

Chess legends Kasparov and Karpov face off again

2010-07-14T14:17:53Z

MADRID (Reuters) - Chess legends Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov reignite one of the greatest rivalries in the history of chess this week with a re-match of their classic 1984 world championship contest.

The two Russian grand masters, who are widely cons...

Book Talk: Romance writer Debbie Macomber serves up a cookbook

2010-04-16T10:38:58Z

CANBERRA (Reuters Life!) - American writer Debbie Macomber is a best-selling author of romance and other women's fiction but now she is serving up a new genre to satisfy her readers -- cookery.

Macomber, 60, a prolific author for Canada-based publisher Harlequin wit...

GameStop says CFO will retire in March

2010-04-16T10:40:16Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - GameStop Corp &lt;GME.N&gt;, the video game retailer, on Monday said co-founder and chief financial officer David Carlson planned to retire early next year.

Carlson, who expects to retire March 1, 2010, will be succeeded by

New technology key to gaming sector in downturn

2010-10-22T12:20:40Z

COLOGNE, Germany (Reuters) - Luring new audiences by moving away from traditional gaming consoles is more crucial than ever as the downturn curbs consumer spending in a sector once seen as recession-proof, analysts and executives said.

The videogames sector at first looked set to ride out the recession as people cut back on going out and sought cheaper entertainment at ho...

IBM uses DNA to make next-gen microchips

2010-04-16T10:47:41Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - International Business Machines Corp is looking to the building blocks of our bodies -- DNA -- to be the structure of next-generation microchips.

As chipmakers compete to develop ever-smaller chips at cheaper prices, designers are struggling to cut costs.

Artificial D...

EA shares slide, concerns about industry linger

2010-04-16T10:58:43Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Electronic Arts Inc shares slid nearly 7 percent on Wednesday after the game publisher's strong quarterly results failed to quell concerns about the industry's health and the company's game slate.

The "Madden" football publisher posted better-than-expected results...

EA results surpass Street view, shares climb

2010-10-22T15:28:07Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Electronic Arts Inc &lt;ERTS.O&gt; reported better-than-expected results on strong sales of "The Sims 3" video game and cost-cutting, sending its shares up as high as 4 percent on Tuesday.

The res...

Videogame industry looks for second-half comeback

2010-10-22T13:39:13Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - With the once-resilient videogame industry mired in a slump, investors are looking to big-name titles and potential price cuts for game consoles in the second half of the year to help spur a rebound in sales.

Major game publishers Activision Blizzard Inc a...

STOCKS NEWS US-More cost cuts help NYSE Euronext beat Street

2010-10-22T07:43:09Z

...

More wired Chinese tuning into amateur radio

2010-10-22T13:39:44Z

BEIJING (Reuters Life!) - When it comes to high-tech, China has it all. But in the country with the most Internet users in the world, some are choosing to stay in touch through an older device: the radio.

Armed with antennas, transmitters and receivers, a growing number of Chinese amateur radio operators, or radio hams, send out e...

U.S. video game sales post largest decline since 2000

2010-10-06T12:45:32Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - U.S. sales of video game equipment and software fell 31 percent to $1.17 billion in June, research group NPD said on Thursday, the largest decline since 2000.

Sales of game software fell 29 percent to $625.8 million, while hardware sales dropped 38 percent to $382.6 million. Sales of accessories declined 22 percent.

Reuters) - A woman who inherited some Chinese carved jade from her father has scored the first $1 million appraisal from experts on the U.S. television program "Antiques Roadshow," the producers said on Monday.

In a record for the show, four pieces of Chinese carved jade and celadon fr...

Health games become serious business

2010-04-16T11:38:31Z

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - Videogames were once blamed for rising obesity rates but are now being championed by the medical industry and for use by government departments for their health benefits.

Games like Electronic Arts' "

At 25, Tetris still eyeing growth

2010-04-16T12:00:30Z

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - If you've ever worked in an office or own a computer, chances are you've heard of Tetris. Born in 1984 and a near-immediate worldwide sensation, the classic puzzle game is set for a modern renaissance of sorts.

In an industry where titles cost millions of dollars to develop and flame out quickly, or lose their grip on popular culture, Tetri...

Take-Two tops forecasts, but delays 2 titles

2010-10-06T12:45:42Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Video game publisher Take-Two Interactive Inc &lt;TTWO.O&gt; reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results but cut its fiscal year revenue forecast as it delays the release of two titles.

The company said it will delay "Red Dead Redemption" and "...

U.S. videogame sales down 17 percent in April

2010-04-16T12:18:27Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - U.S. sales of videogames fell 17 percent in April to $1.03 billion, research group NPD said on Thursday, the second steep monthly decline in a row.

Game software sales fell 23 percent to $510.7 million in April, while hardware sales dropped 8 percent to $391.6 million. Sales of accessories declined 15 percent.

Beverly Dove holds a sign as she speaks during a city council meeting in Berkeley, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010. The council in this famously liberal city is considering a resolution Tuesday night bestowing hero status on Pfc. Bradley Manning, the soldier at the center of the

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