The gaming wars are heating up after the Microsoft purchase of Activision Blizzard as all the big boys realize they need a video game play.

Netflix is making it clear that they won’t be left behind:

That’s a tall task for Netflix, which is building its gaming unit from scratch. Netflix chief operating officer Greg Peters said Thursday the company plans to license “large game” intellectual property that “people will recognize” later this year. Hastings added Netflix will use its “walk, crawl, run” strategy around gaming, where it purposefully grows the business gradually to learn about user habits and use resources efficiently.

Co-chief executive officer Reed Hastings, saying that Netflix intends to “amaze” its members . . . let’s see if they meet that high standard.

In what is simply a video game news story too bizarre not to report (in other words, sorry mom), French sex toy store Absoloo has a very special promotion going on for any ladies (in France, at least) who lost their boyfriends’ attention due to spending more time with “Diablo III” than them.

This is how it works: You simply post a photo of yourself on the company’s Facebook page holding a copy of “Diablo III,” and they send you a private message with a code that lets you get a free… let’s say it’s a special vibrating magic staff, from their website.

Here is Absoloo’s own (poorly translated) take on the offer:

Ladies and

Your man has not left his computer since the release yesterday of Diablo III?

Still a long time before you find yourself in his arms during a romantic evening …

You yearn … You feel abandoned … Abandoned …

The situation is so, you must admit, your man would rather go in search of magical jewels, gloves sorcerers, and other heavy war clubs to get XP points rather than engaging in the research of your G-spot and gain sexual experience.

So what to do?

Do not despair over! We decided to help you!

Find the force and the attention you need naturally, but with a new friend …

Some people are crying foul that this promotion is sexist against women that play “Diablo III” as the implication is that only men would play the game. To this I say, complaining about it just blinds female gamers from a free toy with purchase of video game promotion that puts all happy meal pack-ins to great blushing shame.

Personally, I think that all available gamers should take the company up on their offer and then send every one of the toys over to Blizzard so that they can go #*%! themselves for all the botches in “Diablo III’s” launch.

Really, this is about the best deal I’ve seen. The kit includes two great games and even nets you beta participation for Halo: Reach through ODST. Really, it’s like three games for the price of a console. This bundle also launches the same day as the Final Fantasy XIII bundle that runs $399. That one includes two controllers, the game, and a 250GB hard drive.

Either way, you get a really solid bundle at an incredible price. Can’t really ask for much more than that.

Target is also having a sale on NBA 2K10, dropping it down to $29.99. There are also a few Pokemon deals going down if you want to have the most random collection of games this side of a Sega Saturn. I should probably also remind you that Bad Company 2 and MLB 10: The Show both drop on March 2nd, though those will be full price. Not an altogether bad week for gaming.

The free titles include Command & Conquer, Command & Conquer: Tiberiun Sun with the Firestorm xpac, and Red Alert. Did I mention they’re free? You’re just a download away from reliving your nostalgic RTS past. It’ll give you a chance to get caught up on that storyline (these games have a storyline, right?) before the final chapter releases on March 16th.

According to EA, C&C 4 will be the “epic conclusion to the Tiberium saga.”

Source: EA

For just over $350 USD you get your 120GB PS3 (the fatty, not the skinny one), a DualShock3, a USB cable, your A/V cable, a 120GB hard drive, AND a copy of the super-smash-mega-awesome-hit-documentary-dance-off This Is It featuring none other than Michael Jackson himself. It’s a good day to be a b-boy.

Once again, only available in Japan starting January 27th. You also get a nifty and exclusive PS3 wallpaper.

Source: Kotaku

Saving $15 isn’t a bad deal at all. The product page doesn’t list an end date for the deal or a stock count, so I’d get mine as soon as possible.

Source: Amazon

You only get to play for free up to level 20, at which point Funcom hopes to lure you into spending money on the game. Level 20 is pretty generous, but I found even getting to that point a chore. I’m pretty sure I quit the game somewhere around level 11. The “unlimited” is in there because at level 20 you could conceivably start all over, playing through the same content you’ve already seen. I know people do this in MMOs, but usually not until they’re significantly into the game.

Check the full press release for more details.

To get the promo price, which is temporary, enter code “DJHPP1” on checkout. That’ll free up your Andrew Jackson for other holiday gifts this year. Might I recommend something from the Bullz-Eye gift guide? I think I might. I think I just might.

Source: Slick Deals

For starters, Target is offering the buy-2-get-1 deal that’s been so popular lately on Wii games. Unfortunately it only applies to games (no accessories this time around) but it is for every game. Get yourself some Wii Sports Resort and throw the other two at your brother/son/roommate. No sense sending them out of the house, right? Sale starts tomorrow.

Steam’s offering a chance to play through COD4 before the release of Modern Warfare 2 drops. The old-school version is a whopping 40% off retail, down to $23.99, up until Monday. I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t played the game, but if you lost your discs or something, at least Steam is here for you.