The game industry is keyed into Activision Blizzard this week, as the publisher gears up to launch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Already the most preordered game in both Activision's and GameStop's history, the publisher has with no uncertain swagger said that it wouldn't be at all surprised if the military shooter achieves the highest-grossing launch of any entertainment product in history.

With the mountain of money the game is on track to generate, Activision announced today that a portion of the proceeds from Modern Warfare 2's launch will go to an altruistic end. The Washington Post reports that the publisher has established the Call of Duty Endowment, a $1 million grant to establish a foundation for helping military veterans find work.

Activision is lending a helping hand to veterans.

As noted by the Post, a 2008 Department of Veterans Affairs employment survey found that 18 percent of military veterans who left the armed services in the past one to three years are currently out of work. A Bureau of Labor Statistics study found that 11.6 percent of people who departed the military since 2001 are unemployed.

"The joblessness rate that [veterans] should have should be far less than the national average, not more," said Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. "How do you expect people to actually join the military if when they leave the military they can't integrate back into the free market they're supposed to be protecting? These are super-capable people. To the extent that you can put them on track to develop more skills, the development potential that we've identified is extraordinary."

Activision said that its first donation will be to the tune of $125,000, to be delivered to the Paralyzed Veterans of America foundation to help establish a vocational rehabilitation center.

With Activision proclaiming next week's launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to be the biggest debut in entertainment history, tech blog VentureBeat has provided a look at the efforts to address prerelease piracy of the highly anticipated game and how it landed one young hacker in jail.

According to the blog, the story began last week, when an ad for Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 bundles surfaced on Craigslist. When Activision spotted the ad, it contacted Dallas-based private investigation firm IPCybercrime.com, which arranged to purchase two such bundles from the seller. IPCybercrime also spotted a separate ad for the bundle with the seller claiming to be a stock boy for a major game retailer, identified the two sellers as friends based on an online social network, and turned their information over to Activision.

Modern Warfare 2 is just the latest in a long line of games to be leaked and pirated before launch.

When confronted by Activision, the two sellers admitted they had swiped a crate of the Modern Warfare 2 systems, and their case was then turned over to the retailer's loss prevention staff. The story might have ended there, if not for one of the seller's other customers.

IPCybercrime found a post by a user on an Xbox piracy forum asking people to donate money so he could buy one of the Craigslisted bundles, rip the game, and distribute it online. Investigators cross-referenced the user's e-mail address with a Facebook account, which had his cell phone number listed, and determined his identity to be 18-year-old Christian Del Amo. They turned the information over to the Miami-Dade police department, who arranged to purchase a pirated copy of the game and bust the hacker in the process.

Christian Del Amo.

Police obtained the game from a "runner," who led them back to Del Amo. The 18-year old was arrested yesterday and is currently incarcerated in Miami's Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. IPCybercrime told VentureBeat that Del Amo was set up to sell thousands of illegal copies of Modern Warfare 2.

According to VentureBeat, Del Amo had a history of piracy, selling modded 250GB Xbox 360 hard drives preloaded with 125 hacked games through auction site iOffer.com. At retail, the games could cost thousands of dollars, but Del Amo sold the hard drives for $150.

While an arrest was made in the case, it didn't come quick enough to prevent piracy of the game. Illegal copies of Modern Warfare 2 have been appearing on peer-to-peer file-sharing services since earlier this week, potentially costing publisher Activision thousands of lost sales.

The PSP Go may not have a UMD drive, but gamers certainly haven't been left wanting for selection. In the weeks following the device's October 1 launch, Sony has stocked the PlayStation Network's PlayStation Store with downloadable versions of the PSP's library, and that continued this week with 11 more games added to the collection.

There are so many, but can we take them all??

This week's PSP offerings are split evenly between the Everyone 10 and Older crowd and the T for Teen audience. Square Enix's highly regarded Dissidia Final Fantasy leads the offerings for slightly older audiences and carries a $39.99 price tag. Crimson Room: Reverse ($7.99), Class of Heroes ($39.99), Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron PSP ($29.99), and Star Wars Clone Wars: Republic Heroes ($29.99) have also been added to the PSN.

Younger gamers can pick up downloadable versions of Ben 10 Alien Force ($19.99), Ben 10: Protector of Earth ($14.99), Ghostbusters The Video Game PSP ($29.99), Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground ($14.99), Creature Defense ($7.99), and Numblast PSP ($4.99).

The PlayStation 3 isn't without its own downloadable fare this week. Military Madness: Nectaris is a turn-based military strategy game that features online competitive and cooperative modes. It is available for $9.99. Also a new PSP addition, Numblast is a number-heavy puzzle game that runs for $4.99. PSP and PS3 gamers can also pick up Crystal Dynamics' PSOne Classic Gex for $5.99.

A full list of the week's new PlayStation Store content, including themes, wallpapers, demos, and add-on content, is available on the official PlayStation Blog.

Along with dating Mass Effect 2 for January 26 last week, EA and BioWare announced a number of preorder incentives that include in-game weapons armor for the sci-fi action role-playing game. Today, EA and BioWare offered gamers more options on how to enhance their gameplay experience, announcing a Mass Effect 2 Collectors' Edition for both the PC and Xbox 360 editions of the game.

Packaged in a tin case, the Collectors' Edition includes the game, a 48-page hardcover Art of Mass Effect 2 book, Issue 1 of the Mass Effect Redemption comic book, and a DVD containing behind-the-scenes and making-of footage. Gamers will also be afforded exclusive in-game weapons and armor, which BioWare notes will not be available through any other means.

The Collectors' Edition has the power to move you…

Mass Effect 2 begins with the original game's hero, Commander Shepard, embarking on a dangerous mission to the mercenary-controlled Omega mining facility. BioWare has kept quiet about further plot details, but GameSpot's recent preview offers a closer look at the title's gameplay.

The Mass Effect 2 Collectors' Edition will be available for $69.99 on the Xbox 360 and $59.99 on the PC--$10 more than the standard edition price.

Last month, a Collector's Edition of Splinter Cell: Conviction for the Xbox 360 and PC surfaced on an Australian retailer's Web site. That pack contained a bonus DVD, a comic, a Sam Fisher figurine, and a code to download the original Xbox game Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory over Xbox Live.

All this could be yours, if the price ($79.99) is right!

Today, Ubisoft confirmed that North American gamers will be getting their own premium edition of the long-awaited game, but the pack's contents will be significantly different. Instead of the figurine, the centerpiece of the North American Collector's Edition is a Splinter Cell-branded USB drive that includes a "Making of" feature, wallpaper, concept art, storyboards, and more from the game's development. Ubisoft is also packing in an art book titled Fifth Freedom: The Art of Splinter Cell, a pair of decals, and a prequel comic book called Digging in the Ashes.

The Conviction Collector's Edition will sell for $80 and will come packed in a "steelbook" DVD case. In addition to the tangible goodies, the bundle will include a pair of in-game bonuses. Those who pony up for the premium edition will get "first access" to the close-quarters MP5-SD3 submachine gun and an exclusive 3rd Echelon outfit for multiplayer action.

For more on Conviction, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

Capcom is gearing up to release Super Street Fighter IV this spring, the latest installment in its decades-old fighting franchise. Those curious to find out how the franchise started may be interested in this week's Nintendo Update, as the TurboGrafx-16 edition of Capcom's original 2D brawler (called Fighting Street) is now available through the Wii's Virtual Console for 800 Wii points ($8).

In addition to Sega's classic shoot-'em-up R-Type ($5) also hitting the Virtual Console this week, three family-friendly original games have been added to the WiiWare Channel. Incredible Technologies Carnival Kings costs 700 Wii points ($7) and features a variety of amusement-park-themed minigames for up to two. Ateam's "Aha! I Got It!" Escape Game is a puzzle-heavy adventure game that can be had for 500 Wii points ($5). Lastly, Aksys' Family Card Games deals out Daifugo, Speed, and Memory for 500 Wii points ($5).

Ryu certainly hasn't changed much.

Nintendo's DSiWare shop is also in for a busy week, as three new titles are now available for download for the multifunctional portable. Ubisoft's Battle of Giants: Dragons - Bronze Edition tasks gamers with exploring a mythical land as a magical dragon, hunting for 25 stolen bronze gems across 10 levels. The 800 DSi point ($8) title also lets up to four players compete in head-to-head combat.

BiP Media has released its portable strategy title Viking Invasion onto Nintendo's handheld this week for 800 DSi points ($8) as well. The game sees players fending off Asgard's legions by constructing defenses and other fortifications across 10 levels, a campaign mode, a survival mode, and three difficulty settings. Nintendo's Sparkle Snapshot rounds out the DSi's offerings this week for 500 points ($5) and offers new frames, backgrounds, and more for pictures taken with the handheld's camera.

Ever since the launch of its UMD-less PSP Go earlier this month, Sony has ramped up the flow of downloadable game releases in its weekly PlayStation Network updates. This week is no exception, featuring a dozen new games between the PlayStation 3 and PSP.

Leading off the lineup is the download-only LocoRoco Midnight Carnival on the PSP ($14.99), featuring cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, customizable characters, and leaderboards. Other downloadable exclusives include Square Enix's Crystal Defenders ($9.99) and a pair of new PSP Minis: Zombie Tycoon ($7.99) and Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam ($4.99).

LocoRoco Midnight Carnival is the latest downloadable-only PSP title.

Sony also added downloadable versions of a host of retail PSP releases to the PlayStation Store, including NBA 2K10 ($29.99), Darkstalkers Chronicles: The Chaos Tower ($19.99), Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X ($19.99), Petz Dogz Family ($29.99), Petz Hamsterz Bunch ($29.99), and Petz Saddle Club ($29.99).

The PS3 received a pair of new games in the update as well, with Inferno Pool ($9.99) making its debut alongside Hasbro Family Game Night ($39.99). Like versions of the game on other platforms, Hasbro's PS3 effort compiles familiar games like Boggle, Battleship, and Connect Four, with Mr. Potato Head hosting the collection.

For thrifty gamers, new demos were added for both the PS3 and PSP. On the console side of things, gamers can now try out free samples of Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, Fat Princess, and Pro Evolution Soccer 2010. Meanwhile, gamers on the go can grab trial versions of LocoRoco Midnight Carnival, Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier, Crystal Defenders, and Petz Saddle Club.

A full list of the week's new PlayStation Store content, including themes, wallpapers, and add-on content, is available on the official PlayStation Blog.

Microsoft may have made achievement points mandatory for all Xbox 360 games, but such a stringent rule has yet to be applied to Avatar awards. Introduced with the Avatar Marketplace in August, the reward program sees gamers gaining items for their Xbox Live personas by accomplishing certain tasks within a game. However, as the program remains optional, few developers have made use of reward system.

Today, though, Valve confirmed that Left 4 Dead 2 will be among that diminutive list of Avatar award-compatible games. By completing specific in-game tasks, Xbox 360 gamers will be able to acquire items, such as med kits and garden gnomes, as well as zombie and Depeche Mode T-shirts. A comprehensive list of awards with their requirements can be found below.

A sequel to last year's well-received survival horror first-person shooter, Left 4 Dead 2 will be available for the Xbox 360 and PC on November 17. A demo is now available to those who preorder the Xbox 360 or PC editions of the game.

Beat all five campaigns, and this Med Kit could be yours!

Avatar Awards
Med Kit - Unlock the Med Kit by beating all five campaigns on any skill level.
Frying Pan - Unlock the Frying Pan by killing 10,000 Infected.
Garden Gnome - Unlock the Garden Gnome by rescuing Gnome Chompski.
Bull Shifters Shirt - Unlock the Bull Shifters shirt by winning 10 games of Versus.
Left 4 Dead 2 Shirt - Unlock the Left 4 Dead 2 shirt by winning 10 games of Scavenge.
Zombie Hand Shirt - Unlock the Zombie Hand shirt by killing 10,000 Infected.
Depeche Mode Shirt - Unlock the Depeche Mode shirt by rescuing Gnome Chompski.

Except for the flap surrounding Blizzard Entertainment's art direction for Diablo III, rainbows haven't gotten much play in the gaming industry of late. That changes this week, though, as Taito releases Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! through Xbox Live Arcade for MSP800 ($10). Supporting play for up to two, Rainbow Islands is a platformer in which gamers attempt to navigate 10 different levels across four game modes.

What could be better than rainbows and waterfalls??

Joining Rainbow Islands on XBLA this week is the latest billiards sim, Inferno Pool. Also available for MSP800 ($10), Koch Media and Dark Energy Digital's Inferno Pool features 8-ball and 9-ball gameplay modes. The game's defining mode, however, is Inferno Pool, which lets up to four compete in a battle mode of sorts, where jump shots, combos, bank shots, and other tricky maneuvers become an individual player's ordnance.

Having laid out its Games on Demand schedule for October earlier this month, Microsoft said today that Dead Space and Dirt are now available for download. Released to a warm critical reception in 2007, Codemasters' off-road racer carries a $29.99 sticker tag. Considered one of the best games of 2008, EA's survival horror shooter can be purchased for $19.99. Both games occupy 6GB of space.