As a class-action lawsuit against Electronic Arts alleging "blatantly anticompetitive conduct" due to an NFL exclusivity agreement, one of the key questions is how much the publisher's practices have cost ordinary consumers. Common sense would suggest it's impossible to put an exact figure on how much extra gamers were made to spend on football games in a different hypothetical scenario, but that's not going to stop the various parties from trying.

Earlier this week, GamePolitics reported on an estimate of that number made by University of Michigan economist Dr. Jeffrey MacKie-Mason. According to MacKie-Mason's estimates, EA overcharged gamers between $701.5 million and $926 million over the alleged stretch of anticompetitive behavior.

EA attorneys responded to that estimate in a court filing by calling it a work of "pure fiction," a sentiment echoed today by Wedbush Morgan Securities' Michael Pachter.

"What kind of fool is this [University] of Michigan economics professor," Pachter said in an e-mail to GamePolitics, adding, "I rarely read anything that gets me so incensed... They may have some odd estimates I'm not aware of, but based on what you printed, they should be embarrassed. You can quote me."

To explain his incredulity, Pachter noted that Madden games have sold 23 million units since 2006 (the period in question), with total retail sales of just over $1 billion. Assuming that 20 percent of the revenue went to the stores who sold the games, that leaves EA with about $800 million in revenue from the sales.

"How in the world does [MacKie-Mason] conclude that EA overcharged by more than they generated," Pachter asked.

It's worth noting that Pachter and MacKie-Mason used different sources for their sales numbers. Pachter based his Madden sales figures on the industry-tracking NPD Group's data, while MacKie-Mason used worldwide sales figures from the publicly accessible VGChartz. The NPD Group receives its data directly from retailers and extrapolates to account for non-participants like Wal-Mart, while VGChartz divines its estimates based on polls of gamers, retailers, and publishers; historical sales trends of similar games; and fluctuation of resale prices.

After the success of premium-priced Guitar Hero bundles, Activision is preparing a holiday slate chock-full of games with peripherals packed in. In addition to Guitar Hero 5, the publisher has big-ticket bundles for Tony Hawk Ride, Band Hero, and DJ Hero.

While the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 may not lend itself to the bundled controller business model, Activision and developer Infinity Ward are preparing the next best thing: an over-the-top limited-edition release. As revealed this week by an Infinity Ward YouTube video, Modern Warfare 2 will come in three different packages, the most extravagant of which--the Prestige Edition--will feature working night-vision goggles.

The video, hosted by Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling, lays out the content of the regular Modern Warfare 2 release, the Hardened Edition, and the Prestige Edition. The Hardened Edition will come packed in a metallic case with an art book featuring concept sketches and other details from the game's development. It also includes a downloadable code for the original Call of Duty on PC, Xbox 360, or PlayStation 3. Though the Prestige Edition remains unpriced, Bowling's Twitter page lists the Hardened Edition as selling for $80.

The Prestige Edition will come with the special Hardened edition of the game, the Modern Warfare 2-branded goggles, and a sculpted head to display the pack-in when not in use. North American retailers like GameStop, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Amazon.com are currently accepting preorders for the regular and Hardened editions of Modern Warfare 2 but have yet to list the Prestige Edition.

[UPDATE]: In another post on his Twitter,Bowling revealed the suggested retail price of the Prestige Edition package will be $149. Additionally, he specified that the console editions of the original Call of Duty will include the game's full multiplayer features.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is set for a November 10 debut. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

Ever since Netflix video streaming came to the Xbox 360, Microsoft has been touting it as a major advantage over its competing consoles. However, recent months have seen rumors of the DVD mail-rental company's online arm coming to both the Wii and PlayStation 3.

Today, Sony announced that it has struck a deal with Netflix to enable streaming its some of its high-end electronic devices. Unfortunately for many gamers, the contraptions in question do not include the PS3, but rather a range of the company's high-end Bravia HDTVs. According to a report on GameSpot sister site CNET, the XBR9 series, Z5100 series, and W5100 series of Bravias will all be updated with Netflix streaming software this fall. Other Sony HDTVs can access the service by buying the Sony Bravia Internet Video Link for about $200--or just pay $99.99 for a Roku set-top video player.

Speaking with GameSpot, Sony declined to directly comment on the prospect of Netflix streaming on the PS3. Instead, a rep offered the following blanket statement on the console's non-gaming entertainment capabilities:

We are always looking for ways to enhance our video entertainment offerings through PlayStation 3. Currently, our video download service, available through the PlayStation store, boasts over 1,900 movies and 9,000 TV episodes, making it a leader in the field. We have established content partnerships with industry leaders such as MTV, Comedy Central, Spike TV, Starz, Showtime, NBC, Universal Pictures, Nickelodeon and VH1. All of this is in addition to PS3's Blu-ray movie playback capabilities, streaming video capabilities through PS3's built in Internet browser, and its full suite of game offerings makes PS3 the ultimate entertainment machine for the home.

At launch in May 2008, Funcom shipped more than 1 million copies of its M-rated massively multiplayer online game, Age of Conan. Despite that effort, its subscriber base stood at 415,000 only three months later. However, Funcom has reported that the game's user base has since stabilized, with servers being consolidated in January and a wide-ranging update going live on June 24. Now, the company hopes to bolster the game's ranks with a new promotion aimed at bringing back players who left since its May 2008 release.

Recently, Funcom announced a new "re-evaluation campaign" for the title, allowing former subscribers to play free for two weeks with "no strings attached." Those eligible can reactivate their accounts from now until July 22. However, the new promotion will suspend the previous free-trial offer that was extended to the general public, in order "to ensure the best play environment for all returning players." Currently, the game costs $20 with a monthly fee of $15.

Returning players may notice some new changes in Age of Conan's mature-themed world of Hyboria, which is based on the fantasy fiction of author Robert E. Howard. The game's recent update, Gangs of Tarantia, adds a new location and implements fundamental changes to several of the core systems. For more on Age of Conan, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo last month, Microsoft revealed that Xbox 360 Avatars would soon be getting their very own marketplace in August. The marketplace will offer up a variety of items, including game-themed shirts for MSP80 ($1) and interactive props for MSP320 ($4). Halo 3, Fable II, Gears of War 2, and Splinter Cell Avatar add-ons are reportedly already planned.

At a bloggers lunch and later meetings, Xbox Live reps also confirmed that along with the Avatar Marketplace, "Avatar Awards" will be doled out alongside achievements for feats of in-game prowess. Whether achievements and awards would be tied together has not yet been confirmed.

However, if several screens leaked on (and since pulled from) GameCinemaHD are authentic, both the awards and marketplace will be front and center (literally) in the 360 Avatar submenu. The screens, which Microsoft had not authenticated as of press time, show both awards and marketplace tabs in the existing avatar menu. Another screen shows an empty avatar awards gallery with a simple placard saying "unlock avatar awards by playing games."

Last month, a bankruptcy court lawsuit provided Mortal Kombat movie fans with a glimmer of hope that the fighting franchise could hit theaters for the third time. The complaint, brought by original Mortal Kombat film producer Larry Kasanoff, mentioned that a third feature was in the works, with a script, talent, and shooting locations all lined up.

That film may be closer than the next installment in the gory gaming series, judging by a San Gabriel Valley Tribune feature on the martial artist and actor underneath the scorpion mask. Eighth-degree black belt Chris Casamassa told the paper that he will be reprising his role for a third Mortal Kombat movie, with filming set to begin in September.

The original Mortal Kombat film was made with a $25 million budget in 1995, and went on to garner $122 million in box office receipts worldwide. The success of the movie prompted Kasanoff's production company to create a number of follow-up projects in quick succession. There was a feature-film sequel, 1997's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, the Saturday-morning cartoon Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, the TV series Mortal Kombat: Conquest, and even a touring stage show.

Like its forebearer, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 isn't a simple PlayStation 3 port of the last Xbox 360 installment in Tecmo's shinobi action series. Besides all the content of Ninja Gaiden 2, the game will sport femme fatales imported from Tecmo's Dead or Alive and an upgraded graphics engine.

Now, though, GameStop is giving further incentive to pick up the title by exclusively offering a $70 Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Collector's Edition version. According to the retailer's product page, the special version will include an 80-page book with three parts: a strategy guide, a section with "vibrant Ninja Gaiden art," and a comic book that corresponds to in-game cutscenes and the storyline.

All editions of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 feature a new online co-op mode with more than 30 challenge stages. The M for Mature game launches in North America on September 29 and is explained in detail in GameSpot's video interview below.

With Halo 3: ODST set for a September 22 release on the Xbox 360, Microsoft continues to keep the game's marketing campaign on a slow burn, dribbling out new information on a semi-regular basis. Today, the game's developer, Bungie Software, unveiled the three new multiplayer maps that will be included with the game as part of its self-proclaimed Bungie Day celebrations.

The first map, Heretic, doesn't entirely fit into the "all-new" category, as it is a re-envisioned take on Halo 2's Midship arena and features a symmetrical play field on the Covenant vessel Pious Inquisitor. Citadel is a small, symmetrical map that plays out in an abandoned Forerunner stronghold. Lastly, Longshore is designed for large squads, taking place within the Old Mombasa commercial port.

Halo 3: ODST will be available for the Xbox 360 as a $59.99 standard edition or as a $99.99 Collector's Pack, which comes with a UNSC-green special edition Halo wireless controller. In addition to the single-player campaign, ODST players gain access to three new multiplayer maps, the Firefight co-op mode, all previously released Halo 3 multiplayer add-on maps, and guaranteed access to the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta.

For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Halo 3: ODST.

At last month's Electronic Entertainment Expo, Microsoft showed off a painting program for its forthcoming motion-sensing add-on, Project Natal. Now, two German graduate students have won a prestigious award for a more streetwise painting application for an existing motion-sensing platform--the Nintendo Wii.

On July 4, German design firm International Forum Design awarded its annual prizes to promising artists in the European country. One of the winners of the iF Communication Design Award was WiiSpray, an art application which turns the Wii remote into a virtual spray can. The software remains in the experimental stage, and has not been approved to be part of any retail product by Nintendo.

Conceived in 2007 by Bauhaus University students Martin Lihs and Frank Matuse after the former collaborated with a Portugeuse graffiti artist, Wii Spray is based on an Adobe Flash-based application called WiiFlash and standard Wii technology. The latest version actually lets users snap the Wii remote into an artificial spray can which can apparently recognize actual different types of nozzles and caps. The app also allows users to combine up to 128 colors via radial on-screen palette, and has none of the chemical mess and legal complications of real grafitti--although it does require a video projector or very large television to be practical.