That's potentially bad news for consumers, who may have had their personal e-mail information sent to others, opening them up to heavy spamming. It may also be bad news for Activision, as the e-mail blasts may violate the company's online Privacy Policy. That policy states that Activision has "taken steps to assure that all information collected will remain secure and in its original form" and that "Access to all personal information is strictly controlled."

If you're one of the many that have a complaint about Activision's handling of your information, they instruct you to contact the company's Business and Legal Affairs/Privacy Policy department at (310) 255-2000.

Summer vacation! And if you lived in China, you'd jet over to the local internet cafe and play some MMO until your eyes bled. Well, you would have if the Chinese government weren't such a big wet blanket. The country's MInistry of Culture is kicking off a campaign to monitor internet cafes from July 1st to September 30th this year. This crackdown will keep kids out of the cafes and on the street, where they can do safe things like play in traffic. Middle school teachers are being hired to serve as internet cafe supervisors. School's out? Yeah, right. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Pacific Epoch] via Joystiq

Don't like people watching you play yer DS? Get "privacy screens" and never be bothered by voyeurs again. For a couple years, Japanese companies have been selling this type of product for keitais, but not handhelds.

Put the clear film on both screens. Angle the DS thirty degrees or more, and the film goes black. However, hold the DS directly in front of you and see the screen no problem. That means Peeping Toms on the subway can't see how you're doing at Castlevania.

How does it work? The tiny grooves in the privacy screens are such that reflected light darkens the film from the side, but not for head-on viewing. Unless Nintendo is planning a slew of Peach and Mario adult content, this product seems better suited for PSP porn.

See it work after the jump.

Privacy Screens Maker [Asdec] via Game Watch Impress

It looks like the credit card is increasingly becoming the age checker of choice for video game publishers. I received an email this morning from a SOCOM 3 fan who points out that Sony is requiring gamers to enter a credit card number to start a friends list or join or create a clan. This is most likely being done to weed-out underage players since the game is rated M for mature. Of course it will also weed out those who don't have the financial posterity to own a credit card or the desire to commit economic hari-kari via bloated interest rates and annual fees. And don't even get me started on the privacy issued. I understand the need for age checking, and certainly getting someone to enter their date of birth doesn't swing it, but there's got to be a better way then credit cards. Just don't ask me what it is.

I Hate You Sony and Zipper for your CC verification thingie [Playstation Forums, thanks Jason]