The application was filed in February, but only published this month. While it's heavy on fluff, the gist of the patent is that Google would like to be able to alter existing YouTube videos in order to create "interactive games" within the service.

There are many possibilities as to what this would leave us with; we could get custom vids created with games in mind, we could get "choose your own adventure" deals, we could get something...else that I just can't wrap my head around at this moment.

Google Might Get Into Hosted Gaming Via YouTube [bnet, via Slashdot]

Now obviously, you're not going to get the exact same reaction from another pair of fresh-faced youngsters opening up their first major home console (not unless they're hamming it up, anyway). But perhaps you could have a non sequitur video that's only tangentially related to the holidays. Or video games for that matter.

Here's a few for your consideration.

First, the Japanese Zelda rap commercial. It's directly game-related, entertaining and doesn't even mention the holidays so persons who abstain from Christmas or what have you don't feel left out.

Second, President Obama and his talk with kids about Christmas and The Sims. Very much on-topic, if a bit hard to hear and there's a lot less screaming.

Finally, how about Easter Bunny hates You? Sure, it's not related to video games and it's the wrong holiday — but it's way more entertaining to watch than two kids flipping out over the Nintendo 64.

Got your own holiday YouTube recommendations? Hit me up in the comments — I'll be at my sister-in-law's house, pretending to not be Jewish. Happy Holidays everyone!

A commenter asks "Was that one hand for left AND right hand, or was it just a really intense right hand part?" and the artist, RigorMortis999 replies, "the former becoming the latter."

Good thing Mario didn't run down to his final 100 seconds at the end.

Mario Theme with One Hand Only [YouTube User RigorMortis999, thanks Isiah O.!]

BASHandSlash user PST*Joker has claimed that Modern Warfare 2's AC-130 reward (achieved for a killstreak of 11) was influenced by mods he and other PC gamers made to the original Modern Warfare. Infinity Ward posted a video (above, currently hosted on a non-Infinity Ward account) highlighting the AC-130 bonus in Modern Warfare 2.

So one of the site's community members sent a tweet out to PST*Joker recommending he, as the owner of the content, send a DMCA takedown to YouTube. "See how youtube responds," he said.

Shortly thereafter, the video was pulled, right off of Infinity Ward's official channel.

BASHandSlash says that after the takedown, Infinity Ward community manager Robert Bowling direct messaged PST*Joker about the removal: " "Really? Copyright infringment claim? :sigh:" read the message, according to BASHandSlash.

MW2: IW Gets AC130 Takedown Notice [BASHandSlash.com, thanks Sean H.]

Sure, videos get taken down all the time. But search for "Guitar Hero" on YouTube and you get more than 300,000 results. While not all are video directly from the game, it's undeniable that there are many out there showing gameplay, except in a positive light. Most recently there's a guy hundred-percenting eruption in Guitar Hero: Van Halen and using the video to pimp Gamer Grub. Maybe not as embarrassing as the Cobain foofaraw, but I'm sure some lawyer-mans could reason that it's an unauthorized endorsement.

For his part, the video's poster - corporalgregg3 - says:

Yeah, my last account was permanently disabled due to (I think) Activision. Right before my account was shut down, the Kurt Cobain vid was removed due to copyright claim by Activision Games Inc. I will be continuing with this account so whatever f—k it all.

The three videos on his new account are all of Rock Band.

Rock Band 2 The Metal Expert Guitar Bass Drums Gold [720p] [YouTube, thanks Jonathan S.]

The official UK LittleBigPlanet YouTube page is a celebration of user created content, with a section for favorites and featured users, where particularly inventive folks will have their creations showcased. Along with the chance for creators to shine, the page will also play host to tutorials from Media Molecule, cultural collaborations, the latest news, and other exclusive content, such as the Around the World in 80 Sackboys contest.

Residents of the UK can create a LittleBigPlanet level based on a real-world location and enter it in the competition of a chance to win a trip around the world for two, complete with £1,000 spending money, which at this rate might buy you a couple of coffees once the winner is announced. Contestants have between now and May 29th to enter their creations, which leaves you plenty of time to sit around procrastinating before getting to work.

The Official UK LittleBigPlanet YouTube Page [YouTube]

Don't worry if clicking on the video takes you away from the page; it's supposed to. Using annotations to embed links to a series of smaller YouTube clips, Patrick has created a version of Street Fighter using SOTA toys that allows you to select an opponent, choose your moves, and eventually win...if all goes well.

If you think this is brilliant, check out some of Patrick's other vids. He's simply amazing.

Patrick Boivin's YouTube Channel [YouTube - Thanks Jacob!]

From viral videos to commercial premiers, it seems that the popularity of YouTube is helping attract advertisers. And the advertisers are attracting publishers, who through revenue-sharing agreements are both making money every time you click on an official YouTube clip, and saving money by avoiding older, more expensive forms of advertising.

Take that Gears/Mad World clip. Doesn't matter whether you loved it or hated it like a thousand nightmares made manifest, you (the collective you) have clicked on it five million times and counting.

Or the YouTube clip of Tiger Woods walking on water. It's been viewed 2.5 million times, and YouTube are sharing the revenue with EA. That's easy money.

Click below for Takahashi's full piece.

YouTube game videos become a big channel for game marketers [VentureBeat]

LittleBigPlanet may be the stunt-modder's level design palette of choice these days, with some truly spectacular creations, but its not the only game in town.

Speilbergian Wii favourite Boom Blox comes with a nifty level editor too, and someone has spent a lot of time waggling that WiiMote to create Boom Bloxified recreations of 8-bit classic including Galaga, Duck Hunt, Pac-Man and Donkey Kong.

8 Bit Games Recreated in Boom Blox [GoNintendo]

Did you ever wonder what Fallout 3 would be like as a musical? Neither did we.

Nevertheless Fallout 3 - Wasteland Dancin' is a piece of musical theatre machinima made with the PC version of the game and a handful of mods including Umpa's Animation MOD, GoreTweaks, and the ever-popular killableChildrenVer1-376. Music is by Shawn Lee from the Bully soundtrack.

Say what you like about the quality of the animation in Fallout 3 - those double and possibly even triple-jointed lifeless mannequins can really bust some moves.

The very definition of 'Neat Hack', Ken Moore shows us his DIY Wiimote Theremin with a virtuoso rendition of a piece traditionally associated with the instrument - the theme from Star Trek.

It's not, in actual fact, a real Theremin. Rather than radio frequency oscillations, Ken uses tiny LEDs on the tips of his fingers (hence the gloves) that trigger the Wiimote's infrared sensors. Still damn cool, though and if nothing else takes my dream project of Theremin Hero one step closer to reality.

More Wii Theremin Videos [Ken Moore Design]

It is an advertising truism that Sex Sells, but so does fear. Whether it is fear of human odours fuelling deodorant marketing or fear of Terror selling a war, manipulating our darkest fears is a surefire way to get the public to sign on the dotted line.

Full marks then for Gamestop's latest ad which is all about the terror, with just a hint of sex underneath some TV-friendly pixellation. The horror.. THE HORROR.

The take home message is that you should always tell your relatives what you want for Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa/Festivus although in this case 'new parents', 'a padlock' and 'a quantum of dignity' will doubtless edge out games consoles and gift tokens.

Japan is getting the update this Thursday, and if all goes we'll we'll have it in Europe and North America on the 30th. Hit the link for more details on the Monster update.

PixelPatch: PJ Monsters Updates Incoming [PlayStation Blog]

YouTube to sell music, games in revenue push [Reuters]

Wario Land: Shake It – Amazing footage! [YouTube]

Interestingly enough, in the first video he plays the game with what looks like a consumer grade Soul Calibur II arcade stick. Hats off you to you Gillybaba, the internet envies you. Second video after the jump.

Thanks, Bruno!

It's not like we're lacking in DVD and Blu-ray ports of Dragon's Lair, so if you really want to give it a go and use the guide, now's your chance.

Dragon's Lair Complete Strategy Guide - With Annotations [YouTube via Waxy]

PocketGamer got a look at a new accelerometer-based mobile racing game from Firemint.

As you can see from the video, Real Racing runs on the iPhone — and certainly confirms our hopes for that platform's gaming prowess — but Firemint also have it up and running on a Nokia N95 (all the recent N-series phones have motion sensors built in).

Multiplayer races can take place over a wifi link, and your racing stats are automatically uploaded to the Firemint web site. Brilliantly, the game will also upload videos of your best times to YouTube and share your rankings via Facebook and OpenSocial into the bargain.

GCDC 2008: Firemint shows off awesome iPhone racing game [PocketGamer]

"On the seventh day, we ran out of candy..."

Rare continue their series of Halo 3 'tribute' virals with this nod towards the 'Museum' ad.

For my money, it doesn't work quite as well as 'Believe' - mainly because the sombre woman in a Piñata mask they have got to play Leafos seems to be on the verge of turning the proceedings into a Bat For Lashes video.

Dylan Cuthbert, president and executive producer, of Q-Games, says this new ability will revolutionize how people talk about games.

The YouTube upload feature is going to revolutionize how people share tips. Up until now it has been limited to people with video capture equipment, but from now on, anyone can record their game and upload it directly to YouTube from within the game! It is as simple as pushing one button to start and one button to stop and upload, and there is no affect on the gameplay thanks to the power of the PS3 and its abundance of SPU processors.

The YouTube people are pretty excited too, pointing out that this is likely just the first Playstation 3 game to do this.

We've already seen the significant positive impact for games like Spore and Mainichi Issho and how gamers share & show off their creations. We look forward to the day when having YouTube upload support in games will be a standard feature.

As Q-Games President Dylan Cuthbert said on the Playstation Blog, "The YouTube upload feature is going to revolutionize how people share tips". We wholeheartedly agree!

I hope more, bigger games will start to include this amazing feature.

PixelJunk Eden Now Fortified With YouTube APIs [APIBlog]