Gaming giants Microsoft have announced that their most popular franchise, Halo has sold over 60 million copies worldwide since 2001. They’ve also announced that over 6 billion hours have been spent on the games, which equates to 684,000 years.

Leading franchises such as Nintendo’s Mario and Pokemon, EA Sports’ Need for Speed and FIFA have sold much more with over 100 million copies under their belt, but the Halo franchise has never been cross-platform, or available for a portable device, which further shows how impressive the 60 million feat really is.

This number should only increase in the near future with the Halo: The Master Chief Collection – Xbox One bundle and the release of Halo 5: Guardians in 2015.

After a 14-year games console ban, gamers in China are finally allowed to purchase a games console legally as the Xbox One has released in the country today.

China banned games consoles in 2000 as they thought that there could be ‘potential harm to the physical and mental development of children’.

Chine is a massively lucrative market for Microsoft as there are apparently more gamers in China than the total United States population. Games released in the country need to receive approval from the culture department in Shanghai before they are allowed to be on sale. Hence the reason franchises like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto aren’t available in the country.

Nintendo have never really been known as a company to brand for females. Two main examples would be the Game Boy and Virtual Boy, well a retro gamer is about to change that by modifying an old Virtual Boy into a Virtual Girl.

Instead of that usual red found on the Virtual Boy, the Virtual Girl features a hot pink, with controller buttons also receiving a facelift. The project is still due to be completed, but so far the system looks very acceptable and makes you wonder whether Nintendo made a mistake not making a Virtual Girl, or something similar.

The top 3 must haves for XBOX 360 are as follows:

3rd – Halo 4 – this game really steps up! The graphics are insane, even nicer than Halo 3! The sound effects are spot on and the gameplay of this first person shooter really provide an unmatched gaming sensation! There is so much you could say about this game, but we suggest you just play it!

2nd – Grand Theft Auto V – is truly one of the best games you can play. The game took 5 years to make – not surprising considering the world they created of Los Santos and the greater San Andreas area truly seems living! You can do anything from playing a round of golf, or flying a passenger jetliner. Not only this, but the awaited opportunity for playing online could really open this game up to the possibilities of becoming the number 1 best game created!

1st – Mass Effect – this is the most recommended game to purchase! The fact that it is a trilogy of games certainly helps this to be the top of the most wanted list. Once you’ve played and experienced this game, you’ll never forget it. Over around 100 hours you’ll create Commander Shepard, you’ll get to know him, you’ll build relationships and go on adventures across the galaxy… Each game is different, but links perfectly. BioWare really worked wonders on creating this game!

If you’re the type of person who sometimes dust down their vintage consoles and plugs it in to their new TV then the NES USB controller could be right for you. This clever controller can plug into a computer or a laptop, and it essentially allows people to play retro online games the right way.

You can be playing Mario online on your laptop without the keyboard, but with a vintage style controller, and it will mean you no longer have to grab the ladder and head up to the attic to gain your vintage console, you can actually just plug into the vintage controller and away you go.

This controller plugs straight in to any standard USB port and it allows you to play game emulators or compatible online games.