Adobe is not happy about the iPhone's lack of Flash support and the company is accusing Apple of unfairly restricting the technology.

iPhone users who visit the Flash installation site are greeted with a not-so-subtle message claiming:

Flash Player not available for your device.

Apple restricts use of technologies required by products like Flash Player. Until Apple eliminates these restrictions, Adobe cannot provide Flash Player for the iPhone or iPod Touch.

Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform commonly used to add interactivity to Web sites. While it has been criticized for being resource intensive, Flash is still the most popular approach to to integrate animations and video into Web pages.

Since the iPhone's debut, the device's Safari browser has been unable to play Flash, and users routinely lament the loss of nearly all online video content.

Wired.com writes:

Apple declined to comment, but some iPhone developers speculate Apple opted against a full Flash experience because of technical problems it could raise on the handset, such as battery drainage or sluggish web browsing.

Last summer's release of the speedier iPhone 3GS did not ease Flash restrictions. Apple may have chosen to block Flash not for performance reasons, but because interactive Flash applications and games could compete with the iTunes App store.

Do you agree with Adobe that Apple is unfairly restricting technology by limiting Flash on the iPhone? Or is the message on Adobe's Web site simply propaganda aimed to shift the blame from Flash's performance to Apple's anticompetitive nature?

It isn’t often a video game series will switch consoles - say, from an Xbox to a PlayStation - part of the way though a game's story. The move makes it hard to build a fan base. And it's irritating, especially if gamers don't own both systems.

But, whether intended or not, that's what has happened with the widely acclaimed game called "Dead Space."

The shoot-em-up game started on the PS3 and Xbox 360. But the story continues with a Star-Wars-style prequel that's only been released for Nintendo's Wii. Called "Dead Space Extraction," that Wii game may leave some "Dead Space" fans annoyed. If an Xbox fan, for example, wanted to keep following the game, he or she might have to buy a Wii, which retails for about $250.

Or find a friend who owns a Wii.

The cross-console narrative happened somewhat by accident.

While developing the “Dead Space” game for the PS3 and Xbox 360, executive producer Steve Papoutsis realized they weren’t doing anything for the Wii. He became tasked with creating a game that not only satisfied Wii fans, but took advantage of the unique controllers for the console.

Patoutsis said there was plenty of story left untold from the first release, but the challenge was making a game that maximized the Wii system.

Many of the weapons are the same from game to game, but the key difference is the perspective of the gameplay. “Dead Space” is played from a 3rd person angle so you can actually see your character. “Dead Space Extraction” is played from a first-person perspective – looking through your character’s eyes.

“It plays like a movie,” Papoutsis said. “I would call it an action horror game with more talking among the players.”

Papoutsis said they hope to open up the eyes of the Wii owners to show them what can be done. He said “Dead Space Extraction” plays best with friends, which the Wii console is intended to do.

He emphasized that they did not intend to exclude their fans of “Dead Space” with the new release, but they wanted to create a unique game for owners of the Wii.

The game, published by Electronic Arts and developed by Visceral Games, is due out on September 29.

Sony has officially confirmed rumors surrounding the PlayStation 3 game console. In a video posted on the PlayStation Blog SCEA President and CEO Jack Tretton announced a new slimmer PS3 will be available September 1st. In addition, all PS3 consoles got a $100 price cut today, dropping the cost to an enticing $299.

Engadget received an early look at the new PlayStation 3 Slim and provides a great hands-on gallery.

Price has always been an obstacle preventing the widespread adoption of the PS3. Just last week Ars Technica criticized the cost of the console:

In many cases, price is the most important factor, and while Blu-ray and wireless may be nice, they're not always enough to convince a parent or grandparent to spend $200 extra dollars in the store. Right now, price is everything, and no checklist will change that.

The secret? Just lower the damn price.

With hot titles such as God of War 3 and Final Fantasy XIII on the horizon and a $100 price cut, the PlayStation 3 may finally be a true competitor in the console wars.

Will a $299 feature-rich PS3 be able to dethrone the value-priced Nintendo Wii ($250) or challenge Microsoft's Xbox 360 Pro ($299)?

Microsoft released a mandatory update for the Xbox Live Dashboard this morning. Along with user interface enhancements, the update provides a variety of functional updates to the game console's online capabilities.

Games on demand

Xbox 360 users with a fast Internet connection and hard drive space to spare can now download complete titles from the new games marketplace. The marketplace only includes about 20 games at the moment, but Microsoft says new titles will be added every Tuesday.

I am a little disappointed by the pricing in the games marketplace. The online games seem to cost slightly more than purchasing a physical copy at your local Best Buy. Plenty of people will likely pay a few extra dollars for the convenience and instant gratification of games on demand. I just can't help but feel the lack of physical packaging and a direct-to-Microsoft payment plan should result in drastically lower prices.

Avatar marketplace

For those of you in love with the customizable cartoonish avatars that represent each person in the Xbox Live universe, the update includes a new avatar marketplace.

According to Xbox.com users can "Download and purchase premium items, including branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games."

I don't think my avatar is getting a flashy new wardrobe if it requires me to open my wallet, but I have no doubt some gamers are excited to distinguish their virtual selves with unique outfits and props.

Netflix

Netflix has been available on Xbox Live for some time, but with the new update you no longer need a computer to add titles to your instant viewing queue.

Xbox boasts that Netflix subscribers can now "browse through new releases and other genre lists based on the types of shows you’ve previously watched, all from the comfort of your couch."

Coming soon

Unfortunately, anticipated features such as Facebook and Twitter integration are not yet available, but Xbox promises social networking and Zune video will be added this Fall.

After toying with the new dashboard for a day, I was impressed by the Netflix updates, additional console settings, and enhanced video controls, but nothing struck me as a radical development.

Are you pleased with the new features included in this dashboard update? Or does your Xbox Live experience seem largely unchanged?

A full list of features included with the new update can be found on Xbox.com.

This week, our "Get Your Game On" video-gaming segment is about Blizzard Entertainment's "World of Warcraft," the wildly popular Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game that allows millions of players to interact with each other in an online fantasy world.

A scene from "The Burning Crusade," an expansion pack to the "World of Warcraft" online video game.

CNN.com spoke with Alex Albrecht, creator of Project Lore, a Web site devoted to "World of Warcraft" (or WoW), about the appeal of such games and what WoW fans can expect next. (Watch the video here.)

Why are MMO games so popular?
To a lot of people, playing games together with friends is much more fun than playing them alone. MMOs offer adventure and that sense of accomplishment you feel once you achieve a goal in the game. Sharing those things with your friends, as you join up to kill bosses and complete epic quests, makes those experiences so much better. And MMO's let you do that all online without having to be in the same place as your buddies.

Why WoW?
"World of Warcraft" is by far the most prominent and popular of all of the MMO games out there. There are people all over the world playing WoW because it is easy to get into, and the folks at Blizzard have created a huge amount of areas, quests, and dungeons for players to experience. They've also come up with a lot of creative in-game events that really make the world feel alive. For example, many real world holidays have in-game equivalents. Love is in the Air (Valentine's Day), Noblegarden (Easter), and Hallow's End (Halloween) all make the fantasy world more dynamic while adding some freshness to the game throughout the year. The community that has gathered around WoW is also very diverse, so it is always fun to meet new people in game.

What's new?
In the next few months Blizzard will release a new expansion for "World of Warcraft" called "Wrath of the Lich King" (WotLK). This will introduce all new quests, areas, and dungeons for us to explore, as well as a new type of character to play. There is a lot of anticipation in the WoW community for the expansion, and that is why I launched my new site, Project Lore (http://www.projectlore.com). We want to be in full stride when WotLK releases, bringing new content, videos, and guides to the WoW community. We are posting videos from the closed beta test of "Wrath of the Lich King" over the next three weeks, and we can't wait to see the response from the WoW community.

– CNN.com

Here's the next installment of our "Get Your Game On" series, in which CNN.com speaks to experts about what's hot in video gaming. This week, Scott Jones from Crispygamer.com joined us to talk about finding cheap games.

The economy may be bad, but that doesn't mean you can't get your game on.

Gaming can be an extremely expensive hobby. The latest consoles, whether it’s Nintendo's Wii, the Xbox 360, or PlayStation 3, cost $250 to $500. Add in an extra controller or two, a few peripherals, and the price climbs exponentially higher. On top of that, new games cost anywhere from $50 to $60 a pop.

You don't have to cut video games simply because the economy is bad. There are many ways to game on the cheap. Indeed, gaming can be an extremely expensive hobby, but the dirty secret of the industry is that it doesn't have to be. Yes, there are ways to be a gamer and not completely empty out your wallet or go broke.

Watch Crispygamer.com's Scott Jones talk to CNN.com LIVE about ways to play big money games without spending a lot of cash

Tip 1: Go retro.

While it's great to have the latest shiny, new next-generation consoles and games, it makes better fiscal sense to buy last-generation consoles. For example, buy a PlayStation 2. For $130 you get the sleek slim line version. You instantly have access to, literally, hundreds of great games.

Beyond that, because the install-base for the PS2 is so great, many developers are still making games for the PS2. You want to play "The Force Unleashed?" "LEGO Batman?" "Rock Band 2?" "SingStar?" PS2 versions are available.

Of course, the way to save the most money is by tossing the used games bin at your local game store.

Tip 2: Buy used.

The new Tiger Woods game - "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09" - is in stores this week. But don't buy the new one; instead, toss the used-games bin and dig out the 2008 version. As soon as the new game ships, the old game typically gets marked down 50, 60, or sometimes even 70 percent.

And the dirty little secret that companies like EA don't want you to know is that the new version is usually nearly identical to the previous year's version. Yes, the new Tiger is good, make no mistake; but last year's Tiger? That was pretty good too.

Other great games that you can pick up on the cheap are "God of War "and its terrific sequel; "Shadow of the Colossus," "Kingdom Hearts" 1 and 2, "LEGO Star Wars," "Resident Evil 4," "Okami," "Bully," "Katamari Damacy" –all of these games can be found new for less than $20. And if you're willing to buy used, you can save even more money.

Tip 3: Be smart when buying used games.

Four things to keep in mind when buying used games:

1. Be willing to do a little hard work. This sounds ridiculous, but scour the lower shelves for the best deals. Gamers are lazy and often don't look there.

2. Also: Keep an eye out for multiple versions of the same game in the used section; I've seen the same game at three or four different price points in the same store.

3. Once you've settled on the game of your choice, ask to see the disc before closing the deal. Turn the disc over, let the light reflect off of it, and look for any scratches, or warp marks of any kind. If you see anything that looks off, ask to see another copy of the game.

4. One final note: If the cashier offers you some kind of insurance plan for the disc–it'll sound something like this: "For an extra $5, we'll replace the disc at any point if it should break" - always, always, always say no. Discs are generally very durable. If it works when you get it home, it'll work pretty much into infinity.

Here's the next installment of our "Get Your Game On" series, in which CNN.com speaks to experts about what's hot in video gaming. This week, G4TV's Morgan Webb discusses the new games kids will be buzzing about in the halls and around the water fountain as they head back to school.

A scene from "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed."

Among the titles we discuss (watch video here):

– "Madden NFL 09," reinvents the series with upgrades to previous modes as well as such new ones as Madden IQ, Online Leagues, and Madden Moments. If there was ever a season to come back to the series, this is it. Throw on some pads and get back into the game.

– "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" lets you become Darth Vader’s secret apprentice and use your light saber to fight the remaining Jedi hiding in the universe. Discover what it's like to feel the powers of the dark side at your disposal.

– "Rock Band 2" brings the crew back together with new ways to customize your music experience plus new modes such as the Battle of the Bands that pits your quartet against other rockers from around the world. In case the new additions aren’t enough, artists like Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, AC/DC, and Metallica will have you playing to sold-out virtual crowds long into the night.

– "Warhammer Online" might come from the people who first made a name for themselves in the tabletop arena, but it’s already gaining loyal supporters in a fight for MMO dominance. The big idea this time around is the realm-versus-realm play that will pit you against an entire army intent on your demise.

– "Spore" takes you on a journey from a single cell in a tiny drop of water to a full-fledged civilization by letting you design, evolve, and ultimately control the fate of your own virtual species. From the genius who brought you "The Sims," this evolution game, due Sept. 7, is easily one of the most anticipated of the year.

– CNN.com

It was a three-way brawl at last week's E3 conference as these top console makers revealed their newest developments. Who won the battle? We'll let you decide.

Nintendo's Wii has sold 29 million units to date to become the fastest-selling console in history.

Nintendo introduced its Wii MotionPlus accessory for the Wii Remote. This accessory, to be released in spring 2009, attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and it will track every movement a user makes with their arms and wrist. The Wii MotionPlus accessory will be included with the sequel to Wii Sports, entitled Wii Sports Resort. In this game you will be able to duel it out with swords, skiff across the water on a Jet Ski and play Frisbee with a dog.

Another hardware release, WiiSpeak, coincides with the release of "Animal Crossing: City Folk." WiiSpeak is a microphone/speaker system that will allow users to chat with each other while gaming. In "Animal Crossing: City Folk," users will run around with a plethora of animals, build and improve their community, take a bus into the city, and be able to bid on items in an auction house. These two items are scheduled for release on November 16.

With Wii Music the entire family can rock out to 60 different instruments using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers. You never have to worry about being off the beat, unlike with some other games. Users can improvise and transform songs then share them with friends and family.

Get ready to grand-slam your way through Baseball Kingdom in "Mario Super Sluggers." You can take control of over 40 Nintendo characters, including your own Mii, to play nine-inning games, home-run contests, and several mini-games.

Microsoft is in the middle of the pack with 20 million Xbox 360 units sold worldwide. Every five seconds a new member joins Xbox Live to add to its already 12 million-plus membership.

Microsoft is teaming up with Netflix to offer streaming movies directly to your XBox. More than 10,000 movies and TV episodes will be offered next fall to Xbox Live Gold members and Netflix subscribers.

Other enhancements to Xbox Live include Xbox Live Primetime, which allows users to play such game shows as “1 vs. 100." Xbox Live Party will allow you to create your own avatar while you share movies and pictures with friends around the globe.

Also on tap in its gaming lineup is "Halo Wars," a real-time strategy game, based off the original Halo series. Making the jump from Nintendo to Xbox is the family friendly "Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts." An exclusive "Grand Theft Auto IV" episode will be released in the fall as well.

For you music fans, "Rock Band 2" will be launched first on the 360 in September. If you are more into singing then playing the instruments then you will want to check out "Lips," which will allow you to use a wireless motion-sensing microphone to sing songs from your own music collection. And with "You’re in the Movies," players can put themselves into several short films utilizing the Xbox Live Vision camera. This will hit stores right before the holiday season.

In hardware news, Microsoft unveiled its 60GB Xbox for $349.99 while dropping the 20GB version by $50, to $299.99.

Sony made several announcements concerning its PlayStation 3, which has sold 14 million units.

The PlayStation Network will allow users to download 300 movies and 1,200 TV shows in both standard and high definition. Movies such as "Alvin and the Chipmunks," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest" and "10,000 B.C." will be available to both rent and buy.

Rentals range from $2.99 to $5.99 and users have 14 days to start watching their movie. Once the movie is started the user has 24 hours to watch it before it expires. You can purchase movies from $9.99 to $14.99. Owners will be able to transfer content from their PS3 to their PSP for watching on the go.

"LittleBigPlanet" is a first-of-its-kind game where users can customize the world that they play in. Each character has certain powers that they can use to interact with their world while solving puzzles. Once you've completed your world you can invite friends via the Playstation Network to check it out.

Sony also announced first-person shooter games "Resistance 2" and "Killzone 2," "NBA 09 The Inside," and "Buzz! Quiz TV" that includes wireless buzzers.

For those of you who desire more space, Sony will release an 80GB model for $399.99 in September.

The battle at E3 has been fought, but the war is not over for supremacy in this generation of video-game consoles. Now it is your turn to tell us who you think presented the best hardware and software during E3. What are you looking forward to playing the most?

De Blob meets Batman in the Dark Void. That sounds more like an upcoming movie or remake of the classic 1960s TV show instead of upcoming new releases from some of the gaming world’s powerhouse suppliers.

"De Blob," from THQ, will bring color and music to a world made in black and white by the I.N.K.T. fortress. This exclusively designed game for the Wii features a creature who colorizes the screen in bright paint and brings happiness back to Chroma city. Designed with the whole family in mind, "De Blob" will brighten store shelves this fall.

Meanwhile, Batman, Superman and all the DC Comic characters arrive in cyberspace for battles against their dreaded enemies. Sony Online Entertainment announced a plan to have you become your favorite superhero or special villain by creating a character to match powers and wits against DC Comics' best. This massive multiplayer online game (MMO) continues to develop and should hit the gaming community in 2009.

Of course, if Superman’s flying skills make you jealous, the hero in "Dark Void" by Capcom makes up for his lack of genetic flight by strapping on a jet pack to take his fight to the skies. Vertical fighting in 3rd-person shooter adds another plane to the usual forward, backward motions. Whether you’re blowing up droids or capturing starships in flight, the jet-packing hero takes his fight to new heights.

While E3 continues to spread music and lower prices in big gaming consoles, there have been no giant surprises yet. However the old adage may still hold true: good things come in small packages.