An MTV News producer has discovered a playable rap re-mix of "Super Mario Bros." that rewards players with a surprise. Read more...

Courtesy of the makers of the upcoming video game, "Wanted: Weapons of Fate" comes footage of rapper Common reprising his role as the Gunsmith from last summer's "Wanted" movie.

You can read my impressions of "Wanted: Weapons of Fate" elsewhere on the site. Short version: I was pleasantly surprised during my second hands-on.

Do you think Common's got a good voice for games?

Footage via: Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group and Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment (Videos not viewable by users logging in from Canada or the U.K.)

Once "Guitar Freaks" and "Guitar Hero" established the basic interface for music sims, there was a natural extension to bass and drums, but one reason hip-hop games haven't caught on, a "Scratch: The Ultimate DJ" designer told me, is because hip-hop doesn't naturally lend itself to gameplay. Read more...

No one has challenged Konami's "Beatmania" turntable gaming series yet, but we could have two contenders in 2009 with "Scratch: The Ultimate DJ" and the rumored "DJ Hero" from Activision. We asked the creative lead on "Scratch" what he learned from Konami and his thoughts on a DJ "Guitar Hero." Read more...

The joy of encountering video game references in unlikely places never ceases. A friend sent over a link to a new Big Boi song featuring Andre 3000 and Raekwon called "Royal Flush." The song is, well, quite good. Listen to it at this link.

Here's the verse:

The morals that you think you got... go out the window /

When all the other kids are fresh and they got new Nintendo

Rap and gaming fans salute you, Andre 3000. And it's in a verse that's about trying to live a positive life, no less. Good stuff.