Microsoft said Saturday that it was abandoning its blockbuster bid to acquire Yahoo after the two companies could not agree on a price.

The breakdown in the talks followed a meeting on Saturday morning in Seattle between Microsoft?s chief executive, Steven A. Ballmer, and Yahoo?s chief and co-founder, Jerry Yang, according to a person briefed on the discussions.

At the meeting, which also included Yahoo?s other co-founder, David Filo, and Kevin Johnson of Microsoft, Mr. Ballmer increased Microsoft?s offer to $33 a share, but Mr. Yang said Yahoo would not sell for less than $37 a share, this person said.

Microsoft?s decision to walk away is the latest chapter in a three-month-old standoff that began when Microsoft made an unsolicited offer to acquire Yahoo in an effort to compete more effectively with Google in Web search, advertising and services.

Yahoo rejected Microsoft?s offer repeatedly, saying it undervalued the company. Microsoft at times threatened to lower its offer, originally valued at $44.6 billion, or $31 a share.

Calin Ciabai reports:

''Probably all the GTA IV fans are already playing the game on their console of choice, but we should never forget the system
that gave birth to the first Grand Theft Auto title - the personal computers. Even though Rockstar hasn't officially confirmed anything, rumors about an October release date for the game started to be heard quite a while ago. Following the console launch (which is definitely a success), Rockstar should officially confirm the PC version (if it really exists) during the coming weeks.''

Valve's main marketer Doug Lombardi was on hand recently to show off the latest version of the awesome looking PC, 360 zombie shooter, Left 4 Dead. But PS3 is being left out of the loop.

Preview: Steve Hogarty opens a violin case to find the sequel to the PC's finest free-roaming shooter

Faced with one of the developers of the original Mafia, there's only one question any fan really wants to ask. So I asked it. Why was that bloody racing mission so stupidly difficult?

"vmcNetflix is an add-in for Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center which allows you to manage your NetFlix subscription, stream NetFlix "WatchNow" movies directly to the Media Center player, or download the movies for playback later from a "WatchLater" gallery." writes eluttmann04.

Remember that 2D, Flash-based version of Portal from last year? Was pretty neat. Well, it's even neater in 3D. The same guys responsible for the original have translated all 40 levels into real Portal maps, which apparently add up to around 3.5 hours of Portal gameplay. And who are you to say no to 3.5 hours of new Portal gameplay?

Corsair, a worldwide leader in enthusiast computer and flash memory products, a worldwide leader in high performance computer and flash memory products, announced today lab findings that show significant increases in performance and efficiency when increasing system memory capacity from 2GB to 4GB. Testing procedures and results can be found in the application note AN804: Gaming Performance Analysis ? 4GB vs. 2GB, which is now available online here: http://www.corsair.com/_appnotes/AN804_Gaming_Performance_Analysis.pdf

GameDaily love bonus features, but when it comes to these undeserving video games, publishers were out of their minds.

Market research firm Niko Partners has released results from its 6th Annual Review & Forecast Report on China's Video Game Industry, a comprehensive study of trends in the online, PC offline, and console gaming segments in the world's most populous country.

Revenue for online games was up 71 percent from 2006 to 2007, to $1.7 billion - with 21% of that figure coming from casual and "advanced casual" titles. The firm expects a further 47 percent growth next year, with compound annual growth of 29% through 2012 to $6 billion. Niko managing partner Lisa Cosmas Hanson elaborated on the sharp increase in an interview with Gamasutra.

Rarely have GamesRadar seen a game that made them want to throw up in a good way. Watching director Jason Avent preload up a gravel-laden peak and launch off amidst gondolas and hot air balloons in the cloudy New Mexico sky was all at once mesmerizing and lunch rejecting. The soundtrack mutes, the trash-talking rider Supermans his body while barely grasping the seat.

Quickly, he plummets down to earth. Jason?s trajectory is off and the rider crotches himself on the seat before painfully smashing into a boulder. Such is the life in Pure, a more-than-basic ATV racer with shades of SSX. If GamesRadar's new screens are any indication, Pure will speed away from the pack of other drab racers.