Leaving his ambulance idling outside, yellow lights flashing, Denver paramedic Austin Coleman strides into a 7-Eleven just south of University Hospital and heads straight for the beverage cooler.

He jerks open a door, reaches in and hauls out his favorite pick-me-up - a 16-ounce can of the energy drink Rockstar, which he typically buys at the beginning of every 10-hour work shift.

"It makes me awake," the 30-year-old rescue worker says of the concoction, one of dozens of caffeine-laced brands now bellying up to a bar once occupied solely by Red Bull.

"I've tried them all, and they work, that's for sure," Coleman says. "This one has more than the regular size, and I like the sugar-free kind."

Like its competitors, Rockstar promises a metabolic jump-start. As the legend on the side of the can puts it, "Rockstar is scientifically formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles - from athletes to rock stars."

But it's an open question whether this or any other "high-performance" beverage actually conveys much more benefit than, say, a cup of coffee and a banana or peanut-butter sandwich.

PSU Staff Roundtable: GTA IV Wish List

With the next iteration of the blockbuster series Grant Theft Auto currently in development for the PS3, the staff here at PSU thought it would be a good time to talk about what they'd like to see from the next title. We discuss everything from co-op play to comedy, so sit back and enjoy the discussion! We'd like you to get involved also, so leave your thoughts and wishes as comments below. Now, what do we all think? Eric (Journalist): My greatest hope for Grand Theft Auto IV is a living, breathing, world. Don't get me wrong, the last generation GTA's made great attempts and even came close to creating a lifelike world, but small things like seeing the same character model over and over, or passing 3 of the same cars drew you out its hold. Another thing on my GTA IV wishlist is multiple story paths.

New engine licensed by Rockstar

Today, Rockstar Games announced a partnership with NaturalMotion to incorporate the euphoria engine into new upcoming Rockstar titles. NaturalMotion, a motion-sensing technology developer, has developed the euphoria engine, which is also in use in two other upcoming titles. Namely, LucasArts' upcoming Star Wars and Indiana Jones games. The purpose of the euphoria engine is to bring more real-life human movements into games. "We now have the processing power to simulate humans, and the possibilities for games are endless," said Torsten Reil, CEO of NaturalMotion.

If you can remember back when PSU was once PS3Land, you remember we interviewed CEO Torsten Reil on all of Natural Motion's next gen animation engines and plugins. You can read up on all the details behind the engines here.

Mobile Game Revenue In The US Hits $151 Million In Q4 2006

Namco, I-play, Digital Chocolate, Hands-On Mobile, Superscape, Capcom and Oasys Mobile make up the next tier of players with revenue shares ranging from 2-6 percent.

Using Preloads as a Merchandizing Lever
As the mobile game market gets more crowded, publishers are keen on finding new solutions to get a leg up on their competition. Top placement on carrier download decks is a hard-fought battle among publishers and a lot of emphasis is focused on that strategy. But preloading a game onto devices is another critical merchandizing lever. As part of Telephias new Mobile Game Merchandizing product, the company will be tracking preloaded game decks. Preliminary Telephia findings are consistent with industry consensus that Tetris by EA Mobile is the most preloaded title in the U.S.

Rockstar’s Manhunt 2 Seeks Attention On The Wii, PS2 And PSP

Yes, Im talking about Rockstars own Manhunt, the gruesome game that fused Warriors-esque gangs with some of the most brutal violence featured in a video game. Well get this, its getting a sequel.

Looks like cracker-Jack Thompson wont be sitting at home for long. His arch-rival, Rockstar, is at it again; theyre currently working on the sequel to one of video games most violent action titles, Manhunt. According to the press release, Manhunt 2 is the debut title from the newly formed Rockstar London studio, which is developing the game in conjunction with series creator Rockstar North. The Wii version is being developed by Rockstar Toronto. Manhunt 2 will be available this summer.

"With Manhunt 2 we have tried to create a game that stays close to the original concept of chilling suspense and stealth, whilst pushing the game design and storytelling forward," said Sam Houser, founder and executive producer of Rockstar Games.