GamesBeat weekly news roundup

Here’s some of the stories that ran only on GamesBeat this week. We’re running more stories exclusively on the GamesBeat section of VentureBeat now, particularly when the stories are mainly of interest to game readers. The broader interest stories are running on VentureBeat as well. And please visit the GamesBeat section to catch up on game news. We’re ramping up our game coverage, so you’ll find more and more news at GamesBeat.

Here’s some of the stories that appeared exclusively on GamesBeat:

Hardcore social game firm Kabam moves its headquarters to San Francisco

Gene Simmons says a KISS Angry Birds game is coming

PSN to get new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 maps on Feb. 28

Ubisoft server transition will make always-on DRM games unplayable

Trion Worlds announces Rift Lite, offers first 20 levels of online game for free

PlayStation Network to be down for maintenance most of Thursday

Online Warmongers’ founder on building a balanced free-to-play shooter (interview)

100 year old gamer uses Nintendo DS to keep her mind active

Tips and Tricks: The Final Fantasy XIII-2 game guide

Classic online game EverQuest celebrates 13th birthday with switch to free to play business model

Speech recognition trial uses DS consoles to help children with hearing difficulties

And don’t miss some of our bigger stories in gaming this week. We had some great exclusives

The DeanBeat: Billionaire Mark Pincus breaks out of quiet period (exclusive interview)

Review: How Final Fantasy XIII-2 saves the franchise…for now

Curt Schilling anxiously awaits his “opening day for games” (interview)

Xbox co-creator Seamus Blackley launches mobile-game startup with Atari arcade veterans

THQ CEO admits confidence was “misplaced” on children’s video games

Elite game group recruits board members from the new guard at Nexon and Zynga

Richard “Lord British” Garriott in space: “I might just sit up in my window in orbit and write the next game” (interview)

Zynga CEO: We aren’t the copycats on Bingo social game (exclusive interview)

Buffalo Studios blasts Zynga for copying Bingo Blitz social game

Spry Fox sues 6waves Lolapps for copying Triple Town game