If you follow VentureBeat but don’t regularly check our GamesBeat site, here’s a list of the best video game stories we ran over the last seven days that you may have missed.
This week, Apple reveals its new 64-bit processor chip for iPhone that could revolutionize mobile gaming, Sony announces a thinner (less beautiful) Vita as well as a Vita-based microconsole, and Valve announces a game-sharing component for Steam which allows players to share games with up to 10 authorized friends. We also interview Marcus “djWheat” Graham on how he became the iconic “voice” of e-sports.
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News:
- The DeanBeat: What will be gaming’s best title: GTA V or Infinity Blade III?
- Here’s the preliminary agenda for GamesBeat 2013
- Sony focusing on Asia for PlayStation Vita TV; U.S. gamers must wait
- Students looking to study video game design at college have more choices than ever
- Mirror’s Edge developer takes executive producer role on Eve: Valkyrie
- EEDAR chief exec to join panel discussion on how big data can improve game development
- Ex-Zynga exec John Schappert starts new game startup with investment from Nexon
- PlayStation Vita TV is Sony’s new $100 microconsole
- Microsoft doubles down on Xbox Music with revamped service — including iOS and Google Play apps
- Ubisoft takes a chance on Valiant Hearts, a game about the Great War
- Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD coming to consoles and PC
- Eve Online lead designer leaving CCP Games to join League of Legends developer
- How Marcus ‘djWheat’ Graham became one of the voices of e-sports
Announcement and reveals:
- Update 2.4 brings The Dread War and PVP arenas to Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Ouya competitor GameStick launching worldwide in October
- Moshi Monsters developer wants to increase subscription sales; reveals affiliate program
- Newest World of Warcraft patch, Siege of Orgrimmar, now live
- Square Enix reveals Theatrhythm sequel with over 200 songs for 3DS in Japan
- Valve announces Steam Family Sharing — share your game library with authorized friends
- Kerbal Space Program version 0.22 update adds R&D parts and tech tree
- NPD report: Kids playing mobile devices nearly as much as consoles and PC
- Ubisoft brings Panzer General back as an online card game
- EA names new chief of BioWare label (exclusive)
- Mom’s spaghetti: Preorder Call of Duty: Ghosts at GameStop for special offer on Eminem’s new album
Above: Call of Duty: ghosts female character.
Ruh-roh:
Mobile news:
- Chipotle releases iOS game about a wholesome-food-farming scarecrow
- Days of Wonder’s Small World 2 available today for iPad
- Disney Mobile aims for another big Swampy hit with sequel to Where’s My Water?
- Chair reveals Infinity Blade III at Apple’s iPhone 5S event
- Autodance 2014 encourages players to Just Dance with themselves
Tech:
- More power: What iPhone 5S’s 64-bit processor means for gaming
- Vivante unveils Vega graphics chips for Android and Chrome OS devices
- Intel shows new Haswell Chromebooks and plans to make 3D gestures commonplace
- The new PlayStation Vita’s display looks worse than the original’s
- Apple announces 64-bit A7 chip and ‘motion coprocessor’ — pay attention, game and fitness-app developers
All this funding:
- Sixense surpasses Kickstarter goal in a day for motion-sensing controllers
- Video Games Live Kickstarter surpasses goal for third album
- Big Viking Games looks to crowdfund its next free-to-play RPG
- Sixense to launch Kickstarter for wireless motion-sensing game controllers (exclusive)
Earnings:
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- August 2013 NPD: Retail sales up year-over-year for first time since October 2011
- Gameloft sales increase 15 percent through first half of 2013
- Epic’s Infinity Blade has made more than $60 million in revenue
- Analyst predicts Saints Row IV, Madden fueled video game market growth in August
Reviews:
- Boring filler and shoddy camera keep The Wonderful 101 from living up to its name (review)
- Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix is a beautiful bounty for series fans (review)
- Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a gorgeously accessible and flexible MMO (review)
- Card Hunter: Old-school D&D and tactics meet for a stellar game (review)
Above: Hanging out with a friend in Ul’Dah.
Interviews:
- Remedy Entertainment expands its board as gaming moves into new transition (interview)
- At 12% of total revenue, digital games are no longer an afterthought at Ubisoft (interview)
- Holocaust game creator takes issue with World War II shooter games as distasteful (interview)
Pieces of flair: