There’s plenty of talk 
about cord cutting these days – the idea that people can cancel their cable subscriptions and still view most (or all) of their favorite programming. There’s not a lot of talk, though, on where it’s taking place.
The answer, it seems, is Dallas, Texas.
[Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris 
examines the backlash from this week’s controversial Diablo III news, stating Blizzard “doesn’t make decisions rashly” and those vowing boycotts “are blowing smoke.”]
Amid all the wailing and gnashing of teeth over Monday’s Diablo III announcement, I have to admit I saw things a bit differently.
Between the kerfuffle over the always-connected DRM, the decision to disallow modding and the real money auctions, players didn’t even blink when the company all but announced that the game wouldn’t be out this year. Those same people were the ones who just a week ago were seriously jonesing for the chance to get repetitive stress injuries from the non-stop clicking.
There might be a lot of 
executives touting the benefits of 3D gaming these days, but don’t expect Electronic Arts’ John Riccitiello to join the pep squad anytime soon.
The CEO of the industry’s second largest publisher gave his take on the technology in a recent conference call with shareholders – and he was anything but bullish.
Turns out that 
Hogwarts isn’t an easy school to get into.
Pottermore, J.K. Rowling’s interactive Website for fans of her Harry Potter series (as well as the only place to buy eBook versions of the tomes, began the search for its first million members over the weekend – and the competition is tight.
Ubisoft’s first attempts at battling piracy 
did not go smoothly – to say the least. But that’s not stopping the publisher from trying to use them again.
The company, in 2010, instituted a DRM (digital rights management) program that required players to remain online as they played a PC game. The concept was simple: Any interruption in service resulted in players being booted from the game, simultaneously erasing any progress since the last save. After getting feedback from a lot of angry fans (and weathering a denial of service attack that made games like Assassin’s Creed II and Silent Hunter V unplayable for days), the company put the strategy on ice last February.
First, the bad news: It’s looking less 
and less likely that Diablo 3 will be on store shelves by the end of the year. But if it’s any consolation, should the game slip to 2012, it looks like it won’t be too far into the calendar year.
Blizzard has unveiled a slew of information about its hotly anticipated RPG clickfest – and while fans are enthusiastically embracing some of what the developer had to say, they’re pretty upset about other parts.
Sick of watching CEOs cashing out 
while their company — and employees — suffer? So is Nintendo. After slashing the price of the Nintendo 3DS, the company is cutting executive salaries just as ferociously.
Global president and CEO Satoru Iwata announced Friday at a meeting with shareholders that he would be taking a 50 percent cut to his fixed salary as a show of responsibility for the dismal quarterly earnings and failure of the 3DS to catch on. In addition, members of the board of directors are taking a 30 percent pay cut, while other executives will see their paychecks cut by 20 percent.
After the company’s stock hit a six-year
low yesterday, Nintendo executives are feeling the heat.
Satoru Iwata, global president and CEO of the game giant, effectively fell on his sword for the 3DS’s lagging performance, today announcing he felt a “very great responsibility” for the situation and would be taking a 50 percent salary cut.
Tabloids may obsess over the likes 
of Lindsay Lohan and Jennifer Aniston, but if you want to spot a truly timeless celebrity, turn on a game show. Several of the biggest names in the game show world around aren’t as front and center as they used to be, so here’s a look at how they catapulted to fame – and what they’re up to these days. Come on down!
Faced with horrendous earnings 
and ongoing weak demand, Nintendo has dramatically lowered the price of its 3DS handheld system just four months after the system hit store shelves.
Starting Aug. 12, the company will drop the price of the 3DS from $250 to $170 — a move it hopes will spark flagging consumer interest and lay the groundwork for a strong holiday season.
Chris Morris: Journalist 