If we’ve learned anything about 
addiction, it’s that the easiest way to get someone hooked on something is to offer it for free for a while. Once they can’t live without it – bam! Charge ’em.
Given how many people need their daily fix of World of Warcraft, we have to wonder why it took Blizzard so long to figure this out.
Sony’s rearranging the executive 
structure of its PlayStation branch. Kaz Hirai, who holds the title of president and CEO, is stepping away from the group to widen his focus on the company as a whole.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe chief Andrew House will take over those roles. (Hirai will remain involved as chairman of the group.) The switch takes place Sept. 1.
While it might be a little 
too intense for younger players, Pudding Panic is a downright cute game with some wonderful puzzles. The protagonist pudding — named J. Jitters — is empathetic, and the witches and skeletons, while not scary on sight, can cause you to jump when they surprise you. If Jitters is scared too many times, he’ll fall from his car and the game ends. You’re able to fight back with everything from noisemakers to a jack-in-the-box to even things out, adding another layer of fun absurdity to the game. While the game does get pretty difficult, the pacing is good and players are gently eased into the new levels. The graphics are wonderful as is the music — throw in a hefty collection of levels and it’s a wonderful deal, regardless of which version you choose.
Like to try before you buy? Hope 
to save a few bucks by purchasing your games used? Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D may not be the game for you.
Saved games in the Nintendo 3DS title, which hits shelves Tuesday, can’t be erased. In other words, when your progress is saved, it’s there forever — even if you loan it to a friend or sell it to someone else. If you manage to beat the game, there is no way to get rid of your save file and play it again from scratch.
[Despite Monday’s Supreme Court victory, 
we still have a long way to go until the general public understands our ratings system and acknowledges their children are safe. Gamasutra editor at large Chris Morris discusses why our jobs now are to help them understand.]
For the past year, I’ve pretty much lived and breathed Brown v. EMA.
I kept a close eye on the case as the Court considered whether to address it. I was in the room in November when oral arguments were presented. And I’ve stayed in touch with attorneys about ramifications in the long wait for a ruling.
With the decision now in, I found myself doing a series of round-robin interviews today on morning radio shows on news/talk stations around the country.
David Maisel, the former chairman and 
executive vice president of Marvel Comic’s entertainment arm, is joining the Angry Birds.
Maisel is the latest hire at Rovio, which is looking to expand its hit iPhone game into several new fields, including television and film. And given Maisel’s executive producer credits on “Iron Man” (and its sequel), “Thor,” “Captain America” and “The Incredible Hulk,” it seems to be getting more serious about film.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on Monday that 
violent videogames are a protected form of free speech comes as a relief not just to the gaming industry but to the rest of Hollywood.
The high court, in a 7-2 decision, struck down a California law that attempted to restrict the sale of violent games to minors. The industry had been closely watching the ruling because it feared that if the law were upheld, it would carve out an exemption to the First Amendment that could eventually extend to violence in movies and TV shows.
Monday’s ruling that video games are 
protected under the First Amendment was the culmination of a long fight. And the victory was clearly a solid one for the industry.
But in reading through the 90-plus page decision and dissenting opinions, there are some interesting arguments – both for the industry’s rights and those of parents. Much like the oral arguments of last November, Justices were split on the possible differences in interactive and passive forms of entertainment and the First Amendment issues at hand.
There’s plenty to cheer 
about today in the video game industry — and for good reason.
The definitive Supreme Court ruling that video games are entitled to First Amendment protections is something developers, publishers and industry backers have been actively trying to secure for years. Achieving the goal is laudable, but it’s not the end of the fight — not by a long shot.
As the video game industry 
celebrates Monday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which formally recognized video games as entitled to First Amendment protection, many are assuming the political fight that has loomed over the industry for years is finally over.
That’s wrong. In fact, it’s simply the start of Act 2.
Chris Morris: Journalist 