Last 
August, Nintendo began to more fully embrace digital distribution as a way to get games in people’s hands – a notable shift for a company that had previously stayed an arm’s distance from the online world.
The experiment is paying off. Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo of America, says digital downloads are fast becoming a notable contributor to the company’s bottom line – and he expects the trend to continue its rapid rise.
It 
might be the year of Luigi, but another green-garbed Nintendo mascot stole the spotlight Wednesday as Nintendo announced a slew of upcoming titles.
An all-new The Legend of Zelda game set in the world of 1991’s The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is scheduled to launch for the 3DS this holiday season. Also on the way are new entries in the Yoshi’s Island and Mario Party series, as well as the U.S. arrival of the cult-classic Earthbound, the company announced in a direct broadcast to fans.
When 
Electronic Arts bought social games maker Playfish for $300 million—plus a $100 million buyout—in 2009, it sent shock waves throughout the videogame industry. Spurred by growing speculation about the value of then-private Zynga, some tech pros say it was the beginning of a bubble for developers who specialize in Facebook games.
On Monday, EA once again surprised the tech world – this time by announcing plans to axe several games on the social network, including The Sims Social, SimCity Social and Pet Society. When those titles shut down on June 14, Playfish may not have any active games—thus raising questions about its fate. (EA declined to discuss the future of Playfish, saying it was “not commenting on individual teams.”)
Did 
you buy an EA football game between 2003 and 2012? You might have some money coming to you — even more than you thought.
Recent modifications to the class-action settlement EA made regarding the games could triple the amount paid out to claimants. Under the new terms, people will receive $20.37 per game, as opposed to $6.79, if they bought a copy for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube or Windows PC. Those who bought a version for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii will see $5.85 per game, instead of $1.95.
Not 
too long ago, bitcoin was almost exclusively the legal tender of hackers. Today, thanks in part to the Cyprus bailout saga, it’s on the radars of investors everywhere.
While the digital currency has been around since 2009, it has largely stayed in the background—occasionally jumping onto people’s radars, but usually fading away just as fast.
Electronic 
Arts is unfriending Facebook.
In a surprise announcement Monday, the publisher revealed plans to sunset several of its games on the social network, including The Sims Social, SimCity Social and Pet Society.
Add 
Daniel Sherrouse to the short list for geeky father of the year.
While most dads would probably be happy to help their kids build a spaceship out of a cardboard box and some aluminum foil, he took things a bit further, building a much, MUCH more detailed simulator.
The 
little system hoping to change the world faces some huge challenges.
When it was first introduced last July, the Ouya game system sounded like a dream come true for gamers frustrated with traditional consoles. With a focus on independent games, an affordable price point and a developer-friendly design, it seemed like a breath of fresh air for the industry.
Now the system is finally in the hands of its early Kickstarter backers — just two months from hitting retail shelves — and it appears the dream may well turn into a nightmare.
Unemployment. 
Microsoft Studios’ creative director Adam Orth is going to have to learn to deal with it for a little while.
Orth, whose controversial Twitter comments about always-on connectivity last week stirred up gamers and forced a public apology from the Redmond-based company, is no longer employed at Microsoft.
With 
this game, I thee wed.
There have been numerous wedding proposals done via video game modifications, but actually building a game from scratch for the sole purpose of asking for someone’s hand? That’s a new level altogether.
Chris Morris: Journalist 