Nintendo’s 
counting on its biggest game of the year to spur people to buy a Wii U.
The company, somewhat predictably, plans to bundle Mario Kart 8 with its console system, throwing in the now familiar Wii steering wheel and a Wii controller as well.
It’s a move that makes plenty of sense. Mario Kart might be familiar territory, but it has historically been a system mover for the company. What’s baffling us is the price.
Nintendo’s 
looking to smash up E3.
While Wii U sales languish and fans wonder where the big games are for the system, Nintendo has announced that it will once again bypass the traditional E3 press conference circuit, instead hosting its own ‘digital event’ that will be broadcast directly to fans on Tuesday June 10 at 9:00 am, PST.
The 
birds aren’t the only angry things at Rovio headquarters today. Executives likely aren’t too thrilled, either.
Profits at the studio behind the Angry Birds juggernaut fell by nearly 50 percent in 2013, sliding from $76.8 million to $37.3 million. That drop came despite more money actually coming into the company’s coffers. Revenues were up by just under $5 million last year.
Still 
spending board game night with Monopoly, Life and Battleship? It’s time to refresh your game closet. Start with these five must-own games.
China 
is getting serious about eSports.
Located in the country’s Guangdong province and off the coast of gambling paradise Macau, Hengqin Island will play host to a 15,000 seat arena designed specifically for competitive video game events.
Contemporary 
video games are big, flashy, and all kinds of fun, but sometimes they just can’t compete with a simple roll of the dice.
That’s something more and more gamers are discovering as they rekindle their love of a distinctly analog form of entertainment.
Griefing 
over Xbox Live has taken on new, dangerous proportions.
One particularly bitter opponent called the Long Island SWAT team on his opponent after losing a game of Call of Duty.
Start 
prepping your cosplay getups — BlizzCon is a go.
Blizzard Entertainment, the developer of World of Warcraft, Diablo and StarCraft, will host fans on Nov. 7-8, offering untold swag, big name music and first looks at some of the company’s upcoming products.
Franklin, 
Michael and Trevor — the three protagonists of Grand Theft Auto V — are a potty-mouthed bunch. But now there’s conclusive proof that they’re among the crudest characters in video game history.
Youtuber TheMediocreScot spent the last five months compiling every F-bomb from last year’s biggest release, and it’s pretty, um, “impressive”: the game drops it some 1,018 times from beginning to end.
Microsoft 
vs. Sony is no longer the biggest battle in the video game world. These days it’s Apple vs. Google — and it’s proving to be a lucrative fight for game makers.
Just as the console giants regularly battle it out for third-party exclusive games, the kingpins of mobile are turning their sights on game developers as they look to widen their market share.
Chris Morris: Journalist 