Just because it's summer doesn't mean nothing is happening in the gaming world. Here's a look at some of the items making news these days. Rumor mill, speculation
Gamers hoping to hear about a possible PlayStation 3 price cut can look elsewhere, well kind of. Economic Daily News reported on a rumor of a slimmer PS3 due out perhaps by August. The report states a Taiwanese manufacturer has procured a production project for an upcoming hardware variation of the PS3. The report said the new version will be lighter and slimmer.

via newsherald.com

As the crow flies, Colma's Lucky Chances is closer to San Francisco than any other gambling establishment in the Bay Area. With 43 tables, the casino offers something for every kind of card player. It also is home to some of the biggest cash tournaments in the region. Following five years of legal battles from community members, Lucky Chances opened in 1998. Founding owner Rene Medina, who got his start renting buses for gambling trips to Reno, pleaded guilty to tax evasion in 2007 and has since transferred ownership to sons Rommel and Ruel.

via sfgate.com

The issues that you raise reflect the concerns of many parents that I have spoken to since I began investigating potentially harmful aspects of the gaming world. Last year I published my independent report: The Byron Review — Safer Children in a Digital World, in which I explored this vast area and made recommendations to the Government. You can read it at www.dcsf.gov.uk/byronreview.

via timesonline.co.uk

Las Vegas gaming revenues declined in April compared to a year earlier, analysts said. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Saturday that gaming revenues were $441.3 million in April, a decline of 15.8 percent compared with $524.1 million a year ago. For the year, the newspaper said revenues are down 16.6 percent for Las Vegas casinos. The Review-Journal reported that customers gambled $2.2 billion in April on table games, an increase of less than 1 percent from a year ago.

via upi.com

If you've really got to have that authentic panicky feeling you get due to extreme turbulence and testy wind conditions, Logitech's new Force Feedback Flight System is probably just the controller for you. Make no mistake, this is one hardcore setup. Let's take a look at the parts included in the system. The joystick features "a two-stage metal trigger, six programmable buttons, mini-stick, 8-way hat and three analog trim controls," and its force feedback lets you feel the impact of air, turns, turbulence, and g-forces.

via gizmodo.com

PETALING JAYA: Genting group’s recent subscription of US$100mil senior secured MGM Mirage Inc notes has raised the possibility of Genting’s potential entry into the Macau gaming market, say analysts. CIMB Investment Bank said it would not be surprised if the subscription was more than an interest-yielding exercise given recent press reports that the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has advised that MGM Mirage should be directed to disengage from its Macau joint venture (JV) partner Pansy Ho, who has a 50% stake in MGM Grand Macau.

via biz.thestar.com.my

730 Gathered in the Southeast's Game Development Hotbed for Triangle Game Initiative's Inaugural Event, TGC 2010 Dates Set for April 7-8 RALEIGH, N.C., May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders in entertainment software, game technology, serious games and games research gathered in
Raleigh, N.C. April 29-30 for the inaugural Triangle Game Conference (TGC) hosted by the Triangle Game Initiative, a trade association for the Raleigh-Durham interactive entertainment industry.

via itnewsonline.com

Three years into the great console war — the battle for billions of entertainment dollars spent on video gaming — Sony's PlayStation 3 lags far behind Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's quirky Wii. Chances of a Sony turnaround seem less likely than ever, given the weak economy and the PS3's relatively huge price tag — at $400, its entry-level price is double that of the Xbox.
But if it's going to happen, if the gaming goliath is to regain its footing, it may do so with help from a bunch of engineers in Seattle.

via seattletimes.nwsource.com

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Chairwoman Mary DiGiacomo Colins isn't saying when she plans to leave that job -- or even that she has firm plans to leave. But Gov. Ed Rendell's press secretary says the governor's chief of staff will replace Colins within the next few weeks. He is 54-year-old Greg Fajt (fyte), who had a central role in helping start the gaming board when he was Rendell's Revenue Department chief in 2004. He became Rendell's chief of staff in 2007.

via philly.com

KOLKATA: Sony Computer Entertainment, which is responsible for marketing and import of PlayStation3 (PS3), PlayStation2 (PS2) and PlayStationPortable (PSP) gaming consoles and software, is planning to roll out India-specific games to expand its market presence in India. The company intends to roll out six such games in 2009 for the PS2 and PSP platforms. Sony has decided to roll out its India-specific games at an entry-level price point of Rs 499. While these games are primarily developed for the Indian market, Sony also has plans to sell them in markets like UK, Middle East.

via economictimes.indiatimes.com

A bill to extend the life of electronic bingo machines in Calvert and Anne Arundel counties appeared headed for passage by the Maryland General Assembly before it adjourns tomorrow night. The measure, introduced by Dels. Sue Kullen (D-Calvert) and Mary Ann Love (D-Anne Arundel), would permit the "pseudo slot machines" to operate at a handful of commercial establishments until 2011. Without legislative action, the machines, which raise significant revenue for local and state governments, would be shut down June 30.

via washingtonpost.com

Nissa Ludwig used to be musician and a dancer and a performer. But ever since a progressive metabolic disorder rendered her wheelchair-bound, “Rock Band” is as close as she gets to the stage. “It’s a place where you don’t lose your social skills,” says Ludwig, a top-ranked bass player in “Rock Band.” “I have the opportunity to be a human being and not be judged by what I look like.”

via msnbc.msn.com

“Resident Evil” is a highly rated series that has won countless awards over the years. The newest iteration in the series, “Resident Evil 5,” keeps with tradition and offers up another fun adventure full of zombie smiting.
As a fan of the series since the first game, I immediately reserved and bought the special edition of “Resident Evil 5” for my Xbox 360. It has been some time since “Resident Evil 4” came out, but the wait for the latest installment in the series is well worth it.

via advancetitan.com

LAST THURSDAY, a small Chinese videogame maker called Changyou.com (ticker: CYOU) accomplished a rare feat in these troubled times: the company staged an initial public offering, just the second of the year in the United States. The IPO speaks to investor enthusiasm about videogame sales in China, a market that is growing at an annual rate of 16% a year. According to market research firm IDC, online gamers are expected to number 85 million in China by 2012, up from 40 million in 2007.

via online.barrons.com

We've seen bongs made out of N64 and NES controllers, and both were amazing. But a bong made out of an Xbox 360? Oh hell yes. As you can see by the below photos, this is a serious piece of custom-made weed smoking equipment. Sure, it won't play Fallout 3, but it'll make playing Fallout 3 on a functioning Xbox a lot more fun.
Now if someone wants to make a grinder or a stash box out of a controller to match this thing, you'd have the most epic and nerdy smoking setup ever. I love it. Anyone else have homemade gaming-related paraphernalia? Send it to me! I love this shit.

via i.gizmodo.com