It was an eclectic week in gaming news, with stories focusing on everything from Syria’s struggling game industry to Japan cracking down on in-game item sales that come a little too close to gambling. Microsoft made the news for the game industry’s first home console subsidized by a monthly online service and reports that the Xbox 360 would finally be getting a proper web browser. We also took a look at abstractly moralistic PSN adventure Datura and some promising-looking game projects currently seeking funding in the rarefied halls of Kickstarter.

• Game over—how sanctions and violence doomed Syria’s gaming industry
  International economics, politics conspire to halt Syrian game industry growth.
• Subsidized Xbox 360: bad deal for consumers, missed opportunity for Microsoft
  The subsidized $99 Xbox 360 is a missed opportunity for Redmond.
• EA: The Old Republic has lost nearly 25% of its subscribers since March
  1.3 million active subscribers in down from 1.7 million in March.
• Japan poised to limit gambling-style collecting in social games
  Meanwhile, America poised to open up to online gambling
• Bioshock Infinite pushed back to February 2013 for “tweaks”
  Team needs more time for “tweaks and improvements.”
• 2 million turned out for Diablo III open beta
  Plus 10 million sign-ups for Call of Duty Elite
• Kickstarter Game Watch: From Rohrer to Republique
  This week: DS strategy, unique stealth-action, and a new “SpaceVenture”
• Report: Kinect-powered Internet Explorer 9 coming to Xbox 360
  Microsoft’s system would be the last to get an integrated Web browser.
• Review: Datura forces you to figure it out for yourself
  A moral Rorschach test that holds a mirror to your soul.
• Republique reaches Kickstarter goal with hours to go
  Late surge pushes unique stealth title over the top

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