GamersCircle

Cheating on exams via text message is already problem in some schools, but apparently some kids in Britain have taken things to the next level, using cameraphones to send friends photographs of test questions. The Ministry of Education is fighting back, giving exam supervisors special scanners which can detect when a cellphone is being used. [...]

Microsoft announced today that, as of this month, they will halt development of their SideWinder series of PC joysticks, gamepads, steering wheels and force-feedback devices. The SideWinder lineup will still be available in stores as long as inventory remains in stock, and the company will continue producing keyboards, mice, and other non-game-related PC hardware. According [...]

The servers that sit behind the Galaxies game Universe had database problems which meant that some people had to delay their first foray into space. Sony said all the problems were cleared up by Friday morning and it then had more than 17,000 people playing the game simultaneously. The huge following that the movies [...]

A new report from IDG Entertainment reveals that the video game industry has experienced half the growth in profit in 2003 that it did during the first six months of 2002. Yet there’s good news regarding the sluggish 10 percent increase: The downward trend in profit is in line with the reduction in the overall [...]

Activision Files Breach of Contract Lawsuit Against Viacom reports a lawsuit that “Cites Viacom’s Lack of Support for ‘Star Trek’ Movie and Television Franchise and Failure to Cooperate With Activision.” Here’s a portion describing the legalities involved:
In its complaint, which was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California on June 30, [...]

There’s a Rise of Nations Postmortem on Gamasutra (registration required) recapping the high and low points of Big Huge Games’ epic RTS game.
What Went Right
Prototype method of game design.
Part of the core vision for Rise of Nations involved introducing gameplay innovations inspired by our experience making turn-based games into the “classic” real time strategy mix. [...]

The record label licenses SunnComm Technologies’ CD protection software to let listeners move music from CD to computer but keep them from sharing it illegally.