This lovely month of May has us giddy with excitement for E3 as we prep ourselves for sensory and gaming overload.  Check out what we’re anticipating based on the rumors that have been swirling around for the 2012 show. Also in this issue, we dive into how the carrot of freemium gameplay has effectively converted free players to paying players as well as how gaming has gone from acting as an afterthought for traditional entertainment (think videogames released after a theatrical release) to being fully incorporated and even influential to these releases.

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We also take a look at how social games have gone from innocently micromanaging a farm to doubling down in casino games from the comfort of our computer without the trek to Las Vegas. Not only have giants like Zynga been able to adapt to this trend, but it’s also opened the doors to new developers previously unheard of and those with stakes in the physical casino business. What does this mean with the speculation of legalizing online gaming outside of Nevada?

Lastly, we get (a little) sentimental with you guys, revealing a softer side with what gaming means to us. We know how different games can be and would love to know what games mean to you. Join our conversation on Twitter with .

As always, every PLAYED article contains links to videos, supplemental info, and other digital goodies – so be sure to click throughout to enhance your PLAYED experience.  Except this time, we’re serious…just for our favorite readers, check out our cover page for a very cool surprise (hint: What’s our name?) Also, if you’ve missed out on past issues, our back catalog is available online.

Enjoy PLAYED, and feel free to reach out to anyone on the team with questions or comments.

 

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