The week in gaming news: January 13, 2012 edition

What better way to celebrate Friday the 13th then by rounding up the news of the week? 2012 is finally kicking into gear, and this week saw the level of gaming news return to its post-holiday levels. Quite a bit happened, and you can catch up on everything right here.

Monday

• We kicked off the beginning of the week with an editorial looking at what game developers can learn from comedian Louis CK and his successful video experiment.

Tuesday

• Starting on February 8th owners of the mobile version of Minecraft can expect to see a big content update for the game.
• For those iPhone and iPod Touch owners who have looked at the iCade longingly, the company behind the tablet-arcade device has announced three new, smaller models.
• Microsoft just might be bringing its Xbox Live games to mobile platforms like iOS and Android.
• A new survey provides some insight into the growing mobile gaming space.
• Cut the Rope is now playable from a web browser, for free.
• Google has decided to start making its own Google+ games, starting with the Google Maps-based Play Your World, coming soon.

Wednesday

• Popcap released a study showing that if you cheat in social games, there's a good chance you cheat in real life, too.

Thursday

• A Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist announced plans to develop a socially conscious social game.
• Double Down Interactive was purchased by IGT for a hefty $500 million.
• Awem is 10 years old, and is celebrating with a sale.

Friday

• Indie hit Cthulhu Saves the World is going mobile and coming to the Mac.
• More sale news: Big Fish is having a spooky sale in honor of Friday the 13th.
• Hardcore shooter developer Cave is making a move to develop more casual, social titles.
• The very first expansion for Backyard Monsters hits today.
• Army Attack is following Zombie Lane as the latest Digital Chocolate game to go mobile.
• Spry Fox has teamed up with Playdom for a publishing deal for Triple Town on Facebook.
• The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences has announced its annual awards, and a number of Gamezebo favorites were among the nominees.

Read more: The Week in Gaming News