Mike started writing about video games for Dan Hsu’s Bitmob as a community member, eventually becoming an intern and then a staff writer for the site. He has also written for EGM and GamePro. He is now among an elite group of the world’s greatest interns at GamesBeat.  (Once Mike wanted to tell a lie, but then he remembered that VentureBeat’s Ethic Statement obligated him to tell the truth).

stories by Mike Minotti

Ubisoft wants Assassin’s Creed fans to stop virtual murdering long enough to vote

Assassin's Creed 3 publisher Ubisoft is partnering with Rock the Vote, a nonpartisan organization trying to get teens to register for the upcoming presidential election.

Social gaming startup Playdemic receives $3 million in funding from IBM founder’s family

U.K.-based social gaming startup Playdemic has received significant funding, including $3 million the Watson family.

World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria intro brings the focus back to orcs vs. humans…and pandas

Blizzard revealed the opening cinematic for Mists of Pandaria, the latest expansion to its incredibly popular massively multiplayer online game, World of Warcraft.

Rock Band Blitz’s 25 song tracklist spans multiple genres

Whether you'd rather head bang to some Iron Maiden or gently sway along to Elton John, the tracklist for Rock Band Blitz has got you covered.

The Neo Geo returns as a portable system that won’t murder your wallet, just kicks it a little

If you have $200 to drop on an expensive nostalgia trip, you could probably do worse than the Neo Geo X Gold, a new handheld machine that plays classic Neo Geo games on its 4.3 inch screen or on your television.

Coco controller brings traditional video game controls to the iPhone

As big as gaming has become on smartphones, the lack of buttons or analog sticks can make more traditional experiences difficult and clunky. A new device, coco, is aiming to fix that problem.

Sounds Shapes lets you create and share your own musical worlds (review)

Sound Shapes is not the best platformer you'll ever play, but this Vita and PlayStation 3 game deserves your attention for its accessible level editor and playful visualizations of sound.

Calm down: Sony assures us that The Last Guardian is still in development

PlayStation fans around the country were panicking earlier today when Sony abandoned its U.S. trademark for The Last Guardian, but Sony tells us all is well.

Meet Gems With Friends, Zynga’s newest (and familiar-looking) iOS game

Zynga has a reputation for making games that...well, lack originality, so people are likely to raise eyebrows when they see its newest game, Gems With Friends, even if unfairly.

Decorate your iPhone the retro way with these gaming-themed wallpapers

These pictures use a grungy, simple design, but their minimalist look add a certain amount of class to your iPhone or iPod Touch.

Music and videos coming to Ouya via Vevo

We haven't heard much about the non-gaming functionality of the Ouya. Today we learned that the music video-streaming app Vevo will be available on the android-based console.

Tracking Star Wars: The Old Republic’s declining subscribers

The line graph inside shows the declining subscriber numbers for publisher Electronic Arts' massively multiplayer game, Star Wars: The Old Republic.

More than 1.3 million virtual soldiers enlisted for Battlefield 3 Premium

Asking consumers to drop $50 on a game they already own might seem like a lot to ask, but more than 1.3 million Battlefield 3 players have happily done so for publisher Electronic Arts.

iOS marketing gets more expensive in June

It's important for iOS advertisers to look at how expensive it is to gain new app users, especially if that price is rising, as it did in June.

Leaked pictures of the next Xbox’s developmental kit, codenamed Durango

Thanks to leaked pictures of a dev kit, we have some real evidence that developers are working on games for the next Microsoft console.

Michael Phelps plays more than 30 hours of Call of Duty per week

The eight gold medals Michael Phelps earned during the 2008 Olympic Games make him one the best American athletes. He's also an avid Call of Duty player.