Welcome to PocketGamer.biz's weekly rundown of the stories clocking up the hits, picking up the click-throughs and generally keeping the advertisers happy by serving up page views.
Or, if you'd prefer, the top five stories currently dominating our readers' attention.
Each week, we'll be counting down the biggest news from the previous seven days, giving just a glimpse of the industry's big issues, from five to one.
The march towards 'total monetisation': Fireproof's Barry Meade on the advantages of focusing on good game design
After Barry Mead's keynote at the Develop conference in Brighton sparked a heated debate amongst our experts - better known as the Mavens - we thought we'd best catch up with the man himself.So, just what did he makes of the points raised about the idea of mobile developers focusing on monetisation over gameplay?
"Investing, marketing, media and developers are constantly hammering the message to any new developer that there's only one model they now understand," explained Meade.
"An in-app purchased laced, data driven, games-as-a-service model where you release a game for free to a million people and you're supposed to be happy that only five percent of players think its good enough to pay for.
"But, seen from the perspective of a small developer that's not out to make kabillions overnight, the market is huge and diverse and you don't have to accept methods or principles that work for those on a much larger scale - that was my point really."
Powered by Puzzle & Dragons, GungHo reveals daily revenue rate of $4.9 million.
To say that GungHo Online stumbled upon a gold mine with Puzzle & Dragons would be an enormous understatement.
The Japan-based developer raked in $763 million in sales in the first half of 2013, with the company posting an operating profit of $460 million.
However, not content with merely sharing those phenomenal figures, the company has revealed that they are bringing in a daily revenue rate of $4.9 million. A gold mine indeed.
DeNA West's Sarah Fuchs on why company culture really matters
We recently talked to Sara Fuchs, head of culture & communication at DeNA West's office in San Francisco, to find out how, and why a happy workforce breeds success.
"Office culture is crucial because of the amount of time we commit to our jobs. Most of us spend more time at work than we do with our families and friends," said Fuchs.
"If you aren't happy where you work, then what's the point?" Happy workers are more productive and creative.
"It's vital that we create a culture where creativity is valued, where people care about each other and their community, and want to build great things together."
One year on, is Ouya's unconsole assault already running out of steam?
Are the tough times Ouya is enjoying just part and parcel of a difficult launch? Or is the device in trouble?
The console has had to endure a distinctly average critical reception, poor game sales, and now developers have been expressing their disappointment to their press.
With the hurdles coming thick and fast, it would be fair to say that a year on, the device clearly doesnt have everyone convinced.
So, like the thoughtful gents they are, our Mavens assembled to answer the question on everybody's lips: is Ouya's unconsole assault already running out of steam?
"We all love the idea of the open console experience and Android based devices like Ouya fitted the bill perfectly. As an idea," summed up Applifier's Oscar Clark.
"The reality is a horrible compromise between cost, performance, content and audience.
"[However], Ouya may have forced us to reconsider the front room, and that means this year's console (and unconsole) battle may just have gotten a little more interesting."
Opinion: Games journalism needs to stop being part of the story
Last weekend saw so-called gaming 'shock jock' Marcus Beer of GameTrailers and Fez developer Phil Fish clash on Twitter, resulting in Fish canceling the development of Fez 2.
So, what can we learn from the aforementioned 'FishGate'? Our very own Keith Andrew explained why games journalists need to focus on writing the headlines, rather than trying to be a part of them.
"While being outspoken on social media can build a writer's profile and, as such, benefit any websites or magazines he or she works for, it can also land them in a whole heap of trouble," offered Andrew.
"If journalists resort to personally attacking the people fueling the very industry they're meant to be covering, then everyone loses."
Hot Five
What do you call someone who has an unhealthy obsession with video games and Sean Bean? That'd be a 'Chris Kerr'. Chris is one of those deluded souls who actually believes that one day Sean Bean will survive a movie. Poor guy.
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Events
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