"The server world still waits for DDR4, the next generation of dynamic memory, to be ready for prime time. In the meantime, a new set of memory boards from Viking is looking to squeeze more performance out of servers not by providing faster memory, but by making it safer to keep more in memory and less on disk or SSD. Viking Technology has begun supplying dual in-line memory modules that combine DDR3 dynamic memory with NAND flash memory to create non-volatile RAM for servers and storage arrays—modules that don't lose their memory when the systems they're in lose power or shut down..."

"R-rated movies, M-rated games, CDs with Parental Advisory labels—all just for show, right? Well, the latest Federal Trade Commission study on the matter begs to differ. For three months in 2012, the FTC used mystery shoppers between the ages of 13 and 16-years-old (unaccompanied by a parent, mind you) to test how difficult it was to purchase a variety of entertainment products not suitable for children.

"Considering that the PC is the platform that birthed both the first-person shooter and the MMO, many PC game fans are a bit perturbed that Activision and Bungie have yet to confirm a PC version of its recently unveiled FPS-meets-MMO Destiny. Bungie co-founder Jason Jones threw a bit more fuel on the fire of perceived PC gaming disrespect, though, by telling Destructoid that, in essence, Halo made keyboard and mouse controls obsolete: We did a bunch of ambitious things on Halo deliberately to reach out to people.

"The subject is Synapse 2.0, a "cloud-based unified driver for gamers" offered by Razer that saves gaming preferences online, including the user-defined settings and configuration of gaming mice. This lets gamers log in from anywhere in the world, or switch to a new mouse and play with their personal settings intact. The activation server for Synapse 2.0 went down a couple of times recently due to Hurricane Sandy and some server usage spikes that the system couldn't handle.

"Linux gamers are used to being an afterthought when it comes to most major game releases, but Valve seems set to change that soon. The company announced a pending beta test for a long-awaited Linux version of its popular Steam distribution service. Valve is seeking to fill 1,000 spots for the closed beta through a Web survey for existing Steam users, asking them to detail their gaming system and experience with Linux.

"Facing worrying job cuts, investor downgrades, and potential irrelevance in the market, AMD is trying to attract attention to its line of gaming GPUs by expanding its "Never Settle" bundling program to include up to three new games. Consumers that purchase AMD's top-end Radeon 7900 series of GPUs will now get license codes to download Far Cry 3, Hitman: Absolution, and Sleeping Dogs. The lower-end 7700 or 7800 series cards come with a code for FarCry 3, but customers can add a license for Hitman: Absolution by buying two of the lower-end cards at once.

"Security researchers have detected a new malware campaign that attempts to infect Skype users by sending them booby-trapped links from contacts in their address book.

"That's where NeoGAF forum user Durante comes in. Mere minutes after the PC edition of the game was made available today, Durante had posted a downloadable DLL file that allows for higher internal resolutions by intercepting and altering the game's DirectX 9 API calls.

"When Dean "Rocket" Hall started working on the zombie-themed DayZ mod for Bohemia Interactive's ArmA II, he figured it would get a decent response from the few thousand people in the game's devoted modding community. But now that DayZ has broken through to mainstream gaming success—recently crossing over the one million player threshold—it's starting to outgrow the game that it was initially built on top of.

"Valve has issued an update to its Steam Subscriber Agreement that effectively prevents all Steam users from joining in class-action lawsuits against the company. Valve's new SSA requires that "you [the user] and Valve agree to resolve all disputes and claims... in individual binding arbitration," mimicking similar language added by EA to its Origin service agreement and Microsoft with Windows 8.