The latest buzz seems to be around the Kinect for Xbox 360 from Microsoft. It is yet to be released in my part of the world, so I can see gaming buffs scanning the headlines for news tidbits.

Kinect is the flavor right now, but what about the rest of the gaming world? What’s breaking there even as you read this piece? Gaming fans don’t just rely on the grapevine anymore.

Current news sources on the web have made the legion of gamers more proactive when it comes to being in the know. And helping out in this cause are the throng of gaming news sites.

On gaming news sites you don’t only catch the latest game news but also views, reviews and previews. You can catch the latest buzz and spread it around thanks to Twitter and sites like Facebook.

So, let’s catch the latest gaming news first with the help of these ten websites:

Kotaku

Kotaku is a top tier and pretty focused blog on gaming news, hints, previews and tips that cover all gaming platforms. It belongs to the same network as Lifehacker and Gizmodo (Gawker Media). If you miss visiting it daily, you can check out K Monthly which looks back at the month gone by.

N4G

With a vibrant community behind it, N4G is a social game news site. As a new member of the community, you can post comments, submit news tips, and participate in other site activities. Past the first stage, you can go on to contribute (ad also approve) news stories to the site. The hot stories are rated by a temperature score that turns red as its “˜hotness’ shoots up. N4G covers games of all genres and platforms.

GotGame

This gaming news site is one we have covered briefly before. The site is one of the best around when it comes to video reviews of video game titles and features anything that’s got to do with the video gaming industry. The site has large Features sections which are video blogs from the regular contributors.

The site also hosts a lot of trailers of games, so you can take a dekko at the graphics. If you would rather listen than watch, the site also has an episodic radio show on the gaming industry.

ShackNews

ShackNews found a mention when we did an earlier article on The Best Sites for Game Previews and Reviews. Catch the top stories on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC games, iPhone, iPad etc. You can catch it all via the tags on the side. The site has a large community of dedicated gamers behind it and that is reflected in the news, views, and the discussions on the site.

You can also use a simple form on the site to submit some of your own news. They also host FileShack for gaming related downloads like mods, patches, demos etc.

GiantBomb

The site advertises itself as “˜the world’s largest editable video game database’. What I like though about the site is the Bombcast ““ the weekly podcast on video games which you can download with iTunes or as MP3. If reading all the news and views gets boring, take the Trivia quiz. The gaming news section is neatly arranged around PS3, XBOX 360, PC, PSP, Wii, and DS.

Destructoid

DTOID has a YouTube channel of its own and you can also catch it via iTunes. Then there’s the News section which gives you instant access to all the top news from a dropdown. The site publishes nearly 40-60 pieces of video game industry news apart from the ones submitted by its large community. Free weekly podcasts and daily videos keep the gaming industry well in its sights.

EpicBattleAxe

Controversies or breaking news, this website tries to cover all the rants and raves related to the gaming industry. The site also takes in a lot of news from some of the sites already on this list. Plus, it publishes its own unique take.

Features like TheRumorKILL try to net the gossip that’s going around. Behind the Screams goes behind the scenes of the video gaming industry. Then there are the featured YouTube show and podcasts like the Daily Slice and EpicBattleCry which focus on the buzz.

Joystiq

Screenshots, reviews, previews, and news brought to with the help of a nice uncluttered interface. The weekly podcast is for those who hate reading. You can get it on iTunes, Zune, and as a MP3. There’s also one on the Xbox 360 (the Xbox 360 Fancast). The Joystiq network also includes Massively (daily news on MMOs), WoW Insider (covers World of Warcraft), and Big Download (downloads + gaming news).

Gamesutra

Games are fun, but the makers know it’s a huge business too. Gamesutra covers all gaming news that has anything to do with the profit-loss statements and the balance sheets. It also looks at other aspects of game development like design and programming. The site also has a job board. Also check out the sites under its Gama Network.

The Escapist

This gaming news site got the Webby Award and the People’s Voice Award in 2008. It also hosts a weekly game review series on video (Zero Punctuation). The miniclips takes a slapstick look at the latest from the gaming industry. The news section brings you more than a dozen articles each day.

The web seems to be filled with gaming news sites. Pick a couple of your favorite ones for a read every day. Because with so much happening, you need some time left over to play too. Tell us about your favorite games and gaming related news site.

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