[GameSetLinks is GameSetWatch's daily link round-up post, culling from hundreds of weblogs and outlets to compile the most interesting longform writing, links, and criticism on the art and culture of video games.]

Yeehaw, back for a new week's worth of what can only be described as 'diverse game-related links from the Internet', and this time around, we start off with 'programmer royalty' blogger Jeff Atwood checking out the progressively crazier ads for free-to-play game Civony/Evony, yeeks.

Also in here - that Rogers chap takes a fun look at the launch of Dragon Quest IX, lots more specifics on Electronic Arts vs. THQ MMA licensing shenanigans, a neuroanthropology blog (!) with a super-large collection of neat links, Gawker's latest grand plans, and other things besides.

Don't dig what you gotta say:

Coding Horror: How Not to Advertise on the Internet
Jeff Atwood cycles through the infamous Evony's (Chinese-created free-to-play online game) and its ubiquitous ads.

You Too Can Experience The Dragon Quest IX Launch! - dragon quest ix - Kotaku
Tim Rogers is unleashed upon Kotaku for a video report - always fun.

EA MMA : MMAPayout.com: The Business of MMA
An interesting MMA business blog has a lot extra info about EA vs. THQ for MMA video games, including the specific Zuffa clause about image rights for MMA video games.

Gaming Round Up – Learning, Research, Addiction and Design « Neuroanthropology
Really nice mega-compilation of links.

With ad revenue up 35%, Gawker Media returns to pageview bonuses and plans “checkbook journalism” » Nieman Journalism Lab
Notable because the excerpting of Gawker's memo includes Kotaku stats (59.6 million pageviews in June 2009, which is E3 month, but hey) - also because Nick Denton is so Machiavellian it hurts. (And in today's market, you have to respect him for it.)

Ludus Novus » Blog Archive » Interview with IndieVault.it
An interview with our columnist and the How To Raise A Dragon/The Majesty Of Colors creator, Gregory Weir.