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January 09, 2012

Out There: End game

How do you design a finale for an open-ended game? Plus the delight in Dark Souls' difficulty and more.

If you haven't heard of it before, Desktop Dungeons is a forthcoming puzzle-cum-Rogue-like by QCF Design. It's excellent, and you can play its alpha version for free here. Since it's essentially a quick-play dungeon-crawler, it doesn't really have any end, other than the informal one that comes as players slowly tire of it.

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Sony denies Hirai claims

Sony has moved to deny reports that Kaz Hirai is to replace Howard Stringer as company president in April. As we reported earlier today, Japanese business daily Nikkei claimed that Hirai would be promoted to president, with incumbent Howard Stringer retaining his position as chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation. In a statement passed to our colleagues at CVG, however, Sony claimed nothing had been decided.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/331471/sony-responds-to-stringer-replacement-reports
CVG

Sony has moved to deny reports that Kaz Hirai is to replace Howard Stringer as company president in April.

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Epic Games cool on SOPA despite ESA membership

Epic Games says it does not support "the current form" of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) despite its membership of the Entertainment Software Assocation (ESA), the US trade assocation which is a confirmed supporter of the controversial bill. In a post on the company forums, senior PR manager Dana Cowley expresses reservations about the current draft of the proposed legislation, which opponents say threatens free speech and could result in websites being wrongly and arbitrarily shut down.
http://forums.epicgames.com/threads/874524-Epic-s-stance-on-SOPA
Epic Games

Epic Games says it does not support "the current form" of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) despite its membership of the Entertainment Software Assocation (ESA), the US trade assocation which is a confirmed supporter of the controversial bill.

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DJ Shadow: My Favourite Game

The American turntablist reflects on growing up in the arcades – and being awful at the games he loved most.

DJ Shadow became a household name on the strength of his debut studio album, Endtroducing. That was all the way back in 1996, but the record is still considered influential for being comprised almost entirely of samples from other works. Here, he reminisces about how being a regular at his local arcades made him the man he is today.

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Mojang rewriting Minecraft: Pocket Edition

Swedish developer Mojang has admitted it midjudged fan expectations with the release of Minecraft: Pocket Edition, the iOS and Android port of its PC smash. In a post on the Mojang blog, Daniel Kaplan explains that the company designed Pocket Edition to focus on the creative aspects of Minecraft. Fans, it seems, wanted something different, and with Mojang's relationship with its fanbase having been so significant a factor in Minecraft's success, the studio is now going back to the drawing board.
http://mojang.com/2012/01/08/where-is-my-update/
Mojang

Swedish developer Mojang has admitted it midjudged fan expectations with the release of Minecraft: Pocket Edition, the mobile version of its PC smash.

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Lovefilm responds to Netflix launch with price cut

Lovefilm has responded to the launch of rival service Netflix by reducing its subscription costs. As we reported this morning, Netflix is now available on PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii, as well as tablets, smartphones, PCs and smart TVs - in the UK and Ireland for £5.99 a month, the same Lovefilm charges.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/lovefilm-counter-netflix-appearance-with-subs-discount/089482
MCV

Video streaming service Lovefilm has responded to the launch of rival service Netflix by reducing its subscription costs.

As we reported this morning, Netflix is now available on PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii - as well as tablets, smartphones, PCs and smart TVs - in the UK and Ireland for £5.99 a month, the same Lovefilm charges.

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FIFA 12 still on top in UK

FIFA 12 is the UK all-formats number one for a third week in succession despite a decline in sales of 63 per cent. Only one game in the entire top 40 saw its sales increase from the previous week, with the nation's collective downward gaze at its post-Christmas paunch helping 505 Games' Zumba Fitness climb 13 places to number six.

FIFA 12 is the UK all-formats number one for a third week in succession despite a decline in sales of 63 per cent.

Only one game in the entire top 40 saw its sales increase from the previous week, with the nation's collective downward gaze at its post-Christmas paunch helping 505 Games' Zumba Fitness climb 13 places to number six.

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FIFA 12 still on top in UK

FIFA 12 is the UK all-formats number one for a third week in succession despite a decline in sales of 63 per cent. Only one game in the entire top 40 saw its sales increase from the previous week, with the nation's collective downward gaze at its post-Christmas paunch helping 505 Games' Zumba Fitness climb 13 places to number six.

FIFA 12 is the UK all-formats number one for a third week in succession despite a decline in sales of 63 per cent.

Only one game in the entire top 40 saw its sales increase from the previous week, with the nation's collective downward gaze at its post-Christmas paunch helping 505 Games' Zumba Fitness climb 13 places to number six.

read more


New service tracks game reviews for indie developers

A new service has launched which helps indie developers keep track of reviews on over 600 websites. As well as a Metacritic-style average score, Promoter automatically tracks and archives press reviews of a developer's game, sending an email notification when a new one is published. A timeline displays reviews, mentions and special events - such as release date announcements or holiday sales - to enable developers to gauge the success of promotions.
http://www.promoterapp.com/
Promoter

A new service has launched which helps indie developers keep track of reviews on over 600 websites.

As well as a Metacritic-style average score, Promoter automatically tracks and archives press reviews of a developer's game, sending an email notification when a new one is published. A timeline displays reviews, mentions and special events - such as release date announcements or holiday sales - to enable developers to gauge the success of promotions.

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New service tracks game reviews for indie developers

A new service has launched which helps indie developers keep track of reviews on over 600 websites. As well as a Metacritic-style average score, Promoter automatically tracks and archives press reviews of a developer's game, sending an email notification when a new one is published. A timeline displays reviews, mentions and special events - such as release date announcements or holiday sales - to enable developers to gauge the success of promotions.
http://www.promoterapp.com/
Promoter

A new service has launched which helps indie developers keep track of reviews on over 600 websites.

As well as a Metacritic-style average score, Promoter automatically tracks and archives press reviews of a developer's game, sending an email notification when a new one is published. A timeline displays reviews, mentions and special events - such as release date announcements or holiday sales - to enable developers to gauge the success of promotions.

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The alternative Edge Awards 2011

Plaudits and wrist slaps for some of the more esoteric aspects of gaming last year.

Most context-insensitive: Homefront

Format 360, PC, PS3 Publisher THQ Developer Kaos Studios

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Facebook drops Credits requirement for in-app offers

Facebook has relented on its insistence that developers use its standard virtual currency, Facebook Credits, in in-app offers. The move, announced in a blog post, means developers can offer their own virtual currencies as rewards to users for completing advertiser offers, such as signing up for a subscription service or buying from an online store. Developers can now use either their own currency, Credits, or both at once.
http://www.insidesocialgames.com/2012/01/06/facebook-relents-on-credits-allows-in-app-currency-offers
Inside Social Games

Facebook has relented on its insistence that developers use its standard virtual currency, Facebook Credits, in in-app offers.

The move, announced in a blog post, means developers can offer their own virtual currencies as rewards to users for completing advertiser offers, such as signing up for a subscription service or buying from an online store. Developers can now use either their own currency, Credits, or both at once.

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HMV woes continue as Christmas sales nosedive

Troubled retailer HMV reported more bad news today after revealing that sales over Christmas fell by over 16 per cent. Sales at retail in the five weeks to December 31 fell 16.9 per cent, with revenue across the group as a whole falling 16.6 per cent despite a 13 per cent increase in revenue from its HMV Live ticketing business.

Troubled retailer HMV reported more bad news today after revealing that sales over Christmas fell by over 16 per cent.

Sales at retail in the five weeks to December 31 fell 16.9 per cent, with revenue across the group as a whole falling 16.6 per cent despite a 13 per cent increase in revenue from its HMV Live ticketing business.

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Opinion: Forward motion

Brian Howe offers a behind-the-curtain glimpse at Microsoft’s bid to bring hardcore gamers and Kinect together.

With its many contact points, the traditional videogame controller is like a violin: great for adepts but unwelcoming to newcomers. As business models go, ‘impregnably arcane’ can fare poorly in the open marketplace. How do you convince somebody’s grandparents or little sister to master the violin for the privilege of playing Halo? With Kinect, Microsoft ingeniously answered: “You don’t.

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Call Of Duty dominates 2011 Xbox Live chart

Activision's Call Of Duty series occupies the top three slots in Microsoft's chart of last year's most played games on Xbox Live. Black Ops was the most played game of the year, ahead of Modern Warfare 3, which is in second spot despite only launching on November 8. Modern Warfare 2, released in 2009, is in third.
http://majornelson.com/2012/01/06/top-games-of-2011/
Major Nelson

Activision's Call Of Duty series occupies the top three slots in Microsoft's chart of last year's most played games on Xbox Live.

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Microsoft insists Xbox Live is secure

Microsoft has moved to insist that its Xbox Live service hasn't been breached, and that the ongoing glut of account thefts are the result of phishing attacks. The company's statement comes after one user managed to track down the hacker who had stolen her account and spent over $300 on Microsoft Points using her stored credit card details, and found websites with thousands of Live accounts up for sale.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-01-06-a-january-account-of-xbox-live-hacking-and-fraud
Eurogamer

Microsoft has moved to insist that its Xbox Live service hasn't been breached, and that the ongoing glut of account thefts are the result of phishing attacks.

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3DS sets new Japan sales record

Nintendo's 3DS handheld has set a new record for monthly sales in Japan, selling more in December than any system has managed since Enterbrain began tracking data in 1997. Andriasang reports that a total of 1,492,931 units between November 28 and December 25. The system has been the best-selling hardware for seven consecutive months, and has topped the weekly hardware chart every week since last August's 40 per cent price cut.
http://andriasang.com/comzkv/3ds_sales_record/
Andriasang

Nintendo's 3DS handheld has set a new record for monthly sales in Japan, selling more in December than any system has managed since Enterbrain began tracking data in 1997.

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Report: Hirai to replace Stringer as Sony president

Kaz Hirai is to replace Howard Stringer as president of Sony Corporation, according to reports. Japan's business daily Nikkei reports that Hirai, the 51-year-old who currently occupies several roles at Sony - representative corporate executive officer and executive deputy president of Sony Corp, president of the Consumer Products And Services Group, and chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment - will assume his new position in April.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/06/sony-idUSL3E8C66Y720120106
Reuters

Kaz Hirai is to replace Howard Stringer as president of Sony Corporation, according to reports.

Japan's business daily Nikkei reports that Hirai, the 51-year-old who currently occupies several roles at Sony - representative corporate executive officer and executive deputy president of Sony Corp, president of the Consumer Products And Services Group, and chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment - will assume his new position in April.

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Netflix lands in the UK and Ireland

US video streaming service Netflix has launched in the UK and Ireland. The service, to be available on PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii as well as tablets, smartphones, PCs and smart TVs, offers movies and TV shows for £5.99 a month to UK customers, and €6.99 to those in Ireland. A free, one-month trial is also available.
http://blog.netflix.com/2012/01/netflix-launches-in-uk-ireland-today.html
Netflix

US video streaming service Netflix has launched in the UK and Ireland.

The service, to be available on PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii as well as tablets, smartphones, PCs and smart TVs, offers movies and TV shows for £5.99 a month to UK customers, and €6.99 to those in Ireland. A free, one-month trial is also available.

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January 07, 2012

News round-up January 3 - 6

2012 starts with buried hatchets, the promise of next-generation hardware and some eye-watering sales figures - a week in videogames.

You can keep up to date with news you might have missed by subscribing to the News round-up topic using My Edge. Visit the Charts topic page to see the UK, Japanese and Nordic charts for the week, and the Daily Links topic page to see our adventures in the more obscure corners of the internet. You might also be interested in our weekly recruitment round-up.

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January 06, 2012

Reviews round-up January 3 - 6

Each week, we'll be posting a round-up of the reviews that have been added to the site over the prior five days. Along with our assessment of all the most important new releases, we'll also be adding older reviews over time, eventually building up to a full archive of every review we've published.

Each week, we'll be posting a round-up of the reviews that have been added to the site over the prior five days. Along with our assessment of all the most important new releases, we'll also be adding older reviews over time, eventually building up to a full archive of every review we've published.

This is a big job, but if there are any reviews you'd particularly like to see on the site sooner than later, let us know in the comments below and we'll prioritise those.

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Steam sales grow by more than 100 per cent for seventh year

The developer and publisher has released an official statement which, along with highlighting the previously reported record number of concurrent users on Steam, also reveals the continued remarkable growth of its platform.

Steam sales increased by more than 100 per cent year-over-year in 2011 for the seventh year running, according to Valve.

The developer and publisher has released an official statement which, along with highlighting the previously reported record number of concurrent users on Steam, also reveals the continued remarkable growth of its platform.

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Nintendo prevents WiiWare developers from sharing sales data

London-based Icon Games has claimed that Nintendo asked it to remove WiiWare sales figures published on the developer's blog.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-01-06-london-dev-rails-against-nintendo-policy
Gamesindustry.biz

London-based Icon Games has claimed that Nintendo asked it to remove WiiWare sales figures published on the developer's blog.

Icon had listed figures across all the formats it develops for, including Nintendo's console, but was forced to take down digital Wii transactions.

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Miyamoto working on new original project

"People have come to expect a lot from me," he said during an interview with Zoomin Games. "This certainly makes me feel some pressure. But if you ask me, 'Is it too much pressure to try to come out with something new?' I have to say no, I'm enjoying myself."

Shigeru Miyamoto has revealed that he is working on a new original title along with his already revealed Wii U Pikmin 3 and 3DS Luigi's Mansion 2 projects.

"People have come to expect a lot from me," he said during an interview with Zoomin Games (below).

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Silicon Knights intends to expose Epic Games' "misconduct" in court

Silicon Knights boss Denis Dyack has responded to last month's court ruling which dismissed the testimony of one of the Too Human developer's key experts in its on-going dispute with Epic Games.

Silicon Knights boss Denis Dyack has responded to last month's court ruling which dismissed the testimony of one of the Too Human developer's key experts in its on-going dispute with Epic Games.

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