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November 21, 2011

Square Enix announces Android store

Square Enix is to launch its own Android download store, the Square Enix market, in Japan. Among the games promised for the service include the original Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest Monsters Most Wanted, a port of iOS RPG Chaos Ring, and Crystal Defenders. Titles planned for the future include Itadaki Street and a port of beloved SNES RPG Chrono Trigger.
http://andriasang.com/comz11/
Andriasang

Square Enix is to launch its own Android download store, the Square Enix market, in Japan.

Among the games promised for the service are the original Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest Monsters Most Wanted, a port of iOS game Chaos Ring, and Crystal Defenders. Titles planned for the future include Itadaki Street and a port of beloved SNES RPG Chrono Trigger.

The Square Enix Market will launch in Japan on December 1, and be exclusive to customers of KDDI, with Softbank and Docomo to follow, according to Andriasang.

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Minecraft by the numbers

More than 4,000 people logged into Minecraft every second following the release last Friday of Minecraft 1.0. The figure was revealed during a developer panel at the Minecon event in Las Vegas, held to celebrate the unprecedented success of Mojang's indie sandbox and to mark its official release.
http://www.gamefront.com/minecraft-by-the-numbers-2-billion-files-downloaded-from-the-launcher
Gamefront

More than 4,000 people logged into Minecraft every second following the release last Friday of Minecraft 1.0, developer Mojang has revealed.

The figure was revealed during a developer panel at the Minecon event in Las Vegas, held to celebrate the unprecedented success of Mojang's indie sandbox and to mark its official release.

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Opinion: Writing for the everyday player

Leigh Alexander asks whether ‘serious’ game critics have lost touch with the average person’s view of a good game.

Those who’d like to see games properly understood and weighed seriously by a massmarket audience believe strongly in what games can be. They laud experimental, emotionally potent works and decry the faintest whiff of commercialism, genre constraint or lowest common denominator-courting risk aversion.

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Out There: Skyrim's open spaces

The restrictions and beauty of freedom, plus Microsoft's amazing pixel smoothing tech and the art of ugly in character creation.

Bethesda released some new RPG called Skyrim the other day, and one or two enterprising players have been showcasing its visual charms. First up, some delightful panoramas of various locales that demonstrate the extraordinary environmental diversity that Bethesda has crafted from coherently northern latitudes.

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Modern Warfare 3 retains UK top spot

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has held on to the number one spot in the UK all-formats software chart, despite the challenge of an avalanche of new releases. Sales of the Activision shooter fell by a massive 87 per cent from its launch week, but it still sold enough to retain top spot. Five games made their debuts in the top ten, the highest of which being Assassin's Creed: Revelations in second, with THQ's open-world crime caper Saints Row: The Third in fourth.

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has held on to the number one spot in the UK all-formats software chart, despite the challenge of an avalanche of new releases.

Sales of the Activision shooter fell by a massive 87 per cent from its launch week, but it still sold enough to retain top spot. Five games made their debuts in the top ten, the highest of which was Assassin's Creed: Revelations in second, with THQ's open-world crime caper Saints Row: The Third in fourth.

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Skyrim patches due next week

Bethesda Softworks plans to release a patch for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, addressing numerous issues on all platforms, next week. Pete Hines, VP of PR and marketing for Bethesda, wrote on Twitter: "PS3 and [Xbox] 360 updates have been submitted for certification. PC coming too. Current estimate is they will be live the week after Thanksgiving."
https://twitter.com/#!/DCDeacon/status/137634356184363009
Twitter

Bethesda Softworks plans to release a patch for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, addressing numerous issues on all platforms, next week.

Pete Hines, VP of PR and marketing for Bethesda, wrote on Twitter: "PS3 and [Xbox] 360 updates have been submitted for certification. PC coming too. Current estimate is they will be live the week after Thanksgiving."

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Modern Warfare 3 bans begin

Infinity Ward has banned more than 1600 players for glitching and cheating in online games of Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. The news was revealed on Twitter by Infinity Ward creative strategist Robert Bowling, who wrote: "Any attempt to cheat, hack or glitch in MW3 will not be tolerated. 1600+ bans issued."
https://twitter.com/#!/fourzerotwo/status/137327656420122624
Twitter

Infinity Ward has banned more than 1,600 players for glitching and cheating in online games of Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

The news was revealed on Twitter by Infinity Ward creative strategist Robert Bowling, who wrote: "Any attempt to cheat, hack or glitch in MW3 will not be tolerated. 1,600+ bans issued."

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Namco Bandai to absorb and close Tales studio

Namco Bandai has announced plans to absorb the Namco Tales Studio, developer of the Tales series, on January 1, at which point the developer of the Tales games will be officially dissolved. Andriasang reports that the publisher declined to give a reason for the move, saying only that it will be rubber-stamped at a board meeting on November.
http://andriasang.com/comz0m/
Andriasang

Namco Bandai has announced plans to absorb the Namco Tales Studio, developer of the Tales series, on January 1, at which point the studio will be officially dissolved.

Andriasang reports that the publisher declined to give a reason for the move, saying only that it will be rubber-stamped at a board meeting on November. The studio, which employs over 100 staff, has two games in development: Tales Of The Heroes: Twin Brave for PSP, and Tales Of Innocence R for the upcoming Vita.

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EA sued over Battlefield PS3 promise

A US law firm has begun class action proceedings against Electronic Arts after PlayStation 3 copies of Battlefield 3 shipped without the promised free copy of Battlefield 1943. Kotaku reports that the lawsuit, filed by Edelson McGuire, focuses not only on EA's failure to make good on SCEA president Jack Tretton's announcement at E3 in June, but on the publisher's failure to communicate the change in plans to prospective purchasers.
http://kotaku.com/5860729/ea-being-taken-to-court-over-broken-battlefield-promise
Kotaku

A US law firm has begun class action proceedings against Electronic Arts after PlayStation 3 copies of Battlefield 3 shipped without the promised free copy of Battlefield 1943.

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November 19, 2011

News round-up November 14 - 18

Unhappy Skyrim players, fluctuating retail performance and massaged Metacritic scores - a week in videogames.

 

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November 18, 2011

Four million play League Of Legends each day

More than four million people play League Of Legends every day, developer Riot Games has announced. That figure represents growth of 280 per cent since July. It also boasts 11.5 monthly active users, and a registered userbase of over 30 million players worldwide

More than four million people play League Of Legends every day, developer Riot Games has announced.

That figure represents growth of 280 per cent since July. It also boasts 11.5 monthly active users, and a registered userbase of over 30 million players worldwide.

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Opinion: A two-screen future

Wii U has the potential to shake up the social gaming experience, says Graham McAllister.

It seems that passively watching TV is not engaging enough for most of us. A recent research study shows that 86 per cent of us use our smartphones to surf the web or connect with friends while watching TV. Using our mobiles in this way is often described as the second-screen experience, with the television being the primary display.

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Telltale devs caught fiddling Metacritic scores

Staff at Telltale Games have been exposed for lavishing praise upon the studio's latest work. Jurassic Park: The Game, on review aggregation site Metacritic. Two members of the game's development team, one a user interface artist and the other a cinematic artist, awarded the game maximum scores and heaped praise upon the game.
http://uk.gamespot.com/features/jurassic-park-user-reviews-abused-6346288/?tag=updates%3Beditor%3Ball%3Btitle%3B2
Gamespot

Staff at Telltale Games have been exposed for lavishing praise upon the studio's latest work. Jurassic Park: The Game, on review aggregation site Metacritic.

Two members of the game's development team, one a user interface artist and the other a cinematic artist, awarded the game maximum scores and heaped praise upon the game.

One described the game as "a mix between Heavy Rain and LA Noire," and returned the next day to post the exact same review, word for word, under a different username.

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Hail to the cheats

A treasured part of videogame culture, seen by many as a right of ownership, cheats are in decline. Or are they?

This is a generation that’s seen more climate change than any in gaming history; extinction seems to be everywhere you look. Exaggeration, too. Kids born in 2011 will likely never buy a boxed software product. Maybe they’ll miss out on health packs, or even, as hard as it is to believe, the release of a new Dreamcast scrolling shoot ’em up. But cheats? Surely there will always be cheats?

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Apple pulls its only game from the App Store

Apple has removed Texas Hold'em, its only game, from the App Store. The game, released in late 2006 for non-iOS iPods, was significantly updated and given prominence on the App Store when it debuted in 2008, but has not been updated since September of that year.
http://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/17/apple-removes-texas-holdem-its-only-ios-game-from-app-store/
Mac Rumors

Apple has removed Texas Hold'em - the only iOS game developed by Apple itself - from the App Store.

The game, released in late 2006 for non-iOS iPods, was significantly updated and given prominence on the App Store when it debuted in 2008, but has not been updated since September of that year.

Mac Rumors suggests that Apple's early interest in developing its own games stemmed from the fear that it would struggle to attract thirdparties to its system. That, of course, is no longer a cause for concern.


BAFTA announces Young Game Designer nominees

The British Academy Of Film And Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the nominees for the 2011 BAFTA Young Game Designers competition. Now in its second year, the competition invites teams of 11 to 16 year olds to prove their potential as game creators in association with EA, Nesta and Abertay University. A jury including representatives from Nesta, Criterion and BAFTA itself whittled down a shortlist of ten teams to the final three.

The British Academy Of Film And Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the nominees for the 2011 BAFTA Young Game Designers competition.

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City Interactive announces new Stuart Black game

City Interactive has announced Enemy Front, a WWII FPS helmed by Stuart Black. Black, most famous for 2006 EA shooter Black and whose most recent work was Codemasters' disappointing Bodycount, is chief designer on Enemy Front. Set for release in 2012 for PC, Xbox and PS3, the game is being developed on Crytek's CryEngine 3.

City Interactive has announced Enemy Front, a WWII FPS helmed by Stuart Black.

Black, most famous for 2006 EA shooter Black and whose most recent work was on Codemasters' disappointing Bodycount, is chief designer on Enemy Front. Set for release in 2012 for PC, Xbox and PS3, the game is being developed on Crytek's CryEngine 3.


The Friday Game: Pursuit Of Hat

Lose yourself – and most of your body – in this likeable Flash puzzler.

Dismemberment may be the next big thing. You know, the spiritual successor to cover systems, dual-wielding, and recharging health when it comes to ideas that every big game needs to find a means of incorporating.

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Report: save files behind problems with PS3 Skyrim

Large save files are reportedly causing game-breaking framerate drops in the PlayStation 3 version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. News of stuttering framerates affecting the PS3 version of the game first broke earlier this week, and it now appears the problem only begins once game saves top 5MB in size.
http://www.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk/2011/11/17/skyrim-are-you-suffering-save-file-related-lag/
OPM

Large save files are reportedly causing game-breaking framerate drops in the PlayStation 3 version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

News of stuttering framerates affecting the PS3 version of the game first broke earlier this week, and it now appears the problem only begins once game saves top 5MB in size.

Official PlayStation Magazine sought comment from Bethesda, who said: "All we can reiterate at this stage is what Pete Hines has said on his Twitter feed."

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New issue of Edge out now

Introducing E235, featuring BioShock Infinite and the birth of a new gaming icon.

Issue 235 of Edge will go on sale in UK newsagents November 22, with BioShock Infinite's Elizabeth taking pride of place on the cover. She lies at the very centre of Irrational Games' new world and we explore her relationship both to the floating city of Columbia, and to the player, in our lead feature.

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New issue of Edge out today

Introducing E235, featuring BioShock Infinite and the birth of a new gaming icon.

Issue 235 of Edge will go on sale in UK newsagents November 22, with BioShock Infinite's Elizabeth taking pride of place on the cover. She lies at the very centre of Irrational Games' new world and we explore her relationship both to the floating city of Columbia, and to the player, in our lead feature.

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read more


New issue of Edge out now

Introducing E235, featuring BioShock Infinite and the birth of a new gaming icon.

Issue 235 of Edge will go on sale in UK newsagents November 22, with BioShock Infinite's Elizabeth taking pride of place on the cover. She lies at the very centre of Irrational Games' new world and we explore her relationship both to the floating city of Columbia, and to the player, in our lead feature.

0

read more


New issue of Edge out now

Introducing E235, featuring BioShock Infinite and the birth of a new gaming icon.

Issue 235 of Edge will go on sale in UK newsagents November 22, with BioShock Infinite's Elizabeth taking pride of place on the cover. She lies at the very centre of Irrational Games' new world and we explore her relationship both to the floating city of Columbia, and to the player, in our lead feature.

0

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Fils-Aime: Nintendo devs wary of paid DLC

Nintendo Of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has explained the company's reluctance to sell paid DLC for its games. Speaking to AOL's games blog, Fils-Aime explained that Nintendo developers were wary of selling additional content because they want to give consumers the "complete experience" on day one.
http://blog.games.com/2011/11/16/nintendo-reggie-fils-aime-interview/
AOL

Nintendo Of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has explained the company's reluctance to sell paid DLC for its games.

Speaking to AOL's games blog, Fils-Aime explained that Nintendo developers were wary of selling additional content because they want to give consumers the "complete experience" on day one.

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Atari veteran named AIAS Pioneer

Ed Logg, part of Atari's coin-op division in the 1970s and 1980s who was lead developer on Gauntlet, will be given the Pioneer Award by the Academy Of Interactive Arts And Sciences (AIAS) . Logg was also co-designer of Centipede and Asteroids, and will be presented with the award by Mark Cerny, a consultant who worked alongside Logg at Atari, at a Las Vegas ceremony in February.
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/38640/Asteroids_Gauntlet_Designer_Ed_Logg_Honored_With_Pioneer_Award.php
Gamasutra

Ed Logg, part of Atari's coin-op division in the 1970s and 1980s who was lead developer on Gauntlet, will be given the Pioneer Award by the Academy Of Interactive Arts And Sciences (AIAS) .

Logg, also co-designer of Centipede and Asteroids, will be presented with the award by Mark Cerny, a consultant who worked alongside Logg at Atari, at a Las Vegas ceremony in February.

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