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July 09, 2011

Zynga acquires Canadian mobile studio

Five Mobile, now Zynga Toronto, becomes the social gaming giant’s 15th acquisition in 13 months.

Zynga has acquired Toronto, Canada-based developer Five Mobile for an undisclosed sum.

“Zynga is crossing the border,” the social gaming firm said in a blog post announcing the deal, which includes “certain assets and intellectual property” created by Five Mobile.

The acquisition is Zynga’s 15th in just 13 months.

Five Mobile founders Ameet Shah, Jeff Zakrzewski, Oliver Tabay and Troy Hubman will all remain on board, with Shah heading up the studio.

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Sony working on PlayStation Plus content issues

PSN Welcome Back offer fails to expire, leaving paying PlayStation Plus members unable to access a range of content.

Sony has said it’s working on PlayStation Plus problems blocking full members from accessing content on the digital service.

Currently, the Welcome Back offer introduced following the recent PSN security breach is not expiring, leaving those that have purchased a PS Plus membership unable to access all of the service’s content.

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News round-up July 4-8

Partnerships formed and broken, more leaks and new wireless technology - the key stories from a week in videogames.

Monday

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July 08, 2011

Modern Warfare 3 includes colour blind assist mode

Sledgehammer Games VP and COO Michael Condrey has revealed, in a response to a player's question on the studio's blog, that Modern Warfare 3 will offer a Colour Blind Assist mode. "[The number of people with Colour Vision Deficiency varies] depending on which source you quote, but we estimate that nearly a million gamers are playing Call Of Duty every day with this issue," he writes. Modern Warfare 3 is due for release on November 8.
http://sledgehammergames.com/blog/view/42
Sledgehammer Games


Playfish bringing Risk: Factions to Facebook

Social games Pet Society and Restaurant City also heading to iOS.

At EA's Summer Showcase event, the publisher announced that its internal studio Playfish would be bringing Stainless Games' XBLA, PSN and Steam title Risk: Factions to Facebook in the near future.

In addition, the developer will also create IOS versions of its Facebook social titles Pet Society and Restaurant City.

The Facebook version of Factions will introduce faction-specific weapons to better differentiate armies with a greater emphasis on competitive multiplayer.

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FIFA still top of the Nordic chart

Second week at the top for EA's game, while Pro Cycling Manager 2011 debuts at seven.

FIFA 11 remains the highest-selling game in the Nordic all formats chart, which collates data from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.

LA Noire has taken a two-place tumble to number four, allowing Lego Pirates Of The Caribbean and The Sims 3 to inch up the chart into positions two and three respectively.

The only new entry to the top ten this week is the lycra-clad Pro Cycling Manager 2011: Tour De France, which charts at number seven.

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FIFA still top of the Nordic chart

Second week at the top for EA's game, while Pro Cycling Manager 2011 debuts at seven.

FIFA 11 remains the highest-selling game in the Nordic all formats chart, which collates data from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.

LA Noire has taken a two-place tumble to number four, allowing Lego Pirates Of The Caribbean and The Sims 3 to inch up the chart into positions two and three respectively.

The only new entry to the top ten this week is the lycra-clad Pro Cycling Manager 2011: Tour De France, which charts at number seven.

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First F1 2011 gameplay trailer

Codemasters has released the first gameplay video of its upcoming F1 2011, sequel to last year's rather special F1 2010. The game is set for a worldwide launch on September 23. In a press release, Codemasters draws attention to "exciting wheel to wheel racing, enhanced by KERS [kinetic energy recovery system, a new tech introduction in the 2011 season] DRS [drag reducing system], as well as highlighting improved garage, paddock, pit lane and Parc Fermé cinematics that further immerse the player into the life of a FORMULA ONE driver." Bespoke handheld versions are also in production for 3DS and Vita which will be released at a later date.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzXkbfDVB6Q
Youtube


First F1 2011 gameplay trailer

Codemasters has released the first gameplay video of its upcoming F1 2011, sequel to last year's rather special F1 2010. The game is set for a worldwide launch on September 23. In a press release, Codemasters draws attention to "exciting wheel to wheel racing, enhanced by KERS [kinetic energy recovery system, a new tech introduction in the 2011 season] DRS [drag reducing system], as well as highlighting improved garage, paddock, pit lane and Parc Fermé cinematics that further immerse the player into the life of a FORMULA ONE driver." Bespoke handheld versions are also in production for 3DS and Vita which will be released at a later date.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzXkbfDVB6Q
Youtube


Uncharted 3 UK release brought forward

Sony has confirmed to us that Naughty Dog's action adventure Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception has had its UK launch date brought forward by two days, meaning it will now be released on November 2.
http://www.unchartedthegame.com/
Sony


Sony drops PSP comics

Sony has announced that its PSP digital comics service will no longer be supported, confirming that the comics included in the latest PlayStation Store update will be the last. The service has provided comic book fans with comics from the likes of Marvel and DC Comics for around $2 each. "The Digital Comics Team will continue to work on bringing the comic service to other Sony devices," reads a post by PlayStation Store director Grace Chen on the PlayStation Blog. "We’ll make sure to keep you updated with any future developments right here on the PlayStation Blog. In the meantime, you can continue to download any of the over 4,000 existing comics from the comic store as usual."
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/07/06/digital-comics-store-update-47/
US PlayStation Blog


Polyphony moving 50 developers from Tokyo HQ

New studio in Fukuoka to be opened amid widespread fears in the wake of March's earthquake and nuclear disaster.

The Gran Turismo developer is opening a new studio in Fukuoka amid widespread nervousness in the wake of the earthquake that struck Japan in March and the nuclear contamination threat that followed. 

50 production staff of Polyphony Digital's total of 150 will move to the city, which lies over 500 miles southwest from Tokyo in the very far west of the country. It follows a reported study into possible new locations the developer made after the earthquake.

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Outspark launches MMOG publishing platform Flint

Free-to-play MMOG developer and publisher Outspark has revealed Flint, its new publishing platform for MMOG developers. The platform is designed to help third parties distribute their free-to-play MMOGs and other browser-based online titles while providing tools for user acquisition, analytics, monetization, marketing and operations. Aeria Games' Lord Of Ages, which went live last week, is the first game to launch using the service. "We've spent almost five years carefully creating the modules and building the tools that have come together as Flint, and will enable MMO developers and publishers around the world to use our platform, said Outspark CEO Susan Chloe. "With our recent move into publishing third-party titles, web-based MMOs and our growing reach through distribution partnerships, we intend to make Flint the best platform for online game distribution and operation." Outspark believes that Flint could reach more than 200 million players.
http://flint.outspark.com/
Flint website


Blur lead designer forms Totem Games

Former employee of now defunct studio Bizarre Creations Matt Cavanagh has founded a new independent studio named Totem Games. Cavanagh was a lead designer on excellent racer Blur. "Totem Games is joining all the shiny new indie games companies in their mission to make the world a happier place," the studio announced via Twitter. Totem Games is the latest of a number of studios to be formed by ex-Bizarre employees which include Hogrocket and Lucid Games.
https://twitter.com/#!/TotemGamesLtd
Totem Games Twitter


HD Resi remakes released on Games On Demand

Capcom's HD remasters of Resident Evil 4 and Code Veronica will be retail releases in Japan, but downloadable in the west. On Xbox 360 they'll be released not through Live Arcade but Games On Demand, an important distinction which means they will offer 1,000 achievement points, rather than the 200 available in XBLA games. This raises concern, too, over cost - titles on the Games On Demand service are considered full games, and priced accordingly.
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/07/07/downloadable-resident-evil-code-veronica-getting-1-000-achievement-points.aspx
Game Informer


Xenoblade Chronicles release brought forward

Nintendo has announced that Monolith's Wii RPG will be released in Europe on August 19, two weeks earlier than was originally planned. A limited pre-order bundle contains a red Classic Controller Pro and three posters "electronically signed" by Monolith founder Tetsuta Takahashi. Good for European RPG fans, then, but the news will be less warmly received across the Atlantic: Nintendo Of America recently said it had no plans to release the game stateside despite a fan campaign for Xenoblade Chronicles, along with fellow RPGs The Last Story and Pandora's Tower, to be released in North America.
http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/games/wii/xenoblade_chronicles_32583.html
Nintendo


Eric Chahi heads GameCity6 lineup

Another World and From Dust creator to open and curate first day of Nottingham festival in October.

Organisers of Nottingham's annual GameCity festival have announced the first  details of this year's line-up, with Another World creator Eric Chahi kicking the event off and curating the entire first day.

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Zynga rewards users for studying privacy policy

The undisputed king of social games made headlines last week after it ended months of speculation by filing an IPO. Now Zynga has launched PrivacyVille, an interactive tour through its privacy policy with users given points for its loyalty scheme, RewardVille, by way of thanks. Play yourself through the source link below.
http://www.zynga.com/privacy/
Zynga


The Friday Game: Office Trap

Nitrome’s back with a game that blends work and play to horrifying effect.

"Dear sir/madame..."

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Mad Catz to release games for Xbox 360

Peripheral maker announces publishing deal saying: "You have to adapt, grow and expand."

Mad Catz has announced that it has entered into a publishing agreement with Microsoft that will see it release games for Xbox 360.

In an interview, global PR and communications manager Alex Verrey told us the move was merely the latest step in the firm's continued expansion which has already seen it open an internal development studio and an office in Japan.

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Why we kill

What is it about virtual bloodshed that keeps us transfixed?

After wrapping your fingers around his throat, you smash his face into a burning hot-plate and hold it firmly against the bright red steel while his skin chars and blisters. His screams hint that he’s about to give in and rat on his friends. In Splinter Cell: Conviction, torture is a gameplay mechanic. Put a new disc in. Now you’re Ezio Auditore Da Firenze jamming knives into the throats of your family’s enemies – a particularly terrifying and gruesome way to be murdered, if it’s possible to rank such things.

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Castlevania Harmony Of Despair headed to PSN

Konami has announced that the side-scroller released on Xbox Live Arcade in 2010 is headed to PS3, with a PSN release set for later this summer. In addition to the original's six-player online co-op, Konami has added a local fourplayer mode, and the Beauty, Desire, Situation Dire DLC, and two extra characters, are included.
http://www.konami.com/article/_KONAMI_ANNOUNCES_CASTLEVANIA_HARMONY_OF_DESPAIR_FOR/226
Konami


Kojima announces Suda 51's Sdatcher

Well, we didn't see this coming. Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima took to the Hideradio podcast last night to announce Suda 51's Sdatcher. And it's a radio drama, inspired by Kojima's 1988 MSX2 title Snatcher. According to Famitsu - translated by Andriasang - Kojima is the project's drama planner, Suda 51 has written the script, and Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka, now at Suda51's Grasshopper Manufacture, is handling the score.
http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/07/08/sdatcher/
Andriasang


TIGA named trade association of the year

The UK body last night became the first to be named trade association of the year at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards two years in a row. It had been nominated in seven categories, but had to settle for a paltry four: as well as the night's top prize it won annual report of the year, the commercial initiative award, and CEO Richard Wilson was given the leadership award. "We are absolutely thrilled to have been nominated for these awards and to have won four," Wilson said in a statement. "I would like to thank our members and the TIGA board for their support. While TIGA has won four awards, this is a success for the entire game industry."
http://www.tiga.org/
TIGA


Lovefilm refuses Resident Evil 3D rentals

Lovefilm is no longer offering rentals of Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D because save data cannot be reset on Capcom's 3DS title. The game's listing on Lovefilm's website reads: "This title is unavailable for rental as the game has no reset feature and cannot be played from beginning to end."
http://www.lovefilm.com/games/Resident-Evil-The-Mercenaries-3DS/162986/
Lovefilm


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