Culture minister Ed Vaizey delivered an upbeat closing speech at this year’s London Games Conference, addressing competition with Canada and support for UK developers.
Ed Vaizey, the government minister for culture, communications and creative industries, took to the stage to formally close the London Games Conference last night.
After an introduction addressing a recent trauma involving an Angry Birds update and lost game progress, Vaizey moved on to the serious topic of the government’s stance on the game industry.
Free-to-play version of the publisher's franchise aimed squarely at the hardcore market.
EA has announced Battlefield Play4Free, a free-to-play title based on its Battlefield 2 and Bad Company retail games. Unlike microtransaction-funded casual game Battlefield Heroes, Play4Free will focus on core gamers.
General manager parts company with the Bodycount developer.
Codemasters Guildford general manager Adrian Bolton has left the developer, as reported by Eurogamer. His departure follows creative director Stuart Black's exit in July.
Slow sales to blame for drastic drop in publisher's net income.
Square Enix has published its first half results covering the six month period ending September 30. The company reported a decline in profit to 1723 million yen ($21 million), down from 6826 million yen ($85 million) last quarter - a drop of 75 per cent.
CEO of cloud-based gaming service reveals Mass Effect 2 will be the debut title for the imminent open beta.
Speaking to us at the London Games Festival last night, Dave Perry, co-founder and CEO of cloud-based gaming service Gaikai, discussed the launch of the platform and his plans for the future of streamed gaming.
Digital specialist at worlds largest library is concerned over the need to preserve UK's development legacy.
Paul Wheatley, a specialist in digital preservation at the British Library, has indicated that he would like to build on the work already started by the National Videogame Archive. Wheatley has said that he is interested in collating UK-developed games - and any associated documentation - to preserve the UK's 30-year development history.
Bethesda parent company adds Swedish developer founded by ex-Starbreeze staff to its portfolio, according to Twitter.
CEO of browser game publisher asks, “Why should you buy an extra console if your new TV has the capability to play games?”
Heiko Hubertz, founder and CEO of Germany-based browser game publisher and developer Bigpoint, talked to us before his keynote speech at the London Games Conference last night.
Strong performance of key franchises returns record revenue and profit - publisher raises guidance as a result.
Activision Blizzard has revealed its fiscal third quarter results for the three month period ending September 30. The publisher reported a $51 million profit (up $15 million year-on-year), and $745 million in revenue (up $42 million year-on-year).
Forget fur effects and fun Avatar stylings, or menus sent swooshing by a gesture and voice commands. The moment Kinect proves itself is when it displays a green-tinted video feed of what it can see, and overlays a wireframe skeleton over your body in real time.
Report blames lack of tax breaks for development headcount decline of 890 over the last two years.
UK game industry trade association TIGA has published a report which claims the UK games development workforce has reduced by nine per cent over the last two years. According to the report, development staff numbered 9900 in July 2008.
Codemasters head Rod Cousens says that the future of online retail will be held by brand power.
Ex-Sony exec Phil Harrison emphasises the leading role of digital distribution.
At the first panel at this year's London Games Conference, the message was clear: digital content is king. The opening debate at the second annual London Games Conference, held last night at BAFTA in London, addressed the changing shape of videogame platforms with a heavy emphasis on digital distribution, in a panel titled The Shape Of Clouds To Come.
UK Trade & Investment initiative will aim to recruit developers to the UK, as well as helping UK start-ups to "internationalise".
A new UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Technology Taskforce has been unveiled during a priministerial trip to Shoreditch, London, and the Olympic Park media centre.
The taskforce will have "at least" £15 million in available funds and aim to recruit technology companies and talent to Britain as well helping entrepreneurial and innovative start-ups in the UK to "internationalise".
Papers to be displayed at upcoming interactive exhibit in New York.
The International Center for the History of Video Games (ICHEG), which is based at New York's Strong National Museum of Play, has obtained documentaion of the career of pioneering M.U.L.E. developer, Dani Bunten Berry (formerly Dan Bunten).
The GT5 creator confirmed among list of speakers for next year's event.
Polyphony Digital president Kazunori Yamauchi has been confirmed as a speaker at the 2011 D.I.C.E. Summit, along with Cerny Games president Mark Cerny, 5th Cell creative director Jeremiah Slaczka and general manager Joseph Tringali and Booyah CEO Keith Lee.
Taking place in Las Vegas between 9 - 11 February next year, the event will include the 14th annual Interactive Achievement Awards ceremony, Indie Games Challenge plus poker, golf and go-karting tournaments.
Microsoft revises its sales forecast in light of healthy pre-orders.
Microsoft has revised its sale estimates for Kinect - which launches tomorrow in the US - from the three million, up to five. The revision comes as a result of healthy pre-orders and the 25,000 US retailers which are set to stock the device, a fifth of which are commiting to midnight opening.
Nintendo’s handheld stays on top, despite improved PSP sales in the Japanese hardware chart week ending October 31.
PSP go managed to increase its sales by more than a 300 per cent thanks to its recent price drop, but the whole DS range also saw significant sales increases - the DSi LL doubling its shifted units. PS3, too, enjoyed a significant boost.
PSP: 38,874 (32,591)
DSi LL: 32,137 (15,819)
PS3: 28,255 (20,128)
DSi: 23,614 (14,703)
Wii: 12,710 (11,971)
DS Lite: 3,375 (3,887)
PSP go: 3,031 (924)
Publisher claims losses are within guidance, however.
THQ has published the results for its fiscal 2011 second quarter, period ending September 30, reporting a $47 million loss (up from a $30.1 million loss last quarter). For the same quarter last year, the publisher posted only $5.6 million in losses.
Publisher's losses reduced, but revenue also down year-on-year.
Glu Mobile has posted results for its third fiscal quarter, reporting a $1.6 million loss, down from $4 million for the same quarter last year. Despite the reduced losses, however, the publisher's revenue is also down, from $19.6 million to $15.5 million year-on-year.
Namco Bandai’s God Eater Burst on PSP and Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 on PS3 storm the charts.
Nintendo’s Super Mario All-Stars for Wii and Pokemon Black/White for DS have fallen from the top two places in the Japanese software charts for the week ending October 31.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 managed sales of 215,257 units, taking second place, with Namco Bandai’s God Eater Burst taking the top spot with 263,150 units.
Namco Bandai’s God Eater Burst on PSP and Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 on PS3 storm the charts.
Nintendo’s Super Mario All-Stars for Wii and Pokemon Black/White for DS have fallen from the top two places in the Japanese software charts for the week ending October 31.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 managed sales of 215,257 units, taking second place, with Namco Bandai’s God Eater Burst taking the top spot with 263,150 units.
“Solid performance” of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker boosts the company’s performance.
Japan-based publisher and developer Konami has issued a financial report for the first half of its financial year, taking place from April to September 2010.
Compared to a summer camp for psychic children, a world made from rock album cover art, or the Aztec land of the dead, American suburbia might seem a rather dull setting for a game – except, perhaps, on Halloween. We talk to Tim Schafer, creative director of Costume Quest (which we recently reviewed), and Tasha Harris, the game’s project lead, about the inspirations behind Double Fine’s miniature RPG, and the experience of making a holiday-themed game.
