Classic PC games digital distributor Good Old Games appears to have closed, according to a statement on its website.
The DRM-free retro gaming service, launched by Poland-based CD Projekt in 2008, went down over the weekend. A message on the site implies the service may not be gone forever, while internet reports suggest the move may be a marketing stunt ahead of a service relaunch.
Dear GOG users,
Konami and Harmonix have settled a patent dispute over music games including Rock Band.
While terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed, the firms said in court filings that they have agreed to dismiss “all claims and counterclaims” in the suit, Bloomberg reports.
Realtime Worlds’ Dundee studio has closed and its US satellite office in California is likely to apply for Chapter 7 protection after administrators Begbies Traynor announced it had failed to find a buyer for APB.
Format: Xbox 360
Release: Out now
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Bungie
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President Obama has announced the launch of two videogame design competitions as part of a drive to motivate interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
The National STEM Video Game Challenge consists of two separate competitions, a Youth Prize aimed at middle school students and a Developer Prize for professionals.
Zombie Cow Studios has cancelled plans to release an Xbox 360 version of Channel 4-funded sex education game Privates.
The developer said it was informed by Microsoft that its PC side-scrolling platform shooter - which invites inviting players into every orifice of the human body to fight infection with assault rifles and Ghostbuster rayguns - wouldn’t have passed the platform holder’s censors.
Online game developer and publisher Trion Worlds has appointed three new executives to its management team.
Christopher Yates joins Trion as senior vice president of platform and technology, Lisa Bell-Cabrera as VP of sales, and Ricardo Sanchez VP of digital.
Formerly CTO for Electronic Arts, Yates most recently spent seven years at Sony, where he led the development and operation of Sony’s Network Platform, the infrastructure that supports PlayStation Network content.
Capcom has reported a disappointing set of financial results for the year ended March 31, 2010, blaming the “strategic postponement” of major games and “the drastic overhaul of poorly performing businesses” for its lowest net income since 2004 and weakest sales since 2005.
Full year sales came in at 66,837 million yen ($780m / $498m), down 27.3 per cent year-over-year, while net income declined 73.1 per cent to 2,167 million yen ($25.3m / £16.1m).
Nintendo’s DS line of handhelds topped the hardware sales chart in Japan during the week ended September 12.
Combined DS sales came in at 39,749 units, although PSP was the individual bestseller, shifting 30,761 units.
PS3 remained the top selling home console, moving 19,907 units versus Wii’s 15,031 sales.
Gears Of War maker Epic Games has been linked to a potential acquisition of Realtime Worlds’ APB.
‘A source close to the development team at APB told BBC News that administrators were looking to sell the intellectual property rights to APB,’ the BBC writes. ‘One company mentioned as a potential buyer was US-based Epic Games.’
Format: 360 (version tested), PC, PS3
Out: September 24
Publisher: Codemasters
Developer: Codemasters
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The widely rumoured but unannounced PSP successor is in the hands of third party development studios, according to Shaun Himmerick, executive producer at Netherrealm Studios.
Better not call it Survival Mode, because you’ve already expired, by the looks of things. Call it Distance Mode instead - a frantic first-person dash through misty, monochrome woods, past spectral trees plucked right out of Limbo, and past gravestones that serve as a kind of creepy leaderboard for your previous best efforts.
Update - APB closure confirmed: APB community officer Ben Bateman posted the following on the game's forum: "APB has been a fantastic journey, but unfortunately that journey has come to a premature end. Today we are sad to announce that despite everyone's best efforts to keep the service running; APB is coming to a close. It's been a pleasure working on APB and with all its players. Together we were building an absolutely amazing game, and for that, we thank you.
Mass market focused games publisher Majesco reduced its losses despite a drop in revenues during its third fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2010.
The company cut its losses to $1.6 million, compared to $5.2 million in the same three month period last year, while revenues decreased 29 per cent to $12.2 million.
The picture is better for the nine months ended July 31, the firm reporting a net income of $0.6 million, versus a loss of $2.7 million last year, while revenue declined 26 per cent to $52.3 million.
EA, Capcom, Gaikai and Gamestop representatives will be among the speakers at this year’s London Games Conference.
Taking place on November 4 at BAFTA, Piccadilly, the event will examine the challenges facing an industry that is increasingly being driven by digital distribution, online play, social networks and the concept of ‘games as a service’.
Former Microsoft employees David Edery and Daniel Cook have formed a new development studio focused on the digital game market.
The new outfit, Spry Fox, plans to create “web-based free-to-play games for various demographics, and downloadable titles for emerging platforms”, said Edery, who previously worked as worldwide games portfolio manager for Xbox Live.
Following Famitsu publisher Enterbrain's report on lifetime Japanese console hardware sales, Sony has revealed the global lifetime figures for its consoles.
Speaking during a live presentation at TGS 2010, SCEJ president Hiroshi Kawano revealed that PlayStation 3 has sold a total of 38 million units to date (of which 5.5 million were sold in Japan), while the PSP has achieved 62 million sales globally (just over 15 million of which were sold in Japan).
The team behind Demon Souls has revealed the title of its next project at Tokyo Games Show 2010.
From Software, the developer behind Demon Souls and Otogi, has revealed its latest project at TGS 2010. Titled Project Dark, the game will be a PS3 exclusive in Japan (no announcement was made regarding the western release's potential formats) and be aimed squarely at hardcore players.
EA CEO John Riccitiello has defended Medal Of Honor in the face of controversy over the ability to play as Taliban soldiers in the upcoming shooter’s multiplayer modes.
Sony announces September 21 release date for firmware 3.50, adding further 3D functionality to its console.
Speaking at TGS 2010, Sony has announced that PS3 firmware 3.50 will be released on September 21, adding support for 3D Blu-ray disc playback. The functionality will sit alongside existing stereoscopic 3D games already available for the console.
Xbox product director Aaron Greenberg has said that the company expects to sell three million Kinect units worldwide this holiday season.
"Our estimates [are] that we will sell in excess of three million units this holiday," the exec told Gamasutra, adding that Microsoft is spending "hundreds of millions" of dollars marketing the device, "exceeding in what we did when we launched the original Xbox 360.
Uprated versions of Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus heading for Sony's console next spring.
Speaking at TGS 2010, Fumito Ueda has confirmed that the long rumoured re-release of Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus for PS3 will go ahead next year. Both games will be released on a single disc, echoing the recent re-release of the first two God Of War titles.
Sony reveals that the latest game from the team behind Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus is scheduled for a "holiday 2011" release.
Microsoft used its Tokyo Game Show keynote to announce five new Xbox 360 Kinect exclusive games and and two downloadable titles from renowned Japanese developers.
A mixture of fresh IP and new entries in classic franchises, the titles were weighted towards core gamers and will all be available in 2011.