Capcom aims to combat falling sales and earnings by increasing its development capabilities and releasing major games on a more regular basis.
Format: XBLA
Release: July 28
Publisher: MGS
Developer: Vector Unit
There are many good things to be said about Vector Unit’s debut game, but let the first be this: it handles like butter. Hydro Thunder Hurricane's a comeback for a much-loved series, a breezy and cheesy powerboat racer with an arcade heart, and a winning one. It's a great combination of polish and funfair sensation, but everything works for one reason: the controls are right.
Highlights from our community-written blogs, featuring e-sports and a call to arms.
Codemasters VP of studios Gavin Cheshire has dismissed speculation that recent investment from abroad will lead to a dilution of the publisher’s UK-based workforce.
To the contrary, he says that Indian multimedia company Reliance Big Entertainment’s recent acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in the Dirt maker will help assist UK expansion plans.
StarCraft is in rude health, outliving all of its peers and setting a precedent for pro-gaming (which we explored in our two part feature on the state of e-sports in South Korea). A large part of its enduring appeal is the delicate balancing of the three playable races - tinkering with such a successful formula is not a task to be taken lightly, but one that Blizzard Entertainment has embraced nonetheless.
Valve has apologised to about 12,000 gamers wrongfully banned from playing Modern Warfare 2 on Steam.
President Gabe Newell said in a statement that Valve’s anti-cheat software was to blame for the bans, which have now been reversed, and offered those affected two free copies of Left 4 Dead 2.
EA has partnered with microtransactions firm Live Gamer to better monetise its projects and develop its online gaming strategy.
The publisher will adopt the Elements microtransactions platform, which offers access to payment gateways, virtual goods merchandising functionality, analytics capabilities, virtual item gifting, support for in-game currencies and more. Existing users include THQ, Sony Online Entertainment and Acclaim.
Nobilis has accused SouthPeak of failing to make development payments for the My Baby series, leading the French studio to grant Majesco publishing rights to the million selling franchise.
Majesco said in June that it is to publish My Baby 3 & Friends in the US this October, but SouthPeak is contesting the move with legal action, claiming it still holds rights to Nobilis’ franchise.
Sony is expected to report a return to profitability when its first quarter financial results are announced on Thursday.
As a result of aggressive cost-cutting Sony will likely post a company-wide operating profit of 30 billion yen ($342 million) for the three month period ended June 30, compared with a 25.7 billion yen loss a year earlier, according to Nikkei (via AGP).
Joshua Caulfield will step down as executive director of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) this August.
UK Trade & Investment is offering a week-long trip to Japan for the Tokyo Game Show, with event pass and other services bundled as part of a £750 package.
Aimed at new game development companies and those with limited experience of the Japanese market, the package features an exhibitor pass for September’s event as well as expert briefings, game company visits, British Embassy reception, networking events and meeting room access.
UK indie games retailer Chips has shut all 12 of its company-owned stores today.
However, Chips joint-MD Don McCabe told MCV that the retailer’s 14 franchised outlets are unaffected by any developments at Chipsworld ltd.
“We are not in administration but we are doing some bits and pieces. I am in meetings right now to try and sort some things out,” he said. “Franchises are not affected. Shops are shut but we are not in administration.”
Back in 2004, the strategy RPG world must have seemed a difficult one to break into with any kind of meaningful impact. Advance Wars, plus its sequel, provided a heady zenith not just for fans of turn-based warfare, but also anyone who treasured the GBA. Any forum thread that touched upon the genre would elicit heartfelt praise for established greats: various strains of Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics. The template was already well represented, and well realised.
Capcom and Namco Bandai will bring renowned fighting series Street Fighter and Tekken together in two new games.
Street Fighter X Tekken is in development at Capcom, while Namco Bandai is working on Tekken X Street Fighter, the companies announced at Comic-Con over the weekend. Capcom's title will reportedly launch first, in two years' time, and both games are Xbox 360 and PS3-bound.
Disney’s Toy Story 3 climbed four places in its second week on the UK all formats chart to take the top spot.
Crackdown 2 dropped from first to tenth, while Dragon Quest IX was the only new entry in the week ended July 24, debuting at nine.
Atari has posted revenues of €19.3 million for its first fiscal quarter ended June 30, down 65 per cent year-over-year.
The decrease, which the firm said was “in line with expectations”, was mainly due to a smaller number of releases during the quarter compared to the previous year. Atari launched Sandlot Sluggers during the three month period, compared to Ghostbusters: The Video Game in the US and The Chronicles Of Riddick: Assault On Dark Athena in the same quarter last year.
The Daily Star has issued an "unreserved apology" to publisher Rockstar for running a story falsely claiming that the publisher was working on a new Grand Theft Auto game based on the recent incidents involving killer Raoul Moat.
LittleBigPlanet 2 will launch on November 16 in the US, Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced.
The Media Molecule developed PS3 platformer is the follow-up to 2008’s excellent LittleBigPlanet, which has now sold over three million copies. The sequel has yet to be given a European date.
Indian human resource development minister unveils $35 touchscreen device aimed at students.
India's human resource development minister, Kapil Sibal, has unveiled a touchscreen computing device that will cost just $35 (£23).
The device, which more closely follows the form of a tablet than a laptop, has been designed with students in mind. The minister has revealed that his department is currently in talks with global manufacturers to discuss mass production of the unit and a 2011 roll out.
Gaikai CEO Dave Perry will keynote the upcoming Entertainment Merchants Association GamePlan Summit.
He'll discuss how game retailers and publishers can embrace digital technology to increase their reach and engagement with customers.
“Retailers and publishers are looking to implement digital strategies that will position them for the future,” Perry said. “Gaikai will be part of that future and I’m looking forward to sharing our vision.”
Format: 360, PS3
Release: Out now
Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: Artificial Mind And Movement
Screenshot gallery
The Standing Committee of Attorneys-Generals has delayed a meeting at which members will discuss the issue of Australian videogame classifications.
Originally set to take place this month, the meeting has been pushed to November, Kotaku reports. One of the topics up for debate will be the proposal of introducing an R18+ rating for games.
EA’s chief operating officer John Schappert has lavished praise of Nintendo’s upcoming 3DS.
"The 3DS is just incredibly cool. The 3DS is magical. You put that in your hand, you look down, and all of a sudden it’s in 3D without glasses. That’s an amazing experience. I’m a huge fan," he told IndustryGamers.
EA Los Angeles has announced the formation of a new studio, Danger Close, which is currently developing the single player component of Medal Of Honor.
