Manufacturer breaks cover and comments on recent security breaches; network updates planned.
Sony has at last broken silence on recent developments which have seen its PlayStation 3's security measures completely defeated.
The firm has remained resolutely tight-lipped since news broke that a hacking group named fail0verflow had gained full control over the system, after reverse engineering the code used to sign authorised software as genuine.
Home computer equivalent of iOS App Store opens doors a little early with over 1,000 apps to download.
Apple’s Mac App Store, a version of its mobile software marketplace for Mac computers, has just launched in 90 countries, a few hours earlier than expected.
Users will need to update their Snow Leopard operating system to the newly-released Mac OS 10.6.6, and will find a link to the Mac App Store in their dock once the update completes.
Our award for the best audio design of 2010.
Runner up: Sid Meier's Civilization V
Format: PC Publisher: 2K Games Developer: Firaxis
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UK research firm claims advertising will be worth $894m per year by 2015; end-user revenues to hit $11 billion.
Global advertising spend on mobile games is set to increase tenfold in the next five years, according to a report.
The Mobile Games whitepaper, published by UK firm Juniper Research, says that by 2015 mobile ad spend will have risen to $894 million per year, compared to just $87 million last year.
Beyond Good & Evil HD, Torchlight, Bejeweled Blitz and more coming in February.
At its CES keynote last night Microsoft announced that House Party, the Xbox Live Arcade promotion that debuted last year, is to return next month.
Relentless announces intent to move away from disc-based 'hardcore' market after Blue Toad success.
Relentless Software, the developer of the Buzz! quiz games and Blue Toad Murder Files, has said it intends to move away from the disc-based retail market and go digital-only.
Format: Xbox 360
Release: Out now
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Southend Interactive
BBC report cites users experiencing dreaded hardware fault within days of Kinect purchase.
Microsoft has swiftly moved to deny an alleged link between its Kinect motion sensor and long-standing Xbox 360 hardware problem the Red Ring Of Death.
The BBC reported yesterday on a link between the two with Xbox 360 owners complaining that their console suffered the common hardware fault shortly after they used Kinect for the first time.
Sales of 8m in two months smash sales targets; video chat app Avatar Kinect incoming.
Microsoft has said that its motion-sensing peripheral Kinect has sold 8m units worldwide since its launch in November.
Sony CEO reveals figures during CES keynote; dwarfs Microsoft’s Xbox Live userbase.
Howard Stringer, chairman, president and CEO of Sony, has said that 60 million accounts have been created on its online service PlayStation Network.
Our award for the best visual design of 2010.
Runner up: Limbo
Format: 360 Publisher: Playdead Developer: In-house
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Our award for the best developer of 2010.
Runner up: Harmonix
Key Games: Rock Band 3, Dance Central
Publisher set to release toy tie-ins on every platform imaginable; uDraw Pictionary up first.
Publisher THQ has signed a multi-year deal with Mattel to develop and publish games based on the toy manufacturer’s many beloved brands.
An agreement which is very broad in scope enables THQ to design, develop and market games for consoles, handhelds, PCs, mobiles and social networks, with the publisher indicating Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price and He-Man tie-ins are planned.
Pressure group invites MPs, industry representatives and press to House of Commons gaming event.
Independent pressure group Gamers’ Voice have invited UK politicians to a special gaming event at the House of Commons.
Claims Viacom sold Harmonix for the price of a game; tax benefit and liability transfer sweeten the deal.
Rock Band developer Harmonix returned to independent status for the cost of one of its games, according to reports in the US.
Top Paid app on recently-launched software marketplace has seen just 75 downloads since last month.
Google’s Chrome Web Store, the App Store equivalent that runs within its Chrome web browser, has got off to a slow start.
Retailer to launch Android Marketplace competitor this year; has final say on pricing.
Online retail giant Amazon is launching its own store for Android apps. The developer-facing side of the logically-titled Amazon Appstore is now available.
Takes total raised by Massachusetts firm to $20m; eyes overseas growth and gamification research.
Location-based app Scvngr has raised $15 million in a funding round led by UK venture capitalists Balderton Capital. It brings the total funding raised to $20 million, according to TechCrunch.
Our award for the best publisher of 2010.
Runner up: PopCap
Key Games: Zuma Blitz, Plants Vs Zombies
Community manager Seth Killian explains costs of additional data covered by Microsoft, but not Sony.
Capcom has explained why online players of Super Street Fighter IV are only able to see new costumes worn by opponents on Xbox 360, and not PS3.
The publisher has released a series of alternate costume packs for the game since its release last April. Xbox 360 owners are able to download free DLC packs, called Ultra Costume Catalogues, enabling them to see an opponent’s costume without paying for it themselves.
It’s been a year of numbers. Eighty-three million – FarmVille’s peak number of average monthly players, recorded in March. $104.5 million – the amount of investment that went into making APB, which ran for less than three months before it closed. Twelve – the position Metroid: Other M charted in its first week on sale in the UK. Five – the number of years between Gran Turismo 5’s first airing and its release.
Trade association partners with UK T&I to offer £1400 in exhibitor funding for GDC or Game Connection.
UK game industry trade association TIGA is offering funding grants to firms who wish to attend the 2011 Game Developers Conference (GDC).
Study by UK consumer group finds copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops loses up to 63 per cent of its value in three days.
A new videogame can lose more value in three days than a new car does in three years, according to a report by UK consumer group Which?.
Just like its predecessor, LBP2 leans heavily on its title sequence to make its big statement. But although the original had the weight of enthusing a generation to the idea of material creativity on console, the message this time around is more complex, and perhaps even more urgent. Media Molecule needs to convince players that, despite the familiarity of Sackboy, the return of narrator Stephen Fry and some kooky ’70s tunes, LBP2 is much more than DLC packaged on a Blu-ray disc and sold at full price.
Retailer shutting down 9 per cent of stores after Christmas sales slump 10 per cent.
Entertainment retailer HMV has announced it is to close 60 stores in 2011.
The move follows disappointing sales during the Christmas period, with sales for the five weeks to January 1 down 10 per cent on the previous year, with in-store sales falling by 13 per cent. In the UK and Ireland, like for like sales were down 14 per cent.