Nintendo president Satoru Iwata believes that a lack of quality games – and not the bad economy – is primarily to blame for slow software sales.
Multimedia firm RealNetworks has announced “a significant reorganisation of its business and operational structure” resulting in 85 layoffs, including about 25 per cent of its executive ranks.
The firm said in a statement it has consolidated its Technology Products and Solutions and Media Software and Services business units and reduced its office space in Europe, Asia and its Seattle headquarters.
As a result of the restructuring the company expects to record charges of around $10 million for the quarter ending June 30, 2010.
Square Enix president Yoichi Wada has described 3D and motion controls as “minimal additions” to existing console technology.
The executive told GamesIndustry.biz that he thought home stereoscopic 3D was "not bad, but only so-so", and that Kinect is "just a small extension to what is already available".
Here is the Secondary MarioKart Leaderboard in all it’s glory! Can you beat these times?
Check out the link below for details on how to get involved
http://ltsblogs.org.uk/consolarium/2010/04/26/mario-kart-leaderboards/
Here is the Primary MarioKart Leaderboard in all it’s glory! Can you beat these times?
Check out the link below for details on how to get involved
http://ltsblogs.org.uk/consolarium/2010/04/26/mario-kart-leaderboards/
China’s Ministry of Culture has outlined a number of strict online gaming regulations set to come into effect on August 1.
The clampdown will forbid "unwholesome" content from appearing in online games targeting at those under the age of 18, including content that advocates pornography, cults, superstitions, gambling and violence, according to Xinhua News.
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has claimed that the company is unconcerned by increased sales momentum for rival consoles as Wii adoption experiences a slowdown.
Nintendo sold 20.53 million Wiis in the financial year ended March 31, 2010, and expects sales of the console to fall to 18 million units during the current year. Nevertheless, Fils-Aime thinks the system will continue to widen the sales advantage it currently holds over PS3 and Xbox 360.
Microsoft knows many consumers are of the opinion that the platform holder hasn’t delivered in the PC games market.
Games For Windows Live has been a failure and the company has opted to cancel PC versions of titles such as Alan Wake, suggesting that the Xbox platform is its priority.
Three million iPads have been sold in 80 days, Apple has announced.
The tablet device launched in the US on April 3 and internationally on May 28.
Apple said that developers have created over 11,000 new apps for iPad, which is also capable of running “almost all” of the 225,000 apps on the App Store.
“People are loving iPad as it becomes a part of their daily lives,” said Apple CEO Steve Jobs. “We’re working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more people around the world.”
Microsoft has explained the lack of core-focused Kinect titles by spelling out that the upcoming motion sensing device is targeted at a broader audience.
The platform holder told Kotaku that this is a great year for core games on Xbox 360, but said that they will be controller-based.
Microsoft has detailed a new Xbox Live family subscription option that will offer four XBL Gold memberships for $99.99.
Available this November to coincide with the launch of family friendly Kinect, the family pack will include:
• Up to four individual Xbox LIVE Gold memberships for the price of two – (US) $99.99.
• Family Center – a single, easy to use, destination for Family Settings and account management, accessible on the Xbox dashboard and on Xbox.com.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has said that development costs for high-end 3DS titles may approach Wii levels.
That’s down to the increased graphical capabilities the portable has over its predecessors, and not due to the new 3D visual effects it’s capable of producing.
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Everything goes black when you boot Joe Danger for the first time. That was how the game launched, on our retail PS3 and across the US. The screen went black, and stayed black.
It was apt. Apt that it was midnight when we saw it for the first time. Apt that the four of us were in the office, once more surrounded by breakfast bowls and takeaway cartons. And it was particularly apt that the game looked properly fucked.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has admitted that company isn’t satisfied with its efforts in the online space.
“Of course, I have heard commentary that people feel that Nintendo’s online functionality is behind the others or is lacking in some ways. And I can say that we are not currently satisfied with the online efforts that we have made so far, and we are working at ways to improve those,” he said during an E3 analyst Q&A session.
Activision has said that its market dominance has resulted in the company being targeted by “a very vocal minority”.
Despite the publisher coming in for what COO Thomas Tippl feels is some unjust criticism, the executive acknowledged that the company can do a better job from a PR and community perspective.
Game developer trade association TIGA and publisher body ELSPA have both expressed their disappointment over the government’s decision to abandon plans to introduce tax relief for the UK games industry.
“The Coalition Government has broken pre-election pledges made by the Conservative Party and by the Liberal Democrats to support and introduce Games Tax Relief,” said TIGA CEO Richard Wilson.
As part of its Emergency Budget, the UK coalition government has confirmed that it won’t introduce tax breaks for the domestic games industry.
Tax relief for the games sector had been proposed by the former Labour government earlier this year, with ex-Chancellor Alistair Darling suggesting the that industry would be offered subsidies similar to those enjoyed by the UK film sector.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has become the highest grossing game-to-movie adaptation of all time.
Worldwide box office revenues for the film currently stand at $293.9 million, topping the $274.7 million taken by previous record holder Lara Croft Tomb Raider, according to Box Office Mojo (via Big Download).
Social game maker Playdom has secured investment of $33 million in its latest funding round.
The company’s backers included Disney’s Steamboat Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners and New World Ventures, according to TechCrunch.
Microsoft is to launch the new slim Xbox 360 in Japan on June 24.
The console will retail for 29,800 yen ($328 / £223), the same price as the existing Elite model, which itself will be discounted by 17 per cent to 24,800 yen ($273 / £185).
Announced at E3, the console went on sale in the US last week and will hit Europe on July 16.
Nintendo’s 3DS will release by March 31, 2011 in all of the company’s key territories.
The platform holder hasn’t ruled out a staggered launch across different markets, but US president Reggie Fils-Aime has confirmed that the device will be available in Japan, the US and Europe by the end of the company’s fiscal year.
Microsoft's online store has begun taking pre-orders for Kinect and is listing the motion sensing camera at $149.99.
Each Kinect unit is rumoured to be costing Microsoft $150 to manufacture.
That’s according to Develop, which received the tip from a “highly-positioned, trusted" publishing source.
Microsoft told the site that it “does not comment on rumour or speculation”.
The folks behind game modifications website Mod DB – which reaches over 1.5million people monthly – have launched a new site called Indie DB.
The site will is 100 per cent dedicated to independent titles and offer readers the chance to interact with developers, according to its founders.
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick believes consumers are “clamouring” for an online, subscription-based Call Of Duty service.
"If you could snap your fingers, and instantly make one change in your company what would it be?" Kotick was asked by the Wall Street Journal.