2011 Review: January - April

December 28th, 2011, 23:31 Posted By: wraggster

Handheld announcements, the launch of 3DS and the first of many hack attacks made for an eventful start to the year.

The early months of 2011 gave the world its first glimpse at what would become the PlayStation Vita, its first chance to take 3DS home, the launch of a new Apple tablet and even the end to those long-running rumours of a PlayStation Phone.

Elsewhere, Activision called an end to the struggling Guitar Hero franchise and GAME called out to consumers everywhere with the announcement of GAMEfest.

JANUARY

NOTABLE RELEASE
Dead Space 2 – The sequel managed to top the charts on release, and was just another notch in a long year of success for EA.

IN THE NEWS

VAT rises from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent
HMV plans to close 60 stores before Christmas
Sony seeks legal action against PS3 hacker George ‘geohot’ Hotz
Football Manager boss Miles Jacobson awarded OBE
3DS given March 25th date for the UK, retailers price it at up to £230
Sony announces PSP successor, tipped for Christmas release
Activision closes Bizarre Creations
Sky Sports presenter Andy Gray is sacked after making off-camera remarks about female referees


FEBRUARY

NOTABLE RELEASE
Killzone 3 – The acclaimed sequel was the second of Sony’s two No.1s this year – following LittleBigPlanet 2 the previous month. It was part of a breakthrough period for PS3.

IN THE NEWS

Livingstone-Hope Review calls for academic change
Sony announces the long-rumoured PlayStation Phone, Xperia Play
Blockbuster US and its international assets are put up for auction
The Dead Island teaser trailer takes the internet by storm
Guitar Hero franchise is canned, later said to be ‘on hiatus’
3DS debuts in Japan, sells 400,000 in first two days
Reports suggest Russian billionaire Alexander Mamut will buy HMV? Group – keeping Waterstone’s and selling HMV’s stores and live division
The ban on product placement in British TV shows is lifted


MARCH

NOTABLE RELEASE
Homefront – Controversial, hyped and the target of a critical drubbing but nevertheless this new IP was still a huge statement of intent for THQ.

IN THE NEWS

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata claims industry is ‘drowning’ in a sea of apps
Apple unveils and releases iPad 2
Nintendo 3DS launches in UK and US
Xperia Play, aka the PlayStation Phone, is released
GAME announces GAMEfest
Angry Birds tops 100m downloads
Popular games blog UKResistance closes down
A tsunami devastates the East coast of Japan


APRIL

NOTABLE RELEASE
Portal 2 – The critically acclaimed sequel to Valve’s highly innovative first-person puzzler once again won over consumers and critics alike.

IN THE NEWS

PSN is shut down as Sony suffers from the first of many hack attacks
Michael Rawlinson steps down as UKIE’s director general
UK PlayStation boss Ray Maguire departs after 17 years
Tabloids report 3DS causes dizziness
Sony discontinues the download-only PSPgo
Nintendo confirms its new home console will be unveiled at E3
Microsoft, Ubisoft and EA win big at the MCV Awards
Prince William marries Kate Middleton

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/2011-...y-april/088914

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