Inafune: The Western audience is turning its back on us

April 13th, 2012, 00:10 Posted By: wraggster

Outspoken developer continues his crusade to save the Japanese games industry
[h=3]Comcept[/h]

Comcept's Keiji Inafune has sent out yet another distress call on behalf of the Japanese games industry, begging it to wake up, recognise its problems and to begin working with Western developers.
You should tell the truth about Japanese games not being what they used to be," he told Wired.
"Unless they get that criticism, Japanese game creators are just sitting on the glories of the past. They won't get the message that the Western audience is turning its back on us."
The interview follows Inafune's inflammatory talk at this year's GDC, where he made much the same plea for change. As he spoke to Wired he praised Korean and American titles, and pointed out that Japan won't acknowledge that serious competition.
"Right now, Japan believes that other Asian games, and American games, aren't as good as theirs. But across the world, American games are the best-selling and considered the most fun. But Japan's gamers and game creators still won't accept this. This is why Japan can't win."
He praised GREE and DeNA's drive and success, but also suggested they were the exception rather than the rule. And even though he's currently working on a 3DS title, Kaio: King Of Pirates, Infanue still didn't let Nintendo get away unscathed.
"It's always been the big player that's provided great creatives to the world. But lately I feel what they're doing is not very contemporary. They're behind the times a little."
He said the answer was Japan finally accepting it had fallen behind in the race, "when they're embarrassed and they feel obliged to change, it would make a difference," and working with other Western developers.
"It's impossible for Japan to win with just Japanese power. Everybody in Japan should work with foreign developers," he argued.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...its-back-on-us

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GAME crisis drives market depression

April 12th, 2012, 23:57 Posted By: wraggster

The collapse of GAME took a heavy toll on the UK games retail market last month.
2.7m games were sold during March, a whopping 34 per cent drop on the 4.1m games sold during the same period in 2011.
In total, retail generated £67.7m last month, a year-on-year drop of 33.5 per cent.
For the entire first quarter, physical game sales in the UK were 30 per cent down compared with Q1 2011.
The crisis that engulfed GAME would have had a big impact on the figures. The market leading retailer fell into administration last month and was unable to source new stock for almost eight weeks.
EA’s titles were amongst those missing from GAME shelves, but the firm still dominated the March charts, with Mass Effect 3 the biggest seller, well ahead of FIFA Street at No.2, SSX at No.3 and FIFA 12 at No.4.
The publisher’s line-up accounted for almost one third of all the games sold in the UK at retail last month.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/game-...ression/094284

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NCsoft gives headstart to gamers who pre-purchase Guild Wars 2

April 12th, 2012, 22:17 Posted By: wraggster

NCsoft has announced that fans who pre-purchase any edition of Guild Wars 2 will get a three-day headstart on the game prior to launch.
The MMO will be available in three different editions:
*Standard edition, which comes with DVD case, Guild Wars 2 serial code, guaranteed access to beta events, three-day headstart access to the game at launch, and an exclusive 'hero's band' in-game item.
*Digital deluxe edition, which includes the digital features of the standard version, plus five in-game items such as a Mistfire Wolf and miniature Rytlock.
*The Collector's Edition, which includes all of the contents from the packs above, plus 25-centimetre hand-painted Rytlock Brimstone statue, 112-page Making of Guild Wars 2 book, soundtrack CD, custom art frame and art prints.
The Collector's Edition retailers at £129.99, the digital deluxe edition at £64.99 and the standard edition at £49.99 SRP.
NCsoft's Sarah Rogers, director, sales and marketing, EU, said: "We're thrilled at being able to give players the opportunity to pre-purchase Guild Wars 2 today. In addition to the bonus content, every gamer who pre-purchases will have guaranteed access to future beta events. NCsoft remains focused on providing consumers with the best possible online games and services. This pre-purchase programme guarantees some of our most ardent and loyal fans the opportunity to enjoy an experience of the most anticipated game of the year before the game's release."
Players can find out more at www.guildwars2.com.
For those unfamiliar with the game, it's an MMO set in an epic fantasy world that builds on the success of previous title Guild Wars, with no monthly subscription fee. Players can engage in PvP or even choose to focus on playing on their own if they prefer. The release date is as yet unconfirmed, but expected to be in early summer 2012.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...-wars-2/028189

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Japan chart: Vita sales slump to new sub-10k low

April 12th, 2012, 02:31 Posted By: wraggster

Weekly Vita sales have plummeted to an all-time low in Japan, with Sony's new handheld dropping below 10,000 for the first time since launch.The system managed to shift just 8931 units in the country last week, down from 12,105.How much lower can it go? The next software launch of any consequence is a remake of PlayStation 2 favourite Persona 4 due on 14th June. That should offer a bit of a spike, but it's hardly Mario Kart.Elsewhere on the hardware chart, 3DS dominated as usual. Nintendo's system sold 72,115, down from 121,921 the week prior.The only console to see a sales increase was the Xbox 360, which shot up nearly 300 per cent to 3764 off the back of Kinect Star Wars. Stop laughing at the back.Here's the full chart, as seen on Andriasang:

1. 3DS: 72,115 (Last week: 121,921)
2. PlayStation 3: 19,370 (23,771)
3. PSP: 14,804 (18,356)
4. Vita: 8931 (12,105)
5. Wii: 7099 (9292)
6. Xbox 360: 3,764 (1317)
7. PlayStation 2: 1355 (1374)
8. DSi XL: 793 (941)
9. DSi: 743 (771)

It was a relatively quiet week for new software releases, with new PSP effort 2nd Super Robot Wars Z: Saisei-hen debuting at number one with 265,439 sales.Last week's chart topper, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance fell to two with a massive 80 per cent sales drop-off.The only other new entry worthy of note was the aforementioned Kinect Star Wars at 12, which managed to sell 6010 in its first week.The full top 20 lined up as follows:

1. 2nd Super Robot Wars Z Saisei Volume (Namco Bandai, PSP): 265,439 - NEW
2. Kingdom Hearts 3D (Square Enix, 3DS): 42,231 (Life to date: 255,810)
3. Pro Baseball Spirits 2012 (Konami, PSP): 26,908 (87,049)
4. Pro Baseball Spirits 2012 (Konami, PS3): 26,886 (117,319)
5. Kid Icarus: Uprising (Nintendo, 3DS): 25,710 (205,415)
6. Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo, 3DS): 21,996 (1,486,692)
7. Pokemon Conquest (The Pokemon Company, DS): 17,989 (285,597)
8. Monster Hunter 3G (Capcom, 3DS): 16,770 (1,375,179)
9. Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo, 3DS): 16,024 (1,637,655)
10. Mario & Sonic at the London Olympics (Nintendo, 3DS): 10,364 (122,967)
11. Yakuza: Black Panther 2 (Sega, PSP): 10,356 (141,948)
12. Kinect Star Wars (Microsoft, Xbox 360): 6010 - NEW
13. Devil May Cry HD Collection (Capcom, PS3): 5887 (61,604)
14. Harvest Moon: Land of Origin (Marvelous AQL, 3DS): 5844 (160,607)
15. Mahjong Dream Club (D3 Publisher, PS3): 5701 - NEW
16. Wii Sports Resort Wiimote Plus Pack (Nintendo, Wii): 4810 (910,448)
17. Hatsune Miku and Future Stars: Project Mirai (Sega, 3DS): 4679 (129,297)
18. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo, Wii): 4622 (3,543,434)
19. Monster Hunter Portable 3rd PSP the Best (Capcom, PSP): 4387 (232,809)
20. Nintendogs + Cats (Nintendo, 3DS): 4299 (533,026)

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GameStop settles Californian class action lawsuit over used games

April 12th, 2012, 01:17 Posted By: wraggster

GameStop has settled a class action lawsuit over its used game sales and paid downloadable content. California resident James Collins accused the retailer of "deceptive and misleading practices" over selling used games and not fully disclosing that some games have content that must be paid for despite being indicated as being free on the packaging.
GameStop will post online warnings and in-store signs in California for the next two years, reminding consumers that certain DLC might require an additional purchase. Also, those who bought a qualified used game and paid for DLC in California after will receive a $10 check and a $5 coupon if they are enrolled in GameStop's PowerUp Rewards program, while non-PowerUp Rewards members can receive a $5 check and a $10 coupon.
Baron & Budd, the law firm who handled the class action lawsuit, is looking to expand the case into other states of the U.S. Consumers from outside of California are invited to contact the firm if they have experienced similar issues with used games at GameStop.


http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ver-used-games

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Nielsen poll ranks most anticipated games of 2012

April 11th, 2012, 00:00 Posted By: wraggster

Assassin's Creed 3 and Halo 4 are the most keenly anticipated games of 2012 according to a new Nielsen poll.The respected US statistics outfit has published platform specific lists for PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 by polling "eight key consumer metrics, including Awareness and Purchase Interest" and then combining them into one overall score.Halo 4 topped the Xbox 360 chart, Assassin's Creed 3 won out on PlayStation 3 and Madden NFL 13 took the Wii crown.Max Payne 3 also put in a strong showing, listed in third place on Xbox and second on PS3. Surprisingly, the buzz for BioShock Infinite appears to be a little muted - it came in at 10th on 360, behind Fable: The Journey and Kinect Star Wars, and 11th on PS3.There's not a single platform exclusive on the PS3 run-down, and the only new IPs listed were on Wii - The Last Story and Xenoblade Chronicles, both of which are still unreleased in the US.The Wii list generally made for a depressing read, with licensed titles like Battleship, The Amazing Spider-Man and Men in Black making it into the platform's top 10. Roll on Wii U.Here are the three charts in full:Xbox 360:

1. Halo 4
2. Assassin's Creed 3
3. Max Payne 3
4. Madden NFL 13
5. Resident Evil 6
6. Ghost Recon: Future Soldie
7. Fable: The Journey
8. Kinect: Star Wars
9. NCAA Football 13
10. Bioshock: Infinite
11. Tomb Raider

PlayStation 3:

1. Assassin's Creed 3
2. Max Payne 3
3. Madden NFL 13
4. Resident Evil 6
5. Medal of Honor: Warfighter
6. NCAA Football 13
7. Prototype 2
8. Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
9. Bioshock: Infinite
10. Tomb Raider
11. NBA Live 13

Wii:

1. Madden NFL 13
2. Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
3. Battleship
4. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
5. The Amazing Spider-Man
6. Men In Black
7. The Last Story
8. Xenoblade Chronicles

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GameStop to warn California consumers of online fees for used games

April 10th, 2012, 23:57 Posted By: wraggster

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UK CHARTS: No.1, Kinect Star Wars is

April 10th, 2012, 23:31 Posted By: wraggster

The Force is remarkably strong with Microsoft this week as its new Xbox 360 title Kinect Star Wars debuts at No.1 in the UKIE GfK Chart-Track All Formats Top 40.
In this case you should trust your eyes – Kinect is now fully operational. Despite not being the game that critics were looking for, it’s the first Kinect game to claim the top spot in the UK listings.
And Obi-Wan must have taught it well as it’s also the first Star Wars game to top the listings since The Force Unleashed back in 2008.
Proving its no longer the pupil and is now very much the master, it also succeeds in kicking EA’s FIFA Street off the top after a three week stint.
EA largely remains in control of the wretched hive of scum and villainy that it the Top Five, however, claiming places two to five with FIFA Street, Mass Effect 3, FIFA 12 and Tiger Woods 13.
Lower down the charts with a significantly lower Midichlorian count is Capcom’s Devil May Cry HD Collection, which debuts in 18^th.
There’s another Kinect game entering the listings this week, with many Bothans dying to ensure Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure made it into the Top 40. It debuts at No.32.
Here’s the UK Top 20 for the week ending April 7^th:
1. Kinect Star Wars (Microsoft)
2. FIFA Street (EA)
3. Mass Effect 3 (EA)
4. FIFA 12 (EA)
5. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 (EA)
6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Activision)
7. SSX (EA)
8. Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Sega)
9. Battlefield 3 (EA)
10. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda)
11. Saints Row: The Third (THQ)
12. Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure (Activision)
13. Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo (Mind Candy)
14. Mario Party 9 (Nintendo)
15. Batman: Arkham City (Square Enix)
16. Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (Ubisoft)
17. Just Dance 3 (Ubisoft)
18. Devil May Cry HD Collection (Capcom)
19. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 (Warner)
20. Street Fighter X Tekken (Capcom)

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/uk-ch...wars-is/094150

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Gay rights campaign backs EA after 'mail attack'

April 10th, 2012, 22:41 Posted By: wraggster

Stephen Fry and Charlie Brooker publicise lobbying website

A campaign backing Electronic Arts’ decision to publish games featuring gay romance has recorded 65,000 signatures in a matter of days.
Celebrities Stephen Fry and Charlie Brooker have both publicised the campaign, which at current rates will reach its 75,000 signatory goal before Wednesday.

It has been noticed that a number of the signatories are automated bots that have artificially exaggerated the campaign’s true number of supporters.
Electronic Arts last week claimed it has received “thousands” of messages, both printed and email, demanding the company erase gay scenes within its blockbuster games.
The publisher has since been backed by a surge of industry professionals since it broke its silence on the attack.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...er-mail-attack

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Video Games 'good for you' claims parenting expert

April 10th, 2012, 22:36 Posted By: wraggster

Modern Parent's Guide author offers free downloadable guide for video games

Scott Steinberg, the bestselling author of theModern Parent's Guide series, has released a free eight page tipsheet detailing some of the positive effects games can have on kids and adults alike.
In The Modern Parents Guide to Kids and Video Games, Steinberg lays out his guidlines for parents in the digital age, from online safety to choosing how much and what a child will play.

The book is now available for free download.
The new tipsheet outlines research showing how games can be 'good for you'.
"With 91% of kids now gamers according to the NPD Group , and more children aged 2-5 able to play computer games and smartphone apps than ride a bike or tie their shoelaces, concern is understandable," writes Steinberg.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...renting-expert

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E3 2012 is 2 months away. What do you want to see revealed?

April 9th, 2012, 00:09 Posted By: wraggster

This year's E3 expo, set to take place in Los Angeles between June 5 and 7, is less than two months away.
<figure style="margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px currentColor; width: 300px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); text-transform: none; line-height: 21px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; clear: both; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; word-spacing: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: right; display: block; white-space: normal; position: relative; orphans: 2; widows: 2; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class="article-image article-image-alt article-image-300"></figure>2012's event promises to include a seriously strong line-up of games, plus of course the lure of new hardware - definitely from Nintendo, but perhaps not from Sony and Microsoft.But there's no reason for us to deal in facts, is there? With the long Bank Holiday weekend stretched in front of our lucky UK readers, we thought it'd be the perfect time to open up the floor and hear your E3 reveal wish lists.
Half-Life 3? GTA V? Or just fresh word on The Last Story? Lay out your dream Los Angeles gaming surprises in the comments below - and let the countdown begin...
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...-see-revealed/

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Next Kindle Expected To Have a Front-Lit Display

April 8th, 2012, 23:32 Posted By: wraggster

Amazon doesn't show off prototypes unless it is pretty confident about the tech, so you may be surprised to find the next Kindle isprobably going to have a front-lit display. The lighting tech comes from a company they purchased back in 2010 called Oy Modilis. It specialized in such lighting and has patents related to whatever Amazon decided to use. The display is meant to be lit in a blue-white glow, and if it's anything like Flex lighting probably won't impact battery life too much. The question is, does anyone really want or need a light for their Kindle?

http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/1...nt-lit-display

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U.S. Government Hires Company To Hack Into Video Game Consoles

April 8th, 2012, 23:27 Posted By: wraggster

The U.S. Navy is paying a company six figures to hack into used video game consoles and extract sensitive information. The tasks to be completed are for both offline and online data. The organization says it will only use the technology on consoles belonging to nations overseas, because the law doesn't allow it to be used on any 'U.S. persons.'"
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/12/04...-game-consoles

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The disappearance of skill in games

April 6th, 2012, 22:59 Posted By: wraggster

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Rumour Control

April 6th, 2012, 22:23 Posted By: wraggster

Another week, more speculative reports on next-gen consoles. Is there a seed of truth in any of this? Rob Fahey has a few theories of his own.
Although there now seems to be a grudging acceptance that we're not going to see very much - if anything at all - of the next generation of console hardware at E3 in two months' time, that hasn't done much to clog up the gears of the frantically whirring rumour mill. Every couple of weeks brings a new dump of information from purportedly excellent sources, often conflicting, regularly controversial, rarely entirely believable.
If anything, you could view these various collections of guesswork and speculation as an interesting window into the issues that are really concerning the industry right now. Much as literary critics point out that science fiction is a useful way of discussing present-day issues at arm's length, rather than really being fiction about the future, rumours about the Xbox and PlayStation successors are largely a reflection of today's news agenda rather than tomorrow's consoles.
The next Xbox will lack a disc drive? That's a story tapping into consumer (and retailer) fears of an entirely digital future. It'll have always-on DRM? Another hot topic, and one guaranteed to set the more reactionary corners of the Internet ablaze. Both Sony and Microsoft are planning anti-resale systems that'll clamp down on second hand sales? There's another recurring story for you - barely a week goes by in which second hand sales aren't in the news in one form or another.
Rumours about the Xbox and PlayStation successors are largely a reflection of today's news agenda rather than tomorrow's consoles

This isn't to say that their newsworthy nature necessarily means that these stories are made up. After all, these issues are pressing for publishers and platform holders, too, but they fit a bit too neatly into the existing news agenda to be entirely credible. Furthermore, this doesn't mean that the news sites that report them are lying. They may, indeed, have heard such things from reputable sources, but game developers aren't all privy to insider information, are just as prone to gossip and speculation as everyone else, and tend to read the same news sites as everyone else. A rumour that starts off on a blog, gets reposted to a developer forum and embellished a few times ("I know a bloke who was talking to a bloke who's signed a Microsoft NDA, and...") and as soon as you know it, a major, reputable news site is reporting it as coming from an excellent source.
Under those circumstances, what's to be believed? Well, nothing, frankly. There's not a single word of any of the Xbox / PlayStation next-gen rumours that is actually believable, in a 'yes this is definitely what's happening' sort of way. The whole situation is complicated even further by the fact that Microsoft and Sony have both reportedly been approaching publishing and development partners with a variety of different next-gen ideas, sounding them out for responses on a number of different technologies and strategies. That makes sense - it's a standard consultation procedure for products whose success will rely so heavily on third-party support - but it does mean that features and concepts are being touted around which may not actually make it anywhere near the final console hardware.
If I were to guess, I'd say that the "driveless Xbox" rumour probably stems from that - Microsoft touting an idea around its partners and seeing what they think (then almost certainly scrapping it after universally negative feedback from key developers). I'd imagine that other ideas - always-on DRM, anti-resale systems - have also emerged in discussion with publishers, but remain, at least 18 months before either of these consoles actually launches, very much up in the air, and probably unlikely to see the light of day.
A sanity check always helps when you consider these rumours. Rather than thinking, 'my god, Microsoft is doing X, what does it mean?', it would be useful if journalists and commentators would think instead 'so it's claimed that Microsoft is doing X - what's the logic behind that? What are the costs and benefits? How likely is it in the real world?' Although I suspect that option A, as well as being easier, is also better for page impressions.
Take always-on DRM, for example, a system that would essentially mean that every Xbox in the world has to be connected to the Internet at all times. The immediate problem with that idea is glaringly obvious - broadband connections are still, in many cases, a bit rubbish, especially in Microsoft's home territory of the United States. In many areas it's slow or heavily congested. For other users it's capped at very low traffic levels. For some it's just expensive, and for a lot, it's provided through modems that only link into one computer, without the wi-fi or cabling required to distribute it throughout a household. In a great many places, broadband is unreliable, suffering from frequent outages.
Now of course, for the majority of users broadband is absolutely fine - fast, reliable, sensibly capped (actually, that one might not be true for a majority right now) and distributed throughout the household. However, a console can't just be designed for a majority of users. Microsoft will be working with stats that show them what percentage of users would be impacted by various types of always-on DRM (which could range from an authentication stage, which would almost certainly be broken by pirates at some point, to a policy of storing chunks of game logic code on servers, which would be almost unbreakable but also hugely expensive and difficult to execute over weaker broadband connections). Will it discuss those ideas with publishing partners? Sure. Will it, ultimately, make a decision that potentially prevents a significant number (and remember than even 1 per cent of Xbox owners represents over half a million consumers) of people from using their consoles and playing the games they've bought? No, it won't. Unless it's insane. Which it isn't.
Rather than thinking, 'my god, Microsoft is doing X, what does it mean?', it would be useful if journalists would think instead 'so it's claimed that Microsoft is doing X - what's the logic behind that?'

In other words - they're probably talking about it, they're probably researching it, but that doesn't mean they'll do it. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Of all the rumour-mongering that has been done in the past couple of weeks, in fact, there's only one which I think deserves serious consideration as a contender for genuine accuracy - and that's the talk of Sony abandoning the Cell processor architecture and moving to a solution built by AMD. This has a ring of truth, for me, not least because it's exactly what you'd expect Sony to do in its present circumstances and with its present management. PlayStation Vita represented Sony's first console design since the departure of Ken Kutaragi, whose engineering-led approach created the technically fascinating but developer-unfriendly architectures of the PS2 and PS3. Vita largely employs off-the-shelf components that help to drive down costs and make things accessible for developers, and PS4 will be absolutely no different.
Still, dumping Cell will be a symbolic (and costly) move for Sony. It was a bold and fascinating architecture, one that remains potentially powerful and useful today - if Sony wanted to, it could certainly build a PS4 around a Cell chip running at a higher clock speed and with more SPUs on board, and it would be extremely competitive with anything any rival could put on the market. But Sony doesn't want to. It wants to build a console that developers can use easily and whose components are cheap, enjoying powerful economies of scale and the support of a world-class manufacturer. It won't have escaped the notice of Sony's top executives that, compared to Nintendo, Microsoft and Apple - world-class rivals that release hugely successful hardware without ever actually building any chips of their own - the whole Cell experiment, exciting and visionary as it was on a technical level, reeks of hubris from a business perspective.
So there - a rumour that actually makes sense. But then again, that's a rumour you could probably have guessed accurately even before you heard it. The news cycle churns. The blogs recycle and reiterate each other's rumours until everyone's tricked into thinking they're fact. Two months to E3; it only gets louder from here on in.


http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...rumour-control

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SteelBook sales up 500%

April 6th, 2012, 21:18 Posted By: wraggster

The boxed games retail market may be down year-on-year but SteelBook SKUs are booming.
The game packaging is increasingly used for special editions, and manufacturer Scanavo says it has seen sales increase 500 per cent in the past year.
It claims more and more triple-A titles use SteelBook today than ever before, including games like Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed, FIFA and Super Mario.
Scanavo also offers a marketing suite to support SteelBook releases including pack shots, 3D movies, posters and art cards. The firm says the brand has built up its own fanbase.
“A lot of SteelBook-specific fan sites have been created and we are of course very proud to see that,” added Scanavo sales manager Alice Lykke Büllow.
“There are online marketplaces where consumers can sell and trade their SteelBook releases.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/steel...-up-500/093992

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A closer look at gaming's top brands

April 6th, 2012, 21:17 Posted By: wraggster

Earlier this week, we revealed the Top Five biggest games brands of all time using Chart-Track’s CUBE?data warehouse solution.
This week we reveal the full Top Ten, taking into account all games sold from 1996 to the present day. Only three brands within the all-time Top Ten are from outside the games industry
Sonic The Hedgehog is No.6 in units (No.8 in revenue) and first appeared on the Master System in October 1991. As with Mario, many Sonic titles were released before actual sales are counted for this analysis, but the fact that the brand still sits so high in the ranking shows the endearing popularity of Sega’s most cherished mascot.
The top seller in terms of units from within the Sonic franchise is 2004’s Sonic Heroes, the first multi-platform Sonic title. However, the best-selling game that features the iconic hedgehog is the original Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, which arrived on Wii in 2007.
Star Wars is No.7 in units and No.6 in value. It has the highest title count of any brand within the Top 30. Star Wars has been a video game proposition since around 1983.
The first LucasArts-published Star Wars game was X-Wing back in 1993. One of the first to count in this analysis was Rebel Assault 2 from late 1995. Star Wars: Battlefront II from late 2005 is the third biggest box shifter for this brand – only beaten by LEGO?Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and LEGO?Star Wars: The Complete Saga.
Need For Speed is No.8 by units and No.7 by revenue. The EA title debuted first on 3DO back in 1994. There have been 19 NFS games released at retail, with 2006’s NFS?Carbon established as the top seller.

LEGO?is No.9 in units and No.12 in revenue. The 47-strong video game franchise started back in 1997 with Mindscape’s LEGO?Island on PC. However, it was 2005’s LEGO?Star Wars that propelled LEGO?into the big leagues.
LEGO’s current all-time No.1 in sales is LEGO?Batman, followed by LEGO?Indiana Jones and three LEGO Star Wars titles, all of which have sold over 1m units in the UK and generated between £25 to £30m.
Pokémon rounds off the Top Ten in units, and is No.11 in revenue. This brand began life on Game Boy in 1999 with Pokémon Red and Blue. These two are still No.2 and 3 in the all-time Pokémon unit/revenue generators and pretty much single-handedly doubled the annual sales of Game Boy Colour hardware from 1999 to 2000.
But it was with the release of Pokémon Yellow that the brand really caught fire. This SKU is the biggest in the series, grossing £20m.
61 Pokémon titles have been released in the UK. The Top Ten account for over half of all Pokémon units: six are on Game?Boy Colour, two on Game Boy Advance and two on DS.
PERIPHERAL VISIONS
For accessory manufacturers, Chart-Track’s CUBE analysis tool allows for a super-grouping of all accessories, split here into six main product groups.
Traditional gaming accessories are covered under just four groupings: Control, Power, Connection/Communication and Customisation. Digital Content and Toys are shown separately.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/analy...-brands/093994

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"We are not ready for a digital-only future"

April 6th, 2012, 01:18 Posted By: wraggster

The loss of 277 GAME stores is not a reason to abandon the High Street.
Retailers admit they must accelerate plans for the social, download and mobile sectors.
But publishers should not use the collapse of GAME – this week saved by Comet-owner OpCapita – as a reason to leave behind physical and go ‘fully digital’.
“[The GAME situation] sends a powerful signal to publishers that for the High Street to remain a major part of their distribution they have to back retail,” HMV’s head of games and technology Ewan Pinder told MCV.
“It’s dangerous to think this could be some kind of ‘year zero’ moment. Clearly online and social games are growing, but I believe there can also be viable demand for physical product for some time – if it’s nurtured.”
ERA director general Kim Bayley added: “What’s concerning has been the apparent indifference of suppliers to GAME’s plight.
“When entertainment stores close around half of the sales evaporate. It’d be foolish to underestimate the importance of impulse and gift-buying – areas digital has failed to crack. Suppliers may yet rue their approach to GAME, and certainly it has not sent out a positive message to those retailers still operating in the market.”
UK trade leaders agree that retail must be cared for:?“The specialist sector has always driven wider market interest,” said WBIE sales boss Spencer Crossley.
UKIE?CEO?Jo Twist added:?“We believe there is still a role for retail in this fast-moving market.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/we-ar...-future/093977

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The countdown to E3 begins

April 6th, 2012, 00:54 Posted By: wraggster

Industry prepares for landscape changing event; Register now

There are just two months to go until E3.
The global games showcase takes place June 5^thto 7^th in Los Angeles. E3 is where entertainment intersects with technology and the future of the computer and video game industry is revealed.

As the world's most important event for the video game industry, E3 2012 gives you a first-hand look at the most popular, cutting-edge technologies and never-before-seen games. Connect to thousands of industry professionals, and discover the latest trends, buzz and best practices of the global interactive entertainment industry.
Click here to check out the companies that will transform the industry at E3 2012.
And don’t forget to secure your spot at this most influential event that can change the way you do business.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...n-to-E3-begins

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Strauss Zelnick: 'THQ won't be around in six months'

April 6th, 2012, 00:52 Posted By: wraggster

Take-Two CEO blames licensing strategy for THQ's woes

"THQ won't be around in six months," Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick told the MIT business in gaming conference today.
THQ has had a rough year by any estimate, with several weak launches, hundreds of layoffs, and NASDAQ threatening to delist the company if shares do not climb.

But according to Joystiq, the real problem was the company's strategy, which Zelnick feels relied too heavily on licensed games.
"THQ’s strategy was licensed properties, first and foremost," he said.
"License stuff from other people, whether it's UFC or WWE or a motion picture property, and make a game around that."

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...-in-six-months

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