Tag Archive for News

Sony working on cable rival

04/01/2013

PlayStation maker Sony is reportedly at work on a multi-channel TV service that will rival cable, sources have told Hollywood news site Variety. The Japanese technology giant is currently in “active negotiations” with at least two “major content companies” to license their programming for a service that would launch in the United States as early as later this year.


The unnamed sources described Sony’s ongoing discussions as “far beyond exploratory.” A Sony representative was not immediately available to comment.

Details are thin on Sony’s supposed TV service, though it is expected to be composed of linear channels similar to that of traditional TV providers. The main difference is that such programming would be delivered through a broadband connection, thus allowing access to subscribers across the country.

Such a TV service would work with Sony’s lineup of connected devices, which include the PlayStation 3, its rumored successor, Bravia TV sets, Blu-ray players, and first-party tablets. It is not known if Sony would need to build new hardware for the service to work or whether not not it would be compatible with third-party offerings. Channels are not expected to be available on an a la carte basis, the sources said.

Sony competitor Microsoft was, in November 2010, rumored to be in talks with various networks to create a “virtual cable operator” through the Xbox 360. This never came to fruition, though Microsoft has since teamed up with Comcast and others to offer streaming access through Xbox Live applications.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/sony-working-on-cable-rival-report-6402024

GameStop shares rebound

04/01/2013

Gamespot, you are dumb.  Sorry, but there’s no better term for it.  Gamestop’s share’s (GME) dropping 5% was NOT a reaction to the news about Sony.  A 5% drop is on-par with Gamestops record during the past several weeks.  In fact, it wasn’t even a 5% drop, it was a 4.8% drop.

 

Gamestop’s shares have been a roller-coaster almost every day for the past month (at least), in some cases more than 5% in both directions.  

 

For example, on December 20th Gamestop (GME) opened at $27.38 and closed at $26.13, a drop of 4.5%.  

 

On December 26th Gamestop (GME) opened at $25.68 and closed at $24.89, a drop of 3.1%.

 

In fact, for the whole month of December, Gamestop (GME) opened at $26.45 (December 3rd) and closed at $25.09 (December 31st), an overall drop of 5.2% (although the month was a roller-coaster of ups and downs). January they opened at $25.58 (Jan 2nd) and continues to show a downward trend.

 

In all, Gamespot is trying to make news up where there is no news.

 

 

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/gamestop-shares-rebound-6402026

Thieves steal 7,000 Wii U consoles

19/12/2012

In a warehouse heist this weekend near Washington’s SeaTac airport, thieves stole 7,000 Wii U consoles, estimated at a value of $2.1 million.


iImage credit: ABC News/i

Image credit: ABC News

“I’ve been a cop for 28 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Sgt. Cindy West told ABC News. “This has come straight out of the movies.”

According to West, the bandits drove two diesel trucks into Nintendo’s distribution bay at Seattle Air Cargo. Once inside, the thieves lifted the Wii U units with forklifts onto 53-foot semi trailers waiting outside. This took place during a storm.

Workers noticed the missing inventory, as well as the vanished trucks, Sunday. Police do not have any leads at this moment, and it is not clear how many were involved in the heist.

“If we don’t get any tips ahead of time, it will be the selling of these consoles that will lead to their capture,” West said. “It’s gonna be pretty hard to hide 7,000 Wii game consoles.”

ABC News reported the stolen consoles as original Wii systems, but Kotaku confirmed with the King County Sheriff’s Office that the units were in fact Wii U consoles. With an average price of $300, the thieves made off with about $2.1 million worth of hardware.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/thieves-steal-7000-wii-u-consoles-6401744

Nintendo TVii launches tomorrow in US

19/12/2012

Follow for the latest news, videos, tips from experts insiders

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/wii-u/news/6401749/nintendo-tvii-launches-tomorrow-in-us

Disney Infinity to be revealed next month

19/12/2012

Disney Interactive will unveil its “new gaming initiative” Disney Infinity next month at an event in Hollywood, California. The news comes by way of an invitation GameSpot received this week.


On hand for the game’s unveiling will be Disney Interactive co-president John Pleasants, as well as John Lasseter, chief creative officer at Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. Lasseter directed Toy Story and A Bug’s Life and is a key executive at Pixar. Both will give speeches at the event.

Few official details on Disney Infinity are available, but a report at Disney fansite Stitch Kingdom last month suggested the game will boast similar functionality to Activision’s Skylanders franchise. It will reportedly allow users to “beam” Disney/Pixar characters and worlds to the game through physical “game tokens.”

The game will supposedly utilize a “Disney Infinity reader” to achieve this. The technology is described as a “flat device upon which the game tokens are physically placed, connected to the device via USB or infrared in the case of the 3DS.” Disney Infinity, formerly “Toy Box,” is said to be in development for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Wii, and 3DS.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/disney-infinity-to-be-revealed-next-month-6401752

AU Shippin’ Out December 17-21: Wreck-It Ralph

18/12/2012

Follow for the latest news, videos, tips from experts insiders

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/wreck-it-ralph/news/6401501/au-shippin-out-december-17-21-wreck-it-ralph

EA dropped from NASDAQ-100

17/12/2012

“I hate you EA, serves you right” – that’s a narrow view of the problem. Its valid, but narrow.

 

I am sorry to hear these news. The more healthy “players” on the market, the more competition exists which in turn helps us the consumer base with higher quality games and – in an ideal scenario – cheaper games. With that said, EA has been struggling for a couple of years now, unless they really shake up that board of directors not much will get done. Everyone knows what will happen next, fire people to “rescue” the operational profit so it can be attractive to investors again.  I really think on all those good people losing their jobs in this economy, at least it is improving.

 

The curious bit for me is that Activision is still there, with the recent rise in indie games I thought both companies would drop from the list. I guess the Call of Duty sales and WoW subscriptions are still holding it together (great for them).

 

Indie games such as those successes from Kickstarter and Steam’s greenlight feels like the future for me (people’s choice over company dictatorship if you will). For years EA and Activision have been selling “accessible” games (mass-market), those aren’t that interesting to me any more, granted they still hold eye-candy however. Recent indie games like Primordia, FTL and Miasmata to name a few of many, are really bringing fun and interesting games back to the market at accessible prices and decent/original game design. If Kenshi, (an approved greenlight game) really delivers on its promises, I will certainly stop financing these larger companies in exchange for games that have a very rich creativity  and design which I can enjoy.

 

I do not intend to insult anyone’s favourite franchise, I like Assassin’s Creed series, but have to acknowledge that it is over staying its welcome because I was a bit disappointed by their last entry.

 

Freedom of choice in what I want to play, independence from publishers is the dream I seek.

 

It will fall to all of us, to decide where the industry is heading in the next couple of years as we buy our games.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/ea-dropped-from-nasdaq-100-6401646

Square Enix North America hit by layoffs

17/12/2012

Square Enix has reduced the workforce of its Los Angeles, California, office this week, laying off an undisclosed number of staff.


The publisher confirmed the news to Massively, with Senior Director of Public Relations Riley Brennan telling the site:

“In order to ensure it is operating effectively, the Square Enix Los Angeles office has reduced its workforce.”

“This was a difficult decision, and we wish the best for those affected by these changes. The decision will not have any impact on the operations of MMO titles.”

The layoffs will reportedly not impact the upcoming launch of MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

In August this year, Square Enix posted a $26 million quarterly loss. Its remaining slate of games for the current fiscal year includes high-profile new releases Tomb Raider and Hitman: Absolution.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/square-enix-north-america-hit-by-layoffs-6401634

Valve wants Dota 2 on tablets

10/12/2012

Valve wants to bring Dota 2 to tablets. Company boss Gabe Newell told Kotaku that a tablet version of the free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game is one of the “interesting projects” that the company is currently working on, though initial tests have left much to be desired.


“We were working on getting Dota 2 running on some tablets,” Newell said. “That ended up being kind of a disappointment. But the good news is that tablets are getting faster very quickly, so I think we’ll get the kind of performance we want and other game developers want in the near future.”

Dota 2 is scheduled for release on PC and Mac. The game combines action and real-time strategy elements in multiplayer matches that pit teams of player-controlled heroes against one another. The game will include integrated voice chat and computer-controlled characters that will take over for players who disconnect during play sessions, as well as a coaching system, where veteran players will have the chance to tutor newcomers.

For more on Dota 2, check out GameSpot’s previous coverage.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/valve-wants-dota-2-on-tablets-6401325

Halo series sales hit 50 million

06/12/2012

Microsoft has now sold 50 million Halo games since the series launched more than a decade ago with 2001′s Halo: Combat Evolved. The company announced the news this morning, reiterating that players have spent more than 5 billion hours playing Halo on Xbox Live.


Prior to Halo 4‘s worldwide launch on November 6, the Halo series stood at 46 million in sales. This suggests Microsoft’s newest entry has shifted 4 million copies thus far. Halo 4 generated $220 million in 24-hour revenue at launch, with $300 million expected for its first week.

Microsoft has released eight Halo games to date, all of which have been first-person shooters, with the exception of 2009′s strategy game Halo Wars. These include Halo: Combat Evolved (2001), Halo 2 (2004), Halo 3 (2007), Halo Wars (March 2009), Halo 3: ODST (September 2009), Halo: Reach (September 2010), Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (2011), and Halo 4 (2012).

Bungie Studios created the Halo series, though the company has since moved on to an all-new franchise to be published by Activision. Microsoft’s new 343 Industries label is now responsible for all things Halo, and is currently working on at least Halo 5 and Halo 6.

In addition to revealing lifetime sales figures for the Halo series, Microsoft also today announced a new free-to-enter Halo 4 tournament. The “Halo 4 Infinity Challenge” begins December 17 and tasks players will competing on global leaderboards across the game’s War Gamess and Spartan Ops modes for a chance to win prizes. Players can register for the Halo 4 Infinity Challenge today through the promotion’s website.

The tournament is powered by Virgin Gaming and its grand prize is a UNSC-themed V8-powered 2013 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor truck designed by 343 Industries. The winner of the Spartan Ops tournament will be awarded an appearance in a future Halo game. For full details on the Halo 4 Infinity Challenge, check out the tournament’s website.

Article source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/halo-series-sales-hit-50-million-6401164

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