PlayStation Platforms Dominate In Japan

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Sony platforms dominated hardware sales in Japan during the week ended November 15.

PSP-3000 sales rose by 5,000 units week-on-week to head the rankings, although sales of the company’s latest handheld, PSPgo, more than halved to an underwhelming 6,427 units.

Despite a 10,000 units sales drop PS3 only narrowly missed out on the top spot, while DS and Wii, in third and fourth, saw weekly sales fall by around 3,500 and 5,000 units respectively.

DS Lite, Xbox 360 and PS2 sales saw marginal sales declines.

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MIGS: Only Fun and Games?

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

At this year"s Montreal International Game Summit the idea of whether games should only be seen as fun was challenged in more than one session. Commentators such as industry veteran Brenda Braithwaite (designer of the Wizardry and Jagged Alliance series, among others) and Edge columnist Randy Smith in particular poured over this thorny issue.

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The Making Of: Cannon Fodder

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Format: Amiga, ST
Release: 1993
Publisher: Virgin
Developer: Sensible Software

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Sony Launching Online Distribution Service In 2010

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Sony is to launch an online content distribution service for its network-connected devices in 2010.

Executive VP and PlayStation boss Kaz Hirai told reporters that the service will offer movies, music, books and other content to the company’s TVs, Blu-ray players, ebooks and other devices.

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Class Action Lawsuit Over Xbox Live Bans

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Boutique law firm Abington IP says it could launch a class action lawsuit against Microsoft over the platform holder’s recent wave of Xbox Live bans.

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GameStop Acquires Jolt Online Gaming

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Retailer GameStop has reportedly acquired a majority stake in Jolt Online Gaming, an Ireland-based publisher of free-to-play browser titles.

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Game Education Summit Europe Issues Call For Papers

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

The Danish Academy of Digital Interactive Entertainment (DADIU) has issued a call for papers for next year’s inaugural Game Education Summit Europe.

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Marvelous Loses Money On Wii

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Japanese publisher Marvelous Entertainment saw contrasting results from its Wii and PSP releases during the first half of its business year.

Three out four Wii titles launched during the period made a loss, while four of the firm’s five PSP games were profitable, the company said in a financial presentation.

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PS2 Releasing In Brazil

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Sony Computer Entertainment America is expanding its Latin American business by officially launching the PS2 in the emerging Brazilian market this month.

The console will retail for R$799 ($445), while software prices will range from R$99 ($55) - RNov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM19 ($66). Over 14 games will be available at launch, including Gran Turismo 4 and God Of War II.

PS2 has sold over 140 million units globally since debuting in 2000, making it the most popular console to date.

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GameStop Reports Jump In Third Quarter Sales, Profit

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Leading specialist US games retailer GameStop has reported a boost in sales and profits during the third quarter of its financial year.

During the three months ended October 31, 2009, the company saw sales rise 8.2 per cent year on year to Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM.83 billion, and net earnings up 11.8 per cent to $52.2 million.

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Sony May Introduce PSN Subscription Model

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai has confirmed that the company is exploring the possibility of introducing a PlayStation Network subscription model.

While online gaming on PS3 is expected to remain free, unspecified premium PSN services could be charged for.

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New Super Mario Bros. Wii “Off To A Good Start”

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian has been informed by Nintendo of America that New Super Mario Bros. Wii has made “a good start” at retail during its first three days of availability.

“We expect the strong sell-through to continue in the coming weeks,” he said in an investor note. “However, it is unclear whether the new title has driven incremental hardware sales, which remains a concern for the overall videogame industry.”

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Mystery Play

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

In the same way that firstperson shooters thrive in a military setting, alternate reality games (ARGs) are an apt home for conspiracy theories and long-lost secrets. So it’s no surprise that Smoking Gun Interactive has rolled out its mysterious new property in an ARG, before it brings it to consoles. The start-up developer, founded by a break-off team from Relic and featuring some of the talents behind Company Of Heroes, has created an ambitious new world, and players have only just seen the beginning of it.

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Out Soon: E209

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Subscribers are about to receive their shiny copies of the latest issue of Edge, featuring the debut of Eve Online maker CCP"s FPS Dust 514. In shops on November 24.

Though Eve itself is firmly based in Iceland, Dust 514, which is set in Eve"s universe, is developed by CCP"s new Shanghai studio. A MMOG shooter, Dust"s battlefields are absolutely tied to Eve, with Eve players" corporations hiring Dust players to fight for control of planets for them.

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Sony Targets PlayStation Profitability By 2011

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Sony has targeted a return to profitability for its PlayStation business in the fiscal year ending March 2011.

The platform holder hopes to increase PlayStation revenues by expanding hardware and software sales and enriching PlayStation Network services. Improved profitability can be achieved through “cost reduction and other measures”, the firm said in a statement released following a media and investor conference today.

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Learning Vehicle

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Today, the UK government"s Department For Transport unveils a new browser-based MMOG, created by New York-based developer Area/Code. Designed for early teenagers to learn principles of traffic safety, it"s probably the largest "serious games" project ever to be created for the UK.

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MMOS Account For 15 Per Cent Of Playing Time

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

A new international study claims that MMO play accounts for 15 per cent of all game playing time in the US and Europe.

The data comes from a survey of 13,000 respondents aged eight years and older conducted by Gamesindustry.com. The study found that 14 per cent of all time spent on games in the US is dedicated to MMOs, compared to eight per cent in the UK, 16 per cent in Belgium, 13 per cent in Germany and 15 per cent in both France and the Netherlands.

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Department For Transport Launches MMO

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

The UK government"s Department for Transport (DfT) has launched Code Of Everand, a free browser based MMO designed to give children the skills they need to stay safe on the roads.

The DfT developed the project with Area/Code, the studio behind Discovery Channel’s Sharkrunners and Drop7 for iPhone.

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Sony Reports Record PlayStation Store Sales

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

October marked the highest month of revenue on record for the PlayStation Store, with downloads up 60 per cent year over year, according to Sony Computer Entertainment America.

With the PlayStation Network entering its fourth year this week, the company said that 650 million pieces of content have been downloaded worldwide from the digital marketplace and that there are now over 31 million registered PSN accounts globally.

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Third Studio Working On Call Of Duty Series – Report

Posted on Nov 22, 2009 at 3:06 AM

Activision is said to have aggressive expansion plans for its record breaking Call Of Duty franchise, with a new report suggesting that the publisher is exploring the idea of releasing a COD MMO.

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Star Trek Online: Ship Tactics - Part 1

Posted on Nov 21, 2009 at 3:07 AM

Cryptic Studios released part one of their Star Trek Online introductory videos, explaining the Ship Tactics system, ship customization and and how it affects combat. Video after the jump!

LotRO: Siege of Mirkwood - Epic Story

Posted on Nov 21, 2009 at 3:07 AM

Turbine Studios shared with us six new screens from their upcoming expansion and Volume 2 finale, Siege of Mirkwood, arriving this December. Check the screens after the jump!

Champions Online Nemesis Lair

Posted on Nov 21, 2009 at 3:07 AM

Every super hero faces epic battles with their named nemesis. Champions Online devs have created a new "lair" where players will confront their arch enemies, now teamed up with unimaginable evil. Check it out!

WoW TCG Preview Event

Posted on Nov 21, 2009 at 3:07 AM

World of Warcraft: Trading Card Game will be previewing "Scourgewar", the next expansion due out on November 24th. Prizes will be offered to those taking advantage of the preview. Read on!

The MMO Report: Thursday, November 19th

Posted on Nov 21, 2009 at 3:07 AM

That time of the week for The MMO Report: Thursday, November 19th, and Casey has news on WoW, Guild Wars 2, and The Secret World beta.

Casey is back yet again to bring a fresh, steaming helping of MMO news. This week we"ll tell you about a possible hint towards the release schedule for Guild Wars 2, a bunch of news about the game we all know too well, World of Warcraft, and how you can get a beta code for The Secret World by playing Age of Conan.