Archive (Page 4422)

Leading British independent developer Kuju Entertainment has announced the latest in a series of development deals with key publishers, with the firm's new Brighton-based studio working on a game prototype for SCEE.

Industry bosses speaking at the Piper Jaffrey conference in New York have sounded notes of cautious optimism about Microsoft's next-generation plans, with EB president Jeff Griffiths saying that the system could win 30 per cent market share.

The GameCube console has seen its market share of the European hardware market doubling to 32 per cent following the launch of Pokemon Colosseum on the platform - proof, claims Nintendo, that the Pokemon franchise is still alive and well.

The updated version of Nokia's N-Gage hardware, the N-Gage QD, has slipped a month in the USA - with a July 27th date now planned for the device, which Nokia says has been chosen in order to ensure a simultaneous launch across all channel partners.

Microsoft Games Studio boss Shane Kim has told <b>gamesindustry.biz</b> that there is "no silver bullet" which will allow the company to beat its rivals in the next-generation console war - or to succeed in the Japanese market.

Atari chairman and CEO Bruno Bonnell has launched an attack on Sony over what he categorises as a failure by the Japanese company to provide important detail about the PSP - and predicted that the handheld console will launch at $500.

Nintendo has continued its strategic move into the Chinese marketplace with the launch of the Game Boy Advance in Shanghai and other parts of the Canton province, accompanied by a localised version of WarioWare Inc.

Sammy's latest foray into console Pachinko titles, the anime-licensed Pachinko Slot! Fist of the North Star, was the best selling title in Japan again last week - as a complete lack of new releases led to an overall slide in market value.

Valve Software has announced that a number of arrests have been made in several different countries by authorities tracking down those responsible for the theft of the Half-Life 2 source code last autumn.

The next-generation home console from Nintendo is codenamed "Revolution," company president Satoru Iwata has revealed at a conference in Tokyo where he once again championed the firm's focus on innovation rather than technology.

Console giant Nintendo is considering the purchase of more stock in Bandai, one of the biggest holders of valuable media IP in Japan - although there are currently no plans for a complete buyout, according to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata.

Employees of publisher Interplay have been allowed to return to work by the Californian authorities after the troubled company secured workers' compensation insurance for them - but parent company Titus has declared bankruptcy in France.

Viacom chief exec Sumner Redstone may well be planning to take publisher Midway private in the near future, it has emerged, with the media magnate taking advice on his options once his stake goes past 80 per cent.

<b>Live from London:</b> Microsoft corporate VP Peter Moore has called on platform competitors Sony and Nintendo to follow the XNA model by providing an easy to use software development platform for their console hardware.

<b>Live from London:</b> Nintendo Europe managing director David Gosen has strongly criticised Microsoft for attempting to drive the industry to a hardware transition too early, and also attacked the games media for its focus on the next generation.

Speaking at the ELSPA Games Summit in London, game market analyst Nick Parker has warned of an imminent "explosion" in the second hand games market in Europe, which could damage publisher revenues.

EA has announced a deal with Rhino Records that will see the likes of House of Pain, Pantera, Faith No More, The Cure and Violent Femmes added to the publisher's background music catalogue under the banner of a new 'Throwback Trax' label.

Publisher Take Two Interactive has announced that it made a significant loss in the second quarter, and dropped fiscal guidance for the rest of the year - although a new deal to co-publish Sega's sports range could bring the figures up once more.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president David Reeves has branded media reports that the PlayStation 2 has reached its sales peak as "bullshit," stating that the console still has 50 per cent of its hardware sales to come.

<b>Live from London:</b> The second annual ELSPA Games Summit is taking place in London, with a strong focus on the importance of broadening the appeal of the industry as early speakers discussed the key future role of online, mobile and innovative games.