Breaking Gaming Industry News

Report: Video Game Software Sales Down 6% in Q3

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 6, 2009 - 10:18am.
New York - Video game software sales across the U.S., Europe and Japan fell 6% during the third quarter of 2009, according to a report combining sales data from NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track Limited and Enterbrain. While Japan actually saw video game software unit sales increase by 15% in the third quarter -- compared with the 20% decline seen in the same period last year -- year-to-date sales in the country are down 9%, according to Enterbrain.

No Doubt Sues Activision Over Avatars in "Band Hero"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 5, 2009 - 11:13am.
Los Angeles - The rock band No Doubt has filed a lawsuit against "Band Hero" video game publisher Activision (NASD: ATVI), alleging the company overstepped the permission granted by the band to include their likenesses within the game, Reuters reported. According to the lawsuit, the band did authorize its likenesses to be used to create avatars to perform its own songs within the game, but did not authorize the No Doubt avatars to perform songs by other bands.

Offerpal Names New CEO in Wake of "Scam" Allegations

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 5, 2009 - 11:46am.
Fremont, Calif. - Offerpal Media, a provider of monetization services for online game and social application developers, announced that it has replaced its CEO, after a controversy erupted over the past week concerning whether some of its practices qualify as "scams."

Social Games Maker Zynga Acquires Virtual Pets Firm GoPets

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 2, 2009 - 7:31am.
San Francisco - Zynga, a developer of social media games, has acquired virtual pets firm GoPets for an undisclosed sum, Virtual Goods News reported, citing a Facebook post from GoPets founder Erick Bethke.

AuroraFeint Lands Funding for iPhone Game Platform

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 2, 2009 - 7:13am.
Burlingame, Calif. - AuroraFeint, the provider of a game development platform for Apple's (NASD: AAPL) iPhone, has received a multi-million dollar investment from Japanese mobile service provider DeNA, VentureBeat reported.
tags: Games | Deals | Mobile | VC | Apple | iPhone | AuroraFeint | DeNA |

Nokia to Shutter N-Gage Mobile Games Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 30, 2009 - 7:23am.
Helsinki - After failing to gain market traction, Nokia (NYSE: NOK) plans to shutter its N-Gage mobile gaming service next year, Reuters reported.
tags: Games | Mobile | Nokia | N-Gage | Ovi Store |

Chinese Online Games Firm ChangYou Opens U.S. Subsidiary

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 29, 2009 - 3:30pm.
Santa Clara, Calif. - ChangYou.com (NASD: CYOU), a Chinese online game developer whose shares trade on the Nasdaq, said that it has launched a U.S. subsidiary in Santa Clara, California, with plans to launch its online games in Asia to American gamers. The company said that its first U.S. release, "Dragon Oath," will launch open beta Nov. 5. The title, which has run in Asia for over three years, has over 75 million registered players and 910,000 concurrent users.

Report: Netflix Streaming Also Coming to Nintendo Wii

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 29, 2009 - 8:33am.
New York - Netflix (NASD: NFLX) will make its on-demand streaming of movies and TV episodes available on the Nintendo Wii, joining the recent addition of Sony's (NYSE: SNE) PlayStation 3 and previous exclusive streaming partner, Microsoft's (NASD: MSFT) Xbox 360, according to StreamingMedia.com analyst Dan Rayburn.
tags: Games | TV | Movies | Nintendo | Netflix | Wii | Wii HD |

Nintendo to Release Larger DSi Handheld in Japan, Europe

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 29, 2009 - 8:21am.
Tokyo - Confirming earlier reports, Nintendo plans to release a new DSi handheld game system in Japan that sports a larger, 4.25-inch screen.
tags: Games | Nintendo | DSi |

Report: In-Game Currency is Most Popular Virtual Item to Sell

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 28, 2009 - 11:16am.
Santa Clara, Calif. - Nearly one-third (31%) of those who purchased virtual goods over the past year also sold virtual goods, with in-game virtual currency being the most frequently sold item from player to player, according to a report from market research firm VGMarket and PlaySpan, an operator of virtual goods marketplaces.

Report: Nintendo to Debut Larger-Screen DSi in Japan

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 27, 2009 - 12:18pm.
Tokyo - Nintendo is prepping to release a new version of its DSi handheld game system with a larger screen in Japan, Reuters reported, citing the Nikkei business daily. The screen on the new model is expected to be over 4 inches, up from the 3.25-inch screen sported on the current model. Demand is reportedly dwindling for the DSi, which faces increasing competition from game-friendly mobiles like the iPhone. The new DSi could launch yet this year in Japan, and is expected to cost about the same as the current model, according to Nikkei.

tags: Games | Nintendo | Retail | DSi |

Samsung, Handmark to Fund Mobile Game Development

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 27, 2009 - 9:45am.
Kansas City, Mo. - Handmark, a distributor of mobile applications and services, announced on Tuesday that Korea's Samsung Electronics has launched a new Global Venture Fund, which will invest in companies and individuals "with innovative, market-changing game ideas for next generation Samsung mobile phones."

AFTRA Endorses New Labor Contract with Game Publishers

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 26, 2009 - 11:33am.
Los Angeles - The national board of the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists (AFTRA) has approved a deal with video game publishers governing actors' work done for video games, which will now be sent out to members for a vote, Variety reported.
tags: Games | SAG | AFTRA |

Netflix to Enable Movie, TV Streaming to PlayStation 3

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 26, 2009 - 10:54am.
Los Gatos, Calif. - Online DVD rental service Netflix (NASD: NFLX) announced on Monday that it will extend its on-demand movie and TV episode streaming service to Sony's (NYSE: SNE) PlayStation 3 game console platform, expanding beyond a previously exclusive deal with Microsoft's Xbox 360.

Unity Technologies Secures $5.5 Million for Game Platform

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 26, 2009 - 7:27am.
San Francisco - Unity Technologies, the provider of a multi-platform game development platform for the Web, consoles and mobile devices, announced on Monday that it has raised $5.5 million in its first round of venture capital financing, led by Sequoia Capital.

Watercooler Lands $5.5 Million for Fan Sites, Social Games

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 26, 2009 - 6:06am.
Mountain View, Calif. - Watercooler, a developer of fan communities and social games that claims 26 million users, announced on Monday that it has raised $5.5 million in its second round of funding, led by U.K. online gambling firm Betfair.

CEO Resigns from Touch Feedback Developer Immersion

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 21, 2009 - 10:49am.
San Jose, Calif. - Immersion, a developer of touch feedback technology often used in video game controllers and other devices, said on Wednesday that Clent Richardson has resigned as its CEO to pursue other interests. The company's board has named Victor Viegas, Immersion's former CEO and a current director, to serve as interim CEO. "We would like to thank Clent for his service to Immersion and wish him well in his future endeavors," said Chairman Jack Saltich. Richardson joined Immersion in April 2008, after having served as the chief marketing officer at Alviso-based TiVo and Nortel Networks.

tags: Games | Moves | Immersion |

Canesta Raises $16 Million for 3D Image Sensors

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 21, 2009 - 7:28am.
Sunnyvale, Calif. - Canesta, a developer of 3D image sensors, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $16 million in new financing, from returning backers Carlyle Growth Partners, Hotung Venture Group and Venrock, and new investors Quanta Computer and SMSC.

"Rock Band" Game Released for iPhone, iPod touch

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 20, 2009 - 12:07pm.
Los Angeles - Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS), along with Viacom's (NYSE: VIA) MTV Games and developer Harmonix, on Tuesday announced the release of "Rock Band" for Apple's iPhone and iPod touch. The $9.99 game includes a full-band Bluetooth multiplayer mode, 20 full-length songs, and the ability to purchase additional songs from within the game.

Report: U.S. Game Sales Up 1%; Sony PS3 Leads for First Time

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 20, 2009 - 7:43am.
Port Washington, N.Y. - Sony's (NYSE: SNE) PlayStation 3 for the first time ever led U.S. video game sales in September, which on the whole rose 1% from a year ago after several months of  decline, according to sales figures compiled by market research firm NPD Group. Overall sales were $1.28 billion in September; despite Sony's success, game hardware sales fell 6% from a year ago, to $472 million.