Folks, before we get down to the NPD numbers themselves, 2 things. First, in terms of the Supreme Court case involving video games....well VIDEO GAMES won
The United States Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the video game industry and retailers in Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association (formerly known as Schwarzenegger v. Entertainment Merchants Association). The full opinion can be found here. According to Justice Scalia, who wrote the opinion: "the act forbidding sale or rental of violent games to minors does not comport with the 1st Amendment." Alito concurred with the judgment, joined by the Chief Justice. Justices Thomas and Breyer dissent, in an opinion by Thomas - according to SCOTUSBlog.
The court had to decide if a state law restricting the sale of violent video games to minors violated the First Amendment right to free speech. The Ninth Circuit Court ruled in favor of the EMA, saying that the law violated the First Amendment.
The law was written by California State Senator (D-San Francisco) Leland Yee and signed into law by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2005. The law was immediately challenged by the video game industry and retail advocacy groups in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. A judge put a permanent injunction on the law, ruling that it was unconstitutional because it violated rights protected by the First Amendment.
Take that California, even though I happen to live there.
Also, I know you are all upset at Nintendo over not willing to port Last Story, Xenoblade and Pandora's Tower to North America. And alot of you are furious about it. So to calm your nerves, here's what a Shareholder has to say about Nintendo
"I’m concerned about the falling stock price. I own stock, but I don’t own a single Nintendo product," said the shareholder. "I believe games are a waste of time. By the way, the reason I own Nintendo stock is because the name is nice, it’s in Kyoto and it was listed in the year of my birth."
Exactly. Why bother with Nintendo when they are a waste of time? Heck, if you're a shareholder, why bother with video games at all? It's not like they had alot of value.
And now folks, the moment of zen, the NPD of May 2011. Only without PSP and DS sales.
Xbox 360: 270K (+39%)
PlayStation 3: 177K (+15%)
Wii - 236K (-30%)
Nintendo 3DS - 97K
Now you're thinking "Oh, but it seems the 3DS is failing and Nintendo refuses to release the DS Numbers." But there's something else to point at. The PS3 sales are behind the Wii sales. Sony, I thought you had Nintendo under your thumb. What happened? You were so close to the 360 and then Nintendo came up and pulled the rug from underneath you again. And they're laughing at you.
Oh and yes, 360 sales are once again number one.
As for hardware?
01. L.A. Noire (360, PS3) Take 2 Interactive - 899K
02. Brink (360, PS3, PC) Bethesda Softworks - 401K [360/PS3 Only]
03. Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game (Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSP, PC) Disney Interactive Studios
04. Portal 2 (360, PS3, PC) Electronic Arts
05. Mortal Kombat 2011 (PS3, 360) Warner Bros. Interactive - 292K
06. Call of Duty: Black Ops (360, PS3, Wii, NDS, PC) Activision Blizzard
07. Zumba Fitness: Join the Party (Wii, 360, PS3) Majesco
08. NBA 2K11 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP, PC) Take 2 Interactive
09. Just Dance 2 (Wii) Ubisoft
10. Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (Wii, NDS, 360, PS3, 3DS, PSP, PC) Lucasarts
First up, LA Noire scores at number 1, though with less than expected numbers. Disappointing for a game long in development. But a much better outlook than Duke Nukem Forever. Brink, despite its criticism, made it onto number 2. A Pirate's Life is for me with Lego Pirates at 3 and Portal 2 at 4. Mortal Kombat slipped behind with Call of Duty at 6. Zumba Fitness is the new dance craze at 7 and NBA 2K11 at Number 8. Rounding out the Top 10 are Just Dance 2 and Lego Star Wars III
A dark cloud is approaching. Rumor has it the Wii's price drop is causing an increase in sales and with the release of Ocarina of Time 3D, the 3DS is rumored to be making a comeback. Unless Sony and Microsoft does something, they may be doomed.
Works Cited:
Game Politics
Destructoid
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Do I take too long or what?
Folks, it seems I enjoy dropping the ball when it comes to E3. But before I go into any talks, it seems PopCap games, well known for classics like Plants vs Zombies and Bejeweled, is in rumors of being bought out.
Huge news in the gaming world: PopCap Games, the company behind such hits as Plants vs Zombies and Bejeweled, is in the process of being acquired — and we’re hearing from multiple sources that the price is over $1 billion.
The question now is who the buyer is. The obvious possibility is Zynga, which has made a string of game-related acquisitions over the last year. But we’re hearing they’re out. Our sources say that Zynga did indeed kick the tires hard on a potential acquisition, but it looks like the company couldn’t get comfortable with the price PopCap was asking for.
Popcap’s revenues are in the range of $100-150 million, we hear — and a price of over $1 billion would have put the deal at a possible 10x multiple, which may have been too rich for Zynga’s blood. So who else could it be?
We’ve heard that it might be videogaming powerhouse Electronic Arts, though the acquisition would be a very large one for the company (EA’s market cap is $7.49 billion). That said, it wouldn’t be EA’s first big bet on a hot gaming startup: they acquired Playfish in 2009 for up to $400 million after earnouts.
Another possibility would be a company in Asia that’s looking to break into the stateside gaming market, similar to the idea behind DeNA’s $300 million+ acquisition of ngmoco last October. One candidate is massive Chinese company Tencent, which has a massive market cap (and some games of their own). But there are other possibilities that would fit that profile as well — we’ll keep digging.
Zynga. EA. An Asian company like Tencent. Who knows who will get PopCap games? Though I heard some won't be happy if its EA since they claim "Oh but they will pump games out fast." That's exactly what I want. Yearly releases of Plants vs Zombies. Ideas include "Plants vs Zombies: Amusement Park," "Plants vs Zombies in Space" and my favorite "Plants vs Zombies: Liberal Zombie Armageddon at Washington."
Eric Cantor would be enjoying that game than doing his job.
Works Cited:
Tech Crunch
Huge news in the gaming world: PopCap Games, the company behind such hits as Plants vs Zombies and Bejeweled, is in the process of being acquired — and we’re hearing from multiple sources that the price is over $1 billion.
The question now is who the buyer is. The obvious possibility is Zynga, which has made a string of game-related acquisitions over the last year. But we’re hearing they’re out. Our sources say that Zynga did indeed kick the tires hard on a potential acquisition, but it looks like the company couldn’t get comfortable with the price PopCap was asking for.
Popcap’s revenues are in the range of $100-150 million, we hear — and a price of over $1 billion would have put the deal at a possible 10x multiple, which may have been too rich for Zynga’s blood. So who else could it be?
We’ve heard that it might be videogaming powerhouse Electronic Arts, though the acquisition would be a very large one for the company (EA’s market cap is $7.49 billion). That said, it wouldn’t be EA’s first big bet on a hot gaming startup: they acquired Playfish in 2009 for up to $400 million after earnouts.
Another possibility would be a company in Asia that’s looking to break into the stateside gaming market, similar to the idea behind DeNA’s $300 million+ acquisition of ngmoco last October. One candidate is massive Chinese company Tencent, which has a massive market cap (and some games of their own). But there are other possibilities that would fit that profile as well — we’ll keep digging.
Zynga. EA. An Asian company like Tencent. Who knows who will get PopCap games? Though I heard some won't be happy if its EA since they claim "Oh but they will pump games out fast." That's exactly what I want. Yearly releases of Plants vs Zombies. Ideas include "Plants vs Zombies: Amusement Park," "Plants vs Zombies in Space" and my favorite "Plants vs Zombies: Liberal Zombie Armageddon at Washington."
Eric Cantor would be enjoying that game than doing his job.
Works Cited:
Tech Crunch
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Nintendo Keynote E3 2011: Am I late again?
Well at least I didn't skip out on one keynote.
Yesterday, while the Keynote went on, Nintendo uploaded another game for the 3DS Virtual Console: The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening DX. Go ahead and check it out if you don't have the Game Boy original or the GBC DX version.
Now anyway, the obvious first part is the new Zelda: Skyward Sword, the self-proclaimed Prequel to Ocarina of Time.
Now what's more annoying than sailing on a boat or becoming a wolf? Flying on a bird. I mean come on. I want my feet to kill me as I spend a long time trying to get from point a to point b. I don't want to take the easy way out.
Now, while Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D had no trailer in the panel, it did create a trailer that harkens back to a previous trailer of Ocarina of Time. Take alooksie
But it's not just Zelda getting all the fame. Mario Kart is back, and this time, there's hang gliders, underwater propulsion and customization.
Mario, jealous of everyone else's ability to make a boatload of 3D games, jumps into his 5th 3D game. This time, he adds more tradition to it.
Kid Icarus, who only showed up recently on Smash Bros Brawl, returns as the main protagonist. Please ignore the bulky badass trying to steal Pit's Thunder.
Of course, Luigi isn't gonna let his brother have all the fun, so he's getting a sequel. I hope he pulls a Shaggy and makes a run for it.
And then there's Star Fox. The original N64 classic Star Fox 64 is getting a major facelift. Time to do a Barrel Roll again and make mince meat out of your friends
With other games like Resident Evil: The Mercenaries, Cave Story 3D, Ace Combat 3D and Tetris Online, Nintendo plans on a retaliation over its low prices. So that's it right?
Wish it were. Nintendo saved this for last. The Cafe is now Wii U. Finally, a console system that plays while your family watches Fox News.
Of course, what's a new system without games? Nintendo has shown off the games that will be on Wii U, in which the previews are taken straight from the 360/PS3 versions.
One more thing before I go, it seems a confirmation on a new Smash Bros came out. But 2 things about it
1) This game has been started on, so there isn't any information other than what the announcement came out with
2) In addition to Wii U, a 3DS version is also in the mix. Now you can smash your opponents on the go.
Like with the last two, you can see more info on the panels at Engadget
What's left of E3? We'll talk later.
Yesterday, while the Keynote went on, Nintendo uploaded another game for the 3DS Virtual Console: The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening DX. Go ahead and check it out if you don't have the Game Boy original or the GBC DX version.
Now anyway, the obvious first part is the new Zelda: Skyward Sword, the self-proclaimed Prequel to Ocarina of Time.
Now what's more annoying than sailing on a boat or becoming a wolf? Flying on a bird. I mean come on. I want my feet to kill me as I spend a long time trying to get from point a to point b. I don't want to take the easy way out.
Now, while Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D had no trailer in the panel, it did create a trailer that harkens back to a previous trailer of Ocarina of Time. Take alooksie
But it's not just Zelda getting all the fame. Mario Kart is back, and this time, there's hang gliders, underwater propulsion and customization.
Mario, jealous of everyone else's ability to make a boatload of 3D games, jumps into his 5th 3D game. This time, he adds more tradition to it.
Kid Icarus, who only showed up recently on Smash Bros Brawl, returns as the main protagonist. Please ignore the bulky badass trying to steal Pit's Thunder.
Of course, Luigi isn't gonna let his brother have all the fun, so he's getting a sequel. I hope he pulls a Shaggy and makes a run for it.
And then there's Star Fox. The original N64 classic Star Fox 64 is getting a major facelift. Time to do a Barrel Roll again and make mince meat out of your friends
With other games like Resident Evil: The Mercenaries, Cave Story 3D, Ace Combat 3D and Tetris Online, Nintendo plans on a retaliation over its low prices. So that's it right?
Wish it were. Nintendo saved this for last. The Cafe is now Wii U. Finally, a console system that plays while your family watches Fox News.
Of course, what's a new system without games? Nintendo has shown off the games that will be on Wii U, in which the previews are taken straight from the 360/PS3 versions.
One more thing before I go, it seems a confirmation on a new Smash Bros came out. But 2 things about it
1) This game has been started on, so there isn't any information other than what the announcement came out with
2) In addition to Wii U, a 3DS version is also in the mix. Now you can smash your opponents on the go.
Like with the last two, you can see more info on the panels at Engadget
What's left of E3? We'll talk later.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sony E3 Keynote 2011: Vita has Arrived
Folks, the moment has arrived. But before we go into detail, some breaking news.
Nintendo 3DS Shop has finally gone into service. A new update will allow you to access the 3DS Shop and download all new titles to your 3DS, plus DSi games, if it can function properly. Then again, the PSN's return was also buggy.
Also, players will be able to transfer their DSi titles from the DSi to the 3DS itself. With the exception of some programs like Flipnote Studios.
Oh BTW, Excitebike in 3D is awesome.
Now, onto the Sony Keynote. The Playstation 3 seems to have taken a backseat tonight. Meanwhile, in the Final Frontier, the voyage of the Starship Enterprise takes a nasty turn as Captain James T Kirk and First Officer Spock suit up for a new Star Trek game
Other games include Battlefield, a new SSX and a new Need for Speed: The Run.
But the real meat of tonight is the Vita. That's right, the Playstation Vita has debuted one year after the 3DS does.
The system will be priced at $249 at launch, same price as the 3DS. But come on, $249? $199 sounds like a more better deal. But for $299 and a plan, you can connect your PSVita anywhere you go with 3G, and AT&T. That's right, the biggest, most cramped up company ever, will offer a online service for Vita. Eat it, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile.
As for the first party games, because Lara Croft isn't the only fish in the sea: Uncharted: Golden Abyss
Next up, to knock the winds out of Blizzard's Diablo 3, Sony introduces Ruin.
Not to be outdone by the PSP versions, Modnation Racers and LittleBigPlanet get a PS Vita port
But a nasty surprise awaits for the PS Vita version of Street Fighter X Tekken:
And it features guest star Cole from Infamous as a playable fighter(Guess Mortal Kombat with Kratos made Capcom and Namco jealous)
Wow. Why didn't Nintendo dedicate it's last year's E3 panel to just the 3DS and not on all that subsistence of gaming? You can read more about the Keynote at Engadget
Speaking of which, I'm onto to you Nintendo. Let's see that Cafe in action tomorrow.
Nintendo 3DS Shop has finally gone into service. A new update will allow you to access the 3DS Shop and download all new titles to your 3DS, plus DSi games, if it can function properly. Then again, the PSN's return was also buggy.
Also, players will be able to transfer their DSi titles from the DSi to the 3DS itself. With the exception of some programs like Flipnote Studios.
Oh BTW, Excitebike in 3D is awesome.
Now, onto the Sony Keynote. The Playstation 3 seems to have taken a backseat tonight. Meanwhile, in the Final Frontier, the voyage of the Starship Enterprise takes a nasty turn as Captain James T Kirk and First Officer Spock suit up for a new Star Trek game
Other games include Battlefield, a new SSX and a new Need for Speed: The Run.
But the real meat of tonight is the Vita. That's right, the Playstation Vita has debuted one year after the 3DS does.
The system will be priced at $249 at launch, same price as the 3DS. But come on, $249? $199 sounds like a more better deal. But for $299 and a plan, you can connect your PSVita anywhere you go with 3G, and AT&T. That's right, the biggest, most cramped up company ever, will offer a online service for Vita. Eat it, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile.
As for the first party games, because Lara Croft isn't the only fish in the sea: Uncharted: Golden Abyss
Next up, to knock the winds out of Blizzard's Diablo 3, Sony introduces Ruin.
Not to be outdone by the PSP versions, Modnation Racers and LittleBigPlanet get a PS Vita port
But a nasty surprise awaits for the PS Vita version of Street Fighter X Tekken:
And it features guest star Cole from Infamous as a playable fighter(Guess Mortal Kombat with Kratos made Capcom and Namco jealous)
Wow. Why didn't Nintendo dedicate it's last year's E3 panel to just the 3DS and not on all that subsistence of gaming? You can read more about the Keynote at Engadget
Speaking of which, I'm onto to you Nintendo. Let's see that Cafe in action tomorrow.
Microsoft E3 Keynote 2011: Monsters and Mice and TVs, Oh my
Folks, it is E3 time and that means we are up to our noses in announcements. First up on the list is Microsoft. Later, we'll talk Sony.
First off, Halo. The franchise that makes men out of mere boys all while taking their IQ and respect points away from them. Halo 4 has been announced for the X-Box 360. Folks, Master Chief is back and he's badder than ever, having to awaken from a dying ship
The game is due out in December of next year, just in time for the Mayan Calendar to end. And speaking of Halo, it seems Microsoft slipped us a remake of the classic that started it all
Due out this November, it's time for Fratboys to rediscover their roots. But on the other side of the fratlore lies Gears of War 3, with John DiMaggio as Marcus Fenix and with a special appearance by Ice-T
Let's see those two duke it out for who gets the fratdollar.
But outside of that, Kinect is the domination. And we've got something exciting. First, Kinect Sports 2 by RareWare
And if that wasn't enough, Kinect Fun Labs
And if that wasn't enough, Sesame Street, part of the Children's Television Workshop, is jumping on the Kinect bandwagon with Once Upon a Monster
Also, it seems the force is with us all with Kinect Star Wars where you can play a Jedi, a podracer, a starfighter, or a Rancor
And even Disney wants in on the action with Kinect Disneyland Adventures. Finally, exploring Disneyland in the sanctuary of your own home, complete with hugging, high-fiving, and realistic ride simulation
Meanwhile, it seems Minecraft, the popular shape your world and build your homes game, has been announced as an X-Box 360 title. Though we have no trailer, we have a link at the bottom as confirmation
Also, for those who enjoy Fable, here's a new taste of Fable: The Journey itself
Other games involved includes, but is not limited to, Mass Effect 3, Forza 4, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Ryse, Call of Duty: MW3, Tomb Raider, and UFC. But that's not the only thing announced. X-Box Live TV has also been announced.
Xbox Live is also getting a few more features to beef up the entertainment experience. The service is going to get YouTube, Bing for search, and voice control to control all of it.
You'll be able to use Bing to find more content to watch, by searching the Web, YouTube, Live TV, and all the services on Xbox Live, including existing ones like Netflix and Hulu Plus. And voice control will let you speak your search item, such as the name of a movie, TV show, or game.
That means less time fiddling around with a controller. "You no longer have to navigate through the menus to find content," said Mark Whitten, head of Xbox Live.
Guess I better start cancelling my Cable service.
For more information on the Microsoft Panel, go to Engadget. Meanwhile, I shall await the Sony Panel and the 3DS Update.
Works Cited:
Cnet
First off, Halo. The franchise that makes men out of mere boys all while taking their IQ and respect points away from them. Halo 4 has been announced for the X-Box 360. Folks, Master Chief is back and he's badder than ever, having to awaken from a dying ship
The game is due out in December of next year, just in time for the Mayan Calendar to end. And speaking of Halo, it seems Microsoft slipped us a remake of the classic that started it all
Due out this November, it's time for Fratboys to rediscover their roots. But on the other side of the fratlore lies Gears of War 3, with John DiMaggio as Marcus Fenix and with a special appearance by Ice-T
Let's see those two duke it out for who gets the fratdollar.
But outside of that, Kinect is the domination. And we've got something exciting. First, Kinect Sports 2 by RareWare
And if that wasn't enough, Kinect Fun Labs
And if that wasn't enough, Sesame Street, part of the Children's Television Workshop, is jumping on the Kinect bandwagon with Once Upon a Monster
Also, it seems the force is with us all with Kinect Star Wars where you can play a Jedi, a podracer, a starfighter, or a Rancor
And even Disney wants in on the action with Kinect Disneyland Adventures. Finally, exploring Disneyland in the sanctuary of your own home, complete with hugging, high-fiving, and realistic ride simulation
Meanwhile, it seems Minecraft, the popular shape your world and build your homes game, has been announced as an X-Box 360 title. Though we have no trailer, we have a link at the bottom as confirmation
Also, for those who enjoy Fable, here's a new taste of Fable: The Journey itself
Other games involved includes, but is not limited to, Mass Effect 3, Forza 4, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Ryse, Call of Duty: MW3, Tomb Raider, and UFC. But that's not the only thing announced. X-Box Live TV has also been announced.
Xbox Live is also getting a few more features to beef up the entertainment experience. The service is going to get YouTube, Bing for search, and voice control to control all of it.
You'll be able to use Bing to find more content to watch, by searching the Web, YouTube, Live TV, and all the services on Xbox Live, including existing ones like Netflix and Hulu Plus. And voice control will let you speak your search item, such as the name of a movie, TV show, or game.
That means less time fiddling around with a controller. "You no longer have to navigate through the menus to find content," said Mark Whitten, head of Xbox Live.
Guess I better start cancelling my Cable service.
For more information on the Microsoft Panel, go to Engadget. Meanwhile, I shall await the Sony Panel and the 3DS Update.
Works Cited:
Cnet
Pre-E3 Snipe
E3 is just around the corner and it looks like there's plenty of rumors coming out of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft.
First off, later on there will be an update to the 3DS itself. This update will finally add an eShop to the 3DS itself. It will also have some freebies when the shop launches: Excitebike 3D(A 3D update of the NES classic) and the Pokedex 3D. Also, the 3DS will have these features on launch
- 3DS firmware upgrade is roughly 50MB in size
- you can search for games based on popular search phrases that other users have inputted into the system
- search for game characters as well
- there will be display charts that highlight the most popular games, the most downloaded games, the most watched videos, and other similarly user-driven trends
- store up to $200 in the virtual wallet at any given time
- will only be able to spend $1,000 per month
- no gifting option right now
- news on new eShop games will go to the eShop and not through SpotPass
- Nintendo may tailor its messaging based on individual activity logs and games played
Now come on. A Price Limit? Up to $200 max? Only able to spend $1,000 a month? Don't tell me how I'm suppose to save my money. If I want to be reckless with my money, I have every right as an American to do so.
While Nintendo's services are bare bones at best, it seems they're also not worth hacking into, especially if you're Lulzsec, who decided to do that anyway.
Nintendo, the Japanese maker of the Wii game console and Super Mario games, says it was targeted in recent online data attacks, but that no personal or company information was lost.
Kyoto-based Nintendo Co. spokesman Ken Toyoda said Sunday that the server of an affiliate of Nintendo’s U.S. unit was accessed unlawfully a few weeks ago, but that there were no damages. He declined to elaborate.
The damage from what could be a spate of hacking was more serious at rival Sony Corp.
Sony has said massive personal information is suspected of having been stolen after security was compromised for its network service for the PlayStation 3 game machine, for other online services and, in the past week, from Sony Pictures’ website.
And this is what Lulzsec said through Twitter
Nintendo, we just got a config file and made it clear that we didn't mean any harm. Nintendo had already fixed it anyway.
Now come on here. You're going after Sony, 2600 and even the FBI and yet you pardon Nintendo?
Speaking of hacking, Sony got another taste of hackers again, and again.
Things just do not seem to be going Sony's way these last few weeks. First their entire PlayStation Network was hacked with information stolen and quickly leaked onto the Internet, then when the service was relaunched, the website was once again taken down due to an exploit.
After a number of other Sony-related product hacks, the latest one comes just after LulzSecurity managed to successfully hack Sony Pictures and Sony BMG. This time, LulzSecurity managed to obtain the source code for Sony Computer Entertainment Developer Network.
The website, scedev.net, houses all of the developer tools and kits for Sony products including PlayStation 3, PSP, Blu-Ray and many other products. However, the hack only managed to gather the source code for the website, and not the actual database.
The continued attacks on Sony have unveiled a number of their key online servers being unsecure. Later today, Sony will take the stage at E3 and talk a little bit about the recent PSN outage.
Poor Sony. It seems like every time they finally get up, Lulzsec knocks them back to the ground.
Finally, Microsoft. Rumor has it that there will be a new way for me to recklessly spend my money. And what better way than to create a Diamond Account.
Winrumors is reporting, based on anonymous sources, that Microsoft is in last-minute talks to secure the necessary agreements in time. The TV service is expected to be called Xbox LIVE Diamond and function as a "virtual cable operator." Microsoft could withhold an announcement if the ink hasn't dried in time.
Winrumors also is reporting that Microsoft may partner with cable companies to use the Xbox 360 to allow existing cable subscribers to watch shows and interact with their Xbox LIVE friends. The feature is available for Sky Sports subscribers in the U.K., who can scope out football rows with their Xbox avatars sitting in the front row.
The streaming TV business already has a crowded field of players, including Internet powerhouse Google, whose first attempt at Google TV didn't do so hot.
That means Microsoft may be taking a risk, though it could be successful if it turns the Xbox into a multimedia set-top box and maintains strong relationships with the cable companies.
Ahh, a Streaming TV Service. But I don't think its enough. Is there anyone Man Enough to top that and make me want to recklessly spend my money? Someone answer me now.
Consumers are used to paying $60 each for videogames that run on consoles like the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Now the publisher behind the industry's biggest videogame franchise—"Call of Duty"—is about to find out whether it can get them to pay a monthly bill, too.
Activision Blizzard Inc. plans to launch an online service called Call of Duty Elite this fall that will work with the next major edition of the game, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3," and future installments of the hyper-realistic combat-simulation game. In a move industry executives describe as a first, Activision plans to charge a monthly subscription fee for the service, which will provide extra content that isn't offered on game discs sold in stores, including downloadable map packs that give players new "Call of Duty" levels to play.
YES! A new means of recklessly spending money. And guess who has which blessing so far...
Set to debut alongside Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty Elite will offer a mixture of free and subscription features including social network offerings, a Halo Waypoint-style performance tracker, and extra content including downloadable map packs as part of the paid service.
Rob Dyer, senior vice president of publisher relations at Sony Computer Entertainment America, told the Wall Street Journal that only a few series have a strong enough following to support a subscription service, but he's nevertheless "very confident" other publishers will follow Activision's lead. "There's money to be made there," he added.
Meanwhile, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said he isn't worried about a backlash from players because Call of Duty multiplayer in its existing form will remain free-to-play.
He said the money spent to develop Call of Duty Elite and the customer-service operation that'll be required to support it mean it can't be offered for free. "This is an enormous investment."
That's right folks. Good ol Sony supports the decision to add a subscription fee to Call of Duty and it also wishes for others to follow suit. Ahh how I love being an American.
Works Cited:
GoNintendo
Technoty
Neowin
PCWorld
Wall Street Journal
Computer and Video Games
First off, later on there will be an update to the 3DS itself. This update will finally add an eShop to the 3DS itself. It will also have some freebies when the shop launches: Excitebike 3D(A 3D update of the NES classic) and the Pokedex 3D. Also, the 3DS will have these features on launch
- 3DS firmware upgrade is roughly 50MB in size
- you can search for games based on popular search phrases that other users have inputted into the system
- search for game characters as well
- there will be display charts that highlight the most popular games, the most downloaded games, the most watched videos, and other similarly user-driven trends
- store up to $200 in the virtual wallet at any given time
- will only be able to spend $1,000 per month
- no gifting option right now
- news on new eShop games will go to the eShop and not through SpotPass
- Nintendo may tailor its messaging based on individual activity logs and games played
Now come on. A Price Limit? Up to $200 max? Only able to spend $1,000 a month? Don't tell me how I'm suppose to save my money. If I want to be reckless with my money, I have every right as an American to do so.
While Nintendo's services are bare bones at best, it seems they're also not worth hacking into, especially if you're Lulzsec, who decided to do that anyway.
Nintendo, the Japanese maker of the Wii game console and Super Mario games, says it was targeted in recent online data attacks, but that no personal or company information was lost.
Kyoto-based Nintendo Co. spokesman Ken Toyoda said Sunday that the server of an affiliate of Nintendo’s U.S. unit was accessed unlawfully a few weeks ago, but that there were no damages. He declined to elaborate.
The damage from what could be a spate of hacking was more serious at rival Sony Corp.
Sony has said massive personal information is suspected of having been stolen after security was compromised for its network service for the PlayStation 3 game machine, for other online services and, in the past week, from Sony Pictures’ website.
And this is what Lulzsec said through Twitter
Nintendo, we just got a config file and made it clear that we didn't mean any harm. Nintendo had already fixed it anyway.
Now come on here. You're going after Sony, 2600 and even the FBI and yet you pardon Nintendo?
Speaking of hacking, Sony got another taste of hackers again, and again.
Things just do not seem to be going Sony's way these last few weeks. First their entire PlayStation Network was hacked with information stolen and quickly leaked onto the Internet, then when the service was relaunched, the website was once again taken down due to an exploit.
After a number of other Sony-related product hacks, the latest one comes just after LulzSecurity managed to successfully hack Sony Pictures and Sony BMG. This time, LulzSecurity managed to obtain the source code for Sony Computer Entertainment Developer Network.
The website, scedev.net, houses all of the developer tools and kits for Sony products including PlayStation 3, PSP, Blu-Ray and many other products. However, the hack only managed to gather the source code for the website, and not the actual database.
The continued attacks on Sony have unveiled a number of their key online servers being unsecure. Later today, Sony will take the stage at E3 and talk a little bit about the recent PSN outage.
Poor Sony. It seems like every time they finally get up, Lulzsec knocks them back to the ground.
Finally, Microsoft. Rumor has it that there will be a new way for me to recklessly spend my money. And what better way than to create a Diamond Account.
Winrumors is reporting, based on anonymous sources, that Microsoft is in last-minute talks to secure the necessary agreements in time. The TV service is expected to be called Xbox LIVE Diamond and function as a "virtual cable operator." Microsoft could withhold an announcement if the ink hasn't dried in time.
Winrumors also is reporting that Microsoft may partner with cable companies to use the Xbox 360 to allow existing cable subscribers to watch shows and interact with their Xbox LIVE friends. The feature is available for Sky Sports subscribers in the U.K., who can scope out football rows with their Xbox avatars sitting in the front row.
The streaming TV business already has a crowded field of players, including Internet powerhouse Google, whose first attempt at Google TV didn't do so hot.
That means Microsoft may be taking a risk, though it could be successful if it turns the Xbox into a multimedia set-top box and maintains strong relationships with the cable companies.
Ahh, a Streaming TV Service. But I don't think its enough. Is there anyone Man Enough to top that and make me want to recklessly spend my money? Someone answer me now.
Consumers are used to paying $60 each for videogames that run on consoles like the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Now the publisher behind the industry's biggest videogame franchise—"Call of Duty"—is about to find out whether it can get them to pay a monthly bill, too.
Activision Blizzard Inc. plans to launch an online service called Call of Duty Elite this fall that will work with the next major edition of the game, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3," and future installments of the hyper-realistic combat-simulation game. In a move industry executives describe as a first, Activision plans to charge a monthly subscription fee for the service, which will provide extra content that isn't offered on game discs sold in stores, including downloadable map packs that give players new "Call of Duty" levels to play.
YES! A new means of recklessly spending money. And guess who has which blessing so far...
Set to debut alongside Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty Elite will offer a mixture of free and subscription features including social network offerings, a Halo Waypoint-style performance tracker, and extra content including downloadable map packs as part of the paid service.
Rob Dyer, senior vice president of publisher relations at Sony Computer Entertainment America, told the Wall Street Journal that only a few series have a strong enough following to support a subscription service, but he's nevertheless "very confident" other publishers will follow Activision's lead. "There's money to be made there," he added.
Meanwhile, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said he isn't worried about a backlash from players because Call of Duty multiplayer in its existing form will remain free-to-play.
He said the money spent to develop Call of Duty Elite and the customer-service operation that'll be required to support it mean it can't be offered for free. "This is an enormous investment."
That's right folks. Good ol Sony supports the decision to add a subscription fee to Call of Duty and it also wishes for others to follow suit. Ahh how I love being an American.
Works Cited:
GoNintendo
Technoty
Neowin
PCWorld
Wall Street Journal
Computer and Video Games
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
It's BAAAACK
Folks, I am celebrating tonight. Why? Because the PSN Store is finally back online(Wow. Did it take too long?).
The PlayStation Store is back online and thank you everyone for your patience. You will notice a huge lineup of new downloadable games, demos, add-on content, themes, avatars and videos. Also, PlayStation Plus has been updated with new full game trials, free games and DLC, free avatars and even more discounts.
You may have noticed that the content promised as part of the Welcome Back offer is not yet live. It is currently in the final stages of testing and will be available to download soon; we’ll be sure to let you know when.
The next PlayStation Store and PlayStation Plus update will be this Friday, June 3, and then we will roll right into some special publishes starting next week for E3 (so be sure to check back daily!).
And how. They have new content available for everyone who has a Playstation 3 or a Playstation Portable. And they will have even more content coming. Yay. Happy time finally com...
A group that made headlines for hacking the PBS Web site earlier this week is apparently turning its attention to Sony.
The group known as LulzSec has been promising Sony attacks since this past weekend when it posted to its Twitter account that it is engaged in an operation it calls "Sownage," shorthand for Sony Ownage. The group stated at the time that it was working on hatching a plan that would be the "beginning of the end" for Sony. It has yet to reveal what it has planned. But yesterday the group said that the attack was already under way, seemingly without Sony's knowledge.
"Hey @Sony, you know we're making off with a bunch of your internal stuff right now and you haven't even noticed?" LulzSec tweeted. "Slow and steady, guys."
Read more:
....
Goddamnit Lulzsec. I just want to cave into the corporate power that is Sony. Lemme enjoy my frickin Digital Distribution service
Speculation abounds over who attacked Sony. The game company found a file on servers that indicated the well-known hacking organization Anonymous might have been behind the attack. That file was titled "Anonymous" and included part of the group's slogan, "We are Legion."
However, Anonymous has formally denied claims that it was behind the attack, saying that it would "not take responsibility for what happened." It did acknowledge, though, that some of its members may have acted independently to attack Sony's servers.
For its part, LulzSec has also distanced itself from the PlayStation Network hack. The organization took to its Twitter account yesterday to use some choice words to express its innocence.
"You Sony morons realize we've never attacked any of your precious gaming, right?" the group tweeted.
On the PBS front, however, LulzSec has been more than happy to gloat about its hacking prowess. The group wrote on its Twitter account that it was having a "fun battle" with PBS as it posted a fake news story claiming famed musical artist Tupac was still alive. The group also reportedly published the log-in data, including passwords, of PBS workers. The attack resulted from the airing of a "Frontline" episode on PBS, called "WikiSecrets," that shed an unfavorable light on WikiLeaks--an opinion that LulzSec reportedly took issue with.
LulzSec has stopped short of revealing its plans for Sony. But even today, it continues to promise big things for operation Sownage.
"Keep on crying, Sony fanboys," the group tweeted today. "Your tears create the sea and your whining creates the wind that we so gracefully use to traverse onward."
I feel scared now. *clutches Teddy Bear*
Playstation Blog
Cnet
The PlayStation Store is back online and thank you everyone for your patience. You will notice a huge lineup of new downloadable games, demos, add-on content, themes, avatars and videos. Also, PlayStation Plus has been updated with new full game trials, free games and DLC, free avatars and even more discounts.
You may have noticed that the content promised as part of the Welcome Back offer is not yet live. It is currently in the final stages of testing and will be available to download soon; we’ll be sure to let you know when.
The next PlayStation Store and PlayStation Plus update will be this Friday, June 3, and then we will roll right into some special publishes starting next week for E3 (so be sure to check back daily!).
And how. They have new content available for everyone who has a Playstation 3 or a Playstation Portable. And they will have even more content coming. Yay. Happy time finally com...
A group that made headlines for hacking the PBS Web site earlier this week is apparently turning its attention to Sony.
The group known as LulzSec has been promising Sony attacks since this past weekend when it posted to its Twitter account that it is engaged in an operation it calls "Sownage," shorthand for Sony Ownage. The group stated at the time that it was working on hatching a plan that would be the "beginning of the end" for Sony. It has yet to reveal what it has planned. But yesterday the group said that the attack was already under way, seemingly without Sony's knowledge.
"Hey @Sony, you know we're making off with a bunch of your internal stuff right now and you haven't even noticed?" LulzSec tweeted. "Slow and steady, guys."
Read more:
....
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Goddamnit Lulzsec. I just want to cave into the corporate power that is Sony. Lemme enjoy my frickin Digital Distribution service
Speculation abounds over who attacked Sony. The game company found a file on servers that indicated the well-known hacking organization Anonymous might have been behind the attack. That file was titled "Anonymous" and included part of the group's slogan, "We are Legion."
However, Anonymous has formally denied claims that it was behind the attack, saying that it would "not take responsibility for what happened." It did acknowledge, though, that some of its members may have acted independently to attack Sony's servers.
For its part, LulzSec has also distanced itself from the PlayStation Network hack. The organization took to its Twitter account yesterday to use some choice words to express its innocence.
"You Sony morons realize we've never attacked any of your precious gaming, right?" the group tweeted.
On the PBS front, however, LulzSec has been more than happy to gloat about its hacking prowess. The group wrote on its Twitter account that it was having a "fun battle" with PBS as it posted a fake news story claiming famed musical artist Tupac was still alive. The group also reportedly published the log-in data, including passwords, of PBS workers. The attack resulted from the airing of a "Frontline" episode on PBS, called "WikiSecrets," that shed an unfavorable light on WikiLeaks--an opinion that LulzSec reportedly took issue with.
LulzSec has stopped short of revealing its plans for Sony. But even today, it continues to promise big things for operation Sownage.
"Keep on crying, Sony fanboys," the group tweeted today. "Your tears create the sea and your whining creates the wind that we so gracefully use to traverse onward."
I feel scared now. *clutches Teddy Bear*
Playstation Blog
Cnet
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