Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Microsoft announced today that a new SKU will be released...
Following photo evidence last week of Xbox 360 Arcade standees appearing at retail outlets, Microsoft today officially confirmed the repackaged console. Outlining the Arcade's appeal to the Financial Times, Microsoft president of entertainment and devices division Robbie Bach said the new configuration was intended to take on Nintendo's popular $249 Wii, which comes with the Wii Sports minigame compilation.
"Arcade becomes [for us] the ability to bring in a new set of audiences," Bach said. "They're probably a little bit more casually focused, they're looking for a new family experience, or they're more price focused."
The Financial Times and Microsoft were mum on when the Arcade will arrive at retail. However, the article did confirm that Microsoft's low-end SKU would maintain its $279 price point, include a wireless controller, and pack in at least three Xbox Live Arcade games: Pac-Man, Uno, and Luxor 2. (Leaked pictures of the boxes show the Pac-Man game included is actually Pac-Man Championship Edition.) Though no other games were mentioned in the FT article, numerous online reports say the game will come with five games in total, including Boom-Boom Rocket and Feeding Frenzy.
The timing of the confirmation isn't surprising. Earlier today, Sony announced it has dropped the price of its 80GB PlayStation 3 SKU in North America to $499. The console maker also plans on introducing a reduced-functionality 40GB model for $399 on November 2.
The parallel announcements of the Xbox 360 Arcade and cheaper PS3 are designed to shake up the next-gen console race. As of the end of August, the NPD Group estimates that, despite a year head start, only 6.3 million 360s have been sold in the US, compared to 4 million Wiis. Both platforms are far ahead of the PS3, which has only sold 1.75 million units in the US since its November 2006 debut.
Lightning says: Well, it certainly beats the crap out of the core package as it comes with games and a wireless controller. It would have been nice to see a memory card packaged too though
News importance: 7/10
Posted by
~Lightning~ on 10/23 at 01:30 PM
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Quoted from Gamespot: In March 2006, veteran Canadian developer BioWare announced it was opening a satellite studio in Austin, Texas to prep a mysterious massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Within minutes of the announcement, rumors were already flying that the top-secret project was the third installment in the award-winning Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic series.
Such speculation was fueled further by the fact that lead designer James Ohlen performed the same duties on the original KOTOR, and several senior members of the studio worked on the Star Wars MMORPG Star Wars: Galaxies. Also, right around the time of the BioWare announcement, Star Wars license holder LucasArts confirmed that it was approached by developers about an all-new Star Wars MMORPG, but declined to elaborate.
However, rumors of a KOTOR MMORPG petered out, thanks to BioWare's successful attempts to keep virtually every detail about the game under wraps. However, now the rumors are back thanks to Primotechnology's claims, which are the first to directly cite a source with knowledge of BioWare Austin's inner workings.
"A source close to BioWare confirmed to us today that the studio's upcoming untitled massively-multiplayer online RPG will be centered around the Star Wars universe, specifically that of Knights of the Old Republic, which the developer released in 2003," read the report. Primotechnology went on to point out that the popularity of Star Wars: Galaxies--which was released in 2003 and drastically revised in 2005--is waning. "It's estimated that the game now has fewer than 100,000 subscribers and less than 20,000 active players," said the site without sourcing the numbers.
The official story: In a recent interview, BioWare co-CEOs Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk steadfastly refused to comment on their MMORPG's subject matter (although they did say it was already in playable form). LucasArts followed suit. "LucasArts doesn't comment on rumors or speculation," said the PR rep tasked with handling the publisher's MMORPG efforts.
Bogus or not bogus?: Bogus that anything's been officially confirmed. And with only Primotechnology's word to go on, there's not enough for a concrete call either way. One thing is for certain, though: A KOTOR MMORPG would be huge. Besides being the stuff of nerd fantasies, the game would have a good chance of stealing away weary World of Warcraft players by offering both a sci-fi MMORPG alternative and BioWare's impeccable pedigree.
It's also worth noting that when Electronic Arts bought BioWare/Pandemic for $860 million earlier this month, it cited the BioWare MMORPG as one of the three main motivators for the deal. Ironically, such an arrangement could see EA developing a game for sometime-rival LucasArts--which it dwarfs in size--to publish.
Lightning says: If this turns out to be true then not only will it please (and displease) a large number of fans but it will also quieten all the tal on if KOTOR 3 will exist, when it will be released and similar things. The series is one of the best (Or at least in my opinion) RPG's to be found on the original Xbox and it certainly lives up to the hype it was given (Hell, when I got my 360 at launch I ended up forsaking the 360 games just to play KOTOR , and I did, for 36 hours before trying the 360 games).
It would also mean that EA certainly made a good move buying Bioware/Pandemic (creators of games such as Jade Empire, KOTOR and Mercenaries)
News importance: 7/10, Would be higher but lack of confirmation makes it a rumour which are to be taken with a pinch of salt
Posted by
~Lightning~ on 10/23 at 01:23 PM
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Monday, October 22, 2007
Nintendo loses their VP of marketing
So far, 2007 has been a bit of a paradox for Nintendo of America. On one hand, the US arm of the Kyoto, Japan-based game giant has had a banner year. Its Wii console has become a phenomenon, selling over 4.5 million units in the US as of the end of September, according to the NPD group--500,000 last month alone. The DS wasn't far behind with 496,000 units sold during the month.
On the other hand, 2007 has seen unprecedented turnover at NOA. While former VP of marketing Reggie Fils-Aime has been repeatedly honored for helping guide the company out of the GameCube doldrums, his colleagues weren't so lucky. Early in the summer, Nintendo Co.'s president Satoru Iwata quietly decided to split up his company's US division. While NOA's headquarters remains Microsoft's neighbor in Redmond, Washington, its marketing department was relocated to New York and its PR arm put down stakes in Redwood City, California--home of Electronic Arts.
As a result of the trifurcation of NOA's operations, many members of its internal PR and marketing teams were given a choice: Relocate or quit. Two of the company's most public faces--director of public relations Beth Llewellyn and senior vice president of marketing George Harrison chose the latter option. So did vice president of marketing & corporate affairs Perrin Kaplan, who announced this month she will be leaving NOA at the end of the year.
Lightnings opinion: Well, she's been working there since the days of the SNES and as such is a well respected figure. However, I see no problems in replacing her.
News importance rating: 4/10
Posted by
~Lightning~ on 10/22 at 06:24 AM
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Monday, August 02, 2004
Hundreds of raids lead to multiple arrests proving crime doesn't pay.
The ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association) delivers the clear message that piracy in the computer and video games sector will not be tolerated, as its anti-piracy unit today announced figures that demonstrate its success in attempting to eradicate counterfeiting during the first half of 2004.
ELSPA's crackdown resulted in nearly 200 raids across the UK, the seizure of an estimated 2,500,000 (euro) worth of counterfeit merchandise and the conviction of 36 pirates since January, revealing a successful past six months.
Roger Bennett, director general of ELPSA said: "These excellent results are the fruits of continued hard work from ELSPA's anti-piracy investigators, outstanding cooperation and communication with local authorities and fellow anti-piracy groups and increasingly severe penalties for those caught. ELSPA would like to thank all those who join us in the struggle against counterfeiting."
Posted by
on 08/02 at 11:17 PM
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Thursday, July 29, 2004
Fantasy Football players everywhere are gearing up for the opening snap of the 2004 Fantasy Football season with EA SPORTS Fantasy Football from Electronic Arts.
Fantasy football fans can sign up at http://www.easports.com/fantasy for the authentic, in-depth fantasy football experience that sports fans would expect from the combined forces of EA SPORTS, the definitive leader in interactive sports experiences, and STATS, Inc., the world's leading sports information provider.
"Bringing the fantasy football experience to EA SPORTS is an exciting event and a natural fit," said Chip Lange, Vice President of EA SPORTS Nation. "Over the past 12 years EA SPORTS has become the definitive leader in interactive sports experiences -- spawning an entire generation of interactive sports junkies. Fantasy Football provides these legions of sports fans another way to test their sports skills competitively in the unrivalled EA SPORTS Nation arena."
"STATS' industry leading fantasy game engines, real-time news and stats, customer service, and hosting infrastructure will ensure the highest levels of flexibility, accuracy, and availability for EA SPORTS fantasy game players," said Steve Byrd, Senior Vice President of STATS, Inc. "STATS is thrilled with the opportunity to partner with EA SPORTS to take fantasy football to the next level."
The more than 15 million people who play fantasy sports now have a new choice in fantasy sports. With this inaugural fantasy football season, EA SPORTS will offer a fully customizable Commissioner League, as well as an easy-to-play League Manager where individual fans can take on the rest of the EA SPORTS football community. The EA SPORTS Football Commissioner offers true fantasy gurus the highest-quality league management capabilities with comprehensive customization options, as well as real-time professional sports news and information. For just $99.99, EA SPORTS Commissioners can customize the rules and scoring systems for up to 32 team-owners and receive EA SPORTS gear and a bonus league trophy just for signing up. Fantasy football participants can spend their Sundays in front of their personalized home pages, monitoring real-time scores and statistics provided by STATS, Inc.
The EA SPORTS Public League Manager services will match up 12 players in a league where EA SPORTS picks the rules, and allows players to showcase their football smarts. For only $9.99, players can take on the EA SPORTS community for exclusive EA SPORTS awards and the ultimate fan trip to the all-star game in Hawaii. Complete rules can be found at http://www.easports.com/fantasy/football/rules.jsp.
Free to all subscribers will be a weekly Pick'em Game, where the participants who most accurately predict the weekly winning teams will earn autographed footballs as well as the chance to win another ultimate fan trip to the all star game in Hawaii. Pick'em Game entrants can create private groups to compete against their friends, with trackable worldwide leader boards. Complete rules can be found at http://www.easports.com/fantasy/football/rules.jsp.
EA SPORTS Fantasy Football league sign ups began on July 22nd, at http://www.easports.com/fantasy and will continue throughout the early part of the 2004-2005 NFL season.
Posted by
on 07/29 at 01:16 AM
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