Tag: Industry - Page 22
News Latest Figures Show The Video Game Market Is Contracting
Satoru Iwata briefs investors and reveals many challenges for the industry
Nintendo is certainly having a good old time in Japan. The 3DS is dominating hardware sales in the region, so much so it has already surpassed the 10 million sales mark. However, things aren't looking as rosy in the overseas markets, namely the US and Europe, where Nintendo's...
News GoldenEye Creator Explains N64 Title's Role In Bringing "Real" Guns to the Virtual World
Brand names weren't licensed, which has changed in modern games.
With gun control and related violence a topical subject in the U.S. and among interested parties and spectators worldwide, the role of video games has faced its own level of scrutiny. Major publishers had a meeting with vice-President Joe Biden as part of his gun control task-force...
News Wii U Price Cut Isn't in Nintendo's Plans
Iwata: "I would like to make this point absolutely clear"
Following the announcement of the latest financial results for Nintendo, Satoru Iwata addressed a number of issues in a subsequent briefing, some of which we've already reported. Naturally, Wii U was a major part of the presentation, with data presented by the Nintendo President that showed...
News Iwata Implies That He Could Step Down Over Sluggish Sales Performance
"We feel greatly accountable for this severe outlook"
Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has hinted that he will step down if goals for the next fiscal year are not met. Speaking in a Corporate Management Policy Briefing, Iwata addressed the thorny issue of two consecutive years of losses and recent financial troubles: We feel greatly accountable...
News Warren Spector: "I'm Sad But Excited For The Future"
Former Junction Point chief is proud of the studio's achievements
Yesterday Disney announced that it was closing Junction Point Studios indefinitely, resulting in around 160 people sadly losing their jobs. Warren Spector was the man who headed up the operation at Junction Point, and because of the closure he too has left Disney Interactive. In a...
Talking Point Nintendo's Lower Expectations Are No Surprise
Nintendo isn't doomed, though
Today Nintendo issued its third quarter financial results, showing where the company stands in terms of profits and sales. To get the positive out of the way and to avoid any confusion, the company is now projecting a net income profit of 14 billion Yen - over $150 million dollars at the time of writing. In summary,...
News Nintendo's Financial Results Bring Operational Losses But Overall Profit
Wii U sales to date pass three million
Nintendo has today published its quarterly financial results, which cover the nine months up to the end of December. In terms of the baseline figures that concern shareholders the outcome is disappointing if not a disaster, while sales of hardware seem to be in reasonable shape. Wii U is reported to have...
News Disney Confirms That Junction Point Has Been Closed
Warren Spector's studio closes its doors
It has emerged today that Junction Point Studios, the developer behind the Epic Mickey series, has closed its doors and in the process made its employees — of which there were around 160 in early 2012 — redundant. Rumours were circulating yesterday about the studio's demise, and now a Disney...
News So, How Is The Wii U Doing In The UK?
Could do better?
Although those who have purchased the Wii U - us included - are perfectly happy with the system, experts and analysts want cold, hard numbers to prove how well a new piece of hardware is doing. And sadly, in the case of the Wii U, those figure are a little on the depressing side. Eurogamer has conduced its own investigation into...
Rumour Has Junction Point Hit A Dead End?
Troubling tales regarding Warren Spector's studio
Various reports have been circulating around the internet in the past couple of hours saying that Warren Spector's Junction Point has been suffering some problems, with the development studio being closed down by Disney. A tweet originating from Roberts Space Industries sparked the chatter, but it...
News Pinball Games Contribute to a Revival of Real Tables
A new generation is getting interested
While it's often easy for veteran gamers — some of which are part of the Nintendo Life team — to bemoan the loss of some video game traditions, there are occasions where modern trends are good for those with old-fashioned sensibilities. We see old titles given new life on download platforms, for example,...
News Pokémon Black and White 2 Claims Top Spot for Japan in 2012
A year to remember for Nintendo's handheld business
Media Create, the most trusted source for the weekly hardware and software charts in Japan, has released details of the top selling games in the region for the whole of 2012. As anyone who follows our regular posts on the weekly Japanese chart will know, Nintendo's been having a good time in its...
News Silent Hill Producer Joins WayForward Technologies
Tomm Hulett leaves Konami for pastures new
A new director has been appointed at WayForward Technologies in the form of Tomm Hulett, the former Konami producer behind Contra 4, Rocket Knight and the more recent Silent Hill games. Konami and WayForward Technologies have worked together before, with the publisher releasing Silent Hill: Book of...
News THQ President: Lack Of Vigil Buyer Is A "Travesty"
There's still some hope for Darksiders
This week saw the sad end of THQ, as the publisher sold off its assets at auction and closed its doors for the last time. SEGA, Koch Media, Crytek, Take-Two and Ubisoft all gathered around for the sale, taking with them most of its IPs and studios. One development team that unfortunately didn't get picked up...
News FIFA Brand Passes £1 Billion in UK Sales
Mario is third, but results are only from 1996 onwards
When it comes to the UK software sales charts, FIFA is often King. While some like to pick on Nintendo's fairly regular entries from Mario, for example, FIFA is an annual affair that, from year to year, promises revolutionary improvements to shake up the series. FIFA 13 did represent a genuine...
News Nintendo Comes Out On Top In Consumer Experience Poll
Beating Apple, Sony and Microsoft
A recent poll has seen Nintendo top the list for best customer service, outranking Apple, Sony, Samsung and Microsoft - among others. The findings were charted by Forrester, an independent market research firm that specialises in the tech sector. 7,500 US participants in the survey were asked: “How well did they...
News Platinum Games Is Interested In Acquiring The Darksiders Franchise
A match made in heaven?
Yesterday, we reported that THQ's time was up and the company's studios were being sold off to the highest bidders. One of the shocks of the process has been the fact that nobody has come forward to purchase Darksiders II studio Vigil Games. However, it would seem that there are interested parties out there. Platinum Games...
News Game Over For THQ As Assets Are Purchased By Rival Publishers
Sega, Crytek, Take-Two and Ubisoft pick apart troubled company
2013 hasn't had the best of starts for veteran video game publisher THQ. After buying some time at the end of 2012, the firm slid into bankruptcy just a few days later and as the new year dawned found itself in the position of having its assets - the studios and IPs it owns, essentially...
News Ralph Nader Targets Violent Video Games and Their Developers
Refers to "electronic child molesters"
After the shocking violence of the Sandy Hook massacre, a lot of political debate in the U.S. has focused on the implications of what happened, along with debates about existing gun laws and the potential causes of such violent behaviour. It's a complex issue with arguments about gun control and mental health...
Talking Point The Trends and Inconsistencies of Localisation
Predicting releases is getting tougher
Yesterday brought the news that Project X Zone is being localised and released in PAL regions and North America this summer. To many that would arguably be a surprise, as the title has endured a relative failure in Japan, culminating in a major price-cut. Yet recent years have taught us that predicting...
News HMV Debt Acquired by Hilco
Gift cards are being honoured once again
HMV, one of the UK's foremost entertainment media retailers in the UK, and by extension a major part of the video game presence on the high-street, has been in administration since last week. It's been announced today that the company's debt has now been acquired by Hilco, a retail restructuring firm that...
Reaction Gunman Clive Provides a Positive Example of eShop Success
A boost for controlled licensing
The video game industry is in the middle of, arguably, its most unstable period — the landscape is evolving almost too quickly to track. Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are currently sticking to the course as constants, in general maintaining well-worn business practices while attempting to adjust to new challenges...
News Atari's U.S. Division Files For Bankruptcy
A bid for freedom from its parent company in France
While filing for bankruptcy in the U.S. is typically an act taken by companies in significant financial trouble, it's being adopted as an escape mechanism by the U.S. divisions of Atari. Atari Inc, Atari Interactive Inc, Humongous Inc and California US Holdings Inc have all collectively filed in...
Talking Point The Blurred Lines of "Collectables" and On-Disc DLC
Are Skylanders and Disney Infinity pulling a Capcom, with toys?
Yesterday, before a maelstrom of date reveals and other news, the pricing emerged for Disney Infinity, which put parents and their bank managers on alert. It also instantly raised comparisons with the Skylanders series, now two games old, which despite differences in approach to the...
News Sony and Kevin Butler Actor Settle Lawsuit Over Wii Appearance
No more Mario Kart Wii for Jerry Lambert
Last year we reported the peculiar news that Sony was taking 'Kevin Butler' actor Jerry Lambert to court over an appearance in a Bridgestone advert in which he was part of a Wii promotion. The Kevin Butler character was, for a significant period, the figurehead of Sony's advertising for PlayStation 3 and...
Talking Point The Future Role of High Street Games Retailers
Tough times ahead?
The past twelve months have shown just how volatile the current market is for retailers. With the global recession taking its toll, several high street businesses are finding it difficult to compete. This week alone saw both HMV and Blockbuster slip into administration in the UK, putting thousands of jobs at risk. Video game...
News Nintendo Unifying Handheld and Console Divisions in Business Restructure
$340 million being invested in a new development facility
While many of us focus exclusively on our latest Nintendo consoles and what games are coming up, it's easy to forget that Nintendo's a rather large corporation that's always evolving and seeking a business edge. While it may crush any perceptions that Nintendo's facilities are populated by...
Talking Point Wii U's Beginnings and Challenges For 2013
Convincing sceptics is one
Recent sales figures and industry conversations have given us a fair old glut of analytical articles focused on Wii U in recent days. For a system that's barely a couple of months old, there's been a temptation in some quarters to either predict doom and a major loss of market share, or to put faith in Nintendo's...
News Analyst Firm Concerned That Wii U Will "Lack Broad Appeal"
Believes Sony and Microsoft successors are due this year
Last week saw the annual tech hoopla of Consumer Electronics Association (CES) 2013, with a number of gadgets such as the Nvidia Project Shield handheld unveiled. Although not all major technology companies were in attendance, it was an opportunity for various contacts to be made and for...
News Zen Studios: Wii U eShop is an "Amazing Development for Nintendo"
"The doors are wide open for other small studios"
Best known for its pinball titles — though it has dabbled in other genres — Zen Studios earned a starring role in the final Nintendo Direct broadcasts of last year when Zen Pinball 2 was announced for the Wii U eShop. Initially expected in December, it's been pushed back from that original target...
News Satoru Iwata: Customers Understanding The Wii U "Will Take a Little Time"
"We aim to leave a smile on our customer's faces"
With a New Year and Nintendo's upcoming announcement of its Q3 financial results, Satoru Iwata and his team have plenty to think about. 2013 will be an important year to continue momentum on 3DS with big releases, and more importantly to grow the Wii U audience as much as possible. Speaking to...
News Zero Escape Director Craves Mainstream Recognition
Ideals remain due to "very humbling" support from fans
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward is one of the most unique experiences currently available on 3DS, serving a role well fulfilled by its predecessor — 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors — on DS. Part of its appeal, as shared by many of its strongest advocates, is its strength of...
News Nintendo Announces 890,000 Wii U Sales in U.S. Launch
Higher revenues than Wii launch, 3DS has over 1.25 million sales in Holiday period
Nintendo of America has issued a series of facts and figures for its Holiday period performance in the U.S., following publication of the latest NPD figures that cover 25th November to 29th December. There were some solid results and, perhaps most importantly, decent...
News Data Analyst Firm Expects Discs to Remain as Console Mainstays
Predicts that Wii U will exceed 50 million sales by year-end 2016
With the continually evolving gaming industry, and a dizzying range of devices and platforms beyond the conventional big three of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, there are plenty of people who wonder whether the era of the dedicated game console is coming to a gradual end. Time will...
Talking Point The Emergence of Download-Only Retail Games
A subtle but important evolution
The past couple of weeks have brought a notable landmark for the 3DS eShop, even if it hasn't necessarily caused internet-shaking headlines or attracted a great deal of attention. Unchained Blades, an RPG that would typically be found in specialist gaming stores or online retailers, if you're lucky, was released by...
News GameStop Reports 320,000 Wii U Sales Since Launch
Covers a large range of trading territories
As another year settles in snippets of information are starting to reveal the Holiday fortunes of Wii U, since its North American arrival on 18th November and its subsequent releases in Europe, Japan and elsewhere. NPD figures should paint a clearer picture for the US later this week, while Nintendo's own...
Talking Point Pokémon X & Y Provide a Timely Boost for 3DS in the West
The DS era is left behind
The biggest release on DS in 2012, and surely the runaway winner of practically every Game of the Year award specifically tailored for the older handheld, were the Pokémon Black & White 2 titles, tied together for the purposes of simplicity. Yet its announcement and release on the platform surprised a number of gamers...
News The Conduit Looks Set for Nvidia's Project Shield
From Wii to the Tegra mobile gaming platform
Yesterday we reported on Nvidia's announcement of Project Shield, a device that incorporates a conventional home console controller with a high-quality retina display touchscreen, impressive all-round specs and the ability to stream PC games without the need for a meaty broadband connection. Whether it'll...
News 3DS Surpasses 10 Million Sales in Japan
It keeps on rolling
While worldwide performance and firm figures are either hard to find or occasionally shown to be modest, one thing is certain — the 3DS is emerging as a major sales success in Japan. Perhaps due to the power of franchises — Animal Crossing: New Leaf has been a monster hit — the handheld's performance is such that it's...
News Troubled THQ To Be Picked Apart By Rivals
Key franchises to be sold to the highest bidder
The future of THQ largely hangs in the balance as the company struggles to find the cash to stay afloat. Back in December the publisher filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy handing over its assets to investment firm Clearlake Capital, which is now looking for a prospective buyer. It has been confirmed...
News Nvidia Unveils the Daunting Project Shield
A game changer for 3DS?
Update: We originally wrote that we believe this system may use a broadband connection to stream PC games from platforms such as Steam. In actual fact, the official product page explains that only a compatible router is required, with the device utilising a local connection between the system and a GeForce equipped PC...
News Satoru Iwata Says That Wii U is "Selling Steadily"
Nintendo share prices have dropped since the system's launch
Although no concrete sales figures for Wii U have been given so far, Satoru Iwata has spoken about the performance of Nintendo's new home console in its early weeks. Many have observed that stock has been readily available and easy to obtain in recent times, a significantly different...
News Iwata: Nintendo Open To "Free-To-Play" Gaming Model
But only if it suits the game in question
We've already reported on the Nikkei interview with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata regarding the success of Animal Crossing: New Leaf, but the news that it had shifted 500,000 downloads wasn't the only interesting info he had to share. Iwata was also keen to talk about the impact of Free-to-Play gam
News Fractured Soul Gets a PAL Reduction in Stand Against Price Hikes
A rebellion against high Australian prices
Fractured Soul has been a passionate project years in the making for Endgame Studios, as they told us in our interview last year. It arrived in North America on 13th September 2012, and is due in this week's update in PAL regions now that the rating and approval processes are complete. We certainly felt...
News GameStop Sales of Wii U Are Reportedly "Slightly Disappointing"
Thankfully not "very disappointing", we suppose
Now that the Holiday season is passing and the majority of people are already returning to the drudgery of work and normal life, some analysis about festive spending and sales is expected to emerge. Wii U will be a major topic in the gaming industry when looking at sales, as it's a new home console...
News The Tragic Tale of Bonk: Brink of Extinction Developer Pi Studios
You don't always get a happy ending
Remember Bonk: Brink of Extinction? It was an update of Hudson's famous TurboGrafx-16 platformer that was supposed to come out on WiiWare in 2010, but was cancelled despite being almost finished. Texas-based Pi Studios - the team behind the update - closed in 2011, but many of its staff moved on to form Oscar...
News UK Video Games Market Fell By 17.4% in 2012
Big challenges for the industry
The Entertainment Retailers Association has reported that in 2012 the UK video games market fell by 17.4%, including both physical and digital sales. In 2011 the whole video games market in the UK was worth £1.934 billion, in comparison to £1.598 billion in 2012. While digital sales did increase by 7.7% in 2012,...
Talking Point Nintendo's New Year Resolutions
Mario should probably lose some weight
So it's the start of a New Year, and is the ideal time to reflect on hopes for future success and on what can be done better. Nintendo had an exceptionally busy 2012, working hard to expand the 3DS user-base and releasing the XL hardware iteration, while also bringing us its new home console, Wii U. We can...
News The Last Story Was Almost Left Untold In North America
XSEED came close to passing up the opportunity
The Last Story is one of the stronger titles on Wii, which we've just named as our staff's second favourite on the system in 2012. Originally released in Japan in early 2011, it took a long time to make an appearance in the West. It was early 2012 when it was published in Europe by Nintendo, however it...
Rumour Ubisoft Looking To Buy THQ's Assets
French company reportedly in talks to acquire tangible assets
On Wednesday THQ filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in the United States, handing over its tangible assets to Clearlake Investments, an investment firm, with a view to selling the business on. It appears that Ubisoft is the front runner to pick up THQ's tangible assets, with MCV reporting...
