Monthly Archives: June 2009

Ex THQ executive vice president of publishing, Scott Guthrie, was named MTV Games’ new executive vice president and general manager earlier today.

“With our acquisition of Harmonix to our relationship with Jerry Bruckheimer Games, Inc., MTV Games has quickly risen to become one of the top five video gaming publishers,” said network president Van Toffler.

“We’re going after the best in music video gaming with Rock Band and the best in story telling with our Bruckheimer partnership, and now we have the best leaders and team in place to bring MTV Games to the next level and grow through the next evolution in video games.”

Good luck with that, Scott.

In an interview with SI, Lennart Sas, creative director on Overlord II said that downloadable is currently being worked on for the sequel and we can expect an announcement about it sooner rather than later.

“We’re actually working on that now and it’ll be announced soon.” said Sas when asked.

Full thing through the link.

Rising Star games has announced it will publish tri-Cescendo’s Wii title, Fragile: Farewell Ruins in PAL territories.

“Fragile has a great team of creative designers who in turn have brought to life a beautiful art style that pushes the limits of the Wii console without compromising on gaming quality,” said Tyrone Walcott, product manager at Rising Star Games.

“This announcement will delight European gamers and the Otaku community. Rising Star Games has again shown its commitment to bring the best games from Japan.”

Fragile is about a boy exploring a world that has lost its population with his flashlight.

Fragile: Farewell Ruins is scheduled for a Q1 2010 release.

Full PR after the break.

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Sony has updated its European blog to announce new site features and its US blog has announced it’s going mobile.

The European blog is getting a Trophies comparison page and a new leaderboard. You can view these through the European Blog link. More site updates are promised.

You can also see how the US Blog looks in its mobile form through the other link.

Neat, huh?

According to NPD Group figures (below), only one PlayStation 3 first-party exclusive has topped one million in sales in the US. That game is Resistance: Fall of Man. It must be pointed out that these numbers do not include bundled titles.

GameSetWatch‘s numbers man Matt Matthews has cast a beady eye of the figures and surmised that although Sony’s stance on new IP is commendable, it is simply not profitable. Matthews reckons Sony should concentrate more on sequels.

He says it might have been better for Insomniac to continue building on the Ratchet and Clank franchise, instead of investing on the brand new Resistance. Same too for Naughty Dog, who might have profited more from a sequel to the popular PS2 title, Jak & Daxter, rather than creating the rather excellent Uncharted: Drakes Fortune.

The article points out that Sony concentrated a large portion of its E3 conference on Uncharted 2, even though the game hasn’t even come close to the 750k mark in the US. Tretton said back then that Uncharted had sold 2.6 million copies worldwide. However, as Matthews points out, he’s including bundled software figures, not stand-alone sales.

One could also look at Resistance 2 which has sold less than 750,000 units in six months on the market, to a userbase of 6 to 7 million owners. For a game promoted as the latest and best on the platform, opening month sales of 385,000 units seems exceptionally weak.

If we compare these figures to the competition, Gears of War 2 had sales upward of sales of 1.56 million units in its first month to an userbase of 12.4 million users. By the end of its second month it had hit the 2.3 million mark.

One could say that comparing Microsoft’s [and Nintendo's] biggest hits to Sony’s games is unfair. However, the issue is quite simple: Of Sony’s biggest software ventures of the past three years, which have been as successful as Microsoft’s on the Xbox 360 or Nintendo’s on the Wii? Even adjusting for the installed bases, Sony’s hits on the PlayStation 3 simply aren’t of the same magnitude as those of its competition on their respective platforms.

Matthews rounds off by saying that that company’s biggest first-party franchises – Gran Turismo and God of War – both of which are sequels, and thus in the conditions of his argument bound to do well, still aren’t out yet, and aren’t likely to see the light of day until next year.

There’s loads more though the link.

After the break. Been a long time coming, this, and it definitely does look as though it’s benefited from the extra time.

EA’s releasing the game on July 3 for all formats.

Take a look.

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Microsoft has signed a deal with French TV and satellite network Canal +. The deal is similar to that signed with UK broadcaster Sky last month, meaning that French Xbox owners will also now be able to watch television through their 360′s without the need for a satellite dish or decoder.

According to MCV, “the partnership will initially focus on the on-demand services from Canal+, video-on-demand service Canalplay and specialist football channel Foot+.”

Reuters weighs in, adding that more than “3,000 films, premium dramas and soaps live and subsequently on demand, and French Ligue 1 soccer games.”

You’ll also be to use Xbox Live to reach friends via their avatars and chat during games.

It is also revealed that the deal will extend to other areas of the Canal Plus Group (Scandinavia please) and other Microsoft platforms.

Media Molecule has revealed that some special ‘Sacktue of Liberty’ Sackboy Skins will be available on July 2nd to help celebrate Independence Day in the US on 4th July.

There’s some Statue of Liberty history through the link, if that’s your thing.

UK developer trade body Tiga, has said that according to research, 83 per cent of UK game developers now outsource and that dev houses feel outsourcing in general is “fundamental to their business.”

Tiga CEO Richard Wilson said that case studies “show that a well-managed approach to outsourcing can give UK game developers a competitive edge in the global marketplace.”

This sentiment is echoed by David Tolley, outsourcing manager at Monumental Games, who says: “Successful outsource contribution is driven by experience, passion and strong support from internal staff. A few short years ago, outsourcing was almost taboo – now it is a necessity.”

Thanks, Edge.

Sega has told MTV that it is “very sad” to hear of Michael Jackson’s death adding that he “was a true music legend whose songs touched each of us at some point in our lives.”

Sega, who gave us the classic Moonwalker videogame (article image), added:

“We are proud to have worked with him and included his music in some of our most well-remembered games and are sure that his genius will live on through his great body of work. We have no doubt that future generations will be moonwalking to all his greatest hits.”

Zen Studios has put out a new Punisher: No Mercy Trailer showing people getting severely punished by way of a bullet in the face and brains running down walls.

It all looks like a great laugh.

Not long to wait either; game’s out on Thursday exclusively on PSN.

Check it out.

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A nifty dragon drawing has appeared on the Square Enix countdown site that appeared Friday and is set to literally destroy the internet when the clock runs down on July 6.

There’s not much else to say, really. apart from Kotaku reckons it could be a new SaGa game.

Have a look.

EA has put any rumour of Spielberg title, LMNO (pronounced Elemental), being canned to rest by informing Kotaku that the project “continues to develop at EALA with Steven,” and that it isn’t referred to as LMNO any more.

“The rumor is incorrect. EA remains deeply committed to its collaboration with Steven Spielberg and projects we are developing together. LMNO was a code name for a project in development at EALA. While the project continues to develop at EALA with Steven, we no longer refer to it as LMNO. We have no further details to reveal at this time.”

This, incidentally, is what EA has been saying all along, as you can see here and here. Still, nice to know nothing’s changed.

Blitz boss Philip Oliver has told VG247 that he believes digital distribution is “the future” for smaller games, and has outlined progress made with Blitz 1>UP, an in-house program designed to help tiny developers see their titles become commercial products.

And why not? Oliver says that digital distribution allows for “experimental” games, micro-payments and piracy protection, as well as tapping into a flourishing market being spearheaded by the likes of XBLA and Steam.

If you’re a one- or two-man band struggling to get your game made, you’d do well to look past the link for details on Blitz 1>UP. You may be famous yet.

Hit it, innit.

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If you hadn’t guessed after reading the headline; Fight Night Round 4 sits top of the tree in this week’s serving of UK chart action.

It’s punched Prototype off top spot which in turn has pushed The Sims 3 to third.

Full top ten here:

Update: Worth a mention: GI points out that this is the first time a boxing title has hit the number one in the all-format charts. So congrats to that.

The Grauniad caught up with Monkey Island Special Edition producer, Craig Derrick who teased that the up-until-now-Xbox-Live-and-PC-only title could be heading to PlayStation 3 and Wii. Derrick hinted further that the game would be heading to a new, unannounced platform.

Why Xbox Live and not Wiiware or PSN?

Well, we never said we wouldn’t be on Wiiware or PSN now did we? The truth is, though, Xbox Live offers a great user experience and downloadable service to gamers and we think it’s a great platform to launch the game on. And, of course, the game will also be available on PC via digital download, plus we may have another platform announcement to make very, very soon

Our guess would be a handheld. We’re really clever like that.

Full interview with Craig through the link.

Blizzard’s Dustin Browder, lead game designer on Starcraft II, no less – has told Destructoid that the team wanted to create a much stronger, single-player experience that allows the player (that’s you) to “get a lot closer to the gameplay experience” than you did in the first game. You’re going to have to expand your mind too, apparently.

“Well, what we’re trying to do is create a game that hearkens back to the legacy of the original,” he said.

“We felt the original was such a strong game that we didn’t want to run off and abandon it and do whatever. We wanted it to feel like you were coming home to a game that you knew and loved.

“At the same time, we’re trying to create all-new gameplay elements, trying to create a gameplay experience that still has as much learning for you as the original StarCraft and the original Brood War did.

“You feel like you have to expand your mind, try new stuff; you get a chance to be creative, [and] you might be able to discover something no one’s ever seen before, which is clearly not as likely these days with StarCraft and Brood War,” he went on.

“We want to create something that lets players get a lot closer to the gameplay experience, get a lot deeper into the characters, and really gets to be a 21st-century look at storytelling in the StarCraft universe, which a lot of our competitors have been doing – really great stories.

“We wanted to do something that we felt matched our quality level and was really out there doing some awesome stuff.”

The gaming internet has published it’s Starcraft II previews this morning and we’ve picked a couple out for you have a look at: Eurogamer (which has some new screens too) and IGN.

Fill your boots.

GI.biz caught up with THQ executive VP Danny Bison who revealed that the company isn’t interested in having a diverse portfolio, it’s all about the quality of the games being released.

“It’s really simple, it’s the games,” said Danny when asked about THQ’s new creative vision after the management reshuffle last week.

“I’m not being glib. How will I build the portfolio? I’ll ship three shooters in a year if they’re going to be 90-rated and awesome.

“Good games sell like good movies sell,” he went on. “You don’t have to worry about diversifying portfolios and making a pet vet game because everyone else has one.

“If I had another shooter I could makes us another $20 million, so what are we talking about? It’s about good.

He was then asked if he felt whether THQ needed to compete in each genre and provide games for every system: “How does that even makes sense, I don’t understand that? It’s funny, but why do I need that?” he said.

“If I had something good for every genre I would do something good for them, but if I have two strong shooters and as long as I’m making the revenue and selling games and people are digging them, I’m good.

“Maybe I’m completely wrong and mad, but I don’t get ‘portfolio’. UFC: Undisputed did two million units in two weeks. It’s wild in places like Germany and the UK. In Germany the UFC doesn’t even play there.”

Full interview through the link. You’d be wise to read it, we reckon, as there’s some good stuff in there.

If you’re really good at Burnout Paradise – and by “really good” we mean you’re able to complete the 500 online freeburn challenges that includes everything from the original game, and the ones in the in the Cagney update, the Bikes Pack and all the challenges on Big Surf Island – you’ll be reward with a sexy-looking, diamond-branded P12 motor (pictured above).

We know right now we’ll never ever get that car due to sheer laziness, but if you’ve got what it takes, then give it a shot.

Thanks, Joystiq.

Looks like this one slipped under the radar: Back on June 12, Fight Night Round 4, producer Brian Hayes told IGN that button-mapping – controversially absent from the initial release – might be offered as downloadable content at some point.

“No, there is no option for face button punching in the final version, but we are investigating providing the option via DLC,” he told the site.

Internet opinion seems to very much in favour of buttons returning to the game as per FNR3, so we’ll see if EA comes up with the goods or not.

Fight Night Round 4 is currently available for PS3 and 360 in a local store near you. We haven’t got our copy yet, sadly, but the demo was good, good, good.

Thanks, Joystiq.