Nintendo StreetPass Games Sell
AUG. 5, 2013 • Back in June, Nintendo Co. Ltd. updated the 3DS in Japan and Europe to add a new shop to the StreetPass Mii Plaza. StreetPass is a feature that lets 3DS owners play with other 3DS owners in the same area. Several StreetPass titles come bundled with the system, but with the new shop came four new StreetPass games that can be purchased. The same update arrived in North America three weeks later. The titles can be bought for ¥500/€5/$5 each, or ¥.....
Sega Digital Games Drive Growth
AUG. 1, 2013 • Digitally delivered games are accounting for a larger portion of revenue at Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. For the first quarter ending June 30, the Sega digital games segment grew 60.8% to ¥8.2 billion ($82 million) compared to the same period last year. What’s more, Sega brought in more in digital sales than its packaged titles, which accounted for ¥7.6 billion ($76 million). Leading the upswing in digital games was Phantasy Star Online 2 that.....
Blu-ray Replacement Planned
JULY 30, 2013 • Sony Corp. and Panasonic Corp., who were primary partners in developing the Blu-ray optical discs, have come forward to announce that they are working together on a higher capacity format. The goal is the developing a new optical disc with a capacity of no less than 300GB by 2015. Current Blu-ray capacities are 25GB (single layer), 50GB (dual layer), 100GB (triple layer), and 128GB (quad layer). Both companies are framing the new format as a next.....
Zynga Folds Gambling Hand
JULY 29, 2013 • Fifteen days after Don Mattrick took over as chief executive at Zynga, the social games company cancelled its plans to enter the real money gambling business in the United States. During a financial conference call on July 26 COO David Ko maintained the decision was made prior to Mattrick arriving. Despite having gotten well along in applying for the necessary licenses to pursue on.....
Activision Buys Freedom From Vivendi
JULY 26, 2013 • With €13.2 billion ($17.5 billion) in debt on its books Vivendi SA has been contemplating ways to pull money out of its 61% stake in publisher Activision Blizzard. In a huge $8.17 billion deal orchestrated by Activision Blizzard chief executive Bobby Kotick, the publisher will buy out Vivendi’s controlling stake. The agreement is structured around a 429 million share purchase by Activision Blizzard for $5.83 billion, and an additional 172.....
GAME’s Xbox Concept Store
JULY 22, 2013 • At the end of June research firm GfK Chart-Track reported that the Xbox 360 had overtaken the Nintendo Wii as the United Kingdom’s best selling console at 8.4 million units. Now retailer GAME has opened an exclusive Xbox concept store in the Shoreditch district of London. The location is close to the area called Silicon Roundabout where many new digital creative businesses have set up shop. Both GAME and Microsoft describe the endeavor as a.....
Nintendo 3DS Leads U.S. Console Sales
JULY 19, 2013 • For the second month in a row the Nintendo 3DS was the top selling console in the U.S. According to the NPD Group, the handheld moved 225,000 units in the month of June. The Xbox 360 was second at 145,000 units. Much of the steam behind the 3DS’ showing came as a result of having three titles in the Top 10. Animal Crossing New Leaf moved 505,000 units, with 20% of the total sold through Nintendo’s online eShop. Also propelling the han.....
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