Realtime Worlds APB MMO Locked Down

SEPT. 15, 2010 • Only a month after Scotland-based developer Realtime Worlds went into administration – the British form of bankruptcy – its APB MMOG was shut down. The game had been live for less than three months.  No buyers were found to acquire the MMOG. Impact: Realtime Worlds and the APB MMOG show the risk associated with high end development.  Over the past five years, Realtime ha.....

4GB Xbox 360 & Halo Reach

SEPT. 15, 2010 • Microsoft Corp. acknowledged that its 4GB Xbox 360 Slim had a problem with some multiplayer features of Halo Reach. The game is Microsoft’s primary lead-in to the fall sales period, and drove $200 million in worldwide sales its first day in release. On the 4GB Slim, co-operative multiplayer modes will not function as the game will request access to a hard drive, and will ignore the available system memory. .....

Consumers Wary of 3D Television

SEPT. 9, 2010 • According to a report by The Nielsen Company, consumers who were surveyed about the future purchase of a 3D television returned some sobering responses. Of the 25% of those who said they were very likely to purchase a 3D TV, after a full demonstration, only 12% said they were very likely to buy a 3D television. About 89 percent of those surveyed for the Focusing on the 3DTV Experience report did not like 3D glasses because they felt they no longe.....

Need For Speed Word Adds Free-to-Play

SEPT. 9, 2010 • Since its launch on July 27 Need For Speed World attracted 1 million registered players. The racing MMO was initially free-to-play up to level 10, at which point advancement in the game ceased until the $20 Starter Pack was purchased. But following the announcement, Electronic Arts opened up all levels to free play, and will monetize the title using virtual items to made available later. .....

Andre Vrignaud to Amazon

SEPT. 8, 2010 • Amazon.com hired away Microsoft’s director of game platform strategy, Andre Vrignaud. Vrignaud had been with Microsoft since 2002, and has been an instrumental participant in the establishment of Xbox Live. For what purpose Amazon hired Vrignaud has not been disclosed. Impact: We had been surprised that Amazon.com had not seemed to be very aggressive in focusing on digita.....

DARPA Wants Own App Store

SEPT. 8, 2010 • The U.S. military likes its iPads and iPhones so much it wants its own App Store for cool programs. That’s why the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded $6.4 million to the Corporation for National Research Initiatives to create an apps marketpla.....

Duke Nukem Forever Has Risen

SEPT. 3, 2010 • Duke Nukem Forever is getting resurrected thanks to Gearbox Software, which acquired the rights to the oft-delayed project from 3D Realms. Take-Two will continue as publisher. Gearbox started work finishing the game in 2009, and plans to release it in 2011. The sequel to the mid-’90s hit FPS Duke Nukem 3D has been in development since 1997. Impact: Duke Nukem Forever fell.....

China Tracks Mobile Users

SEPT. 1, 2010 • Going into effect immediately, everyone who buys a new mobile phone number in China will be required to provide personal information to the vendor. The new  requirement is similar to regulations elsewhere in Asia like South Korea, and is int.....

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