AUG. 11, 2009 • The Xbox Live Games on Demand service launched with about 20 titles.  For the first time Xbox 360 users can download full versions of games that were initially launched at retail.  Initial prices range from $20 to $30 and included such high profile Xbox 360 titles as Mass Effect, Elder.....

AUG. 11, 2009 • At the Pacific Crest Technology Leadership Forum in Vail, Colorado, Electronic Arts chief financial officer Eric Brown said the publisher was only looking at small-scale acquisitions in the future: “We’re just not interested in a large-scale, traditional packaged-good publishing deal......

AUG. 4, 2009 • Abu Dhabi Media Company is partnering with Gazillion Entertainment to create the first MMO studio in the Middle East. The goal is for management from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to fully manage the studio within five years, and create MMO content in Arabic. Student from the UAE will be the first to be con.....

AUG. 1, 2009 • Over 4,000 Radio Shack locations are getting rebranded to The Shack. The move is supposed to make the venerable electronics retailer more relevant to consumers. In recent years the retailer has embraced the sale of new and used video games. Impact:  We see this rebra.....

AUG. 1, 2009 • Activison Blizzard is running into some resistance as it attempts to assert some control over South Korean professional competition when StarCraft II is released. In addition to having a say in television broadcast agreements, the publisher is said to be attempting to generate revenue from royalty fees. Those efforts are not sitting well with the Korean e-Sports Players Association KESPA, which grew out of the intense Korean player base for StarCraft, is in direct control of .....

JULY 31, 2009 • The GameStop Casual Digital Store marks the retailer’s move to attract more mainstream consumers, as well as develop a larger market share in digital distribution. Casual customers will be treated to money-saving offers, free trials and streamlined search and checkout options, .....

JULY 30, 2009 • Sony Corp. executive vice president Nobuyuki Oneda told overseas investors on a conference call that reductions in the cost of producing the PlayStation 3 were on schedule, and had reached a drop of 70%. Oneda would not say how much of those savings were attained during the last two years. .....

JULY 30, 2009 • In a conference call, Nintendo Co. Ltd. attributed softer sales of its DS and DSi handhelds to Apple Inc.’s iPhone and iPod Touch, not Sony Computer Entertainment’s PSP. Nintendo also warned that its fiscal 2010 profit would likely drop for the first time in years as a direct result of competition fro.....