Spore DRM Riles Users

SEPT. 23, 2008 • Spore sold more than 1 million units worldwide since its release on Sept. 7, according to Electronic Arts. Unfortunately for the publisher, enough PC consumers experienced problems with that version’s DRM to file a class action claim. The claim alleges that SecuROM, which installs secretly with the game, operates in the background while monitoring activity, disrupts operation of the system, and sometimes wipes the hard drive. SecuROM is also uninstallable, and remains.....

Cut Warhammer Content to Return

SEPT. 18, 2008 • Some of the substantial content that was cut from Warhammer Online to smooth progress to a fall release date will return later in the form of free updates from EA’s Mythic Entertainment. There were consumer worries that the deleted content would be added only as a paid expansion.  The substantial cuts.....

Music Games Good For Labels

SEPT. 16, 2008 • In an indirect response to music industry complaints that it doesn’t receive enough compensation from popular games such as Guitar Hero, Activision Blizzard presented Universal Music Group president Zach Horowitz to an analyst meeting. Horowitz said music tracks used in Guitar Hero saw a two or threefold in sales. As example, My Name is Jonas from Weezer’s 1994 album, saw a sales increase 10 times after it appeared in Guitar Hero III. .....

EA Cancels Take-Two Talks

SEPT. 14, 2008 • With the fall selling season fast approaching, Electronic Arts announced that it was breaking off takeover talks with Take-Two after careful consideration of the latter’s management presentation and due-diligence materials. Impact: The soap opera appears to final.....

Capcom Looking Outside Japan

SEPT. 12, 2008 • In a shareholder financial report, Capcom chief executive Kenzo Tsujimoto outlined goals of expanding the publisher’s business in global markets. To that end, Tsujimoto said Capcom would not be entertaining acquisitions or mergers in Japan, yet would be aggressively pursue acquisitions and partnerships worldwide. As of March 2008, the company said 53 percent of its game sales came from Japan, with North America accounting for 28 percent, and Europe 19 percent. Driving.....

Blizzard Buys FreeStyleGames

SEPT. 12, 2008 • To bolster its music-themed product, Activision Blizzard acquires U.K.-based FreeStyleGames. The latter is already localizing downloadable content for the Guitar Hero franchise, and is creating a new unannounced title in the music game genre. Impact: Th.....

Jack Loses Distribution

SEPT. 9, 2008 • Take-Two Interactive announced it would immediately outsource its Jack of All Games distribution through Ditan Distribution LLC. Ditan takes on warehousing and shipping functions from Jack of All Games, with the latter now focused upon purchasing sales and service. Impact: The.....

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