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The Write News: Gaming News Category
See Also: Gamers Game
IGN Launches Greenpixels.com
 MediaWeek reports that IGN has launched a new website called Greenpixels.com that targets casual gamers.
The site, which is currently live in beta form, is clearly aimed at the mainstream game player who is more inclined to spend time with Rock Band, the Nintendo Wii or online puzzle games like Peggle--which appeal to both men and women. As the site's editor in chief Dana Jongewaard, puts it in her introductory note on the site, "This is no longer just a past-time for adolescent(-acting) boys and basement-dwelling social outcasts."
The popularity of casual games that appeal to a wider range of users is likely to grow. IGN's gamepixels.com website has a blog layout and includes reviews, articles, game tips and hot lists.
Posted on October 20, 2008
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Media Companies Using Games to Boost Traffic
The Wall Street Journal reports that media companies are using online games to draw visitors to their websites. These free games have already been successful for the websites of teen magazines like CosmoGIRL! and Seventeen.
Until now, online game players have frequented special gaming sites such as Yahoo Inc.'s Yahoo! Games, which drew 21 million unique visitors in January, according to comScore Media Metrics. Most media properties, in contrast, offered little in the way of games. One exception was Hearst's teen titles, CosmoGIRL! and Seventeen, which for the past couple of years have offered generic board, arcade and card games. The publisher noticed that these games were drawing between 5% and 10% of the traffic to the sites. With Hearst in the middle of redesigning its Web sites -- many of which had been run until recently by the female-targeted Web concern iVillage -- it decided to add gaming across the board.
"It's a growing source of time for people online. ... Gaming is one of the things you can do in the Web environment that you can't do offline," says Chuck Cordray, vice president and general manager for Hearst Magazines Digital Media.
Arkadium is starting with the teen magazines -- adding games tailored to the specific sites. Seventeen's site, for instance, will have a game called "Editor's Assistant," where users play the role of an assistant to Seventeen's editor in chief and have to complete certain tasks to win. In coming months, the developer will move to Hearst's adult-skewing titles. Cosmopolitan's "Boy Toy" allows players to control a virtual "boy toy" and try to keep his girlfriend satisfied. The game ends when the girlfriend breaks up with her boyfriend or stays in the relationship for one year.
Arkadium hasn't finalized the games for the other titles, but each magazine will add games targeted to its audience. Good Housekeeping -- whose readership has a median age of 50.7 -- might host customized word games popular with that age group, for instance.
Movie studios have been making use of online games on the movie websites of blockbuster motion pictures. For examples there was the Demon Duel game to promote Ghost Rider and the RV Pile-Up game which was made to promote the film RV starring Robin Williams.
Posted on April 23, 2007
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Nickelodeon Launches Nicktropolis
Nickelodeon has announced the launch of Nicktropolis, a virtual web community for kids. Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group, calls Nicktropolis a "a one-of-a-kind multimedia virtual entertainment playground for kids that allows them to watch video from our immense library of programming, play games, interact with our characters and safely communicate with each other through controlled chat."
Kids enter Nicktropolis by assuming an "avatar" that they design and personalize, choosing from an array of hairstyles, skin tones and clothing styles. Once a user selects a destination, the avatar appears in the particular environment and can move around simply by clicking where he/she wants to go. The site offers a 3D environment consisting of four main areas containing:
Nickname Lane: This is where kids can design their own space.
Nicktoon Boulevard: Rooms based on Nickelodeon's properties. SpongeBob's Bikini Bottom is one of the rooms currently in Nicktropolis.
Downtown Nicktropolis: non-branded virtual rooms like a park, rec-center, lounge and commerce area
The Pier: a gaming environment
Nickelodeon has included security features with Nicktropolis including a sanitized dictionary and allowing parents the option to control their child's settings. The BBC is also planning a virtual world for kids.
Posted on January 30, 2007
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AOL Buys GamesDaily Website
 AOL has acquired the GameDaily website and newsletter from Gigex. The purchase price was not given. An Associated Press article said AOL will add content to GameDaily from AOL's game-related websites AOL Games and Games.com.
AOL, which said GameDaily is among the most-visited sites for information on video games, is trying to boost visits to its ad-supported Web sites to offset expected revenue declines from a recent decision to drop subscription fees for many high-speed Internet users.
"Video game sites have become a valuable resource for advertisers wishing to reach the young male audience, and GameDaily is a brand that resonates with these highly sought-after consumers," said Ralph Rivera, vice president and general manager of AOL Games.
***
AOL plans to add its existing AOL Games articles and features to GameDaily, while integrating the new material with AOL's other games sites, including Games.com, which the company launched in May after buying the Web address for an undisclosed sum.
You can read an interview with Ralph Rivera, General Manager of AOL Games, about the deal here on GameDaily's website. AOL owns several game-related blogs through its Weblogs, Inc. division including the popular Joystiq blog.
Posted on August 21, 2006
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MTV Buys Atom Entertainment
 Mediaweek reports that MTV Networks has acquired Atom Entertainment, a publisher of web games (Shockwave.com), films (Atom Films) and funny video clips (Addicting Clips) for $200 million. This purchase will go well with MTV's purchase of iFilm last October.
Atom is one of the more popular—though perhaps under-the-radar—entertainment brands to have sprung up on the Web in recent years. Its properties claim a total of 17 million unique monthly users, according to officials. The company owns Shockwave.com, an online hub for a wide variety of free ad-supported games, ranging from classic puzzle and card games to action titles like 4 Wheel Fury. Sister site AddictingGames.com is also included in the deal.
In addition to gaming, Atom also runs both AtomFilms.com and AddictingClips.com, both outlets for short films and user-generated viral videos that generally appeal to a younger, MTV-like demographic.
"Atom Entertainment is a best-in-class and dynamic property, with brands that have dedicated, passionate followers and content that resonates with our global audience," said MTV Networks chairman and CEO Judy McGrath in a statement. "This acquisition is in line with our business strategy of being a leader in the digital space and connecting with consumers on every platform and device they use."
Mediaweek surmises that MTV's strategy is to acquired small but popular online websites instead of spending a fortune for a big player like YouTube. In addition to Atom and iFilm, MTV has also recently purchased Xfire, GameTrailers.com and Neopets.
Posted on August 11, 2006
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GameTap Launched With Over 300 Games
TBS, Inc. recently announced the official launch of GameTap, a broadband entertainment and gaming network. The network launched with some 300 games from 24 publishers. Subscribers download the Turner-developed software from gametap.com. Subscriptions are $14.95 per month. GameTap will feature titles from the early arcades, PCs, and popular video game consoles, including the Sega Genesis and Dreamcast, Atari 2600, and Intellivision. Original programming will include magazine, reality, and lifestyle shows, interviews with the who's who of gaming, celebrity features, and "game trailers" for the GameTap service.
Posted on November 17, 2005
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Stuart Snyder Named General Manager of GameTap
Dennis Quinn, executive vice president of business development for TBS, Inc., announced that Stuart Snyder will serve as general manager of GameTap, TBS' new games and entertainment network. Most recently, Snyder served as president and CEO of Cinar Corporation, an animation, live-action and education production/distribution company based in Montreal, Canada. Snyder also co-founded Turnstile Entertainment in New York, which creates and produces family entertainment programming featuring brands like Clifford the Big Red Dog Live. Snyder will continue to be a board member of Turnstile. Snyder had previously served as President and COO of WWF Entertainment, Inc. Snyder will be based in Atlanta and will report to Quinn.
Posted on November 14, 2005
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Playlogic Acquires Captain Blood
Playlogic Entertainment, Inc. has announced the acquisition of Captain Blood for Xbox360 and PC. Captain Blood is a pirate action game based on Rafael Sabatini's novel, Captain Blood: His Odyssey, about the notorious Captain Peter Blood.
The game is being developed by Russian studio Akella, which is currently developing Age of Pirates for Playlogic as well, and created the pirate titles Sea Dogs, Age of Sail 2 and Pirates of the Caribbean.
The game is being produced in cooperation with leading Eastern European games publisher 1C Company and is scheduled to be released in early summer 2006.
Posted on October 26, 2005
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Gravity Invests in Online Gaming
Gravity Co., Ltd., a Korea-based online game developer and distributor, has announced that it plans to expand its publishing business. For this purpose, the Company has budgeted a total of approximately US$30 million to be spent during the next three years. The Company plans to introduce and support newly licensed game titles across its global game publishing network, which currently includes over 20 countries.
Posted on October 5, 2005
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Atari Sells Humongous to Infrogrames
Atari, Inc. has announced the sale of its Humongous Entertainment studio to Infogrames Entertainment SA ("IESA") for approximately $10.3 million. The Humongous assets consist primarily of intellectual property, existing inventory and license rights. Additionally, Atari has been granted exclusive distribution rights for Humongous products in the U.S., Canada and Mexico through at least March 31, 2006.
"We continue to execute our previously articulated strategic initiatives and strengthen Atari's financial position moving forward," stated Bruno Bonnell, Chairman, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Atari. "As we streamline the operations of the Company and focus on cost controls, we remain committed to developing unique high-quality titles that appeal to both mass-consumers as well as hard-core gamers. This transaction substantially contributes to our resources for the launch of our largest titles in the holiday season and further enhances our capacity to develop new titles, ultimately enhancing shareholder value."
Posted on September 30, 2005
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G4TV Acquires Three Anime Series
G4TV has acquired three anime series, RahXephon, Cromartie High School and Colorful, from ADV Films. The announcement was made by Laura Civiello, Vice President, Acquisitions & Development, G4 and John Ledford, President and CEO, ADV Films. The first series to debut on G4 this fall is RahXephon, which follows the adventures of Kamina Ayato in the near future of 2012. After awakening RahXephon, a giant mecha with awe-inspiring abilities, Ayato battles mysterious alien invaders and struggles to discover what is real, what is not, and what his place is in the events unfurling before him. Both Cromartie High and Colorful are slated to premiere on G4 in December 2005. Cromartie High tracks the not-so-everyday existence of Kamiyama and his delinquent classmates. Colorful, a strange and deranged series with a warped sense of humor, takes a tongue in cheek look at underwear fascination.
All three anime series will be part of G4's all-new late-night block, Barbed Wire Biscuit, which is a one-hour branded programming strip airing Monday through Friday at 12:00 AM ET/PT.
Posted on September 23, 2005
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Pamela Hugill Named Publisher of Ascend Media
Ascend Media Gaming Group has promoted Pamela Hugill to the position of Publisher. She replaces Ashley Smith, who has been named Vice President of International Sales and Marketing for AMGG and its parent company, Ascend Media. As Publisher, Hugill will oversee all production and strategic development for Ascend Media Gaming Group's publishing and online business units, which include four business-to-business magazines, specialty publications, several websites, and the weekly email newsletter, Gaming Headlines. Hugill will also work closely with the Director of Trade Events Charles Anderer on the continuing development of the Gaming Group's conferences and trade shows.
Posted on September 16, 2005
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Playlogic Acquires Age of Pirates RPG
Playlogic Entertainment, Inc. has announced the acquisition of the Age of Pirates role-playing game from Russian developer Akella, which also created the successful pirate titles Sea Dogs, Age of Sail 2, and Pirates of the Caribbean. The game was produced in cooperation with leading Eastern European games publisher 1C and is scheduled to be released in the fourth quarter. The world of Age of Pirates exists on 16 islands and the endless seas of the Caribbean. The two main characters each have their own story. Over 16 types of ships are at the player's disposal. Features include hiring officers to improve sailing capabilities and fighters to help boarding and melee encounters. The players must also fight foreign ships, capture slaves and attack forts to conquer colonies and develop their own colonies.
Posted on September 15, 2005
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VU Games to Publish Games Based on Ludlum's Novels
Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) has announced that it has inked an agreement to publish games based on the literary works of Robert Ludlum, the bestselling international thriller author whose books included The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy. The long-term contract grants VU Games rights to develop, publish and distribute multi-platform games based on the author's bestselling series and related films, including Bourne and Covert One.
Posted on September 7, 2005
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Media General Acquires Advergaming Company
Media General, Inc. has announced that it has acquired Blockdot, Inc., a Dallas-based advergaming and game development firm. Blockdot was founded in 2001 and publishes advergames. Blackdot says advergaming is the use of interactive games to deliver advertising messages to develop brand awareness and drive traffic to consumer-oriented websites. Blockdot also operates a network of casual game sites, including its flagship site, Kewlbox.com. Media General is a diversified communications company operating leading newspapers, television stations and online enterprises, primarily in the Southeastern United States.
Posted on August 15, 2005
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VU Games Acquires Swordfish Studios
Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) has announced the acquisition of independent game developer Swordfish Studios. VU Games will retain Swordfish Studios' U.K.-based team of 45 development professionals. Trevor Williams, Managing Director of Swordfish, will continue to lead the studio in the same role and will report to Peter Della Penna, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Product Development for VU Games. The studio will remain in its current office in Birmingham, England. Swordfish Studios just completed development on VU Games' PS2 first-person shooter, Cold Winter.
Posted on August 11, 2005
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Virtue Games is a New Christian Game Developer
Virtue Games is a new Christian multimedia game development studio located in Marin County, California. Virtue says it is dedicated to producing computer games free of gratuitous violence, foul language, sexual immorality and occultist themes. Virtue says their games will focus instead on epic story lines, positive values and brains rather than brawn. The titles produced by Virtue Games are adventure based, meaning that players become characters in the game and are immersed in rich virtual "worlds" where the player interacts with objects and characters, and solves problems similar to those in the real world. Virtue Games has just released the graphical adventure game Isles of Derek, and has another title -- Mayabin -- currently in production.
Posted on July 25, 2005
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Activision Acquires Toys for Bob
Activision, Inc. has acquired game developer Toys For Bob. The acquisition brings Activision's total number of employees to approximately 1,000 employees in its studio operations. Activision has worked with Toys For Bob since 2002. Most recently the companies have worked together on the upcoming children's game Madagascar, which is based on DreamWorks Animation's feature film. Toys For Bob is also in pre-production on an as-yet unannounced Activision title which is expected to be released in FY 2007. Founded in 1989, Toys For Bob is best known for developing the space action adventure games Star Control and Star Control II which were published by Accolade.
Posted on June 12, 2005
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GameStop and Electronics Boutique Announce Merger
GameStop Corp. and Electronics Boutique Holdings Corp. announced that plan to merge. The combined company, to be named GameStop Corp., will be a leading global video game retailer with annual revenues of approximately $3.8 billion, with over 3,200 stores located in all 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, as well as nearly 600 international stores located throughout Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden.
Posted on April 29, 2005
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Vindigo Enters Mobile Games Market
Vindigo, a mobile media company, has announced its entry into the mobile games market. Vindigo will release adventure and casual games in 2005, beginning with a fantasy graphic adventure game based on the bestselling Shadowgate franchise. Shadowgate from Infinite Ventures has sold more than 1.5 half million copies worldwide on multiple platforms, making it a winning lead game title for Vindigo. Vindigo's entry into the games market has been led by noted industry insider and Vindigo advisor Eric Goldberg. The company has hired mobile games pioneer Leonard Quam as Director of Games and game industry veteran John Astell to lead its game design team.
Posted on April 21, 2005
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PixelPlay to Adobt Atari and Hasbro Games for Interactive TV
PixelPlay and Atari, Inc. have announced an agreement whereby PixelPlay will create and publish four classic Atari games and four Hasbro board game brands for interactive television platforms in the U.S. and Canada. PixelPlay will integrate notable Hasbro brands, including Scrabble, Yahtzee, Monopoly and Boggle, as well as Atari's original arcade games, Centipede, Asteroids, Missile Command and Breakout, reviving these classic games for its interactive television subscribers. PixelPlay says it has established licensing agreements with many of the world's top brands ranging from notable family entertainment to classic arcade games, with the goal of providing content to interactive television platforms.
Posted on April 20, 2005
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Massive Delivers Ads Inside Games
Massive Incorporated, the creator of a video game advertising network,
announced that its network has completed the beta testing phase. Massive
said it will expand its ad serving capability into 40
titles from 10 top game publishers before year's end. Massive said
current advertisers include big brands like Coca-Cola, Comcast's G4,
Dunkin' Donuts, Intel, Paramount Pictures and Verison. Massive said the network allows advertisers to run real time, in-game campaigns to a
weekly audience estimated to reach several million gamers by the end of 2005.
Current titles in the Massive Network include Ubisoft's Splinter Cell Chaos
Theory and Funcom's Anarchy Online, as well as Mall Tycoon and Ski Resort.
Posted on April 19, 2005
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Digital Jesters and Take Two Announce Game Deal
Digital Jesters, a videogame publisher based in England, announced today that it has reached an agreement with Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. to distribute PC games in America and Canada. Digital Jesters was formed by ex-members of CDV in September of 2003 and has since published over 12 PC titles in the UK and parts of Europe. The games that are part of the agreement will be the first titles Digital Jesters has published in the U.S.
Posted on April 17, 2005
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Mad Catz to Add Game Channel on GameShark.com
Mad Catz Interactive, Inc., a third-party video game accessory provider, announced that it has signed an agreement with Boonty, to enable a digital distribution game channel on GameShark.com. Through the multi-year agreement with Boonty, Mad Catz has obtained the rights to sell hundreds of downloadable games from major game publishers. GameShark.com provides over one million unique monthly readers with content daily, including GameShark cheat codes for all GameShark products, industry information and news, game reviews, hints and guides, and other game-related content. Boonty provides customized gaming solutions for ISPs, portals and Internet communities. Boonty has digital distribution licensing agreements with leading publishers of hardcore/enthusiast games such as Ubisoft, Atari, as well as premium publishers of casual games, such as GameHouse and Wild Tangent.
Posted on April 11, 2005
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Warner and Midway Plan Happy Feet Games
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Midway Games Inc. have announced the signing of a multi-territory publishing agreement to develop video games based on Happy Feet, a comedy adventure written and directed by George Miller (the Babe movies, Lorenzo's Oil, the Mad Max trilogy), scheduled for release in November 2006. The multi-platform deal includes games for console, handheld and PC platforms. Under the agreement, Midway's development teams will work in close conjunction with the Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment production staff.
Happy Feet is a comedy adventure set in the land of the Emperor Penguins in the heart of Antarctica. These penguins sing, and each needs their own special song to attract a soul mate. The cast includes the voices of Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Brittany Murphy, Hugo Weaving, Robin Williams and features the dancing of legendary tapper Savion Glover (Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk).
A Kennedy-Miller Film, Happy Feet is directed by George Miller. The Film will be written by George Miller, John Collee (Master and Commander), Judy Morris and Warren Coleman. Happy Feet is scheduled to be released in November 2006 by Warner Bros.
Posted on April 10, 2005
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GameStop Records Record Sales
GameStop Corp. said it has reported record sales and earnings for the fourth quarter and for the full year ended January 29, 2005. GameStop Corp. sales were $1,842.8 million for fiscal 2004, an increase of 16.7% over fiscal 2003 sales of $1,578.8 million. On a comparable store basis, sales increased 1.7% during fiscal 2004. For the fourth quarter ended January 29, 2005, total sales increased 13.3% to $708.7 million, in comparison to $625.4 million in the prior year quarter. Comparable store sales increased 0.2% during the quarter; with total video game software sales increasing by 14% for the quarter and 22% for the full year.
Posted on April 6, 2005
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VU Games Acquires Radical Entertainment
Vivendi Universal announced that VU Games has completed the purchase of independent console developer, Radical Entertainment. Under the agreement, VU Games will retain Radical's team of more than 200 development professionals, as well as acquire the studio's exclusive game development technologies. Radical's founder Ian Wilkinson has been named President, Radical Entertainment, and the studio will remain in Vancouver, Canada. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Radical is best known for developing The Simpsons: Hit and Run, which sold more than 3.5 million retail units worldwide; The Hulk, which sold more than 2 million retail units worldwide; and The Simpsons Road Rage, which sold 3 million retail units worldwide. Currently, the studio is developing several multi-platform titles for VU Games launching in 2005, including Scarface, Crash Tag Team Racing and The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction.
Posted on April 5, 2005
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New Report Analyzes Game Industry Leaders
A new report, "Market Leaders in the Video Game and Interactive Entertainment Industry," released by DFC Intelligence takes a close look at the top publishers in the video game and interactive entertainment industry. According to the report there are several factors that leading companies share in common. These include expansion internationally, platform and business model diversity and a focus on core franchises that build value over time. Leading companies like Activision, Electronic Arts and Square Enix have a global business, are bringing core franchises to online and mobile platforms and are looking at emerging opportunities like advertising in games. The seventeen companies in the report reported fiscal 2004 revenue of $24.5 billion, down 3% from fiscal 2003. So far fiscal 2005 revenue is up 3%. The four leading companies, Sony, Nintendo, Electronic Arts and Microsoft, dominate the market and reported fiscal 2004 revenue of $16.7 million. In terms of revenue, Sony is the clear market leader, having generated $45 billion in game-related revenue from fiscal 1998 through 2004. However, Nintendo has been the most profitable company, earning about $7 billion in operating income from fiscal 1998 to fiscal 2004, compared with about $4.5 billion for Sony (from its games division) and $1.8 billion for Electronic Arts. Microsoft is clearly an up-and-coming powerhouse, although the company has reported heavy losses from its games division. Beyond the top four companies, the interactive entertainment market remains fragmented. Other then Electronic Arts solidifying its position as the leading software publisher there has been very little consolidation in the game market over the past few years. Electronic Arts is in a league of its own and other software publishers are in a tight race for a distant second place.
Posted on April 3, 2005
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Ziff Davis Announce Game Group Promotions
Ziff Davis Media's Game Group, which publishes Electronic Gaming Monthly, Computer Gaming World, 1UP.com and other gaming resources, has announced several key appointments. Ziff Davis Media has promoted Bill Daniher to Vice President, Operations and Business Development; Marci Yamaguchi to Senior Director, Advertising Sales (Endemic Accounts); Marc Callison to Senior Director, Advertising Sales (Non-Endemic Accounts); and Rey Ledda to Senior Director, Marketing, Events and Research.
Posted on April 2, 2005
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E3Expo Sells Out of Exhibit Space
The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo), a computer and video game trade event, has sold out of exhibit space for this year's show, making 2005 the fastest sell-out in five years. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced that to date, E3Expo 2005 has sold more than 540,000 net square feet of exhibit space covering five exhibit halls in the Los Angeles Convention Center, the largest amount of space sold since 2000.
E3Expo, now in its eleventh year, is scheduled to take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on May 17-19 for conference program and workshops, and May 18-20 for exhibits. The show, now in its eleventh year, is owned by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet.
Posted on April 2, 2005
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GameStop Corp. Announces Promotions
GameStop Corp., a video game and entertainment software specialty retailer, has announced that Dan DeMatteo has been promoted to Vice-Chairman and Chief Operating Officer; and Joe DePinto has been named President, GameStop. Bill Chinn has been promoted to Senior Vice President Stores, and Marc Summey has been promoted to Senior Vice President Real Estate and Development. In addition, Jack Beuttell has joined GameStop as Senior Vice President Marketing and Merchandising. Mr. DeMatteo has served GameStop Corp. as President and Chief Operating Officer since its inception in November 1996. He has also held various senior executive positions with Software Etc., B. Dalton, and Super Valu Stores, Inc. Mr. DePinto was most recently with 7-Eleven, where he held the position of Vice President of Operations. Mr. Chinn has served GameStop Corp. as Vice President Stores since April 2000 and has been in the video game business since 1989. He has held various positions within the company including store manager, district manager, and regional director. Mr. Summey has served GameStop Corp. as Vice President Real Estate since March 1998. Prior to joining GameStop, Mr. Summey held various senior executive positions with Zale Corporation. Mr. Beuttell was most recently with Bombay Company, where he held the position of Vice President, International Strategies, and President of Bombay International.
Posted on March 29, 2005
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Namco Announces Winter Mobile Game Lineup
Namco America Inc., a publisher of wireless games and content, announced today the release of their winter season game line-up. Already a publisher of Top Ten mobile games including Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, this release adds six new games to Namco's mobile games catalog. Arcade Classic releases include Galaga, Dig Dug and Xevious. Other arcade classics and hits by Namco America available on wireless handsets include Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Mr. Driller, Taiko: Drum Master, Galaxian, and Mappy. Due to the success of Pac-Man on mobile devices, Namco America continues to extend the Pac-Man brand to other game categories and mobile applications. Pac-Man's Arcade Corner offers a Pac-Man twist to the classic pinball game. Another new game from Namco is Pool Pro Online, which allows mobile customers to take advantage of the wireless platform. The game features online over-the-air multiplayer pool, including two-player head-to-head play and the uploading of high scores. Pool Pro Online comes with two game modes, 8-ball and 9-ball.
Posted on March 28, 2005
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Buena Vista Plans UMD Video Releases
Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) plans to release five titles beginning this spring on the Universal Media Disc (UMD) video format that plays on the new PSP handheld entertainment system. BVHE will release National Treasure, Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl, Reign Of Fire, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Hero in the United States and Canada. Other titles to be made available will be announced throughout the year. The UMD is a newly developed compact, high capacity optical format that can store up to 1.8 GB of digital data on a 60mm disc -- or an entire feature film on a single UMD video.
Posted on March 28, 2005
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Disney Names Robert A. Iger CEO
Robert A. Iger has been elected Chief Executive Officer of the Walt Disney Company effective September 30, 2005. He will succeed Michael D. Eisner, current CEO, who announced his intention to retire in a letter to the Board last year dated September 9, and will step down as CEO on September 30, 2005.
The election of Mr. Iger culminates a selection process that started formally when the Disney Board announced it would seek a new CEO on September 21, 2004.
Directors selected the executive search firm of Heidrick & Struggles in October 2004 in order to assist with the CEO selection process.
Posted on March 25, 2005
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Fathammer Plans Eight New Mobile Games
Fathammer, a developer of mobile game technologies and games, announced that it will launch eight new advanced mobile games on several platforms this spring. Another eight games will be launched later this year. With the exception of Angelfish the launched games are all fully 3D. All games will be available for multiple platforms. The games are: Stuntcar Extreme, Super Drop Mania, Angelfish, Hockey Rage 2005, Stunt Plane, Fathammer Bowling, Rainbow Jek and Toy Golf. The games were developed internally by three teams at the Fathammer Studio as well as externally by game developer partners, working very closely with Fathammer both in Europe and in Asia. Fathammer is privately owned and has offices in Helsinki, Finland, and in Seoul, Korea.
Posted on March 22, 2005
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Conspiracy and Hyper-Devbox to Develop PSP Games
Conspiracy Entertainment has announced the signing of a license/development agreement with Hyper-Devbox of Japan to develop two new video games on the Sony PSP platform. Under the terms of the agreement, Conspiracy Entertainment will receive worldwide publishing and marketing rights for the new games. The companies are planning to release both titles in 2005.
Posted on March 18, 2005
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Atari and Spark Unlimited Enter Game Development Deal
Atari, Inc. has entered into an exclusive agreement with Spark Unlimited for worldwide publishing rights across all media to all future titles developed by the creative team at Spark Unlimited, the studio behind the recent hit console game Call of Duty: Finest Hour. The first joint project, currently under development by Spark, is an intellectual property with full multi-media potential, which Atari will look to exploit in film, television and consumer products. Currently in development for the next generation of consoles, the project will be unveiled in greater detail in the spring, with an anticipated launch during the Holiday 2006 season. Spark's most recently developed title, Call of Duty: Finest Hour, was released in November 2004 and ranked #5 among the bestselling titles across all platforms during the month of December according to recently released NPD TRST data. The game recently received a BAFTA award for Best Audio in a Game and was nominated in the category of Best PlayStation 2 Game of the Year. It was also named Best Military Game at Spike TV's Video Game Awards in 2004.
Posted on March 17, 2005
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Gameloft to Develop War of the Worlds Mobile Game
Gameloft, a developer and publisher of video games for mobile phones, announced it has signed an exclusive agreement with Viacom Consumer Products, Inc. to develop, publish and distribute the wireless game version of Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds film starring Tom Cruise. Gameloft will develop the War of the Worlds storyline into a mobile game and distribute it through Gameloft's network of carriers, partners and its online store. War of the Worlds is a contemporary retelling of H.G. Wells' classic. Gameloft's version of War of the Worlds will be available June 29th, 2005, in sync with the worldwide movie release.
Posted on March 13, 2005
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Ubisoft to Develop Sports Titles
Ubisoft, a videogame publisher, announced that it will be developing a series of sports titles, making its debut as a publisher of sports videogames. Ubisoft has signed an exclusive license with Vijay Singh to produce a Vijay Singh-titled golf game. The company has also acquired the sports assets from Microsoft Game Studios. Ubisoft also announced that it has acquired the technology, tools and source code shipped in Microsoft Game Studios team sports games, including NHL Rivals, NFL Fever, NBA Inside Drive and MLB Inside Pitch.
Posted on March 5, 2005
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Recent Media Hires
Ziff Davis Media -> John Davison has been named Vice President and Editorial Director for Ziff Davis Media Game Group. In his new role he will shape and direct all Game Group editorial products, including Electronic Gaming Monthly, Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, Computer Gaming World, and 1UP.com
-> Simon Cox was named Group Creative Director of Ziff Davis Media Game Group, bringing over eight years experience in the gaming industry to the position. In his new role he is responsible for the overall design direction of the Game Group's properties, including 1UP.com.
-> Tom Byron joins Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine as Editor-in-Chief, bringing over 18 years of gaming-related experience to the magazine. He formerly served as Editor-in-Chief of the Electronics Boutique exclusive GMR magazine, and before that, as Editor-in-Chief of GameNOW magazine.
-> James Mielke was named Executive Editor of 1UP.com, transitioning from the role of Executive Editor of GMR magazine.
Che Chou was appointed Managing Editor of 1UP.com after serving as Executive Editor of Xbox Nation for two years.
-> Karl Elken promoted to Publisher of eWeek
Gruner + Jah USA -> Matthew T. Barba, former associate publisher of Atlantic Monthly, was named publisher of Fast Company magazine effective March 1.
MediaBay, Inc. -> Greg Voynow has joined the company as Vice President, Content Acquisition. Voynow has worked in content acquisition and operational leadership roles at Time Warner Book's iPublish.com, as well at Audible, Inc. and Scholastic Productions, Inc.
Posted on March 4, 2005
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Atari Names Patricia Steele Senior VP, Communications
Atari, Inc., an interactive entertainment publisher, has named Patricia Steele as its Senior Vice President, Communications, it was announced by Jim Caparro, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, to whom she will report. Ms. Steele will be responsible for all of Atari's external and internal communications efforts, including media relations, corporate positioning and branding. Her appointment represents the latest of several steps taken by the Company to transform and strengthen its senior management team.From 2002 through 2004, Ms. Steele was the Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications at NBC. In that capacity, she oversaw media relations on behalf of its Entertainment, News, Sports, Cable and other properties. Additionally, she provided strategic counsel to its Chairman/CEO and other senior executives. She was responsible for NBC's internal communications, special events and philanthropic initiatives, including the award winning PSA Campaign "The More You Know." Previously, Ms. Steele was Senior Vice President, Communications of Sony Music Entertainment from 1995 through 2002. During her seven years there, she led all corporate press initiatives on a global basis, while providing strategic counsel to the Company's senior executives and overseeing internal and external imaging for the Company. Earlier, from 1992 through 1995, Ms. Steele was Senior Director, Communications of Universal Music (formerly PolyGram Holding, Inc.), where she directed media and public relations for the Company's U.S. operations and developed corporate communications strategies for the Company's music, film, publishing and event television divisions. From 1990 through 1992, Ms. Steele was the Publicity Director at Rolling Stone Magazine.
Posted on March 4, 2005
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Peer Impact Sings Agreement with EMI
Wurld Media, Inc. has announced that Peer Impact, their peer-to-peer (P2P) online digital download service, will offer music from EMI Music -- the world's third largest recorded music company -- making Peer Impact the first peer-to-peer network in the world to sign agreements with the four major record labels. Peer Impact had previously announced agreements with Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. Peer Impact's technology allows consumers to purchase music but also to earn money by legally sharing their authorized music with others.
Peer Impact, currently in beta testing, allows members to act as "paid redistributors" of authorized music content. Peer Impact is also negotiating partnerships with independent music labels, video game publishers, and motion picture studios, with the goal of the most complete and diverse catalogue of content for its members.
Posted on March 3, 2005
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Chiappardi and Lyman Launch New Entertainment Company
Bob Chiappardi of Concrete Marketing Inc. and Kevin Lyman of Vans Warped Tour, have announced the creation of a new entertainment company, Warcon Enterprises, LLC. The company is designed to appeal to young music and action sports lifestyle consumers, both male and female, between the ages of 12 and 24. Warcon is conceived as a new brand name with record label, touring, publishing, design, media management and clothing divisions. The intention is that targeted consumers will come to recognize the Warcon name will represent everything in the punk/metal/post-hardcore lifestyle. Warcon's founders say they recognize the fact that unlike years ago when records had few competitors (like video games, Internet, sneaker companies) to attract the attention of young consumers, today just being a record company is not enough. Therefore, providing a variety of music and products that appeals to their overall lifestyle interests is the best plan. Every CD released by Warcon (through Fontana, the new indie distribution company of Universal Music Group) will include a free DVD magazine with music videos, movie trailers, songs and limited, demographic-specific advertising. Chiappardi is the founder and CEO of Concrete Marketing Inc., an independent music and lifestyle marketing company in the music industry. Lyman is the co-founder of the Vans Warped Tour, a music and extreme sports festival tour. 2004 was the tour's 10th anniversary. Each year, the tour reaches more than 600,000 young fans.
Posted on March 3, 2005
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Webzen to Publish All Point Bulletin
Webzen, Inc. has acquired worldwide online game publishing rights to All Points Bulletin (APB), an online game developed by David Jones, the creator of the multi-million unit selling video game, Grand Theft Auto, and his UK-based game development company, Real Time Worlds (RTW).
APB is scheduled to release in early 2007 and will be showcased at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo, in Los Angeles this May. APB is a turf war involving the Squads, whose goal is to uphold the law, and the Gangs, who seek to break the law at all costs. Thousands of players will form gangs or squads all around the world, and will play in hundreds of online cities.
Posted on March 2, 2005
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Midway and Cartoon Network Sign Games Deal
Midway Games Inc., an interactive entertainment publisher, announced that it has signed three publishing agreements with Cartoon Network, licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, for video games based on three of the network's top-rated kids programs: Ed, Edd n Eddy, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and Dexter's Laboratory. Under the terms of the agreements, Midway secures multi-territory rights to develop and publish games for the console, handheld and PC platforms.
Posted on March 2, 2005
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Picunko Promoted at Beuna Vista Games
Buena Vista Games, Inc. (BVG), the interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Company, announced that Bob Picunko has been named Director, Business Development and Production. Reporting to Michael Ryder, VP of Worldwide Production for Buena Vista Games, Picunko will be responsible for strengthening relationships with video game developers and content creators. He will focus on assessing new game concepts for the company and drive the process of identifying, developing and growing new strategic business relationships with independent developers. Prior to this role, Picunko spent more than three years as Director of Marketing at the company.
Posted on March 1, 2005
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Ubisoft to Publish Trolllz Games
Ubisoft, a videogame publisher, announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with DIC Entertainment, a children's entertainment company, to create videogames based on the new Trollz. The new Trollz are a stylish group of teen friends that grow up in a world of gnomes, ogres, dragons and magic. The agreement includes interactive games based on the tween entertainment and lifestyle property for all existing game formats. The videogames, which target the 6 to 12-year-old girl demographic, will incorporate all three elements. The Trollz game will showcase the different magical talents, styles and personalities of the characters, as well as the friendship which binds them together. An initial game for handheld consoles is planned for late this year, with other formats to follow. DIC will also launch an online Web community in April 2005.
Posted on February 27, 2005
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IDG Launches GamerHelp.com
IDG Entertainment has launched GamerHelp.com, a multilayered resource for gamers who want more information on the most popular and bestselling games, and who seek assistance in beating them. Carrying the tagline "Gamers Helping Gamers" and being supported primarily by member-submitted content, GamerHelp.com is designed for users to find the most recent and top-rated FAQs. GamerHelp.com features a multilevel rewards program. The GamerHelp.com Rewards Program offers prizes for the most sought-after FAQs and the FAQ ranked the highest by gamers, and a random monthly drawing among all eligible entries is also held.
Posted on February 27, 2005
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Take-Two Purchases Civilization Rights
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. has announced that it has purchased certain rights to the multi-million unit selling Civilization franchise, and has signed a long-term, multi-title publishing agreement with Firaxis Games, developers of Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, SimGolf, Gettysburg, Civilization III, Pirates! and other simulation and strategy games. Kicking off this new partnership will be Sid Meier's Civilization IV for PC, which will be published by Take-Two's publishing label 2K Games in late 2005, with future expansions and additional PC and console games to follow.
Posted on February 20, 2005
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Take-Two Creates 2K Games Label
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. announced that it has established a new publishing label, 2K Games. 2K Games will publish a wide variety of both internally and externally developed console, PC and handheld products, including sports titles under the 2K Sports label.
2K Games will incorporate Take-Two's internally-owned development studios Visual Concepts, Kush Games, Indie Built, Venom Games, PopTop Software and Frog City Software, as well as the team at Take-Two Licensing. Certain titles previously planned for release on Take-Two's Global Star label will now be released under the 2K Games label.
Posted on February 8, 2005
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