Games News for Games Heroes
Sweden to open first virtual embassy
STOCKHOLM - Sweden plans to be the first country to open an embassy in popular virtual world Second Life. “It will have answers to questions on all aspects of Sweden,” Olle Wastberg, general director of the Swedish Institute, an organization which promotes the country’s image abroad, said on Tuesday.
The embassy will be called House of Sweden and modeled on the country’s new embassy in Washington. It will open in a couple of weeks.
Second Life is a 3-D virtual world built and owned by its residents. It was created by Linden Lab and opened to the public in 2003. It says it now has more than 3 million inhabitants from around the globe.
There is no charge for a basic account but a one-time $9.95 fee is charged for additional basic account. Premium accounts start at $9.95 a month and allow you to own land on which you can build, entertain and live.
Reuters operates a virtual news bureau in Second Life.
www.msnbc.msn.com
Second Life is a 3-D virtual world built and owned by its residents. It was created by Linden Lab and opened to the public in 2003. It says it now has more than 3 million inhabitants from around the globe.
There is no charge for a basic account but a one-time $9.95 fee is charged for additional basic account. Premium accounts start at $9.95 a month and allow you to own land on which you can build, entertain and live.
Reuters operates a virtual news bureau in Second Life.
www.msnbc.msn.com
Labels: internet games
Singapore to host Sept. game convention
SINGAPORE - Video-game developers, manufacturers, publishers and players from around the world will gather in Singapore in September for a convention expected to be the region's largest. Games Convention Asia, which starts Sept. 6, will address the development needs of Asia's rapidly growing digital interactive gaming industry, which is expected to triple in value to $7.5 billion by 2008, according to the convention's organizers.
Western companies must adapt to differences in the Asian market to take advantage of the potential business here, said Chris Thompson, Asia vice president of Electronic Arts Inc., one of the advisers to the convention. Thompson said Asian gamers tend to value being online and being mobile — the social aspects of gaming.
Several other heavyweight game developers — including Xbox maker Microsoft Corp., Atari Inc. and Nokia Corp. — have also endorsed the event.
Games Convention Asia is a sister event of the Leipzig Games Convention held in Germany. The Asian event will also consist of an international cyber-games tournament.
www.ap.org
Several other heavyweight game developers — including Xbox maker Microsoft Corp., Atari Inc. and Nokia Corp. — have also endorsed the event.
Games Convention Asia is a sister event of the Leipzig Games Convention held in Germany. The Asian event will also consist of an international cyber-games tournament.
www.ap.org
Labels: News
'Burning Crusade' was worth the wait
I’m standing knee-deep in bodies amid a bone-strewn hellish landscape. In front of me stands the demonic menace Highlord Kruul, who is only too happy to devour me in one gulp. The Dark Portal has opened, and my beloved Azeroth will never be the same.
Welcome to the "World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade."
"Burning Crusade," by Blizzard Entertainment, is the company’s first expansion pack to “World of Warcraft.” In case you’ve been imprisoned in a magical tower for the past two years, here’s the rundown: “World of Warcraft,” or “WoW” in game parlance, is the staggeringly popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game responsible for countless lost hours, strained marriages, forgotten homework, and sleepless nights.
“WoW” recently tallied its 8 millionth subscriber, making its population close to that of New York City. It’s even earned its place in pop culture by being skewered by the “South Park” gang.
With numbers and notoriety like that, the stakes are high for this next installation of the “WoW” franchise. Blizzard has to knock this sucker out of the park, or face the wrath — and possible exodus — of millions of fans paying upwards of $15 a month. Do the math. That’s a gravy train Blizzard has no intention of derailing.
So does this $39.99 expansion pack (available for Mac and PC) have what it takes to please hardcore fans while still attracting new adventurers? At the risk of sounding like an unabashed fanboy — yes. “Burning Crusade” strikes that hard-to-achieve balance beautifully, offering plenty of fresh content for high-end players and a nice, friendly learning curve for newcomers. And, as with the original “WoW,” the opportunities for exploration and immersion are virtually unlimited. So find a comfy chair: That’s where you’ll be sitting for countless hours as you get addicted all over again.
Veteran “WoW” players will be comforted to hear that all the elements that made the original so great are still in place. To start, you create a character from eight races, which will put you on either the Horde or Alliance side, and then you choose from a variety of classes. Every race and class has its strengths and weaknesses, and there’s near-limitless ways to play your character. And if you don’t like what you’ve chosen, you can always roll again.
Like swinging a sword? Try out the warrior or paladin class. Want to get all Gandalf on someone? Check out the mage or warlock class. No matter which direction you choose, you start off in a safe homezone, gaining skills and riches as you take on bigger and more challenging quests.
New features in “Burning Crusade” include Outland, a massive new continent geared for experienced players. This virtual playground is loaded with bigger, badder monsters like the carnivorous Ravagers and juicier rewards, like powerful armor and weapons.
Speaking of rewards: Players who capped out at level 60 in the original “WoW” get to continue up to level 70 in “Burning Crusade.” This means players have new opportunities to invest dozens of hours amassing new talents and spells. And at the end of the level 70? Hop on a personal flying creature to cruise over the countryside — a nice perk.
Next to Outland, the heftiest “Burning Crusade” addition is the introduction of two new playable races: The interstellar-refugee Draenei and the magic-addicted Blood Elves. The supermodel-vain Blood Elves have the edge here, thanks to their magic-draining powers, and the Draenei handle more like an afterthought. They’re solid, but more generic characters, and play like an excuse for the Alliance to be able to play as the formerly Horde-exclusive Shaman class (the Horde, in return, now get access to the Alliance’s Paladin class).
In addition to the new races, this fantasy adventure contains plenty of new dungeons — and difficulty settings to make gameplay more challenging for advanced players. Meanwhile, the high-level dungeon raids have been capped at 25 players, down from 40 in the original "WoW." This is more challenging, forcing players to choose their teams with greater care.
If you prefer smack downs to dungeons, you’re in luck: “Burning Crusade” features a new player-versus-player Arena, where teams of two, three or five do battle for fortune and glory. You can also try out a new battleground, called Eye of the Storm, that mixes Capture the Flag and domination.
But “WoW” isn’t just about battles and exploring. It’s also wise to pick up a trade. And in this new installation, jewelcrafting is the newest profession. Don’t snicker. The gems here can bolster your armor and weapons. And judging by the monsters who roam Outland, you’re gonna need all the help you can get.
Here’s the rub with “WoW:” Players don’t really have much of a choice but to pony up for the new expansion. Existing “WoW” players can’t really enjoy everything the original game now has to offer without installing “Burning Crusade.” And on the flip side, you can’t play “Burning Crusade” without having invested in the original “World of Warcraft.”
If you can afford the cost of the expansion plus the $15 monthly online fees (as well as giving up every waking hour), “Burning Crusade” will extend your Azeroth adventures for a long time to come. Just look out for Kruul. Seriously.
John Ryan
MSNBC contributor
msnbc.msn.com
"Burning Crusade," by Blizzard Entertainment, is the company’s first expansion pack to “World of Warcraft.” In case you’ve been imprisoned in a magical tower for the past two years, here’s the rundown: “World of Warcraft,” or “WoW” in game parlance, is the staggeringly popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game responsible for countless lost hours, strained marriages, forgotten homework, and sleepless nights.
“WoW” recently tallied its 8 millionth subscriber, making its population close to that of New York City. It’s even earned its place in pop culture by being skewered by the “South Park” gang.
With numbers and notoriety like that, the stakes are high for this next installation of the “WoW” franchise. Blizzard has to knock this sucker out of the park, or face the wrath — and possible exodus — of millions of fans paying upwards of $15 a month. Do the math. That’s a gravy train Blizzard has no intention of derailing.
So does this $39.99 expansion pack (available for Mac and PC) have what it takes to please hardcore fans while still attracting new adventurers? At the risk of sounding like an unabashed fanboy — yes. “Burning Crusade” strikes that hard-to-achieve balance beautifully, offering plenty of fresh content for high-end players and a nice, friendly learning curve for newcomers. And, as with the original “WoW,” the opportunities for exploration and immersion are virtually unlimited. So find a comfy chair: That’s where you’ll be sitting for countless hours as you get addicted all over again.
Veteran “WoW” players will be comforted to hear that all the elements that made the original so great are still in place. To start, you create a character from eight races, which will put you on either the Horde or Alliance side, and then you choose from a variety of classes. Every race and class has its strengths and weaknesses, and there’s near-limitless ways to play your character. And if you don’t like what you’ve chosen, you can always roll again.
Like swinging a sword? Try out the warrior or paladin class. Want to get all Gandalf on someone? Check out the mage or warlock class. No matter which direction you choose, you start off in a safe homezone, gaining skills and riches as you take on bigger and more challenging quests.
New features in “Burning Crusade” include Outland, a massive new continent geared for experienced players. This virtual playground is loaded with bigger, badder monsters like the carnivorous Ravagers and juicier rewards, like powerful armor and weapons.
Speaking of rewards: Players who capped out at level 60 in the original “WoW” get to continue up to level 70 in “Burning Crusade.” This means players have new opportunities to invest dozens of hours amassing new talents and spells. And at the end of the level 70? Hop on a personal flying creature to cruise over the countryside — a nice perk.
Next to Outland, the heftiest “Burning Crusade” addition is the introduction of two new playable races: The interstellar-refugee Draenei and the magic-addicted Blood Elves. The supermodel-vain Blood Elves have the edge here, thanks to their magic-draining powers, and the Draenei handle more like an afterthought. They’re solid, but more generic characters, and play like an excuse for the Alliance to be able to play as the formerly Horde-exclusive Shaman class (the Horde, in return, now get access to the Alliance’s Paladin class).
In addition to the new races, this fantasy adventure contains plenty of new dungeons — and difficulty settings to make gameplay more challenging for advanced players. Meanwhile, the high-level dungeon raids have been capped at 25 players, down from 40 in the original "WoW." This is more challenging, forcing players to choose their teams with greater care.
If you prefer smack downs to dungeons, you’re in luck: “Burning Crusade” features a new player-versus-player Arena, where teams of two, three or five do battle for fortune and glory. You can also try out a new battleground, called Eye of the Storm, that mixes Capture the Flag and domination.
But “WoW” isn’t just about battles and exploring. It’s also wise to pick up a trade. And in this new installation, jewelcrafting is the newest profession. Don’t snicker. The gems here can bolster your armor and weapons. And judging by the monsters who roam Outland, you’re gonna need all the help you can get.
Here’s the rub with “WoW:” Players don’t really have much of a choice but to pony up for the new expansion. Existing “WoW” players can’t really enjoy everything the original game now has to offer without installing “Burning Crusade.” And on the flip side, you can’t play “Burning Crusade” without having invested in the original “World of Warcraft.”
If you can afford the cost of the expansion plus the $15 monthly online fees (as well as giving up every waking hour), “Burning Crusade” will extend your Azeroth adventures for a long time to come. Just look out for Kruul. Seriously.
John Ryan
MSNBC contributor
msnbc.msn.com
Labels: News
Nintendo's Wii to provide AP news
SEATTLE -Two-year contract for wire services in seven languages. Rabid video gamers could get some help keeping in touch with the outside world this weekend as Nintendo Co. launches an online news service through its popular Wii console. The Wii News Channel, scheduled to debut Saturday, will primarily feature top news stories and photographs from The Associated Press.
Consoles with a broadband Internet connection and the Opera Web browser will be able to access the free news channel, which will offer AP news in multiple languages. Japanese-language news will come from a separate agency.
There were no immediate plans to sell advertising space, said Perrin Kaplan, vice president for marketing at Nintendo's U.S. headquarters in Redmond.
News will be displayed through an interactive map, which users can navigate with the Wii's wireless controller, Kaplan said.
"The beauty of it is it zooms in and out of areas of the world," she said. "So if you really want to focus on regional news or national news versus international, you just blow up the map of the U.S."
The AP has a two-year contract to provide news and photos to Nintendo and would like to provide multimedia in the future, said Jane Seagrave, vice president of new media markets for the New York-based news cooperative.
"It's a very innovative new application of what we're doing generally, which is to try to get our content to new audiences on new platforms," Seagrave said.
The AP will supply news for the Wii in English, French, Spanish, Dutch, German, and Swiss-German, Seagrave said. The Japanese news company Goo will supply Nintendo's Japanese-language news, Kaplan said. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Wii has been a surprise hit for Nintendo as it competes with Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 consoles.
A recent report from the market research firm NPD Group said the Wii has sold 1.1 million units since it was released in the U.S. on Nov. 19, with 604,200 of those units sold in December.
"The Nintendo Wii demographic is definitely a wider demographic than your traditional hardcore gamer," said Billy Pidgeon, a video game industry analyst at IDC in New York. "It kind of makes sense for other types of content to be made available on the Wii."
Nintendo isn't the only company hoping to offer more from video game consoles with online connections. The Xbox scored an early hit with its Xbox Live online gameplay system and has since begun offering more perks to Internet-connected users.
www.ap.org
There were no immediate plans to sell advertising space, said Perrin Kaplan, vice president for marketing at Nintendo's U.S. headquarters in Redmond.
News will be displayed through an interactive map, which users can navigate with the Wii's wireless controller, Kaplan said.
"The beauty of it is it zooms in and out of areas of the world," she said. "So if you really want to focus on regional news or national news versus international, you just blow up the map of the U.S."
The AP has a two-year contract to provide news and photos to Nintendo and would like to provide multimedia in the future, said Jane Seagrave, vice president of new media markets for the New York-based news cooperative.
"It's a very innovative new application of what we're doing generally, which is to try to get our content to new audiences on new platforms," Seagrave said.
The AP will supply news for the Wii in English, French, Spanish, Dutch, German, and Swiss-German, Seagrave said. The Japanese news company Goo will supply Nintendo's Japanese-language news, Kaplan said. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Wii has been a surprise hit for Nintendo as it competes with Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 consoles.
A recent report from the market research firm NPD Group said the Wii has sold 1.1 million units since it was released in the U.S. on Nov. 19, with 604,200 of those units sold in December.
"The Nintendo Wii demographic is definitely a wider demographic than your traditional hardcore gamer," said Billy Pidgeon, a video game industry analyst at IDC in New York. "It kind of makes sense for other types of content to be made available on the Wii."
Nintendo isn't the only company hoping to offer more from video game consoles with online connections. The Xbox scored an early hit with its Xbox Live online gameplay system and has since begun offering more perks to Internet-connected users.
www.ap.org
Labels: News, nintendo wii
And the winner of the console wars is...
Much ink has been spilled over the so-called “console wars” between the new Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation 3 and the year-old Xbox 360. So now that 2006 is over and the numbers have been tallied, who won the home-console slugfest?
The PlayStation 2.
That’s right. The PlayStation 2 outsold all next-gen consoles by a fairly wide margin. Sony moved 1.4 million of the six year-old systems in the month of December, according to year-end sales data from the N.Y.-based NPD Group.
The PlayStation 3 sold a respectable 490,700 units in the U.S. in December, and 687,300 since its November launch. And Nintendo moved 604,200 Wiis in December, and 1.1 million since its November release. But still — the PS2 continues to dominate the console scene.
A key factor? Well, price for one. At $129 brand-new, the PS2 is roughly one-fifth the price of its tricked-out younger sibling.
“The price point means it’s easy for those who are less actively involved in gaming to pick one up,” says NPD analyst Anita Frazier. “Or, pick it up as a second system.”
Another issue? Games. And that’s a big one: The PlayStation 3 shipped with just 12 titles when it launched on Nov. 17. It added a few more for the holiday season, but the numbers pale in comparison to the 1,319 games out there for the PS2 in North America.
OK. Cheap and lots of games. Did we mention that the thing was actually on store shelves, unlike the Wii and PlayStation 3? That was a big factor in the legacy system’s success this year, too.
It’s definitely a chicken-and-egg situation for new consoles, though: Buyers aren’t going to pick up a new system — particularly not one with a base-model price of $500 — unless there are games to play. But developers are leery of putting millions behind game-development for a system that doesn’t move lots of units.
“There’s more risk in newer platforms,” says Frazier. “If you publish for the PS2, you’ve got a nice base.”
Brian Lam, from Red Octane, the company that publishes the “Guitar Hero” series, echoes that sentiment.
“We’ll be on the next-generation systems — it’s a natural progression,” he says. “But you need to go where your fans are.”
Now, lest you think the “console wars” were a total bust, consider this: Sony and Nintendo would have undoubtedly sold far more systems if not for manufacturing shortages.
It’s those shortages that weigh heavily on the minds of game developers. Even though teams salivate at the thought of creating games for the latest and greatest hardware, it’s not always a good business decision.
“With [game] budgets in excess of $18 million, if you don’t have enough hardware in the market, you’re not going to make money in software,” says Capcom’s Chris Kramer. “It’s like making tires for cars that don’t exist yet.”
From a bean counter’s perspective, the PS2 is a slam-dunk. It boasts a monster installed base: 32 million in the U.S. alone, and an estimated 111 million worldwide. Sell to just 1 percent of that audience, and you’ve moved over a million games. That’s a hit from anyone’s perspective.
But it isn’t only the third-party developers that keep going back to the PlayStation 2 well: The money generated by the cash-cow enabled Sony to plow resources into the creation of the PS3 — and numbers like the ones in December will help float the newer system for a good long while.
“We’ve got a full plate of games through the end of the year for the PS2,” says Sony’s PR chief Dave Karakker. “There’s still a lot of life left in this console.”
That said, don’t look for game studios to create marquee titles for legacy systems at this stage. While PS2 games may still sell well — two of the best-selling games this holiday season were, in fact, PS2 titles: Activision’s "Guitar Hero II" and Electronic Arts’ sports juggernaut "Madden NFL 07” — at some point, gamers and studios need to move on.
Rockstar Games, makers of the iconic PS2 franchise “Grand Theft Auto” released a PS2 game, “Bully,” late last year. But according to company spokesperson Rodney Walker, all development heretofore will be for next-gen systems.
Capcom isn’t pulling back that quickly, with PS2 titles slated until the end of 2008. “But after 2008? Not so much,” says Kramer. “As more PS3s and 360s come out into the wild, it’ll be easier for Capcom to get a return on its investment.”
Sometimes, a great game can move consoles, like “Halo” did for the original Xbox. But the notion of console-exclusivity is increasingly rare these days, unless, as Karakker puts it, the hardware company has a bag of money to give over to the developer. (Xbox and Halo are products of Microsoft Corp. and MSNBC.com is a Microsoft-NBC Universal joint venture.)
“Gears of War,” the best-selling game of December, didn’t ship with the Xbox 360 when it launched in November 2005 — it hit shelves almost a year later. But its popularity and critical acclaim netted it a whopping 815,700 units sold in one month. It wasn’t “Halo,” but it was darn close, and probably had a good deal to do with the 360’s banner year-end sales of 1.1 million units.
Again, availability probably also played a part in the Xbox 360s popularity this holiday season. Microsoft definitely played up the fact that the Xbox 360 was well-stocked on store shelves — while the newer Wii and PS3 were as scarce as hen’s teeth.
But what could explain the other top-selling system of the season, the Nintendo DS? Yep, this pocket-sized handheld actually trumped all the home consoles this holiday, selling 1.6 million units domestically, and a whopping 10 million since its 2004 launch. That’s a lot of “Nintendogs.”
The success of the DS can largely be attributed to quirky little titles like “Nintendogs” and “Brain Age.” Frazier says that Nintendo was smart to focus not only on their established audience, but on a market that doesn’t necessarily characterize themselves as gamers. “Nintendo created innovative content that wasn’t necessarily core-gamer focused,” she says. “But at the same time, they didn’t abandon their current audience.”
Clearly, the audience for games is bigger than ever — and that’s not just evidenced by the console and software sales in December. Overall, the game industry saw a record year, with revenues of $12.5 billion, up 20 percent from 2005.
Will 2007 be another banner year? Or was the excitement of the console launches the high tide that lifted all boats? Too soon to tell. But one thing’s for sure: It’s a good time to be in games. And to be a gamer.
www.msnbc.msn.com
That’s right. The PlayStation 2 outsold all next-gen consoles by a fairly wide margin. Sony moved 1.4 million of the six year-old systems in the month of December, according to year-end sales data from the N.Y.-based NPD Group.
The PlayStation 3 sold a respectable 490,700 units in the U.S. in December, and 687,300 since its November launch. And Nintendo moved 604,200 Wiis in December, and 1.1 million since its November release. But still — the PS2 continues to dominate the console scene.
A key factor? Well, price for one. At $129 brand-new, the PS2 is roughly one-fifth the price of its tricked-out younger sibling.
“The price point means it’s easy for those who are less actively involved in gaming to pick one up,” says NPD analyst Anita Frazier. “Or, pick it up as a second system.”
Another issue? Games. And that’s a big one: The PlayStation 3 shipped with just 12 titles when it launched on Nov. 17. It added a few more for the holiday season, but the numbers pale in comparison to the 1,319 games out there for the PS2 in North America.
OK. Cheap and lots of games. Did we mention that the thing was actually on store shelves, unlike the Wii and PlayStation 3? That was a big factor in the legacy system’s success this year, too.
It’s definitely a chicken-and-egg situation for new consoles, though: Buyers aren’t going to pick up a new system — particularly not one with a base-model price of $500 — unless there are games to play. But developers are leery of putting millions behind game-development for a system that doesn’t move lots of units.
“There’s more risk in newer platforms,” says Frazier. “If you publish for the PS2, you’ve got a nice base.”
Brian Lam, from Red Octane, the company that publishes the “Guitar Hero” series, echoes that sentiment.
“We’ll be on the next-generation systems — it’s a natural progression,” he says. “But you need to go where your fans are.”
Now, lest you think the “console wars” were a total bust, consider this: Sony and Nintendo would have undoubtedly sold far more systems if not for manufacturing shortages.
It’s those shortages that weigh heavily on the minds of game developers. Even though teams salivate at the thought of creating games for the latest and greatest hardware, it’s not always a good business decision.
“With [game] budgets in excess of $18 million, if you don’t have enough hardware in the market, you’re not going to make money in software,” says Capcom’s Chris Kramer. “It’s like making tires for cars that don’t exist yet.”
From a bean counter’s perspective, the PS2 is a slam-dunk. It boasts a monster installed base: 32 million in the U.S. alone, and an estimated 111 million worldwide. Sell to just 1 percent of that audience, and you’ve moved over a million games. That’s a hit from anyone’s perspective.
But it isn’t only the third-party developers that keep going back to the PlayStation 2 well: The money generated by the cash-cow enabled Sony to plow resources into the creation of the PS3 — and numbers like the ones in December will help float the newer system for a good long while.
“We’ve got a full plate of games through the end of the year for the PS2,” says Sony’s PR chief Dave Karakker. “There’s still a lot of life left in this console.”
That said, don’t look for game studios to create marquee titles for legacy systems at this stage. While PS2 games may still sell well — two of the best-selling games this holiday season were, in fact, PS2 titles: Activision’s "Guitar Hero II" and Electronic Arts’ sports juggernaut "Madden NFL 07” — at some point, gamers and studios need to move on.
Rockstar Games, makers of the iconic PS2 franchise “Grand Theft Auto” released a PS2 game, “Bully,” late last year. But according to company spokesperson Rodney Walker, all development heretofore will be for next-gen systems.
Capcom isn’t pulling back that quickly, with PS2 titles slated until the end of 2008. “But after 2008? Not so much,” says Kramer. “As more PS3s and 360s come out into the wild, it’ll be easier for Capcom to get a return on its investment.”
Sometimes, a great game can move consoles, like “Halo” did for the original Xbox. But the notion of console-exclusivity is increasingly rare these days, unless, as Karakker puts it, the hardware company has a bag of money to give over to the developer. (Xbox and Halo are products of Microsoft Corp. and MSNBC.com is a Microsoft-NBC Universal joint venture.)
“Gears of War,” the best-selling game of December, didn’t ship with the Xbox 360 when it launched in November 2005 — it hit shelves almost a year later. But its popularity and critical acclaim netted it a whopping 815,700 units sold in one month. It wasn’t “Halo,” but it was darn close, and probably had a good deal to do with the 360’s banner year-end sales of 1.1 million units.
Again, availability probably also played a part in the Xbox 360s popularity this holiday season. Microsoft definitely played up the fact that the Xbox 360 was well-stocked on store shelves — while the newer Wii and PS3 were as scarce as hen’s teeth.
But what could explain the other top-selling system of the season, the Nintendo DS? Yep, this pocket-sized handheld actually trumped all the home consoles this holiday, selling 1.6 million units domestically, and a whopping 10 million since its 2004 launch. That’s a lot of “Nintendogs.”
The success of the DS can largely be attributed to quirky little titles like “Nintendogs” and “Brain Age.” Frazier says that Nintendo was smart to focus not only on their established audience, but on a market that doesn’t necessarily characterize themselves as gamers. “Nintendo created innovative content that wasn’t necessarily core-gamer focused,” she says. “But at the same time, they didn’t abandon their current audience.”
Clearly, the audience for games is bigger than ever — and that’s not just evidenced by the console and software sales in December. Overall, the game industry saw a record year, with revenues of $12.5 billion, up 20 percent from 2005.
Will 2007 be another banner year? Or was the excitement of the console launches the high tide that lifted all boats? Too soon to tell. But one thing’s for sure: It’s a good time to be in games. And to be a gamer.
www.msnbc.msn.com
Labels: News
Manning, Colts will win, simulation shows
Peyton Manning will make sure his Super Bowl experience is worth the wait, according to a Super Bowl simulation on Madden NFL 07, powered by EA SPORTS. Manning will throw for 383 yards and three touchdowns as the Colts beat the Chicago Bears 38-27 in Super Bowl XLI on Sunday, the automated simulation shows.
The performance will make Tony Dungy the first African-American coach to win the Super Bowl.
In the first Super Bowl of his nine-year NFL career, Manning will deliver in the clutch, throwing two second-half touchdowns to rally Indianapolis, the EA SPORTS simulation shows.
Manning's performance will overcome a big day by Bears running back Thomas Jones, who will have 24 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown, and wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who will catch four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, according to the simulation.
Embattled Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman will have a solid day, too, throwing for 231 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, the simulation shows.
The Super Bowl will be a classic, the simulation shows. Grossman will throw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian to cut the Colts' lead to 31-27 with 12:07 left in the fourth quarter, the EA SPORTS simulation shows.
But Joseph Addai's 8-yard touchdown run with 4:44 left will give Indianapolis some breathing room, and the party will be on in Indy, the simulation shows.
Manning and the Colts will start off hot, throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison and using a 42-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri to take a 10-0 lead after the first quarter, the simulation shows.
Harrison will have a big day at the Super Bowl, finishing with nine catches for 102 yards, the simulation shows.
The Bears will respond when Jones rushes 12 yards for a touchdown just 21 seconds into the second half, the EA SPORTS simulation shows.
After a 4-yard touchdown run by Addai, the Bears will use two field goals by Robbie Gould, including one with 3 seconds left in the half, to make the score 17-13 at halftime, according to the simulation.
Grossman's 23-yard touchdown pass to Muhammad will give the Bears their only lead of the game, 20-17, with 13:32 left in the third quarter, the simulation shows.
But the Colts will respond quickly, scoring on a 36-yard touchdown catch by Dallas Clark just three minutes later, the simulation shows. A 32-yard TD pass from Manning to Reggie Wayne will give the Colts a 31-20 lead entering the fourth quarter.
msnbc.msn.com
In the first Super Bowl of his nine-year NFL career, Manning will deliver in the clutch, throwing two second-half touchdowns to rally Indianapolis, the EA SPORTS simulation shows.
Manning's performance will overcome a big day by Bears running back Thomas Jones, who will have 24 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown, and wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who will catch four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, according to the simulation.
Embattled Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman will have a solid day, too, throwing for 231 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, the simulation shows.
The Super Bowl will be a classic, the simulation shows. Grossman will throw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian to cut the Colts' lead to 31-27 with 12:07 left in the fourth quarter, the EA SPORTS simulation shows.
But Joseph Addai's 8-yard touchdown run with 4:44 left will give Indianapolis some breathing room, and the party will be on in Indy, the simulation shows.
Manning and the Colts will start off hot, throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison and using a 42-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri to take a 10-0 lead after the first quarter, the simulation shows.
Harrison will have a big day at the Super Bowl, finishing with nine catches for 102 yards, the simulation shows.
The Bears will respond when Jones rushes 12 yards for a touchdown just 21 seconds into the second half, the EA SPORTS simulation shows.
After a 4-yard touchdown run by Addai, the Bears will use two field goals by Robbie Gould, including one with 3 seconds left in the half, to make the score 17-13 at halftime, according to the simulation.
Grossman's 23-yard touchdown pass to Muhammad will give the Bears their only lead of the game, 20-17, with 13:32 left in the third quarter, the simulation shows.
But the Colts will respond quickly, scoring on a 36-yard touchdown catch by Dallas Clark just three minutes later, the simulation shows. A 32-yard TD pass from Manning to Reggie Wayne will give the Colts a 31-20 lead entering the fourth quarter.
msnbc.msn.com
Labels: News
Nintendo storms the gaming world
Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata and top execs at the gaming company's headquarters in Kyoto have every reason to be shouting the Japanese congratulatory cheer of "banzai" these days. For one thing, Nintendo's DS and DS Lite portable gaming system is enjoying light-speed growth.
On top of that, Nintendo's Wii console has blown away Sony's PlayStation 3 in the early stages of the hotly contested battle for next-gen gaming consoles. Aided by a shortfall of PS3s in the critical U.S. market, Nintendo sold 1.1 million units of the Wii since the product's launch date last November, vs. 687,000 PS3s during roughly the same period. Sales of popular Nintendo game titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and New Super Mario Bros. are also quick.
The Wii has outperformed the initial rollout phase of the high-powered Microsoft Xbox 360, which was released in November, 2005. Microsoft managed to sell only 607,000 units in the U.S. by the end of 2005.
As a result, says Standard & Poor's equity analyst Clyde Montevirgen, "Nintendo Wii won the launch phase." S&P, like BusinessWeek, is a unit of the McGraw Hill Companies.
Mass Market Potential Of course, Nintendo still has a ways to go before it can claim industry dominance. Sony's PlayStation 2 holds the all-time sales record, with more than 100 million sold. Also, in the next-gen console category, the leader in terms of units sold is the Xbox 360, with 10.4 million units sold as of the end of 2006.
Still, Nintendo executives, and some game analysts, believe the Wii's mass market potential could make it a breakthrough product for the $30 billion video game industry. Worldwide, Nintendo has sold 3 million units and is confident that figure will double by the end of March. Sony has set a similar global sales goal for PS3 by the end of the first quarter and has set a Mar. 23 launch date for Europe, where the rollout of its critical game console was delayed late last year because of a parts shortage.
Unlike Sony and Microsoft, which spent lavishly on blisteringly fast chips, graphics, and cutting edge disk technology, Iwata insisted Nintendo designers use energy-saving chips and a standard optical disk player to lower product costs. That enabled Nintendo to set the Wii's retail price at about $250, several hundred dollars less than the Xbox 360 and PS3.What's more, unlike Sony and Microsoft with their new consoles, Nintendo makes a profit on every Wii sold.
Older-Gen Gamers But it's the Wii's playability that's had the biggest impact on gamers. Iwata pushed his team to come up with a radically new controller design that would make the Wii a quality experience for sophisticated gamers and novices alike. The result was a wireless, wand-shaped gadget with built-in motion sensors and a gyro-meter to translate action directly onto a TV screen.
Nintendo is also working hard to woo new types of gamers. Figuring the hardcore crowd would need little motivation to check out the Wii, the company devoted about 70% of its $40 million TV, print, and online launch marketing campaign in the U.S. last fall to older and less experienced gamers. "We have been able to satisfy existing gamers and add the expanded audience of adults older than 25," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice-president for marketing.
The only negative publicity the product has received so far has been that avid gamers tend to lose control of their controllers. Nintendo responded to stories about renegade Wii controllers accidentally smashing through TV screens by offering consumers stronger wrist straps.
Mario, Come Home A more serious issue Nintendo faces is avoiding the kind of parts shortages and production delays that have plagued Sony. Nintendo has been working with suppliers such as Matsushita Electric, whose Panasonic unit makes disk drives for the unit, and IBM and ATI Technologies, which make the core processor and graphic chips.
Right now, meeting demand is a bit of a struggle, says Harrison. "We are shipping the Wii, and they are generally selling out in a day or two," he says.
Of course, the serious cash made in this business is on the game software side, where operating margins can run 35% to 40% on games Nintendo has developed over the years that are compatible with the Wii. This is a company, after all, that created icons such as Mario, Donkey Kong, and Pokémon.
In the first quarter of 2007, third-party game developers such as Electronic Arts will release Wii-compatible games titles such as Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07. Other companies such as Buena Vista, Majesco, and Ubisoft are launching new ones, too.
Macquarie Securities analyst David Gibson reckons the average Wii owner will buy more than three games a year — and the bulk of the games will be made in-house by Nintendo.
None of this has been lost on investors. On Jan. 25 the company reported a 40% jump in third-quarter profits of $644 million, and its stock touched a 52-week high of $27.60 in trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Nintendo shares have more than doubled since early February, 2006 — and so have its U.S. depositary receipts, which now trade at about $35.75.
Investors have also been cheered by the success of the DS portable lineup at Nintendo. Since its launch in November, 2004, the line has sold 10 million units in the U.S. and enjoys a global user base of 35 million, powered by popular gaming titles such as Brain Age and Nintendogs.
In a category once dominated by Sony's PSP portable, the Nintendo DS has been a hit with women and gaming novices. Its dual touch screen design, voice recognition capability, and easy-to-use stylus have connected with consumers. To keep the momentum going, some 20 new DS games are expected to roll out in the first quarter of 2007.
The Wii has outperformed the initial rollout phase of the high-powered Microsoft Xbox 360, which was released in November, 2005. Microsoft managed to sell only 607,000 units in the U.S. by the end of 2005.
As a result, says Standard & Poor's equity analyst Clyde Montevirgen, "Nintendo Wii won the launch phase." S&P, like BusinessWeek, is a unit of the McGraw Hill Companies.
Mass Market Potential Of course, Nintendo still has a ways to go before it can claim industry dominance. Sony's PlayStation 2 holds the all-time sales record, with more than 100 million sold. Also, in the next-gen console category, the leader in terms of units sold is the Xbox 360, with 10.4 million units sold as of the end of 2006.
Still, Nintendo executives, and some game analysts, believe the Wii's mass market potential could make it a breakthrough product for the $30 billion video game industry. Worldwide, Nintendo has sold 3 million units and is confident that figure will double by the end of March. Sony has set a similar global sales goal for PS3 by the end of the first quarter and has set a Mar. 23 launch date for Europe, where the rollout of its critical game console was delayed late last year because of a parts shortage.
Unlike Sony and Microsoft, which spent lavishly on blisteringly fast chips, graphics, and cutting edge disk technology, Iwata insisted Nintendo designers use energy-saving chips and a standard optical disk player to lower product costs. That enabled Nintendo to set the Wii's retail price at about $250, several hundred dollars less than the Xbox 360 and PS3.What's more, unlike Sony and Microsoft with their new consoles, Nintendo makes a profit on every Wii sold.
Older-Gen Gamers But it's the Wii's playability that's had the biggest impact on gamers. Iwata pushed his team to come up with a radically new controller design that would make the Wii a quality experience for sophisticated gamers and novices alike. The result was a wireless, wand-shaped gadget with built-in motion sensors and a gyro-meter to translate action directly onto a TV screen.
Nintendo is also working hard to woo new types of gamers. Figuring the hardcore crowd would need little motivation to check out the Wii, the company devoted about 70% of its $40 million TV, print, and online launch marketing campaign in the U.S. last fall to older and less experienced gamers. "We have been able to satisfy existing gamers and add the expanded audience of adults older than 25," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice-president for marketing.
The only negative publicity the product has received so far has been that avid gamers tend to lose control of their controllers. Nintendo responded to stories about renegade Wii controllers accidentally smashing through TV screens by offering consumers stronger wrist straps.
Mario, Come Home A more serious issue Nintendo faces is avoiding the kind of parts shortages and production delays that have plagued Sony. Nintendo has been working with suppliers such as Matsushita Electric, whose Panasonic unit makes disk drives for the unit, and IBM and ATI Technologies, which make the core processor and graphic chips.
Right now, meeting demand is a bit of a struggle, says Harrison. "We are shipping the Wii, and they are generally selling out in a day or two," he says.
Of course, the serious cash made in this business is on the game software side, where operating margins can run 35% to 40% on games Nintendo has developed over the years that are compatible with the Wii. This is a company, after all, that created icons such as Mario, Donkey Kong, and Pokémon.
In the first quarter of 2007, third-party game developers such as Electronic Arts will release Wii-compatible games titles such as Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07. Other companies such as Buena Vista, Majesco, and Ubisoft are launching new ones, too.
Macquarie Securities analyst David Gibson reckons the average Wii owner will buy more than three games a year — and the bulk of the games will be made in-house by Nintendo.
None of this has been lost on investors. On Jan. 25 the company reported a 40% jump in third-quarter profits of $644 million, and its stock touched a 52-week high of $27.60 in trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Nintendo shares have more than doubled since early February, 2006 — and so have its U.S. depositary receipts, which now trade at about $35.75.
Investors have also been cheered by the success of the DS portable lineup at Nintendo. Since its launch in November, 2004, the line has sold 10 million units in the U.S. and enjoys a global user base of 35 million, powered by popular gaming titles such as Brain Age and Nintendogs.
In a category once dominated by Sony's PSP portable, the Nintendo DS has been a hit with women and gaming novices. Its dual touch screen design, voice recognition capability, and easy-to-use stylus have connected with consumers. To keep the momentum going, some 20 new DS games are expected to roll out in the first quarter of 2007.
Labels: nintendo wii
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