Archived News:
GameSpot has word that Trond Arne Aas has stepped down as CEO of Funcom, noting the surreal timing of this coming on the eve of the launch of The Secret World, the Norwegian developer's latest MMORPG. For his part, Aas seems to think this is coming at the appropriate point: "The company's financial position is strong and the foundation of the company's long-term product and technology strategy is in place," Aas said. "It feels like a very natural point in time for me to make the transition to a new and freer role in the company, but I will remain committed to the Company both as a major shareholder and as an employee."
EA Labels president Frank Gibeau tells GamesIndustry International that NPD's retail sales figures are "an irrelevant measure on the industry" that they "don't even really look at it internally anymore" in light of how much of their business is already digital (much to the NPD's surprise). And while he sees them continuing to deliver games through retail as long as "it makes sense," he sees them moving to 100% digital distribution sooner rather than later: "It's in the near future. It's coming. We have a clear line of sight on it and we're excited about it. Retail is a great channel for us. We have great relationships with our partners there. At the same time, the ultimate relationship is the connection that we have with the gamer. If the gamer wants to get the game through a digital download and that's the best way for them to get it, that's what we're going to do. It has a lot of enhancements for our business. It allows us to keep more that we make. It allows us to do some really interesting things from a service level standpoint; we can be a lot more personalized with what we're doing," Gibeau enthused.
"We're going to be a 100% digital company, period. It's going to be there some day. It's inevitable" Frank Gibeau
EA isn't about to abandon retail and its valuable retail partners tomorrow, though.
"But if customers want to buy a game at retail, they can do that too. We'll continue to deliver games in whatever media formats make sense and as one ebbs and one starts to flow, we'll go in that direction," Gibeau continued. "For us, the fastest growing segment of our business is clearly digital and clearly digital services and ultimately Electronic Arts, at some point in the future - much like your question about streaming and cloud - we're going to be a 100% digital company, period. It's going to be there some day. It's inevitable."
EA's Battlelog has word that all players should be currently receiving double XP for Battlefield 3, which will continue for a couple of days for everybody, and a couple of days past that for premium owners of the military shooter sequel (thanks VG247). Here's word: As always, double XP means your net gain for any round will be effectively doubled at the end of round. This goes for any map and any mode from the base game or any of our expansion packs, as long as you play on ranked servers.
Full details of the event below. We hope you enjoy it, and hope to see you online.
July Double XP event
What: Double your net score after every round
Who: All players
When: July 2-8 for Premium members, July 2-4 for non-Premium members
Starts: 00:01 PDT/07:01 UTC July 2 (click link for handy time conversion tool)
Ends for non-Premium members: 13:00 PDT/20:00 UTC July 4
Ends for Premium members: 23:59 PDT July 8/06:59 UTC July 9
Matrix Games and Slitherine announce Decisive Campaigns: Case Blue, an upcoming turn-based strategy game set on World War II's Eastern Front. Here's word: "Decisive Campaigns: Case Blue brings players to the Eastern Front during World War II, simulating the German Wehrmacht’s drive towards Stalingrad and the Caucasus in the summer of 1942. Take command of the powerful Wehrmacht starting from the 2nd Kharkov Offensive and in Operation Trappenjagd or unleash the might of the Red Army during the Soviet winter counter-offensive in Operation Uranus that encircled the 6th Army in Stalingrad and changed the entire course of the war. With multiple campaign scenarios and a full scenario editor, there are virtually endless operational and strategic “what ifs”, especially when combined with the new high command order system. Succeed in your orders and you can guide future strategy in the campaign – fail and you’ll find yourself removed from command…or worse!"
The Creative Assembly officially announces Total War: Rome II, following the hint last week that such a revelation was coming. The strategy sequel is expected next year, and in a coordinated unveiling, there are various previews to accompany the news. There are first looks on IGN (where they also have a live trailer), Computer and Video Games, Rock, Paper, Shotgun, and Shacknews. There are also video interviews on PC Gamer. Here are a pair of screenshots, and here's the announcement: SEGA(R) of America, Inc. and SEGA(R) Europe, Ltd. today announced that The Creative Assembly, creator of the multi award-winning Total War(TM) series of PC strategy games, is currently developing Total War: Rome II(TM) for PC.
Encompassing one of the best-known periods in world history, Total War: Rome II will combine the most expansive turn-based campaign and the largest, most cinematic real-time battles yet seen in any game.
Total War: Rome II will sink players into the dangerous political machinations of Rome's senate, while asking them to struggle with family dilemmas and question the loyalty of 'friends' and allies. Leading the greatest army ever seen into battle will be just one challenge players will face at the head of the world's first superpower.
Continue here to read the full story.
Sony Computer Entertainment announces they are acquiring Gaikai in a deal worth approximately USD $380 million, confirming rumors they were planning to purchase the cloud-gaming service co-founded by industry veteran Dave Perry. "By combining Gaikai's resources including its technological strength and engineering talent with SCE's extensive game platform knowledge and experience, SCE will provide users with unparalleled cloud entertainment experiences," said Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "SCE will deliver a world-class cloud-streaming service that allows users to instantly enjoy a broad array of content ranging from immersive core games with rich graphics to casual content anytime, anywhere on a variety of internet-connected devices."
Ubisoft announces preorders are underway for limited edition of Assassin's Creed III that's coming exclusively to the Americas, though this USD $119.99 bundle is only for the console editions of the stealth/action sequel. For PC gamers there will be a Digital Deluxe Edition that will include a few digital extras for USD $64.99. Here's what this will include:
- George Washington's notebook revealing his true story during the American Revolution.
- Three single-player missions taking players from the high seas to Cozumel Island in search of Captain Kidd's fabled lost treasure.
- The Captain of the Aquila's uniform and traditional Colonial Assassin outfit, boarding axe and Scottish flintlock - rumored to have fired "the shot heard round the world" - for use in the single-player campaign.
- Sharpshooter and Redcoat characters for use in multiplayer.
- A collection of the best audio tracks from previous Assassin's Creed games.
The Radical Entertainment Facebook page follows word of job cuts at the Activision-owned studio with news that the PC version of Prototype 2 will still be released as planned (thanks G4tv via VG247). Here's word: Thanks again to everyone for the outpouring of support. Just a reminder that the PC version of PROTOTYPE 2 is indeed, still coming on July 24th as planned, but please understand that updates/posts to Facebook over the next few days may be a bit light as we gain our bearing after today.
The Walls is modification for Minecraft that adds a PvP survival mode. Word is: "The map is separated by giant sand walls, players start each on their own platforms and when the timer reach 00:00, the walls falls and the player can kill each others. The last man standing wins the game." This trailer offers a look at the mod in action. Thanks Ant via Reddit.
Babysitting the Smurf over the weekend included the funny experience of taking him to a completely inappropriate movie. We decided a trip to the theater was a good way to avoid the heat Saturday, and a call to his mother confirmed she was completely fine with him wanting to see Ted, in spite of him being a couple of weeks away from turning 12 and Ted having a well-earned R-rating. It was fine, as the movie has all sorts of childish "adult" humor, but probably nothing he hasn't seen or heard already, and he's such a smart, mature kid, it was obvious he kept it in perspective.
And for all our self-consciousness, no one seemed to care about a kid going to that movie: The girl selling the tickets asked his age just to see if he qualified for the discount for kids under 12. And I had prepared for this, saying we'd just pay full price rather than draw attention to us taking an 11-year-old to an R movie.
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