GameNews Headlines January-February 2007

* [NG] Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Expansion Weeks Away [19 Feb 07]
* Activision and Dolby Optimise [19 Feb 07]
* [NG] Classics Range Coming to X360 [19 Feb 07]
* GDAA GDC 2007 Brochure [13 Feb 07]
* Games as Social Commentary [30 Jan 07]
* Classification Board Refuses Blitz the League [30 Jan 07]
* Wii Developing Pre-School Game Market [30 Jan 07]
* [NG] Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Coming [30 Jan 07]
* [NG] New Website for Heatseeker [30 Jan 07]
* Slamdance Game Brouhaha [28 Jan 07]
* [NG] Developing Supreme Commander [28 Jan 07]
* EA’s First Xbox Live Arcade Game: Music Themed [18 Jan 07]
* Strategy First Moves into Portable [11 Jan 07]
* 1 Million PS3's Shipped in US [11 Jan 07]
* UK Game Industry [11 Jan 07]
* US: New Online Game Download Service [8 Jan 07]
* In-Game Advertising Taking Another Step [8 Jan 07]
* Blockbuster Sells Rhino Video Games to GameStop [8 Jan 07]
* Ziff Davis Unloading Game Media [8 Jan 07]
* [NG] FlatOut 2 Sells half a Million [4 Jan 07]
* [NG] Fan Based Quake 3 Fortress Extreme [4 Jan 07]
* Summer Reading: Development Industry Profile [3 Jan 07]
* Insight into Purchase of Serious Game [2 Jan 07]
* 2007: What to Expect [1 Jan 07]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Expansion Weeks Away
The OFLC has rated the soon to be released Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion expansion Shivering Isles, rated M. Read the full item here. [19 Feb 2007] [top]

Development
Activision and Dolby Optimise
Activision has announced a "groundbreaking partnership designed to bring rich, realistic surround sound experiences to gamers worldwide, by ensuring Activision's audio production facilities in North America are optimized for Dolby technologies." As part of the press release, a Dolby executive commented "in the high-definition era, games need to sound as good as they look. By optimizing its audio production facilities for Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, Activision can bring gamers more of the great sound they demand." For the press release, click here. [19 Feb 2007] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] Classics Range Coming to X360
Microsoft is launching a Classics range of games for X360 on 1 March, offering a RRP of $49.95 for some of the early big titles on the console. Read the full item here. [18 Feb 2007] [top]

Development
GDAA GDC 2007 Brochure
The Game Developers' Association of Australia now have their GDC07 promotional brochure online, detailing the capacity of the local industry to develop video games. For the brochure, pdf format, click here. [13 Feb 2007] [top]

Serious Games
Games as Social Commentary
Low budget video games are being used by a growing number of designers to provide social commentary according to the US based Daily Herald. "The games don’t quite carry the same weight as opinion pieces in traditional media. But their creators say they can still carry a punch as they force players to consider serious issues, such as security policy or the volatile price of gasoline." For the article, click here. [30 Jan 2007] [top]

Classification
Classification Board Refuses Blitz the League
The Australian Classification Board says it has classified the computer game Blitz the League, Refused Classification. The game was submitted by distributor Red Ant Enterprises, but according to Des Clark, Director of the Classification Board, the Board "made this decision on the basis that Blitz the League contains drug use related to incentives or rewards... Under the Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games, this is a general rule that means this type of content is Refused Classification.” The Board explained that "in the course of the game, the player may access what are purported to be both legal and illegal performance-enhancing drugs for the members of their team. Choosing to use these drugs, which each have different characteristics, will have effects on team-members, such as improving their speed while also making them more susceptible to injury. Fake urine samples may also be acquired for avoiding positive drug tests. While the game-player can choose not to use the drugs, in the Board’s view there is an incentive to use them." For the press release in pdf, click here. [30 Jan 2007] [top]

Next Gen
Wii Developing Pre-School Game Market
"It looks like the demographic for the average video gamer is about to get younger, much younger" reports Canada.com, with Ubisoft set to "release a game for Nintendo's new Wii gaming system later this year that is targeted at pre-schoolers between three and seven years of age." The game is titled Cosmic Family, and aims "to foster early learning... memory retention, hand-eye co-ordination and imagination." For the article, click here. [30 Jan 2007] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Coming
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney is set for a local release courtesy of Nintendo Australia. Read the full news item here. [30 Jan 2007] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] New Website for Heatseeker
UK based Codemasters has launched a new website for Heatseeker, the IR Gurus' developed "supercharged, blackout-inducing flight game" that is soon to be released in March for Wii, PSP, and the PS2. Read the full news item here. [30 Jan 2007] [top]

Society
Slamdance Game Brouhaha
The NY Times reports on the Slamdance film festival Guerrilla Gamemaking Competition which has hit turbulance. "An entrant called Super Columbine Massacre Role Playing Game! made it to the finals, and in the process attracted complaints about its provocative content. So Mr. Baxter [Festival Director] reluctantly opted to withdraw it from the competition. But the anger over his decision has dwarfed the original objections, and many entrants have chosen to leave the festival altogether." For the article, click here. [28 Jan 2007] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] Developing Supreme Commander
Chris Taylor's Supreme Commander, to be released late February in Australia from THQ, looks set to stress test even the biggest game rigs. Read the full news item here. [28 Jan 2007] [top]

Online
EA's First Xbox Live Arcade Game: Music Themed
Electronic Arts has announced it will release Boom Boom Rocket through Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360 in the US spring. "The game is a hypnotic rhythm music game conceived by EA's Pogo.com casual games design team and developed by Bizarre Creations, the developer who brought Project Gotham Racing 3 to the Xbox 360, and fan-favorite Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved to Xbox Live Arcade" states the company. For the news item at EA.com, click here. More on this in the next issue of GameNews Weekly. [18 Jan 2007] [top]

Industry
Strategy First Moves into Portable
Canadian based Strategy First, a subsidiary of Nasdaq listed Silverstar Holdings Ltd, and Glyphic Entertainment have announced the signing of Warlords Nintendo DS. Disciples II DS is also under development and licensed to Strategy First. The two new titles mark the first time Strategy First has gone beyond publishing for PC. Warlords Nintendo DS is being developed by Australian studio Infinite Interactive. Steve Fawkner, CEO of Infinite-Interactive says "the Warlords turn-based strategy series is a natural fit for the intuitive stylus-based interface of the Nintendo DS. We are very excited to be working with Glyphic Entertainment and Strategy First as they bring the series to an entirely new generation of gamers who will undoubtedly grow to love Warlords equally as much as the millions of others who have over the past 16 years.” Internationally the games will be released by another Silverstar Holdings subsidiary, Empire Interactive, whose Australian distribution partner is Red Ant Enterprises. For the press release, click here. [11 Jan 2007] [top]

Next Gen
1 Million PS3's Shipped in US
Sony has announced that by the end of 2006 it had shipped "more than one million units" of the PS3 to retailers in North America. Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America said in a press release that "reaching the one million mark for PS3 is the first of many major milestones for us as we head into a new year. Even more impressive, is that we were able to accomplish this feat while successfully managing two other platforms - PS2 and PSP... With three PlayStation platforms now available to users, 2007 will be about software and delivering innovative, new experiences and award-winning franchises to consumers, both through retail and through our online PLAYSTATION Network.” For the press release, click here. [11 Jan 2007] [top]

Industry
UK Game Industry
UK's The Independent has a lengthy interview based article with Ian Livingston, Creative Director of developer and publisher Eidos: "Livingstone, 57, is fiercely proud of Britain's gaming history. It has, for years, been the creative leader. But Livingstone has concerns as to whether "we can hang on to that". As with so many other creative industries, Britain is in danger of losing its position in video games." Livingston goes on to explain "the Government gives incentives for overseas industry to come over here, which is only a short-term solution," Livingstone says. "Companies buy development studios, but also acquire intellectual property [the rights to the games]. Then, in the long term, the intellectual property can migrate. It is not about creating intellectual property, but retaining ownership of it." For the article, entitled How Eidos plans to stay ahead of the video game market, click here. [11 Jan 2007] [top]

Industry
US: New Online Game Download Service
Foxnews.com reports that CBS Corporation owned Showtime Networks Inc. "is branching out into the video game industry with a joint venture to offer games to high-speed Internet service providers." The service will be powered by game publisher Broadband Libraries LLC with the two companies forming On Broadband to "offer a private label game service for cable TV companies and DSL broadband providers." For the article, click here. [8 Jan 2007] [top]

Advertising
In-Game Advertising Taking Another Step
Forbes.com has put up a lengthy article about in-game advertising, which appears to try and define a new stage in in-game advertising methods, being the easter-egg ad, the next level up from billboard in-game ads. "In-game advertising has been going on for years as marketers try to reach people who've largely stopped watching television. But beyond running crass advertisements on billboards written into the gaming landscape, many game developers now accept product placements for milk, DVDs and other wares, embedding them deep into the game's software codes. You'd need the type of secret tips and tricks long circulated for unlocking special powers and other bonuses" states the article. The article goes on to explore use of cheat codes that are tied to cross-promotions or other advertising, reporting "Steve Jenkins, who calls himself "cheat executive officer" of Maple Valley, Wash.-based CheatCodes.com, said few players realize how scripted and marketed cheat codes and other insider tricks have become. "Sometimes my secret source fires off this stuff to me, but it's usually the public relations person, publisher or developer who gives us the stuff," said Jenkins, whose site publishes thousands of cheats. "They might give us five cheats and say, 'Release this one now, this one a month later.'" For the article, click here. [8 Jan 2007] [top]

Retail
Blockbuster Sells Rhino Video Games to GameStop
US rental and retail giant Blockbuster Inc, which has Australian operations, has announced it is selling its 72 store Rhino Video Games retail chain to GameStop Corp. Blockbuster says "Rhino Video Games is a regional retail chain specializing in buying, selling and trading video games." John Antioco, Blockbuster Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, say the announcement "is in line with our goal to maintain focus on our Blockbuster-branded assets. We wish the Rhino concept ongoing success under its new ownership, and while games remain an integral part of our Blockbuster business, we will continue to focus on growing our overall share of the video rental market...". R. Richard Fontaine, GameStop Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, says "the integration of the Rhino group into the growing portfolio of GameStop stores will result in operating synergies while being accretive to earnings. The location of most Rhino stores do not overlap existing GameStop sites, and primarily serve secondary and tertiary markets where we have been very successful. Furthermore, the Rhino business model, and a very game oriented management team, will fit seamlessly into the GameStop culture." For the press release, click here. [8 Jan 2007] [top]

Media
Ziff Davis Unloading Game Media
US print and online publisher Ziff Davis is apparently looking to sell its Game Group Division which includes 1UP.com, Electronic Gaming Monthly, and Games for Windows Magazine, according to GamesAreFun.com. For the article, click here. [8 Jan 2007] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] FlatOut 2 Sells half a Million
Bugbear Entertainment says its destruction racing game FlatOut 2, distributed by Red Ant Enterprises in Australia for PS2 and PC, has sold 500,000 copies worldwide "on the back of three months of sales in 2006." Read the full news item here. [4 Jan 2007] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] Fan Based Quake 3 Fortress Extreme
PlanetTFX.com, who say their mission is to "provide a great website and discussion forums for a very large community of gamers that prefer the "Fortress" games that have been with us since the early years of Team Fortress Classic and Quake World Team Fortress all the way up to the next generation" have released Quake 3 Fortress Extreme, a "full free download," and details of two servers. Read the full news item here. [4 Jan 2007] [top]

Industry
Summer Reading: Development Industry Profile
The Game Developers Association of Australia has an insightful report online called "Australian Electronic Game Industry Profile", completed November 2006. Amongst many other stats, the report states "the Australian electronic game industry now generates revenues of approximately $110 million per annum and directly employs approximately 1600 people of which 1350 are permanent staff and 250 are contract staff." For the report (pdf), click here. [3 Jan 2007] [top]

Serious Games
Insight into Purchase of Serious Game
US based News-Tribune.com has an article on how a local sheriff went about adopting a serious game to assist training his police officers: "Randy Hubbard will leave his position as Floyd County’s sheriff in just two days, but he didn’t want to walk away leaving behind only fond memories. Nearly seven years ago, Hubbard experienced a rare, state-of-the art video game system that trained officers in firearm reaction skills. He immediately decided the system would be an asset to any police department and put its purchase high on his priority list as the county’s sheriff." For the article, click here. [2 Jan 2007] [top]

Industry
2007: What to Expect
The Mercury News Online A+E Interactive Blog has an interesting article on what 2007 may have in store for the video game industry. The expansive article can be found here. [1 Jan 2007] [top]

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