Gamenews Weekly
Production Pages
Every month in Gamenews Weekly: Production Pages - games in development in Australia. To get the next issue, and lots more, subscribe to Gamenews Weekly today!

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Industry
Already Connected MTV and Midway Work Together on 3 Games
Viacom Inc subsidiary MTV and Midway, connected through Sumner M. Redstone, who owns a majority of the voting shares of both MTV and Midway, will market and sell in-game advertising for the upcoming game LA Rush and 2 others, also collaborating on the soundtrack. MTV gets a revenue share. MTV is seeking to go beyond being an advertising space for games, by adding value to game development due to its audience understanding. "This unique alliance with Midway allows us to move beyond a traditional advertising relationship and become true partners in the success of these titles" states Jeff Yapp, EVP, MTV Networks Music and LOGO Enterprise Group, in the press release, adding "we will integrate our expertise in music, television, and online media to help one of the video game industry's top publishers deliver exciting, new, culturally resonant games." Redstone stated "I am delighted that Midway is the first to enter into this exciting new business model, which harnesses the power of MTV's brands, intellectual property and promotional engine to Midway's top-rated games development and publishing abilities. And I am also delighted to report that the independent special committee of Viacom's board which oversees relationships between Viacom and Midway recommended board approval, and that this recommendation was accepted by the full Viacom board." For the press release, click the link here. [29 June 2005] [top]

Publishers
Fantastic 4 Released in US
Activision has announced the release of Fantastic 4 in the US. "Fantastic 4 for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft, and the Nintendo(R) GameCube(TM) was developed by Seven Studios, the PC version was developed by Beenox and Fantastic 4 for the Game Boy(R) Advance was developed by Torus Games." The games will be released in Australia 1 July 2005. For the US press release, click the link here. [29 June 2005] [top]

Competitions
Sony Online Entertainment's Character Lookalike Competition
Sony Online Entertainment has announced they have almost 150 women striving to be voted the one who looks most like their EverQuest II character Antonia Bayle, with more than one million votes cast in the bizarre competition. The competition closes 11 July 2005. For the press release, click the link here, for the competition website, click the link here. [29 June 2005] [top]

Development
Infinite Interactive Designing Heroes of Might and Magic V
Speaking at Dissecta's Next Gen War event held last night, Steve Fawkner, CEO of Melbourne based Infinite Interactive, said his studio was lead designer for Heroes of Might and Magic V. Infinite Interactive is assisting Russian studio Nival, as the game is developed for Ubisoft. For Infinite's website, click the link here. [29 June 2005] [top]

Development
Ratbag Games Releases Scavenger Quicktime Clip
Adelaide studio Ratbag Games has released a quicktime clip of their Scavenger game, currently in development. Mark Bracken of Ratbag relocated to the US recently to get their property more exposure with publishers. The clip displays a fast paced action game set in a wasteland environment with plenty of decent vehicles for players to use and abuse, interspersed with dismounted close combat third person action. For the website, click the link here. [27 June 2005] [top]

Retail
US: Console Software Sales in May Up 30 Percent
GameDaily.com reports that video game sales in the US in May have shown "incredible growth", as "total U.S. console software sales increased 30 percent year-over-year to $319 million - a figure that blew past just about everyone's expectations." The data has been collated by NPD Group. gameDaily comments that "2005 may very well be a record-breaking year for the video game industry." The record for US console software sales is $10.3 billion for the 2002 year. Pokemon Emerald for GBA from Nintendo topped the sales list, followed by Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (PS2 then Xbox), Forza Motorsport (Xbox), and Rockstar's Midnight Club 3 (PS2) in the top five. For the article, click the link here. [27 June 2005] [top]

Development
Game Based 3D Engine Used to Power Real Estate Virtual Tours
The US Duluth News Tribune online has an article about the use of a first person gam engine to power real estate virtual tours. The Switzerland based company providing the service, Treveda, has built it with teams based in New Jersey USA, Switzerland, and Russia. According to the article "visitors can open and shut doors, inspect every room, traverse hallways, go up and down stairways, even peer out windows that frame photos of the real-life scenery." The service is based on a 3D engine developed by a previous incarnation of the company, and built as part of video game projects. for the article, click the link here. [24 June 2005] [top]

Competitions
Rockstar Games Upload Competition
Rockstar Games is running Rockstar Games Upload 4, a digital media awards program that recognises and celebrates the creative endeavors of the online community in the categories of Short Subject Film, Deejay Mix, Short Fiction and Multimedia Design. The call for entries deadline is September 30th, 2005 with winners announced in November 2005. For the website, click the link here. [24 June 2005] [top]

Industry
Update: Actors Unions Split Ranks
The negotiations between about 70 US publishers and two actors unions has taken a twist, with one union ratifying a tentative agreement, and anther union rejecting the tentative agreement (see Update: Actors and Publishers Dispute Resolving, 12 June 2005). Reuters.com reports that "the Screen Actors Guild, rejected on Tuesday a recently negotiated contract with the video game industry." For the article, click the link here. Reuters.com believes the Screen Actors Guild is closely divided on the issue. [23 June 2005] [top]

Education
Study: Dance Dance Revolution May Assist ADHD Children to Read
Canada.com reports on a study which suggests "struggling young readers with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder can improve their reading skills by playing a popular video game that involves dancing", the game being Dance Dance Revolution. "The game had a positive effect on a key skill used in reading known as receptive coding, the study found... This skill involves the ability of a child to code whole written words into short-term memory." For the article, click the link here. The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Education. [23 June 2005] [top]

Peripherals
Resident Evil Controller for PS2
US peripherals designer and manufacturer Nuby Tech will soon release a Resident Evil controller for the PlayStation 2. It follows the extremely successful release of a Resident Evil controller for GameCube in March, and comes soaked in 'blood' with a rip cord starter and chainsaw sound. UK based distributer Wild Things will release the PS2 version in UK and several European territories, and it is expected to go on sale in September. The Gamecube version sold out within days according to Wild Things. For the Nubytech website, click the link here. [23 June 2005] [top]

Industry
UK Game Industry Meeting for Two Days This Week
"The big names in the UK games business are in London for a two-day summit organised by the industry's trade body, the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association" reports the BBC, with challenges facing game makers on the agenda. The summit is the Elspa International Games Summit, which will be held today and tomorrow in London. Challenges include rising costs for small developers which has lead to risk aversion, and expanding gaming in terms of audience and genre. For the article, click the link here. [21 June 2005] [top]

Game Films
More Game Derived Films Coming
In Monday's issue of Gamenews Weekly the feature article looked at game derived films on the books, including Halo, Hitman, Spy Hunter, Dead Or Alive, and Doom the Movie. There are two other game derived films to add to that list being Alice, the movie adaptation of the game Alice by American McGee published by Electronic Arts and now being produced for Universal Pictures, and Dungeon Siege the movie, based on Gas Powered Games Dungeon Siege property, which is in pre-production at Bright Light Pictures. Digital Spy reports that Alice will star Sarah Michelle Gellar. For the Digital Spy article, click the link here. [21 June 2005] [top]

Industry
Developer of The Matrix Online Sheds Staff, Exits MMORPG Market
The developer of The Matrix Online is shedding 80 staff over the next few months and exiting the MMORPG business, as a result of transferring two game titles to Sony Online Entertainment, reports the Seattle Times. The US developer Monolith Productions, owned by Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment, has handed The Matrix Online and another MMORPG based on DC Comics to Sony Online Entertainment following Sony's recent buy in (see Sony Online Entertainment Buys Into The Matrix Online). "At least 25 of those employees have been offered jobs at Sony Online Entertainment's Bellevue office" reports the Seattle Times. Monolith will be left with 100 staff. For the article, click the link here. [21 June 2005] [top]

Government
Update: Louisiana's Study to Establish Game Industry
2TheAdvocate reports on a study initiated March 2005 to consider whether the American State of Louisiana can develop a video game industry based on tax credits. "Creating a video-game industry in the state will be expensive and gradual, but rewarded with high-paying, knowledge-based jobs that are worth subsidizing, according to a study circulating among legislators" begins the report. The study also recommends establishment of a business incubator and higher-education programs. "It is going to be very tough for the state to recruit an entire studio initially.. But if the state attracts several developers that then set up studios, then the talent might slowly start coming" the study author reportedly states. The author also states "a 50-person development studio spends more than [US]$3.8 million in wages alone... That translates to nearly [US]$6.5 million in local earnings and nearly 90 jobs for the local economy". For the article, click the link here. For background, see USA: Transferable Tax Credits to get Film Biz may be used for Game Biz. [21 June 2005] [top]

Handheld
Trailer for Gumby GBA Game
Namco Hometek Inc has released a new trailer from its upcoming side-scrolling platformer for the Game Boy Advance, "Gumby vs. the Astrobots." The trailer is an original animated short from Gumby creator Art Clokey and highlights some of Gumby's unique clay powers while introducing the game's villainous menace, the Astrobots. The game will be available this August and has been developed in Melbourne by Torus Games. For more information click the link here. [21 June 2005] [top]

Gamenews Weekly
DEAD OR ALIVE Film Shooting; Holly Valance as Christie
As reported in Gamenews Weekly earlier today Japanese game publisher and developer Tecmo has announced in Japan that a DEAD OR ALIVE film has started production, with Australia's Holly Valance as Christie, one of the lead roles. The extremely popular video game series DEAD OR ALIVE was created by Tomonobu Itagaki-san of Tecmo's Team Ninja development studio. The film version is being shot in China at Hengdian WorldStudios directed by Cory Yuen (Transporter, Romeo Must Die), and produced by Jeremy Bolt, for Constantin Film, a German company. The script has been written by J H Lawton, Adam and Seth Gross, and Granz Henman, and the film shoot will be completed in Hong Kong. The film also stars popular Japanese actor Kane Kosugi (Ryu) who grew up in the US and returned to Japan several years ago, and is known as a regular on a Japanese strong man TV show. Other actors include Devon Aoki as Haze, Natassia Malthe as Ayane, Jaime Pressly as Electra, and Sarah Carter as Elena. Subscribe to Gamenews Weekly today! [20 June 2005] [top]

Online Games
Sony Online Entertainment Buys Into The Matrix Online
Sony Online Entertainment has done a deal with Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment to buy into The Matrix Online (see Real Actors to Play Matrix Characters in the Online Game; 1 April 2005). The Matrix Online website states "the MxO team is very excited about collaborating with SOE, for the team and for the fans... This change melds the experience and wisdom of SOE, a highly established publisher of online games with the existing developers of MxO." The Matrix Online joins "EverQuest, EverQuest II, Star Wars Galaxies, PlanetSide, and EverQuest Online Adventures (PlayStation 2)" in Sony's Station Access subscription program providing one price for access to all games. For the announcement click the link here. [18 June 2005] [top]

Events
Free Play 2005, 15 - 17 July
The second Free Play Independent Game Developers Conference is on middle of July in Melbourne, with tickets now on sale from the ACMI Box Office and online. Free Play is also calling for entries for thier travel subsidy; Free Play will provide money towards airfares/bus tickets to come to Melbourne from anywhere in Australia or NZ, for those with demo projects to show off. Send your name, age, project description and any appropriate links or images to the Free Play organisers by 25 June 2005. Winners will be notified by 1 July. Free Play is also looking for volunteers, exhibits for their free function space, and demos for the Free Play Demo room. For information on booking tickets, click the link here. [17 June 2005] [top]

Events
Sony PSP Competition for "Next Gen War" 28 June
Dissecta.com's "Next Gen War - Reports from the E3 Frontline" event will be held Tuesday 28 June 2005 at the Australian Games Innovation Centre, in the Atari Building, Queens Road, Melbourne. Starting at 7pm, Dissecta states attendees will hear from a panel of speakers from the video game industry providing an overview of the world's largest video game entertainment event, E3 Expo, held recently in Los Angeles, California. Speakers include Mike Fegan of IR Gurus (Heroes of the Pacific; AFL Premiership 2005). Ben Lenzo of Perception (Stargate SG-1: The Alliance) will provide commentary by pre-recorded video. Footage from the show floor will be provided by Next Gen Videos, the official camera crew of the E3 Expo event. Tickets are now on sale: Adults $15; Concession/students $13. Dissecta is also running a Sony PSP promo: audience members who are also Dissecta News subscribers, will go in the running for a fully imported Sony PSP handheld and game. The competition will run for the Dissecta June and July events. for the Dissecta website, click the link here. [17 June 2005] [top]

Industry
Talented Australian Game Makers On the World Stage
The case for Australians being talented game developers continues to get stronger. All programming students who graduated the Academy of Interactive Entertainment in Melbourne last year are now fully employed says David Giles, Head of School, with 8 graduates at IR Gurus, one with Criterion UK, and another in the UK with Reflections. Further, the recent British Academy Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) games awards, gave the originality gong to SingStar/SingStar Party. SingStar is created in London by Sony Computer Entertainment, a studio which has a bunch of Aussie game developers. For Total War: Rome, the Brisbane based development operation of UK's Creative Assembly, now owned by Sega, were involved in a number of areas of programming and art, including the complete audio production. Total War: Rome has also been lauded at the BAFTA game awards, as nominee for original music (Jeff van Dyck). For the Melbourne AIE website, click the link here. [17 June 2005] [top]

Development
Codemasters Releases Promos for Heroes of the Pacific
Codemasters, publisher of the The World War 2 dog fighter Heroes of the Pacific, has put the trailer for the game online. The game, developed by Melbourne based IR Gurus and That Game, provides for up to 150 planes in the sky at one time, each with full AI and physics, and is expected to give a hair raising experience as battles rage over the Pacific. The game will be released in September. For the website, click the link here. [16 June 2005] [top]

Industry
Vivendi Universal Games Buys UK's Swordfish Studios
Vivendi Universal Games has announced it has bought the independent developer Swordfish Studios. Birmingham, UK, based Swordfish, which has a team of 45 staff, just finished making the PS2 FPS game Cold Winter for Vivendi. Swordfish is currently working on Brian Lara International Cricket 2005 for the PS2, Xbox, and PC, in addition to two undisclosed titles. For the developer website, click the link here. [16 June 2005] [top]

Education
US University Running Outreach Courses in Video Games
The student paper for Oklahoma State University in America has a report on a campus video game community program run by the University's Arts and Sciences Outreach organisation. The program is a "series of hands-on workshops that will allow participants to learn the basics of video-game-character development and animation... available for anyone over the age of 12." Courses run for five days, and course titles are The Basics, Animation Level I, and Animation Level II. For the interesting article, click the link here. [16 June 2005] [top]

Game Films
Vin Diesel Agent 47 in Hitman Movie
Allheadlinenews.com reports that actor Vin Diesel has signed "on to play the titular role of Agent 47 in a big screen adaptation of the popular video game franchise, Hitman." 20th Century Fox is making the film. For the brief article, click the link here. [16 June 2005] [top]

Retail
Australian Game Players Being Dudded
It looks like Australian game players are being dudded. Game players in one of our nearest neighbours, Singapore, get access to substantially cheaper games, and to equipment long before Australian game players. A top new release PC game in Singapore costs about $60 Singapore dollars, which is about $48 Australian dollars, while the Sony PSP is already on sale in the city state. Australians typically pay $80 to $100 Australian dollars for a top PC game, and have to wait until September 1 for the PSP. Recent issues of Singapore's The Straits Times Digital Life pages, had Swat 4 for PC at Sing $49.90, Act of War for PC at Sing $54.95, and Lego Star Wars for PC at Sing $49.90. [15 June 2005] [top]

Events
Codemasters Campzone, The Netherlands, July
The Netherlands will place host to huge PC LAN event next month, Codemasters Campzone. The event is a ten day gaming festival running 22 July to 1 August; it involves thousands of tents, miles and miles of UTP cables, and hordes of gamers from everywhere in the world. Codemasters is sponsoring the event third time in a row, which is organised by GameParty.net. For the website, click the link here. [15 June 2005] [top]

Online Games
OnGameNet To Launch Shot Online and Cartoon Racer
Sydney based MMORPG provider OnGameNet, which runs Ragnarok in Australia, is preparing to release two other online games in late June 2005; Shot Online and Cartoon Racer. Locally hosted online games reduced internet lag and disconnections, as well as providing easier payment facilities. Shot Online is a 3D MMORPG golf game, recreate real world gold conditions. Cartoon Racer allows up to 8 players to race together in real time. Cartoon Racer has three different modes of play, Racing, Soccer and Battle Bumper. For the OnGameNet website, click the link here. For our Q&A with OnGameNet about Ragnarok, click here (left column). [14 June 2005] [top]

Events
Brisbane Game Developers Meetup Group, 25 June 2005
A new meetup group for gamedevs, students, modders and enthusiasts has been formed and will meet 25 June at 5pm, at the Pavilion Bar (Stamford Plaza), cnr Edward & Margaret Streets Brisbane, CBD (07 3221 1999). If you have a DS bring it, "killing each other is a great way to network" say the organisers. For a map to the venue, click the link here. For the Meetup website, click the link here. Questions to Scott.Leaman@gmail.com. [13 June 2005] [top]

Development
GarageGames Studios Supporting Xbox 360 by Swallowing Bravetree
GarageGames Studios is now developing for Xbox 360, as a result it seems of adding BraveTree Productions to its development team. "Members of the former BraveTree team have become key additions to the Xbox 360 development team" comments GarageGames Studios in a press release. As well as developing in-house, GarageGames runs an independent publishing operation and game engine known as the Torque Development Platform. BraveTree Productions, the studio behind the indie hit ThinkTanks, has been a vital member of the GarageGames community and has been a long-time partner with GarageGames. The Torque Game Engine can be licensed by independent developers for US$100. For the GarageGames website, click the link here. [13 June 2005] [top]

Game Films
Halo Movie a Step Closer
Microsoft has been shopping a script for a Halo film around Hollywood movie studios recently, using actors dressed up as the main character, Master Chief, to deliver the concept according to Reuters.com. It appears Universal Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox are in the front running through a team bid, which is lower than Microsoft's original asking price; the two companies are looking at "an initial payment of $5 million plus 10 percent of initial box office receipts" sources reportedly said to Reuters.com. Microsoft is represented by Creative Artists Agency. For the article, click the link here. [12 June 2005] [top]

Industry
Update: Actors and Publishers Dispute Resolving
In the US, actors unions have reached a tentative agreement with about 70 publishing companies over compensation. The negotiations, to renew an accord betweent the two groups, broke down a few weeks ago as actor union demands for a share of the royalties from game sales in addition to payment, were rejected by the publishing industry. "The new deal will boost wages for voice-over and other performers by 36% over the terms of the 3 1/2-year contract, beginning with an immediate 25% hike. The actors also got increases in benefits and greater work protection, though not the residuals that they had been demanding." reports Backstage.com. For the article, click the link here. [12 June 2005] [top]

Consoles
NSW Halo 2 Lan Report
The Age online has a lengthy article about an Xbox lan competition held at the University of NSW, where players competed in Halo 2 for $10,000 worth of prizes. For the article, click the link here. [12 June 2005] [top]

Event
Gold Coast: GDCN Game Competition Calls for Entries
Students and gamers from the Gold Coast: the Gold Coast is taking part in the Global Digital City Network (GDCN) Game Competition, an international contest aimed at encouraging the development of games and game art. Chair of Council's Economic and Cultural Development Committee, Cr Jan Grew, said "the best entries in the competition from each city will be presented at the Sixth General Assembly of the GDCN, which is scheduled to take place in Dubai in November this year." Cr Grew said the competition was an opportunity to internationally showcase both the quality of skills within the GDCN pool and the network's approach to cross-city collaborative teamwork. "I am confident the Gold Coast will be very strongly represented in this competition and I urge everyone who has the skills and ability to give serious consideration to submitting an entry." The deadline for entries is September 8th, 2005. The competition is open to students and gamers from Gold Coast, Dundee (UK), and Chuncheon (Korea). For the competition website, click the link here. [10 June 2005] [top]

Consoles
Destroy All Humans! Promo Music CD
A promo CD for Destroy All Humans! will be released by publisher THQ when the game hits shelves. The 16 track CD features remixed 50's classics as well as original compositions from the game. Select tracks will also be available for download from the website. For the game website click the link here. [9 June 2005] [top]

Development
Fantastic 4 GBA by Torus, Coming Soon!
Fantastic 4 for Game Boy Advance developer Torus, have released details of the new game on their website. Game designer at Melbourne based Torus, Ben Evans, told Gamenews.com.au that players "will be able to take control of two members of the Fantastic Four when fighting through the scores of levels, and this combination of characters changes between levels." Players can swap between the two characters by pressing a shoulder button, "giving [players] some good opportunities to mix-up play style." Evans illustrates: "For example, you may wish to pick up a heavy object as Ben and throw it at an enemy causing him to move back near another enemy - switch to Johnny, and you can move in to finish both of them off with a big fiery blast." On the issue of game design Torus producer Kevin McIntosh comments "we didn't speak to the console developer at all, though we did use a couple of their assets and get Alpha builds through Activision as we were developing the GBA title." Boss levels in the Fantastic 4 GBA game make all four characters available "which gives [players] the opportunity to pull off some devastating moves and combos" remarks Evans. The GBA title follows the movie closer than the console version and will be out soon. For the Torus news page which has some great screen shots, click the link here. [9 June 2005] [top]

Trade
Ganbatte Kudasai! 7 Victorian Game and Related Companies Go to Japan
Two experienced Melbourne based handheld console developers Torus and Tantalus Interactive, will be part of a seven strong game and related company trade mission to Japan later this month. The trade mission, organised by the Victorian Government for a number of industries including computer games, will visit the Aichi World Expo. The mission will also travel to Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagoya "for a series of meetings with important players in the Japanese games industry" according to the Victorian Government. While Nintendo is based in Kyoto, former capital of Japan, it is unclear which Japanese game companies have confirmed meetings. Other game and related companies in the mission are Act3animation Pty Ltd the company responsible for the animation in Anaka, ASX listed Blaze International Ltd, ENESS Pty Ltd developers of Virsual - a digital rocking horse, MediaNet Productions, and Studio Moshi Pty Ltd. The Game Developers Association of Australia will also attend the trade mission, seeking to develop stronger ties with one of the world's great video game countries. The mission will run 20 to 28 June, led by the Victorian Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Marsha Thomson. Gamenews.com.au says ganbatte kudasai! (Do your best!) [9 June 2005] [top]

Event
Game Dev Masterclasses, Brisbane, 19 June 2005
Game development master classes are being held in Brisbane Sunday 19 June from 2pm, to provide an opportunity for developers and hopefuls to learn more about areas of game development, and also about starting and progressing a game dev career. The classes are organised by the International Game Developers Association Brisbane Chapter. Led by experienced game developers, and with open discussions, the classes are for anyone active or actively pursuing a career in the game development industry. The classes will be held at QANTM, 138 Albert Street, Level 9. The classes are: 2.00 - 3.00 Design: A session on conceptual design and stories, by: John Passfield of Pandemic; 2.30 - 3.30 Code: Programming code for games, by: Brad Clancy of Pandemic; 3.00 - 4.00 Production: How it all glues together and gets to completion, by: Jon Cartwright of THQ; 3.30 - 4.30 Art: Art asset management, environment and character modeling for games, by: Jake Hempson and Bruno Rime of Krome; 4.00 - 5.30 Audio and Outsourcing: Game audio and how to operate an outsourcing shop, by: Mick Gordon of Lava Injection; Troy Sterling of Kalescent; 4.30 - 5.30 Business: How to start a new games business venture, by: David Grant of Electronic Games Queensland Cluster. RSVP to j.turner (AT) qut.edu.au (add which sessions will be attended) and use the subject header "IGDA master class RSVP". For the class forum, click the link here. [9 June 2005] [top]

Classification
Classification Changes You Have When You Don't Have Changes
The Federal Government's Office of Film and Literature Classification has released new look classification markings, providing the same look for classification labels on films, DVDs, videos and computer games. The OFLC state "converging technology has been a key reason behind the changes, with common classification markings introduced across film and computer games products for the first time - as well as the introduction of new look colour symbols." The OFLC state the classifications themselves have not changed only the appearance and consistency of the classification markings. For the press release, click the link here. While Australia has an R rating for films it is yet to see the same equality applied to computer games. [8 June 2005] [top]

Industry
Tantalus Launches New Website
Melbourne based Tantalus Interactive have launched their new website. Payload, a game published by Nokia and to be released soon, looks very cool. For the website, click the link here. [8 June 2005] [top]

Retro
UK Retro Gaming Label Signing Up Developers
Retro-Soft, a division of new UK developer studio Alten8 Ltd, has been signing up classic games direct from the original developers. Retro-Soft has announced they have now signed Boxing Manager, The Realm and The General for the ZX Spectrum by Ian Williams (ex willysoft.co.uk publisher), and Gobblers for the PC and Amiga also by Williams; Manjinder Singh has granted them exclusive rights to his games Snakes and Ladders and Chopper Mission for the ZX Spectrum as well. Retro-Soft says it is working towards licensing many classic games to use on emulators and the antique hardware itself while Alten8 develop across hand-held, mobile and portable formats. For the Retro-Soft website, click the link here. [8 June 2005] [top]

Industry
Atari CEO Resigns
In America, TheStreet.com reports on the depature of Atari CEO Jim Caparro, who suddenly resigned from Atari. From the report, Caparro took a job in entertainment distribution with another company, with that other company releasing details of Caparro joining them a week or so before Atari's announcement. Caparro had been CEO of Atari for only seven months and on the Atari board since 2002. For the article, click the link here. [8 June 2005] [top]

Handhelds
Japan: Nintendo to Install WiFi Hotspots for DS
Nintendo has revealed a plan to install a 1000 WiFi hotspots in Japan by the end of the year, to encourage Nintendo DS game players to play networked games. "Nintendo President Satoru Iwata told a news conference that 25 overseas and Japanese software companies have said they were interested in developing games that are compatible with WiFi" reports Reuters.com. "We would like to create an environment where more than 90 percent of the people that buy our WiFi-compatible games have tried them at least once online" Iwata-san reportedly said. For the article, click the link here. [7 June 2005] [top]

Online Games
World of Warcraft Launched in China
Vivendi Universal Games subsidiary Blizzard Entertainment has announced its highly popular MMORPG World of Warcraft has been officially launched in China, in partnership with The9 Ltd. Mike Morhaime, president and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment, said "it has always been a goal at Blizzard to become a major developer and publisher for the Chinese gaming market... we feel that China offers a huge and eager audience and it is poised to become the next great region in gaming." The game has been localised for China, and a recent Beta test proved extremely popular (see Update: Chinese Online Game Market). The game uses an authorized CD key to activate game accounts, with each CD key costing 30 Yuan/RMB which can be purchased with a World of Warcraft Points Card. Point Cards also cost 30 Yuan/RMB and can be used at a rate of 9 points per hour (0.45 Yuan/hour) to play World of Warcraft. For the game's Chinese version website click the link here. [7 June 2005] [top]

Industry
Subsidiary of Softbank and Playlogic: On-Demand Deal
Club iT Corporation of Japan will make Dutch independent game publisher Playlogic's games available on G-cluster, a game on demand service for broadband users. Club iT is part of the Softbank group, one of Japan's most successful and innovative technology enterprises with substantial broadband operations. Playlogic's existing games will be ported to the G-Cluster while Playlogic indicates new games will be developed for the G-Cluster as if it was an additional platform for development. For the G-Cluster website, click the link here. [6 June 2005] [top]

Government
Update: Californian Bill to Ban Sale of Certain Games On Hold
Reuters.com reports that a proposed Californian law to "ban the sale of violent video games has been shelved because of a lack of support." The proposed law will remain inactive unless sufficient support is garnered to revive it (see Illinois Banning Certain Game Sales; Developers Hit Battle Stations). For the article, click the link here. [6 June 2005] [top]

Industry
Vocal Talent Company Claims More Interest
A Canadian based vocal talent company providing voice-over services to the North American game industry claims the game industry is hiring more non-union voice actors. The company, Interactive Voices, has used the potential for a union strike in the US industry, to make their claim (see Update: US Actor Unions, Game Industry Negotiations Break). For the press release, click the link here. [6 June 2005] [top]

Development
Microsoft Game Studios Now Developing for Xbox360 Only
BBC News has an informative article concerning existing consoles and their games in light of the release of next gen consoles. "Microsoft's new Xbox 360 is due to go on sale worldwide towards the end of the year, with the PlayStation 3 coming in the spring of 2006. Nintendo has talked about releasing its Revolution sometime next year. The games will phase out very slowly. The industry has learnt that moving away too quickly is costly" reports the BBC. Key points: PlayStation is still selling, 200 games coming out for Xbox this year and 150 next year, PS2 aiming for 50 million consoles in Europe/Middle East/Australia "by 2010, up from 30 million at the moment", and "Microsoft is adopting a different tactic to Sony... It [Microsoft Game Studios] is going to stop working on current generation titles and instead focus on games for the Xbox 360." For the article, click the link here. [6 June 2005] [top]

Event
Live Chat: Developers of Battles in Italy
Matrix Games, publishers of Battles in Italy, will hold a public live chat with Gregor Whiley and other members of Melbourne based Strategic Studies Group, developers of the game. The chat will be held June 9th 2005 at 10:00 PM Eastern Time from the Matrix Games Chat Room. "Battles in Italy is an operational wargame that takes you to three of the toughest fought battles in the Mediterranean; including the invasions of Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio" state Matrix Games. For the Matrix Games website, click the link here. For the developer website click the link here. [6 June 2005] [top]

Gamenews Weekly
Game Japan Section of Gamenews Weekly
If you didn't get this week's issue of Gamenews Weekly, released to inboxes this morning, you missed out on our regular Game Japan brief: this week's topic was on the latest game to be released in a series of convenience store simulation games which have sold 1.1 million copies to date. [6 June 2005] [top]

Development
Original Voices for Stargate SG-1: The Alliance Game
Publisher of Stargate SG-1: The Alliance, Jo WooD Productions of Austria, reports that the game will feature the vocal talents from the original team of the long running TV series; Richard Dean Anderson as Jack O'Neal; Micheal Shanks as Daniel Jackson; Amanda Tapping as Samantha Carter; and Christopher Judge as Teal"c".The game is being developed by Sydney based Perception, and the TV show is now in it's 8th series and production on series 9 has started. For the Perception website, click the link here. [4 June 2005] [top]

Consoles
90 Million PS2s Sold
Sony has announced the cumulative production shipment of PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system had reached 90 million units worldwide, as of 2 June 2005 (Japan (including Asia) 21.04 million units (launch date: March 4, 2000); North America 36.48 million units (launch date: October 26, 2000); Europe/PAL 32.48 million units (launch date: November 24, 2000)). The PS2 reached the 90 million mark 2 years and 3 months before the original PlayStation reached the same mark, and Sony reports the first PlayStation has sold more than 100 million units in total. Sony also says more than 5,000 game titles are currently available for PlayStation 2 worldwide, with cumulative shipment reaching over 800 million units. Software shipment has been outstanding, recording an all-time high of 252 million units in 2004. [4 June 2005] [top]

Retail
Sony PSP Imports to UK Under Pressure
Reuters.com reports that a "legal fight is brewing in Britain between Sony and the grey-market importers who are selling its highly sought-after PlayStation Portable (PSP) device ahead of the official Sept. 1 European launch date." Reuters reports importation is rife, and the PSPs are being sold at a premium; and now Sony is sending cease and desist orders to importers for trademark infringement. However, the infringement concerns the mark 'PlayStation' as Sony apparently doesn't own the PSP mark in the UK. For the Reuters article, click the link here. [4 June 2005] [top]

Industry
THQ Launches Marketing Site for Destroy All Humans!
Destroy All Humans!, developed by Pandemic (LA, USA and Brisbane, Australia based studios), has a new marketing site for fans called Alien-Army.com. THQ is releasing the game 21 June 2005 in America, and set up the site to, obviously, create some buzz for the game. THQ says "consumers who enlist in the Alien Army receive a personal e-mail account, exclusive game information and opportunities to win gift cards, games and much more." For the website, click the link here. [3 June 2005] [top]

Events
Sydney Conference Seeks High-Profile Industry Speakers
IE2005: The Second Australasian Conference on Interactive Entertainment, to be held 23-25 November 2005 in Sydney, is calling for papers from the game industry. Chair of the conference, Yusuf Pisan, comments "the one-day version of the conference attracted about 100 people last year, and we expect the full 3-day conference to attract about 200 people this year." The conference is a professional event held at The University of Technology, Sydney, and is very well supported academically and now needs to confirm a high-profile industry speaker. Travel/accomodation support is provided for speakers. For their website, click the link here. [3 June 2005] [top]

Government
Premier Beattie Talks Up Games in Queensland 24/7
In researching our latest Screenhub.com.au column, Gamenews.com.au visited the Queensland government's QldGameDev website, and was instantly hit with the confident tones of Queensland's Premier Beattie, talking up game development in Queensland. The focus of the pre-recorded message seems to be on out-of-towners, who are looking for a good place to make a games business. For the website, click the link here. [3 June 2005] [top]

Indie
Peachy Soft, New Zealand Independent Developer
New Zealand's latest independent game developer, Peachy Soft, has released Starcars, a shareware 3D space game; "Navigate your way home or face eternity alone in the deepest region of space." Starcars comes with a free demo that allows you to explore the first levels of the game. Based in Auckland New Zealand, Peachysoft states it "is a one man operation... the Video Game Industry in New Zealand is almost non-existant, thats why Peachysoft's founder Joshua Smyth has decided to become an independant developer using the Internet as the main distribution method to get our games into the customer's hands." The free demo is available from the Peachysoft website. [2 June 2005] [top]

Development
Babel Media Also Part of Authorised Xbox Test Program
Babel Media Ltd has announced it will be an authorised Xbox game tester, for Europe. As a third party tester in the program, Babel receives technical support, training and equipment. John Barr, Xbox Game Quality Program Manager commented in the Babel press release that "if publishers and developers require 3rd party testing for their titles prior to submitting to Microsoft for certification, we are encouraging them to talk to the Authorized Xbox Test Vendors who will be the only test houses supported by the Xbox Game Quality team." Although Brighton, UK based, like another authorised Xbox game tester Absolute Quality/e4e Ltd, Babel has Indian quality assurance operations. Babel states it has 150 full-time and freelance testers in Brighton and New Delhi. Algy Williams, Managing Director of Babel, and 47% owner (according to Hoovers.com's current information), said "We are very pleased to join the Authorized Xbox Test Program... It's a great milestone for the company, and provides us with the tools and training necessary to deliver the highest quality service to our clients." For the Babel website, click the link here. [1 June 2005] [top]

Business
"Father of Playstation" Retiring
The Father of the Playstation, Ken Kutaragi, will share a US$7 million retirement package with three other Sony executives, reports Reuters.com. Kutaragi-san was adversely affected by a recent top management restructure at Sony (See "Father of Playstation" Removed from Sony Board). For the Reuters.com article, click the link here. [1 June 2005] [top]

Government
Japanese Prefecture to Ban GTA3
Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan will reportedly ban Grand Theft Auto 3 according to Japan Today. "The prefecture is expected to become the first in Japan to designate a violent video game harmful to minors after following the advice of its child welfare council" reports the Japan Today article. The capital of Kanagawa Prefecture is the port city Yokahama, about 30 minutes by train from Tokyo, and relatively speaking highly populated with foreigners. For the article, click the link here. [1 June 2005] [top]

Development
Absolute Quality An Authorised Xbox Game Test Vendor
Absolute Quality, established 1996 by Microprose Software staff in the US and acquired by US based outsourcing services company e4e Ltd and its subsidiary Vinciti Inc in 2004, has announced it is an authorised Xbox game test vendor for both European (Absolute Quality (Europe Ltd)) and North American markets (one of three testers apparently in each market but the only one in both). e4e Ltd was formed in 2000 and an article in Computerworld.com.au commented at the time the group would "leverage India's technical and managerial skills and the ability to offer "24 x 7" (all day, all week) operations to deliver services remotely from India to both enterprises and communications carriers in the U.S. and Europe." For Absolute Quality's website, click the link here. [1 June 2005] [top]