GameNews Headlines November 2006

* Tringo Licenced to TwoWayTV [30 Nov 06]
* E-Waste Recycling Program: California [30 Nov 06]
* Game Connect Asia Pacific Most Likely a Sell Out [30 Nov 06]
* eGames and Entertainment Expo [30 Nov 06]
* Nordic Game 2007, May 07 [23 Nov 06]
* [NG] Pet Pals: Animal Doctor Released [23 Nov 06]
* [NG] Demo Available for Real E$tate Empire [23 Nov 06]
* [NG] New Car Package for TDU X360 [23 Nov 06]
* Publishers Shift Behind Wii [22 Nov 06]
* Wii Now Released in US, Sells Out [22 Nov 06]
* [NG] ICC Ashes Edition 2006 [22 Nov 06]
* PlayStation 3 Hits US, Sells Out [21 Nov 06]
* Top Ten Games for Week Ending 16 Nov [20 Nov 06]
* Buena Vista Games Expands: Fall Line Studio Announced [9 Nov 06]
* Sega and Marvel Deal: Iron Man [9 Nov 06]
* Asian Game Developers Summit 2006, 9 – 10 Dec [9 Nov 06]
* Top Ten Games Week Ending 9 Nov 06 Now Up [9 Nov 06]
* [NG] Warhammer: Mark of Chaos Demo [9 Nov 06]
* [NG] Barbie Games Released [9 Nov 06]
* Harvey Norman Not Getting Wii? [8 Nov 06]
* Krome Studios Buys Atari Melbourne [4 Nov 06]
* Canis Canem Edit (Dog Eat Dog)/Bully Targetted [4 Nov 06]
* EA Retools EA Downloader, Renamed EA Link [3 Nov 06]
* Top Ten Games Week Ending 2 Nov 06 Now Up [3 Nov 06]
* [NG] Activision's Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Released [2 Nov 06]
* [NG] Stronghold Legends Community Site [1 Nov 06]
* [NG] Warhammer: Mark Of Chaos Coming Soon [1 Nov 06]

Development
Tringo Licenced to TwoWayTV
Speaking at Dissecta's last event for 2006 held this Tuesday, Nathan Keir said the concept for his virtual game Tringo, first created by him in the virtual world Second Life, will be coming to interactive TV. Tringo, inspired by Tetris and Bingo, is a simple and addictive puzzle game developed by Nathan Keir two years ago next month, with the non-Second Life exploitation rights having been acquired from Keir by US based Donnerwood Media. Donnerwood has on-licenced the concept to Sydney based TwoWayTV. For the Donnerwood site click here, for the Donnerwood Tringo site, where you can play the game online, click here. [30 Nov 2006] [top]

Enviro
E-Waste Recycling Program: California
This interesting article from the MonteryHerald.com reports on a recycling program that targets e-waste, including video game systems and computers, providing a free opportunity over three days for their local public to get rid of their electronic hardwaste so that the waste goes to a specilist recycling company for proper breakdown. "Computers and other electronic equipment often contain hazardous chemicals and always contain a lot of material that can be recycled" reports the article, stating "two recent California laws regulate electronics waste, Senate Bill 20, passed in 2003, and Senate Bill 50, passed in 2004. They aim to reduce the amount of electronic waste in landfills and to maximize recycling..... The money for these programs comes from the sale of electronic goods... For every electronic device, such as a computer or television, sold in California, there is an $8 to $10 charge for recycling programs." For the article, click here. [30 Nov 2006] [top]

Events
GameConnect Asia Pacific Most Likely a Sell Out
The Game Developers' Association of Australia backed conference Game Connect Asia Pacific started today in Brisbane. The inaugural four day conference aims to bring together all those interested in the Australasian game development industry and can be expected to be a sell out, with the organisers stating this Monday they only had 11 tickets left. For the conference website, click here. [30 Nov 2006] [top]

Events
eGames and Entertainment Expo 2006
The organisers of the eGames and Entertainment Expo, held 17 to 19 November this month in Melbourne, report that the official attendance figure for the event is 15,647. For the Expo site, click here. [30 Nov 2006] [top]

Events
Nordic Game 2007, May 07
The organisers of Nordic Game will host their 2007 event on 15-16 May in Sweden. Few details are available at this stage however archive details for this year's event are available here. [23 Nov 2006] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] Pet Pals: Animal Doctor Released
The publishers of Zoo Vet, Vet Emergency 1, and Vet Emergency 2 have released Pet Pals: Animal Doctor, available for purchase at the Legacy Interactive websites. Read the full news item here. [23 Nov 2006] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] Demo Available for Real E$tate Empire
Independent US game studio Rusty Axe has released a playable demo of their new game Real E$tate Empire, "a fun simulation that teaches players the ins and outs of buying, renovating and selling real estate." Read the full news item here. [23 Nov 2006] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] New Car Package for TDU X360
Atari says new content is available for Test Drive Unlimited for the X360, available from Xbox Live Marketplace. Read the full news item here. [23 Nov 2006] [top]

Next Gen
Publishers Shift Behind Wii
As the next gen console battle really starts to hit top gear, it is clear that Nintendo has outflanked its competitors and captured a great deal of consumer interest in its new console Wii. This article from Businessweek.com starts to put some numbers together for the PS3/Wii battle in the US market, and suggests that supply issues with the PS3 and the appeal of the Wii, has prompted the big publishers to shift more behind the Wii in the short term: "game makers have eased back on their product development and game release schedules for PlayStation 3 to account for potential console supply shortages and lower unit growth due to relatively expensive pricing... although PlayStation 3 is considered the must-have console for hard-core gamers.. the Wii, offering a dramatic change in the way a player interacts with the game, will appeal to younger and more casual gamers." For the article, click here. The Hollywood Reporter is also suggesting that a successful Wii console is exciting media producers aiming for the kids and families market, see this article here. [22 Nov 2006] [top]

Next Gen
Wii Now Released in US, Sells Out
The US launch of the Wii (for US$249.99) is now underway, it commenced 19th November. The key feature of the console is the Wii-mote and the active play style it offers. The networking aspects of the console allow players to access the Wii Shop Channel, which "serves as Wii's online storefront, where visitors can redeem Wii Points to download games or other items" with at least 12 classic Virtual Console games ready to play at launch. As for the PS3, Gamedaily reports that US retailers have sold out of the Wii, for the article, click here. For a local US article on some happy Wii purchasers, check out this brief article in the NorwichBulletin.com. [22 Nov 2006] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] ICC Ashes Edition 2006
Coinciding with the 2006/7 Ashes series in Australia, Empire Interactive is releasing a special International Cricket Captain Ashes Edition 2006. Read the full news item here. [22 Nov 2006] [top]

Next Gen
PlayStation 3 Hits US, Sells Out
Sony's Playstation 3 launched in the US 17 November, with a software line up of over 20 titles. The system is available in a 20-GB hard disk drive version (for US $499) and a higher end version with 60-GB HDD, built in Wi-Fi adapter, and multiple memory card slots (for US$599). All PS3's feature the Blu-ray disc drive providing huge amounts of data storage (the first half a million US PS3 customers get “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” on the BD format, as a bonus), HDMI output, and built-in network capability, while Sony highlights the controller as a key feature, named the Sixaxis controller, it wirelessly "allows gamers to physically turn, twist, and bank their controllers to command the on-screen action" as well as the Playstation Network. The Playstation Network allows players to connect with other gamers, create a unique ID, get to the PlaystationStore and the internet. Sony says that on the day of launch, at the "Sony Style retail outlet in New York City and the PlayStation store in San Francisco, Calif., thousands of fans lined the streets on November 16 waiting to be among the first owners of PS3 as it went on sale at midnight. Celebrity appearances by Grammy Award-winner Ludacris and Chapelle Show’s Charlie Murphy entertained the New York crowds, while musical act Angels and Airwaves rocked throughout the night in San Francisco." Launch titles include Resistance: Fall of Man, Genji: Days of the Blade, and NBA ‘07 from Sony, and Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII Ubisoft, Call of Duty 3, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and Tony Hawk's Project 8 from Activision, Fight Night Round 3, Madden NFL 07, Toger Woods PGA Tour 07, and Need for Speed: Carbon from EA, Full Auto 2: Battlelines from Sega, Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire and Ridge Racer 7 from Namco, NBA 2K7 and NHL 2K7 from 2K Sports, and Untold Legends Dark Kingdom from Sony Online. Gamedaily reports that US retailers have sold out of the PS3 while the top selling title appears to be Resistance: Fall of Man, for the article, click here. [21 Nov 2006] [top]

Charts
Top Ten Games Week Ending 16 Nov 06 Now Up
GameNews.com.au has updated its Top Ten Game Rentals Chart provided each week by Gameplay.com.au: Canis Canem Edit for PS2 leads the way followed by Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent for X360, and then Destroy All Humans 2 which has continued a rapid move up the charts since entering 3 weeks ago. Saints Row has dropped out, while Dead Rising looks to be on the way coming in at 8 this week down 2 positions. New entries include Krome Studios Spyro: New Beginning for PS2 which makes its debut at position nine. The latest chart is for the week ending 16 November 2006. Link: Chart [20 Nov 2006] [top]

Development
Buena Vista Games Expands: Fall Line Studio Announced
The Walt Disney Company's Buena Vista Games Inc has announced the formation of Fall Line Studio, "a new video game development studio dedicated to creating innovative games for Nintendo platforms" and based in Salt Lake City, Utah. BVG says Fall Line Studio’s "focus is to develop games based on Disney’s characters, television shows and entertainment franchises as well as creating new intellectual property for the Nintendo DS and Wii game systems." Fall Line Studio joins Salt Lake City stablemate Avalanche Software, and Propaganda Games of Vancouver, British Columbia, as well as the next most recent studio Climax Racing based in Brighton, England, as part of the Buena Vista Games development arm. The Salt Lake Tribune online indicates that Fall Line Studio will have 60 staff, and is currently "organizing on a borrowed third floor of Salt Lake City's Avalanche Software, the only other Disney studio in Utah" with Avalanche contributing "the bulk of the 15-employee core" Fall Line Studio is starting out with. For the Salt Lake Tribune article click here. [9 Nov 06] [top]

Rights
SEGA and Marvel Deal: Iron Man
SEGA group and Marvel Entertainment have announced SEGA has secured the exclusive worldwide rights "to develop and distribute video game titles for all platforms based on Marvel’s renowned Iron Man property." The rights concern "Marvel‘s Iron Man feature films and the classic comic book iterations of the character." The first game will be based on the upcoming Iron Man feature film, the first feature film to be produced independently by Marvel Entertainment, which is scheduled for release May 2008. For the Marvel website, click here. [9 Nov 06] [top]

Events
Asian Game Developers Summit 2006, 9 - 10 Dec
The second Asian Game Developers Summit will run 9 - 10 December 2006 at The Orchard Hotel Singapore, organised by the IGDA Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines. The summit aims to "promote game development within the region and to provide education, networking and business opportunities for programmers, artist, producers, game designers, audio professionals and others involved in game development." For the website, click here. [9 Nov 06] [top]

Charts
Top Ten Games Week Ending 9 Nov 06 Now Up
GameNews.com.au has updated its Top Ten Game Rentals Chart provided each week by Gameplay.com.au: Canis Canem Edit moves up 3 places to position one, generally pushing every other title down one, except for Destroy All Humans 2 which also moves up 3 places, to position six. The Sims 2: Pets for PS2 makes its debut at position nine, as Lego Star Wars 2 The Original Trilogy for X360 bows out after 7 weeks in the top ten. The latest chart is for the week ending 9 November 2006. Link: Chart [9 Nov 2006] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] Warhammer: Mark of Chaos Demo
Namco Bandai says a single player demo of the real-time strategy PC game, Warhammer: Mark of Chaos, is now available for download exclusively at File Planet. Read the full news item here. [9 Nov 2006] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] Barbie Games Released
Activision Publishing released Barbie Diaries High School Mystery (GBA and PC) and Barbie in The 12 Dancing Princesses (PC) to retail across the country yesterday, both games based on Mattel Entertainment's Barbie DVD movies. Read the full news item here. [9 Nov 2006] [top]

Retail
Harvey Norman Not Getting Wii?
Aussie-Nintendo.com (via Sumea.com.au) comments in a recent article "it was reported in September that Australian consumer electronics retailer Harvey Norman was in discussions with Nintendo to stock the company's forthcoming Wii console, however Nintendo Australia Public Relations Manager Vispi Bhopti has now shot down claims by the retailer, who since insisted that it would stock the console." Nintendo reportedly finds Harvey Norman's margin unacceptable, describing their terms as "ridiculous". For the article, click here. [8 Nov 2006] [top]

Development
Krome Studios Buys Atari Melbourne
Brisbane based Krome Studios (TY the Tasmanian Tiger, The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning, Hellboy WT) has announced that it has acquired Melbourne House, the former Atari development studio based in Melbourne, Australia. "The addition of Melbourne House bolsters Krome Studios’ size to almost 300 in-house making it truly one of the largest and most proven independent studios worldwide" reports the company. Krome explains "with the Melbourne House acquisition, Krome Studios inherits highly skilled and seasoned programmers, engineers, artists and production personnel who will be ready to make immediate contributions to Krome’s upcoming games and further enhance the Studios’ tools pipeline. The Melbourne studio will now be known as Krome Studios Melbourne and will act as an extension to the headquarters in Brisbane. This acquisition, along with Krome Studios Adelaide, which was formed and announced earlier this year, and a network of extensive outsourcing partners throughout Asia Pacific and Europe solidifies Krome as a leading global independent studio." Robert Walsh, CEO of Krome Studios, says “it’s an amazing time for us right now and we couldn’t be happier to welcome this new team to the Krome family... Acquiring the Melbourne House studio will allow us to continue to expand our company with additional seasoned talent, many who we also are great friends with, to help further grow our business and position ourselves as a world-class development studio working on both current and next generation projects.” For the press release, click here. [4 Nov 2006] [top]

Society
Canis Canem Edit (Dog Eat Dog)/Bully Targetted
Canadian newspaper TheRecord.com reports "a 14-year-old Listowel girl and a 17-year-old New Brunswick boy have teamed up to try to knock Bully off the shelves. The two have set up an online petition and sent letters to municipal, provincial and federal leaders asking for a ban on the recently released PlayStation 2 video game. "We want the game pulled from the shelves," said Grade 9 student Katie Neu. "Both me and my friend have been bullied and this game would lead to people like us getting bullied worse."" For the article, click here. [4 Nov 2006] [top]

Digital Distribution
EA Retools EA Downloader, Renames it EA Link
Forbes.com reports this week "Electronic Arts Inc. is taking the wraps off of a major overhaul to its download service for computer games, signaling the largest video game publisher's commitment to the growing trend of online distribution." The overhaul includes a name change to the EA download system previously known as the EA Downloader but now called EA Link. EA Downloader according to Forbes.com was "the company's admittedly clunky year-old effort at offering downloadable content for its PC games." Forbes.com explains "with EA Link users can download materials faster, search for products in a more organized fashion, launch purchased games directly, and have their payment information, including a new online payment option through PayPal, linked to their accounts. The site currently has 16 PC game titles available for download. Any upcoming PC games will be made available on disk at retail stores as well as in a digital version at EA Link - at the same price and on the same day, the company said." For the article, click here. [3 Nov 2006] [top]

Charts
Top Ten Games Week Ending 2 Nov 06 Now Up
GameNews.com.au has updated its Top Ten Game Rentals Chart provided each week by Gameplay.com.au: Kingdom Hearts 2 for PS2 losses ground to Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent for the X360, while Canis Canem Edit debuts at position 4 for PS2. AFL Premiership for PS2 finally drops out of the top ten after a great run, so too Lord of the Rings Battle for Middle Earth 2 for X360 and Formula One 2006 for PS2, with new games including Destroy All Humans! 2 for PS2 at position 9. The latest chart is for the week ending 2 November 2006. Link: Chart [3 Nov 2006] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] Activision's Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Released
Activision says it has locally released Marvel: Ultimate Alliance for X360, Xbox, PS2, and PC, with the PSP version due December and Wii and PS3 versions to be available when these consoles are launched. Read the full news item here. [2 Nov 2006] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] Stronghold Legends Community Site
Publisher 2K Games and developer Firefly Studios have launched a community site to support the recently released RTS Stronghold Legends. Read the full news item here. [1 Nov 2006] [top]

From Newgames.com.au
[NG] Warhammer: Mark Of Chaos Coming Soon
Namco Bandai's RTS Warhammer: Mark of Chaos for PC, will soon be released by local company Red Ant Enterprises. Read the full news item here. [1 Nov 2006] [top]

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