Tag: Industry - Page 21
Rumour Nintendo Is Shaping Up To Acquire Troubled Atlus
Could the esteemed Shin Megami Tensei developer become an in-house studio?
Atlus may be riding high on the success of Shin Megami Tensei IV, but its parent company Index is in serious financial trouble and is likely to begin auctioning off its assets — Atlus included — as early as this week. Interestingly, there are rumours circulating that...
News Atlus Parent Company Reportedly Preparing To Sell Operations
Process could begin next week
As we reported recently, Atlus' parent company Index is in financial difficulty, having "civil rehabilitation proceedings" in Japan to resolve problems with substantial debts. To date the operations of Atlus have been unaffected by these issues, yet the process with Index is now reportedly moving onto significant next...
News Satoru Iwata Refutes Claim That Nintendo Is "Suffering" Right Now
Experience counts for a lot in this game
Nintendo's in a funny place right now. The 3DS is doing great, but business types will point out that it's tracking below where the DS was at the same point in its lifespan. The Wii U — the successor to one of the most popular home consoles of all time — is struggling, with dismal sales and a lack of...
News Ubisoft: Nintendo Has The Brand Power To Turn Wii U Around
CEO Yves Guillemot is a fan of second-screen gaming
The whole Rayman Legends saga has sullied Ubisoft's name with a lot of Wii U owners, but the fact is that the French publisher has stuck with Nintendo's console for longer than most. Watch_Dogs and Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag — two of the company's biggest 2013 releases — are both destined...
News China Ready To Finally Lift Game Console Ban
There will be rules, naturally
China is perhaps on its way to becoming the most powerful economy in the world and hosted the Olympic Games as recently as 2008, and yet it can be easy to forget how different life is in the Communist state. While it's a country becoming increasingly open to some Western influences — inevitable as it bids for...
News Investment Expert Feels Nintendo Earnings Miss Will Trigger Multi-Platform Approach
Investors should buy now and reap the benefits later
Global investment firm Jefferies & Co's Atul Goyal has recommended that investors pick up Nintendo shares in the expectation of big profits should the Japanese company fail to meet its proposed operating profit of 100 billion Yen. Goyal's opinion is that Nintendo's failure to meet its targets...
News Nintendo To Focus On Struggling Markets In The Short-Term
Performance in U.S. and Europe is "less than satisfactory"
During the Nintendo investor Q & A, Satoru Iwata took many questions about Nintendo's various struggles with the Wii U launch and also shared some insight about Streetpass DLC and the disappearance of the Vitality Sensor. But a question
News Pachter: Nintendo Has Lost Its "Mojo"
Analyst questions why anyone would buy a Wii U
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has once again passed judgement on the Wii U, and has delivered perhaps his most damning assessment of Nintendo's console yet. Speaking to ABC's News 10, Pachter questioned why anyone would even consider picking up the console, aside from the (rather significant)...
News Wii U Turned Ubisoft On To Second-Screen Gaming, But Isn't The Focus Moving Forward
Publisher now committed to "new gen" Microsoft and Sony platforms
These days we're seeing more and more console games shipping alongside companion mobile or tablet applications which aim to broaden the experience. If Ubisoft has its way, that trend is not only set to continue, but will develop to the point where "second-screen" gaming is...
News Former Rare Composers Contribute to "Heroes of Video Game Music" Album Project
Well on its way to being fully funded
While crowdfunded games can be a contentious topic, fundraising platforms are also used for various other projects, some of which are certainly more than worthy of seeing the light of day. One that's been brought to our attention is the Heroes of Video Game Music Album & DVD, which will be a collaboration...
News Atlus USA States That It's Currently "Unaffected" by Issues With Japanese Parent Company
Shin Megami Tensei IV still on track for release
Yesterday we reported that the parent company of developer/publisher Atlus, Index, was in the midst of financial difficulties in Japan and had entered "civil rehabilitation proceedings". Some have compared this to bankruptcy, though the law in Japan means that it's not an exact match, with the general...
News Indie Developer Explains How Nintendo Made Him a Wii U Believer
Xander Davis now planning CIDER for Wii U
The Wii U has endured a lot of negative press for various reasons and in some cases, we're sure many would agree, criticism has focused on genuine weaknesses in the system's early days. While various developers and publishers have voiced support and optimism for Nintendo's console, a good number have also...
News Xbox 360 Sales Set to Pass the Wii's in the UK
Dem FPS and footie gamez
The Wii has kicked some serious booty in terms of global sales, getting close to 100 million sales and 'winning', at the time of writing, its generation of systems. That impressive success can mask the fact that the diminutive console has seen momentum go off the cliff since early 2012, as games dried up and the Wii U...
News Atlus' Parent Company in the Midst of Financial Difficulties in Japan
Index enters "civil rehabilitation proceedings"
Atlus will be a name familiar to fans of franchises such as Shin Megami Tensei and Etrian Odyssey, with the company's regional office in North America being particularly active on Nintendo systems. It's also a developer with which Nintendo is currently in partnership, with January's Wii U Direct...
News Nintendo Falls Under Further Pressure Regarding Conflict Mineral Policies
A recurring theme for the company
While Nintendo is, to most of us, simply a games company that gives us entertainment products, it's also a global corporation that's often put under pressure to guarantee standards in the treatment of manufacturing workers and to ensure appropriate sources for raw materials. Last year it fell foul not only of a...
News Reggie Unmoved By The Threat Of $400 PlayStation 4
Holiday season will put Nintendo in a "very good position"
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has been speaking to Kotaku about the current state of the Wii U, and has delivered some typically bullish predictions — as well as admitting that the console has struggled to satisfy core gamers. Talking about the "next-gen verses current...
News Iwata: We Are To Blame For Poor Wii U Sales
Nintendo CEO owns up
With sales flagging and third-party support very thin on the ground, the Wii U is certainly having a hard time of late. It's only been on the market for half a year, yet many within the industry are ready to write it off completely. Coming off the back of the incredible success of the original Wii, the new console's failure to...
News Molyneux: Nintendo Is "Brilliant" At Attracting Players, But Their Hardware "Gets In The Way"
"They've probably got a plan, and you should never underestimate Nintendo"
Former Bullfrog, Lionhead and Microsoft Games Studios boss Peter Molyneux has once again voiced his opinion on Nintendo's place in the industry, directly contesting Shigeru Miyamoto's assertion that working with both hardware and software offers advantages to the Japanese...
News Warner Bros. Believes In Wii U, Thinks E3 Games Will "Re-energize The Platform"
"I think they're going to fix the problem"
Nintendo may have some killer titles of its own coming to Wii U this year and beyond, but third-party support for the console has been uncertain almost from day one. Electronic Arts has backed away from the platform, and staunch supporter Ubisoft appears to be getting cold feet. Thankfully, it's not all...
News Time: Nintendo Is "Stumped" By The Wii U GamePad And Should Ditch It
"It makes you wonder why the company even bothered"
The Wii U GamePad is the console's unique selling point, offering players a different way to experience HD gaming. However, like all new ideas, it takes time to fully explore and exploit the potential offered by a second screen, and it's fair to say that we've yet to see the best the GamePad is...
News Miyamoto: Consumers Should Have Access To Their Games "For A Long Time"
What's yours should be yours
Microsoft has shot itself in the foot so many times over the past few weeks that we imagine it's running perilously short on toes right now, but one of the biggest PR disasters it has experienced has to be the Xbox One's policy regarding game ownership. When you buy a game for the forthcoming console, you're effectively...
News Ubisoft Scaling Back Support For Wii U, Expects Price Cut To Bolster Sales
Is the Wii U about to lose one of its biggest supporters?
Ubisoft has confirmed during its recent investor meeting that it will be scaling back support for Nintendo's Wii U console. The French publisher — which has Assassin's Creed IV, Watch_Dogs and Rayman Legends all scheduled to hit the system before the end of 2013 — also stated that it...
News Miyamoto: Working With Both Hardware And Software Offers Nintendo "Strong Advantages"
Not looking to move to smartphones any time soon, then
Abandoning hardware and becoming a software-only company would rob Nintendo of many "strong environmental advantanges", according to the company's most famous staff member. Speaking to GamesIndustry International, Shigeru Miyamoto has refuted claims that making software for other hardware would...
News Capybara: Nintendo Is Making A "Big Move" For Indie Developers
“They have a really great team there"
There once was a time when Nintendo was seen to be somewhat ignorant of indie developers, but that certainly isn't the case these days, as is evidenced by comments made by Capybara's Nathan Vella. Vella — who was speaking at recent independent gaming showcase — had nothing but praise for Nintendo's recent...
News EA Has No Publicly Announced Wii U Games Planned For Fall
Considering Wii U for future titles
Nintendo's relationship with EA has been a subject of much speculation as of late. It's been unclear whether or not the publisher considers the Wii U part of the next generation of home consoles alongside Sony's Playstation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox One, and some of EA's major titles seem to be skipping Nintendo's...
News Armature Studios Gains Another Ex-Retro Staff Member
Donkey Kong Country Returns designer Tom Ivey moves on
As we all know, Armature is a company founded by former Retro Studios staff members — and it would appear that they've added another to their ranks. According to his CV on LinkedIn, Tom Ivey — who was one of the designers on Donkey Kong Country Returns, which was recently ported to the 3DS...
News Ubisoft: With The Right Games Wii U Will Find Its Public
"One single game can change a platform's fortunes"
Ubisoft came under fire when it decided to make Rayman Legends multi-platform and rob the Wii U of one of its more high-profile exclusives, but while rival publishers take a step back from Nintendo's console, the French veteran is continuing to display its support by developing games like
News Ian Livingstone: Nintendo Should Have Their IP On Every Platform
"Otherwise a whole generation of young people will miss out on their games"
Industry veteran and Eidos life president Ian Livingstone has once again aired his opinion that Nintendo should develop games for other systems. Speaking at the Bristol Games Hub — a non-profit organisation based in the South West of England — Livingstone warned that...
Also says gamers see tablet and mobile as "perfect substitutes" for 3DS
Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter has delivered his company's latest set of predictions for the video game industry, and the findings make grim reading for Nintendo fans. Pachter feels that with the PS4 and Xbox One looming on the horizon, hardware price cuts are likely across...
News GungHo's CEO Wants To Surpass Nintendo's Sales By His Retirement
"I respect Nintendo"
GungHo Online Entertainment is one of Japan's rising stars, thanks largely to the amazing success of its iOS and Android title Puzzle & Dragons, which has been downloaded more than 14 millon times and generates $3.4 million a day in revenue. When you're a growing company, it's natural to aim high — and GungHo CEO Kazuki...
News Microsoft: If You're Backwards Compatible, You're Really Backwards
Xbox creator claims only 5% of players make use of the feature
Always online. Games tied to a single console. Indie developers can't self-publish. Just when you thought Microsoft couldn't have made a bigger hash of its Xbox One announcement, along comes the company's head of interactive entertainment Don Mattrick to attack backwards compatibility...
News In Q1 2013 More Money Was Spent On iOS Games Than On 3DS And Vita Software Combined
Times they are a changin'
A recent study has revealed that in the first quarter of 2013, more cash was spent on iOS games than on 3DS and PS Vita software combined. This marks a slight change from the previous quarter, where it took iOS and Google Play's combined spend to overshadow dedicated handheld gaming systems. This quarter, iOS alone has...
News Ubisoft Forecasts "Conservative" Sales Targets For Assassin's Creed IV And Watch_Dogs
"We wanted to be prudent on our expectations"
Ubisoft has forecasted that Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag will sell less than its direct predecessor, despite the universal appeal of the new game's nautical setting. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has high hopes for the new entry in the best-selling series, but has decided to be cautious regarding sales...
News Peter Molyneux: If I were Nintendo, I'd Put Mario On The iPad
Thank goodness he's not, then?
Peter Molyneux and Ian Livingstone are two of British gaming's most influential figures. The former — who has been quite outspoken about the Wii U lately — founded Bullfrog and Lionhead, and is responsbile for titles such as Populous, Fable, Dungeon Keeper and the recent "gaming experiment" Curiosity. The latter...
News Industry Analyst: Nintendo Is "Positioned Perfectly" To Capitalise On Second-Screen Trend
Holiday line-up is vital, says EEDAR's Jesse Divnich
The Wii U isn't selling anywhere near as well as Nintendo hoped, and key titles are either slipping, going multiplatform or being cancelled entirely. Is it time to start pressing the panic button? Not quite, according to EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich. Speaking to
News PS4 And Next Xbox Could Share Wii U's Teething Troubles, Says Activision's Kotick
"There are still many unknown factors"
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick ruffled a few feathers when he partially blamed the Wii U for his dismal outlook on the second half of 2013, but he's not been exclusively hating on Nintendo's system — in fact, he believes that the problems faced by the fledgling platform could easily impact Sony and Microsoft's...
News Rumours Of The Demise Of Silicon Knights Are Greatly Exaggerated
Founder Denis Dyack joins Precursor full time, but studio is still "alive"
Silicon Knights chief financial officer Mike Mays has refuted claims that the studio is all but dead, telling Polygon that it is "very busy" and "definitely alive". The studio remains embroiled in a legal battle with Epic Games, and insider reports suggest that focus on...
News Activison Anticipating Rough End To 2013, Wii U Partly Responsible
Playing the blame game?
Super-publisher Activision has posted better than predicted financial results for the first quarter of the year, but CEO Bobby Kotick has stated that he expects the latter part of 2013 to be less fruitful — and the poor commercial performance of the Wii U is partially to blame. Net revenues were $1.32 billion during the...
News Capcom Not Turning Its Back On Home Console Development
"Home video game software" is the "core segment" for the firm
Capcom has released its annual financial results, and the figures pretty much match the company's somewhat dismal April forecast. The company posted a profit of £19.42 million, which is down 56 per cent year-on-year. Capcom had previously stated that "excessive outsourcing" had led to a...
News The Force Is Strong In EA's New Star Wars Publishing Agreement
But will Nintendo fans see any benefit?
EA has signed up "exclusive" rights to Star Wars video games following the closure of LucasArts last month. The multi-year deal appears to cover original games, rather than those linked to the forthcoming movies. To confuse things further, Disney has retained the rights to certain mobile, online and tablet...
News Smartphones And Tablets To Be "Primary Screen For Gamers" By 2017
Juniper Research cites falling 3DS and Wii U sales forecasts as proof
According to analyst group Juniper Research, smartphone and tablet devices will be the "primary screen for gamers" by the year 2017, thanks to the increasing dominance of mobile tech and the rapidly-advancing standard of games available. Juniper predicts that a whopping 64.1...
News Reggie: Pace Of Wii U Software Launches Is "Slower Than Hoped"
Nintendo of America boss says E3 will bring new software
Let's face facts — the Wii U's software line-up so far hasn't been as robust as many would have hoped. While the console has hosted some amazing titles since its launch last year, the release schedule has dried up in recent months — thanks to delays and cancellations, as well as
News Cliff Bleszinski Likens The Wii To A "Virus"
Outspoken designer agrees with earlier comment by ex-Epic colleague
Back in 2008, Epic's Mike Capps described the Wii as a "virus" which infected gamers in the short-term but didn't leave any lasting impression. He said: It's a virus where you buy it and you play it with your friends and they're like, "Oh my God that's so cool, I'm gonna go buy...
News Nintendo Stock Rises By 11%
The largest increase since 2008
The Japanese yen has reached a three-year low against the euro meaning many successful exporters are enjoying a rise in stock. Nintendo has seen an 11% rise in stock value, which now stands at 11,850 yen, the largest gain since 2008. The yen has weakened against all 16 major counterparts this year as speculation...
News Deep Silver Has "No Plans" To Support Wii U
"Their audience is not who we reach best"
Deep Silver's desicion to not bring Dead Island: Riptide to the Wii U caused a moderate amount of drama last month — not least because the excuse given was denied by the development team behind the game, forcing Deep Silver to admit that the real reason was that the process simply
Interview Michael Pachter On Wii U, 3DS And The Challenges Facing Nintendo This Generation
"I don’t hate Nintendo at all"
Michael Pachter has been called a lot of things — not all of them repeatable on a family-friendly site such as this — but many of his harshest critics seem to miss the point of what he is actually saying; his job is to ensure that people invest their cash wisely and not to placate over-zealous fans. Nevertheless,...
News LucasArts Shut Down By Disney
Star Wars titles will be licensed out to third parties
It has been confirmed that Disney has shut down LucasArts. The company's publishing and internal development businesses will now close for good. Disney picked up the company as part of its deal to acquire LucasFilm but has since decided to disband it. Star Wars games will still be made, they'll...
News XSEED Details Game Localisation Costs
Just wait until you see the snack budget!
XSEED Games, known for its excellent translations of games like Little King's Story and Unchained Blades, recently spoke with localisation advocate Operation Rainfall about their development process. During the interview it went into detail - sort of - about the various costs that go into localising a...
News Digital Game Sales Growing 33% Year-on-Year in US and EU
Analysts reveal new data at GDC
The digital distribution of games has grown substantially in recent years with an increasing number of titles finding themselves in the Nintendo eShop, PSN, Xbox Live Arcade and Steam. Analysts from NPD, iResearch and Digi-Capital presented data at this week's Game Developers Conference on the state of the global...
News GameStop: Wii U Marketing Strategy Has "Not Broken Through" To Consumers
More first party titles will enable system to "take off"
Earlier in the month, GameStop President Tony Bartel said Wii U sales had been slower than the company had anticipated and that the system would need some great first party titles in order to compete. The games retailer recently had its post-earnings financial call, which has been reported on...