Radiated Wasteland Preview:
Popular theory holds that humankind will die out once countries inevitably start flinging nuclear fireworks at each other. Nuclear war may be nothing more than a grim power fantasy, however: When you get right down to it, Nature and outer space have huge vendettas against us, and either is more likely to show us out the door. Radiated Wasteland is a browser-based role-playing game that’s set in the flames of a very possible apocalypse scenario—namely, a world that’s been made a wasteland courtesy of a meteor strike.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Atari secures $2 million in financing ahead of possible asset sale
Atari secures $2 million in financing ahead of possible asset sale: The funding keeps the lights on while Atari US hatches an escape plan
Sega's After Burner Climax barrel-rolls its way to iOS
Sega's After Burner Climax barrel-rolls its way to iOS: Sega has announced in a blog post that it's bringing the combat-flight game After Burner Climax to iPad, iPhone, and...
Disney Interactive pulls in $9 million in Q1
Disney Interactive pulls in $9 million in Q1: Mobile and social push the division forward
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Launch Event Site Now Live | Ten Ton Hammer
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Launch Event Site Now Live | Ten Ton Hammer:
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm arrives next month and Blizzard has outlined its launch event plans for Kerrigan’s invasion.
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm arrives next month and Blizzard has outlined its launch event plans for Kerrigan’s invasion.
Zynga bringing FarmVille 2 to mobile, pushing onto the platform with new IP
Zynga bringing FarmVille 2 to mobile, pushing onto the platform with new IP:
“We’re both bringing existing major franchises like FarmVille 2 to mobile and launching new potential franchises in multiple categories, ” Zynga CEO Mark Pincus said today during the company’s Q4 2012 earning call.
Pincus emphasized the importance of the mobile platform for the future of the social game developer, and said that shifting to a “mobile first focus” is its top priority for 2013.
During the call Pincus also reiterated several times that last year Zynga had only 20 people working on mobile products, whereas now more of the team is working on mobile than web.
Pincus believes Zynga is well positioned to lead in the mobile space, citing its current 72 million mobile players, its network, talent, and the popularity of its existing franchises. In addition, Pincus noted mobile players spend more time in mobile Zynga games then they do on the offerings from the next five most popular mobile developers combined.
Pincus also said that one specific goal for mobile in 2013 is to help players better connect with each other. As an example, Pincus cited how most Words With Friends players on mobile who want to play with other players end up using the random matchmaking option. One reason Zynga’s games become so popular is that your Facebook friends don’t need to download an app to see you interact with a game or for you to invite them to join you.
In 2013, it seems, Zynga will attempt to achieve the same kind of “social liquidity” on mobile.
“Push notifications are the most important channel on your mobile phone,” Pincus said. “If you started playing and your friends didn’t have the game, the notification will have to go through another channel. We’re excited to give you interesting people that you can play with right now. I believe on mobile it will matter even more than it does on PC.”
Words With Friends, Zynga’s most popular mobile game, grew by 13 percent in Q4 2012. Mobile also now accounts for 21 percent of Zynga’s booking, up 8 percent from last year.
“We’re both bringing existing major franchises like FarmVille 2 to mobile and launching new potential franchises in multiple categories, ” Zynga CEO Mark Pincus said today during the company’s Q4 2012 earning call.
Pincus emphasized the importance of the mobile platform for the future of the social game developer, and said that shifting to a “mobile first focus” is its top priority for 2013.
During the call Pincus also reiterated several times that last year Zynga had only 20 people working on mobile products, whereas now more of the team is working on mobile than web.
Pincus believes Zynga is well positioned to lead in the mobile space, citing its current 72 million mobile players, its network, talent, and the popularity of its existing franchises. In addition, Pincus noted mobile players spend more time in mobile Zynga games then they do on the offerings from the next five most popular mobile developers combined.
Pincus also said that one specific goal for mobile in 2013 is to help players better connect with each other. As an example, Pincus cited how most Words With Friends players on mobile who want to play with other players end up using the random matchmaking option. One reason Zynga’s games become so popular is that your Facebook friends don’t need to download an app to see you interact with a game or for you to invite them to join you.
In 2013, it seems, Zynga will attempt to achieve the same kind of “social liquidity” on mobile.
“Push notifications are the most important channel on your mobile phone,” Pincus said. “If you started playing and your friends didn’t have the game, the notification will have to go through another channel. We’re excited to give you interesting people that you can play with right now. I believe on mobile it will matter even more than it does on PC.”
Words With Friends, Zynga’s most popular mobile game, grew by 13 percent in Q4 2012. Mobile also now accounts for 21 percent of Zynga’s booking, up 8 percent from last year.
$14.80 billion spent on video games in U.S. for 2012, according to research
$14.80 billion spent on video games in U.S. for 2012, according to research: Research from the 2012 Games Market Dynamics from The NPD Group, a global information company, has revealed that a total of...
Zynga shutting down CityVille 2
Zynga shutting down CityVille 2:
As part of its new “disciplined” management of its game portfolio, Zynga CFO Mark Vranesh revealed Zynga would be shutting down three titles it recently launched: CityVille 2, The Friend Game, and Party Place.
“CityVille 2 missed our expectations despite pushing the envelope in 3D gaming and both The Friend Game and Party Place failed to achieve the mass market appeal Zynga franchise are known for,” Vranesh said during today’s earnings call.
CityVille 2 launched in November 2012, but its user numbers drastically fell off during the month of December. We noticed the change at the end of December and reached out to Zynga for comment, but never heard back about what was going on with the game. This marks an even shorter lifecycle than The Ville, which also saw a massive loss in users following its launch, but is still playable on Facebook.
The shutdown follows the recent departure of Brian Reynolds from Zynga, whose game studio handled CityVille 2′s development. Although it wasn’t publicly addressed during the call, it would make sense to assume that Reynolds leaving Zynga and CityVille 2′s closure are somehow connected.
As a cost-cutting measure, Zynga’s become much less willing to keep underperforming games in operation. Last quarter, the company announced it was shutting down a total of 13 titles, both on the web and mobile platforms.
As part of its new “disciplined” management of its game portfolio, Zynga CFO Mark Vranesh revealed Zynga would be shutting down three titles it recently launched: CityVille 2, The Friend Game, and Party Place.“CityVille 2 missed our expectations despite pushing the envelope in 3D gaming and both The Friend Game and Party Place failed to achieve the mass market appeal Zynga franchise are known for,” Vranesh said during today’s earnings call.
CityVille 2 launched in November 2012, but its user numbers drastically fell off during the month of December. We noticed the change at the end of December and reached out to Zynga for comment, but never heard back about what was going on with the game. This marks an even shorter lifecycle than The Ville, which also saw a massive loss in users following its launch, but is still playable on Facebook.
The shutdown follows the recent departure of Brian Reynolds from Zynga, whose game studio handled CityVille 2′s development. Although it wasn’t publicly addressed during the call, it would make sense to assume that Reynolds leaving Zynga and CityVille 2′s closure are somehow connected.
As a cost-cutting measure, Zynga’s become much less willing to keep underperforming games in operation. Last quarter, the company announced it was shutting down a total of 13 titles, both on the web and mobile platforms.
Take-Two sales higher than expected thanks to NBA, XCOM
Take-Two sales higher than expected thanks to NBA, XCOM:
Thanks in part to 4.5 million copies sold worldwide of the latest in its basketball series, publisher Take-Two was able to beat Wall Street expectations by reporting $415.8 million in income for its December quarter. ...
Thanks in part to 4.5 million copies sold worldwide of the latest in its basketball series, publisher Take-Two was able to beat Wall Street expectations by reporting $415.8 million in income for its December quarter. ...
Zynga’s earnings report for Q4 2012 shows $311 M in revenue, $48.5 M loss
Zynga’s earnings report for Q4 2012 shows $311 M in revenue, $48.5 M loss:
Today, Zynga reported it made $311,165 in revenue, with $261,269 million in bookings for Q4 2012. In terms of revenue, that’s flat year-over-year while bookings were down by 15 percent year-over-year (but up 2 percent from Q3 2012).
Today, Zynga reported it made $311,165 in revenue, with $261,269 million in bookings for Q4 2012. In terms of revenue, that’s flat year-over-year while bookings were down by 15 percent year-over-year (but up 2 percent from Q3 2012).
NCsoft earnings report shows healthy growth
NCsoft earnings report shows healthy growth:
Filed under: Aion, Lineage, Lineage 2, MMO industry, Guild Wars 2, Blade & Soul, Miscellaneous
NCsoft just released its fourth quarter 2012 earnings report, and things are looking pretty good across the board for the multi-MMO company. NCsoft's earnings are up both quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year due to the releases of Blade & Soul and Guild Wars 2, not to mention "record-breaking annual revenues" from Lineage.
Guild Wars 2 accounted for 45% of the company's sales in Q4, followed by Lineage (24%) and Blade & Soul (10%). ArenaNet's newest game increased the North American market from 16% in Q3 to 25% in Q4.
It's not completely sunshine and roses, however. Lineage II and Aion both experienced declines during the period. NCsoft's net income was in the red for the quarter and its stock has slid since September, losing half of its value in the process.
[Thanks to Paul for the tip!]
NCsoft earnings report shows healthy growth originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Aion, Lineage, Lineage 2, MMO industry, Guild Wars 2, Blade & Soul, Miscellaneous
Guild Wars 2 accounted for 45% of the company's sales in Q4, followed by Lineage (24%) and Blade & Soul (10%). ArenaNet's newest game increased the North American market from 16% in Q3 to 25% in Q4.
It's not completely sunshine and roses, however. Lineage II and Aion both experienced declines during the period. NCsoft's net income was in the red for the quarter and its stock has slid since September, losing half of its value in the process.
[Thanks to Paul for the tip!]
NCsoft earnings report shows healthy growth originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
- Source: NCsoft earnings report
Game Insight secures $25 M investment
Game Insight secures $25 M investment:
Social mobile developer Game Insight and mobile investment firm IMI.VC announced today they finalized a deal that secured Game Insight $25 million in funding.
This announcement follows several smaller investments IMI.VC has made with Game Insight over 2011 and 2012, but it’s the first time the firm has put a substantial infusion of cash into the game developer. However, IMI.VC went on the record after it received an investment of $75 million late l ast year from Michael Vinchel of Mail.Ru, saying it plans to commit these funds to improve its portfolio investments with companies like Game Insight, interactive story developer NARR8 and technology incubator Farminers.
Game Insight says the funds will be put towards improving Game Insight’s production pipeline and growing its game portfolio. On top of that, the company said it plans to broaden development resources for more than 10 of its development studios, further expand into emerging markets around the globe and increase marketing activities for its current/upcoming titles.
In a statement, Game Insight Founder and CEO Alisa Chumachenko said the new investment will help solidify the company’s position in key regions and aggressively expand into countries with emerging mobile markets.
Social mobile developer Game Insight and mobile investment firm IMI.VC announced today they finalized a deal that secured Game Insight $25 million in funding.This announcement follows several smaller investments IMI.VC has made with Game Insight over 2011 and 2012, but it’s the first time the firm has put a substantial infusion of cash into the game developer. However, IMI.VC went on the record after it received an investment of $75 million late l ast year from Michael Vinchel of Mail.Ru, saying it plans to commit these funds to improve its portfolio investments with companies like Game Insight, interactive story developer NARR8 and technology incubator Farminers.
Game Insight says the funds will be put towards improving Game Insight’s production pipeline and growing its game portfolio. On top of that, the company said it plans to broaden development resources for more than 10 of its development studios, further expand into emerging markets around the globe and increase marketing activities for its current/upcoming titles.
In a statement, Game Insight Founder and CEO Alisa Chumachenko said the new investment will help solidify the company’s position in key regions and aggressively expand into countries with emerging mobile markets.
Remnant Knights: It's All About Making Players Happy
Remnant Knights: It's All About Making Players Happy:
The Remnant Knights team has been hard at work lately 'rebranding' the game for a maturing playerbase. Among the changes are new features, housing improvements and a new 'Teen' rating. We caught up with Duane Colbert, Director of Marketing, to get the details. Read on and then head to the comments to chat about the interview.
Star Wars: The Old Republic: Galactic Reputation System Detailed
Star Wars: The Old Republic: Galactic Reputation System Detailed:
As part of the upcoming v1.7 patch, Star Wars: The Old Republic players will be able to keep track of their 'galactic reputations'. Players will start off as unknown entities and, over time, will earn reputation points that will unlock rewards at special Reputation Vendors throughout the galaxy.
Total Domination re-review
Total Domination re-review:
Total Domination (formerly Total Domination: Nuclear Strategy) is a Facebook game from Plarium. The game has been available since 2011 — we last took a look at it here — but it showed up as one of the week’s fastest-growing games by MAU this week. It’s not immediately obvious exactly why this is, but it’s likely something to do with cross-promotion from Plarium’s newer title Stormfall: Age of War – which, as it happens, is largely a medieval fantasy reskinning of Total Domination.
Total Domination (formerly Total Domination: Nuclear Strategy) is a Facebook game from Plarium. The game has been available since 2011 — we last took a look at it here — but it showed up as one of the week’s fastest-growing games by MAU this week. It’s not immediately obvious exactly why this is, but it’s likely something to do with cross-promotion from Plarium’s newer title Stormfall: Age of War – which, as it happens, is largely a medieval fantasy reskinning of Total Domination.
Opinion: Why Facebook's push to attract the 'core' is a bad idea
Opinion: Why Facebook's push to attract the 'core' is a bad idea:
Leigh Alexander argues that Facebook's push for more "core games" is ill-advised and self serving -- what are the opportunities on the giant social platform, and who is the "core," anyway? ...
Leigh Alexander argues that Facebook's push for more "core games" is ill-advised and self serving -- what are the opportunities on the giant social platform, and who is the "core," anyway? ...
GREE lifts the lid off $10M investment fund for mobile game developers
GREE lifts the lid off $10M investment fund for mobile game developers:
GREE today lifted the lid off the GREE Partners Fund, a new program where the mobile-social gaming powerhouse will be making significant equity investments in talented, independent mobile game developers in the free-to-play space.
“From our perspective, we view [the GREE Partners Fund] as if this is going to be a long-term relationship, then we can open the kimono and share everything that we’ve learned,” says jim Ying, GREE’s new VP of developer relations and publishing.
Last year, the Tokyo-headquartered company acquired developer Funzio, who’s now developing first-party games for GREE, and invested an undisclosed amount of money in Vancouver, Canada-based IUGO Mobile and $3 million in independent mobile game studio MunkyFun. All the acquisitions and investments are part of GREE’s strategy of making significant investments in developers.
“We unofficially announced the [GREE Partners Fund] a month back with MunkyFun, Ying tells Inside Mobile Apps. “It’s the same model. We’re including it as the first recipient of the fund.”
Read the rest of this story on our sister site, Inside Mobile Apps.
GREE today lifted the lid off the GREE Partners Fund, a new program where the mobile-social gaming powerhouse will be making significant equity investments in talented, independent mobile game developers in the free-to-play space.
“From our perspective, we view [the GREE Partners Fund] as if this is going to be a long-term relationship, then we can open the kimono and share everything that we’ve learned,” says jim Ying, GREE’s new VP of developer relations and publishing.
Last year, the Tokyo-headquartered company acquired developer Funzio, who’s now developing first-party games for GREE, and invested an undisclosed amount of money in Vancouver, Canada-based IUGO Mobile and $3 million in independent mobile game studio MunkyFun. All the acquisitions and investments are part of GREE’s strategy of making significant investments in developers.
“We unofficially announced the [GREE Partners Fund] a month back with MunkyFun, Ying tells Inside Mobile Apps. “It’s the same model. We’re including it as the first recipient of the fund.”
Read the rest of this story on our sister site, Inside Mobile Apps.
Unity support on to the way for BlackBerry 10
Unity support on to the way for BlackBerry 10:
The upcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system will be heavily mobile game focused, as BlackBerry looks to compete with Apple. Today's addition of Unity support is another step in the right direction for the platform. ...
The upcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system will be heavily mobile game focused, as BlackBerry looks to compete with Apple. Today's addition of Unity support is another step in the right direction for the platform. ...
Moshi Monsters: Why 70 million kids love them
Moshi Monsters: Why 70 million kids love them: Mind Candy CEO Michael Acton Smith describes the anatomy of a monster success
What Sorcery is This? Magicka Casts Its Spell on Largely Rectangular Tablets
What Sorcery is This? Magicka Casts Its Spell on Largely Rectangular Tablets:
One of PC gaming's finest co-op experiences is coming to a rectangular productivity-enhancing device near you. How many times will you "accidentally" kill your friends in Magicka: Wizards of the Square Tablet? More »
Vendetta Online aiming for Steam release
Vendetta Online aiming for Steam release:
Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, News items, Sandbox
Guild Software is seeking to release it's long-running Vendetta Online MMO on Steam, and the space-based sandbox title needs your vote to clear Valve's Greenlight hurdle.
Vendetta is one of a very few MMORPGs that natively supports Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, and Guild founder John Bergman says that his team would "like to integrate some of Steam's community and achievement features."
Vendetta features physics-based PvE and PvP combat, extensive trading and economic gameplay, and an active development team that has been iterating on the game since its 2002 release. The firm's Kickstarter project, which is designed to fund both an in-game expansion and an expansion to iOS platforms, has 19 days remaining. Head past the cut for a two-minute gameplay trailer.
Continue reading Vendetta Online aiming for Steam release
Vendetta Online aiming for Steam release originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, News items, Sandbox
Vendetta is one of a very few MMORPGs that natively supports Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, and Guild founder John Bergman says that his team would "like to integrate some of Steam's community and achievement features."
Vendetta features physics-based PvE and PvP combat, extensive trading and economic gameplay, and an active development team that has been iterating on the game since its 2002 release. The firm's Kickstarter project, which is designed to fund both an in-game expansion and an expansion to iOS platforms, has 19 days remaining. Head past the cut for a two-minute gameplay trailer.
Continue reading Vendetta Online aiming for Steam release
Vendetta Online aiming for Steam release originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
- Source: Vendetta Greenlight
Dragon Nest: EU Beta Key Distribution Begins
Dragon Nest: EU Beta Key Distribution Begins:
The Dragon Nest EU team has started a beta key give away event via the official Facebook page. The goal is to hand out over a hundred thousand keys to players interested in trying out localized versions of the game.
Amazon launching its own virtual currency this May
Amazon launching its own virtual currency this May:
As Amazon looks to more fully enable game developers through its various online distribution services, the company today revealed its own virtual currency, which can be used by customers to purchase games. ...
As Amazon looks to more fully enable game developers through its various online distribution services, the company today revealed its own virtual currency, which can be used by customers to purchase games. ...
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