Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Majesco's Q1 profits collapse as Zumba interest wanes
Majesco's Q1 profits collapse as Zumba interest wanes: Slow holiday season sees Zumba publisher make $2 million loss
The War Has Begun - Waren Story Review
The War Has Begun - Waren Story Review:
Waren Story went into its long-awaited open beta last week. It's a happy time for this game, since it has found a new, reliable host under Gplayon and can now realize its potential. Waren Story is a bit behind the times at this point, but it is an interesting game and warrants an examination. Immerse yourself in the war between the forces of the orc king, Vikan, and the allied forces of light.
Waren Story went into its long-awaited open beta last week. It's a happy time for this game, since it has found a new, reliable host under Gplayon and can now realize its potential. Waren Story is a bit behind the times at this point, but it is an interesting game and warrants an examination. Immerse yourself in the war between the forces of the orc king, Vikan, and the allied forces of light.
Korean News and Beta Test Announcements
- Neowiz Games baseball management game “Baseball God” starts OBT on March 13.
- Nox Media MORPG “Pride of Soul” opens CBT homepage, holds CBT from March 22 to 24.
Closed Beta Begins for Scarlet Blade, the Premier Mature MMORPG
Closed Beta Begins for Scarlet Blade, the Premier Mature MMORPG:
The moment that thousands of fervent fans have been waiting for is finally here! Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, has begun the closed beta test for Scarlet Blade, the most anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) in the publisher’s history.
The moment that thousands of fervent fans have been waiting for is finally here! Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, has begun the closed beta test for Scarlet Blade, the most anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) in the publisher’s history.
Perfect World Announce Q4 and FY 2012 Results
Perfect World Announce Q4 and FY 2012 Results:
Perfect World, a leading Chinese online game developer and operator, has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2012.
Perfect World, a leading Chinese online game developer and operator, has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2012.
New Twist In 'Steam Box' Saga: Piston Makers Say They Were 'Asked To Build A Product Specifically By Valve'
New Twist In 'Steam Box' Saga: Piston Makers Say They Were 'Asked To Build A Product Specifically By Valve':
Hardware maker Xi3 has addressed today's confusion, telling Kotaku tonight that despite Valve's statements this morning, the Steam makers actually asked Xi3 to design the Piston PC. More »
Galactic Reign goes live
Galactic Reign goes live:
Turned-based multiplayer strategy game from Resident Evil dev for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 7 and 8 now available.
Galactic Reign has arrived. After much secrecy, Microsoft today officially announced and released the turn-based multiplayer strategy game for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 7 and 8.
The game was developed by Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City studio Slant Six Games.
In Galactic Reign, players and their opponents will colonize planets, design ships, and build fleets as they fight to control the galaxy.
Microsoft says ship design is "crucial," as players must predict what their opponent is building and design a model to counter it.
Battle sequences are rendered in the cloud, Microsoft said, showing results through cinematic movie sequences. Players can take turns whenever they like, with the game advancing once both sides have submitted their actions.
In addition to a head-to-head mode, Galactic Reign features a range of single-player missions.
A Galactic Reign trial, which includes one game species, is available to download for free. Players can unlock all three species through an additional $5 purchase. Galactic Reign also includes Xbox Live achievements and multiple leaderboards.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
Turned-based multiplayer strategy game from Resident Evil dev for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 7 and 8 now available.
Galactic Reign has arrived. After much secrecy, Microsoft today officially announced and released the turn-based multiplayer strategy game for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 7 and 8.
The game was developed by Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City studio Slant Six Games.
In Galactic Reign, players and their opponents will colonize planets, design ships, and build fleets as they fight to control the galaxy.
Microsoft says ship design is "crucial," as players must predict what their opponent is building and design a model to counter it.
Battle sequences are rendered in the cloud, Microsoft said, showing results through cinematic movie sequences. Players can take turns whenever they like, with the game advancing once both sides have submitted their actions.
In addition to a head-to-head mode, Galactic Reign features a range of single-player missions.
A Galactic Reign trial, which includes one game species, is available to download for free. Players can unlock all three species through an additional $5 purchase. Galactic Reign also includes Xbox Live achievements and multiple leaderboards.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Galactic Reign goes live" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:00:15 -0700
Firemint developers build Loveshack Entertainment
Firemint developers build Loveshack Entertainment: Framed is the first project from the brand-new studio
Jordan Weisman: Kickstarter like a "high wire act with no net"
Jordan Weisman: Kickstarter like a "high wire act with no net": The Harebrained Schemes studio head talks candidly with us about how dealing with a Kickstarter audience is “both really gratifying and enormously scary”
Deepworld (iOS) review
Deepworld (iOS) review:
Deepworld is a new iOS game from Bytebin. It’s available now as a free download from the App Store. It’s also available for Mac, with Windows and Android versions set to follow soon. All versions feature “cross-play” compatibility, meaning that players on different devices can play together — and one player can start playing on one device and pick up later on another.
Deepworld is a new iOS game from Bytebin. It’s available now as a free download from the App Store. It’s also available for Mac, with Windows and Android versions set to follow soon. All versions feature “cross-play” compatibility, meaning that players on different devices can play together — and one player can start playing on one device and pick up later on another.
Does a Zynga-Yahoo! merger make sense?
Does a Zynga-Yahoo! merger make sense?:
Zynga shares soared Monday, after an analyst's report mentioned the social game maker was a possible candidate for a takeover -- by Yahoo!, of all companies. ...
Zynga shares soared Monday, after an analyst's report mentioned the social game maker was a possible candidate for a takeover -- by Yahoo!, of all companies. ...
EverQuest II: Scars of the Awakened Coming in April
EverQuest II: Scars of the Awakened Coming in April:
The EverQuest II team has announced that Update 66: Scars of the Awakened will arrive for players on April 30th, with a beta experience beginning April 2nd. Scars of the Awakened will continue the Velious story and open a new area called the Cobalt Scar.
10000000 matches/runs/RPGs its way over to Android and Linux (Android)
10000000 matches/runs/RPGs its way over to Android and Linux (Android):
 | |
As I acknowledge in the oh so clever headline of this post, 10000000 (that’s seven zeroes) is a mutt of a game. More to the point, however, it also appears to be a rather nomadic one. After spending some time on iOS, Mac, and PC, the fast-paced puzzler is making its way to Android and Linux this Thursday. Hope you're ready to match some threes! | |
Exploring the mechanics of Rage of Bahamut
Exploring the mechanics of Rage of Bahamut:
One developer is briefly addicted to the top-grossing mobile card battler -- but quickly finds himself reversing course and deleting the game; in this blog post, he explores the ups and downs of its design. ...
One developer is briefly addicted to the top-grossing mobile card battler -- but quickly finds himself reversing course and deleting the game; in this blog post, he explores the ups and downs of its design. ...
Namco “retiring” Facebook games
Namco “retiring” Facebook games:
Namco appears to be shutting down its various Facebook games as of March 19, 2013.
The developer known for its classic arcade and mainstream video games has a small selection of social titles available on Facebook. Each of these games, Pac-Man S, Rally-X S, Dig Dug S and Letter Labyrinth S are all based on older IP. However, when one goes to Pac-Man S, the following message pops up when the game loads.
Rally-X S, Dig Dug S and Letter Labyrinth S all contain similar messages revealing the games will go down on March 19. Our traffic-tracking service AppData reveals the reason these games are all being closed: None of them have much traffic. Indeed, between all its games, AppData estimates Namco only has 4,285 daily active users (the best measurement of a core audience).
Even though Namco’s classic arcade IP has a devoted following among the generation that grew up with it, these titles never really took off on Facebook. AppData shows Pac-Man S peaked early in its cycle with a little over 18,000 DAU immediately after it launched in June 2011. None of Namco’s other games even cracked 10,000 DAU at their highest traffic points.
What will be interesting to see is if Namco tries to cycle in any of its other IP to take the place of these titles. The company has a robust mobile catalog with a wide variety of games that appeal to classic, core and casual gamers.
We’re attempting to get in touch with Namco for a comment. Developing.
Namco appears to be shutting down its various Facebook games as of March 19, 2013.
The developer known for its classic arcade and mainstream video games has a small selection of social titles available on Facebook. Each of these games, Pac-Man S, Rally-X S, Dig Dug S and Letter Labyrinth S are all based on older IP. However, when one goes to Pac-Man S, the following message pops up when the game loads.
Rally-X S, Dig Dug S and Letter Labyrinth S all contain similar messages revealing the games will go down on March 19. Our traffic-tracking service AppData reveals the reason these games are all being closed: None of them have much traffic. Indeed, between all its games, AppData estimates Namco only has 4,285 daily active users (the best measurement of a core audience).
Even though Namco’s classic arcade IP has a devoted following among the generation that grew up with it, these titles never really took off on Facebook. AppData shows Pac-Man S peaked early in its cycle with a little over 18,000 DAU immediately after it launched in June 2011. None of Namco’s other games even cracked 10,000 DAU at their highest traffic points.What will be interesting to see is if Namco tries to cycle in any of its other IP to take the place of these titles. The company has a robust mobile catalog with a wide variety of games that appeal to classic, core and casual gamers.
We’re attempting to get in touch with Namco for a comment. Developing.
CocoaChina’s Fishing Joy generating more than $6M a month worldwide
CocoaChina’s Fishing Joy generating more than $6M a month worldwide:
Chinese mobile game developer and platform maker CocoaChina today revealed that its flagship franchise Fishing Joy is now generating $6.28 million per month in revenue worldwide, with more than 10 million daily active users (DAU), doubling its monthly revenue in two months.
CocoaChina attributes the game’s success to continued optimization and the rapid growth of the Chinese smartphone user base. The company also increased the game’s reach by reducing the game’s package size, making it more attractive to users with limited bandwidth and data plans.
Last month, the company’s U.S. general manager Lei Zhang told Inside Mobile Apps that Fishing Joy 2 (responsible for the vast majority of the revenue) was generating $4 million in gross revenue as of February.
Inside Mobile Apps also talked to CocoaChina in Nov. 2012 about the company’s strategy for the Chinese market. Zhang attributed Fishing Joy 2’s success to his company’s broad distribution strategy, a stringent anti-piracy policy, and most importantly, access to carrier billing. Back then Fishing Joy 2 was pulling in $1.6 million a month from the Chinese Android market.
Fishing Joy’s 10 million DAU is nothing to sneeze at as well. Monthly active users (MAU) and DAU figures are generally kept close to the vest by mobile game developers. For comparison, Electronic Arts’ hit resource management game The Simpsons: Tapped Out was said to have reached 2.8 million DAU after the title was ranked No. 1 on the iOS top grossing apps charts in October 2012.
Inside Mobile App also recently reported on CocoaChina’s high profile hire of Kai Zhao as its U.S. VP of Engineering and its plans to launch a social gaming platform in 2013.
Chinese mobile game developer and platform maker CocoaChina today revealed that its flagship franchise Fishing Joy is now generating $6.28 million per month in revenue worldwide, with more than 10 million daily active users (DAU), doubling its monthly revenue in two months.CocoaChina attributes the game’s success to continued optimization and the rapid growth of the Chinese smartphone user base. The company also increased the game’s reach by reducing the game’s package size, making it more attractive to users with limited bandwidth and data plans.
Last month, the company’s U.S. general manager Lei Zhang told Inside Mobile Apps that Fishing Joy 2 (responsible for the vast majority of the revenue) was generating $4 million in gross revenue as of February.
Inside Mobile Apps also talked to CocoaChina in Nov. 2012 about the company’s strategy for the Chinese market. Zhang attributed Fishing Joy 2’s success to his company’s broad distribution strategy, a stringent anti-piracy policy, and most importantly, access to carrier billing. Back then Fishing Joy 2 was pulling in $1.6 million a month from the Chinese Android market.
Fishing Joy’s 10 million DAU is nothing to sneeze at as well. Monthly active users (MAU) and DAU figures are generally kept close to the vest by mobile game developers. For comparison, Electronic Arts’ hit resource management game The Simpsons: Tapped Out was said to have reached 2.8 million DAU after the title was ranked No. 1 on the iOS top grossing apps charts in October 2012.
Inside Mobile App also recently reported on CocoaChina’s high profile hire of Kai Zhao as its U.S. VP of Engineering and its plans to launch a social gaming platform in 2013.
Guardians of Middle-Earth: A fun game doomed by its business model
Guardians of Middle-Earth: A fun game doomed by its business model:
Filed under: Video, Business models, Game mechanics, Previews, PvP, Reviews, Opinion, Consoles, Casual, Massively Hands-on, First Impressions, MOBA, League of Legends
The MOBA genre has exploded in recent years, with global giant League of Legends becoming the most actively played video game in the world and competitive tournaments getting more viewers than some televised sports. Today's MOBAs appeal to casual and competitive gamers alike, but until recently very few had crossed the console barrier. Released on PS3 and XBox 360 last December, Guardians of Middle-Earth took traditional DotA gameplay and made the quite experimental leap onto consoles.
I'm not much of a console gamer (you can take my mouse and keyboard away when you pry them from my cold, dead hands), but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see how Guardians of Middle-Earth stacks up against its PC-based counterparts. Monolith Studios has done great things in adapting MOBA gameplay to a console control scheme and audience, and the core game really is a lot of fun to play. But in charging an initial purchase price for a game that relies on having a large community, publisher Warner Bros. may have accidentally consigned Guardians to the scrapheap.
In this hands-on opinion piece, I explore Guardians of Middle-Earth and ask why it's already a ghost town just three months after launch.
Continue reading Guardians of Middle-Earth: A fun game doomed by its business model
Guardians of Middle-Earth: A fun game doomed by its business model originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Video, Business models, Game mechanics, Previews, PvP, Reviews, Opinion, Consoles, Casual, Massively Hands-on, First Impressions, MOBA, League of Legends
I'm not much of a console gamer (you can take my mouse and keyboard away when you pry them from my cold, dead hands), but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see how Guardians of Middle-Earth stacks up against its PC-based counterparts. Monolith Studios has done great things in adapting MOBA gameplay to a console control scheme and audience, and the core game really is a lot of fun to play. But in charging an initial purchase price for a game that relies on having a large community, publisher Warner Bros. may have accidentally consigned Guardians to the scrapheap.
In this hands-on opinion piece, I explore Guardians of Middle-Earth and ask why it's already a ghost town just three months after launch.
Continue reading Guardians of Middle-Earth: A fun game doomed by its business model
Guardians of Middle-Earth: A fun game doomed by its business model originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Mister Mxyzptlk Returns to DCUO for Game Update 24 | Ten Ton Hammer
Mister Mxyzptlk Returns to DCUO for Game Update 24 | Ten Ton Hammer:
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in DC Universe Online with the arrival of Game Update 17 and the return of the mischievous Mxy.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in DC Universe Online with the arrival of Game Update 17 and the return of the mischievous Mxy.
Defiance: Get Your Defiance Beta Key Now!
Defiance: Get Your Defiance Beta Key Now!:
MMORPG.com has been given a large amount of beta keys for Defiance - the upcoming MMOFPS by Trion Worlds that for the first time ever will tie into and impact a TV show! Get your key now while supplies last!
General: Wargaming.net Goes Gas Powered
General: Wargaming.net Goes Gas Powered:
With Wargaming.net's buyout of Gas Powered Games, new questions arise about the viability of the US games market combined with foreign investment. See what we have to say in this week's Free Zone and then leave your thoughts in the comments.
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