Daily News: 04/25/13

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Ubisoft poised to make big play on persistent games

Ubisoft poised to make big play on persistent games:
Yannis Mallat looks back on Ubisoft's technical innovations in the last console cycle, pointing to evolving consumer media habits in driving game design. ...

Dragon's Prophet: How To Train Your Dragons

Dragon's Prophet: How To Train Your Dragons:
Dragon's Prophet is getting ready to make a big splash in the MMO-space in the near future as the time for open beta and retail release approaches. We managed to get

Dragon's Prophet EU Enters Second Closed Beta April 12

Dragon's Prophet EU Enters Second Closed Beta April 12:
With the successful ending of the first Closed Beta Test for Dragon's Prophet, Infernum is glad to announce the second phase of the Closed Beta testing for Dragon’s Prophet Europe will begin tomorrow on the 12th of April. The doors of Auratia will open for all members of the Founders’ Club as soon as the update goes live. Continue reading Dragon's Prophet EU Enters Second Closed Beta April 1

Nintendo Puts The Miiverse On The Web

Nintendo Puts The Miiverse On The Web:
Nintendo has created a web-accessible version of the Miiverse, the Nintendo social network. The Miiverse was previously only accessible from the Wii U, but now you can

Mark Jacobs on the coming F2P apocalypse

Mark Jacobs on the coming F2P apocalypse:
Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, Interviews, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Crowdfunding, Camelot Unchained Mark Jacobs isn't jumping on

Mark Jacobs Talks Camelot Unchained Subscriptions, RvR, and More | Ten Ton Hammer

Mark Jacobs Talks Camelot Unchained Subscriptions, RvR, and More | Ten Ton Hammer:
Mark Jacobs discusses more about Camelot Unchained’s RvR system, player housing, and how many subscriptions will satisfy the investment cost.

Sheryl Sandberg Claims That, With Smartphones, Mobile Advertising As Important As TV

Sheryl Sandberg Claims That, With Smartphones, Mobile Advertising As Important As TV:
Quicklink Attribution: Fast Company With rumors that Facebook has placed a $1 million price tag on video advertising, Sheryl Sandberg explains just why the social

Apple sells 37 million iPhones but profits dip in Q1

Apple sells 37 million iPhones but profits dip in Q1:
The company also sold 19.5 million iPads in the quarter, but gross margins fell

AnyoneGame raises $1 million for Just Sing It

AnyoneGame raises $1 million for Just Sing It:
Mobile karaoke game secures funding after strong early performance

More layoffs at EA

More layoffs at EA:
Battlefield, FIFA publisher cuts jobs at India office and Playfish as part of latest stream of layoffs. Electronic Arts has cut more jobs, with the latest layoffs taking place at EA

EA cuts jobs at customer support center

EA cuts jobs at customer support center:
Battlefield publisher believed to have laid off around 20 staffers from Galway, Ireland, center. Less than a year after Electronic Arts announced it would create 300 new

New, significant layoffs hit Electronic Arts

New, significant layoffs hit Electronic Arts:
UPDATED As Electronic Arts repositions itself to take on the changing video game landscape, the company has confirmed a fresh round of layoffs; sources claim

MMO Family: Is it time to regulate MMO cash shops?

MMO Family: Is it time to regulate MMO cash shops?:
Filed under: Business Models, Culture, MMO Industry, Opinion, Kids, MMO Family, Family, Miscellaneous "I want it now!" We're all familiar with that screechy demand by

Here's what the UK gov't is asking parents about in-app purchases

Here's what the UK gov't is asking parents about in-app purchases:
The UK-based Office of Fair Trading has released its complete survey, which is aimed at investigating in-app purchases in kids' games. ...

Office of Fair Trade to investigate f2p mobile and web games

Office of Fair Trade to investigate f2p mobile and web games:
UPDATE: TIGA and UKIE respond to O.F.T.'s concern over children making in-app purchases

Winnti hacking group targets online game industry

Winnti hacking group targets online game industry:
Hacking group has committed long-term cyberattacks against online games

The Secret World Gets a New Raid | Ten Ton Hammer

The Secret World Gets a New Raid | Ten Ton Hammer:
Funcom calls TSW players to action in the Island of Stillborn Stars to face the brutal Eidolon of the Outer Dark.

PlanetSide 2 mobile app guns down office productivity

PlanetSide 2 mobile app guns down office productivity:
Filed under: Sci-Fi, Screenshots, PvP, War, Mobile, Hands-On, Miscellaneous, PlanetSide 2 Developing a mobile app to go along with your MMO is so in right now.

Facebook cozies up to mobile devs

Facebook cozies up to mobile devs:
Facebook pairs the opening of its Mobile Developer Conference with three new and improved development tools. ...

Wargaming CEO: Hardware should not constrain the player

Wargaming CEO: Hardware should not constrain the player:
Wargaming CEO Victor Kislyi on putting the company's new resources to work

As EA bows out, Facebook says games are strong as ever

As EA bows out, Facebook says games are strong as ever:
Electronic Arts made the big decision earlier this week to back away from social games on Facebook. Today, Facebook shared some stats to allay fears that the sky is

Disney sees Infinity as game platform with "infinite" possibilities

Disney sees Infinity as game platform with "infinite" possibilities:
Bill Roper doesn't rule out one day adding in Marvel or Star Wars characters; he also downplays any similarities to Skylanders

CEO Mark Pincus elaborates on Zynga’s transition from web to mobile, announces today’s launch of Draw Something 2

CEO Mark Pincus elaborates on Zynga’s transition from web to mobile, announces today’s launch of Draw Something 2:
In Zynga’s Q1 2013 earnings call, CEO Mark Pincus’ opening statement focused on Zynga’s transition from web to mobile. ”Our next opportunities are clearly on mobile,” he

Zynga’s earnings report for Q1 2013 shows $263.5M in revenue, $4.1M gain

Zynga’s earnings report for Q1 2013 shows $263.5M in revenue, $4.1M gain:
Today, Zynga reported it made $263.5 million in revenue, with $229.8 million in bookings for Q1 2013. In terms of revenue, that’s flat year-over-year while bookings

Zynga's bet on midcore, real-money gaming could be a win

Zynga's bet on midcore, real-money gaming could be a win:
Profitable, but smaller, Zynga is aiming to turn its business around with new games, midcore, mobile, and real-money gaming

The Next Xbox Will Be Revealed On May 21

The Next Xbox Will Be Revealed On May 21:
The next Xbox will be unveiled in late May, Microsoft has just confirmed. This is the first time the company has officially acknowledged their next-generation gaming

The 160 year old social gaming company

The 160 year old social gaming company:
Updating the traditional board game, Dutch style

Turbine Announces Helm's Deep Expansion for LOTRO | Ten Ton Hammer

Turbine Announces Helm's Deep Expansion for LOTRO | Ten Ton Hammer:
Muster the Rohirrim! The fight for Middle-Earth heads to the western plains of Rohan and Helm’s Deep this fall.

Play the Newly Revamped Forge for Free This Week | Ten Ton Hammer

Play the Newly Revamped Forge for Free This Week | Ten Ton Hammer:
Forge’s new revamp update goes live and you can play it on Steam through Sunday for free or buy it for 75% off.

IDC expects paying mobile gamers to pass paying handheld gamers this year

IDC expects paying mobile gamers to pass paying handheld gamers this year:
Smartphone and tablet gamers are ready to shell out some money in 2013 and beyond

Zynga's Draw Something 2 launches globally early this morning, adding much-needed social features, n

Zynga's Draw Something 2 launches globally early this morning, adding much-needed social features, n:
Zynga's Draw Something 2 launches globally early this morning, adding much-needed social features, new drawing tools and a personal gallery to the original mobile

DCUO Launches GU25 Update with Origin Crisis Teaser | Ten Ton Hammer

DCUO Launches GU25 Update with Origin Crisis Teaser | Ten Ton Hammer:
Poison Ivy returns for DCUO’s latest update with new boss battles and a teaser mission for the upcoming Origin Crisis DLC.

Jens Andersen reveals DCUO's Origin Crisis DLC

Jens Andersen reveals DCUO's Origin Crisis DLC:
Filed under: Super-hero, Interviews, Patches, Free-to-Play, Events (Massively's Coverage), DC Universe Online Although he's been dropping hints and teasing fans

Coca-Cola Goes Full Digital In Multisite Campaign To Reach Teens

Coca-Cola Goes Full Digital In Multisite Campaign To Reach Teens:
Created by Wieden+Kennedy Portland, "The Ahh Effect" campaign is made of easily digestible, mobile-friendly bits of content designed to amuse a target audience

Report: EA Shutting Down Its "Partners" Label

Report: EA Shutting Down Its "Partners" Label:
Game Informer is reporting that Electronic Arts will soon be closing down its "EA Partners" label, a program that saw the publishing giant release games from

PATI Games - Korean Mobile Studio Prepares to Invest and Head West

PATI Games - Korean Mobile Studio Prepares to Invest and Head West:
This is PATI Games, which was established just 3 years ago, but already with several mobile hits such as ILoveCoffee throughout 4 Asian countries. The game already has

Flameseeker Chronicles: April's Guild Wars 2 patch brings custom arenas, spectator mode, and a living story dungeon

Flameseeker Chronicles: April's Guild Wars 2 patch brings custom arenas, spectator mode, and a living story dungeon:
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Game Mechanics, Patches, Previews, PvP, News Items, PvE, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles,

Ted Price aiming to offer "something fresh" among a "sea of sequels"

Ted Price aiming to offer "something fresh" among a "sea of sequels":
Insomniac boss not worried about launching new IP at end of console cycle, says gamers have been playing the same games for last 6 years

EA: "Gaming isn't mass market yet"

EA: "Gaming isn't mass market yet":
CCO Richard Hilleman on the huge opportunity presented by connected TV, and why Apple may not win the front room

Ship just got real: Leviathan Warships seduces you with one of the best trailers ever

Ship just got real: Leviathan Warships seduces you with one of the best trailers ever:
In this work-a-day world, do you find that modern video game trailers just move too fast? Do you wish they would take it...

Mobile "just too scary" for indies, says Spelunky dev

Mobile "just too scary" for indies, says Spelunky dev:
Derek Yu notes even great games can tank on iOS and Android, welcomes growing competition on PCs, consoles

From the Makers of Most of Aliens: Colonial Marines Comes a Much Cooler Shooter

From the Makers of Most of Aliens: Colonial Marines Comes a Much Cooler Shooter:
TimeGate, the studio Gearbox tapped to complete the neglected Aliens: Colonial Marines, turns its attention from making the majority of another company's game to

Sony Online collaborating with Storybricks on Everquest Next

Sony Online collaborating with Storybricks on Everquest Next:
The story-driven toolset will be a part of SOE's new Everquest

Watch Arrow on The CW app for Xbox 360 without cable subscription

Watch Arrow on The CW app for Xbox 360 without cable subscription:
Major Nelson announced through his blog that you can now watch shows like Arrow, Beauty & the Beast, The Vampire...

Brian Fargo: We no longer have to answer to the Walmart buyer

Brian Fargo: We no longer have to answer to the Walmart buyer:
The head of InXile talks about the big advantages of crowdfunding, eliminating gatekeepers, cooperating with Obsidian and more

World of Tanks' 8.5 patch expands armor roster, adds premium features for free players

World of Tanks' 8.5 patch expands armor roster, adds premium features for free players:
Filed under: Historical, Trailers, Video, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Patches, PvP, News Items, War, Free-to-Play, World of Tanks World of Tanks' 8.5 update is here,

Activision pledges 'unique' Call of Duty games for mobile

Activision pledges 'unique' Call of Duty games for mobile:
Publisher says past games for mobile and tablets only "okay"; future titles will focus on bringing "grandiose" experiences to portables. Future Call of Duty games for

Unity drops Flash support, says Adobe is not firmly committed

Unity drops Flash support, says Adobe is not firmly committed:
The popular game development platform Unity will no longer invest in Adobe's Flash, as the company says that it does not believe that the future is certain for Flash. ...

How to gather and best use player feedback

How to gather and best use player feedback:
Getting player feedback is easy, but how do you gather useful data and then interpret it? Here's a guide to creating a player survey and interpreting the results. ...

You Are Not Prepared For the Glory of Robot Unicorn Attack 2

You Are Not Prepared For the Glory of Robot Unicorn Attack 2:
There was a time when rainbows and unicorns were the stuff of legend, relegated to the highest of high fantasy and the cheapest of female-targeted school

General: Divergence Online Part II

General: Divergence Online Part II:
This week's Independency continues the interview Lisa Jonte conducted with Divergence Online creator, Ethan Casner. Find out what more he's willing to reveal

Ragnarok Online 2 Announces May 1st for Commercial Launch

Ragnarok Online 2 Announces May 1st for Commercial Launch:
WarpPortal yesterday announced their commercial launch date for the sequel to their world-renown title Ragnarok Online, Ragnarok Online 2: Legend of the Second,

Chrono Tales New Server and New Systems to Come

Chrono Tales New Server and New Systems to Come:
Chrono Tales update just added Transmogrification function: to exchange the icon and appearance of an equipment with those of another equipment while the

Everything We Know About The Next Xbox

Everything We Know About The Next Xbox:
May 21. That's the day that Microsoft will, finally, put an end to all the rumours and speculation and heresay and whispers about the successor to the Xbox 360 and

Darkfall: Unholy Wars: Review In Progress #1

Darkfall: Unholy Wars: Review In Progress #1:
Darkfall: Unholy Wars launched last week after several additional months of development. Promising to be hardcore and a true sandbox, players have been flocking

General: Legacy of a Thousand Suns Now on iOS Devices

General: Legacy of a Thousand Suns Now on iOS Devices:
Facebook players will recognize the title "Legacy of a Thousand Suns". The game has now been released for iOS devices and will be released for Android devices in the

Farm Heroes Saga takes the top spot among this week’s fastest-growing Facebook games by DAU

Farm Heroes Saga takes the top spot among this week’s fastest-growing Facebook games by DAU:
King seems to have another hit on their hands, with their new match-3 title Farm Heroes Saga taking the top spot among this week’s fastest-growing Facebook games by

New iOS Games Tonight: Robot Unicorn Attack 2, House of the Dead Overkill: The Lost Reels and more!:
I know I say it every time, but this is a super awesome week for iOS games. In fact, it’s probably one of the best we’ve seen so far in 2013! Don’t believe me? Just take a