Square Enix Will Release A Dragon Quest X Demo For PC

Square Enix Will Release A Dragon Quest X Demo For PC:
Originally released for Wii, Square Enix is bringing Dragon Quest X to PC on September 26. If you’re on the fence about a massively multiplayer online take of Dragon Quest you can download a demo of the game before it launches on PC.

12GB PS3 Comes to America, PS4 launching across Latin American

12GB PS3 Comes to America:
Very quietly Sony Computer Entertainment of America has brought the 12GB PlayStation 3 Slim to North America at $199. The model was released last October at €229 ($307) as an exclusive to Europe and Hong Kong with no plans for a U.S. introduction. Last week the SKU turned up in advertising from Canadian retailer FutureShop (owned by Best Buy Co. Inc.), and this week in the United States on Sony’s own web store and at Best Buy. The 12GB PS3 joins the similarly flash-based 4GB Xbox 360 at this price point. The North American introduction of the $199 SKU was not accompanied by an announcement from Sony. Included at that price is a top-loading Blu-ray player, Dualshock 3 controller, A/V cable, USB cable and a power cord. An optional 500GB hard drive upgrade kit is also available separately.

Supercell plays with Android games launch

Supercell plays with Android games launch:
Supercell, the Finnish mobile gaming company that tops Apple’s app charts around the world for the iPad and iPhone, is “very actively” weighing releasing games for Google’s Android operating system.

WILLIAM D. VOLK: RETURNING TO ZORK

WILLIAM D. VOLK: RETURNING TO ZORK:
In his lecture at Casual Connect USA, William D. Volk of Playscreen discussed strategies for increasing the Lifetime Value of a game’s customers. He strongly emphasized quality of experience as a major contributing factor to game profitability. “Ship 4.5 stars or don’t bother shipping,” said Volk, “Optimized garbage is still garbage.”

What Games Are: The March Of The Muggles

What Games Are: The March Of The Muggles:
The most (aside from Ballmer-chirping I suppose) interesting article I read this week was about how kids can’t use computers. Its author (Marc Scott) says that — contrary to the popular myth — kids today are every bit as incompetent with computers as their parents. They know how to use technology for specific functions (like Facebook or Skype) but don’t really understand what’s going on under the hood. Rather than taking the time to learn and master, they rely on some geek to fix their problems for them. Like most people, they essentially tolerate using computers rather than engaging with them.

Developers speak out: Why microconsoles?

Developers speak out: Why microconsoles?:
What do developers think of microconsoles -- are they worth making games for? Do they have a future? Gamasutra speaks to Double Fine,

Tales of porting games to microconsoles

Tales of porting games to microconsoles:
Developers on 100 Rogues, Shadowgun, Beast Boxing Turbo and others talk about experiences bringing their mobile games to Android microconsoles like Ouya and

Getting to know your microconsole game's audience

Getting to know your microconsole game's audience:
While it's difficult to say who the microconsole audience is and what they want, Gamasutra has tracked down some developers of games for the Ouya,

Making a quick and dirty single-player Ouya game

Making a quick and dirty single-player Ouya game:
As fast as possible, Ludometrics made a simple single-player shooter for the Ouya -- and in this post, David Thomson explains the thinking behind getting it out

Facebook and Unity: 90 million gamers can't be wrong

Facebook and Unity: 90 million gamers can't be wrong:
George Lee on refining Facebook's core game experience to open the door for Unity developers

Cie Games looks to out-rev CSR Racing

Cie Games looks to out-rev CSR Racing:
[a]list daily talks with the marketer turned game developer about its advantages in the mobile racing sphere

EA's Moore: "Microsoft has been very aggressive with us, as had Sony"

EA's Moore: "Microsoft has been very aggressive with us, as had Sony":
The COO explains the tricks and troubles of preparing for the new consoles

For Gabe Newell, Greenlight is just a stepping stone to a bigger endgame

For Gabe Newell, Greenlight is just a stepping stone to a bigger endgame:
As Valve celebrates the first birthday of Steam Greenlight's launch, company founder Gabe Newell keeps his eye on

Social media has changed how games are played - EA Games exec

Social media has changed how games are played - EA Games exec:
Patrick Soderlund says second-screen features and connected services are adaptations to player behavior

Play & Talk About Games With Raptr, Earn Cool Rewards!

Play & Talk About Games With Raptr, Earn Cool Rewards!:
Raptr is the home for Rewards for all of Trion’s games. From the futuristic transmedia (videogame and TV) series Defiance, the dynamic planar events of

John Smedley takes to Reddit to answer SOE layoff questions

John Smedley takes to Reddit to answer SOE layoff questions:
Filed under: Sci-Fi, MMO Industry, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2 In response to the question about how the recent SOE layoffs will

Viewtiful Joe is a $2 add-on fighter in Combo Crew

Viewtiful Joe is a $2 add-on fighter in Combo Crew:
Earlier this week, The Game Bakers announced Capcom brawling star Viewtiful Joe would be a new fighter in its own...

General: LEGO Minifigures Online: An Action Adventure RPG

General: LEGO Minifigures Online: An Action Adventure RPG:
Funcom recently started the process of unveiling their latest venture, LEGO Minifigures Online. We had the

Guardians of Middle-Earth MOBA Launches on PC | Ten Ton Hammer

Guardians of Middle-Earth MOBA Launches on PC | Ten Ton Hammer:
Clear a space for another MOBA. Guardians of Middle-earth hits Steam today to add another MOBA to the PC

Korean News and Beta Test Announcements

• Gravity MMORPG “Ragnarok 2” starts Indonesia formal service via Lyto.
• YD Online action RTS “Soulmaster” holds China 2nd CBT from August 30 to September 30 via GY Games, planned for commercial service in 4Q 2013. 
• Game Paradiso casual football game “Mini Eleven (Mini11)” starts CBT on September 5. 
• NHN Entertainment hack and slash game “Devilian” starts 2nd CBT tester recruitment, holds 2nd CBT from September 6 to 15. 
• ENP Games web action RPG “Mujang Jaengpae” recorded 72.8% relogins of testers on the first day of formal service. 
• Allm action RPG “Kritika” ends China 1st alpha test via Tencent.
• Hanbit Soft rhythm game “World in Audition” ends its 1st CBT.
• Mgame MMORPG “Dark Fall” ends 1st CBT, 2nd CBT planned in late September.
• Blueside MMORPG “Kingdom Under Fire 2” signs SEA copyright contract with Leadtek, which partnered with Xinxere, Qeon, and MyCNX for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia services.
• NHN Entertainment to launch a new game brand TOAST, where PC RPGs and mobile games will be moved from HANGAME.
• Mgame 2013 2Q sales: 7,770,000,000 won, operating income: -2,180,000,000 won, net income: -2,990,000,000 won. 
• Dragonfly 2013 2Q sales: 11,400,000,000 won, operating income: 1,800,000,000 won, net income: 300,000,000 won.

Korean News and Beta Test Announcements

• NHN Entertainment football simulation game “Football Day” holds final CBT tester recruitment from August 19 to September 1, final CBT from September 8, OBT planned for end of the year.
• ENP Games web action RPG “Mujang Jaengpae” holds CBT from August 21 to 23.
• Gravity mobile MORPG “Tower of Ascension” starts formal service on August 19.
• Uniana action MORPG “LAF (original title: Daybreak [Linekong])” holds FGT from August 20 to 22.
• NHN Entertainment MMORPG “Asta” holds final CBT tester recruitment from August 20 to September 1, final CBT from August 30 to September 2.
• Galaxy Gate signs Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand service contracts with VDC Net2E, Insrea, and Bellof, respectively for MMORPG “Rosh Online.”
• High1 Entertainment web SRPG “Jingyeok Samguk” starts OBT on August 22.
• Wargaming airplane action MMO “World of Warplanes” to be launched in CIS region on September 25, NA and Europe region on September 26.
• YJ Network Korea strategy action RPG “God’s Move” revealed.
• ESTsoft 2013 2Q sales: 92,100,000,000 won, operating income: 8,100,000,000 won, net income: 1,100,000,000 won.
• Mgame MMORPG “Dark Fall” releases new battle screenshots prior to Korea and Japan 1st CBT from August 27 to 30.
• ENP Games web action RPG “Mujang Jaengpae” starts official service on August 29.
• Uniana action MORPG “LAF” holds CBT tester recruitment, CBT from August 29 to September 1.
• High1 Entertainment signs Taiwan service contract with Thai company Winner Online for web game “Samgukji Zone.”
• Giant Interactive signs Korea service contract with Nox Games for MMORPG “Chakan Game (Chinese title: Bing Wang (?)).”
• Pearl Abyss MMORPG “Black Desert” for console like PS4 possible to happen, MMORPG will hold CBT in September or October.
• Dragonfly signs 3-year publishing contract with Thailand company True Digital Plus for AOS “King of Fighters Online,” holds CBT from September 4 to 8.
• Uangels 2D MMORPG “Janggunnyeong” holds CBT from August 31 to September 8.
• Antic Gameworld “Jungwoneul Beda” holds CBT test from August 28 to 30.
• NHN Entertainment MMORPG “EOS” releases new teaser video, slated for OBT in mid-September.
• SG Internet MMORPG “Gods & Hero” opens official homepage, planned for 1st test in September
• Joycity basketball game “Freestyle 2” ends China CBT via publisher Tian City, recorded 10,000 participants, 85% relog-in.
• ESTsoft action RPG “HeroesGo” starts global OBT on August 30.
• Daum web game “Kuiyeomdo” holds CBT from August 28 to 30.
• Hanbit Soft rhythm dance game “World in Audition” holds 1st CBT from August 29 to September 2.

Terraria just went mobile.

Terraria just went mobile.:
Terraria just went mobile. While you wait for the new PC update, you might wanna try the newly released iOS version of this fine little side-scrolling sandbox. For $5, you get a Retina display-compatible,

Card Hunter launches for free in browsers on September 12

Card Hunter launches for free in browsers on September 12:
Image via Blue Manchu Games Blue Manchu Games has announced a release date for its upcoming debut title, Card Hunter, which looks to mix the

FFXIV: A Realm Reborn Shatters Records with 187,000 Connections; 200,000 Expected Soon

FFXIV: A Realm Reborn Shatters Records with 187,000 Connections; 200,000 Expected Soon:
Square Enix just suspended digital download sales of Final Fantasy XIV: A

Nextpeer multiplayer mobile SDK comes to Android

Nextpeer multiplayer mobile SDK comes to Android:
Nextpeer, a mobile game platform that allows iOS developers to easily integrate multiplayer modes and options into their titles, is launching for Android games and

Majesco Entertainment launches indie publishing label

Majesco Entertainment launches indie publishing label:
Midnight City to be lead by Casey Lynch and Doug Kennedy

Child's Play's killer doll Chucky has a new game.

Child's Play's killer doll Chucky has a new game.:
Child's Play's killer doll Chucky has a new game. It's an endless runner, coming soon to iOS and Android devices from Slimstown Studio. It's called Chucky:

Double XP and giant cake mark Champions Online's fourth anniversary

Double XP and giant cake mark Champions Online's fourth anniversary:
Filed under: Super-hero, Events (In-Game), News Items, Free-to-Play, Champions Online, Anniversaries,

What's Next? Wind-Up Knight's Chris Pruett on the future of games

What's Next? Wind-Up Knight's Chris Pruett on the future of games:
GDC Next advisory board member and Robot Invader founder Chris Pruett talks future games: "Infrastructure is enabling

Microsoft forms European Xbox publishing team

Microsoft forms European Xbox publishing team:
Crytek's Warface to be its first title, John Needham leading the team

Wizard101 gives away presents for its birthday

Wizard101 gives away presents for its birthday:
Filed under: Events (Real-World), News Items, Free-to-Play, Kids, Wizard101, Promotions, Family, Anniversaries Happy birthday Wizard101! Starting today, the magical kid-friendly title celebrates