Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[EA expects to publish for current systems through 2017]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/ea-expects-to-publish-for-current-systems-through-2017/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/ea-expects-to-publish-for-current-systems-through-2017/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/ea-expects-to-publish-for-current-systems-through-2017/#commentsEA CFO says it will publish currentgen until 2017, Star Wars deal gives a Battlefront 'opportunity' Speaking at the Stifel 2013 Technology Conference in New York this week, EA CFO Blake Jorgensen said that EA plans to publish games on the current generation of consoles through 2017 at least.

According to Gamespot's report, Jorgenson also discussed EA's exclusive Star Wars deal and specifically referenced fan favorite Star Wars: Battlefront. "The opportunity to do a new Battlefront, for example," Jorgensen said, "is very exciting." He added that none of EA's planned Star Wars games are film adaptations "per se," though their releases may coincide with upcoming movies.

JoystiqEA expects to publish for current systems through 2017 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 May 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsmicrosoftnba-live-13nba-live-14playstationplaystation-3playstation-4ps3releasesstar-warsxboxxbox-360xbox-oneThu, 23 May 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamestop: 'Xbox has said that they do support' used games market]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/gamestop-xbox-has-said-that-they-do-support-used-games-market/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/gamestop-xbox-has-said-that-they-do-support-used-games-market/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/gamestop-xbox-has-said-that-they-do-support-used-games-market/#commentsGameStop financial call, listen to it Gamestop's approach to the Xbox One's nebulous pre-owned game policies - which may include charging players a fee for booting up a used game - involves emphasis on digital adaptation, and letting Microsoft do the talking.

"I figured that question would come up," Gamestop President Tony Bartel said during a financial call's Q&A segment. "Definitely Xbox has said that they do support the trade-in/resale games at retail and that they want to handle communication from this point forward on that. I think what is important to note is that all three of the consoles that have launched have now come back and they say, 'I realize the value of the buy-sell-trade model,' and they have built that into their new consoles moving forward. We anticipate that we are going to be able to leverage that, like we leverage it on the consoles today."

Microsoft has yet to clear up its used-game policy with the Xbox One, including whether it will charge a fee for pre-owned playtime. Gamestop generates the majority of its profit from used game and hardware sales, and following Microsoft's Xbox One event, Gamestop's stock fell five percent.

Responding to another Xbox One question, Gamestop executives noted that its stores have systems for selling digital content, and they've sold digital products in the past.

"Digital content can be easily discovered," Bartel said. "We will actually work with Microsoft and we will work with Sony as they come out with - I guess what you would call 'non-gaming entertainment properties.' We'll be selling those in our store." Customers will be able to pay for this content with trade-in currency, other executives said.

In the previous generation transition, Gamestop saw people trade in all of their old games and systems to start fresh, and said it expected customers to do the same this time around. In the first 48 hours after the Xbox One's reveal, 250,000 people signed up for Gamestop's first-to-know list.

"There's lots of rumors out there," Bartel said. He later continued, "I, for one, am very interested in what they're going to say at E3."

Aren't we all?

JoystiqGamestop: 'Xbox has said that they do support' used games market originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamestopmicrosoftq1-2013trade-inused-gamesxboxxbox-oneThu, 23 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamestop Q1 sales and profits down, mobile/digital sales up]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/gamestop-q1-sales-and-profits-down-mobile-digital-sales-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/gamestop-q1-sales-and-profits-down-mobile-digital-sales-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/gamestop-q1-sales-and-profits-down-mobile-digital-sales-up/#comments Gamestop's financial data for the first quarter of its fiscal 2013 have arrived like a pizza with nearly 25 percent fewer toppings than the pizza you ordered during the same 13-week period last year. Also, cheesy bread sales are way up? This may not be the strongest analogy.

In non-allegorical terms, gross revenue (overall sales) and net income (post-tax profit) were both down year-over-year, at $1.865 billion and $54.6 million, respectively. As far as net income, that's a 24.69 percent decrease from the $72.5 million Gamestop reported at the end of Q1 2012.

Meanwhile, mobile device sales were up 290 percent, though this massive increase was largely due to the fact that Gamestop's mobile trade-in/sales program was just getting started during Q1 of 2012. Digital sales also increased, to the tune of 47.3 percent year-over-year, while new software sales, both physical and digital, fell 3.8 percent.

As was the case during Q1 2012, used hardware and software sales accounted for the majority of Gamestop's pre-tax profit, with new hardware and software sales making up just 29.5 percent of the quarter's overall gross.

JoystiqGamestop Q1 sales and profits down, mobile/digital sales up originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20133dsandroiddsfinancialsfiscal-2013gamestopmicrosoftmobilenintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspQ1sonyvitawiiwii-uxboxThu, 23 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony considers splitting the company after proposed IPO]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/sony-considers-splitting-the-company-after-proposed-ipo/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/sony-considers-splitting-the-company-after-proposed-ipo/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/sony-considers-splitting-the-company-after-proposed-ipo/#commentsSony considering splitting entertainment and business divisions Sony executives are considering splitting the company's entertainment and electronics divisions, following billionaire Daniel Loeb's proposed initial public offering of its entertainment business. The entertainment arm includes all PlayStation properties, alongside Sony's film and music businesses.

Loeb, with Third Point LLC, owns a 6 percent stake in Sony worth $1.1 billion, and is Sony's biggest investor. Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai confirmed that the top brass is considering Loeb's offer, but didn't say when it would come to a decision, Bloomberg reports.

"It's only a start," Hirai said. "It's important that the board will discuss this and come to a decision that represents Sony's stance." Following Loeb's offer yesterday, Sony stock surged 9 percent.

JoystiqSony considers splitting the company after proposed IPO originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 May 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>entertainmentipokazuo-hiraiplaystationplaystation-4playstation-vitaps3ps4pspsonyvitaThu, 23 May 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Square Enix America CEO leaves, joins Amazon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/report-square-enix-america-ceo-leaves-joins-amazon/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/report-square-enix-america-ceo-leaves-joins-amazon/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/report-square-enix-america-ceo-leaves-joins-amazon/#commentshit 1st Report Square Enix America president is out Square Enix America CEO Mike Fischer left the company this month and is now vice president of digital music and video for Amazon in Japan, Polygon reports. This follows news in April that Square Enix America eliminated "a number of positions" and Fischer was expected to leave in May. Those same reports said the head of marketing should be gone after E3, along with other employees in public relations.

In March, Square Enix President Yoichi Wada stepped down and the company announced widespread restructuring that it expected to cost $106 million. Square Enix posted a net loss of $134 million for fiscal year 2013, citing "weak" sales of major console games, including Sleeping Dogs, Hitman: Absolution and Tomb Raider, the last of which sold 3.4 million in its first month.

JoystiqReport: Square Enix America CEO leaves, joins Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dslay-offslayoffsmicrosoftmobilenintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspsonySquare-Enixvitawiiwii-uxboxThu, 23 May 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Atari Inc. seeks to generate $22M by auctioning assets in July]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/atari-inc-seeks-to-generate-22m-by-auctioning-assets-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/atari-inc-seeks-to-generate-22m-by-auctioning-assets-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/atari-inc-seeks-to-generate-22m-by-auctioning-assets-in-july/#comments Atari Inc., the US branch of French parent company Atari S.A., filed for court approval this week to auction its assets in July. Those assets include the Atari logo, as well as the Test Drive, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Asteroids, and Pong franchises among others.

As Reuters and the Wall Street Journal reports, Atari Inc., which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year in a bid to sell its assets and separate itself from Atari S.A., has failed to secure a "stalking horse" or lead bidder since then. Atari Inc. approached more than 180 parties about purchasing assets, but only 15 came back with preliminary bids. Atari Inc. didn't deem a single bid acceptable to set the minimum price for the division's clearout.

As it is, Atari Inc.'s own listed minimum bids for the July auction total "nearly $22.2 million." They include $15 million for the Atari brand, $3.5 million for the Rollercoaster Tycoon franchise, $1.5 million for Test Drive, and RTS franchise Total Annihilation at just $250,000. Atari Inc. has already secured $5 million through debtor-in-possession financing. While the auction is still pending court approval, Atari Inc aims to hold it between July 16 and July 19.

While the Atari name is synonymous with the arcade's pioneering years, Atari Inc. traces its roots to a company called GT Interactive, founded in 1993. GT Interactive was eventually acquired by French company Infogrames Entertainment, and in 2001 Infogrames seized Atari Corporation and its Atari properties through the purchase of Hasbro Interactive. In 2009, Infrogrames renamed itself as Atari S.A., with what was GT Interactive by then renamed as Atari Inc.

After some forty or so years that have seen the Atari brand transfer across several entities, if things go to plan then in two months time it'll find itself at a new home once more. What the ramifications of that sale would be for Atari S.A., financially and nominally, are unclear.

In a financial statement published on May 15, Atari S.A. said, "Faced with the uncertainties relating to the proceedings that are underway in the US, where the Group's strategic assets and most of its business are located, the outcome of the Chapter 11 proceedings in the US will be decisive for all the stakeholders." The statement also reveals Atari S.A. recently sold the ownership of its Outcast franchise for a "nominal amount," and negotiations are underway at similar prices for its Desperados and Silver franchises.

JoystiqAtari Inc. seeks to generate $22M by auctioning assets in July originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 May 2013 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asteroidsatariatari-incatari-saauctionbankruptcypongrollercoaster-tycoontest-drivetotal-annihilationThu, 23 May 2013 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spellirium hits $10K in pre-order fundraiser]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/spellirium-hits-10k-in-pre-order-fundraiser/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/spellirium-hits-10k-in-pre-order-fundraiser/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/spellirium-hits-10k-in-pre-order-fundraiser/#commentsSpellirium hits first funding goal Spellirium - the graphic-adventure, wordsmithing puzzler from Ponycorn overseer Ryan Creighton - successfully raised $10,000 through a pre-order fundraiser that he describes as a "Kickender." Pre-orders at all tiers - $15 to $1,000 - get into the Spellirium alpha for PC and Mac. The game is almost done, and all funds go toward finishing the final cut scenes and adding sounds and polish.

"That was the hardest ten grand I've ever made. And I was a paperboy," Creighton tweeted.

Pre-orders are still open, and the Kickender is now on goal two, which is "Act 3, Adequately Animated." Check out Creighton's pre-order pitch video on the Spellirium site, but be warned - once you open the page, it auto-plays some intense medieval folk music.

Spellirium is also up for a run on Steam via Greenlight.

JoystiqSpellirium hits $10K in pre-order fundraiser originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 May 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fundraisingmacpcpre-orderryan-creightonSpelliriumUntold-EntertainmentWed, 22 May 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox One will definitely be in used games market, details still blurry]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/xbox-one-will-definitely-be-in-used-games-market-details-still/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/xbox-one-will-definitely-be-in-used-games-market-details-still/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/xbox-one-will-definitely-be-in-used-games-market-details-still/#commentsXbox One will definitely be in used games market, details still blurry Microsoft isn't prepared to share how used games on Xbox One will be handled - which had adverse effects on retailer GameStop's stock price yesterday - but the company is definitely going to be in the market.

"We understand the secondary market is incredibly important today in the current generation. It will be incredibly important in the next generation," Phil Spencer, Microsoft Corporate VP of Microsoft Studios, said in an interview with us. "I love the fact that my identity, my saves and my content can go with me to any console I move to. The ability to have me and my content save in the cloud who I am, and I can move around, that obviously requires some capability to know what content you own, associated with you and how you move."

He also danced around the always-online issue, something that already caused one public firing at Microsoft.

"We also understand that sometime people's internet goes down and I shouldn't stop watching a movie or stop playing a single-player game when that happens. We'll support a tolerance where we can," he noted, but we were seeking specifics on how long the console could be offline. "You asked about the boundaries, how long will that work? I'll just tell you we don't know yet. We'll tell you when we have the answer and we can tell everybody. But we understand that secondary market is important to the ecosystem, no doubt."

Asked about the game trading that Microsoft previously mentioned, Spencer said, "Yeah, these are some of the specifics... honestly, I'm not really dodging, I just don't want to tell you something we haven't fully baked yet.

"We basically set this reveal up so we could show the hardware, announce the name, talk about worldwide launch this year, show EA and Activision on our stage during our announce - which I think was a pretty compelling point to have both - with their biggest franchises in FIFA and Call of Duty," he concluded the topic. "Then we're gonna use E3 to game, game, game."

JoystiqXbox One will definitely be in used games market, details still blurry originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>always-onmicrosoftused-gamesxboxxbox-onexbox-revealWed, 22 May 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA may be making Wii U games after all]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/ea-may-be-making-wii-u-games-after-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/ea-may-be-making-wii-u-games-after-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/ea-may-be-making-wii-u-games-after-all/#comments EA revealed some pretty significant news last week, with a spokesperson saying the company currently has no Wii U games in development. Now, it appears that EA may have some Wii U games in development after all, according to EA CFO Blake Jorgensen. The news comes by way of comments made by Jorgensen at the Stifel Nicolaus 2013 Internet, Media and Communications Conference.

"I'll let the consumers ultimately vote on PS versus Xbox," said Jorgensen, weighing in on the major console players. "I think Nintendo's business was more [an] extension of their last console. We are building titles for the Nintendo consoles but not anywhere near as many as we are for PS or Xbox." Jorgensen's comments would seem to indicate that EA is, in fact, still developing Wii U titles, though it's possible he's referring to the slate of already available games.

If there are Wii U games in development at EA, it's hard to say what they might be. The publisher has definitively stated that many of its biggest 2013 games are not planned for Wii U, including Battlefield 4, Madden 25 and, most recently, FIFA 14. We've contacted EA to see if we can clear things up.

JoystiqEA may be making Wii U games after all originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsnintendowii-uWed, 22 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox One's live TV features coming to North America first, everyone else later]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-ones-live-tv-features-coming-to-north-america-first-every/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-ones-live-tv-features-coming-to-north-america-first-every/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-ones-live-tv-features-coming-to-north-america-first-every/#commentsHIT NEXT Xbox One's live TV stuff to begin in NA, roll out elsewhere later Microsoft has announced that the live TV features coming to its newly revealed Xbox One will first be available in North America, and then will then transition into other regions after that. In a press release from the company, Microsoft noted that "live TV with Kinect Navigation, live TV with OneGuide, Trending, and NFL on Xbox" will all roll out in the US "at launch," but was "anticipating global scale over time."

Microsoft also said that the Xbox One will require a separate cable box, specifying "at launch," so it's possible that the console maker has other plans to deliver television content. The Xbox One is set for release later on this year, and Microsoft has not yet revealed a price.

Continue reading Xbox One's live TV features coming to North America first, everyone else later

JoystiqXbox One's live TV features coming to North America first, everyone else later originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contentlive-tvmicrosoftnfl-on-xboxoneguidetelevisiontvxboxxbox-onexbox-revealTue, 21 May 2013 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GameStop stock takes hit following Xbox One used game story]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/gamestop-stock-takes-hit-following-xbox-one-used-game-story/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/gamestop-stock-takes-hit-following-xbox-one-used-game-story/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/gamestop-stock-takes-hit-following-xbox-one-used-game-story/#commentsImage Microsoft's plans for the used games market on the newly announced Xbox One were a roller coaster ride this afternoon, with GameStop being the one to lose its lunch on the ride. The company's stock started an immediate dip once the news began to circulate that the console wouldn't support used games, closing the day down five percent (down -1.98 to 36.78/share).

Microsoft issued a statement after the market's close regarding Wired's report, stating the news wasn't accurate, but wouldn't detail exactly how the information was incorrect.

"It doesn't help Microsoft to block, and will alienate consumers. They should stay out of the controversy," said Wedbush Security analyst Michael Pachter who attended today's reveal of the new console at the Microsoft campus. "It is a dumb idea for Microsoft to get involved."

He continued, "They could just as easily invalidate a download if the same disc is subsequently downloaded to another Xbox One, and the seller of the game wouldn't complain. The article reaches a conclusion without foundation, and was irresponsible."

As of this posting it's still unclear what Microsoft's plans are for the used games market. GameStop's pre-owned video game products represented $2.4 billion in sales, making up 27.4 percent of the company's income and $1.1 billion (48.1 percent) of company's gross profit in the previous fiscal year.
[Image: nuttapol yupothong via Shutterstock]

JoystiqGameStop stock takes hit following Xbox One used game story originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamestopmicrosoftxboxxbox-onexbox-revealTue, 21 May 2013 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlefield 4 launching on October 29, both it and Destiny coming to Xbox One]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/battlefield-4-launching-on-october-29-both-it-and-destiny-comin/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/battlefield-4-launching-on-october-29-both-it-and-destiny-comin/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/battlefield-4-launching-on-october-29-both-it-and-destiny-comin/#commentsBattlefield 4 launching on October 29, both it and Destiny coming to Xbox One Battlefield 4 has announced via its Facebook page that the game will launch on October 29 of this year. In addition to versions on the PC, Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation 4, the team has also confirmed the game will be coming to Microsoft's newly announced Xbox One console. The Xbox One doesn't have a confirmed launch date just yet, so it's possible that version will arrive later.

Additionally, EA's announced Battlefield 4's first expansion pack, called China Rising. The pack will contain four extra maps, along with extra vehicles and weapons. It will be available at launch, and come free with any pre-order of the game.

And speaking of confirmed Xbox One titles, Bungie has also made it clear that Destiny is due out on Xbox One as well. Stay tuned for more confirmations on next-gen titles for Microsoft's new console.

JoystiqBattlefield 4 launching on October 29, both it and Destiny coming to Xbox One originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementbattlefield-4bungiechina-risingconsolesdestinydicedlceaexpansionfacebookmicrosoftnext-genpacpackreleasexboxxbox-onexbox-revealTue, 21 May 2013 15:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Reveal liveblog on Joystiq]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-reveal-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-reveal-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-reveal-live/#comments Update: We've taken our seats and are about to roll over to our Xbox Reveal liveblog.

The next Xbox is about to be unveiled in Microsoft's Redmond campus, and Joystiq will be there to scrutinize and document the whole presentation. It starts at 1PM EDT (10AM PDT, 6PM GMT), so get your glib reactionary .gifs ready before then.

Once the event starts, we'll switch this post over to liveblog mode and unleash the flood of quotes, observations and ill-advised jokes about computer chips. (Note: The presence of chips in the new Xbox is a rumor until Microsoft says otherwise.)

"Xbox, reveal!"

JoystiqXbox Reveal liveblog on Joystiq originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftxboxxbox-revealTue, 21 May 2013 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Syndicate Wars inspires 5 Lives Studios to get a Kickstarter in June]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/syndicate-wars-inspires-5-lives-studios-to-get-a-kickstarter-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/syndicate-wars-inspires-5-lives-studios-to-get-a-kickstarter-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/syndicate-wars-inspires-5-lives-studios-to-get-a-kickstarter-in/#comments

Five Lives Studios is teasing a Kickstarter project for something called Satellite Reign - and all signs point to a game inspired by Syndicate Wars. The Kickstarter is scheduled for June, with a countdown on the Satellite Reign site.

The teaser video reads, "In 1996, this man -" referring to Syndicate Wars lead Mike Diskett, it would seem "- created a Bullfrog masterpiece. In 2013, with your help, we will redefine the genre."

The original Syndicate Wars launched for the PlayStation and DOS in October 1996 as a real-time tactics game. Syndicate got an FPS reboot from Starbreeze Studios and EA in February 2012.

JoystiqSyndicate Wars inspires 5 Lives Studios to get a Kickstarter in June originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5-lives-studioskickstartermike-diskettrebootsatellite-reignsyndicatesyndicate-warsMon, 20 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, May 6 - 12: Sega Saturn edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/stiq-figures-may-6-12-sega-saturn-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/stiq-figures-may-6-12-sega-saturn-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/stiq-figures-may-6-12-sega-saturn-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

This week on Stiq Figures, we're looking back at the surprise launch of the Sega Saturn at E3 1995. Namely, we're watching this strange promotional video for the system, which features clips of launch games along with creepy people that live in your nightmares.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, May 6 - 12: Sega Saturn edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, May 6 - 12: Sega Saturn edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 May 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 19 May 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EA product manager Kevin Flynn defects, joins Call of Duty team]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/ea-product-manager-kevin-flynn-defects-joins-call-of-duty-team/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/ea-product-manager-kevin-flynn-defects-joins-call-of-duty-team/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/ea-product-manager-kevin-flynn-defects-joins-call-of-duty-team/#comments Kevin Flynn, who's worked for the last two years as a senior product manager for EA's UK arm, has left to join Activision's UK side as a senior brand manager on Call of Duty. Flynn's previous efforts for EA include launching Battlefield 3 and its subsequent Premium DLC campaigns in the region.

Flynn enlisted with the Call of Duty squad this month, which we imagine must be the busiest time to sign on for an Activision paycheck. With Call of Duty: Ghosts launching on November 5 and next week's next-generation engine reveal during the Xbox event on May 21, we just hope Mr. Flynn is finding adequate time for his lunch break every day. A hungry worker is not a happy worker!

JoystiqEA product manager Kevin Flynn defects, joins Call of Duty team originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 May 2013 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbattlefieldbattlefield-3call-of-duty-ghostseaelectronic-artskevin-flynnmicrosoftpcplaystationps3ukxboxFri, 17 May 2013 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[EA has no Wii U games in development]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/ea-has-no-wii-u-games-in-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/ea-has-no-wii-u-games-in-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/ea-has-no-wii-u-games-in-development/#commentsEA No Wii U games in development Mega publisher Electronic Arts has no games currently in development for Nintendo's Wii U. EA recently confirmed the detail to Kotaku, following mounting evidence the publisher was no longer planning to make games for the struggling console.

It was previously revealed that some of EA's biggest franchises would not make their way to the Wii U this year, including Madden NFL or Battlefield 4. The final sign of something being terribly wrong would have been EA's top-selling FIFA franchise ditching out. That's a certainty now.

JoystiqEA has no Wii U games in development originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-Artsnintendowii-uFri, 17 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Former NYT digital head joins EA's board as Gregory Maffei leaves]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/former-nyt-digital-head-joins-eas-board-as-gregory-maffei-leave/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/former-nyt-digital-head-joins-eas-board-as-gregory-maffei-leave/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/former-nyt-digital-head-joins-eas-board-as-gregory-maffei-leave/#commentsEA reorganization Former NYT digital head now on board Following last week's "restructuring," Electronic Arts has announced a new addition to its board of directors. Denise F. Warren has been appointed to both the board and EA's Audit Committee. Warren is the Vice President of the Digital Products and Services group at the New York Times, where she previously oversaw operations on NYTimes.com and the Times' other digital properties.

Warren will be stepping in as director Gregory Maffei steps out, passing on re-election at the stockholders meeting to be held on July 31. Maffei is the president and CEO of Liberty Media, the distributor that owns cable channels Discovery Channel, USA, Starz and more. Maffei has been on the EA board for 10 years, but is resigning to work with his own company.

Continue reading Former NYT digital head joins EA's board as Gregory Maffei leaves

JoystiqFormer NYT digital head joins EA's board as Gregory Maffei leaves originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boardboard-membersboard-of-directorsceodenise-f-warreneaelectronic-artsgregory-maffeiliberty-medianew-york-timespresidentThu, 16 May 2013 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo: 3DS software sales up 52% year-on-year in US]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/nintendo-3ds-software-sales-up-52-year-on-year-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/nintendo-3ds-software-sales-up-52-year-on-year-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/nintendo-3ds-software-sales-up-52-year-on-year-in-us/#comments Nintendo's 3DS is holding on strong to its place in the hardware charts, backed up by some successful software - and by "some" we mean "2.1 million first-party titles" in the first four months of 2013, in the US only. This is an increase of 52 percent over the same period last year.

Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins sold 94,000 physical and digital copies in the US since its launch on April 24 and hit No. 9 on the April NPD chart. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon sold 140,000 units in April, for a lifetime total of 530,000 in the states.

Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter expected the 3DS to be the only major console with sales up from April 2012, with the Wii, Xbox 360, PS3 and Vita down year-over-year. Pachter found the Vita down 57 percent, while the 3DS was up 46 percent with 185,000 sales.

Continue reading Nintendo: 3DS software sales up 52% year-on-year in US

JoystiqNintendo: 3DS software sales up 52% year-on-year in US originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dshardwarenintendosalessoftwareThu, 16 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Swapper switches it up on May 30]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-swapper-switches-it-up-on-may-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-swapper-switches-it-up-on-may-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-swapper-switches-it-up-on-may-30/#comments

The Swapper - the Indie Fund-ed, clay model-animated, puzzle platformer put together by a few Finnish university students - has been set to hit Steam on May 30. The game has a lone space explorer wandering an alien cave, with a "weapon" that allows him to create clones of himself to solve puzzles and move around.

Facepalm has released a brand new trailer showing that gameplay and the title's excellent graphics, which were created by animating photos of actual clay. The initial release will be for PC, with Mac and Linux coming later, and "maybe something else" after that.

JoystiqThe Swapper switches it up on May 30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facepalmfacepalm-gameslinuxmacmay-30pcreleaserelease-datesteamthe-swapperThu, 16 May 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Google+ Games no more after June 30]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/google-games-no-more-after-june-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/google-games-no-more-after-june-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/google-games-no-more-after-june-30/#comments After June 30, Google+ Games will be no more. Google has announced it's pulling the plug on all games through its service, so if you have credits in any games or wish to continue playing, you'll need to pursue that through each individual developer.

Google announced it's pulling the plug shortly after revealing its new games services suite for Google Play, which is live right now. Google started rolling out games to its social networking service in the summer of 2011, starting with Angry Birds, Dragon Age Legends and sudoku.

JoystiqGoogle+ Games no more after June 30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlegoogle-plusgoogle-plus-gamesmacpcThu, 16 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[April NPD: Injustice: Gods Among Us reigns supreme]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/april-npd-injustice-gods-among-us-reigns-supreme/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/april-npd-injustice-gods-among-us-reigns-supreme/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/april-npd-injustice-gods-among-us-reigns-supreme/#comments Another hot, fresh loaf of financial data has been pulled out of The NPD Group's analytical oven, and its buttery goodness contains sales information for the four week period between April 4 and May 7, 2013. During that time, the physical retail sector of the games industry was down 25 percent when compared with its performance over the same four weeks in 2012, pulling in a grand total of $495.2 million. It's worth noting, however, that this figure does not include the sale of PC games.

Hardware sales brought in $109.5 million, a 42 percent decrease from the $187.8 million seen last year, with the Xbox 360 once again enjoying the highest sales with 130,000 units moved. Meanwhile, the brief reprieve from year-over-year decline seen by the Accessories segment last month was short lived, as in April it by dropped 19 percent to a total of $131.4 million.

Software sales (including PC games) topped out at $267.8 million, with NetherRealm Studios' Injustice: Gods Among Us taking top honors as the best-selling game for the period, the first time a fighting game has finished in first since 2011's Mortal Kombat. Dead Island: Riptide and BioShock Infinite rounded out the podium in spots two and three respectively - meanwhile MMO/Syfy series Defiance debuted in fifth. As always, scope the full list after the break.

Continue reading April NPD: Injustice: Gods Among Us reigns supreme

JoystiqApril NPD: Injustice: Gods Among Us reigns supreme originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20133dsapril-npdbioshock-infinitedead-island-riptidefinancialinjustice-gods-among-usmicrosoftnintendoNPDpcplaystationps3saleswiiwii-uxboxThu, 16 May 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft ends fiscal 2013 with €64.8 million in profit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/ubisoft-ends-fiscal-2013-with-64-8-million-in-profit/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/ubisoft-ends-fiscal-2013-with-64-8-million-in-profit/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/ubisoft-ends-fiscal-2013-with-64-8-million-in-profit/#comments Ubisoft has released its financial information for the 12 month period ending March 31, 2013, which by all accounts seems to have been a pretty legit fiscal year for the publisher/developer conglomerate. The company crossed the finish line with €1.256 billion ($1.615 billion) in revenue and €64.8 million ($83.3 million) in profit, an 18.3 and 73.7-percent year-over-year increase, respectively, when compared to the €1.061 billion ($1.364 billion) in revenue and €37.3 million ($47.9 million) in profit recorded at the end of 2012.

Ubisoft contributes its stellar year to the continued success of its main three franchises, Assassin's Creed, Just Dance and Far Cry, the latest entries in which have all sold between six and 12 million copies.

JoystiqUbisoft ends fiscal 2013 with €64.8 million in profit originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 May 2013 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20133dsAssassins-Creedassassins-creed-3far-cryfar-cry-3financialsfiscal-2013just-dancejust-dance-4macmicrosoftmobilenintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ubisoftvitawii-uxboxWed, 15 May 2013 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[EA opening DICE Los Angeles studio]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/ea-opening-dice-los-angeles-studio/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/ea-opening-dice-los-angeles-studio/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/ea-opening-dice-los-angeles-studio/#commentsEA opening DICE Los Angeles studio EA is bringing a new DICE studio to Los Angeles, and it's expected to be a key part in the creation of new Star Wars games. As the Wall Street Journal reports, DICE LA hopes to take advantage of the area's "extreme talent pool," a pool Activision is already knee-deep in via Infinity Ward and Treyarch, both based in California. DICE LA plans to employ 60 members by the end of 2013, and is keen to bring the very best to the studio.

"There is an extreme talent pool over [there] that we want to be a part of," DICE General Manager Karl-Magnus Troedsson told WSJ. "It's no secret our main competitor is there."

Troedsson didn't reveal just how much the company is investing in the new studio. The news comes after what's been an eventful month for EA. The company announced 900 layoffs due to restructuring, estimated to be 10 percent of its then workforce. However, EA is clearly looking to build big on the platform of exclusive rights to Star Wars games.

[Image Source: @Battlefield]

JoystiqEA opening DICE Los Angeles studio originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DICEdice-laEAstar-warsWed, 15 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shaq's licensing company trademarks 'Shaqfighter']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/shaqs-licensing-company-trademarks-shaqfighter/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/shaqs-licensing-company-trademarks-shaqfighter/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/shaqs-licensing-company-trademarks-shaqfighter/#comments
Mine O' Mine, the licensing company responsible for all things bearing the resemblance of the legendarily mononymous Shaq, has registered a trademark for "Shaqfighter." The trademark's Goods and Services qualifications cover the term for "providing online games" and "computer and video game characters," among many other purposes along that line, which leads us to believe that this is probably a video game thing.

Of course, when the words "Shaq" and "fighter" are thrown together in such close proximity, 1994's Shaq-fu immediately springs to mind for any of us old enough to remember it in all of its confusing, supernatural glory. Well, "glory." Here's hoping this new jam ends up being more than an Infinity Blade clone starring an endless bloodline of medieval Shaqs. Actually ...

JoystiqShaq's licensing company trademarks 'Shaqfighter' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>shaqshaq-fushaqfightertrademarkUSPTOWed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rovio lets loose Stars publishing program for third-party games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/rovio-lets-loose-stars-publishing-program-for-third-party-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/rovio-lets-loose-stars-publishing-program-for-third-party-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/rovio-lets-loose-stars-publishing-program-for-third-party-games/#comments
Rovio is entering the mobile publishing arena through its Rovio Stars initiative, which will cover the whole spectrum of publishing duties such as marketing and PR. Rovio will even consult with developers to help them optimize their games prior to launch.

Budding developers can already submit their mobile works to Rovio Stars through a handy application page, though all applicants must have a playable build to present. Screens, videos and other supplementary materials are also encouraged, as it provides Rovio with a better sense of the overall game.

As of now, Rovio Stars has recruited two games: Icebreaker: A Viking Voyage from Longdon-based Nitrome (based on the Flash version) and Tiny Thief from Barcelona indie outfit 5 Ants. The latter is due sometime this summer, while Icebreaker's mobile release is tentatively scheduled for "soon" on the official site.

Continue reading Rovio lets loose Stars publishing program for third-party games

JoystiqRovio lets loose Stars publishing program for third-party games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 May 2013 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5antsandroidicebreaking-a-viking-voyageiosipadiphonemobilenitromeroviorovio-starstiny-thiefWed, 15 May 2013 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA developing Frostbite Go mobile game engine for iOS and Android]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/ea-developing-frostbite-go-mobile-game-engine-for-ios-and-androi/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/ea-developing-frostbite-go-mobile-game-engine-for-ios-and-androi/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/ea-developing-frostbite-go-mobile-game-engine-for-ios-and-androi/#commentsEA has a mobile version of Frostbite EA has published a website for its Frostbite graphical engine, and text on the website mentions the existence of a project called Frostbite Go, which EA describes as "a mobile division empowering EA game developers with Frostbite's proven excellent workflows and features to bring true Frostbite experiences to all major mobile platforms." In other words, the company is putting together the technology to run Frostbite on platforms such as iOS and Android.

The blurb doesn't say which version of Frostbite the mobile engine will be based on, but given that Frostbite 3 is the new hotness around EA, it's a fair guess that the company is adapting the latest and greatest for Frostbite Go. We're supposed to see Frostbite 3 games arrive later on this year (with Battlefield 4 being the first of these), so odds are that any Frostbite Go-created products should hit the market at that same time.

JoystiqEA developing Frostbite Go mobile game engine for iOS and Android originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbattlefield-4developmenteaenginefrostbitefrostbite-3frostbite-gogamegamesiosipadiphonemobileTue, 14 May 2013 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Pachter: Wii U sales hit 55,000 in April, 20,000 below Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/pachter-wii-u-sales-hit-55-000-in-april-20-000-below-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/pachter-wii-u-sales-hit-55-000-in-april-20-000-below-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/pachter-wii-u-sales-hit-55-000-in-april-20-000-below-wii/#comments Nintendo's Wii U sold 55,000 units in April, down 19 percent from March, while the Wii sold 75,000 in April, down 16 percent from last year, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter estimates. To compare, he says Microsoft sold 205,000 Xbox 360 units and Sony snagged 165,000 sales of the PlayStation 3 this April. By these numbers, sales of the Xbox 360 are down 13 percent and PS3 sales are down 5 percent year-over-year.

Nintendo hit 185,000 sales of its 3DS last month, a 46 percent jump in sales from the previous year, Pachter says. Sony's Vita is down 57 percent from 2012, selling just 30,000 units this April. These are of course the standard Pachter estimates, which can only mean one thing - the official numbers are on their way, via the NPD. Those figures are expected on Thursday.

As of March 31, the Wii U has sold 3.45 million units since its launch, below Nintendo's initial forecast of 5.5 million, and even January's adjustment to 4 million. Nintendo expects to have sold 9 million Wii U consoles by next fiscal year, ending March 2014, with sales spurred by the release of "key Nintendo titles."

JoystiqPachter: Wii U sales hit 55,000 in April, 20,000 below Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsestimatesMichael-Pachtermicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3saleswiiwii-uxboxTue, 14 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[VP Joe Biden: 'No legal reason' the US can't tax violent media]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/vp-joe-biden-no-legal-reason-the-us-cant-tax-violent-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/vp-joe-biden-no-legal-reason-the-us-cant-tax-violent-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/vp-joe-biden-no-legal-reason-the-us-cant-tax-violent-media/#commentsBiden says there's no legal reason the US can't tax violent media Vice President Joe Biden has been on the front lines of the gun violence debate since the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in December. In January, Biden led a task force assigned by President Barack Obama to examine possible means of curtailing gun violence in the US, and his findings prompted Obama to call for scientific research into the effects of violent media on young minds.

Earlier in May, Biden met behind closed doors with 20 representatives from faith-based organizations to discuss gun control and immigration, and he briefly addressed video games, Politico reports. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, proposed to Biden that "media and entertainment that portray violence should be subject to a special tax, with the proceeds going to help victims and their families," according to Rabbi Julie Schonfeld.

Biden replied that there was "no restriction on the ability to do that; there's no legal reason why they couldn't" place a tax on violent media, Sister Marjorie Clark told Politico. Biden again emphasized the need for more research into the subject, Clark added: "He said they really need a good scientific study, which they've done on things like smoking."

During his initial fact-finding meetings in January, Biden expressed particular interest in speaking with inter-faith organizations, though he met with a wide swathe of communities, including entertainment companies, advocacy groups, youth organizations, the mental health community and the NRA.

JoystiqVP Joe Biden: 'No legal reason' the US can't tax violent media originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gun-violencejoe-bidenpoliticstaxtaxesunited-statesUSATue, 14 May 2013 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Shadow of the Eternals gets a secondary Kickstarter campaign]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/shadow-of-the-eternals-gets-a-secondary-kickstarter-campaign/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/shadow-of-the-eternals-gets-a-secondary-kickstarter-campaign/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/shadow-of-the-eternals-gets-a-secondary-kickstarter-campaign/#commentsShadow of the Eternals gets a secondary Kickstarter campaign Precursor Games has launched a second, simultaneous crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for Shadow of the Eternals, the episodic horror game serving as a spiritual successor to Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. This is a supplement to the crowdfunding project that Precursor launched on its own site on May 6. The Kickstarter campaign looks to raise $1.35 million, while Precursor's campaign asks for $1.5 million.

"Due to overwhelming popular demand, we are happy to announce that an official Kickstarter campaign has launched for Shadow of the Eternals," Precursor says. "This gives potential pledgers even more options to contribute to the game."

Precursor's campaign accepts payments through PayPal - unlike Kickstarter - and doesn't necessarily have to reach its goal to take whatever money it raises. That campaign has 24 days remaining and has raised $156,000. The Kickstarter campaign has 36 days to reach its goal, otherwise Precursor won't receive any of that money.

Precursor will use the money raised in its crowdfunding efforts to launch a pilot episode in Q3 2014, and pay for the engine and core system development. Future episodes of Shadow of the Eternals - there will be 12 in total - will be "significantly cheaper and faster to produce," and Precursor will announce more episodes based on the success of its fundraising(s).

JoystiqShadow of the Eternals gets a secondary Kickstarter campaign originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundingeternal-darknessfundraisingkickstarterpcPrecursor-Gamesshadow-of-the-eternalsMon, 13 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take-Two year-on-year revenue up, digital sales on the rise]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/take-two-year-on-year-revenue-up-digital-sales-on-the-rise/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/take-two-year-on-year-revenue-up-digital-sales-on-the-rise/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/take-two-year-on-year-revenue-up-digital-sales-on-the-rise/#commentsTakeTwo reports annual net loss of $312 million, rise in digital revenue Take-Two announced its financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, revealing that the company took in $1.214 billion in sales last year, up from $825.8 million for the fiscal year 2012.

Take-Two notes that BioShock Infinite met with "significantly" higher sales than any previous BioShock release, shipping over 3.7 million units to date. The company reports a net loss of $31.2 million over the past fiscal year, but projects between $1.75 to $1.85 billion in revenue for the current fiscal year (ending in March, 2014), spurred by upcoming releases like Grand Theft Auto V and WWE 2K14.

The report notes year-over-year improvements in both revenue and net losses, bolstered by big sellers like Borderlands 2, NBA 2K13, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Catalog sales for older releases like Grand Theft Auto IV and Red Dead Redemption also saw strong performances, as Take Two noted a 192 percent year-over-year rise in revenue from digitally delivered software.

JoystiqTake-Two year-on-year revenue up, digital sales on the rise originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesbioshock-infinitefinancialsfiscal-2012fiscal-2013microsoftpcplaystationps3take-twoxboxMon, 13 May 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WWE 2K14 throws down at retailers on October 29]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/wwe-2k14-throws-down-at-retailers-on-october-29/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/wwe-2k14-throws-down-at-retailers-on-october-29/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/wwe-2k14-throws-down-at-retailers-on-october-29/#comments WWE 2K14 is scheduled to launch on October 29 for Xbox 360 and PS3, Take-Two Interactive confirmed in its fiscal year 2013 financial report. Take-Two snagged the rights to the WWE franchise in February, through a deal that went down before THQ's public bankruptcy auction in January. The deal gives Take-Two exclusive rights to publish WWE games "across all major platforms and distribution channels."

WWE 2K14 is in production from series developer Yukes, based in Japan, and 2K Sports.

JoystiqWWE 2K14 throws down at retailers on October 29 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2K-Gamesmicrosoftplaystationps3Take-Twowwe-14wwe-2k14xboxMon, 13 May 2013 16:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix posts $134M fiscal net loss, projects profit for coming year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/square-enix-posts-134m-fiscal-net-loss-projects-profit-for-com/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/square-enix-posts-134m-fiscal-net-loss-projects-profit-for-com/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/square-enix-posts-134m-fiscal-net-loss-projects-profit-for-com/#comments As approximately projected, Square Enix posted a net loss of ¥13.7 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31 2013, that converting to around $134 million. Back in March, Square Enix announced it was implementing major restructuring that would produce an "extraordinary loss". Today the company further detailed its new strategy for the next fiscal year, in which it projects a return to profit.

"The business environment surrounding the [Square Enix] Group is in the midst of major changes, where smart devices such as smartphones and tablet PCs are spreading rapidly," Square Enix stated in today's results, "while the console game markets in North America and Europe are increasingly competitive and oligopolistic. In light of such environmental changes, the Group is focusing all efforts on a substantial earnings improvement through driving reforms of business structure in order to establish new revenue base."

Square Enix previously noted "weak" sales of "big console titles" in North America and Europe, including Sleeping Dogs, Hitman: Absolution, and even Tomb Raider. Today the company said it will increasingly target smartphones and tablets, citing Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade and Kaku-San-Sei Million Arthur as satisfactorily profitable. Square Enix also noted Dragon Quest X as "showing steady performance."

As such, the restructuring brings overhauls to Square Enix's larger-scale development,with the company looking to improve turnover and produce content better tailored for different regions. Square Enix was clearly dissatisfied with the performance of its western portfolio, and layoffs were incurred in the company's North American and European divisions.

Square Enix believes these changes will be the platform for profit in the coming fiscal year, projecting net income of between ¥3.5 billion and ¥6 billion, or $34.4 million to $59 million.

JoystiqSquare Enix posts $134M fiscal net loss, projects profit for coming year originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europefinancialsjapannorth-americarestructuringsquare-enixMon, 13 May 2013 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, April 29 - May 5: Arcade cabinet edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/stiq-figures-april-29-may-5-arcade-cabinet-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/stiq-figures-april-29-may-5-arcade-cabinet-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/stiq-figures-april-29-may-5-arcade-cabinet-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, April 29 May 5 Arcade cabinet edition
Reddit user mystery_smelly_feet recently posted a gallery of photos showing off the construction process for a custom arcade cabinet. The cabinet sports a classic Nintendo theme, complete with iconic grey, red and black controls that are vaguely similar to the NES game pad we all know and love. We're looking at it this week on Stiq Figures out of pure awe and jealousy. Make one for us, Mystery Smelly Feet!

Continue reading Stiq Figures, April 29 - May 5: Arcade cabinet edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, April 29 - May 5: Arcade cabinet edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 May 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 12 May 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 Auction House back online sans bug, exploiters punished]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/diablo-3-auction-house-back-online-sans-bug-exploiters-punished/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/diablo-3-auction-house-back-online-sans-bug-exploiters-punished/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/diablo-3-auction-house-back-online-sans-bug-exploiters-punished/#comments Diablo 3's Auction House is back online after Blizzard took it down earlier this week, following an update bug that allowed players to duplicate trillions in gold. Blizzard found the bug, exterminated it, and will now donate all proceeds generated from the exploit to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

Blizzard will not roll back the servers across the board, but will instead target specific accounts that used the exploit, banning or rolling back those users depending on their activity.

"Only a relatively small number of players had the billions of gold necessary to exploit the bug, and only 415 of those players chose to use this exploit for personal gain," Blizzard Production Director John Hight writes in the Battle.net forums.

As of yesterday, Blizzard had recaptured 85 percent of the erroneous gold and was working to track down the remaining currency.

JoystiqDiablo 3 Auction House back online sans bug, exploiters punished originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-houseBlizzardbugDiablo-3exploitgoldpcreal-money-auction-houseSun, 12 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GREE lays off 30 from San Francisco offices]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/gree-lays-off-30-from-san-francisco-offices/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/gree-lays-off-30-from-san-francisco-offices/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/gree-lays-off-30-from-san-francisco-offices/#comments Japanese publisher GREE has laid off 30 members of its San Francisco office, according to a report from GamesIndustry International. Anil Dharni, COO of the mobile and social publisher, told GamesIndustry that GREE has recently aligned its US studio "to focus on creating the next generation of mobile social games. This shift in focus has been clearly demonstrated by the success and growth of our games."

"As part of ensuring that we are operating as efficiently as possible, we have made the difficult decision to reduce our work force. The employees leaving today have made great contributions to our success and we wish them all the best," he added.

We have contacted GREE for confirmation of the layoffs, and will update accordingly.

JoystiqGREE lays off 30 from San Francisco offices originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 May 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anil-dharnigreegree-san-franciscolayoffsmobilesocial-gamesSun, 12 May 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Double Fine wants to win back Stacking, Costume Quest rights]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/double-fine-wants-to-win-back-stacking-costume-quest-rights/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/double-fine-wants-to-win-back-stacking-costume-quest-rights/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/double-fine-wants-to-win-back-stacking-costume-quest-rights/#commentsDouble Fine wants to win back Stacking, Costume Quest rights Double Fine wants to tie up all of the loose ends within its catalog and is seeking the distribution rights to its games formerly published by THQ, Stacking and Costume Quest. Nordic Games picked up the distribution rights to these games during THQ's bankruptcy auction in April, though Double Fine attempted to secure the rights from THQ as early as February.

Double Fine owns the intellectual properties for Stacking and Costume Quest, so if it wants to make new games within each series, it can.

"We're still trying to get the rights to Costume Quest and Stacking," Schafer told Game Informer. "We can still make more of those games. We still have the IP, but we'd love to have all of the IP and distribution rights in house."

On top of those distribution rights, Double Fine wants to regain the Brutal Legend IP from EA and the Iron Brigade IP from Microsoft, Schafer said. These are difficult positions for Double Fine, but for us, deciding which war to watch is just as hard: Battle of Heavy Metal and Mechs or the Battle of Kids in Costumes Playing with Toys From the Old Country. Decisions, decisions.

JoystiqDouble Fine wants to win back Stacking, Costume Quest rights originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brutal-legendCostume-Questdistribution-rightsdouble-fineintellectual-propertyiron-brigademicrosoftnordic-gamespcplaystationps3stackingthq-bankruptcyxboxSun, 12 May 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ANNE passes its Kickstarter goal with more than a week to go]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/anne-passes-its-kickstarter-goal-with-more-than-a-week-to-go/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/anne-passes-its-kickstarter-goal-with-more-than-a-week-to-go/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/anne-passes-its-kickstarter-goal-with-more-than-a-week-to-go/#commentsANNE reaches Kickstarter goal with 11 days left ANNE, the 2D nostalgia-laden platformer from developer Mo, hit its $70,000 Kickstarter goal, and from today it still has nine days left to earn more money. In a multilingual thank you update, Mo said words couldn't express his gratitude, so he created the happy robot image above.

"For sure the money is what will allow me to get the job done, but knowing that there are people like you out there that believe in my game, in me, just this is worth more than money," Mo said.

The first stretch goal for ANNE is $80,000 and it would add Mac and Linux versions of the game to Mo's development schedule. At $90,000, ANNE would have achievements and a Gender Swap mode, and later stretch goals (up to $150,000), add Ouya, PSN, Vita and Wii U versions.

ANNE is a combination of ideas from some of Mo's favorite 16-bit games, including Mega Man, Contra, Gradius and Super Metroid. That last one was a big inspiration, Mo told Joystiq in April.

"I remember at the beginning, you had this amazing ship," he said. "A crazy sprite landing slowly and then, the next thing you know, you're just on foot. And I was just, 'What a tease.' What if you could actually go in [the ship] and fly? What would that look like, and how fun would that be? So basically, it's picking up from just questioning myself and just trying to see what, you know, what am I really looking for as a player right now?"

JoystiqANNE passes its Kickstarter goal with more than a week to go originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anneIndiekickstartermopcsuper-metroidSun, 12 May 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SyFy renews Defiance for a second season]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/syfy-renews-defiance-for-a-second-season/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/syfy-renews-defiance-for-a-second-season/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/syfy-renews-defiance-for-a-second-season/#comments The SyFy network has picked up Defiance for a second season. Production on the 13-episode season will begin in August in Toronto, and is expected to air in 2014.

The show also has a companion MMO of the same name by Trion Worlds. It's a popular one at that, as it recently saw its millionth user sign up to play. Plus, Defiance will receive five DLC releases this year, so things are looking up for fans of both the game and the show.

Continue reading SyFy renews Defiance for a second season

JoystiqSyFy renews Defiance for a second season originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 May 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defiancemmommorpgseasonshootersyfytrion-worldsSat, 11 May 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EA executives Andrew Wilson, Stephen Bene unload stocks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/ea-executives-andrew-wilson-stephen-bene-unload-stocks/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/ea-executives-andrew-wilson-stephen-bene-unload-stocks/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/ea-executives-andrew-wilson-stephen-bene-unload-stocks/#comments Two of Electronic Arts' top-level executives have collectively unloaded a total of 57,085 stocks, following a general increase in EA's stock value after this week's Star Wars exclusivity announcement. According to SEC forms filed yesterday, EA Sports executive vice president Andrew Wilson has sold his entire stake in the company: 32,085 shares at $21.42 a pop, for a grand total of $687,260.70.

EA senior vice president and General Counsel Stephen Bene followed suit, today exercising an option to buy 25,000 shares from EA at $16.06 per share for $401,500 in total, well below the current market value. Bene then sold those shares for $22.40 each, making $560,000. After subtracting the amount originally spent when the option to buy the shares was exercised, Bene made a net profit of $158,500. Unlike Wilson, Bene is still in possession of 6,700 shares of EA, according to SEC documents.

JoystiqEA executives Andrew Wilson, Stephen Bene unload stocks originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 May 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsAndrew-WilsonEAelectronic-artsfinancemacmicrosoftmobilenintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3Stephen-Benestocksvitawii-uxboxFri, 10 May 2013 19:30:00 EST