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[Yep, Gabe Newell is a billionaire]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/yep-gabe-newell-is-a-billionaire/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/yep-gabe-newell-is-a-billionaire/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/yep-gabe-newell-is-a-billionaire/#comments Gabe Newell has an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion, ranking 854th of the 1,226 billionaires in the world. Normally a video game exec being ranked 854th in something wouldn't matter much, but when that rank is in the "these people have at least one billion dollars" list, even the losers are news. Newell owns more than 50 percent of Valve, which has an estimated enterprise value of $3 billion -- conservatively -- meaning Newell is actually probably worth more than $1.5 billion.

If Valve begins a Kickstarter campaign for Half-Life, Portal or Left 4 Dead 3 any time soon, perhaps then outrage would be warranted.

Yeah.

JoystiqYep, Gabe Newell is a billionaire originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billionaireforbesgabe-newellmacmicrosoftmobilepcplaystationps3STEAMvalvexboxWed, 07 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zynga stock falters, holds on first day of trading]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/zynga-stock-falters-holds-on-first-day-of-trading/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/zynga-stock-falters-holds-on-first-day-of-trading/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/zynga-stock-falters-holds-on-first-day-of-trading/#comments Zynga stock finally roared out of the gate and on to the trading floor yesterday at $10 a share, but investors weren't hugely impressed with the social gaming company. The stock started up a dollar at $11, and then dropped back down two, and then thirty, and then fifty cents during the day, leveling off at $9.50, which Forbes says was thanks mostly to "a stabilizing bid by Zynga's underwriters," which means Zynga's investors stepped in and bought up enough stock to keep the price up.

So what happened? Shortly put, Zynga's stock wasn't really worth what it was priced out at. An initial public offering is designed to be priced a little low, in order to drum up demand for a company's stock from the public (not to mention raise some money). But Zynga went high and, as a result, didn't quite get the graph it wanted today.

They didn't sell the FarmVille, so to speak -- ZNGA will likely be trading fine on Monday (and $9.50 is fine for the highly competitive gaming industry; THQ is sitting down at 75 cents right now). But Zynga's hype phase appears to be over. Now the company needs to prove it can sell more than just cow clickers.

JoystiqZynga stock falters, holds on first day of trading originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>farmvilleforbesnasdaqpcpricesstock pricesStockPricesstockszngazyngaSat, 17 Dec 2011 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve's Gabe Newell discusses company profitability, and getting new eyes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/valves-gabe-newell-discusses-company-profitability-and-getting/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/valves-gabe-newell-discusses-company-profitability-and-getting/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/valves-gabe-newell-discusses-company-profitability-and-getting/#commentsYou probably don't need company head Gabe Newell to tell you -- as he did Forbes in a recent profile -- that Valve is "tremendously profitable." But did you know that it's "more profitable than Google or Apple" (per employee)?

And did you know that Newell has crazy robot eyes?

Okay, okay, he actually got cornea implants instead of "robot eyes," per se -- just as interesting, however, is Newell's post-surgery statement. "Not only could I see again, but I could see better than I ever had before." As Newell suffers from Fuchs Dystrophy, his corneas were slowly degrading before correction. "I felt like I was in a fantasy story. It reminded me of how fast the future is coming at us and from what unexpected directions."

Keeping his eyes on the money, Newell declined to offer any hard numbers as to his company's financial success, though he admitted that "per employee, Valve is more profitable than Google and Apple." To put some context on that, Valve's 250-person company has an estimated value of $2 billion to $4 billion (approximately $8 million to $16 million profit earned per employee), while Apple's 49,400 employees pull in roughly $6.68 million each, and Google's 24,400 earn the company around $8.19 million apiece. [Note: statistics based on current market valuations of Apple and Google, combined with company-provided employee numbers, here and here].

Continue reading Valve's Gabe Newell discusses company profitability, and getting new eyes

JoystiqValve's Gabe Newell discusses company profitability, and getting new eyes originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-distributionforbesgabe-newellmacpcprofilesteamsteamworksvalvevalve-softwareTue, 15 Feb 2011 12:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Iwata: 3D functionality of Nintendo 3DS can be turned off]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/iwata-3d-functionality-of-nintendo-3ds-can-be-turned-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/iwata-3d-functionality-of-nintendo-3ds-can-be-turned-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/iwata-3d-functionality-of-nintendo-3ds-can-be-turned-off/#comments Afraid that the jump-off-the-screen 3D effects promised by Nintendo's next handheld (code-named the 3DS) will become tiresome and overly gimmicky? Addressing concerns that there may be possible health consequences with 3D gaming, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata assured Forbes that the 3D function can be turned off easily, allowing players to enjoy games in a more traditional 2D manner.

While little else is known about the device, it seems like a smart move to ensure Nintendo's next system is attractive to as wide of an audience as possible. Of course, we may change our minds after its E3 debut -- perhaps the 3D effect will be so captivating that we'll be unable to think of gaming in any other way.

[Via GoNintendo]

JoystiqIwata: 3D functionality of Nintendo 3DS can be turned off originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 May 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2d3d3dsforbesnintendonintendo-3dssatoru-iwataFri, 07 May 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision CEO made nearly $15 million last year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/10/kotick-made-nearly-15-million-last-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/10/kotick-made-nearly-15-million-last-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/10/kotick-made-nearly-15-million-last-year/#comments
Say what you will about Activision CEO Robert Kotick -- and from what we've seen in previous posts, you will -- the guy knows how to make money. Not just for Activision as a whole (which raked in close to $1 billion in Q2 this year), but for himself as well -- according to a recent Forbes profile on the controversial CEO, Kotick made $14,950,102 in 2008.

Kotick caught some flack last week for joking about wanting to increase the price of Activision's releases. Now, it seems we know why -- he's only making $15 million a year. He desperately needs that extra scratch to upgrade his Azimut 62E Luxury Yacht to an Azimut 116 Luxury Yacht. Those meanies at the Santa Monica Yachting Club just won't stop picking on his puny seafaring vessel.

[Via GamesIndustry]

JoystiqActivision CEO made nearly $15 million last year originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbusinessceoforbeskotickmoneyrobert-koticksalaryyachtMon, 10 Aug 2009 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes writer defends "knockoff" slam against Rock Band]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/forbes-writer-defends-knockoff-slam-against-rock-band/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/forbes-writer-defends-knockoff-slam-against-rock-band/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/forbes-writer-defends-knockoff-slam-against-rock-band/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Earlier in the week, Forbes writer Peter C. Beller became the industry's latest whipping boy after taking ironic (and comical) shots at Harmonix for knocking off Activision's Guitar Hero to develop Rock Band. Calling Rock Band "a shameless knockoff of Guitar Hero," many chalked the remarks up to a journalist swallowing public relations fluff, often served to the gaming unaware in hopes to strike a cord with the readership of an unrelated industry publication.

Surprisingly, Beller has come to the defense of his statements saying, "If you define knockoff as "a copy or imitation of someone or something popular" the way Merriam-Webster does, then I think Rock Band fits the bill nicely." Beller continued, explaining he is aware Harmonix was the development team behind both titles but made the statement to outline that Activision has strong competition regardless of how profitable its franchises are. Unfortunately, in the statement made to GameDaily, Beller failed to explain why his editorial was so slanted. In fact his statement failed to explain anything, really.

JoystiqForbes writer defends "knockoff" slam against Rock Band originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bobby-kotickforbesguitar-heroharmonixmtvrock-bandFri, 23 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes: Rock Band a 'shameless knockoff' of Guitar Hero]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/forbes-rock-band-a-shameless-knockoff-of-guitar-hero/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/forbes-rock-band-a-shameless-knockoff-of-guitar-hero/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/forbes-rock-band-a-shameless-knockoff-of-guitar-hero/#commentsFiled under:



We can only assume that Forbes lives in a world with no GuitarFreaks. In the latest issue of the business magazine, a biographical profile of Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick turns controversial when it accuses Rock Band of ripping off Guitar Hero. According to the magazine, "EA also teamed with MTV to sell Rock Band, a shameless knockoff of Guitar Hero that added drums, bass and a microphone to the world of make-believe rock stars."

Leaving aside the fact that Guitar Hero hardly represents the roots of its genre, such a brash statement feels distinctly at odds with the rest of the (pretty neutral) piece. There's also the role of Harmonix to consider: after all, theirs was the name behind both franchises!


[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqForbes: Rock Band a 'shameless knockoff' of Guitar Hero originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardbobby-kotickbusinesseaforbesguitar-heroguitar-hero-world-tourharmonixmusicrock-bandrock-band-2Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes profiles Activision CEO, calls Rock Band "shameless knockoff"]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/forbes-profiles-activision-ceo-calls-rock-band-shameless-knock/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/forbes-profiles-activision-ceo-calls-rock-band-shameless-knock/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/forbes-profiles-activision-ceo-calls-rock-band-shameless-knock/#commentsFiled under: ,


Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is this month's Forbes magazine cover boy, where the business mag recounts his journey from sandwich delivery boy to billionaire CEO. Surprisingly (read: Not really), Kotick describes himself as not being interesting in games personally but has been more than happy to build Activision Blizzard into one of the industry's leading companies. One quote sending the games industry into a laughing dizzy is the line, written by Forbes itself (hold back the tears): "EA also teamed with MTV to sell Rock Band, a shameless knockoff of Guitar Hero that added drums, bass and a microphone to the world of make-believe rock stars."

We suppose the irony should be that Guitar Hero was first developed by Harmonix, the company responsible for Rock Band. Maybe we should be laughing that it was Harmonix that took the music genre into the group setting, which led Kotick's Activision to follow suit and create Guitar Hero: World Tour. But honestly, we just think the irony is that Forbes is a shameless knockoff of Fortune.

[Via Videogaming247]

JoystiqForbes profiles Activision CEO, calls Rock Band "shameless knockoff" originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bobby-kotickforbesfortuneguitar-hero-world-tourharmonixrock-bandMon, 19 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes profiles Kotick, calls Rock Band 'shameless knockoff of Guitar Hero']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/forbes-profiles-kotick-calls-rock-band-shameless-knockoff-of-g/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/forbes-profiles-kotick-calls-rock-band-shameless-knockoff-of-g/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/forbes-profiles-kotick-calls-rock-band-shameless-knockoff-of-g/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is the cover story for the latest issue of Forbes magazine, and the article's got one helluva quote -- and it's not even from the man himself. While you might balk at the businessman's lack of gaming credentials (read: he doesn't play games), this is the line, written by Forbes itself, that'll cause more than a few raised eyebrows: "EA also teamed with MTV to sell Rock Band, a shameless knockoff of Guitar Hero that added drums, bass and a microphone to the world of make-believe rock stars."

The decidedly negative tone without attribution is uncharacteristic for the magazine, and also feels a bit ... off? We know the Harmonix-RedOctane schism can be a bit confusing, but when the creators of the hit franchise are the ones making Rock Band -- and doing the multi-instrument thing first -- is that really the best choice of words?

[Via geoffkeighley]

JoystiqForbes profiles Kotick, calls Rock Band 'shameless knockoff of Guitar Hero' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardbobby-kotickforbeskotickrobert-kotickwtfMon, 19 Jan 2009 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes: Nintendo making $6 profit on every Wii sold]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/forbes-nintendo-making-6-profit-on-every-wii-sold/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/forbes-nintendo-making-6-profit-on-every-wii-sold/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/forbes-nintendo-making-6-profit-on-every-wii-sold/#commentsFiled under: ,


While Sony and Microsoft dream of turning a profit on their consoles, Nintendo is doing just that. According to a new article from Forbes, the Big N makes $6 in operating profit from every Wii unit sold. Nearly 19 million units have been sold worldwide so far during 2008, earning Nintendo a tidy $114M in profit, taking that $6-per-system figure into account. That's not the extent of the interesting numbers in the article, though.

Forbes points out that, while Nintendo is turning a profit on hardware, the fact that its top-selling software is all first party means it is losing out on serious revenue normally brought in via licensing fees. Still, according to its figures, the magazine claims that there will be in the neighborhood of 100 million more pieces of Wii software sold in 2008 (220M) than the nearest competitor, Xbox 360, at 125M (PS3 is on track for 120M). One has to wonder, though, how many of those Wii games will be snagged from a bargain bin, given recent analyst data.

JoystiqForbes: Nintendo making $6 profit on every Wii sold originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>financialforbesit-prints-moneyprofitwiiMon, 01 Dec 2008 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo making six bucks on every Wii sold]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/nintendo-making-six-bucks-on-every-wii-sold/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/nintendo-making-six-bucks-on-every-wii-sold/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/nintendo-making-six-bucks-on-every-wii-sold/#commentsFiled under:

Macquarie Securities analyst David Gibson has used Science to calculate that Nintendo makes $6 from every Wii console snapped up by the public. It's long been known that Nintendo profits from its hardware, though how much has never been revealed.

If Gibson's sums are accurate, that means Nintendo made almost $4.2 million of profit from North American Wii hardware during October alone. Six dollars, for the record, is what we almost earn in a whole day of blogging. That kind of money will get you one-fifth of this amazing Wii Music add-on set!

Gibson also states that Microsoft breaks even with the Xbox 360, while Sony loses cash whenever it sells a PS3. Sadly, he doesn't say how much Sony drops, so we can't point and laugh.

[Via MCV]

JoystiqNintendo making six bucks on every Wii sold originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessforbesmoneyprofitSCIENCEMon, 01 Dec 2008 15:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes details Take-Two's EA alternative: Ubisoft]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/10/forbes-details-take-twos-ea-alternative-ubisoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/10/forbes-details-take-twos-ea-alternative-ubisoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/10/forbes-details-take-twos-ea-alternative-ubisoft/#commentsFiled under:


The machinations of the corporate video game world have become a soap opera of unwelcome attention, would-be suitors, potential partnerships and, of course, undead vampires. While EA's restless pursuit of Take-Two continues (and continues and continues), the latter publisher isn't simply lapping up all the attention. No, Take-Two is on the lookout for potential partners, and have their "eyes open to anything to maximize stockholder value, including remaining independent."

Forbes puts the partnership pieces together, arriving at either Activision or Ubisoft. Considering Activision is sorta busy with its own mega-merger, that leaves little ol' Ubisoft. Of course, by "little" and "old" we really mean "big" and "rich" - the publisher apparently has a $1.2 billlion acquisition war chest which still won't get them close to the price Take-Two is holding out for.

So, perhaps a partnership (which we'll immediately begin calling Take-Twobisoft) if not an outright acquisition? There's plenty of delicious corporate synergy to go around, what with Take-Two's stable of strong IPs and Ubisoft's total lack of a sports division. Oh, and remember back when EA couldn't keep its eyes off of Ubisoft? It actually controls close to 25% of the voting shares in the French publisher, making any outside partnership increasingly sticky. The drama!

JoystiqForbes details Take-Two's EA alternative: Ubisoft originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ForbesTake-TwoTake-TwobisoftUbisoftTue, 10 Jun 2008 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Is the iPhone App Store a threat to DS?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/is-the-iphone-app-store-a-threat-to-the-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/is-the-iphone-app-store-a-threat-to-the-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/is-the-iphone-app-store-a-threat-to-the-ds/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With the impending launch of the iPhone App Store promising to finally (officially) bring games to Apple's all-in-one portable, a Forbes editorial is again floating the idea that Nintendo's DS may be facing a threat to its market-leading portable perch. The editorial notes that the iPhone combines the touch-screen and microphone of the wildly popular Nintendo DS with the motion-sensitivity of the wildly popular Wii. Add in the support of Sega, EA and Ubisoft, along with the ability to download games wirelessly through the App Store, and you have the makings of a portable gaming game-changer.

The piece makes some good points, but we think we're going to join with The Motley Fool, MacWorld and ZDNet in the ranks of those skeptical that the iPhone is going to take the gaming world by storm. The reasons for our skepticism include the iPhone's high price point, limited on-board storage space and the lack of major announced titles (Super Monkey Ball and Spore will only get you so far).

The MacWorld writer probably summed it up best: "The iPhone, at its heart, is not a gaming machine. Not in the way that the DS is, where every design consideration is given to one task, and one task only: playing games." Hey, since we're already talking about wild speculation, there's always a chance Apple and Nintendo could just merge and make the upcoming "battle" moot.

JoystiqIs the iPhone App Store a threat to DS? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecompetitionDSforbesiPhoneMobileNintendoFri, 06 Jun 2008 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The top-selling games in the US over the last 15 years]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/the-top-selling-games-in-the-us-of-the-last-15-years/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/the-top-selling-games-in-the-us-of-the-last-15-years/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/the-top-selling-games-in-the-us-of-the-last-15-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Forbes, with data supplied by NPD, has released a list of the top-selling games in the US over the last 15 years. NPD only began tracking data 15 years ago, so there may be an outlier from the '80s or early '90s, but it appears the industry really ramped up this millennium, with the top games all being released after 2001.*

Holding on to the top title -- and we imagine not for very much longer -- is Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas with 9.43 million units sold. Surprisingly, Guitar Hero III isn't too far behind with 8.2 million. Madden titles occupy four of the top ten spots. Find the full list after the break.

*Figuring it would be brought up, we checked with NPD about the original Pokémon Red and Blue released in 1998. Although they do have different titles, they are arguably the same game. NPD's data shows that Pokemon Red and Blue combined sold 3.1 9.9 million units. Pokémon Red with 4.9 million and Pokémon Blue with 5 million.

Update: NPD gave us incorrect Pokémon numbers. We've updated the figures.

[Via GameDaily]

Continue reading The top-selling games in the US over the last 15 years

JoystiqThe top-selling games in the US over the last 15 years originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forbesnpdPCPS2PS3top-sellingtopsellingWiiXboxXbox-360Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Hiroshi Yamauchi rolling in gold coins]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/hiroshi-yamauchi-rolling-in-gold-coins/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/hiroshi-yamauchi-rolling-in-gold-coins/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/hiroshi-yamauchi-rolling-in-gold-coins/#commentsFiled under:



After coming third last year, former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi is now the richest man in Japan, according to Forbes. Current estimates place Yamauchi's net worth at $7.8 billion, a figure that would see the 80-year-old place 40th in the equivalent U.S. list, and 149th in the world. You would think he'd have bought some new glasses by now.

It's pretty obvious that Nintendo's recent success with the Wii and DS have inflated Yamauchi's fortune massively; though he left the company in May 2002, Yamauchi retained stock in Nintendo, which was founded by his great-grandfather in 1889. "... Yamauchi's net worth soared $3 billion in the past year and has tripled since 2006, thanks mostly to booming sales of the Wii gaming device," notes Forbes.

"It's truly incredible," added Chris Greenhough, seventh richest blogger on the Wii Fanboy team.

JoystiqHiroshi Yamauchi rolling in gold coins originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 May 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forbeshiroshi-yamauchijapanmoneyyamauchiThu, 08 May 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hiroshi Yamauchi is the richest man in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/hiroshi-yamauchi-is-the-richest-man-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/hiroshi-yamauchi-is-the-richest-man-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/hiroshi-yamauchi-is-the-richest-man-in-japan/#commentsFiled under:

Forbes has released their list of the 40 richest people in Japan, and a familiar name is at the top: Nintendo's former president (and current guy who receives a lot of money), Hiroshi Yamauchi. Yamauchi still owns a bunch of stock in Nintendo (the company founded by his great grandfather), and also probably retains the right to Satoru Iwata's lunch money whenever he sees Iwata in the hallway.

You don't even need to make any sly references to the rumors of Yakuza connections to explain Yamauchi's remarkable $7.8 billion worth. The sales of the Wii and (especially) the DS more than adequately explain how Yamauchi could have become so wealthy. This seems like a pretty good indicator of Nintendo's success.

JoystiqHiroshi Yamauchi is the richest man in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 May 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forbeshiroshi-yamauchijapanyamauchiThu, 08 May 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes to name Nvidia its 2007 'Company of the Year']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/30/forbes-to-name-nvidia-its-2007-company-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/30/forbes-to-name-nvidia-its-2007-company-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/30/forbes-to-name-nvidia-its-2007-company-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under:

Forbes Magazine, or, as it's commonly called, "the Champagne of Business Magazines", will reportedly recognize the processor producing powerhouse Nvidia as its 2007 Company of the Year in an early January edition. Sure, we could list the company's many contributions to gaming over the past few years, but companies don't get awards from Forbes for making contributions to gaming -- no, they get Forbes awards for making ridonkulous amounts of cash money, which Nvidia has done hand over fist.

The company's share prices have shot up 2100% since its initial public offering in 1999, and its profits have increased about 50% every year since the company's inception. With an extremely ambitious CEO, and the increasing popularity of these "computer" things, we feel confident saying Nvidia will see continued growth in the upcoming years -- but we'll leave that kind of conjecture up to the big dogs.

JoystiqForbes to name Nvidia its 2007 'Company of the Year' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>company-of-the-yearforbesnvidiaprocessorSun, 30 Dec 2007 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes Fictional 15: Princess Peach at the bottom]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/forbes-fictional-15-princess-peach-at-the-bottom/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/forbes-fictional-15-princess-peach-at-the-bottom/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/forbes-fictional-15-princess-peach-at-the-bottom/#commentsFiled under:

Since when did Peach divorce Mario? Since when did Mario actually do something about the sexual tension between the two (other than in your disgusting desktop wallpaper of the two "getting down")? Regardless, Forbes has made up some wacky stuff regarding the princess of Mushroom Kingdom, ranking her at the bottom of its list of the richest fictional folks.

With a net worth of $1.3 billion, we're wondering where Forbes came up with the conversion rate on coins. Considering they're naturally created from thin air and by the very blocks of earth that make up that fine kingdom, we would think the conversion to our real currency would be low. So, we can understand how her worth would be on the lower side, but did they look into real estate value also? Come on, her castle alone has to be worth a ton.

JoystiqForbes Fictional 15: Princess Peach at the bottom originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coinsforbesmarionet-worthpeachThu, 13 Dec 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Insomniac lands 8th in the '50 Best Companies to Work For' list]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/25/insomniac-lands-8th-in-the-50-best-companies-to-work-for-list/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/25/insomniac-lands-8th-in-the-50-best-companies-to-work-for-list/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/25/insomniac-lands-8th-in-the-50-best-companies-to-work-for-list/#commentsFiled under: ,


Ratchet & Clank, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Spyro creator Insomniac Games recently placed 8th in the Society for Human Resource Management's "50 Best Companies to Work For" list. The list recognizes small businesses with "smart people management strategies [that] develop successful organizations with highly productive and satisfied workforces". In non-Dilbert-speak: good management makes for happy employees and thus a productive company. Not only is Insomniac the first and only videogame company on the list, it's the first company in the history of the small business category to reach the top ten three years in a row!

Insomniac's founder and CEO Ted Price bragged about the PS3 launch of Resistance: "... we delivered a top-rated and top-selling game -- on time -- while retaining our Top 10 ranking as one of the best small companies to work for in America ...".

All without any heinous Church of England scandals, as well! Oh, wait ...

JoystiqInsomniac lands 8th in the '50 Best Companies to Work For' list originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forbesinsomniaclistworkMon, 25 Jun 2007 15:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Ex-Nintendo chairman now Japan's third wealthiest]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/ex-nintendo-chairman-now-japans-third-wealthiest/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/ex-nintendo-chairman-now-japans-third-wealthiest/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/ex-nintendo-chairman-now-japans-third-wealthiest/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hiroshi Yamauchi, former chairman of Nintendo's board of directors and the company's president prior to Satoru Iwata, is now the third wealthiest person in Japan, according to Forbes. Yamauchi reportedly has a net worth of $4.8 billion.

On Forbes' list of the 40 richest Japanese, Yamauchi is noted for jumping up 11 spots, making him the list's biggest gainer. The reason cited for Yamauchi's increased worth is his shares in Nintendo; the company's stock has reportedly tripled in value since January 2006, thanks to the success of Nintendo DS and Wii.

We know, you're expecting us to throw up a picture of Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto holding a DS that prints money. But we've got self control ... we'll just link to an article that already has the image instead.

JoystiqEx-Nintendo chairman now Japan's third wealthiest originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bloombergDSforbesGameCubehiroshi yamauchiHiroshiYamauchinintendoWiiyamauchiMon, 11 Jun 2007 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Planet lost $40 million to find success]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/03/lost-planet-lost-40-million-to-find-success/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/03/lost-planet-lost-40-million-to-find-success/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/03/lost-planet-lost-40-million-to-find-success/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


A Forbes report states that Capcom spent $40 million on Lost Planet. That may seem like a nice chunk of change, but it's not the kicker. The thing is that Lost Planet, the actual game, cost $20 million. Another $20 million was spent on the advertising, marketing, parties and promotions. Spending as much on marketing as the cost of developing the game, now that is hardcore and it was all worth it.

Capcom already shipped 1 million units of Lost Planet before the game's Jan. 12 launch, probably feeling confident following Dead Rising's success, which was based far more on old-school buzz post-E3 (may she rest in peace). The new-school approach by Capcom, according to Forbes, is the work of Mark Beaumont.

Beaumont, 51, has been around the ad biz for a bit. He changed the way Capcom marketed in the West, Beaumont says, "They advertised like it was 1985 ... It was all very formulaic." According to Forbes, gaming magazines have lost relevance and MTV isn't hitting the right demographic. Beaumont wanted the Lost Planet demo on Xbox Live, commercials in movie theaters showing Casino Royale and other places of relevance. That Beaumont may be a sneaky fellow, but he's getting sales results out of a pretty unremarkable game.

JoystiqLost Planet lost $40 million to find success originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Feb 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>40 millionadvertisingforbeslost planetLostPlanetmarketingXbox-360Sat, 03 Feb 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Why do video games cost so much?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/19/why-do-video-games-cost-so-much/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/19/why-do-video-games-cost-so-much/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/19/why-do-video-games-cost-so-much/#commentsFiled under: ,

With the ushering in of the "next generation" of gaming everyone has experienced not only increases in graphical capabilities, but prices have increased on the software side too. And so you ask, why do video games cost so much and where is all this money going? Very good question and Forbes has your answer. They did a nice write-up of where this money trail is headed, how much a game actually costs, and talks about the risks publishers and developers take on. And of course they use Gears of War as their example, delicious. It's a very good read and a very good graphical representation of all the facts. Interested? Then check out where your money has gone.

JoystiqWhy do video games cost so much? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Dec 2006 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forbesgears of warGearsOfWarTue, 19 Dec 2006 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lara Croft and Mario make Forbes rich list]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/22/lara-croft-and-mario-make-forbes-rich-list/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/22/lara-croft-and-mario-make-forbes-rich-list/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/22/lara-croft-and-mario-make-forbes-rich-list/#commentsFiled under: ,

After procuring the tax returns of the worlds fictional characters, Forbes published a list of the 15 richest. Apparently the U.S. economy is such a joke that even Forbes has given up trying to report it seriously. Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks doesn't love "tomorrow" like his adopted daughter, he's perfectly happy with today, having $36.2 billion in the coffers. Characters that have made video game appearances in the past such as Scrooge McDuck ($10.9 billion) and Bruce Wayne ($6.8 billion) are sitting pretty. At $1 billion a piece at #14 and #15 respectively are the Lady Lara Croft and Mario (last name withheld).

There is certainly some shock while reviewing the list and kudos to Forbes for digging up the dirt on the video game superstars. Did you know that Lara Croft is 37 years-old? Her birthday is February 14, 1968 according to Wikipedia. Ms. Croft will be turning 40 in just a few years, making her one of the eldest video game superstars. There is a real revelation on the list. According to Forbes, Mario is only 23 years-old. Not only is the man slumming it as plumber after making a fortune in "commodities" -- it's an open secret he sold mushrooms for his fortune -- but at the age of 23 he must also be a wünderkind, having been a doctor, sports referee and world class athlete.

[Art from KennyVelez.com]

JoystiqLara Croft and Mario make Forbes rich list originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forbeslara croftLaraCroftmariorichestWed, 22 Nov 2006 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mario's all about that money]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/22/marios-all-about-that-money/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/22/marios-all-about-that-money/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/22/marios-all-about-that-money/#commentsFiled under:



Leave it to Forbes to obsess over the net worth of people who don't even exist. The Forbes "Fictional Fifteen" ranks the richest of the rich when it comes to fictional characters from movies, books, games, and more. And right at the bottom, tied with Lara Croft and Tony Montana of Scarface, is our favorite plumber, Mario. We had no idea fixing pipes could be so lucrative ... after all, so many plumbers can't seem to manage buying a belt.

So how did he rate an estimated net worth of one billion big ones? From the "official" bio at Forbes: Mustachioed Italian plumber leaps onto Fictional 15 after decades of collecting gold coins from sewers, clouds, oceans. Dabbled in other trades, including boxing referee, race-car driver, golf pro and doctor, but maintains the best way to get rich is smashing brick blocks.

If only it were that easy ....

[Via GoNintendo]

JoystiqMario's all about that money originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Nov 2006 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fictional FifteenFictionalFifteenForbesMarioNintendoWed, 22 Nov 2006 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mario's all about that money]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/22/marios-all-about-that-money/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/22/marios-all-about-that-money/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/22/marios-all-about-that-money/#commentsFiled under:



Leave it to Forbes to obsess over the net worth of people who don't even exist. The Forbes "Fictional Fifteen" ranks the richest of the rich when it comes to fictional characters from movies, books, games, and more. And right at the bottom, tied with Lara Croft and Tony Montana of Scarface, is our favorite plumber, Mario. We had no idea fixing pipes could be so lucrative ... after all, so many plumbers can't seem to manage buying a belt.

So how did he rate an estimated net worth of one billion big ones? From the "official" bio at Forbes: Mustachioed Italian plumber leaps onto Fictional 15 after decades of collecting gold coins from sewers, clouds, oceans. Dabbled in other trades, including boxing referee, race-car driver, golf pro and doctor, but maintains the best way to get rich is smashing brick blocks.

If only it were that easy ....

[Via GoNintendo]

JoystiqMario's all about that money originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Nov 2006 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fictional charactersFictional FifteenFictionalCharacFictionalFifteeForbesMariowealthyWed, 22 Nov 2006 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes: the Wii is indeed a revolution]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/13/forbes-the-wii-is-indeed-a-revolution/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/13/forbes-the-wii-is-indeed-a-revolution/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/13/forbes-the-wii-is-indeed-a-revolution/#commentsFiled under:



Uh oh ... snatch up that Ninty stock before all the high rollers do. The Wii's being talked up by Forbes magazine!

By giving players the ability to physically interact with a virtual world, Nintendo has significantly changed the experience of videogaming. It's suddenly more immersive, more compelling and potentially more appealing to consumers who have never considered buying a videogame console before.

It's not like we haven't heard this before -- it's the way every non-gaming publication seems to be describing the Wii. But it seems somehow different coming from Forbes. Somehow ... magical. And this language, this description, this is exactly what Nintendo is aiming for with their marketing initiatives.

Here's what we didn't expect: they reviewed the console at Forbes. That's right, Nintendo sent them a Wii unit and told 'em to get their game on. What happened next is an interesting look at how the rest of the world views the Wii in action.

Continue reading Forbes: the Wii is indeed a revolution

JoystiqForbes: the Wii is indeed a revolution originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Nov 2006 11:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ForbesNintendonongamerreviewWiiWii SportsWiiSportsMon, 13 Nov 2006 11:47:00 EST<![CDATA[American Apparel opens up shop in SL]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/20/american-apparel-opens-up-shop-in-sl/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/20/american-apparel-opens-up-shop-in-sl/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/20/american-apparel-opens-up-shop-in-sl/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Clothing-retailer (and our choice for the Joystiq ringer-tees) American Apparel has recently opened a virtual store in the virtual world of Second Life. In it, Second Lifers will be able to peruse the digital racks and purchase, in true SL fashion, buy clothing for their avatars in addition to the real life counterparts. Of course, American Apparel's simple styles may appear anemic next to the more colorful creations of other Second Lifers. MTV News quotes Raz Schionning, director of Web services at American Apparel, who says, "Everyone else has wings and devil horns and all the rest ... So it'll be curious to see if a red T-shirt makes sense."

The real question is, with only 200,000 virtual inhabitants, why does a virtual storefront for a company like American Apparel make sense? Well, publicity of course! Forbes covered their in world presence, comparing it to similar ventures by Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros.. American Apparel's fashion-centric approach and socially-conscious sensibility seem to jibe better with the culture of Second Life. Will the attempt net AA anything more than good press?

[Via GameSetWatch]

Read - American Apparel's Store in Second Life (Lots of pictures)
Read - Online Shopping (Forbes)

JoystiqAmerican Apparel opens up shop in SL originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jun 2006 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdvergamingAdvertisingAmerican ApparelAmericanApparelForbesLinden LabLindenLabMarketingPCSecond LifeSecondLifeTue, 20 Jun 2006 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Lara Croft makes Forbes' Fictional 15 richest list]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/26/lara-croft-makes-forbes-fictional-15-richest-list/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/26/lara-croft-makes-forbes-fictional-15-richest-list/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/26/lara-croft-makes-forbes-fictional-15-richest-list/#commentsFiled under: ,

Forbes Magazine has put together a new feature on the 15 richest fictional characters. Lara Croft ranks 13th with fictional net assets of $1 billion. What? Those gravity-defying assets aren't real? And she's 37? What the heck is going on here?

Those are not the only shockers unveiled. Forbes writer David Ewalt notes, "Experienced windfall this year by licensing name to endorse variety of products, from handguns to hot pants. Rumored to have fought, killed Bigfoot."

Don't let Chuck Norris find out you're claiming to have killed Bigfoot, toots. Just some friendly advice.

JoystiqLara Croft makes Forbes' Fictional 15 richest list originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jan 2006 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forbeslara croftLaraCrofttomb raiderThu, 26 Jan 2006 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What's holding the 360 back?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/03/whats-holding-the-360-back/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/03/whats-holding-the-360-back/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/03/whats-holding-the-360-back/#commentsFiled under:

Forbes reports that Microsoft has suffered a particularly bumpy ride this last quarter, with analysts spotting a problem with shipments that hasn't yet been addressed:

"It is clear that something disrupted the supply of Xbox 360 shipments in the quarter, and there does not appear to be any end of year catch-up in shipments,"

The estimated number of Xbox 360s shipped so far is around 1.3 million, at 600,000 to 800,000 per month. This puts Microsoft on track for their estimated sales milestones, but why hasn't there been a catch-up with extra shipments going out to satisfy the tremendous demand for the console? Even this long after launch there are still huge shortages, so it's something on the supply side -- not the demand -- that's the problem.

JoystiqWhat's holding the 360 back? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jan 2006 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economicsforbesxbox 360Xbox360Tue, 03 Jan 2006 21:00:00 EST