Joystiq

GamePop console offers unlimited mobile games on your TV for $7 a month

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:30:00 EST

2013, the year of the mobile game TV console, marches on with a new contender: GamePop. Created by mobile company BlueStacks, the GamePop console allows users to play mobile games on their TV using the included controller, iPhone or Android smartphone. The twist on other similar consoles like Ouya and GameStick is that GamePop uses a subscription model akin to Netflix. For $6.99 a month, users get access to the entire GamePop library, which currently sits at 500 games according to BlueStacks.

Those who pre-order the console this month will get it for free with a paid subscription to the service. BlueStacks tells Joystiq that there is no commitment or contract, with the only caveat being that customers must return the console if they cancel their service within one year. So, essentially, you're getting the console for 12 payments of $6.99, plus $10 shipping. We asked if users will still be able to access their downloaded games after canceling their service, but BlueStacks says that info is "TBD."

BlueStacks is touting big name developer support in the form of Halfbrick Studios (Jetpack Joyride, Fish Out of Water), Glu Mobile and others. BlueStacks will be sharing 50 percent of its subscription revenue with developers, "apportioned by usage," and developers will retain all revenue derived from in-app purchases.

GamePop is slated to launch this winter.

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GamePop console offers unlimited mobile games on your TV for $7 a month originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New GameSpy owners Glu Mobile shut down multiplayer servers without notice

Mike Schramm — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:00:00 EST

Players of quite a few old PC games, including Neverwinter Nights, Microsoft Flight Simulator X, SWAT 4, Hidden and Dangerous 2, and Star Wars: Battlefront, are reporting that the GameSpy-powered multiplayer servers behind those titles and more have been shut off without notice. The GameSpy service was sold to publisher Glu Mobile from IGN a little while ago, so it's that company that's apparently responsible for shutting down these servers.

Another one of the games affected was Sniper Elite, and developer Rebellion says its hands are tied: Glu wants to charge a lot of money to turn the servers back on, and Rebellion doesn't have the resources to transfer the multiplayer on this old title to another service. Rebellion points out that fans of the game did get seven years of service for free. And while GameSpy's matchmaking is down, players of some of these games can still connect up online manually by IP.

Angry players have taken to GameSpy's old Facebook page to register their wrath, but there's no official response just yet.

New GameSpy owners Glu Mobile shut down multiplayer servers without notice originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Glu Mobile closes Brazil office; Washington and California studios hit with layoffs

Mike Schramm — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 23:59:00 EST

Glu Mobile, the developers behind mobile versions of Guitar Hero and Call of Duty: Black Ops, has announced that it is closing its San Paulo, Brazil office and laying off employees in Kirkland, Washington, and San Francisco, California.

A statement from the company says that it needs to hold its research and development investments flat over the next year, and to do that, changes are being made. Twenty-five percent of the Kirkland office and 5% of the San Francisco office are being let go today as part of the restructuring process.

Glu's plan is to add "the necessary monetization and server-side research-and-development resources" to the company's existing titles, and "focus on increasing average revenue per daily active user company-wide." More monetization and more revenue per daily active user should help turn the company's financial future around, though game quality often suffers when those two elements are focused on. Joystiq hopes affected employees land on their feet soon.

Glu Mobile closes Brazil office; Washington and California studios hit with layoffs originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies sinks its teeth into Android, exclusive to Xperia for 30 days

David Hinkle — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST

It's been a long, slow walk, but the zombies have finally made it onto Android. Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies originally launched on iOS back in December. Today it comes to Android as a $6.99 download, exclusive to Xperia hardware for its first 30 days.

After 30 days, you'll be able to grab it for other Android devices, granted they're running 2.3.3 or up.

Gallery: Call of Duty Black Ops Zombies (Android)

Continue reading Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies sinks its teeth into Android, exclusive to Xperia for 30 days

Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies sinks its teeth into Android, exclusive to Xperia for 30 days originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heroic sacrifices: The companies behind Guitar Hero

JC Fletcher — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST

The Guitar Hero series touched many people, and not just by strapping plastic guitars to them. As the series reached its absurd heights of success, it caused more game developers to enter into the service of note charts and extreme rocker-dude 3D models.

And now that Activision has stopped production on the Guitar Hero series and closed that business unit, we can look back at how it affected the people who made it -- the companies who either moved on or were chewed up and spat out by the Guitar Hero monster.

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Heroic sacrifices: The companies behind Guitar Hero originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Glu assigned to next Call of Duty mobile release

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:59:00 EST

Face it: despite your plans to shut yourself in with the next Call of Duty release this November, you can't possibly spend all of your time at home, can you? Don't answer that -- Glu Mobile already has: The mobile game publisher has announced its fourth Call of Duty game for mobile phones, set to be released later this year "in conjunction with" Call of Duty: Black Ops. See -- now you can leave the house this winter.

Call of Duty's fourth mobile iteration will be released across a variety of carriers and app stores that support "feature phones" and smartphones. Glu Mobile prez Niccolo de Masi claims that the title "will serve as the ideal complement for Call of Duty fans and new players alike," while neglecting to provide any further details about the game. Us? We're just hoping the game comes with a pair of mittens to keep our trigger finger warm.

Glu assigned to next Call of Duty mobile release originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 May 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Glu Mobile CEO steps down citing need for 'generating positive cash'

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:10:00 EST

There's no doubt that Apple's iPhone has put a significant dent into the mobile game landscape, especially for non-future phone game developers and publishers. Such is the case for Glu Mobile, a company that -- while recently inking a deal to develop and distribute Activision titles on mobile devices -- seems to be going through some not so fantastic times. IndustryGamers.com reports that the company's CEO, Greg Ballard, is stepping down after six years on the job, citing the need to generate "positive cash."

"This is a good time to bring in new leadership for the company, as we focus on returning to generating positive cash and begin even greater investment in next-generation mobile platforms," Ballard notes in the company's release. It's not clear at this time who will be taking the reins of the mobile developer, but we're hoping it's not these guys.

[Image]

Glu Mobile CEO steps down citing need for 'generating positive cash' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pachter: Mobile games are a fad, EA's emphasis on sector 'misplaced'

Xav de Matos — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EST

Some people in the video game industry predict the mobile games business could eventually grow to topple the handheld gaming market, Wedbush Morgan disagrees. In its July industry report, analyst Michael Pachter estimates the mobile games industry is currently closer to $2 billion and, even with expected growth, the market may only expand to $4-6 billion in the next three to five years.

In a section titled "Mobile Phone Games are a Fad," Pachter explains that, while 1 billion iPhone applications have been downloaded across 31 million Apple products sold, "it is not evident that more than 20% of these downloads are games." Suggesting the iTunes App Store has generated "under $400 million in game downloads" in its first year. Pachter does predict the mobile game industry will grow at 25% per year for a few years, but will eventually fall as competing devices enter the market.

The report also calls Electronic Arts' emphasis on mobile games "misplaced." EA Mobile has grown steadily over the last few years, but the report estimates the mobile games division is -- along with that of competitors Gameloft and GLU Mobile -- "barely profitable."

According to the report, finger pointing in Apple's camp should directed toward the "open forum" structure of the store and Apple's business model. Apple runs the game download service for an estimated 30% fee, leaving 70% to the game's publisher, the report claims. The section on mobile games goes on to conclude that handheld systems, like the new PSP Go, will "maintain its niche, without significant cannibalization" from the mobile games industry.

Pachter: Mobile games are a fad, EA's emphasis on sector 'misplaced' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: EA may be sticking to Glu, Mobile that is

Jason Dobson — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:36:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Mobile

Electronic Arts could be looking to increase its stake in the mobile market by eating paste. A new report suggests that the company may be mulling over the acquisition of Glu Mobile, currently the third largest mobile game publisher and developer behind EA Mobile and Gameloft. Financial site Seeking Alpha cites a recent bevy of rumors regarding EA's growing interest in the Asian mobile market, followed by Glu's bolstered stock price as key indicators of a possible buyout.

The move, if it happens, would certainly underscore EA's commitment to the mobile platform and games. We're just not sure if the world is ready for Diner Dash 2009.

[Via Mobile Entertainment]

Rumor: EA may be sticking to Glu, Mobile that is originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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