Is the Game Media Being Oblivious?

Is the Game Media Being Oblivious?
from Slashdot by ScuttleMonkey
MaryAlan writes "The National Summit on Video Games, Youth, and Public Policy was this weekend, and almost no one from the game media showed up. In fact, the game industry seems to pretty much be ignoring the whole event. There's an article up on GamesFirst, which attended the summit, that criticizes the mainstream game press pretty hard for not attending. Apparently only one game journalist showed up. From the article: 'The video game media owes it to our readers to come to events like this and listen, come here and think, and come here and base our editorials on the reality of what's being said instead of an interpretation of the talking points that are published afterwords. Too many of the people discussing these issues in forums do so based on the works of the game media, and too few in the gaming media are spending the time to make it justified.'"

ISU researchers part of summit on violent video game

ISU researchers part of summit on violent video game
Radio Iowa - Des Moines,IA,USA
... He says they hope to work with the video game industry and the software ratings board so people realize that there are some risks to letting children play ...

Police: Brother Shoots Brother Over Video Game

Police: Brother Shoots Brother Over Video Game

Source: NBC13.com - Birmingham,AL,USA MONTGOMERY, Ala.

A late-night argument between siblings over a video game led one to shoot the other. Few details are known, but ...

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[PogoWolf]

*sigh* So which game will be blamed for this one?

Study Shows Video Games Are Good For Kids

Study Shows Video Games Are Good For Kids
WIFR-TV Rockford Fri, 20 Oct 2006 7:52 PM PDT
It could be tough to get our kids to turn off the video game and start their homework. But before you make them put the controller down, you might want to know they're learning some important skills.

Old video games make a comeback

Old video games make a comeback
PA via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News Fri, 20 Oct 2006 7:17 PM PDT
Computer game fans will have the chance to get their hands on some arcade classics at a new exhibition.

Debate erupts over video game rating system

Debate erupts over video game rating system
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Fri, 20 Oct 2006 7:33 PM PDT
The rating system that's supposed to protect children from violent, sexually explicit video games doesn't work, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum said Friday. "The rating system we have now is funded by the people who stand to make a profit off it," the St. Paul DFLer told a group of researchers who study the effects of violent video games on children. "I've come to the strong conclusion that we need to

 

 

[PogoWolf]
  The only rating system a kid needs is PARENTS. 

Itagaki: 360 is Team Ninja's Core

Itagaki: 360 is Team Ninja's Core
1up.com Fri, 20 Oct 2006 5:43 PM PDT
Itagaki talks about Team Ninja's short and long-term strategies.

'Long-term Battle' for World's Video Gamers About to Begin

'Long-term Battle' for World's Video Gamers About to Begin
HispanicBusiness.com Fri, 20 Oct 2006 9:16 PM PDT
Sony has prevailed in the game wars so far, with consoles judged largely on their power and graphics and a big library of games. But as it prepares to introduce its PlayStation 3, the battlefield is expanding.

Sony triumphs in PlayStation case

Sony triumphs in PlayStation case
Financial Times Wed, 18 Oct 2006 7:15 PM PDT
Sony, the Japanese electronics group, yesterday won a High Court infringement case against a Hong Kong-based company which had been selling PlayStation computer game systems intended for the Japanese market into Europe.

"Bully" Sparks Protests

New Video Game "Bully" Sparks Protests
First Coast News - Jacksonville,FL,USA
By First Coast News Staff. MIAMI, FL -- A new video game called "Bully" is hitting store shelves and sparking protests. More than ...

Nielsen to Provide Video Game Rating Service

Nielsen to Provide Video Game Rating Service
Yahoo! News (press release) - USA
... The new data will enable the video game industry to develop an advertising business model to offset the steep development costs of new titles for next ...

Game On, finally

http://www.forbes.com/business/2006/10/17/nintendo-sony-xbox360-tech-media-cx_rr_1017games.html

Burlingame, Calif. - While videogamers spend the nights leading up to November dreaming of new consoles and games they'll soon be playing, the industry executives who cater to that crowd are losing sleep.  Come November, the game industry will finally wake up to a reality it has been alternately anticipating and dreading for quite some time.

This fall is when the next round of the videogame wars officially gets under way. Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT -news - people ) got a head start last year when it launched its Xbox 360 console; now Sony (nyse: SNE -news - people ) and Nintendo (other-otc: NTDOY.PK -
news - people ) will finally roll out their next-generation competitors, the PlayStation 3 and the Wii. And for good measure, some software publishers will trot out some highly anticipated games as well: Microsoft will push its new locust-filled shooting game Gears of War, and Activision (nasdaq: ATVI – news - people ) plans to make another killing off World War II with Call of Duty 3.

All of these high-profile launches come wrapped around the holiday shopping season, creating a confluence of events that only happens once every half a decade in this business. The payoff could be huge: In 2011—the peak year of the coming console generation--gaming
products will generate $44 billion in revenue, according to DFC intelligence. How this fall's new products fare will go a long way toward making or breaking gaming companies' next five years.

Early signals indicate fall sales are better than expected and demand is strong. September data from NPD Group released last week showed 34% hardware revenue growth over last year, and 28% software growth.  Analysts were expecting growth of less than 20%. Even sales of soon-to-be outdated games, like those designed for Sony's PS2, shrunk far less than expected. The $777 million the industry raked in last month was the best September it has ever had, according to NPD. At the same time, stock prices
within the gaming sector have shot up an average of 31% in the last three months.

And consumers seem ready to upgrade to new gaming systems. When videogame retailer GameStop (nyse: GME -
news - people ) announced last week it would sell a few Wii and PS3 pre-orders through its stores, the slots were gone almost immediately.

But all of this good news should be taken with a grain of salt. The lackluster 2005 holiday season makes for easy-to-top comparisons. And while sold-out console pre-orders show at least some consumers are eager to buy, those dollars will be wasted if enough units
aren't made available to retailers in November and December. Here's how each of the major players stands today:

Sony
Some good news for beleaguered Sony: It seems like lots of people want the new PS3, even with a price tag that starts at $500. The bad news: It's unlikely to have enough to satisfy everyone. The company is only promising that 2 million units will hit U.S. stores by
the end of the year. (The rest of the world will see even less of the boxes.) Many of these will end up for sale to the highest bidder on eBay. Serious PlayStation fans will seek out those units, but moderate gamers could be turned off by the price. If a PS3 isn't available in stores, would-be console buyers could opt to put their dollars toward a Wii, a Microsoft Xbox 360, or even one of Apple Computer's
(nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) new iPods instead.

Nintendo
As the least-expensive new console, Nintendo's $250 Wii could appeal to non-traditional gamers as well as hardcore gamers who already own other consoles. Because Nintendo makes many of the software titles available for its systems, each Wii sale could rack up
more than $250 for the company. Susquehanna Financial estimates that for each Wii purchase, an average consumer will also buy more than three game titles.

Microsoft
If holiday shoppers decide to replace a PS3 gift with that of an Xbox 360, Microsoft could see higher than expected sales. As of September, Microsoft had already sold 2.7 million Xbox 360 units in the U.S. since its November 2005 launch. The company can expect to sell nearly 3.5 million more by the end of December, according to Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter. Microsoft's own Gears of War Xbox 360 game, due out on Nov. 12, is already the best-selling Xbox 360 game at Amazon.com (nasdaq: AMZN - news - people ) through pre-orders.

Electronic Arts
While EA (nasdaq: ERTS - news - people ) isn't launching any hotly anticipated new games on Wii or PS3--its full slate of top-selling sports titles will be well represented on both platforms--the company is making the most of its presence in the PC gaming arena. This strategy, which includes acquisitions of Swedish studio DICE--maker of the Battlefield PC games--and multi-player online gaming company Mythic, as well as the eventual launch of Will Wright's Spore in 2007, doesn't marry EA to the success or failure of any of the consoles. It does, however, allow Microsoft, Sony Computer Entertainment and Nintendo to profit on the backs of their own hardware platforms through software sales.

Activision
Other than Call of Duty 3--a World War II game taking place during the Normandy campaign, which already looks to be a best seller on all three platforms when it launches on Nov. 7--Activision is laying low during the holiday season. The company's sights are set on
late 2007 and 2008, which should include blockbuster games from franchises like James Bond, Shrek and Spiderman.

THQ
With sales up 106% this September over last, and a stock price at its highest point ever, THQ (NASDAQ: THQI - news - people ) has thus far weathered the console transition well. But most of its recent success is related to one original title, the gritty, Grand Theft Auto-style game Saints Row. It's unclear if a return to franchises like WWE, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Sopranos will keep the   company in a winning position throughout the holiday season and beyond.

Take-Two Interactive Software
Amid lots of bad news--ratings controversies, lawsuits, options probes and earnings report delays--Take-Two (nasdaq: TTWO - news - people ) managed to run its stock up 75% since July. The company has still not reported its third-quarter earnings, causing industry speculation that the company could face delisting from the NASDAQ or consider a buyout. But new games are on the way, including the controversial Bully on Oct. 17. The game, which depicts violent strategies for revenge on school bullies, was reviewed Friday by a circuit court judge in Florida, who deemed it acceptable material for those under 18.
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[PogoWolf]

 What about MTV?  GH2 is going to make a KILLING this holiday season.

 

EA Responds To Micropayment Talk

EA Responds To Micropayment Talk

Tuesday October 17, 2006 5:17 PM EDT

 

Recently, EA announced that they would be providing game content for micropayments, much to the chagrin of gamers. Desructoid spoke with EA rep David Tinson to ask a few questions about the micropayments. Of course, he was unapologetic, even said that EA was doing gamers a favor.

 

 

[PogoWolf]

Everyone knows that EA will jump on any band wagon that’ll make them money.

 

New top educational game named.

Making History Video Game Named Top Educational Technology by Technology & Learning Magazine
Yahoo! News Tue, 17 Oct 2006 5:00 AM PDT Newburyport, MA

Continuing its path as a game-changer in modern education, the MAKING HISTORY® video game has been selected as one of the outstanding educational technology products of 2006.

No crash course here

No crash course here
San Diego Union-Tribune Tue, 17 Oct 2006 1:38 AM PDT Oct. 17 (UNION-TRIBUNE):

Stephanie Ott had just taken the ride of her life without leaving her seat. The San Diego police recruit was one of the first to train on a new driving simulator that helps police through real-life driving situations without risking injury. Ott, 24, grew up on video game systems like PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox, so she wasn't expecting much of a thrill from this one.

Video Game Service Launches New 'Friends' Promotion

PRESS RELEASE: Goozex – Video Game Service Launches New Promotion for Friend Referrals
gamesindustry.biz Tue, 17 Oct 2006 1:29 AM PDT COLLEGE PARK, MD

Goozex, Inc. today launched a new promotion, “Friends of Goozex,” to coincide with the addition of a new friend referral website upgrade.

NEC to Ship HD DVD, Blu-ray Dual Format Chip

NEC to Ship HD DVD, Blu-ray Dual Format Chip
OCT 11, 2006 12:55:49 PM View/Add Comments (1) Permalink
NEC Electronics, a Japanese producer of chips, on Tuesday said it has built a dual-format chip capable of playing discs in both the HD-DVD and Blu-ray next-generation DVD formats—an announcement that could help put an end to the war between the two rivals over which will be adopted by the masses, Reuters reports. Combined with the appropriate optical pickup technology—which doesn’t currently exist—the chip could be used in affordable players that will be able to read both HD-DVD and Blu-ray formats.
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Kinda makes it worthless to get the external 360 HD player.. or the PS3, now eh?

Nintendo Panties!!?!

More Nintendo Panties!

Finally, a pair of underpants that reveal what we already knew: a woman's genitalia is just an NES controller, ready to be fiddled with and pounded and flung angrily across the room in frustration. Florian Eckhardt
Nintendo Controller Panties [Aeropause]