12155270
submission
BanjoTed writes:
Michael Pachter’s ongoing spat with Nintendo regarding the Wii 2 is well documented. Pachter is sure it’s coming, Nintendo says it’s not. Now the analyst has gone one further by claming that the struggling sales of Wii documented in the platform holder’s recent financials will only get worse unless it speeds up attempts to get its successor to market.
11352006
submission
BanjoTed writes:
MCV has revealed that Jason West and Vince Zampella – the former bosses of Modern Warfare developer Infinity Ward – have opened a new studio and signed a publishing deal with Activision’s fierce rival EA. The news comes amidst the backdrop of the increasingly bitter legal dispute between the pair and the owners of their former studio. It's the most astonishing development yet in what is inevitably going to end up as a very bloody saga.
10786916
submission
BanjoTed writes:
An interesting, if tongue in cheek, bit of speculation from MCV here. "Chancellor Alistair Darling’s pledge to support the video games development industry with tax breaks could do more than simply protect the future of the UK dev sector," the site claims. "It could also have dictated the setting of the next Grand Theft Auto." It's reasoning? That developers will only be eligible for new UK tax breaks if their games can be proven to be 'culturally British'. Being based in the UK alone is not sufficient for this — instead, the games in question must promote Britishness. Hence MCV's conclusion that Grand Theft Auto V may well be set in London — saving Rockstar an estimated $16m in the process.
10616968
submission
BanjoTed writes:
Your readers found MCV's first story on this back in February quite interesting, so I thought they might be interested to hear about the latest developments. Sadly, Switzerland has now passed the law that paves the way for an outright ban on violent video games in the country.
The full implications of the ruling will not be known until the Government reveals the exact requirements that will be laid down by the new legislation – a decision that has not yet been made. What is certain though is that the Swiss authorities have now obtained the power to introduce any measures they see fit.
The likeliest outcome seems to be an outright ban on the production, distribution and sale of any games deemed to be unsuitable – most likely anything with either a PEGI 16+ or PEGI 18+ certificate.
9722622
submission
BanjoTed writes:
In a move to counter sales of pre-owned games, EA recently revealed DLC perks for those who buy new copies of Mass Effect 2 and Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Now PlayStation platform holder Sony has jumped on the bandwagon with similar plans for SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 3
9722368
submission
BanjoTed writes:
We hear lots about the issues facing violent games in Australia, but the anti-games bandwagon is gathering pace closer to home — in Switzerland, to be precise. The Swiss government is gearing up to consider a total ban on mature games in the country.
