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by Published on October 28th, 2012 00:58- Categories:
- Wii U News
On face value, a shortage of day one Wii U stock will be frustrating to all retailers and publishers hoping for a smooth launch day and plenty of hardware and software sales.
But the truth is that, managed right, a tighter flow of hardware can avoid any money lost to overstocks or hasty price cuts and bundles.
Do we really want a repeat of the 3DS launch, which overestimated what the launch weekend would offer? While that format has hit its stride now, can anyone in the trade really say they want to relive what happened in March last year?
No, what we want is another ‘Wii moment’, that hard-to-hit sweet spot between supply and demand.
Nintendo’s honesty in the stock situation this week is at least preparing the trade for what we really want to happen: for a new machine to prove popular. It’s a long time, after all, since this industry has had to cope a console shortage.
RETAIL’S X FACTOR
Of course, some people with vested interests want you to think that there will be no such thing as a console shortage.
Apparently, demand has been ruined by tablets and online games, and consoles are on the way out.
They might have a bit of a point. The word ‘Xbox’ being quietly repositioned to mean a broad online offering, not just a physical box is one example in their favour. SingStar transforming into a free offering is another.
And next week, we’re dedicating a huge chunk of the magazine to the free-to-play market and how it is having an impact at the heart of the industry.
But I still can’t help but think the draw of something quirky, or innovative, or simply something you can touch will never lose its appeal.
It’s this lowercase-f X factor that Nintendo always banks on that drove the smartphone boom, and is helping matters closer to home. Skylanders, for instance, had a strong opening weekend last week, with decent sales likely to come. Even video games’ fair-weather profits-first friend
WH Smith is stocking the game’s collectable action figures.
I think the free-to-play set – either unfamiliar, lacking understanding, or being simply uninterested in console and physical goods – fail to understand this. And that will always be a strength that video games and physical retail have, when handled right.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/opini...essing/0105296 ...by Published on October 28th, 2012 00:45- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
Make no mistake. Microsoft’s new operating system, tablet and music service doesn’t mean Xbox is out of the spotlight.
The platform holder hopes the raft of new hardware and software going live today (Friday, October 26th) has built bridges between the likes of Windows 8 and its console – and will transform the Xbox brand into a games service, not just a games device.
Does that sound like an awful lot of high-level Microsoft buzzwords? At first glance, yes, the claims feel a little hollow. This week, the firm pushed out an update to its 360 dashboard, adding features such as Internet Explorer, which it says ‘enhances’ its 70m-selling console.
Today’s Windows 8 launch adds a digital app store and Xbox-branded apps, plus SmartGlass functionality which ‘expands Xbox to hundreds of millions of devices’.
New and rebranded services like Xbox Music and Xbox Video, meanwhile, make more claims on that over-used Microsoft label ‘entertainment’.
“This is a big week for Microsoft,” Xbox Live product manager Pav Bhardwaj told MCV at briefings for the service this week. “From the Dashboard and IE for Xbox through to launch of Windows 8 and its apps, we’ve created a seamless bridge between a console, PC and smart device.”
Microsoft has made much of its ambitious plan to link up its platforms through its SmartGlass app, which was unveiled at E3 and provides either companion experiences for the things on your TV screen, or a portable screen to watch content on the go.
SMART THINKING
These are “not innovations for the sake of it” insisted Bhardwaj. The first examples of games content for SmartGlass are apps to support Dance Central and Forza from developers Harmonix and Turn 10, although other content is thin on the ground.
“You will see SmartGlass in games – it’s the same with Kinect, where we haven’t incorporated it into every experience. But if we can use SmartGlass to enhance the experience, we will. We announced a game called Ascend at E3, and we will be sharing more about that soon. Plus there are already other first-party and third-party apps in the works, although we have nothing specific to announce yet.”
But the biggest innovations, perhaps, are the deeper ones that look to fix issues around promoting and displaying digital content for games, movies and music.
On 360, new dashboard elements have been added around recommending games based on the other titles you have played or looked at, while another new features allows you to ‘pin’ links and stuff you’ll be interested in later to a list in the front end.
Microsoft’s also gone further into the tiled display interface – now common across Windows, Xbox
and Windows Mobile. There are more segments for promoted content, ads and recommendations.
An Xbox app on Windows 8, meanwhile, promotes PC games in the Windows Store, and even allows console owners to buy content remotely and have it sent to their unit at home.
MICROSOFT’S NEW TUNE
It’s actually clearest on Xbox Music, the new service that Microsoft isn’t afraid to say combines the best of rival services like Spotify (streaming), iTunes (digital sales) and Pandora (US-only recommendation and radio service). Demonstrations showcased the ability to buy content and stream it on a handheld device, and then resume play on the console. That’s easily done with music and its smaller filesizes over decent broadband, but these principles could shape all of Microsoft’s efforts to sell digital content and the games store specifically in a future era of faster internet.
“We’re operating across all kinds of platforms with these services, with the idea being that we will be wherever you are,” explained Bhardwaj. Although there is a bit of delay until SmartGlass arrives on non-Microsoft platforms like iOS and Android, the device-agnostic aspiration is clear.
Some quiet repositioning of the Xbox brand has deeper ramifications, too, as the console name goes from being something simply slapped on a piece of hardware to a label used by Microsoft to represent all of its games, music and video efforts, regardless of the device played on.
Sure, it has the potential to be misunderstood, and underestimated. Microsoft’s wont is to pack its messaging with plenty of buzzwords and innovative ideas, and little content to showcase them.
In fact, the announcements and activity this week could be Xbox’s most significant shift yet. While in a games sense very little has changed – there are no updates or changes to Games on Demand downloads, or the way that Arcade or Indie games are sold – the way device owners can access, buy and find out about content has been overhauled and expanded.
And maybe that’s better for the industry in the long term than rushing out that supposedly ‘overdue’ next-generation successor to the Xbox 360.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/xbox-...rosoft/0105307 ...by Published on October 28th, 2012 00:37- Categories:
- Apple News,
- Android News,
- Apple iPad,
- Apple iPhone
Rockstar is to add to its Grand Theft Auto iOS library by releasing 10th Anniversary Edition of GTA Vice City.
The studio has already enjoyed success on Apple and Google’s mobile platforms with former DS and PSP hit GTA Chinatown Wars and PS2 classic GTA III.
The release will apparently boast “several enhancements unique to the iOS and Android platforms”.
Rockstar is also planning some wider activity to celebrate the game, which some still regard as the strongest release to date.
“To celebrate the 10th anniversary, there will be a series of commemorative assets released, including never-before-seen artwork and a brand new anniversary trailer highlighting some of the most iconic scenes and music from the game,” the studio stated.
“In addition, a limited run of collectable promotional items will be made available for purchase through the Rockstar Warehouse, with select items also available via online giveaways.”
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/grand...elease/0105311 ...by Published on October 28th, 2012 00:35- Categories:
- PS3 News
Keep next Tuesday night free – GAME will be opening its doors to welcome the unconventional Wednesday release of Assassin’s Creed III.
The flagship event will take place at GAME’s Stratford Store which will be transformed into “a scenic replica of the game’s winter wilderness, complete with Redcoats who will be patrolling and entertaining the queue”.
There’s also a treat for those in attendance at GAME’s Hull store where Ubisoft developer Tim Browne will be in attendance from 9:30pm to chat with customers.
“Assassin’s Creed fans can’t wait to get their hands on the next chapter of this epic game and we are really excited to be opening so many stores at midnight to celebrate in true GAME style,” GAME’s marketing director Anna-Marie Mason stated.
“We are bringing a piece of the adventure to life at GAME Stratford for London fans and we are delighted that developer Tim Browne will be attending GAME Hull, giving both the north and south a great experience to look forward to.”
Assassin’s Creed III will be released in the UK on Wednesday October 31st, with GAME stores opening their doors at around 11:45pm on the night of Tuesday October 30th.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/game-...ed-iii/0105313 ...by Published on October 28th, 2012 00:20- Categories:
- Android News,
- Zx81 Dev News
Hi all,
Here is a patched version of the Game & Watch emulator by Hitnrun (gp2x and pandora version).
This version fits the JXD and G18 screen size (this is main change compared to original hitnrun version).
You may also find on my blog :
- a new version of Atari 2600 emulator
- a new version of a Colecovision emulator
Enjoy, Zx ...by Published on October 27th, 2012 21:58- Categories:
- PS3 News,
- PC News,
- Xbox 360 News
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim took home the coveted Ultimate Game Of The Year award at the hmv GamesMaster Golden Joystick Awards 2012 at a ceremony in Westminster, London, this afternoon.Bethesda’s sprawling epic took home the biggest award of the day, and also won Ultimate Gaming Moment for the snowbound mountain ascent Throat Of The World. It was also the only game to win more than one award at this, the Joysticks’ 30th anniversary....
http://www.edge-online.com/news/skyr...k-awards-2012/by Published on October 27th, 2012 21:15- Categories:
- DCEmu
SternisheFan points out an article at Wired arguing that game consoles and the business model that sustained them are now "obsolete." Quoting:"Years from now, 225 million devices will almost certainly be seen as the point at which the console business peaked. Gamers are going elsewhere for their fix. The console’s time at the top of the heap is drawing to an end, and these machines won’t survive without radical change. ... Consoles used to do everything best, but those strengths are now being wiped away. Unlike PC games, which may require finicky custom settings, consoles 'just work,' fans have long pointed out. Well, so does the iPad. Consoles are cheaper than PCs? Not when you factor in the growing disparity in game prices. Consoles have all the good content? Well, if you want Nintendo- or Sony-exclusive games, you’ll need to buy their hardware. But for many gamers, Angry Birds is becoming more attractive than Mario.
http://games.slashdot.org/story/12/1...e-game-console ...by Published on October 26th, 2012 23:06- Categories:
- Apple News,
- Apple iPad,
- Apple iPhone
World's richest company rakes in $8bn in profits as it sells 27 million iPhones
Apple has reported record profits and revenue for its fourth quarter after shifting just under 27 million iPhones in the last three months.
Quarterly revenue reached $36 billion, with a quarterly net profit hitting a hugely impressive $8.2 billion.
This means that revenue has risen by almost $8 billion compared to the same quarter last year, with revenue also up $2 billion.
Apple stated that internatinal sales accounted for 60 per cent of the revenue made in the last three months.
As well as selling 26.9 million iPhones, a 58 per cent growth on unit sales from last year, the company also sold 14 million iPads and 4.9 million Macs.
http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...fourth-quarter
...by Published on October 26th, 2012 22:32- Categories:
- Android News
New Strategy Analytics data claims global tablet shipments reached 24.7m units in Q3, with Android powering 41 per cent – 10.2m – of the sales for the first time ever.
The Google OS's stronghold is up from 29 per cent in Q3 2011, though iOS tablet shipments slipped to 57 per cent – 14m – in Q3 2012 from 64 per cent last year.
Peter King, director at Strategy Analytics, said: "Global tablet shipments reached 24.7 million units in Q3 2012, rising a sluggish 43 percent from 17.2 million in Q3 2011.
"Demand for tablets slowed due to ongoing economic uncertainty and consumers holding off purchases in anticipation of multiple new models, like the iPad Mini, during the upcoming Q4 holiday season.
"Apple's slowdown allowed the Android community to make gains and Android's global share of the tablet market now stands at a record 41 percent."
Neil Mawston, executive director, Strategy Analytics, said: "No single Android vendor comes close to Apple in volume terms at the moment, but the collective weight of dozens of hardware partners, such as Asus, Samsung and Nook, is helping Google's Android platform to register a growing presence in tablets."
Other stats show that Microsoft secured a two per cent tablet share during the quarter, which is set to spike with the forthcoming release of the Surface tablet in Q4.
http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...ipments/019695 ...by Published on October 26th, 2012 02:00- Categories:
- Android News
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Ebay UK have posted a daily deal with the Nexus 7 Android Tablet with a £20 saving:
Versatile, well-built, and fast - the ASUS Google Nexus 7 16 GB Tablet PC has it all. The 7-inch IPS LCD of this ASUS tablet PC renders amazingly detailed and sharp content with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels. With the quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset, this 16 GB Tablet PC delivers brilliant performance. Plus, with the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS, this Wi-Fi enabled, black ASUS tablet PC simplifies menu navigations and extends application support. Moreover, the 12 oz ASUS Google Nexus 7 is lightweight and easy to carry, and also features a stippled black rubber panel that allows easy handling for a longer period of time. All in all, with a superb tab interface, electrifying speed for downloading games, music and other applications, and sleek looks this ASUS tablet PC is bound to evoke envy among the others in its class....
On sale here --> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3804979614..._qi=RTM1236980
Also on sale at Amazon UK here --> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Google-Nexus...1213176&sr=8-1
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Catherine: Full Body’s English translation for the Vita