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Two new consoles, the return of Grand Theft Auto and Tomb Raider, plus a string of top looking new IP. 2012 is already shaping up to be a blockbuster year for games. MCV – with the help of industry execs – offer 50 reasons why this new year will be a defining one for the UK games industry.

Fergal Gara - VP and MD, SCE?UK and Ireland

Vita. It has a massive potential audience in all those who appreciate a high-end gaming experience, and whilst we face many challenges, we’re excited to bring it to market. I am also looking forward to making changes at SCE UK. Having joined just a few weeks ago, I see enormous potential for us to perform better as a team, in order to entertain a much larger group of consumers. I’m looking forward to working closely with all my Sony colleagues, third parties and retail partners.


Dawn Paine - Assistant General Manager and Marketing Director, Nintendo UK

I am looking forward to getting stuck into some of the broader industry issues as a UKIE board member. It will be great to be part of moving the UK games industry’s agenda forward, having had a challenging time of it during 2011.


Chris Lewis - Vice President, Xbox Europe

Just over a year ago, we surprised people with Kinect and the magic it brought, and continues to bring, to their living rooms. In 2012, we’ll surprise people with a revolutionary TV experience as we see entertainment partners join Xbox Live and transform the way they control, search and enjoy TV, movies and music. Aside from that, I can’t help but be excited about the return of Master Chief – it’s what I’m looking forward to, my son is looking forward to, and what our fans are looking forward to.


Ian Livingstone - Life President, Eidos

I’m looking forward to the Education Secretary Michael Gove officially announcing that computer science will be included in the National Curriculum almost as much as I’m looking forward to the release of Tomb Raider.


Mike Hayes - President and CEO, Sega West

The Olympics. It’s a proud moment for our country. It should mean continuing great sales of Mario & Sonic and success with our official game on 360, PS3 and PC out in the summer. And it’s a proud moment for me as the sailing is being held in my home town of Weymouth.


Rob Salter - Entertainment Director, Tesco

Some sustained growth in games. Conditions will remain challenging and it is up to retailers and manufacturers to deliver compelling propositions. The Olympics should provide a boost to the economy and the nation’s mood, but we’ll need to earn our share of the TV.


Kunio Neo - President,Konami Europe

I predict 2012 will be the year we will witness the transformation of the way games will be experienced. New technology and platforms have positively impacted traditional console manufactures as well as publishers by expanding the overall ecosystem.


Robert Nashak - EVP, BBC Worldwide

The Vita launch. We’re bringing Doctor Who to Vita at launch and the feature set for Vita will blow your mind. I also look forward to next-gen console announcements from Sony and Microsoft. Also, Bioshock Infinite, The Last Guardian and Syndicate.


Martin Defries - MD, Rising Star Games

Continued sales for 3DS – we have a line-up of great game titles to launch in the year. Also, if dreams could come true, a complete and boundary-less rise of the UK High Street retailers selling games profitably.


Ian Shepherd - CEO, GAME Group

Innovation. The industry is at its best when it’s creative – 2012 will bring new hardware, new games, new digital business models and more. At GAME, we want to be in the middle of that and we will continue to invest in our stores, our websites and our digital services.


Jon Rooke - Marketing Director, THQ

Seeing what new alcoholic shot the industry adds to generic energy drink X.I’ve tried Jagerbombs, Skittlebombs, Absinthebombs, Buccabombs and the 2011 winner, Glitterbombs, at various industry dos. It’s time for something new. Baileybombs for the win.


Andy Payne - MD, Mastertronic

First, AppyNation to become a leading publisher. Second, persuading the Government that the Patent Box principle that exists in pharmaceuticals can be replicated in games. And finally, to see if we could unite two trade bodies into one.


Heiko Hubertz - CEO, Bigpoint
I look forward to seeing what will happen with Google+. Facebook and Zynga were extremely beneficial to the entire industry. They helped gaming to become a mainstream culture. Let’s see if Google+ can take us another step forward.


Chris Ratcliff - Editor,Game Guide

The launch of our retail software for Vauxhall car dealers. We are looking at a shrinking market in games and while we’ll continue producing the Game Guide data for games retailers and updating their EPOS systems, we have to look at other markets.


Ed Vaizey - Minister for the Creative Industries

I am looking forward to a real step change in how kids are taught computer science in school.


Robert Hennessy - Games Buyer, John Lewis

The London Olympics. I visited Vancouver in 2010 for the Winter Olympics and the city went crazy. London 2012 will ...

A report from consumer site Gamespot claims to have word that the new Xbox, which will be revealed at this year’s E3, will include some sort of portable tablet component.
“Given Microsoft's recent efforts at unification across its Windows, Mobile, and Xbox product lines, it seems clear that the 720 or whatever they end up calling it will be the ultimate personification of that strategy,” it says.
“There are strong signs suggesting that, like with Nintendo's Wii U, a tablet component figures heavily into the new design.”
It goes on to speculate that the new machine will include a tablet PC, base station, a controller and some form of Kinect.
If true, the move would represent a remarkable change of direction for the games industry and, perhaps more importantly, a form of validation for Nintendo’s daring Wii U design.
And of course, with Nintendo’s Wii U seemingly quite limited in scope thanks to the need to remain near the base station at all times, the opportunity is there for Microsoft to evolve the idea further.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/next-...-tablet/089476 ...

“There has been no breach to the security of our Xbox Live service.”
That’s the simple message from Microsoft today in response to fresh claims last week about security problems with its online content network.
And, as it did last year in response to a story in UK newspaper The Sun, the platform holder has once again insisted that users who have had their accounts compromised are victims of a phishing scam.
“Microsoft can confirm that there has been no breach to the security of our Xbox Live service,” a new statement reads. “In recent cases, some Xbox Live members appear to have been victims of malicious scams. Unfortunately this is something that affects many internet based services.
“The online safety of Xbox Live members remains of the utmost importance, which is why we consistently take measures to protect Xbox Live against ever-changing threats.”
As for last week’s Tumble user – Microsoft has quickly moved to reinstate her account, no doubt thanks to the widespread media coverage the case was getting.
“However, we are aware that a handful of customers have experienced problems getting their accounts restored once they’ve reported an issue,” it added.
“We are working directly with those customers to restore their accounts as soon as possible and are reviewing our processes to ensure a positive customer support experience.”
“While we do not ordinarily comment on specific cases, Microsoft can confirm that the account in question has been reinstated to its rightful owner and all unauthorized charges are being refunded in full.”
As for the blogger in question, she admits that she’s finally happy with the treatment she’s received, but rightly adds that it shouldn’t have taken international media coverage to obtain it.
“I do not want to sit here and say I am unhappy with the results. I’m not, I have access to my money again and I no longer have to worry about feeding my boy,” she admitted. “What has frustrated me is how I have been treated throughout all of this.
“At first I was given the run around, then I was lied to, then I was passed on from person to person and the ONLY reason why I am sitting here with a completed grocery list next to me is because I made a big ol’ fuss. I set out to get your attention, to get people talking, to force Microsoft to ignore me no more. I succeeded, but what about the numerous (read: 100+) people who have sent me emails telling me their stories?”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/micro...blogger/089478 ...

The marketing push for PS Vita will get the device into gamers’ hands next week – and it’s part of the firm’s biggest campaign yet.
An experiential tour starts on January 12th in Manchester, with the Vita Rooms visiting Glasgow and London during January and February afterwards.
It’s just one part of a big hardware launch campaign that includes aheavyweight TV, print, outdoor and retail presence and digital elements.
PS Vita launches on February 22nd in the UK and the rest of Europe, plus Australia and North America. It debuted in Japan three weeks ago and has sold over 400,000 units already.
The PSP successor ups the ante in the tech stakes featuring a raft of functionality including a five-inch OLED touch screen, dual analog sticks, front and rear cameras, a touch-sensitive panel on the reverse and plenty of on-board digital services. The hardware is available as a WiFi-only version and a 3G and WiFi model, with Vodafone on board as preferred 3G supplier in Europe.
“Vita delivers an uncompromised gaming experience on a portable device, for the first time,” UK marketing manager Mark Bowles told MCV. “With a long list of impressive features, we’re confident consumers will be incredibly excited by the latest addition to the PlayStation family.”
He added: “The PS Vita launch will be supported by the biggest campaign we’ve ever executed, and this level of activity will continue throughout 2012, reflecting our confidence in, and commitment to the platform long term.
“Our campaign will target gamers primarily, but also the new generation of tech enthusiasts and entertainment consumers who are used to playing games on their smartphones or tablets. What sets Vita apart is its ability to deliver PS3 quality gaming, in addition to the range of globally recognised triple-A software titles, which simply isn’t possible or aren’t available on any other existing portable.
“In terms of media focus, due to the connected nature of the Vita and the behaviour of our target audience, our campaign will have a strong digital backbone, supporting a heavyweight TV, press, outdoor and retail presence.
“Finally, one thing we learnt early on is that the best way to understand PS Vita, is to get hands-on experience with it. This is why we’re investing heavily in an experiential tour.”
33 games form the launch line-up of games, which include key Sony franchises such as Uncharted and WipEout, plus third-party hits like FIFA.
Bowles added: “The key to any successful console launch is software, and we believe the launch line-up for the PS Vita is the strongest of any gaming platform. Consumers will quite literally be spoilt for choice in terms of the depth and breadth of gaming experiences on offer.”
He added that Sony is certain that a good quantity of quality games will continue after launch.
“Lessons learnt from the PSP ensure that this commitment to delivering triple-A quality titles will continue unabated, with Resistance, LittleBigPlanet, Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty just a few of the big name titles and franchises coming to the PS Vita over the year ahead.
“We’re naturally very excited at the prospect of getting the hardware into the hands of gamers, so they can see for themselves, what makes Vita so special.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/sony-...-paunch/089480 ...

A new version of the popular arcade controller adapter for iPad, the iCade, has been revealed by maker ION.
The original iCade housed the iPad and was designed to make it appear like a miniature arcade cabinet, complete with arcade joystick and eight-button arrangement.
This new version, Engadget reports, features the same Bluetooth connectivity and passthrough charging cable but ditches the full cabinet styling in favour of a trimmed-down cradle design.
All the controls from the original iCade are present and correct.
Also on the way is the new iCade Mobile. Compatible with both the iPod Touch and iPhone, the peripheral adds four shoulder buttons, four face buttons and a traditional d-pad.
Once installed the phone can be orientated in either landscape or portrait modes.
A third device was also spotted by Engadget – the iCade Jr, which is effectively an arcade cabinet style iCade for iPhone.
ION has yet to announce release dates or prices for any of its new models.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ion-r...d-icade/089483 ...

A video game developer working for Kuma Reality Games has admitted that the company has been receiving money from the CIA to design and freely distribute special movies and games with the aim of manipulating public opinion in the Middle East. Amir Mizra Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine, moved to work for Kuma after working for DARPA and has said the goal of the company was to convince people that whatever the U.S. does in other countries is a good measure. Kuma officials have declined to comment, while Hekmati himself is locked in Iran. The United States government has demanded the release of Hekmati, but Iran has sentenced him to death for spying, which he confessed to

http://games.slashdot.org/story/12/0...-as-propaganda ...

For the past three years, Android has experienced a kind of free space expansion, but as we enter 2012, it seems the game may be changing. Instead of the old 'there's more than enough room for every Android handset maker to be a winner,' we have a three-horse's-length leader: Samsung shipping close to 55% of all Android phones, while Motorola and HTC lag behind. '[Samsung] could be in a position to twist Google's arm,' writes Jean-Louis Gassée.'If last quarter's trend continues — if Motorola and HTC lose even more ground — Samsung's bargaining position will become even stronger.' But what is Samsung's 'bargaining position'? What could they want? Perhaps more search referral money, earlier access to Android releases, or a share of advertising revenue. Will Google let Samsung gain the upper hand? It's not likely, because Motorola is about to become a fully-owned but 'independent' Google subsidiary, and its 16% of the Android market could counterbalance Samsung's influence to some extent. So what could Samsung do? 'Consider the Kindle Fire example: Just like Amazon picked the Android lock, Samsung could grab the Android Open Source code and create its own unlicensed but fully legal smartphone OS and still benefit from a portion of Android apps, or it could build its own app store the way Amazon did,' writes Gassée. 'Samsung is a tough, determined fighter and won't let Google dictate its future. The same can be said of Google. This is going to be interesting.

http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/12/...st-googles-arm ...

Xbox and PlayStation in a race to take advantage of mobile platforms, sources suggest

Microsoft studios and partners are planning to develop Xbox Live-integrated apps on Android and iOS platforms, a new report suggests.
An alleged development source, said to be familiar with Microsoft's plans, told Business Insider that the Xbox firm wants to take advantage of the mushrooming mobile space before Sony gets there first.

"Xbox is a client of ours. There's no way they'll be ignoring those other mobile platforms," the developer said.
Meanwhile, a new Microsoft job posting advertises that Xbox Live employees are “bringing the latest and greatest gaming and entertainment experience to mobile platforms including Windows Phone, iOS and other mobile platforms".

http://www.develop-online.net/news/3...box-Live-games ...

Google is set to introduce pre-loading in the upcoming Chrome 17 web browser, loading and rendering pages which the user is likely to visit so that websites could appear instantly.
Chrome 17, already available in the beta stream, implements prerendering in order to reduce the time between the user hitting return and the appearance of a fully loaded web page.
Google also said that the security features called "safe browsing technology" has been further beefed up to protect against a greater variety of malware attacks. The changes are aimed at sites which try to get the user to download malicious software.
"If a file you download is known to be bad, or is hosted on a website that hosts a relatively high percentage of malicious downloads, Chrome will warn you that the file appears to be malicious and that you should discard it," said Google software engineer Dominic Hamon on theChrome blog.
"Remember, no technical mechanism can ever protect you completely from malicious downloads. You should always be careful about which files you download and consider the reputation of their source," added Hamon.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...d-boost/027746 ...