Publishers are approaching iPhone and iPod Touch development with the wrong strategy, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter, and don't realise how dangerous the device could be to their business in the long term.

"I think the publishers are completely lame on this. I think they have it wrong," Pachter told Bonus Round. "EA's chasing it because they think it's an opportunity. I think the iPod Touch is the most dangerous thing that ever happened to the publishers, ever."

Putting well established franchises such as Madden on the iPod Touch for USD 10 cheapens their value, he explained. "Whether it's the same experience or not, and it's not, why would I ever spend USD 60 for Madden if I can get it for USD 10 on my iPod Touch?"

While he believes the iPod Touch versions of games are geared towards a different audience, he doesn't think that makes the device's surge in popularity any more desirable.

"It's going to be a different audience, it's going to be young kids because iPod Touch is USD 199 this Christmas, it'll be USD 149 next year, USD 129. When it's USD 99, every nine year old kid is going to have one of those instead of a DS or a PSP, and if you train kids that this is the game that you want to play... How about Tetris? Why would you pay USD 20 for Tetris when you can get it for USD 6.99 or USD 3.99 on iPod Touch?

"It's a serious threat to pricing. And once people start to look at this as a substitute for the DS for smaller kids, for 12 and unders, then you're going to train a whole generation of 12 and unders that this is a perfectly acceptable gaming experience at that low price point."

Furthermore, the analyst believes the device could spawn a whole generation that won't ever move on from playing games on their Apple device.

"All the 20 year old kids playing games now started paying on the GBA and you work your way up. And if you start with an iPod Touch I'm not sure they do work their way up. I think Apple intends to capture that audience and keep them," he said.

"It's dangerous and I'm not a big fan of it from a publisher perspective."

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...for-publishers ...

VidZone Digital Media has told GamesIndustry.biz that it will not be pursuing a streaming service on Xbox Live, despite selling music videos on Microsoft's console.

The company charges between £1.70-£2.55 (200-300 Microsoft Points) for individual videos on the Xbox 360, but doesn't intend to push further on the console and follow the runaway success of VidZone's steaming service on the PlayStation Network.

"There's no real plan for us to do anything there, all the focus is going into PlayStation and it's a very different service to what we run on the PS3," director of new music development Michael Russo told GamesIndustry.biz. "The PS3 offering is much more of a proper consumer product."

"[Xbox 360] is a very different service to what we've got on PlayStation. Nothing is given away for free, there's no element of streaming, it's all pay-to-own downloadable music video content," he added. "It's a smaller business for us and we only represent the independent labels."

VidZone is currently in the process of rolling out the streaming service to more European PlayStation regions, and although he would not discuss possible plans for the US, Russo did admit that the company has a lot more services due in the near-term.

"We're on track and should be available to another 11 regions by Christmas, which will take us up to 18 countries.

"We have an aggressive roll-out strategy and there will be numerous additions to the service that we'll announce in the not so distant future - some major features of the product," added Russo.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...eo-on-xbox-360 ...

Microsoft has invited Xbox Live users to sign up for Facebook and Twitter ahead of their launch on the service to enable them to test their functionality.

According to Major Nelson's blog, Microsoft is seeking "multiple thousands of participants" and the beta is open to to worldwide users. Gold members will be given preference, although not to the exclusion of Silver ones.

An official date for the roll out of the social sites on Live is yet to be confirmed, but rumours have suggested a November 17 date.

Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm integration with 360 was announced at E3 this year. Nintendo added a Facebook Connect feature to the DSi in August.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...er-on-xbox-360 ...

A lawsuit has been filed by Capcom, Nintendo and 53 other DS software manufacturers against four companies importing and selling R4 Revolution for DS devices.

Filed with the Tokyo District Court, the companies are seeking an injunction to prevent distribution of the piracy enabling devices, and compensation for their losses as well.

In February, the court ruled in favour of the game companies and made it illegal to import and sell the R4. However, in an official statement Capcom said there had been no sign of their disappearance from the market.

Despite repeated warnings requesting their discontinuation, the publisher noted that in many cases vendors were ignoring requests, forcing the renewed legal action.

"We are expecting the entire society, including users, to recognise that our company and other software manufacturers have extremely sustained damages from proliferation of illegal instruments such as the Game Copying Devices," Capcom said in the statement.

"The computer industries have sustained serious damages because of those vendors, and we expect to influence the society to eliminate such illegal instruments from the market."

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...nst-r4-sellers ...

Newly released today:



features
Customize your world by customizing your cars. Modify paint color, wheels and rims, different hood options, side skirts, rear bumpers and spoilers
There are over 30 playable characters of which 15 are brand new - Doc Hudson academy of student racers, Chick Hicks academy of student racers, Motor Co Pit Crew, Not Chuck, Guido, Tater, Tater Jr., Bubba, Trophy Girl, Chick Hicks Pit Crew, Doc Hudson Pit Crew, Vin Racer along with major boss characters who are Chick Hick’s protégés; El Machismo, Candice and Stinger
Experience eight racing environments, four of which are completely brand new; Radiator Springs Speedway, Santa Carburera which takes you to the beaches, Motoropolis City where you can experience street racing and Autovia which gives you off road racing in the desert
Experience the reaction you get based on performing stunts throughout the game from paparazzi taking your picture to the crowds going wild
Experience new mini games: Mack Track Challenge based off of the Mattel toy, three different games based on Disney Pixar's Cars Toons episodes (El Materdor, Mater the Greater, & Tokyo Mater), plus many new original games like Photo Op, Auto Cross, Tractor Stampede, and Transporter

description
In the Cars Race-O-Rama video game, players get to race against new characters through action-packed tracks to win the Race-O-Rama trophy as their own personalized Lightning McQueen. Join Lightning McQueen in Radiator Springs as he prepares his academy of student racers for the Race-O-Rama competition. Lightning finds out that Chick Hicks has his own set of academy student racers who don’t always compete fairly. These student racers are preparing to race in the same competitions in order to propel Chick Hick’s academy to the #1 spot. The races take place at various tracks from the beaches, into the cities and off to the Baja desert. Along the way, racers are upgrading their abilities and customizing their look. The finale consists of a fully modified, ultimate Lightning McQueen racing against a fully modified Chick Hicks for the Race-O-Rama trophy. Let the race begin!

http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-3lap.html ...

Newly released today:



features
Beautifully detailed graphics powered by the Unreal Engine 3
Original storyline driven by intense themes of love, war, politics, sacrifice and the ultimate question of choosing one’s own fate told through beautifully rendered CGI cut-scenes
A fresh twist on combat that combines strategic turn-based battle concepts and real time gameplay that seamlessly blends world navigation and fighting without any load times or interruptions
A stunning and distinctive photo-realistic manga style with character designs by famed Korean artist Hyung-Tae Kim

description
Love, war and destiny intertwine in an all-new role-playing adventure!

The shadow of civil war looms over the kingdom of Lanzheim and Juto, a boy with no recollection of his past may be the key to ending the cycle of bloodshed. Magnacarta 2 delivers a unique role-playing experience that combines real-time action, timing-based attacks, over-drive combinations and the strategic use of skills, magical power and critical attacks on a journey to discover one’s true destiny in the midst of tragedy and war.

http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-3d1q.html ...

Newly released today:



Two of the most beloved icons in the world, Marion and Sonic, are joining forces to star in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games.

This momentous agreement marks the first time these two renowned stars have appeared together in a game.

Featuring an all-star cast of characters from the amazing worlds of both Mario and Sonic, players will be able to compete as or against a range of familar characters including Marion, Sonic, Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi, Tails and more.

Innovative usage of the DS control systems to maneuver your favorite character will allow players to race the likes of Mario and Sonic down the 100m track, leap over the high jump or churn water in a swimming heat, all while competing for the much-sought-after gold medal. With up to four players on the DS, the stage is set to catch the fever this holiday with Mario and Sonic.

http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-3ddn.html ...

Newly released today:



features
Roam through a massive open-world born from the hellfires of heavy metal
Rev up any vehicle, rock its weapons and crush the enemies of metal
Devastate with your guitar! Play face-melting solos that actually melt the faces of your enemies
Command savage armies and bang skulls in hand-to-hand combat
Rise like a bat out of hell to command blood-drenched action from above
Slay your friends and foes online. Then play guitar licks on their graves
The most ultimate heavy metal soundtrack ever assembled in a game. Ever!

description
Fight your way from Roadie to Rock God in this epic heavy metal fantasy adventure.

From the mind of Tim Schafer (Psychonauts, Grim Fandango) comes the ultimate heavy metal action game starring Jack Black (School of Rock, Tenacious D). You are heavy metal roadie Eddie Riggs, hurled back in time to the mythical Age of Metal when the world was formed and ruled by the power of Rock! Armed with a broadaxe, a guitar, and a big block V8 you set off on an epic quest to assemble an army of headbangers, hotrods, barbarians, demonic dominatrix and the undead. With the wings of a demon and the power of a Rock God, you must lead humanity in an epic war against its barbaric overlords, and carve your name forever into the Brütal Legend™.

http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-3065.html ...

Newly released today:



Fortune hunter Nathan Drake returns in UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves™, a pulse-pounding third-person action-adventure/shooter created by award-winning developer Naughty Dog. Down on his luck, Drake is lured back into the treacherous world of thieves and mercenary treasure-seekers he had sought to leave behind. When a mysterious artifact propels Drake on an expedition to find the legendary Himalayan valley of Shambhala, he finds himself embroiled in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse against a fugitive war criminal who’s after more than just the fabled riches of the lost city. Caught in a web of deception and plunged into an increasingly deadly pursuit that tests the limits of his endurance, Drake will be forced to risk everything – but has his luck finally run out?

http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-39ew.html ...