DCEmu Homebrew Emulation & Theme Park News
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by Published on March 26th, 2012 21:36- Categories:
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Some staff from GAME's 13 Irish stores are reportedly considering a sit-in protest over unpaid redundancy.
Administrators PwC have told staff they will pay them their March wages but nothing beyond – including their April pay from their notice period and any redundancy compensation.
Instead, PwC has told staff to claim official state redundancy from the Government.
UPDATE: We are currently receiving reports that a sit-in is under way at one of GAME's Dublin stores.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/irish...dispute/093375 ...by Published on March 26th, 2012 20:58- Categories:
- DCEmu
Probably to pass along content such as: 'OMFG #justinbieber is soooooo cute rite now LOL'.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety claims American teenage girls are twice more likely to use mobile phones and other electronic devices while driving than their male counterparts.
Ten per cent of the females were distracted while driving, almost 50 per cent more than the boys, and 25 per cent more likely to eat and drink while on the move.
Additionally, boys were twice as likely to turn around in their seats and communicate with people outside of the car. Presumably, by leering at the girl driving past that's chatting on her phone.
The study examined young drivers with in-car cameras, which found distractions caused swerving, hard braking and rapid acceleration.
Peter Kissinger, president and CEO, AAA Foundation, says: "Cell phones, texting, personal grooming, and reaching for things in the car were among the most common distracting activities found when cameras were put in new teen drivers' cars.
http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...en-boys/017541 ...by Published on March 25th, 2012 17:57- Categories:
- DCEmu
Now that all of the Harry Potter movies have been released, Warner Bros. has seen fit to slide them together in one truly epic set. Harry Potter Wizard's Collection spans 31 discs including the theatrical version of each movie, extended cuts of the first two flicks, 3D versions of the last two, Ultraviolet digital copies and several bonus discs with ten hours of new to disc bonus content and 5 hours of never before seen extras. Of course, we should also mention the incredibly detailed box it all comes in, seen in the CG video above. Of course, you can't always have everything, and some fans are upset about what this collection doesn't include -- extended versions of the last six movies. Those still interested can preorder the $499 MSRP set (currently selling for $349 on Amazon) for delivery September 7th, and get an early preview of one of the special features embedded after the break.
http://www.amazon.com/Wizards-Collec...dp/B007FSEAHY/ ...by Published on March 24th, 2012 22:51- Categories:
- DCEmu
HMV will close its Guernsey warehouse and now run its website from the UK.
It follows the end of Low Value Consignment Relief (LVCR), which has allowed online retailers to sell goods tax-free into the UK. As of April 1st, there will be no tax advantage to having a warehouse in the Channel Islands.
HMV has opposed LVCR for years as it feels it gives an unfair advantage to online shops such as Play.com, The Hut Group and Amazon. However, it opened its own warehouse out there in 2005 in a bid to stay competitive with its online rivals.
CEO Simon Fox even told MCV last month that the tax loophole was 'idiotic'.
The closure of HMV's Guernsey warehouse could result in 46 redundancies, although the Group may redeploy some staff to other areas of the business.
There are also 11 temporary staff working at the facility. These contracts will be terminated.
The Guernsey warehouse will officially cease operations on July 27th, 2012. HMV.co.uk orders will now be fulfilled from its existing distribution base in Birmingham.
HMV remains concerned that some of its rivals may relocate its warehouses to other tax havens.
The Government announced its intention to end LVCR in November last year. The Channel Islands challenged this decision, but it lost its court appeal earlier this month.
HMV's Statement in full:
Whilst we understand and share recently-expressed concerns that some retailers may simply seek to relocate their online and digital fulfilment centres to other non-EU locations by way of circumventing the Government's decision to end Low Value Consignment Relief (LVCR) - and to this end we reiterate our call for a genuine level playing field, we also have to accept and respond to the fact this ruling will now definitely come into effect.
Clearly this will have a number of implications - not least in our case given the lease on our fulfilment centre in Guernsey expires in a few months time - so we were having to review our options in any event. It also means that for our online offer to remain viable and attractive to shoppers in what will continue to be a highly competitive market – particularly at a time when we are looking to develop a much stronger multi-channel offer, we need to seek greater business synergies and to further reduce our online operating costs. We have concluded that the only way we are able to realistically achieve this is by consolidating our Internet fulfilment into a single site at our existing UK distribution centre in Merlin Park, Birmingham. Our centre in Guelles Road, St Peter Port, will therefore cease to operate from a proposed date of 27th July 2012.
This is not a decision we have taken lightly, particularly as we have enjoyed a productive relationship with Guernsey, and our actions are also in no way a reflection on the dedication and valued efforts of our fulfilment team on the Island, to whom we extend our sincere and profound thanks.
The proposed closure unfortunately means that 46 colleagues at the centre are now considered at risk of redundancy. A period of consultation has now begun and as part of this process alternative options such as redeployment to other positions within the Business, potentially including the Merlin Park fulfilment site, will also be discussed.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/hmv-e...s-to-uk/093338 ...by Published on March 24th, 2012 22:47- Categories:
- DCEmu
There is one clear front runner to buy GAME as part of a post-pack administration, sources close to the administrators have told MCV.
GAME is not officially in administration yet. The High Street chain will name Mike Jervis and Stuart Maddison of PWC as their administrators.
According to the Financial Times, the actual administration has been delayed until after the quarterly rent bill is due (Sunday, March 25th). That means PWC won't have to pick up the retailer's rent.
The 'front runner' for the group is interested in both GAME's High Street stores and its online elements.
Our sources wouldn't be drawn on who the front runner is. However, the national press – including The Times and The Telegraph – all say GameStop is the likely bidder for the UK assets. Hilco is reportedly interested in the company's international stores.
Retail Week says there are 'five or six' bidders interested in GAME in total.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/one-c...or-game/093337 ...by Published on March 23rd, 2012 22:48- Categories:
- DCEmu
UK games retail generated £14.1m last week – a dip of 21.2 per cent from the £17.9m made during the week prior.
Unit sales also dropped 11.2 per cent to 570,969 for the week ending March 17th.
EA continued its chart dominance last week with four games in the Top Five. New release FIFA Street debuted at the top of the charts, giving EA its third new release in a row that went straight to No.1. It’s the best opening week for a FIFA Street game.
But despite the early success of Street, and the fact it wasn’t available from GAME, there wasn’t enough interest to grow the market.
Sony’s new PS3 release Twisted Metal debuted at No.12 in the All Formats Top 40. Rage and Zumba Fitness also performed well last week, with respective sales increases of 47 per cent and 15 per cent.
Of course, these numbers don’t include sales of downloadable games. Apple’s iPad 3 went on sale last week, as did Sony’s highly acclaimed PS3 download title Journey. Today’s biggest new boxed releases include Kid Icarus: Uprising and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/uk-ga...o-14-1m/093300 ...by Published on March 23rd, 2012 01:43- Categories:
- DCEmu
Growth in digital has seen video games overtake movies as the most lucrative entertainment medium in the UK.
The figures published in the ERA Yearbook 2012 shows that despite faltering physical sales, digital downloads and apps meant UK games market sales reached £1.92bn in 2011.
That’s well ahead of video on £1.8bn, and music which is on £1.06bn.
Games accounted for over 40 per cent of the entertainment market.
However, for the first 11 weeks of 2012, sales of physical DVDs and Blu-rays are double that of games. Even with the inclusion of digital, video is still No.1.
“This is a dramatic time for the entertainment market,” said ERA director general Kim Bayley.
“It’s a historic development for games to overtake video, which has long been the biggest entertainment sector. But sales so far this year suggest video is not going down without a fight.”
Overall games, video and music sales dropped 3.3 per cent to £4.8bn.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/video...-movies/093209 ...by Published on March 22nd, 2012 23:26- Categories:
- DCEmu
GameStop confident that used-game market benefits industry, discusses strong publisher relationship
GameStop remains hopeful for the next-generation consoles, saying that they do not believe earlier reports concerning pre-owned bans would be possible. Talking during the quarterly earnings call, GameStop CEO Paul Raines said that publishers and manufacturers simply are not going to ignore the $1.2 billion in pre-owned sales generated each year.
"We think it's unlikely that there would be that next-gen console because the model simply hasn't been proven to work," said Raines of the rumored anti-used games feature. "Remember that used video games have a residual value. Remember that GameStop generates $1.2 billion of trade credits around the world with our used games model. So, consider taking used games out of that, you'd have to find new ways to sell the games, and our partners at the console companies have great relationships with us."
Raines commented that the business model is simply too good to pass up for the industry at large. While some might have their critiques on the used-games business, GameStop's model is opening up new games at a lower price point for many gamers, he said.
"What we've done is created a way for that new leading edge consumer to dispose of their old games and that's what creates this great circle of life we talk about that so many try to imitate."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...lock-pre-owned ...by Published on March 22nd, 2012 23:19- Categories:
- DCEmu
Innovation will drop on consoles, says Doublesix boss
A new wave of home consoles is provoking fear in the traditional video game sector and will accelerate the decline of innovative games, according to Doublesix CEO James Brooksby.
Speaking today at the Westminster Media Forum, Brooksby noted in feedback from last month's Game Developer's Conference there was a mixture of excitement and trepidation over current and future technology.
"Having come back from GDC I saw excitement and fear in equal measure, I saw dismay and triumph. A step to the next generation of classical consoles seems to have fear in a lot of peoples' eyes."
He said he didn't expect costs for next-generation hardware to rise as significantly as during the last generational change, but with such high costs publishers will take safer bets on trusted development partners, pushing smaller teams out of the console space.
"It still seems pretty scary for a lot of people, for developers and publishers alike. I think people will stick to proven development houses or in-house development which is going to be a challenge for the game development industry in the UK, and will probably mean there's going to be less people around of that scale."
There is notable excitement around new opportunities to make and sell games, said Brooksby, but he also expressed caution over the amount of freedom available to the consumer and a content makers' ability to find the player.
"People are excited by all the new ways in which they can make, distribute and monetise their games. We're almost spoilt for choice," he offered.
"Even though digital distribution is much heralded as the way forward, if you follow this route it's clear to many that these markets have changed and change very quickly.
"The migration and demographics changes of the consumers to pastures new are occurring. Perhaps it's the tipping point or where we are in the console cycle, but certainly gamers are moving around because they have so many options."
"As a company we need to look hard at where our audience has gone," he added. "Some of the excitement around small developers creating innovative games and reaping lots of rewards - on console that will be the exception rather than the rule. We're going to see more of those stories on smartphones, tablet and the trusty old PC."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...f-peoples-eyes
...by Published on March 22nd, 2012 23:13- Categories:
- DCEmu
But UK boss notes impressive sales of Mass Effect and FIFA through HMV and Amazon
EA
GAME Group
www.game.co.uk
Electronic Arts' UK MD Keith Ramsdale has said that he expects The Game Group to rise again and return to the High Street after its administration process.
Speaking at the Westminster Media Forum today, he revealed that sales of games not stocked by GAME, which included most recent Mass Effect and FIFA Street titles, sold well through alternative retailers on the High Street and online.
"I do hope and believe there will be a phoenix rising from the flames. GAME is full of good people, it's a good store, I just think they need a different approach and I'll think they'll have one," he said.
"GAME is one retailer out of many, albeit historically a very good retailer. Without talking numbers I can tell you that when we shipped Mass Effect and FIFA Street we were very pleased with our numbers in the UK and GAME were unable to buy them."
For Ramsdale, the key to retail is diversification, and High Street stores should look to current app stores for inspiration in terms of choice .
"Would I rather there is a GAME? Absolutely I would," he said. "I believe that a specialist retailer does a lot for this industry. One of the opportunities for a specialist is to be much more multiform at than they currently are, to the point of Apple or Android.
"If you look at the current retail base, HMV seem to be stepping up and seem to be more solid. Amazon have done a good job of picking up content, so yes, there's more than just GAME. The opportunity for video game retailers is think broader than just the shiny discs."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...rom-the-flames
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