EA will continue to release full-priced boxed retail games while the business remains viable, but the publisher says consumers aren't flocking to retailers like GAME and GameStop as they once did.

According to Andrew Wilson, EA Sports' senior vice president of worldwide development, 45 percent of revenues made by games in 2010 were digital.

"People are no longer going into GameStop or GAME en masse and paying for content in a quantity," he said during a keynote speech at the Develop conference, MCV reports.

"There is still a business of $60 games sold at GAME and GameStop - that's still legitimate for now. I won't predict when that will die. I won't prophesise when games on discs will go away, because the reality is that as long as gamers continue to line up and buy them we will make them.

"But the amount of people on Facebook, on PSN and Xbox Live is growing," he added. "There is a shift here. If we don't get ahead of it, we will find ourselves in trouble. We have seen the Blockbusters and the HMVs change before our eyes. The corporate graveyard is littered with companies, mediums and entities that resisted where the consumer wanted to go."

In terms of game purchases, digital gamers have shot past the hardcore, according to research firm NPD, which said in June that the two types of consumers bought an average of 5.9 and 5.4 games in the previous three months respectively.

Analyst firm EEDAR has also found that Xbox 360 owners are the most active console digital game buyers.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...imate-for-now/ ...

The creators of the UK's popular PSM3 magazine have revealed its brand new look and structure - promising a title that serves the needs of "the modern adult gamer".

As well as a new stylish design, the title will feature all-new sections. Publisher Future says the fresh look and format has been "created to suit the way modern gamers play".

New regular sections include Day One - 'fat-free previews of the hottest upcoming games' - and Upgrade, which offers a suite of playing tips, insider secrets and buying advice from PSM3's network of global experts.

The mag will also incorporate QR codes, which readers scan using smartphones to see exclusive videos and content from the wider world of PlayStation.

Editor Dan Dawkins says: "PSM3's crisp new-look and sharper editorial focus truly reflects the needs of the modern, adult gamer - who, like us, sees video games as the most dynamic, exciting form of entertainment. We all crave fresh experiences and smarter ways to play the games we own - and the new-look PSM3 helps you get the most from your console without wasting time or money.

"No one offers the unflinching reviews, unrivalled access and practical advice that PSM3 does - across print, PSM3Mag.com, tablets, social media and our hugely popular podcast. There's no better way to stay in touch with like-minded PlayStation gamers."

The PSM3 relaunch issue will hit shelves on Thursday (July 22). It includes a 36-page mini-magazine, '53 Incredible PS3 Tech Tips', packed with ways to unlock your PS3's hidden potential. There's also a world-exclusive 12-page feature on Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and an extensive interview with L.A. Noire director Brendan McNamara.

Associate Publisher James Kick says: "We believe PSM3 is the strongest unofficial PlayStation brand in the market and like all great brands we have used customer insight to evolve and adapt to the changing market. The new sections feel really contemporary, designed with both consumers and advertisers in mind. The addition of QR codes and is a neat way of bringing our print content to life online. 'Smarter PlayStation Gaming' is the perfect way to sum it up".

The new-look PSM3 is being supported by an extensive marketing campaign across Future's multi-platform Games portfolio plus key external audiences like IPC's Nuts and Mousebreaker. The campaign's estimated reach is more than a million people.

The relaunch issue is priced at £4.99, and is also available digitally at Zinio.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...elaunch-issue/ ...

Sega has delayed 3DS games Shinobi and Crush3D, according to reports.

Sega Mag says Shinobi's release has been pushed from September to November 15, and that Crush3d, previously due for release on September 9, will now launch in early 2012.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz this week, Paul Mottram, studio head of Crush3D developer Zoe Mode, suggested the game had been delayed because of concerns over the 3DS' impact at retail.

"It used to be that ten years ago, it was PS2," he said. "So you'd just do PS2 and then maybe some others. But now we're finding that everyone is not knowing what platform is going to succeed - we did our first 3DS title - we got Crush onto that, but we had to delay the release of that because of the success of the platform."

We've emailed Sega for comment.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...inobi-crush3d/ ...

LittleBigPlanet PS Vita developer Double Eleven has signed a PlayStation exclusive development deal with Sony.

Formed by former Rockstar Leeds lead engineers in 2010, the UK studio was recently revealed as the architect behind the technology driving LittleBigPlanet on Vita.

Under the terms of the deal, Double Eleven will work on LittleBigPlanet as well as new titles for Sony platforms.

SCE Worldwide Studios Europe senior vice president Michael Denny said: "Double Eleven are one of the most exciting developers to emerge onto the development scene in recent years, their technical expertise makes them a great fit for LittleBigPlanet on PS Vita and we've very pleased with the progress the team have made on this hugely anticipated title.

"For us to become strong partners with Sony at such a crucial stage in our own development underlines the unswerving commitment we have made to the quality of our production," said Double Eleven CEO Lee Hutchinson. "We look forward to a truly exciting new phase in our own development, with the absolute intention to become a world-class studio."

Siobhan Reddy, executive producer at LittleBigPlanet creator Media Molecule, said earlier this month that the studio's "stepping away" from the series "to focus on some new ideas".

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ive-developer/ ...

Wii U development has been "a little tricky," Darksiders II developer Vigil has admitted.

Speaking to CVG in a soon to be published interview, game director Marvin Donald revealed that development hardware for Nintendo's system "has been changing a lot," leading to "some instability" when working on it.

"[Wii U] will be at least as powerful [as PS3] if not more but honestly we don't really know because the hardware has been changing a lot," he said.

"We just got the generation two dev kits and there's no release date for the Wii U so we don't know how long the hardware development process is going to go on for, when they're going to stop and what they're ultimately going to be happy with. So it has provided some instability when working on it."

Donald added: "When we got the new kits there were some things in the old build that wouldn't work with the new hardware and we had to wait for updates. So it's been a little tricky in that regard."

The Darksiders lead added that he hopes the upcoming sequel finds an audience with Nintendo.

"I hope the fact that we're heavily inspired by and love Zelda very much helps," he said.

"when we marketed Darksiders we showed a lot of combat so people got the wrong impression about what kind of game it was. Now that it's a little bit more known maybe we'll have an audience there on the Wii U.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...-admits-vigil/ ...

Last weekend Microsoft claimed its first-party games to date have been "superior" to Sony and Nintendo's - but Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter disagrees.

Responding to comments made by Xbox CFO Dennis Durkin, Pachter argued that Nintendo's first-party titles are "vastly superior" to those of Xbox 360.

Speaking to IndustryGamers, Pachter commented, "Dennis is a great guy, and is paid to be loyal to his Microsoft family. I think Nintendo's first-party content is vastly superior to either other console manufacturer's, and don't think that either Sony or Microsoft would really dispute that."

He added, "As far as who is better, Sony or Microsoft, I'm not sure why anyone cares about my opinion. I have all three consoles, and love Sony first party titles like God of War, Gran Turismo, Uncharted, Little Big Planet and the upcoming Twisted Metal, and I love Microsoft first party titles like Halo, Forza, Fable, Alan Wake and Gears.

"I'm sure that there is a scientific way to determine who is better, but that's like arguing about whether Ford is better than GM or whether Wal-Mart is better than Target. They're both good, and people have different tastes."

Last week Microsoft man Durkin said:" I would ask you to go and look at some of your data, just to compare first party performance over the course of this lifecycle, because I think our first party performance in terms of quality bars and units per title this shift has been superior to our competition's."

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...-does-analyst/ ...

Apple's sent over its picks of the new titles available on the iOS app store this week.

The biggest name on the list for us is Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Shadow Vanguard HD which can now be snapped up for five quid on the iPad.

On your iPhone or iPad? Click on the titles to be taken to the app store.

iPad:

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Shadow Vanguard HD - Gameloft
Games - £4.99 (Rated 12+)
Languages - English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese
Take command of a futuristic elite anti-terrorist unit, avoiding detection and saving hostages in adrenaline fuelled action.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 - Warner Bros. Entertainment
Games - £1.99 (Rated 9+)
Explore the magical world of Hogwarts in Lego, reliving Harry Potter's first four years at the magical academy.

Reckless Getaway - Polarbit AB
Games - £1.99 (Rated 9+)
Put pedal to the metal and hit the road as you make your getaway using whacky power-ups as you speed from the scene of your bank robbery.

MONOPOLY HERE & NOW: The World Edition - Electronic Arts
Games - £5.99
Languages - English, French, Italian, German, Spanish
Try your hand as a global property tycoon, buying international landmarks and playing dirty by loading the dice and starting property grabs.

Special Enquiry Detail: The Hand that Feeds - G5 Entertainment AB
Games - Free (Rated 12+)
Languages - English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian
Investigate a homicide with an ever-growing list of suspects, solving puzzles and finding hidden objects in this murder mystery extraordinaire.

Eternity Warriors - Glu Games Inc
Games - Free (Rated 9+)
Unleash your inner barbarian in epic battles, wielding swords and axes against demon foe.

Pocket RPG - Crescent Moon Games LLC
Adventure - £1.99 (Rated 9+)
Languages - English
Embark on an epic adventure, sweeping dungeons of evil hoards and facing mighty end-bosses.

Trainz Simulator - N3V Games Pty Ltd
Games - £0.69
Play with a virtual model railway: sculpting the landscape, laying track and driving trains.


iPhone:

SuperRope - Craneballs Studios, LLC
Games - Free
Climb to the heavens, collecting loot and bonuses to the backing of funky music. Falling pianos, anvils, and awesome power-ups make this game comically hectic and simply addictive.

Special Enquiry Detail: The Hand that Feeds - G5 Entertainment AB
Games - Free (Rated 12+)
Languages - English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian
Investigate a homicide with an ever-growing list of suspects, solving puzzles and finding hidden objects in this murder mystery extraordinaire.

Reckless Getaway - Polarbit AB
Games - £1.99 (Rated 9+)
Put pedal to the metal and hit the road as you make your getaway using wacky power-ups as you speed from the scene of your bank robbery.

Eternity Warriors - Glu Games Inc
Games - Free (Rated 9+)
Unleash your inner barbarian in epic battles, wielding swords and axes against demon foe.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 - Warner Bros. Entertainment
Games - £1.99 (Rated 9+)
Explore the magical world of Hogwarts in Lego, reliving Harry Potter's first four years at the magical academy.

Blobster - Chillingo Ltd
Games - £0.69
Fling a bouncy rubber blob across levels, collecting power-ups, avoiding hazards and defeating Blobzilla and the bad guys.

Hungry Chicks - Clickgamer Technologies Ltd
Games - £0.69
Languages - English, Russian
Collect worms and feed these hungry chicks by completing physics puzzles in this cute avian adventure.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...-apples-picks/ ...

It was only a year ago that top-level industry execs were questioning the very viability and future of the console hardware cycle. Now, the move to a new breed of machines is near, it is being claimed.

And these claims come from the very top of leading publisher Ubisoft.

“The new transition is going to happen,” CEO Yves Guillemot told Gamasutra. “We're going to have new machines coming soon.”

Talk of successors to both the PS3 and Xbox 360 has accelerated somewhat in the last six months.

Rumours of a dev kit for the next Xbox emerged last month, and despite denials from all involved many remain doggedly insistent that early Xbox 720 IS in the hands of developers.

In addition, Sony has confessed that PS4 development is under way, though has stressed that there’s plenty of life left in PS3 at the moment.

As for when these new devices will emerge, that remains a guessing game with some saying as early as next year and others pinning 2014 as the likely launch date.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/guill...ng-soon/082349 ...

A game narrative expert has urged studios to stop forcing human drama into established game templates, claiming the approach has consistently proven to be flawed.

Alexis Kennedy, the ‘chief narrative officer’ at the award-winning digital fiction company Failbetter Games, pulled no punches in his analysis of games such as LA Noire and, in particular, Heavy Rain.

“Try to make a film into a game you end up with this bastard half-child thing,” he claimed.

Speaking at a panel session at the 2011 Develop Conference, Kennedy said games that ape Hollywood narratives “end up looking like the inverted baboon that came out of the teleporter in The Fly”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/filmi...hildren/082354 ...