Steve Perlman, CEO of OnLive, has told a packed conference session at this year's DICE Summit that he sees the common belief regarding a greater penetration of faster broadband leading to a swifter uptake and better revenues for downloaded content is incorrect - and that in fact it will more likely lead to a greater level of piracy instead.

He added that the music and video industries - which have already suffered or are in the process of suffering - had made this mistake, and that the videogame industry should take note of the lessons learned.

"Stop just a minute - that was something that the music folks thought, that the video folks thought - the pirates are always one step ahead of that."

"Music was the first 'now' media," he explained, noting that the business was devastated because it was unprepared for the consumer requirements, while video is in the midst of that transition now - "Are they the next music industry?" he asked.

He went on to explain how traditional entertainment experiences were tied to physical media - people would ask "What CD is that?" as opposed to "What band is that?", and talk about "watching a DVD tonight" instead of "watching a movie".

But now that vernacular is changing, so that today if somebody talks about a new band they've heard, there's no assumption of physical media - that instead the music could have been heard on iTunes or MySpace, and you wouldn't think to ask to "borrow" that content, presumably looking for a link to it instead.

And the same is true for video, he added: "I don't know anybody that watches live TV any more, it's all time-shifted."

The big issue, he claimed, is that "physical media is in rapid decline," while even "downloaded media is past its peak," referring to the decline in BitTorrent.

He referred to Apple's revelation that the iTunes and App Store business is a "bit over break even," according to the company's CFO Peter Openheimer speaking in January this year.

But videogames are a "different beast," he said before launching into a demo of the company's cloud gaming system, now in beta testing, comparing the hardware used to today's living room consoles.

"The lowest-capability server we have right now is many more times the capability of an Xbox 360," he said, adding that the company would upgrade them every six months, pointing out that the consumer will not need to invest in that hardware.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...greater-piracy ...

With Sony and EA recently unveiling bold new moves to counter what publishers see as the threat posed by the pre-owned market, Nintendo has refused to rule out taking similar measures with its own products.
Recent and upcoming EA releases Mass Effect 2 and Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will use a redeemable code to allow those who buy the game to access free and additional content. Those who buy the pre-owned version must either do without or pay for a new code.
Sony has now also adopted the model for upcoming PSP release SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 3, as well as requiring internet validation to unlock the multiplayer component of the game.
When asked by MCV if it is planning to do the same, a spokesperson for Wii and DS platform holder Nintendo stated:
“Nintendo has, and will continue to take steps and examine new ways to technically protect our hardware and software products in an effort to foster and encourage the development and creativity of new games on our handheld and console systems.”

The firm is no stranger to aggressively protecting its IP. In the last month alone it has successfully prosecuted two men found guilty of selling or supplying DS piracy device R4 and won major damages from a man who uploaded an illegal copy of New Super Mario Bros Wii to the internet prior to its release.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/37617/Nint...pre-owned-move ...

Bad Company 2 follows Mass Effect 2’s lead in offering DLC incentive for buyers of new game
Following the model laid down by Mass Effect 2’s Cerberus Network, EA has confirmed that the upcoming Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will also penalise those who buy it second hand.
Anyone who buys a new copy of the title will find inside a code that can be used to access an online hub providing free DLC that significantly boosts the game’s single and multiplayer offer.
Those who buy it pre-owned, however, will have to spend around $15 to buy a new code from EA or else face playing it sans the features enjoyed by others.
“We want people to insert the code they get when they buy the game to get access to DLC content,” producer Patrick Bach explained to MTV.
“It's connected to your personal account, more or less, and what we want to do is give you something extra, added value, for that. In the future you will get more content, for free, if you have this VIP code.”

Much like BioWare, the exact rewards for joining the network – or conversely, the punishments for shunning it – have not yet been revealed. Only these details will prove whether that pre-owned punishment will truly be too much for consumers to bear.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/37604/EA-c...-owned-assault ...

SOCOM: US Navy SEALS Fireteam Bravo 3 has become the first PSP game to require online activation in order to unlock all of its features.

The Sony game, released in the US on Tuesday, came with a voucher code that had to be redeemed online in order to unlock online play.

As well as deterring piracy - which Sony has stated as the primary reason for the move - it will also undoubtedly discourage pre-owned sales, since those buying a used copy of the game will need to purchase the voucher at a cost of $20 if they want to play online.

Speaking to IGN, SCEA director of hardware marketing John Koller said that Sony was in the process of investigating and trialling anti-piracy opportunities, but he couldn't say if online activation would be introduced for all future PSP releases.

"Today's consumers are more tech savvy and better connected to the internet than ever before. Piracy continues to be an issue of concern for the PSP platform. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 is a trial run for a new initiative we are exploring for the platform," said Koller.

"We will continue to explore this as an opportunity for the platform going forward, but we have no announcements to make on future iterations at this time."

Piracy remained an issue on the PSP platform, admitted Koller, although he said that the introduction of the PSPgo and the subsequent increase in legally downloaded titles had helped minimise that impact.

"No one will dispute that piracy has a negative impact on software sales. We're continuing to take proactive steps in the fight against piracy and believe this new initiative will be of benefit to the gaming industry," he added.

The move follows EA's introduction of 'Project Ten Dollar', where premium DLC is included as a free download for those buying a new copy of a game, but those buying a second-hand copy are forced to pay for it.

Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age: Origins both implemented the feature across their various patforms.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ine-activation ...

SOCOM: US Navy SEALS Fireteam Bravo 3 has become the first PSP game to require online activation in order to unlock all of its features.

The Sony game, released in the US on Tuesday, came with a voucher code that had to be redeemed online in order to unlock online play.

As well as deterring piracy - which Sony has stated as the primary reason for the move - it will also undoubtedly discourage pre-owned sales, since those buying a used copy of the game will need to purchase the voucher at a cost of $20 if they want to play online.

Speaking to IGN, SCEA director of hardware marketing John Koller said that Sony was in the process of investigating and trialling anti-piracy opportunities, but he couldn't say if online activation would be introduced for all future PSP releases.

"Today's consumers are more tech savvy and better connected to the internet than ever before. Piracy continues to be an issue of concern for the PSP platform. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 is a trial run for a new initiative we are exploring for the platform," said Koller.

"We will continue to explore this as an opportunity for the platform going forward, but we have no announcements to make on future iterations at this time."

Piracy remained an issue on the PSP platform, admitted Koller, although he said that the introduction of the PSPgo and the subsequent increase in legally downloaded titles had helped minimise that impact.

"No one will dispute that piracy has a negative impact on software sales. We're continuing to take proactive steps in the fight against piracy and believe this new initiative will be of benefit to the gaming industry," he added.

The move follows EA's introduction of 'Project Ten Dollar', where premium DLC is included as a free download for those buying a new copy of a game, but those buying a second-hand copy are forced to pay for it.

Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age: Origins both implemented the feature across their various patforms.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ine-activation ...

The drive for free software may be great news for iPhone gamers, but the increased price pressure on App Store releases has claimed a very high-profile victim – namely, Rolando 3.
The Rolando series – which is more than a little reminiscent of Sony’s LocoRoco games – was once hailed as the poster child of iPhone gaming. It was often cited as an example of strong iPhone-specific titles that allowed Apple’s device to stand chin-to-chin with established gaming rivals such as the DS and PSP.
But Ngmoco’s recent ‘freemium’ successes such as technically impressive shooter Eliminate has lead to the developer abandoning plans for traditionally priced titles. The result of this? Rolando 3 has been scrapped.


“Rolando 2 was right at the point where we decided we're moving this business to freemium,” Ngmoco boss Neil Young told IGN. “So I think none of us were really particularly delighted with the sales performance of Rolando 2.
“When we made the decision to go free-to-play, we said to ourselves, 'if we can't make the game free-to-play, we're not going to release it'. And Rolando 3 as it was envisioned at that time was not a free-to-play product. So we've just taken the time to try to figure out how to do that franchise really effectively in free-to-play space.”
Young does point out, though, that Rolando 2 has still delivered some of the goods that were expected of it – and a sequel of some sort remains a distinct a possibility.
“That being said, Rolando 2's done fine,” he adds. “It just hasn't done gangbusters. It sells every day and we don't really play around with the price on it. We just kind of keep it there and it does good, but not stellar.
“We're thinking about it and at the appropriate moment we'll deliver a new Rolando experience that takes full advantage of everything we've learned from the free-to-play world.”

http://www.casualgaming.biz/news/298...ead-and-buried ...

Having made its name on iPhone and subsequently becoming the headline title of Sony’s PSP Minis digital game push, Subatomic Studios’ popular handheld tower defence game Fieldrunners has made the move to Nintendo’s DSi.
New to the dual-screened versions is what is being called the Command HUD, a new display layout that allows gamers complete control over their resources and enemies.
The game is already available on the North American arm of DSiWare and is due to arrive shortly on the European portal.

“We are excited and proud to bring Fieldrunners to the Nintendo DSi,” Subatomic Studios COO Ash Monif stated.
“Subatomic Studios has partnered with DoubleTap Games to create a 100 per cent genuine Fieldrunners experience on the Nintendo DSi that we feel is incredibly fun and addicting.”
DoubleTap co-founder and production director Kurt Bickenbach added: “DoubleTap had a great time working on Fieldrunners for the Nintendo DSi and we think it is one of the most visually appealing games on DSiWare. I want to thank Subatomic for working with us to come up with some great features that really take advantage of the dual screens.”

http://www.casualgaming.biz/news/298...unning-for-DSi ...

Microsoft has launched the latest version of its mobile phone operating system, called Windows Phone 7 series.
The software has a redesigned user interface and incorporates many Microsoft services such as Xbox LIVE games and the Zune music service.
The software was introduced at an event at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
According to research firm Canalys, Microsoft's software currently has around 9% of the smartphone market.
That puts it fourth in the global market behind Symbian, Rim (makers of the Blackberry) and Apple's iPhone OS.
The new system follows the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 in October 2009.

The new operating system has at its heart the three must-have features of the modern mobile world - search, social, and location
Rory Cellan-Jones
Technology correspondent, Barcelona

Read Rory's thoughts in full
"This is obviously a huge step forward," analyst Pete Cunningham of Canalys told BBC News.
"Microsoft have really struggled with windows mobile 6 and 6.5 and have been losing market share off the back of it."
However, he said, the firm could not "rest on its laurels".
"Although it looks good today and competitive today, the other other firms haven't revealed their hand.
"It doesn't launch for another eight or nine months and that's a long time in the mobile world."
For example, in a little over 30 months Apple has claimed 15% of the smartphone market, according to Canalys figures, whilst Google's Android operating system has claimed 5% of the market in around two years.
Games machine
Microsoft's new operating system is built around a series of so-called 'live tiles', which pull in real time content from a users web sites and social networks.

Microsoft's Joe Belfiore unveils the Windows Phone 7 series new pinch interface

User can create their own tiles, for example, to keep tabs on the latest posts and pictures from friends or relatives on social networks.
"We wanted the software experience to fundamentally focus on what is most important to each individual user," said Joe Belfiore of the firm at the launch.
The new interface also has a series of "hubs", which bring together related content from the web, applications and services into a single view.
The six hubs are people, pictures, games, marketplace, music and office.
The games hub, for example, incorporates elements of the firm's online gaming network Xbox live, including games and the ability for gamers to access their online profiles.
The music hub brings together music and video content from a user's PC, online music services and an in-built FM radio.
The first phones using the new operating system will be available later this year from manufacturers including Samsung, LG, HTC and Sony Ericsson.
"We have a chance to make an impact on the market," said Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer.
Although Microsoft will only provide the software for the phones, it will specify certain hardware requirements to manufacturers.
For example, all handsets will be multi-touch and will come with a dedicated hardware button for Microsoft's search engine Bing.
Manufacturers will also be restricted to the smart tile user interface, according to Mr Cunningham. Other operating systems - such as Android - allow manufacturers to customise the look and feel of the interface.
"That may make [Windows Phone 7] less attractive in the long term," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8515915.stm ...

Full game priced at £6.29 with expansion Peggle Nights costing £3.19
The long-awaited arrival of the 60m+ selling action puzzle series Peggle on the European arm Sony’s PlayStation Network is finally upon us, publisher Sony Online Entertainment has announced.
The standalone original title costs £6.29 to download off PSN with expansion pack Peggle Nights coming in at £3.19. Both games can be played on PS3 and also on Sony’s PSP thanks to remote play integration.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/37614/Pegg...es-on-Euro-PSN ...