Activision posts record figures - full coverage
Surfer Girl jumps off final wave, world poorer
Banjo for Microsoft Gamer's Day in US next week
May 9th, 2008 @ 15:28
On Gaming Today. There are nine big movies there, including an interview with designer J Kaplan & Producer J Allen Brack, loads of vehicle combat, 70+ instances and more.
Wrath of the Lich King is the next World of Warcraft update, due later this year. Looks pretty. See for yourself.
May 9th, 2008 @ 15:16
After the link. Plenty of WWII going on there. The game’s based on the doomed Operation Market Garden at the end of the War and will probably be pretty good. Brothers in Arms games normally are.
For PC, PS3 and 360 in August. There’s bound to be plenty more on this from Ubidays at the end of May.
May 9th, 2008 @ 15:04
Microsoft’s announced that the first 39,000 people to order Ninja Gaiden II from select - as yet unnamed - UK retailers will get a Ryu costume. We’re really not sure if this is like the Batman costume every had when they were about five years old, or if it’s a costume to dress up a “figurine”, or what. We suspect Microsoft’s happened on some jumbo job lot of comedy ninja suits and put two and two together.
Oh, we see. It’s a costume for in-game Ryu. Apparently if you miss the pre-order thing you’ll still be able to download the costumes from Live in July for 200 MS Points a go.
Which is nowhere near as good as a comedy ninja outfit. Think on, Microsoft.
Game’s out on June 6.
May 9th, 2008 @ 14:47
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz earlier this week, SCEE president David Reeves has admitted that the firm would like the PSP games roster to be larger.
“Hand on heart, would we like more PSP games? Yes, we would. We really would,” he said.
Reeves did add, however, that more games were on the way to Europe from Japan.
“We’ve seen in the last six months that because of the success of the PSP in Japan many Japanese developers have got some absolutely phenomenal games,” he said. @They’re not Monster Hunter 2G or things like that, but they are in development and we’ll see them over here.”
The SCEE PlayStation Day earlier this week carried a grand total of no PSP games.
May 9th, 2008 @ 14:20
Microsoft product manager Aaron Greenberg has launched an unprecedented attack on Sony in an interview with Destructoid, assaulting virtually every aspect of the PS3 business and claiming the company has failed to deliver on numerous promises.
“We have been fighting Sony’s promises from the day we entered the market,” he said. “Three years ago at E3 they showed what PS3 games would supposedly look like with the Killzone 2 video, that we are now learning will ship four years later. That means that we will have shipped Gears of War and Gears of War 2 before they can even get Killzone out the door.
“Think back to GDC 2007 when Sony promised to leap ahead in online with the Sony Home unveil. Here we are two years later and multiple delays for a product that appears to have little to no buzz. Where are the Achievements? The friends list integration across all games? Where is the long-promised video store? Where are all the other products using and networking with their CELL chip? How come Blu-ray did not result in better games? What happened with Sixaxis and rumble? Where is the complete 1080p game library we were promised? If Blu-ray as they said would be such a catalyst to PS3 console sales, then why have PS3 sales over the past couple of months not seen any lift since the format victory?”
Much more through the link. Maybe someone got out of bed the wrong side, or something.
May 9th, 2008 @ 14:09
EA’s confirmed that a Battlefield: Bad Company demo will be released for both Live and PSN on June 5.
You can gain early access to the shooter freebie by pre-ordering the game through participating retailers. More details here.
Press release after the link.
May 9th, 2008 @ 13:52
EA’s confirmed that Burnout Paradise is to release on PC.
Apparently, the new version will be “customized with expanded multiplayer, enhanced online features, and community driven content.”
Criterion’s webcast today at 4pm BST is going to carry more info, apparently.
There’s a press release after the link.
May 9th, 2008 @ 12:47
According to this GI piece, EA Mythic’s Josh Drescher reckons there’s five year’s worth of content and growth space in upcoming MMO Warhammer Online.
“All the under-the-hood numbers all actually scale through the next five years,” he said.
“What you don’t want is when you launch the game you’ve got 40 levels - and it takes however long it takes to get to level 40. You then launch an expansion and it now takes two weeks to get to level 40 because now we need everyone to spend six months to get from level 40 to 50.
“So you need to spec the game out in such a way that you actually have those progressions in mind for later - so you don’t wind up trampling all over the earlier experiences every time you expand the game.”
“We have actually five years’ worth of numerology out in front of us in terms of all that.”
Full thing through the link.
May 9th, 2008 @ 12:41
The GamesIndustry.biz Network will debut at next week’s Nordic Game, the site’s announced.
The Scandinavian event will host the launch of the Network’s event section, where delegates will be able to make the most of the conference by connecting with other attendees online and arranging meetings with them at the event.
All speakers, press and delegates who have registered for full conference passes will be personally invited to take part in the Gamesindustry.biz Network community starting today. Attendees will be able to start online scheduling for meetings at the conference on Monday May 11.
Nordic Games runs from May 14-15, at the Malmö Convention Center in Malmö, Sweden.
Press release after the link.
May 9th, 2008 @ 11:53
Microsoft UK has just confirmed that its Gamer’s Day assets will be released on Tuesday, May 13 at 8am PST, or 5pm BST if you’re in the UK.
While the firm has yet to make an official statement on what’s to be shown at the San Francisco event, we can tell you 100 percent that Banjo will be shown, as will a host of other 360 titles for the rest of the year.
We’ve also learnt this morning that there’s no mention on the official event agenda of the heavily rumoured motion-sensing controller supposedly used in Banjo.
So. Pictures of bears next week. We’re meta-excited.
May 9th, 2008 @ 10:54
Following fears that fatalities would be removed from Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, series creator Ed Boon has set the record straight on the issue. Basically, they’re in there, but they won’t be as brutal as they used to be.
“There was never any statement on our part that fatalities will be gone or that finishing moves will be gone,” Boon told GameTap.
“We did acknowledge that we won’t be able to do the same kinds of outrageous moves, like tearing someone’s head off and the spine being attached to it. But there are a lot of assumptions that there will be no blood in the game, that there are no fatalities in the game. It’s an assumption that, because the DC characters will be in there, those features will have to be dropped. My response is that, no, we’re modifying fatalities.
“But I have every intention to keep finishers. You know, to let gamers do a really cool secret button combination and follow with a really outrageous finishing move to end the match. The names of these moves, and the level of violence we use, are to be determined. But it’s certainly not a feature we plan on eliminating from the series.”
So now you know. The game is releasing for PS3 and 360 this autumn.
May 9th, 2008 @ 10:42
Sony’s just announced that the Gran Turismo franchise has shipped 50 million units worldwide.
“Initially, Gran Turismo was an ‘alternative’ racing game, kind of an outsider in the genre,” said Polyphony Digital boss Kazunori Yamauchi.
“And we made it thinking that it would be okay as long as it reached out to ‘the select few who would agree with us.’ So this figure - 50 million units - is simply astounding. If you go to a game store and look for a particular package, and pay for it at the cash register, though the time may be very brief, it still takes at least three minutes or so. It’s simply mind boggling and hard to believe that this has been repeated 50 million times all around the world in the last 10 years.
“I would really like to thank all the fans who have supported the Gran Turismo series over the years, for all their passion and love of the game. We’d like to continue making every effort to create cutting edge, high quality games, so that we don’t disappoint anyone’s expectations.”
Press release after the link.
May 9th, 2008 @ 10:18
Someone over at the GTA Forums has noticed that on the Rockstar Social club site there’s an image of a plane ticket for a Mr Niko Bellic - with the destination as San Andreas.
Now, this of course substantiates nothing, but as you love us writing about everything and anything GTA IV, we thought we’d oblige.
When will you tell us Microsoft? When?
By Mike Bowden
May 9th, 2008 @ 10:14
Kombo’s got what is claimed to be some concept art from the upcoming Kid Icarus game for Wii.
Apparently the images are part of a 2008 pitch process to Nintendo from Factor 5. Sounds, and looks, legit. Go see.
May 9th, 2008 @ 09:40
Codemasters has acquired the F1 license, with the first game based on the franchise shipping for 360 and PS3 in the new year.
“Formula One is ambitious in expanding its reach with more circuits planned beyond recent additions in the Middle East and China. It is also ambitious in expanding its reach via technology,” said Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens.
“As a world-leading creator of driving games, this alliance with F1 is the jewel in Codemasters’ racing crown and creates an undisputed segment champion.”
Chris Deering, Codemasters chairman, added: “Codemasters’ success and recent innovations in the racing game space makes the company more than appropriately tuned for the challenge. The combination of F1’s new momentum of expansion and Codemasters’ contemporary technology and past experience is the breaking of a new dawn for the sport, on the track and on the HD game screen.”
The company has also revealed that an update version of EGO (DIRT) engine will be used to drive the game.
By Mike Bowden
May 9th, 2008 @ 09:16
British “newspaper” the Daily Mail - famed for the now-removed Anne Diamond anti-games review piece - has awarded GTA IV a five-out-of-five score.
“Whether you believe that this represents a new low in sick and corrupting entertainment or is simply the finest game ever seen, you will find plenty here to support your case,” said reviewer James O’Brien.
“Critics had feared that Grand Theft Auto IV would be a sickening glorification of gangland savagery. Yet if anything, that turns out to be an understatement.
“Prostitution, drug-dealing, criminality and breath-taking levels of casual violence do not so much punctuate the action as constitute almost every second of it.
“The knifing of one GTA enthusiast, queueing up to buy his copy this week, has only reinforced the belief that such games are a deeply malign influence on society.
“There’s no denying, however, that this latest version of the Grand Theft franchise is a phenomenal technological and creative achievement that is set to generate more money for its British designers than any Hollywood release in years.”
Full thing through the link.
May 9th, 2008 @ 09:02
Speaking in an investor call after the announcement of record financials last night, Activision publishing CEO Mike Griffith said that we’re not going to see more racing from Bizarre until sometime in the publisher’s fiscal 2010, which ends March 31 2011.
“Bizarre is deep in development on two multi-platform titles and we are looking forward to the release of our first new racing IP in fiscal 2010, which already looks very strong,” he said.
Read the rest of our complete coverage of Activision’s full-year figures here.
Thanks to DarkZero.
May 9th, 2008 @ 07:31
Whoops. Nasdaq’s confirmed that Atari has been delisted from the US exchange and that all trading in its shares will be suspended as of this morning.
See after the link, courtesy of GoNintendo.
May 9th, 2008 @ 07:29
According to Engadget, the Skype PSP headset has now released in the US. It costs $30, despite an original price being set at $20. Them’s the breaks. More through the link.
May 9th, 2008 @ 07:25
Update: We’ve just had it confirmed that assets from the event will be released at 5pm BST on May 13. See here.
Kotaku’s filed this under “rumour” but, in easy terms, it isn’t. We’re not 100 percent on the motion controller, but Microsoft will be showing Banjo at a US event next week, and it isn’t just going to be American press there: plenty from the UK are going. From the sound of it there’s going to be a big reveal of year-end product, so keep your eyes peeled for info next Tuesday. We’ll have some more on this for you later today.
May 9th, 2008 @ 07:21
According to this Variety report, Gore Verbinski has been confirmed as director for an upcoming Bioshock film.
“I think the whole utopia-gone-wrong story that’s cleverly unveiled to players is just brimming with cinematic potential,” said Verbinski. “Of all the games I’ve played, this is one that I felt has a really strong narrative.”
No release date was given for the project, although the piece does say, “Take-Two is developing a Bioshock sequel that will be released in 2009, almost certainly before the film comes out.”
Lots more through the link. Like, blimey.
May 9th, 2008 @ 07:17
New Media Create figures from Japan, for the week ending May 4. Thanks, Neogaf.
01./01. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo) - 173,000 / 1,120,000
02./02. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (Capcom) - 102,000 / 1,909,000
03./00. [WII] Link’s Crossbow Training (Nintendo) - 93,000 / NEW
04./06. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) - 52,000 / 1,986,000
05./04. [NDS] Taiko Drum Master DS: Seven Island Adventure (Bandai-Namco) - 42,000 / 98,000
06./08. [NDS] Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (Pokémon) - 31,000 / 508,000
07./07. [NDS] We’re Fossil Diggers (Nintendo) - 27,000 / 84,000
08./03. [PS3] Valkyria Chronicles (Sega) - 24,000 / 102,000
09./13. [WII] Deca Sporta (Hudson) - 24,000 / 186,000
10./14. [WII] Wii Sports (Nintendo) - 22,000 / 2,959,000
May 9th, 2008 @ 07:12
And here it is. We think we got pretty much everything, but don’t take our word for it. Listen to Bobby Kotick and Mike Griffith rabbit on about innovation and money for ages. You may as well. It’s Friday.
May 9th, 2008 @ 07:06
In a press releasing detailing full-year financials last night, Activision claimed it is now the biggest publisher in America, quoting NPD data. From here:
During the fiscal year, in the U.S., Activision grew its market share by 7.2% to a record 17.3%, was the #1 console and handheld software publisher in dollars, and had three top-10 best-selling titles in dollars overall according to The NPD Group.
For the fiscal year, Activision set an industry record for U.S. sell-through in dollars by a single publisher, according to The NPD Group.
The firm reported revenues of $2.9 billion for the fiscal year, as you can see here
May 9th, 2008 @ 06:59
Speaking in an investor call after the announcement of record financials last night, Activision publishing CEO Mike Griffith remained coy on the issue of adding new instruments to the Guitar Hero franchise, saying only that Guitar Hero IV would provide a “significant leap forward in innovation” when it releases later this year.
“For the holiday, we’ll provide a significant leap forward in innovation for Guitar Hero worldwide on all platforms including the PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, and again on the DS,” he said.
“We’ll provide more information detailing this specific innovation in a couple weeks.”
Griffith added: “We’ve put a lot of additional development resources, a lot of additional music licenses resources, a lot of additional hardware supplier resources against the title to fuel growth over next year. We’re excited by the increased musical content and innovation we’re bringing. We do expect a leap forward in innovation with our holiday launch, and we’re about two weeks away from providing very specific details on that.”
Other instruments are involved. Bobby Kotick’s already said so.
Thanks, Gamespot.
May 9th, 2008 @ 06:54
Speaking in an investor call after the announcement of record financials last night, Activision execs confirmed that a DS bundle with the upcoming handheld version of Guitar Hero - Guitar Hero: On Tour - will be released when the game launches on June 22 in the US.
No specific date has yet been given for the game’s European launch.
“[It’s] a breakthrough peripheral-based game for the Nintendo DS that brings the Guitar Hero experience to the 41 million DS users in North America and Europe so they can play Guitar Hero anywhere, anytime,” said Activision publishing CEO Mike Griffith.
Thanks, Gamespot.
May 9th, 2008 @ 06:46
Speaking in an investor call after the announcement of record financials last night, Activision execs confirmed that a new, fully blown console game in the Tony Hawk’s series wouldn’t be released now until some time in the firms fiscal 2010, ending March 31, 2010.
Execs said the break was necessary “to deliver to deliver the kind of breakthrough this franchise needs.”
Project 8 got something of a drubbing from EA’s SKATE last year, which outsold the traditional skateboard-leading franchise by 2:1 in the Christmas 2007 period.
Hawk would be appearing on DS this year, though, the company said, and will employ some sort of secret technology to make it win.
“For competitive reasons, we’re not going to talk about it today, but we’re very bullish on the kind of innovation this will bring,” said Activision publishing CEO Mike Griffith. “And this won’t be your father’s Tony Hawk.”
Thanks, Gamespot.
May 9th, 2008 @ 06:39
Speaking in an investor call after the announcement of record financials last night, Activision execs confirmed that the firm’s upcoming Treyarch-developed Bond game, The Quantum of Solace, is being developed using the Call of Duty 4 engine.
Few details on the new game have been released as yet, although Acitvision did launch a sparsely populated website for the project yesterday.
It’s releasing alongside the next Bond movie later this year.
Thanks, Gamespot.
May 9th, 2008 @ 06:34
In a conference call following the announcement of record financials last night, Activision said Call of Duty 5 will launch in the fourth quarter of the current financial year, ending March 31 2009.
“We’ll launch on all four platforms we’ve participated on in fiscal [year] 2008,” said Activision publishing CEO Mike Griffith, referring to Call of Duty 4, which released for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and Nintendo DS in 2007.
Griffiths also confirmed that “we’ll [also] launch on the PS2 and the Wii.”
Griffiths added: “We’ll bring the intensity of the recent Call of Duty: Modern Warfare title to a new military theater to engage our significantly larger user base which nearly doubled last year as new users came into the franchise.”
Thanks, Gamespot.
May 9th, 2008 @ 06:27
Activision has reported full-year financials of $2.9 billion for fiscal 2008, up 92 percent over the previous year.
Net income for the year was $345 million, or $1.10 per share, up from $0.28 per diluted share in fiscal 2007.
For the forth quarter ended March 31, the company reported net revenues of $602.5 million compared $312.5 in the same period in the previous year.
“Fiscal 2008 was the best year in our history and Q4 was the largest and most profitable non-holiday quarter, even though we did not release any new titles,” said Activision CEO Bobby Kotick.
“During the fiscal year, we were the #1 US console and handheld publisher in dollars for the first time ever, according to The NPD Group, and we grew our worldwide share of the console, handheld and PC markets year over year.”
More here.
May 8th, 2008 @ 22:05
Sadness. Surfer Girl’s made her last post, saying that the point of her blog was to “force folks to pay attention to important things going on in the real world and encourage them to become activists for social and political progress. I probably failed miserably, but at least I tried.”
You didn’t fail, lady. Our newsreader’s been full of politics for months thanks to you. And you always made us laugh. And you were on the money most of the time, which is more than can be said for half the fucking jokers given to pouring crap into our hard drives every day.
We salute you. RIP.
