Take-Two CEO apologizes for THQ comments
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
The ephemeral Take-Two vs. THQ saga has ended just as quickly as it began. Shots were fired, there was a bit of retaliation, and it’s now wrapped up with an apology.
After saying THQ wouldn’t last six months, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has apologized for his remarks.
Zelnick said in a statement:
“While discussing our strategy I spoke out of turn about someone else’s. It was inappropriate and I regret it.”
THQ responds to Take-Two’s shutdown prediction
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
THQ has been prompt in responding to Take-Two’s prediction about the company closing its doors in six months. In an official statement, THQ said that the remarks are “are irresponsible and false.”
The statement in full reads:
“Obviously, Mr. Zelnick’s perception of THQ is outdated and inaccurate. His comments are irresponsible and false. Perhaps he would be better off commenting on his own business.”
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick was critical of THQ’s strategy in recent years. Zelnick also called out the company’s overall title efforts, noting that “the quality hasn’t measured up.”
Take-Two CEO: “THQ won’t be around in six months”
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick believes THQ is done for. Speaking at the MIT Business in Gaming conference today, Zelnick stated that the company won’t be up and running in six months time.
“THQ’s strategy was licensed properties, first and foremost. License stuff from other people, whether it’s UFC or WWE or a motion picture property, and make a game around that. And our approach, since we took over the company, is 100 percent owned intellectual property.
“The most important difference is quality. Take-Two has the highest quality ratings among third-party publishers, according to Metacritic and most people in the industry. Quality really, really, really matters. THQ has had some good game, but their quality levels aren’t even remotely … the quality hasn’t measured up.
“Strategy didn’t work and the execution was bad. To put it another way: the food was no good and the portions were small. THQ won’t be around in six months.”
It’s true that THQ has moved away from licensed products in recent years. However, Zelnick explained the shift to original IP can take quite awhile.
Nintendo of Europe bringing back Nintendo Unleashed tour
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
5th April 2012, Nintendo today announced the return of its Unleashed tour for 2012-2013, once again giving avid gamers the chance to play all the latest games before they are on general release at a series of events, up and down the UK.
Nintendo has confirmed the first three events as part of the Unleashed tour, including Kitacon and London MCM Expo. Across the tour, fans will have the opportunity to get their hands on the latest games before they hit the shops, get exclusive goodies and maybe even meet a special Nintendo guest along the way!
Nintendo: We don’t focus on hardware specs, gameplay experience than raw numbers
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Wii U | 0 comments
There’s been lots of rumors going around about the Wii U’s power and graphical capabilities. Companies generally provide the standard “we don’t comment on rumors/speculation” line for these types of situations, but things are different this time!
A Nintendo representative provided the following comment when presented with GamesIndustry’s report, which surfaced earlier this week:
“We do not focus on technology specs. We understand that people like to dissect graphics and processing power, but the experience of playing will always be more important than raw numbers.”
This has more or less been Nintendo’s motto for quite some time now. I wouldn’t be surprised if we never saw an official, in-depth summary of the Wii U’s specs from the company.
Rumor: SEGA mulling over Sonic reboot for 2014
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Rumors | 5 Comments
It’s no secret that SEGA has been experiencing significant financial troubles. Perhaps as a result of this, SEGA may be considering a potentially “massive” and “total” reboot for Sonic in 2014. SEGA and Team Sonic would be looking to monetize the IP which would provide the company with more capital.
That’s all according to a new rumor published on TSSZ News, who warns the reboot “is allegedly still in the exploratory phase”. The site also has speculatory information of possible gameplay changes for Sonic – including a change in structure similar to an open-world, a new universe, and more.
Head past the break for a rundown of TSSZ News’ report.
Sonic co-creator now working at Nintendo Software Technology
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Hirokazu Yasuhara has moved from SEGA to Naughty Dog to Namco Bandai. Now the Sonic co-creator has landed a position at Nintendo.
Yasuhara will be working at Nintendo Software Technology in Redmond, Washington. His role with the company is currently unclear.
NST has created the Mario vs. Donkey Kong titles, Metroid Prime: Hunters, and plenty of other Nintendo games in over a ten year span.
Original polo shirts hit Club Nintendo Japan
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Another lovely reward has arrived on Club Nintendo Japan.
Starting today, members can purchase an original, customized polo shirt for 550 points. You can pick your own color as well as a specialized emblem that will be embedded on the clothing. Rover from Animal Crossing, Mr Game and Watch, Donkey Kong, the Hyrule Crest, Zelda Life Hearts and a Fire Flower are the emblems to choose from.
At the time being, this reward is only available in Japan.
Ubisoft has “big plans for Wii U”, interest in being “the number one-third party” on console
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
Ubisoft has “big plans for Wii U” according to Tony Key, Ubisoft’s SVP of sales and marketing. Key outlined the company’s interest in the console in an interview with Gamasutra.
Key said:
“We have big plans for Wii U. Our intention is to be the number one third-party on Wii U, just like we were on Kinect and just like we were on 3DS.
“We’ve always had a really close relationship with Nintendo, so I’d venture to say that we did have an advantage in getting dev kits earlier than other people. I’m not saying we got them earlier than everyone, but I do think we got them early.
“They came to us and asked us to make Red Steel. The thing is, once these dev kits show up in the building, you’ve got these other teams peeking around the curtain going, ‘Hey, what’s that?’ Before you know it, there’s three projects being developed for the Wii in that one room, and then another guy from another studio just happens to be visiting and brings back some ideas…”
Key also mentioned how Ubisoft was able to prepare a significant amount of titles for the Wii’s launch. This stemmed from developer interest when Red Steel was being made for the system. Eventually Ubisoft ended up with seven launch games for the Wii.
According to Key:
“We do encourage that kind of experimentation, especially if we think the platform is commercially viable. [Ubisoft CEO] Yves Guillemot will say, ‘Let’s put a few guys on it, and let’s try it.’ So if they come up with a great idea, then we’ll roll with it.”
“That’s what happened on the Wii; we were so engaged with it after getting the kits for Red Steel that suddenly Rayman came out of that, and before you knew it we had seven titles in the launch window because the dev studios got so excited about the hardware.”
Warren Spector more concerned with creativity rather than new consoles
Posted on 12 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Wii U | 0 comments
The next generation of consoles is on the way, but Warren Spector is more concerned with creativity in the gaming industry.
In an interview with EDGE, Spector said, “I think most of the problems we have to solve are creative ones, not technical ones.”
He told the publication:
“If it comes it comes; when it comes, it comes. I’m not a tech guy, particularly. I’m a design, story, character guy. I think most of the problems we have to solve are creative ones, not technical ones.
“Obviously we make software, so there’s always a technical element to what we do, but I will make games that do whatever I want them to do at the end of the day, and I will use whatever technology [is] available.”
