Market leaders initiate the industry’s own platform as a combination offline/online event
From 31 July to 2 August 2009, Leipziger Messe presents a new games fair. Headlined GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE, it is the first independent platform in Europe for what is currently the most dynamic market in the gaming industry: browser, client and mobile games. The new gaming trade show is supported by market leaders in the online industry such as BIGPOINT and GAMEFORGE.
Carsten van Husen, CEO at GAMEFORGE 4D, emphasises the need for the industry to have its own platform: “The size achieved and the dynamics for growth in the market for online games really cry out for a strong fair – in Europe too. Given our domestic industry’s leading world role for this segment, Germany is predestined to serve as the location.” GAMEFORGE is the biggest independent provider of online games worldwide. More than 65 million gamers are registered for GAMEFORGE games which are on offer in 50 languages.
CHICAGO – Jan. 29, 2009
Akinai Games, the downloadable games division of leading videogame publisher, YUKE’S Company of America, today announced a February 16th release date for Evasive Space for Nintendo’s WiiWare™ game service. The new title, developed by High Voltage Software, is a top-down space adventure featuring unique use of the infrared capabilities of the Wii Remote™ to pilot your ship. As Konki, race against the clock on collection-based missions to rescue the stars from the insidious Dr. Dark Matter. Evasion is the key to survival as your goal is not to blast adversaries, but to skillfully avoid them while traversing through a variety of hazardous intergalactic environments for an experience that will challenge your reflexes.Key features of the game include:
– Guide Konki through 20 hazardous space missions spanning four worlds
– Deftly pilot your ship with innovative use of the Wii Remote’s infrared pointer capabilities
– Pick up items and ship upgrades to enhance skills and increase your chances for survival
– Four person multiplayer matches locally on your home console
– Compete for best times with Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection online leaderboards
01. [WII] Wii Play: Mario Tennis (Nintendo) 31,000 / 88,000
02. [WII] Fragile (Namco Bandai) 26,000 / NEW
03. [WII] Taiko no Tatsujin Wii (Namco Bandai) 25,000 / 316,000
04. [PSP] Zill’O (KOEI) 25,000 / NEW
05. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP the Best) (Capcom) 25,000 / 357,000
06. [NDS] Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Nintendo) 20,000 / 1,614,000
07. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) 19,000 / 3,196,000
08. [PSP] Dissidia Final Fantasy (Square Enix) 18,000 / 866,000
09. [NDS] Devil Survivor (Atlus) 18,000 / NEW
10. [NDS] Wagamama Fashion: Girl’s Mode (Nintendo) 17,000 / 684,000
Jan. 28, 2009
Nintendo Reports Third Quarter Financials For Fiscal Year 2009
Global Sales Mark 17% Growth Over Previous YearDespite nearly unprecedented strength of the yen against major foreign currencies, Nintendo Co., Ltd. on Thursday (Japan time) reported 9-month (April to December 2008) global sales of 1,536 billion yen, an increase of nearly 17% over the same period in 2007, along with 501 billion yen of operating profits, up 27% from a year ago. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Nintendo Co., Ltd. has exceeded the previous results for the same nine month period. At the same time, recurring and net profits for the same nine month periods each declined about 18% due to 174 billion yen of foreign currency reevaluation losses from assets held in currencies other than Japanese yen (such as bank deposits without forward exchange contracts).
For the full fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, the company revised its unit sales forecast for the portable Nintendo DS™ system upward by 3% to 31.5 million globally, while the DS software forecast was lowered by 7% to 193 million. For the Wii™ system, with softness in the Japanese consumer market, full year global unit sales estimates for both hardware and software were revised downward by 3%, to 26.5 million systems and 193 million games, respectively, in spite of the overall robust sales outside Japan.
EVERY LAUNCH COPY OF LEGACY OF YsTM: BOOKS I & II FOR NINTENDO DSTM TO BE A PREMIUM BOXED RELEASE WITH SOUNDTRACK INCLUDED, ATLUS ANNOUNCES; ALSO, GAME DELAYED TWO WEEKS, BUT NO ONE CARES BECAUSE BOXED RELEASES ARE AWESOME
Atlus quickly slips new release date of February 24th, then deftly avoids questions
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 28, 2009 – Atlus U.S.A., Inc., the only publisher that makes it look oh-so-Ys-ee, today announced that Legacy of Ys™: Books I & II for Nintendo DS™ will ship two weeks later than originally scheduled, now slated to bump into retail stores on February 24, 2009. This was of course immediately accepted because this delay would allow for each and every launch copy of the game to magically transform into a premium boxed release, with the soundtrack CD-formerly intended as a pre-order bonus-to physically be included with each and every copy of the game’s first print run.
This unexpected upgrade signals the return of Atlus Spoils, a fan appreciation campaign intended to give a little extra something to the company’s faithful followers as a thank you for their continued support. The program is planned to remain active indefinitely during 2009, meaning fans can expect additional bonuses and extras in future Atlus releases throughout the year.
PlayV to release officially-licensed Pocoyo title on 27th February
PlayV has announced that its officially-licensed pre-school title Hello Pocoyo! will be released for Nintendo DS on the 27th February. The DS interpretation of the phenomenally popular under-5s’ educational series allows parents and children to interact with the wonderful world of Pocoyo and his band of friends via elementary logic puzzles and mini-games. Developed by Zinkia, Hello Pocoyo! represents another key release in PlayV’s eleven-title Q1 2009 line-up, which sees a strong lifestyle focus backed up by an on-going commitment to core audiences.
Hello Pocoyo! sees Pocoyo discover a magical pen with great powers. Whilst playing around with it, he accidentally makes his friends disappear, setting the story for a DS adventure like no other. As Pocoyo searches for his missing friends Pato, Elly and Loula, all of whom have special abilities to help him on his voyage of discovery, he’ll encounter a wealth of puzzles and activities ranging from colouring-in tasks and hand-to-eye co-ordination training through to dance competitions and elementary rhythm action events. With such a varied range of things to do, coupled with the title’s faithfulness to the TV series, Hello Pocoyo! represents the ideal game for young children and their parents to play together.
EA AND STEVEN SPIELBERG ANNOUNCE BOOM BLOX BASH PARTY
Sequel to Award-Winning BOOM BLOX Takes Players from the Depths of the Sea to Outer Space for a Party Anyone Can Throw
Guildford, UK January 29, 2009 – Get ready for the ultimate blox-busting action as Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced BOOM BLOX™ Bash Party for Wii™, the sequel to the critically-acclaimed BOOM BLOX™ game for Wii. EA’s collaboration with director and producer Steven Spielberg continues with BOOM BLOX Bash Party, and the destructive fun reaches new heights with richer multiplayer action and more than 400 new levels that will have players of all ages gaming together and solving action-packed puzzles under water, in zero gravity, and beyond!“BOOM BLOX Bash Party is a wild social gaming experience,” said Steven Spielberg. “We know families and friends really enjoyed playing the original BOOM BLOX together, so we designed more explosive multiplayer experiences with BOOM BLOX Bash Party.”
