Microsoft and Sony both have plans to provide live television on their respective gaming machines this fall in Europe. Sony announced at GamesCom on Tuesday that it will bring BBC to U.K gamers, and other channels to various European countries. Similarly, Microsoft has announced it will be featuring Sky on Xbox Live in the U.K and Canal Plus in France. What are the plans for these services? And when are they coming to the U.S.?
Nestled amongst the PS3 slim and motion control excitement at Sony's press event for the GamesCom convention in Germany, revealed that BBC and other, undisclosed channels were coming to Psn in the U.K., as well as Rtve, Antena 3, and La Sexta to Spain, Zdf Mediathek to Germany, Nos to (Netherlands), and the Australian Broadcasting Cooporation in Australia. While Sony released a DVR attachment, PlayTV, in the U.K. last year, that...
Nestled amongst the PS3 slim and motion control excitement at Sony's press event for the GamesCom convention in Germany, revealed that BBC and other, undisclosed channels were coming to Psn in the U.K., as well as Rtve, Antena 3, and La Sexta to Spain, Zdf Mediathek to Germany, Nos to (Netherlands), and the Australian Broadcasting Cooporation in Australia. While Sony released a DVR attachment, PlayTV, in the U.K. last year, that...
- 8/21/2009
- by Kevin Ohannessian
- Fast Company
Yesterday, along with a slew of new functions in its Xbox 360 system update, Microsoft launched its Games on Demand store with full Xbox 360 titles for download. Is this move a game-changer or just business as usual?
The store launched with 24 titles, a mix of games from several companies. And while Sony has offered a handful of full games for download, Warhawk, Siren, and Socom, Microsoft has taken it a step further in launching a full store. Shane Kim, Microsoft's VP of Strategy and Business Development for Interactive Entertainment, said, "It's a natural evolution, not only of the capabilities of the service, but the expansion of the business model that we offer, not only internally, but to our business partners."
All of the games were priced at either $20 or $30, a markdown from the usual $60 due to the lack of packaging or a physical disk. And while those prices seem reasonable, is it really remarkable?...
The store launched with 24 titles, a mix of games from several companies. And while Sony has offered a handful of full games for download, Warhawk, Siren, and Socom, Microsoft has taken it a step further in launching a full store. Shane Kim, Microsoft's VP of Strategy and Business Development for Interactive Entertainment, said, "It's a natural evolution, not only of the capabilities of the service, but the expansion of the business model that we offer, not only internally, but to our business partners."
All of the games were priced at either $20 or $30, a markdown from the usual $60 due to the lack of packaging or a physical disk. And while those prices seem reasonable, is it really remarkable?...
- 8/13/2009
- by Kevin Ohannessian
- Fast Company
The gaming industry is no longer recession proof. Sony's sales for the quarter are down 37% from the year before, Nintendo's sales are down 40%. Overall, game sales are down 41% compared to June of last year. "The impact of the economy is clearly reflected in the sales numbers," said Npd analyst Anita Frazier. But if game companies are having trouble selling the volume of titles they'd like, then why aren't they adjusting prices to increase sales? Lets take a look at the who, and why.
Who: Sony What: Sony sold 1.6 million PSPs last quarter, compared to 3.7 million units during that quarter last year. This coming holiday season, Sony is set to release the new PSP Go for $250. That's far more expensive than the original PSP, which cost $170. Why: So why is Sony releasing such an expensive product in such economic hard times? Despite the downturn, Sony is pricing its products for the long cycle.
Who: Sony What: Sony sold 1.6 million PSPs last quarter, compared to 3.7 million units during that quarter last year. This coming holiday season, Sony is set to release the new PSP Go for $250. That's far more expensive than the original PSP, which cost $170. Why: So why is Sony releasing such an expensive product in such economic hard times? Despite the downturn, Sony is pricing its products for the long cycle.
- 8/7/2009
- by Kevin Ohannessian
- Fast Company
Blizzard has announced that the highly anticipated StarCraft II will be delayed this holiday season, to the first half of 2010. According to Blizzard, the extra time is needed to upgrade the multiplayer network Battle.net, "This extra development time will be critical to help us realize our vision for the service." This is just the latest in a string of announced game delays. But are the game companies delaying to improve game development, or to game the economy?
In the last month, there have been a slew of announcements of high-profile games being delayed from this holiday to 2010: Bioshock 2, Max Payne 3, Red Dead Redemption, Splinter Cell: Conviction, Heavy Rain, and Mag. While game delays are nothing new, that it's happening in such numbers with so many big titles (and others I haven't listed) is unheard of. One may wonder if companies are looking away from the holidays to...
In the last month, there have been a slew of announcements of high-profile games being delayed from this holiday to 2010: Bioshock 2, Max Payne 3, Red Dead Redemption, Splinter Cell: Conviction, Heavy Rain, and Mag. While game delays are nothing new, that it's happening in such numbers with so many big titles (and others I haven't listed) is unheard of. One may wonder if companies are looking away from the holidays to...
- 8/6/2009
- by Kevin Ohannessian
- Fast Company
Microsoft has said that new releases will not be launched simultaneously on both retail and its Games-on-demand service. Vice president of strategy and business Shane Kim said that the relationship with publishers and retail would make it difficult to release games across both platforms day-in-date. "There are a lot of complex issues to deal with here, especially if you start talking about day-and-date release with retail availability," he told Fast Company. "There (more)...
- 7/31/2009
- by By Matthew Reynolds
- Digital Spy
Microsoft continues to push the social networking and entertainment capabilities of the Xbox 360--games on demand and group movie viewing are two such features due in the next system update (due in August). We asked Shane Kim, Microsoft's VP of Strategy and Business Development for Interactive Entertainment, about the evolution of Xbox Live and what the launch of Project Natal means for the business.
In the June Npd numbers, the industry showed a significant drop year-to-year. Yet, Xbox 360 is the only console with sales up this year. What do you contribute that resiliency to?
It certainly helps to have the most affordable console on the market today, with the Xbox 360 Arcade version at $199. But it's not just price alone, but in the totality of the experiences that we are delivering. Since we launched the New Xbox Experience and Netflix functionality last year, we continue to add more than 500,000 new members...
In the June Npd numbers, the industry showed a significant drop year-to-year. Yet, Xbox 360 is the only console with sales up this year. What do you contribute that resiliency to?
It certainly helps to have the most affordable console on the market today, with the Xbox 360 Arcade version at $199. But it's not just price alone, but in the totality of the experiences that we are delivering. Since we launched the New Xbox Experience and Netflix functionality last year, we continue to add more than 500,000 new members...
- 7/29/2009
- by Kevin Ohannessian
- Fast Company
Microsoft's corporate vice president Shane Kim has revealed that it is only a matter of time before the firm enters the handheld gaming market. Speaking to Kikizo, he said: "For us, it's a matter of focusing on 'when', because if we chased after a mobile or handheld opportunity, we would not have the resources and ability to do things like Project Natal. "So we've chosen to focus on the living room experience from a hardware standpoint, if you will, but we're building a service in Live that will extend to other platforms. No question about it." Kim discussed Xbox Live as being the "connective tissue" for a new portable device, including (more)...
- 7/20/2009
- by By Andrew Laughlin
- Digital Spy
The boss of Microsoft Game Studios has revealed plans to bring technical innovation to the Xbox 360, possibly in the form of 'additional capabilities'.
Speaking in San Francisco, Shane Kim, who discussed potential modifications to the firm's current games machine, said: "You're going to continue to see technical innovation. It might be additional capabilities to the current format - but honestly we haven't made those kind of decisions yet.
"As far as technical limitations? We're not seeing those. I think there's the potential for more multi-disc titles - we've already shipped a few of . . .
Speaking in San Francisco, Shane Kim, who discussed potential modifications to the firm's current games machine, said: "You're going to continue to see technical innovation. It might be additional capabilities to the current format - but honestly we haven't made those kind of decisions yet.
"As far as technical limitations? We're not seeing those. I think there's the potential for more multi-disc titles - we've already shipped a few of . . .
- 5/15/2008
- by David Gibbon
- Digital Spy
![Jen Taylor and Steve Downes in Halo 3 (2007)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzliYzFjMTMtYWQ2Zi00ZGQ1LWJjYTUtNzI3ZGY1NzUxZTMyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTgyNTA4MjM@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,1,140,207_.jpg)
![Jen Taylor and Steve Downes in Halo 3 (2007)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzliYzFjMTMtYWQ2Zi00ZGQ1LWJjYTUtNzI3ZGY1NzUxZTMyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTgyNTA4MjM@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,1,140,207_.jpg)
Just a week after the spectacular launch of Halo 3, the developer of the game, Bungie Studios, announced it is splitting away from Microsoft and to once again become an independent company.
Microsoft bought then Chicago-based Bungie back in 2000 and the original Halo game was one of the launch titles for Microsoft's Xbox, its first foray into the console gaming world. Since then the Halo franchise has sold nearly 15 million games, with Halo 3 reaching $300 million in global sales in its first week on the market.
While financial details weren't disclosed, both sides said Bungie's decision to leave the Microsoft nest was amicable, with Microsoft Game Studios VP Shane Kim, noting in a statement, "We look forward to great success with Bungie as our long-term relationship continues to evolve through Halo-related titles and new IP created by Bungie."
Kim also stressed that the Halo license is staying with Microsoft, adding, "We will continue to invest in our Halo entertainment property with Bungie and other partners, such as Peter Jackson, on a new interactive series set in the 'Halo' universe."
One source familiar with the situation said the success of Halo obviously played a role in Bungie's desire to once again be out on its own, but said Bungie's move was a win-win for both sides.
Microsoft bought then Chicago-based Bungie back in 2000 and the original Halo game was one of the launch titles for Microsoft's Xbox, its first foray into the console gaming world. Since then the Halo franchise has sold nearly 15 million games, with Halo 3 reaching $300 million in global sales in its first week on the market.
While financial details weren't disclosed, both sides said Bungie's decision to leave the Microsoft nest was amicable, with Microsoft Game Studios VP Shane Kim, noting in a statement, "We look forward to great success with Bungie as our long-term relationship continues to evolve through Halo-related titles and new IP created by Bungie."
Kim also stressed that the Halo license is staying with Microsoft, adding, "We will continue to invest in our Halo entertainment property with Bungie and other partners, such as Peter Jackson, on a new interactive series set in the 'Halo' universe."
One source familiar with the situation said the success of Halo obviously played a role in Bungie's desire to once again be out on its own, but said Bungie's move was a win-win for both sides.
- 10/6/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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