We return! Yes, it’s time for another episode of everyone’s favorite news broadcast, with “everyone” defined as “everyone involved in its production.” Well, some of us like it. Pretty quiet this week, I think everybody’s just playing catch-up since the flow of new releases is now something approaching a manageable rate. Anyway, here’s what’s going on:
- Electronic Arts formally purchases PopCap Games and sets hefty profit expectations. Cue Godfather quotes in three… two…
- Meanwhile, Zynga also attempted to buy PopCap for a cool billion-with-a-b in cash. When asked where it came from, Zynga coughed and nervously changed the subject.
- Text referencing the 360 is found in Windows 8 code, fueling speculation of how the OS relates to the console. A bigger question is whether Microsoft has anything real to warrant the upgrade.
- Sony gives an interview about the PSN fiasco, proving once and for all that history was made to be forgotten. “Great learning experience,” indeed.
- Speaking of interviews, 2K Games sends out a man to make a hideously bad music analogy in a bizarre attempt to defend X-Com‘s FPS reboot. Ray Charles and Kanye West? Seriously?
- A Seattle videogame consultant gets banned from the internet by Comcast, someone is preparing to make a Space Invaders movie, and I wake up surrounded by concerned paramedics. And it’s all this video’s fault!
Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Don’t Break the PopCap’ »
A good evening to all of you! My apologies for the lateness of this update, suffice it to say it’s been a busy week on this end. Still, there’s just enough time for a news rundown, so let’s get at it. Tonight, we talk about the following:
- PopCap is looking for a billion-dollar acquisition, and EA looks to be the buyer. Why fight Zynga when you can pay others to do it?
- Streaming game service Gaikai teams up with WalMart to let you play game demos online through your browser. Bandwidth-capping ISPs are going to love this.
- An internal newsletter reveals Eve Online developers debating the merits of microtransactions. The internet’s response: casual and relaxed. So very, very relaxed.
- Rumors are a-circulatin’ that Xenoblade Chronicles might not make to America. Europe is stunned by the possibility of being the lucky ones this time.
- Namco-Bandai admits that Microsoft paid them $Texas to keep Tales of Vesperia on the 360 in the west. Hmm… you think that’d get Valkyria Chronicles 3 over here?
- Microsoft also plans to use Kinect for interactive advertising on TV and in games. Oh goody, more of the opposite of what I wanted!
Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Money Hats For Everyone’ »
Category:
Game News,
Podcasts |
Comment Tags:
Economics,
Electronic Arts,
Eve Online,
Microsoft,
Namco-Bandai,
Nintendo,
PopCap Games,
Tales (Series),
Tales of Vesperia,
What Happened This Week,
Zynga
Nothing like a dark and stormy night after a nice, warm Sunday. Welcome back, people! Hope you’re not too busy with last week’s offerings, because it’s time to recap the news, with a musical interlude reproduced by yours truly that originates from Get Your War On. In today’s episode:
- PopCap Games plans to go public, with Zynga, Facebook, etc. to follow. Gee, you think this bubble will protect us from all those pins lying around up ahead?
- China makes its own backed-by-the-army shooter, much like America’s Army but with US troops as enemies. Also with blackjack and hookers. In fact, forget the shooter.
- Sony’s ongoing hacking woes, compounded by Howard Stringer ripping stuff from the movie Sneakers. Someone get that man a Netflix account!
- Microsoft 360 update risks bricking consoles, after initial confusion as to which update it is. It’s okay, the people behind Windows know what they’re… oh god. Oh god.
- Sony announces plan to convert some PSP titles to the PS3. See, now we’re getting somewhere. Also, Jesus loves Valkyria Chronicles and so should you.
- Hideo Kojima and Metal Gear Solid art director Yoji Shinkawa have a dinner meeting. With Tetsuya Nomura and Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada. So… yeah.
- Bad developer lists, used market scapegoating, Fox News being silly, and so much more!
Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – The Future Makes People Stupid’ »
Category:
Game News,
Podcasts |
Comment Tags:
Economics,
Fable (series),
Fable III,
Final Fantasy (series),
Final Fantasy VII,
Microsoft,
Politics,
PopCap Games,
Sony,
Valkyria Chronicles (series),
What Happened This Week