- Spore cracked by the “Reloaded” group. Presumably they think that they are clever and are proud of what they have done. Would they think it so clever if they shot themselves in their feet with shotguns? Because that is exactly what they have done here.
- Microsoft announce new Zune lineup, preloaded with two games, Hexic and Texas Hold ’em. Which may show the direction they are going in. The top model boasts an impressive 120Gbyte hard drive, but still there is no leap in utility to leapfrog the iPod.
- Apple App Store users have downloaded more than 100 million games and applications in the last 60 days. No wonder that Steve Jobs says it is “the best portable device for playing games on“. And the iPod planned obsolescence rolls on with further primped up models. A lot of people are taken in by this and purchase each successive iteration.
- Massive boost in Microsoft Xbox 360 sales at the new price points, with some models reported to be selling six times more than before the drop. And this is before Microsoft turn up the marketing wick for the holiday season. If they get it right the 360 could become the definitive gift this year.
- It looks like Microsoft are abandoning PC gaming. Giving up because the business model is palpably broken and because they would rather have gamers on the Xbox platform.
- People are beginning to notice the lack of new first part Nintendo Wii games this year and the abysmal shovelware that most third parties are producing. It is almost as if everyone doesn’t have enough faith in the future of the Wii to invest in proper AAA titles. Which makes it look increasingly likely that the SuperWii is just around the corner.
- Google to become a game publisher. This speculative article in Forbes looks at this possibility and the routes Google may use. When you look at the online power of Google and their need to enter new business areas this makes eminent sense. Time will tell.
- Internal development teams are more expensive than external teams. This is pretty obvious stuff and I can recommend a good book by Adam Smith that explains why it should be so.
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” It looks like Microsoft are abandoning PC gaming. ”
No it doesn’t. It’s more likely to do with a lot of larger companies getting rid of their smaller internal development teams. That’s why MS have been letting teams go left, right and centre.
The acquisitions of such companies stifles them and cost wise they are better off going to independents per project.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/age-of-empires-to-survive-ensemble-closure
http://www.developmag.com/interviews/262/To-the-victor-the-spoiling