Showing posts with label Gaming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gaming. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Nintendo teams up with Pokemon Go creator for smartphone games

TOKYO - Japanese games giant Nintendo is teaming up with the US firm behind runaway hit Pokemon Go to develop augmented reality smartphone games, the two companies said Tuesday.

Their first joint venture will involve Nintendo's lovable half-vegetable, half-animal Pikmin characters in a game expected to launch sometime this year.

Augmented reality (AR) technology allows images and animations to be superimposed on the real-world view seen on a smartphone's rear camera.

It was key to the success of Niantic's Pokemon Go, which thrilled users around the world with the appearance of Pokemon characters in their neighborhoods across the globe.

"Niantic's AR technology has made it possible for us to experience the world as if Pikmin are secretly living all around us," Nintendo representative director Shigeru Miyamoto said in a press release.

Miyamoto, creator of Pikmin and other famed Nintendo characters including Super Mario and Donkey Kong, said the new app would be designed around "making walking fun."

Nintendo had in the past been reluctant to let its characters venture outside traditional consoles and into the increasingly popular world of smartphone gaming.

But in recent years, it has released a string of mobile titles, including 2016's "Super Mario Run" and 2019's "Mario Kart Tour."

"The deal could help address complaints among investors that Nintendo hasn't been able to earn much from smartphone apps," Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Ace Research Institute, told Bloomberg News.

"As we continue to expand our games portfolio, it was a natural next step to team up with Nintendo," Niantic CEO John Hanke said in a joint press release.

"We're looking forward to shaping the future of AR together," he added, without offering details on which other Nintendo characters might be in line for AR games.

Pokemon Go has been hugely successful since its 2016 launch, earning more than a billion dollars in the first 10 months of 2020 alone, according to tracker Sensor Tower.

Agence France-Presse

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang blasts off


MANILA, Philippines — Filipino mobile gamers get a chance to showcase their skills in gunning for victory on the battle arena in the new national competition called “Momentum eSports TV Battle League” set to blast off April 21-May 19.

The league will feature 64 teams of six amateur and professional players each who will slay for honors in the hugely popular game “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.”

MLBB is among the games to be contested in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, giving non-pros more reason and motivation to strive for excellence and aspire for future stints in big-time international competitions.

“Our main goal is to provide an avenue to all local players, especially those from small communities who are denied of this opportunity and have limited means to hone and showcase their skills,” Joanna Paola DV Ang, executive producer of Momentum, said during Thursday’s presscon.

Momentum eSports TV Battle League, which will see players with rankings of 100 to 300 stars competing for a total pot of P60,000 and 12,000 diamonds from MLBB’s developer, Moonton, will be aired live daily from 4-8 p.m. by the Manila Times Digital TV on www.manilatimestv.com, Facebook and other social media platforms.

Ang was joined in the presscon for the new league by Jennifer Jones, assistant station manager, Marc Christian Jarlego, operations manager for Momentum eSports, and Thea Rosalyn Faustino, executive administrative assistant for Momentum.

They said Filipinos had already shown their world-class form in eSports, with TNC Predator winning the DOTA2 tournament at the World Electronic Sports Games last year in Chongqing, China.

source: philstar.com

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Nintendo says nine-month profit up nearly 25%, lifted by strong titles


TOKYO, Japan — Nintendo said Thursday its net profit jumped nearly 25 percent for the nine months to December, riding out the crucial holiday season thanks to blockbuster game titles for its popular Switch console.

The Kyoto-based games giant said its bottom-line profit rose 24.9 percent to 168.8 billion yen ($1.6 billion) for the April-December period on sales of 997.3 billion yen, up 16.4 percent.

"During the holiday season, software was a great driver of hardware sales," the firm said in a statement.

For the year to March, it maintained its optimistic annual targets, expecting a net profit of 165 billion yen, up more than 18 percent from the previous fiscal year.

Its annual sales target also remained unchanged at 1.2 trillion yen.

Nintendo's latest portable console the Switch has become a huge global seller, helped by the release of innovative, family-friendly titles that have wowed critics and gamers alike.

Nintendo shares soared more than 15 percent in January on expectations that sales were solid for the Christmas shopping season.

source: philstar.com

Friday, January 6, 2017

CES 2017 | Razer unveils concept laptop for multi-monitor immersive gaming


LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Razer revealed a multi-monitor laptop computer concept that sets a new standard for immersive entertainment and multipurpose portable computing at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Dubbed “Project Valerie,” the system is the world’s first portable laptop with three built-in monitors. Each 17.3-inch 4K IGZO display is equipped with Nvidia G-Sync technology that is capable of producing the smoothest possible framerates and expansive 180 degree Nvidia Surround View gaming. Creative professionals can look forward to 100 percent Adobe RGB color accuracy and the greatest amount of screen real estate ever assembled in a single computer.

Project Valerie uses an automatic deployment mechanism designed by Razer. Each display mechanically slides out of the side of the main screen and adjusts into place, making it easy for users to deploy. With integrated multi-monitor support, users will no longer have to deal with the cable clutter from traditional desktop setups. The result is a clean gaming and working environment that’s just as easy to maintain.

“The complexities of a traditional multi-monitor setup are a thing of the past with Project Valerie,” says Razer co-founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan. “Equally important, the power of a desktop computer and graphics capabilities of three top-end monitors are included in the system. There is no shortcoming in the way of performance in the face of its amazing portability and features.”

Project Valerie adds to the professional capabilities of the new 17-inch Razer Blade Pro. The system was conceived with enthusiasts and power users in mind who want multitasking capabilities and desktop performance on the go. Packed with more screens than previously possible in a notebook, Razer’s Project Valerie is capable of handling virtually any PC task, anytime, anywhere.

The proposed system retains the iconic Razer design, while at the same time accommodating triple-monitors. A unibody CNC aluminum chassis measures just 1.5-inches thick and weighs less than 12 pounds. An included compact AC adapter is much smaller than similarly powered systems, furthering complementing Project Valerie’s mobility.

Project Valerie retains the remarkable thermal management system for which Razer’s line of laptops is known. A custom-designed fan and dynamic heat exchangers pair with a vapor chamber to maximize heat dissipation.

Project Valerie is the second Razer notebook to utilize Razer’s Ultra-Low-Profile Mechanical switches. Each switch features a true actuation and reset point. Key presses are registered with 65 grams of force, mimicking the feel of full-size mechanical keyboards. The keyboard, trackpad, extended monitors are also Powered by Razer Chroma, which unlocks a virtually endless array of dazzling lighting effects that can be customized by the user or synced to in-game events.

Similar to Razer’s newest systems, Project Valerie equipped with Nvida GeForce GTX 1080 exceeds the minimum hardware requirements of HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, making it one of the most immersive, mobile VR-ready devices for enthusiasts and developers.

“Multi-monitor desktop set-ups are becoming more necessary for professionals, creators, and gamers,” says Tan. “For the first time, we’ve engineered a solution that users can take with them. Project Valerie promises all of the functionality of three screens and none of the hassle.”

source: interaksyon.com

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

GOTTA CATCH ‘EM SERVERS | Pokemon Go Australia log-in complaints grow


Growing numbers of Pokemon Go players in Australia, one of three countries where Nintendo Co’s smash-hit mobile game is available, are complaining they’re having trouble logging in, raising concerns the Japanese firm may not be able to roll the game out globally as quickly as planned.

Shares in Nintendo fell nearly 6 percent in Tokyo early on Wednesday after a three-day surge on the successful U.S. launch of the augmented reality game last week added 1.2 trillion yen ($11 billion) to the company’s market value. Based on the 1990s Japanese franchise, the augmented reality game topped Apple Inc’s free app charts.

By 0220 GMT on Wednesday, a total of about 1,300 Pokemon Go users had reported problems accessing the game in Australia over the last two days, according to website aussieoutages.com, which tracks digital service disruptions.

The game has only been released in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and Nintendo has said launches for other countries including Japan – one of the world’s biggest gaming markets – are due soon.

Both Nintendo and Niantic, which developed the game in tandem with Pokemon Co, declined to comment. Nintendo owns a third of Pokemon Co and has an undisclosed stake in Niantic.

Some gamers in Australia have speculated servers were overloaded because players in the United Kingdom, where the game is not yet available domestically, were trying to log on.

“When Pokemon Go servers experience issues, so do I,” a user with the handle @_emilymcc wrote in a post on the aussieoutages.com website.

The reported disruption adds to a flurry of headaches Nintendo is facing with Pokemon Go.

Security researchers raised concerns about the vulnerability of users’ data after finding that Pokemon Go players signing into the game via a Google account on an Apple operating system device unwittingly gave “full access permission” to Google accounts.

Meanwhile cases of armed robberies and injuries involving Pokemon Go players have also been reported.

source: interaksyon.com

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Facebook gets in game-streaming with Blizzard



SAN FRANCISCO, California – Facebook on Monday announced that it is getting into the eSports game, jumping into the field of video games as spectator sports against Amazon-owned Twitch and Google’s YouTube Gaming.

Later this month, people will be able to use Facebook accounts to log in to Blizzard Entertainment computer games such as “World of Warcraft.”

The move will pave the way for Blizzard game fans to use the leading social network’s Live video service to broadcast play in real time, the companies said in a joint release.

California-based Blizzard, owned by video game publisher Activision, is in the process of creating a “Go Live” feature that would let players stream on-screen action to Facebook timelines, according to the companies.

Blizzard games in line for the Facebook streaming capability included freshly released “Overwatch.”

The collaboration will add social features to Blizzard games while highlighting Facebook as a platform for sharing, viewing and discussing play, the companies said.

“Our collaboration on ‘Overwatch’ demonstrates Facebook’s commitment to partnering with AAA game companies, while further empowering Blizzard gamers to connect and share the content they’re most passionate about with the friends they play with around the world,” said Facebook global games director Leo Olebe.

“Overwatch” is a team-based shooter game played online.

Facebook earlier this year ramped up its challenge to Twitter-owned Periscope with upgrades to the social network’s live video broadcasting feature.

A new featured was added to the Live streaming feature at Facebook to let people “broadcast: to groups at the social network or in scheduled “events.”

Facebook Live launched in the middle of last year and was initially limited to celebrities but recently opened to a wider audience of broadcasters.

- eSports heavyweights -

Getting into the eSports game will pit Facebook against heavyweight rivals including pioneering firm Twitch and popular online video sharing service YouTube, owned by Google-parent Alphabet.

Yahoo Esports launched about two months ago as an online venue for live tournaments, commentary, features, interviews and more tailored for the booming trend of video games as spectator sports.

The rollout of YouTube Gaming in the middle of last year marked the public debut of an online spot where video game lovers can find commentary, live play, on-demand snippets and more.

The online arena for video game channels incorporates the search smarts of Google to surface fresh or must-see content.

US online retail giant Amazon snatched up Twitch and its huge audience for live-streamed gaming in 2014.

The acquisition was one of the largest in Amazon’s history — $970 million in cash for the three-year-old Internet company.

Twitch Interactive streams games being played for non-playing viewers to watch, and hosts gaming events.

It allows viewers to chat with the players and others, lending it some of the qualities of social networking websites, and it also sells advertising to generate income.

source: interaksyon.com

Monday, March 7, 2016

WORLD’S FIRST LIQUID-COOLED LAPTOP | Republic of Gamers pushes gaming to the extreme

MANILA, Philippines — Republic of Gamers (ROG), the World’s undisputed No. 1 gaming laptop, celebrates its 10th Anniversary with a bang with the much-anticipated launch of its most powerful laptop yet, the ROG GX700.

With unmatched specs and industry-leading innovations, the Republic of Gamers rocks the entire gaming industry with the ROG GX700′s liquid-cooled design — a world’s first — guaranteeing users a gaming experience like never before.

With such an incredible feat, the Republic of Gamers makes another unprecedented move by inviting only a select few to get to experience for themselves just how powerful and one-of-a-kind this gaming laptop is.

Only 20 of the country’s most avid and top gamers and hardcore users will only be able to exclusively get their hands on this limited-edition beast of a machine as it set to hit the Philippine shores. These very few, lucky individuals – collectively, the “Legendary 20” – will surely make history as one of the first people to experience the powerhouse gaming device that is the ROG GX700


The perks and the works: The ultra-exclusive ‘Legendary 20′

For the Legendary 20, the ROG GX700 is packed with an arsenal of accessories and items that will further highlight the exclusivity of this elite gaming group: an ROG Sica Gaming Mouse, ROG Command Case (a premium black luggage case that not only ensures that the ROG GX700 is kept safe, but also for the user to bring the ROG GX700 wherever you want in absolute comfort and style); a Personalized Legendary 20 Luggage Tag (a stylish bag tag that proudly displays the name of the respective owner) and finally, a Legendary 20 Jacket (a decked-out Legendary 20 signature-style jacket tailor-fit to the Legendary 20 member).

Aside from owning these items and the bragging rights of being one of the very few to own the majestic ROG GX700 not only in the Philippines, but also in the entire world, members of the exclusive Legendary 20 are also automatically entitled to top-notch perks and privileges including: VIP-access to any and all ROG-related events in the country, and participation in exclusive Legendary 20 activities, which includes a private DOTA tournament with an ROG endorser.


GX700 – Desktop class performance in a laptop 

The flagship GX700VO being the world’s first water-cooled gaming laptop is capable of overclocking because of its exclusive hydro overclocking system.

Powering up this beast is a powerful Intel Core i7-6820HK (Overclocking Unlocked) Quad-Core processor. When the laptop is docked to its water-cooling station, the said CPU can be overclocked to a remarkable 4GHz in stable voltage. In addition, the onboard 32GB DDR4 RAM at 2133MHz can also be overclocked as high as to 2800 MHz.

Of course graphics is also Best in Class. The ROG GX700VO is equipped with a desktop class NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 that has 8GB of GDDR5 VRAM. When water-cooled, it allows the chip to run in its full potential, thereby eliminating the bottleneck of low thermal headroom. Speed is not only in processing but also in storage on the GX700VO, which is packed with two 256GB NVMe PCIe SSD set-up in RAID0, allowing up to 3.5GB/s read/write speeds.

And highlighting the trump card of this notebook, the “Hydro Cooling System,” which made this notebook the world’s first water-cooled notebook, is the pinnacle of this year’s innovation for ASUS and ROG. Featuring two radiators, and a behemoth of fans with variable speed control through the built-in ROG Command Control Center software; the cooling module allows for the system to run cooler in idle, and be overclocked as wanted, or needed, and allows for a full desktop replacement for all those wanting to lug around a system that’s highly capable of Full-HD gaming.

source: interaksyon.com

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Sony moves PlayStation business to Silicon Valley


SAN FRANCISCO, California — Sony announced Tuesday it is moving its PlayStation business to Silicon Valley and consolidating its game console offerings under one roof.

The Japanese entertainment and consumer electronics giant said that as of April, its PlayStation hardware, software and online businesses will be unified in a new company called Sony Interactive Entertainment.

The freshly formed company will bring together Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Network Entertainment International and be based in the northern California city of San Mateo.

“By integrating the strengths of PlayStation’s hardware, software, content and network operations, SIE will become an even stronger entity, with a clear objective to further accelerate the growth of the PlayStation business,” said Sony Computer Entertainment global chief executive Andrew House.

Units being consolidated include the one working on virtual reality head gear synched to PlayStation and the teams handling streaming music, television and online game play.

PlayStation consoles have been a bright spot for Sony, with the latest generation far outselling rival Xbox One and Wii U consoles fielded by Microsoft and Nintendo, respectively.

PlayStation 4 has seen the fastest and strongest adoption since the first generation of the video game console was introduced in late 1994, according to Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE).

Some 30.2 million PS4 consoles were sold worldwide as of November 22, SCE announced late last year.

PS4 and Xbox One were both released in 2013.

SCE was established in late 1993 and released the first PlayStation video game system in Japan a year later.
,
source: interaksyon.com

Thursday, November 12, 2015

‘Call of Duty’ video game blitzes on debut


SAN FRANCISCO, California — The latest “Call of Duty” video game boasted an opening weekend that blew away any other game, film, book or music debut this year, the company behind it said Wednesday.

“Call of Duty: Black Ops III” racked up more than $550 million in sales in the three days after its release on November 6, according to California-based Activision Publishing, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard.

“Call of Duty’s millions of passionate fans have shown us, yet again, the strength of their commitment to this enduring franchise,” said Activision Blizzard chief executive Bobby Kotick.

It was “the biggest entertainment launch this year in any medium, and bigger than any theatrical opening weekend ever,” he added.

Fans played the game online for more than 75 million hours, setting a new record for the blockbuster franchise.

Black Ops III is the 12th game in the series, testimony to its longevity and ability to reinvent itself, all the while earning it a loyal following of tens of millions of fans.

“Our fans are engaging more deeply with the franchise than ever before,” said Activision Publishing chief executive Eric Hirshberg.

“Call of Duty is more than a game, it’s a year round passion for a growing base of millions of fans and it’s only gaining momentum.”

The latest mission in the first-person shooter franchise sends players into a “dark and twisted future.”

For Activision Blizzard, the latest revamp of its gaming megahit aimed to revive stagnating sales and came hot on the heels of an announcement that it is buying the maker of the addictive “Candy Crush Saga,” King Digital Entertainment, for $5.9 billion — tapping into a market of half a billion gamers worldwide.

Zombie mode

This time the action is set in the year 2065. Climate change has spawned fierce competition over scarce resources. Highly effective anti-aircraft systems mean fighting is on the ground, and often in covert or “black” operations.

The game launched across an array of consoles and PCs.

“Call of Duty: Black Ops III is off to a great start,” said Bob Puzon, senior vice president of merchandising for US retail chain GameStop.

“The game’s story line, new features and intense zombie mode have helped make it our most successful title launch so far this year.”

“Black Ops III” was created by Treyarch studio and published by Activision.

And while the latest incarnation harks back to recent episodes, notably with shades of 2014′s Advanced Warfare, it is a far cry from its debut based on World War II action.

Advances in consoles mean that for the first time the “Campaign” — the main narrative of the game — can be played with friends. It also features women soldiers.

As usual the game offers over-the-Internet multiplayer battles as well, not to mention “Zombies” mode as gamers look to survive attacks from hordes of the living dead.

Activision uses three developer studios so a new “Call of Duty” title is available each year.

source: interaksyon.com

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Amazon snaps up live video startup Twitch for $970 million


SAN FRANCISCO — Amazon.com Inc snapped up live-streaming gaming network Twitch Interactive for about $970 million in cash, reflecting Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos’ resolve to transform Amazon into an Internet destination beyond its core retail operations.

The move, announced by the two companies on Monday, is the largest deal in Amazon’s 20-year history and will help the U.S. e-commerce company vie with Apple Inc and Google Inc in the fast-growing world of online gaming, which accounts for more than 75 percent of all mobile app sales. 


The acquisition involves some retention agreements that push the deal over $1 billion, a source close to the deal told Reuters.

“Twitch will further push Amazon into the gaming community while also helping it with video and advertising,” Macquarie Research analyst Ben Schachter said in a note.

Twitch’s format, which lets viewers message players and each other during live play, is garnering interest as one of the fastest-growing segments of digital video streaming, which in turn is attracting more and more advertising dollars.

The deal, expected to close in the second half of the year, is an unusual step for Amazon, which tends to build from within or make smaller acquisitions. Tech rival Google was earlier in talks to buy Twitch, which launched slightly more than three years ago, one person briefed on the deal said.

Neither Amazon nor Twitch would discuss how the deal came together or comment on Google’s interest.

In an interview, Twitch Chief Executive Officer Emmett Shear said the startup contacted Amazon because its deep pockets and ad sales expertise would allow the startup to pursue its strategic objectives more quickly.

“The reason why we reached out to Amazon, the reason I thought working for Amazon, having Twitch being a part of Amazon, would be a great idea for us (because) they would give us the resources to pursue these things that we honestly already want to pursue and they’d let us do it faster,” Shear said.

Ethan Kurzweil, a partner at Bessemer Ventures, which has backed Twitch since its earliest days, said Amazon’s expertise in developer platforms through Amazon Web Services gave it a window into Twitch’s potential growth.

“They understand the power of engaged developer platforms,” he said, noting Twitch’s popularity with game developers and publishers was as important as its popularity with consumers.

Bessemer provided Twitch an introduction to Frank Quattrone, a banker at boutique investment bank Qatalyst Partners, with a view to “catalyzing interest in Twitch,” Kurzweil said.

Quattrone advised Amazon on its 1997 initial public offering.

Twitch raised $20 million in funding last September from game publisher Take-Two Interactive Software and firms such as Bessemer Venture Partners and Thrive Capital.

Other venture backers include Alsop Louie Partners and Draper Associates.

More than 55 million unique visitors viewed more than 15 billion minutes of content on Twitch in July.

Some video game live casters on Twitch have embedded links to the Amazon’s online store. Analysts said the deal may result in more product tie-ins and a deeper integration with Amazon Instant Video and Amazon devices like the Kindle Fire tablet and recently launched Fire TV set-top box.

Twitch and Amazon did not disclose details on new retail opportunities for Amazon through Twitch’s network of gamers.

“We have lots of ideas we’ve discussed, there’s a lot of interest and a number of things we can pursue,” Michael Frazzini, VP of Amazon Games, said in an interview.

(Reporting by Deepa Seetharaman and Malathi Nayak; additional reporting by

source: interaksyon.com

Friday, August 8, 2014

Zynga whacked as losses widen


SAN FRANCISCO — Zynga said Thursday it wants to perform better, as the social games firm reported losses widened and revenues sank in the past quarter, sending its share price tumbling.

The loss for the past quarter deepened to $62.5 million, compared with a deficit of $15.8 million in the same period a year ago.

Revenues dropped sharply to $153 million in the three months ending June 30, from $230 million a year earlier.

“While our quarterly financial results were in line with our guidance range, we aspire to do better and improve execution across our business,” chief executive Don Mattrick said in a statement.

“We are purposefully competing, and while we would like to be further along, we believe we are making the right decisions to grow our business and unlock long-term shareholder value.”

Shares in Zynga tumbled nearly eight percent to $2.69 in electronic trades after the news, reflecting investor disappointment.

Zynga also lowered its outlook for 2014 “primarily to reflect the delayed launch of new games and features,” according to its earnings statement.

The company rose to stardom by tailoring games for Facebook, but has struggled as the two firms have grown apart and Zynga seeks new sources of revenues.

The San Francisco company announced it is launching a new line of sports games under the brand “Zynga Sports 365.”

Zynga said it signed a licensing deal with the National Football League and NFL Players Inc. to use real NFL teams and athletes, “creating an authentic team manager football experience that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere.”

source: interaksyon.com

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

With PlayStation network, Sony goes back to the future in search of revival


TOKYO — Japan’s Sony Corp is hammering out plans to rise from the ashes of nearly $10 billion lost in six years by building a future around its last consumer electronics blockbuster – the PlayStation.

Sony plans to reposition the video console warhorse as a hub for a network of streamed services, according to three senior officials, offering social media, movies and music as well as games. The executives spoke to Reuters on condition they not be named because the matters are still in early stages of discussion.

The plans to coax more revenue from the PlayStation’s network of users are being developed by a new breed of managers brought in by Chief Executive Kazuo Hirai. Analysts say if Sony gets it right, the game and network business could earn about $1 billion in the fiscal year from April 2016 – making it the most profitable part of the company bar a financial services unit.

“Network services have been a long-running issue for Sony,” said Atsushi Osanai, associate professor at Waseda University’s business school. It’s a field Apple Inc has dominated with iTunes, while established movie and music services like Netflix Inc and Spotify are expanding fast.

“In the past there was a time when they (Sony) were all over the place and went after everything, but zeroing in first on game users is effective,” said Osanai. The company’s next progress report will come with its first-quarter earnings on July 31.

At 200 billion yen ($1.96 billion) last fiscal year, some 90 percent of it from games, Sony Entertainment Network’s revenue is small compared with the 5 trillion yen at the company’s broader electronics business. The division lost 10 billion yen last year and more losses are expected this year as it spends on servers and systems for a surge in users, but the executives – and analysts – expect it to ramp up quickly after that to double-digit margins.

The new thinking is far from Sony’s first effort to kickstart a revival. Yet the company that was once the symbol of Japan’s technology prowess has often failed in attempts to deliver innovative hits to match successes of old, like the Walkman music player.

The managers lining up Sony’s new strategy know a PlayStation network won’t fix mainstream loss-making businesses, like its TV division – “a grim electronics portfolio”, according to brokerage Jefferies. It’s also not the first time Sony has tried to develop networked content services.

But under plain-speaking Kenichiro Yoshida, a former head of Sony’s Internet services unit now leading the charge as chief financial officer since April, managers believe focusing on PlayStation to develop a network is potentially Sony’s best chance of securing a money-making springboard for revival.

“These are crucial assets that offer the greatest potential upside,” said one of the senior officials.

Game on
The network’s base of 52 million active users is dwarfed by Apple’s iTunes with over 800 million, and now just about the same size as fast-growing Netflix. But Sony Entertainment Network’s peg to a hit piece of hardware with a potentially captive audience can give the service a future edge, executives say.

Yoshida, 54, knows networks so far have been a black spot for Sony. A PlayStation security breach in 2011 was a major setback to its plans at the time for a looser network that was designed to allow a range of Sony devices to be connected.

The CFO’s message to executives is that things must change. “What’s made it tough for Sony in electronics is that we were never able to take the lead role in the networking era,” Yoshida told a gathering of about 500 managers earlier this year, according to a person who attended the meeting.

While the network plans take shape, this year Yoshida is also overseeing restructuring across the company. Sony is axing thousands of white-collar jobs, has ditched the Vaio personal computer brand, and has placed the TV business in a separate subsidiary – to fend for itself.

High-tech components such as image sensors and batteries for smartphones, and next-generation consumer gadgets such as wearables, have been identified by Sony managers as key potential areas of hardware growth.

“Game and network services are a core part of Sony’s electronics and we are currently strengthening our network services by expanding sales of the PlayStation 4 in a bid to raise revenue,” said Mami Imada, Sony’s general manager of public relations, asked to comment on future strategy for this article.

The latest iteration of the now 20-year-old console has outsold rivals easily, attracting committed gamers rather than the casual game playing audience that is migrating to smartphones and other mobile devices.

Even as Sony plans to extend the PlayStation’s role, games are still driving the network services division forward, accounting for 90 percent of revenue. From July 31, Sony is launching a streaming game service, PS Now, the first ever for a console game maker, in the United States.

Sony has sold 8.7 million PlayStation 4s against 5 million Microsoft Corp Xbox Ones as of July 19, according to market research firm VGChartz. Nintendo Ltd’s Wii U console, released a year earlier than its rivals, also trails with sales of 6.7 million.

source: interaksyon.com

Monday, July 28, 2014

JD.com to sell Microsoft’s Xbox One games console in China


BEIJING — JD.com Inc, China’s second-biggest e-commerce company by market share, will accept pre-orders for Microsoft Corp’s Xbox One games console in China from July 28 to July 30, the firm said on Monday.

The pre-orders will be taken via Tencent Holdings’ mobile social networks Mobile QQ and WeChat, known as Weixin in China, JD.com said in a statement. Tencent holds a 17.6 percent stake in JD.com.

The Xbox One will be the first gaming console to be released in mainland China since the government banned console sales in 2000, citing games’ effects on mental health.

On Friday, China Telecom, the country’s smallest wireless carrier, said it would sell the Xbox One when released in September.

In September last year, Microsoft reached a deal with Chinese internet TV set-top box maker BesTV New Media Co Ltd to form a joint venture to manufacture the consoles in Shanghai’s Free Trade Zone.

Released in November, the Xbox One has trailed in sales to Sony Corp’s PlayStation 4, launched around the same time.

source: interaksyon.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Junglecat is an iOS controller


CARLSBAD, California — Gaming entertainment devices and software maker, Razer, recently announced its much-anticipated Razer Junglecat gamepad for iOS devices.

Leveraging its significant experience developing high-performance gaming controllers for console and PC, Razer’s entrée into mobile phone hardware offers consumers a combination of gaming-grade control and customizability with unimpeded phone access.

The Razer Junglecat’s engineering team shaved every millimeter possible in the controller’s design to ensure it molds seamlessly with the sleek profile of the iPhone.

The result is an ultra-durable slider that reveals or hides the gamepad as desired. With a full set of gaming functions resident in the Razer Junglecat’s AXBY pressure-sensitive buttons, D-pad and bumpers, on screen controls are eliminated, leaving valuable screen real estate free.

Users can leave the Razer Junglecat attached, as all buttons and ports remain available in its pocket-ready compact form. At only 20 mm thin, the controller feels like a standard protective case.

The Razer Junglecat comes with a downloadable iOS app that lets users remap and define all of its button functions, as well as adjust pressure sensitivity according to preference.

Up to 20 personalized profiles can be stored on the app, allowing users to select a corresponding profile for their favorite games. Whether it is custom sensitivity for an adrenaline-pumping racing game or an array of programmed keybinds for an intense adventure game, the Razer Junglecat iOS companion app will allow users to tailor their gaming experiences.

As an MFi (Made For iPhone) product, the Razer Junglecat is enabled for the latest features of Apple devices recently announced at WWDC.

Game Controller Forwarding, for instance, will allow the Razer Junglecat and iPhone 5/5s to act as a wireless controller for larger-screen Apple products.

The chore of finding games for iOS controllers is made easy with the Junglecat’s iOS companion app, as well.


The software keeps gamers up-to-date on the latest titles optimized for controller play, scouring the entire App Store for titles that are perfect for a player and his or her iOS controller — whether it is a Razer Junglecat or another brand’s iOS compatible controller.

“Game development is cascading into mobile with incredible production values and at a record pace, and the crossover of console gamers playing on their iOS and other mobile devices is growing in stride,” Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director, said. “The opportunity to design a sleek, high-performance gamepad controller for the iPhone was an exciting proposition that we can’t wait to share with our community and the world.”

The Razer Junglecat is the latest console-style controller from Razer and is the Company’s first interface for mobile phones.

Its other controllers include the Razer Sabertooth and Razer Atrox, as well as the Razer Gamepad Controller for the Razer Edge gaming tablet, the CNET 2013 Consumer Electronics Show “Best of Show,” “People’s Voice” and “Best Gaming” award winner.

The Razer Junglecat companion app is the latest software in a long line of developments from Razer, building upon its Razer Synapse cloud configurator and following the recent release of Razer Comms VoIP for mobile devices. Razer currently has more than 8 million user accounts registered across its software platform.



Razer Junglecat features:
  • iOS7 fully supported gamepad:
  • Precision D-pad
  • Highly sensitive ABXY action buttons and bumpers
  • Highly durable, collapsible sliding mechanism for portability
  • Pocket-able for access anytime, anywhere
  • Downloadable companion iOS app
  • Designed for the Apple iPhone 5/5s
  • Open access to all of the phone’s portals and buttons
  • Approximate size: 150 mm (5.9 in.) long; 65 mm (2.5 in.) wide; 18 mm (0.7 in.) tall
source: interaksyon.com

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Top 10 Big-Screen Games for Lumia 1320 and 1520


The Nokia Lumia 1320 and Nokia Lumia 1520 both have one thing in common; they both pack six-inch displays – ideal for pinning more tiles to your Start screen and adding an extra dimension to gaming, as these ten top titles prove.

GTA: San Andreas – Php 305.00



We all know Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, right? It’s one of the best-selling games ever, and now taking control of the streets, and the local gangs, is easier on the jumbo-screen Nokia Lumia 1320 or Lumia 1520.

Don’t just take our word for it, read this five-star user review:

“Simply awesome on the Lumia 1520… frankly any game you play on the 1520 is just amazing. The size and full-HD screen quality is out of this world.”

Lifestyle Feature ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:
Wordament – Free



Wordament is a great game, regardless of which device you’re using. However, a bigger screen makes it even easier to pluck out those words from the game board.

Confronted by a four-by-four grid of tiles, each one containing a letter (or sometimes more), you must trace your finger across them to spell out words – as many as you can – in the two-minute timeframe.

Played completely online you compete against thousands of other players simultaneously, who are also locked into the same game board.

An addictive game where you’ll often find yourself muttering, “One more try…”

Halo: Spartan Assault – Php 305.00


Part of the Halo franchise, Halo: Spartan Assault throws you into a universe full of combat and survival.

Rather than the typical first-person-shooter view you’re familiar with in other Halo games, Spartan Assault delivers a new top-down view approach, which is ideal for mobile gaming.

On a bigger screen explosions look more destructive, lasers look extra intense, and you’re less likely to miss an alien sneaking up on you.

Angry Birds Go! – Free


When it comes to avian-related games, there’s little better than Angry Birds.

However, rather than the usual bird-catapult-pig-face interaction, Angry Birds Go! is a downhill racing game.

Starting with a standard soapbox car, you can add modifications as you progress through the races to eventually build a super car – even one that flies!

Each Angry Birds character has a special ability that, when used wisely during a race, will help you in your conquest for first place.

Playing on a bigger screen allows for a greater chance of noticing overtaking opponents, giving you plenty of opportunity to nudge them out of the way before you steam to victory.

Asphalt 8: Airborne – Free


What’s better than speeding around a virtual racecourse, performing stunts and surviving crashes? Doing it all on a bigger screen!

Asphalt 8: Airborne puts you in the driving seat of 47 high-performance cars. It uses a clever physics engine that gives an experience of what it might be like to be behind the wheel of one of these cars. From the comfort of your couch, of course.

Dungeon Hunter 4 – Free



Immerse yourself into a world of role-play, dungeons and demons, all of which looks simply glorious on a big-screen Lumia.

Choose from four character classes, each with a unique combat style, then fight shoulder to shoulder with other players from around the world. Play in co-op mode, or come face-to-face with opponents as you show off your battle skills in PvP mode.

As with many RPGs, you kill, you loot, you win to save the kingdom – hopefully. Onwards!

Doors – Free



An unusual game but one that, once you start playing, you won’t put down.

The premise is this: you’re stuck in a room, the only exit is out through the closed door in front of you. In order to open that door you must first complete a task by solving hidden mysteries.

Some levels may require you to turn the phone upside down, enter the right keypad combination, or correctly match eight pairs of animal cards without getting one wrong. As you’d expect, the difficulty level increases as you progress.

The more screen space you’ve got, the more details you’ll notice to complete the tasks ahead.

Battle Monkeys – Free


Imagine a world that’s not ruled by humans, but monkeys (we reckon that’ll make a good film…). Can’t picture it? No problemo, that’s why Battle Monkeys was built.

To become the most powerful primate you must fight with other apes to show your strength and dominance.

With 3D graphics and multiplayer action, this is a joy to play on a large-screen Lumia.

Tetris Blitz – Free


A classic game that’s stood the test of time. The latest iteration, Tetris Blitz, is just as much fun as the game of old, but comes loaded with added extras.

Like before, position the falling bricks to stack nicely against other blocks. When a line is complete, it’s bye-bye row! What’s new is the ability to collect power-ups, such as lasers, magnets and time shifting properties to clean up the board faster.

Watching the vibrant blocks, explode when you complete a level, replete with celebratory fireworks look wonderful on a large six-inch screen.

Strata – Php 130.00


This is a uniquely elegant puzzle game that requires you to overlay colored ribbons onto a colored canvas. Unusual-sounding? Yes. Calming and cathartic? Absolutely.

As you interact with the screen and position the ribbon into place, softly played piano keys deliver a meditative sense It’s brilliantly done and works really well on a large screen.

If you’ve got a Nokia Lumia 1320 or Nokia Lumia 1520, take advantage of their super-sized screens and give all of these games a try – you won’t regret it.

Nokia Lumia 1320 and Nokia Lumia 1520 are now available in the Philippines for (SRP) Php17,900 and Php34,990 respectively.

source: philstar.com

Thursday, January 23, 2014

WeChat announces latest version, 3 new games


MANILA, Philippines — Mobile app WeChat announced the launch of the latest version of the popular social messaging application on Thursday, revealing three new games, animated stickers, an expanded group chat feature, and a complementary app to enhance photos.

“We want to offer WeChat users a very, very exciting mobile, social experience,” said WeChat business development manager Steve Zheng.

Free for download through the Games section of the app are Gunz Dash, 2Day’s Match, and Craz3 Match.

Side-srolling race game Gunz Dash is, in event host Spanky Enriquez’s words, WeChat’s version of Super Mario. To rescue a girl captured by a vampire, users may assume the character of any of the three heroes as they slide and jump through the obstacle course: “cute and sometimes clumsy” Kattie, “blonde beauty” Nikita, and “passionate and strong” Leo. They are accompanied by pets, as well.

With 2Day’s Match, users match similar tiles as fast as they can to kiddie-party background music.

Craz3 Match, meanwhile, has users matching animal faces in groups of three or more in WeChat’s version of Bejewelled and Candy Crush.

These are only usable when online, however, as they were designed to add to social messaging experience, said Zheng.

Animated stickers also make conversations more fun. Some of the newest characters include Frog and Horse, “crazy friends who escaped from the zoo (who) super love to dance”; Sinkcomic, “famous webcomic artist from Taiwan”; and Puppy, an adorable creature who’ll make a stressful day better.

StoryCam, a free complementary app, allows users to tell the stories behind their photos. They can add real-time, location-based information; alter their photos using any of 13 filters; put watermarks; and share easily through chat, e-mail, or Moments. The latter is similar to profile pages on social media sites, which features snippets of the user’s daily life. Liking and commenting are enabled, too.

Group chat has been expanded to accommodate 100 members, too.

Other changes made include the ability to save users’ favorite text and voice messages, photos, and videos to Favorite Messages, “the first cloud-based storage service on mobile communication apps”; and integration with Gmail.

The new 5.1 version of WeChat may be used on the latest versions of iOS and Android, as well as on BlackBerry, Symbian, and Windows Phone operating systems, too. Downloading is free on these markets, and on PC, as well.

WeChat, developed by Chinese company Tencent International Service Pte. Ltd., has seen a 2,000-percent growth in the Philippines from May, when the first television commercial was rolled out, to August last year. Zheng, however, did not give the numbers of Filipino users.

Nevertheless, the app already has 500 million registered users as of July last year, including 100 million users outside China.

Citing findings from Google Trends, Zheng added that WeChat was the most searched social messaging app, as well as the third most searched mobile app, in the Philippines.

source: interaksyon.com

Friday, January 17, 2014

PS4 and Xbox One fuel videogame sales


SAN FRANCISCO — NPD Group reported Thursday that new consoles from Sony and Microsoft powered a winning holiday season for the videogame industry in the United States.

“The newest consoles from Microsoft and Sony are off to a tremendous start,” said NPD analyst Liam Callahan.

“Xbox One led consoles sales in December, while PlayStation 4′s two-month total makes it the best selling console during the two-month launch window.”


The rival consoles were released in November and eagerly snapped up by players.

Nintendo’s Wii U consoles also fared well during the holidays, with December logging its best monthly sales since its release about 13 months earlier, Callahan said.

Videogame hardware sales more than offset a 17 percent drop in sales of game software to $1.31 billion in December, according to NPD.

For the full year, game software sales were down 11 percent from 2012 to $6.34 billion. One reason for the drop was said to be that fewer titles were released.

US videogame hardware sales for the December holiday period were $1.37 billion, a 28 percent rise over the same period a year earlier, NPD reported

Videogame hardware sales for the year tallied $4.26 billion, up five percent from the $4.04 billion logged in 2012.

When factoring in money spent on game rentals, downloadable content, micro-transactions, mobile “apps,” play at social networks, subscriptions, and used game sales, nearly $2.4 billion was spent on games in December, according to NPD.

NPD ranked “Grand Theft Auto V,” published by Take 2 Interactive Software, as last year’s top-selling videogame.

Electronic Arts’ military shooter title “Battlefield 4″ was the second most popular game with buyers, with France-based Ubisoft’s “Just Dance 2014″ taking third spot.

The latest installment of the beloved “Call of Duty” franchise was the best selling game in the United States in December, according to the industry tracker.

It was the fifth consecutive month of rising overall US sales in the videogame industry.

source: interaksyon.com

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

How gamemaker gets players to pay


STOCKHOLM, Sweden — With 100 million people logging on every day for a fix of its games like Candy Crush Saga, global gamemaker King is showing rivals not just how to hook players, but how to get them to pay.

King is the latest among European tech firms like Rovio, creator of mega-hit Angry Birds, and Mojang, behind Minecraft, to make it big on the global gaming scene. But its stunning profitability in an industry littered with firms who failed to make money from popular games has made it a totem for others seeking to emulate its success.

King’s focus on the multi-billion dollar mobile games market – creating short, addictive puzzles for the fastest-growing part of the gaming industry – has helped it reap profits rare in its field. Though the company does not publish numbers, industry experts have estimated its revenues at $1 million-$3 million a day. Media reports now talk about an IPO valuation of $5 billion after a source recently said the company had filed to go public in the United States.

King was set up in Sweden a decade ago by friends working at the same tech startup and got 34 million euros funding from Apax Partners and Index Ventures in 2005. It has been profitable since, a fact that analysts put down to its ability to persuade players to pay several times over to continue the same game. Its “freemium model”, in which games are free but players can pay for add-ons or extra lives, has been particularly effective because of the success of Candy Crush, described by some analysts as a global phenomenon.

“Candy Crush is one of the biggest mass market consumer games in years,” said Adam Krejcik at Eilers Research in California. “They have been profitable for a while. This game has certainly brought them into a new category.”

The puzzle game, in which players line up gleaming 3-D sweets to knock out jelly, chocolate and liquorice, is available online, on smartphone and Facebook. It has held the No. 1 spot for apps on Facebook for nine months and is Apple’s top-grossing U.S. app, more popular than Spotify and TripAdvisor. King also says it is considering new platforms for the game such as smart TV.

Globally, mobile game revenues generated through Apple iOS & Google Playstore are expected to exceed $10 billion this year, according to Krejcik. Roughly half of those are revenues generated by seven publishers including King, DeNa, GungHo Online and Electronic Arts.




Bite-sized

According to King’s Chief Creative Officer Sebastian Knutsson, Candy Crush is addictive because it’s equal parts pain and fun and fits consumers’ short attention span.

“We talk internally about.. bite-sized entertainment, and we think that fits the mobile generation of today… short game rounds as opposed to having a super deep, long game,” he said.

Knutsson, one of the five founders of King who between them hold 25 percent, is also part of the 10-strong Swedish team that came up with Candy Crush. It combines elements of other popular games – the shiny graphics of Bejewelled, the candies of Candy Land and the grid-like action of Tetris.

“Candies felt like something that everybody would have a positive feeling about.. And I wanted something that could have shine and glossiness without being something unattainable,” Knutsson told Reuters in a Stockholm office where meeting rooms have names like Bubble Witch Lair, after the game.

Players lured by the appealing graphics of Candy Crush can pay for more lives, or must wait for 30 minutes before they may start again – though some cheat and move the clocks on their smartphones ahead so they can continue. The game’s appeal was broadened by its social aspect: Players can share their progress on Facebook, swapping lives as well as tips on how to crack the various levels. Others share their pain: “Die Candy Crush. Die.” writes one player, stuck at level 60, on King’s Facebook page.

King says its decision last year to shift its focus to its mobile platform was pivotal because that market was booming and the game suited it well.

The candies worked well on mobile screens, Knutsson said. Analysts note the game is easy to hop in and out of, making it a good time killer for mobile players, yet offers new challenges to give players a new twist when they play again.

“We knew it would be big on Facebook but I think the mobile success is what really took us by surprise,” Knutsson said.

The game’s success led CEO of arch-rival Zynga, former Microsoft Corp Xbox boss Don Mattrick to admit: “I’ll fess up, I’m a candy crush player and I’ve enjoyed it.”

California-based Zynga’s trajectory demonstrates the fate of many others in the industry. In 2009 it developed social game FarmVille – a huge hit in which players harvested crops and raised livestock – but is now struggling to make money from it because it is still based on Facebook as players migrate in droves to mobile. Zynga’s stock price has slumped 65 percent since a high-profile $1 billion IPO two years ago and it is now slashing staff numbers while closing offices.


Next level

Market researcher Newzoo estimates global game revenues across all platforms to reach $86.1 billion by 2016 as the number of gamers reaches 1.55 billion. It expects the fastest growth to come from mobile gaming, which will make up almost 30 percent of the total, up from about 17 percent this year.

Accordingly King – currently offering 150 games and boasting more than a billion gameplays each day – is lining up its next mobile games, readying alternatives for when its immense audience is no longer as mesmerized by its cascading candies.

Analysts expect the company to launch a mobile version of Farm Heroes Saga, a game in which players must match 3 items, which is already Facebook’s second-most popular app. King is already starting to roll out a mobile version of Papa Pear Saga, currently available on the web and on Facebook, in which players bounce and dive into barrels.

In the meantime, it plans to build on growth in Asia, the latest market to succumb to Candy Crush, which is gaining popularity there along with Supercell’s Clash of Clans.

“These are really the first western productions to break into the top 10 or the top 20 in the app store in Japan,” said David Gibson, a senior analyst at Macquarie in Tokyo.

source: interaksyon.com

Friday, October 4, 2013

NBA 2K14 dribbles off shelves in October


MANILA, Philippines — NBA season is very much alive, as NBA 2K14 hits Philippine stores this October.

Fans of the classic basketball series expect the best, most innovative version of their favorite basketball series.

“It’s going to be bigger and better for 2K14,” says Ron Aquino, general manager of X-Play. “Fans will literally and figuratively be on their toes when they navigate through this exciting and definitely exhilarating game.”

How exactly is the latest version of the game different? “The physics of the game are better,” said Allen Amparo, product manager of X-Play Online Games, Inc. “One can almost mistake this version as a real NBA game going on TV, with the movement of the players being more fluid, and details being more visible including tattoos, jerseys, and textures, while watching the game. There are also changes with movement, upper body, and even on-air. Fans can also expect a new soundtrack.”

Cover athlete of this NBA 2K series is back-to-back NBA Champion and current King of Basketball, Lebron James. He is also the music curator of the game.

NBA 2K14 is available on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. With the use of social network, one can link their personal gaming account to Facebook and Twitter, and join a whole community of gamers who can update each other on their results. The game is also in-synchronization with VITA and YouTube, where one can save a play.

NBA 2K14 is exclusively marketed by X-Play Online Games Inc., one of the country’s main video game distributors, together with game publishing leader 2K Sports, and is developed by Visual Concepts. Other games to launch locally from the brand include WWE in November.

source: interaksyon.com

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Nintendo to stop making Wii console for Japan market


TOKYO — Japanese game console maker Nintendo said Wednesday it will stop making its Wii console for the Japanese market, but will keep producing it internationally.

The move to abandon the home console, which competes with Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3, will allow Nintendo to focus its efforts on its successor.

“Our new generation Wii U console is already on the market and allows users to play software originally designed for the Wii,” a Nintendo spokesman told AFP.

“So this is part of the transition of our products to new models,” he said.

The company will keep producing Wii for markets abroad including its cheaper version Wii mini, he said.

Since its release in 2006 Wii has sold more than 100 million units worldwide.

The Wii disrupted the world of consoles on its launch, with its emphasis on family-orientated gaming that made use of wireless controllers fitted with accelerometers.

These controllers, which sparked the production of games where players could actually mimic the body movements of a sport or playing a musical instrument, were widely copied.

Nintendo launched the Wii U console late last year, although analysts said a lack of games took away some of the fizz the company had been hoping for after its 3DS console saw disappointing demand abroad.

Nintendo, maker of the iconic Donkey Kong and Super Mario brands, has been locked in a war with Sony and Microsoft, makers of the PlayStation and Xbox video game consoles, for dominance of a sector worth about $44 billion a year.

Nintendo swung to a net profit of $88 million in the three months to June as a weakening yen helped inflate its overseas result.

source: interaksyon.com