General Gaming News

[Lily Adler]

Also Atari is up to another scam with a remake of Rollercoaster Tycoon for the Nintendo Switch.

 

[Lily Adler]

Google Hires Phil Harrison Former Xbox and PlayStation Exec


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...box-playstation-exec-phil-harrison/ar-AAv2Bud

Phil Harrison followed up almost two decades as an executive for both Sony and Microsoft as an investor in computer and video game companies. But he's moving back to the tech world with a new role as Vice President and GM of Google, Harrison announced on Twitter.

Most of his career has been involved with production or oversight of gaming platforms. Starting in 1992, Harrison spent 15 years working for Sony, some of it heavily involved with the PlayStation family in regional and global executive positions. His assurance that the PS3's holistic platform would make the PC obsolete didn't pan out, but he stayed in gaming after leaving Sony, heading Atari for a year before stepping down and joining Microsoft in 2012 to become lead for Xbox in Europe. It's unclear what area Harrison will oversee at Google, but given his investments in VR and AR companies, it's possible he will be involved with projects in those or other gaming fields at the tech giant (we've reached out for comment).

And we have people speculating on Google entering the Gaming Industry now.

 

[zenith16]

Three articles two from the same place



Industry
[FONT=&quot]Sega Europe to publish narrative-driven IP from former Quantic Dream lead’s studio Interior Night[/FONT]
Published 17 hours ago. 6 comments.

No details on the project at this time.

Sega Europe has signed an agreement with Interior Night, a studio founded by former Quantic Dream lead Caroline Marchal in October 2017, to publish the studio’s first game—a new narrative-driven IP, the company announced.


Interior Night, which was formed with the goal of developing narrative games aimed at a mature TV audience, has been recruiting and currently employs staff whose credits include Heavy Rain, Wonderbook: Book of Spells, and Beyond: Two Souls.


The company is not saying anything more about the project at this time, but noted that it is the third publishing partnership Sega Europe has signed in recent years alongside Playsport Games (Motorsport Manager) and Two Point Studios (Two Point Hospital). It also noted that it has not acquired Interior Night.


Find comments from both parties below.

John Clark, Executive Vice President of Publishing at Sega Europe
“Signing this deal with Interior Night is another great step for Sega in terms of working with talented studios whether they’re established or embarking on a new journey whilst exploring our desire to launch new franchises and experiences. We’re really looking forward to working with Interior Night as their combined talents and imaginations evolve into a really strong narrative driven gaming experience.”
Caroline Machal, CEO at Interior Night
“We are very excited to work with Sega on our first narrative game. Sega have demonstrated a strong desire to take risks, innovate and work collaboratively with studios. With their help and support, we’re confident Interior Night can deliver a great narrative experience to existing gamers and to a broader audience.”
​

​

From the same place


Industry
[FONT=&quot]Microsoft acquires live games platform provider PlayFab[/FONT]
Published 12 hours ago. 24 comments.

PlayFab platform to bolster Microsoft Azure platform​

Microsoft has acquired PlayFab, a backend platform provider of services to build, launch, and grow cloud-connected games.




The acquisition of PlayFab will complement Microsoft’s own cloud platform, Microsoft Azure. PlayFab’s backend services are said to reduce the barriers to launch for game developers, offering both large and small studios cost-effective development solutions that scale with their games and help them engage, retain, and monetize players. It is said to enable use of the cloud to build and operate games, analyze gaming data, and improve overall gaming experiences.


PlayFab currently powers more than 1,200 games with companies like Disney, Rovio, and Atari, including Idle Miner Tycoon, Angry Birds: Seasons, and Roller Coaster Tycoon Touch, and is being treated as an important step forward for video games at Microsoft.




Read more about PlayFab here.
​

Lastly from some place different

Rumor: Microsoft considering acquiring EA [FONT=&quot]- January 29, 2018 https://www.gamezone.com/news/rumor-microsoft-considering-acquiring-ea/

[FONT=&quot]According to a source close to Microsoft and Polygon, Microsoft is considering acquiring Electronic Arts. In addition to EA, a few other names have...[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]Read more
[/FONT]

source: Gematsu

 

[Iceman]

Will be very interesting to see who they end up buying with that cash pile.

 

[zenith16]

Two video articles

[YT]TcKP92sOK8c[/YT]

Microsoft Devours EA and Valve? - The Rundown - Electric Playground[FONT=Roboto !important]

[/FONT][FONT=Roboto !important]987 views7 hours ago Published on 01/31/2018

[FONT=Roboto !important]In the latest LIVE edition of The Rundown, Victor Lucas talks about the crazy rumours that Microsoft wants to buy EA, Valve, and Battlegrounds! We also have the first details on a [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Roboto !important]new live-action Superman TV series, give you our thoughts on the first trailer for Ant-Man and The Wasp, and finally, take a look at the final expansion for Battlefield 1. [/FONT]​

Also with

[YT]4vVt2Eqy-Ho[/YT]

Nintendo Labo Discussion with Steve Tilley - Electric Playground Live[FONT=Roboto !important]

[/FONT][FONT=Roboto !important]203 views6 hours ago Published on 01/31/2018

[FONT=Roboto !important]In this conversation from EP Live, Victor Lucas chats with his pal Steve Tilley about Nintendo Labo, as well as the rumours that Microsoft might want to buy EA, Valve, and [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Roboto !important]Battlegrounds! [/FONT]​

source:EPN.tv

 

[zenith16]

Are Microsoft buying Valve? Gabe Newell says 'Not that I'm aware of'

15 hours ago​

Comments 23

Update, February 4:It appears Gabe Newell isn't entertaining offers at this time.
Some concerned players have emailed Valve owner Gabe Newell to...Read more



source:[FONT=&quot]PCGN[/FONT]

 

[zenith16]

Alpha and Beta Feedback Integral to Shaping the Future of Dauntless








Posted Feb 07, 2018| News | 10 Comments




The Dauntless site has been updated with a post to provide players with insight into where the game is headed in 2018. With community feedback from both alpha and beta testing, the team is ready to work to prepare the game for open beta testing sometime this year. That work will take place in any one of seven specific areas identified by the developers. Read more











source: MMORPG.com

 

[zenith16]

Google are reportedly developing a subscription-based game streaming service

13 hours ago​

Comments 2
A new report suggests that Google are getting into the game business with a new streaming service. According to business mag The Information, the...Read more



source:PCGN

 

[zenith16]

David Gaider, former Dragon Age lead writer, leaves Beamdog

1 day ago​

Almost exactly two years ago, David Gaider - best known as the lead writer of Dragon Age - left BioWare to join the team at Beamdog as creative...Read more



source: PCGN

 

[zenith16]

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Activision made more than half its money in 2017 off microtransactions February 9, 2018


The publisher behind Overwatch and Destiny 2 made a record amount of cash from in-game purchases last year.Read more

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source:[/FONT][FONT=&quot]EGMnow[/FONT]

 

[zenith16]

Industry
[FONT=&quot]THQ Nordic acquires Deep Silver parent Koch Media[/FONT]
Published 1 hour ago. 4 comments.

In today's edition of unexpected news...

THQ Nordic has acquired Koch Media, owner of Metro and Saints Row publisher Deep Silver, for €121 million, the company announced.
Here is an overview of Koch Media as a company, via the press release:

Koch Media is a leading, independent producer and marketer of digital entertainment products in Europe and North America with studios in Germany, the UK, and the US, and offices in several Central and Northern European cities. Koch Media’s business consists of three business areas; 1) Games, which are mainly published under the Deep Silver label with several AAA-intellectual property rights such as Saints Row, Dead Island and Metro; 2) Partner Publishing, which is the leading company in this business area in Europe and 3) Film, which is a business within movies for primarily the German and Italian speaking territories. Koch Media generated net sales of approximately SEK 2,548 million and Adjusted EBIT of approximately SEK 296 million for the period April – December 2017.
​

“Koch Media has a long history of profitability despite losses incurred from some less successful game releases,” THQ Nordic CEO Lars Wingefors said in the press release. “THQ Nordic is convinced that the development studios of Deep Silver as part of THQ Nordic will successfully deliver at least four ongoing AAA game projects including Metro Exodus as well as the next Volition Studio AAA release and the next Dambuster Studio AAA release, together with a number of other game development and publishing titles.”




Koch Media CEO Dr. Klemens Kundratitz added, “I strongly believe that THQ Nordic is a great strategic fit with Koch Media. In addition to having long experience within games development and publishing, THQ Nordic has the skills, willingness and capital to deliver growth in the future.”




Read the full press release here.


​

source: Gematsu

 

[Lily Adler]

Atari Invest in Cryptocurrency?

https://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/atari-is-investing-in-cryptocurrency-w516841

Legendary video game company Atari, best known for games such as Pong and Pac-Man, is investing in cryptocurrency, Bloomberg Technology reports. And it's working well for the game company.
Related

According to Bloomberg, Atari's stock jumped more than 60-percent after the company announced its crypto initiatives on February 8th. The company has plans to produce its own cryptocurrency called "Atari Coins," though it's unclear as of right now how they'll be used. To make this happen, Atari is taking stake an unnamed company "building a blockchain-based digital entertainment platform."
"Blockchain technology is poised to take a very important place in our environment and to transform, if not revolutionize, the current economic ecosystem, especially in the areas of the video game industry and online transactions,” Atari chairman and CEO Frederic Chesnais said. “Our aim is to take strategic positions with a limited cash risk, in order to best create value with the assets and the Atari brand.”
As Bloomberg points out, Atari isn't the only company benefiting from the crypto boom. Two days after announcing it would partner with a blockchain company, Eastman Kodak Co.'s stock jumped 245-percent.

 

[zenith16]

Industry, PlayStation 4
[FONT=&quot]Compile Heart has five new RPGs in development[/FONT]
Published 2 days ago. 38 comments.

Here is artwork for one of them, a desert-themed RPG.




Five new RPG projects are currently in development at Compile Heart, company president Norihisa Kochiwa teased in a Death end re;Quest behind the scenes video published today.


While neither title is in the stage where more information can be announced, Kochiwa did share the following:

• One is a “desert”-themed RPG (artwork pictured above)
• One is an RPG made by new creators
• One is an RPG that Compile Heart is putting everything it has learned into

More information about each project will be announced sequentially in game magazines and events.


In addition to the five RPGs, Compile Heart is also development new apps and other interesting, non-game projects.


Watch the behind the scenes video below.
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Watch more gameplay footage of Death end re;Quest below.
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Thanks, Games Talk.


​

also with


Industry
[FONT=&quot]Spike Chunsoft to announce four titles for western localization at GDC 2018[/FONT]
Published 15 hours ago. 54 comments.

Live streamed presentation set for March 23.

Spike Chunsoft’s newly-established North American subsidiary will announce four titles for western release during a Game Developers Conference 2018 presentation on March 23 at 5:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. ET, the company teased.


The presentation, which will be live streamed on Twitch, will feature hosts from Spike Chunsoft’s North America and Japan teams, who will give the community an exclusive look at the four new title announcements with special guests from the development teams.


Spike Chunsoft also plans to hold several community giveaways leading up to the presentation. For more information, follow Spike Chunsoft on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.


Finally, Spike Chunsoft also announced that the official website for its North American subsidiary is now live.
​

source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

Industry
[FONT=&quot]Square Enix announces change in directors and executive officers[/FONT]
Published 4 hours ago. 92 comments.

Two directors out, eight new directors in.

Square Enix has announced changes in its directors and executive officers, with directors Keiji Honda and Yukinobu Chida to resign on March 31, and eight new directors to be inaugurated on April 1.




Get the full press release below.

? 1. Change in Directors
(1) Reason for the Change
In April 2015, we introduced the executive officer system to our company in attempt to construct a system that strengthens administrative performance and flexibly implements decision-making in order to quickly respond to the rapidly changing business environment.



At this time, we will review the composition of the board of directors in order to more quickly respond to the changes coming in this major period, and aim to further strengthen our business foundation.


Accompanying this, Keiji Honda and Yukinobu Chida, who have strived for the growth of this company for many years, will resign as directors as of March 31.


There are no plans to change the role of Yousuke Matsuda, the president and representative director.


(2) New Directors Planning to be Appointed (Starting April 1)
NameNew RoleCurrent Role
Yoshinori Kitase
Director and Executive Officer
Executive Officer
Yousuke Saito
Director and Executive Officer
Executive Officer
Michihiro Sasaki
Director and Executive Officer
Executive Officer
Hirokazu Nishikado
Director and Executive Officer
Executive Officer
Shinji Hashimoto
Director and Executive Officer
Executive Officer
Yuu Miyake
Director and Executive Officer
Executive Officer
Naoki Yoshida
Director and Executive Officer
Executive Officer
Kazuharu Watanabe
Director and Executive Officer
Executive Officer
(3) Current Directors Planning to Resign (As of March 31)

• Keiji Honda (Currently Executive Director and Division Manager Executive Officer)
• Yukinobu Chida (Currently Executive Director)

? 2. List of Company Directors and Executive Officers
(1) Directors




RoleNamePresident and Representative DirectorYousuke MatsudaDirectorYoshinori KitaseDirectorYousuke SaitoDirectorMichihiro SasakiDirectorHirokazu NishikadoDirectorShinji HashimotoDirectorYuu MiyakeDirectorNaoki YoshidaDirectorKazuharu Watanabe

(2) Executive Officers


RoleNameField in Charge
Executive Officer
Yousuke Matsuda
Division Manager
Executive Officer
Tomoyoshi Oosaki
Division Manager
Executive Officer
Tsuneto Okuno
Division Manager
Executive Officer
Yoshinori Kitase
Development Manager, Division Manager
Executive Officer
Yousuke Saito
Development Manager, Division Manager
Executive Officer
Michihiro Sasaki
Division Manager
Executive Officer
Hideaki Sato
Division Manager (New)
Executive Officer
Hirokazu Nishikado
Division Manager
Executive Officer
Shinji Hashimoto
Final Fantasy / Kingdom Hearts Brand Manager, Division Manager
Executive Officer
Seishi Fujii
Division Manager
Executive Officer
Katsuyoshi Matsuura
Division Manager
Executive Officer
Motoharu Mitamura
Division Manager (New)
Executive Officer
Yuu Miyake
Dragon Quest Brand Manager, Division Manager
Executive Officer
Naoki Yoshida
Development Manager, Division Manager
Executive Officer
Kazuharu Watanabe
Division Manager
Executive Officer
Yasuhito Watanabe
Division Manager​

​

[FONT=&quot][FONT=Roboto !important][FONT=Roboto !important][FONT=Roboto !important][FONT=Roboto !important][FONT=&quot]source:[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

[YT]WrJHzka0LWY[/YT][FONT=Roboto !important]06:05[/FONT]
Wreck-It Ralph 2 Unveiled! - The Rundown - Electric Playground[FONT=Roboto !important]
[FONT=Roboto !important]
1.3K views1 day ago Published on 02/28/2018

[/FONT][FONT=Roboto !important]Today in the Rundown, we take a look at the Wreck-It Ralph 2 trailer, Horizon celebrates it's anniversary, NetherRealm Studios announces an Injustice 2: Legendary Edition, Netflix [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Roboto !important]has no plans to stop originals, Activision wants more remasters, and finally, fans aren't happy with the PC version of Chrono Trigger. [/FONT]​

source:EPN.tv

 

[zenith16]

White House says meeting invitations to games industry executives will go out "in the coming days"



16 hours agoComments 2
Update, March 2, 2018: The White House now says invitations to games industry executives will go out "next week."
Members of the ESA seemed as...Read more




source:[FONT=&quot]PCGN[/FONT]

 

[Iceman]

[FONT=&quot]

[/FONT]

Activision made more than half its money in 2017 off microtransactions February 9, 2018


The publisher behind Overwatch and Destiny 2 made a record amount of cash from in-game purchases last year.Read more

[FONT=&quot]






[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]


source:[/FONT][FONT=&quot]EGMnow[/FONT]

Oh damn. Not good for the future then.

 

[Iceman]

White House says meeting invitations to games industry executives will go out "in the coming days"



16 hours agoComments 2
Update, March 2, 2018: The White House now says invitations to games industry executives will go out "next week."
Members of the ESA seemed as...Read more




source:[FONT=&quot]PCGN[/FONT]

Great news for all those gamergate Trump fans.

 

[zenith16]

Another reason to hate gamer gate then . both trump and gamer gate the toxic side are bad news. the world can do with out both.

 

[zenith16]

got some news on the Esports with former host of EPN.tv marrissa Roberto . plus more news about the dev's headed to the white house


first up

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[YT]SJKh1f8wXM4[/YT]
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eSports Talk with Marissa Roberto - Electric Playground[FONT=Roboto !important]

[/FONT][FONT=Roboto !important]1.2K views1 day ago Published on 03/07/2018[FONT=Roboto !important]

Victor Lucas catches up with his old pal Marissa Roberto to talk about the eSports community, and her new Super Channel series Heads Up Daily!
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Here's the full show below

[YT]88gk2TL-da4[/YT][FONT=Roboto !important]01:35:23[/FONT]
Electric Playground Live! - eSports with Marissa, Owlboy Switch Review - March 6, 2018[FONT=Roboto !important]

[/FONT][FONT=Roboto !important]905 views1 day ago Published on 03/07/2018[FONT=Roboto !important]

Welcome to our latest show Electric Playground Live, where we bring you the latest in everything cool every single day! In today's episode, we have:

-A new LIVE edition of The Rundown daily news segment
-This Day In Everything Cool for March 6
-A chat with old pal Marissa Roberto about eSports!
-Buried Treasure segment on the awesome pinball game PinOut!

-A look ahead at the biggest games coming out in March 2018
-Full review of the Nintendo Switch version of Owlboy

-Let's Play and Chat with the action shooter Ruiner

[/FONT]
[/FONT]​

News onthe the dev's visting the white house


Wolfenstein publishers to attend Trump's violent videogame meeting

1 hour agoComments 5
​

Update, March 8: the Washington Post has revealed who will attend President Trump's White House meeting on videogame violence.
ZeniMax media CEO...Read more

source:[FONT=&quot]PCGN&[/FONT]EPN.tv

 

[zenith16]

Warren Spector: Every developer in White House violent games video “should be ashamed”

3 days ago​

Comments 6
US president Donald Trump’s meeting on videogame violence yesterday was mostly uneventful, aside from a brief supercut of violent clips which is...Read more




Bethesda open third game studio in Austin, Texas



3 days ago

Bethesda have a new development studio in Austin, Texas. BattleCry Studios will become Bethesda Game Studios Austin, expanding the company’s...Read more

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source:[FONT=&quot]PCGN[/FONT]

 

[zenith16]

Sam Witwer on Days Gone, Star Wars, and More! - Electric Playground Interview

662 views2 days ago Published on 03/14/2018

Sam Witwer joins us to chat about working on various Star Wars projects, the upcoming zombie game Days Gone, and much more!

Here's the Full show below ​

[F​

Electric Playground Live! - Sam Witwer Interview, Thor Ragnarok Blu-Ray Review - March 13, 2018
243 views2 days ago Published on 03/14/2018

Welcome to Electric Playground Live, where we bring you the latest in everything cool every single day! In today's episode, Victor Lucas chats with the legendary Sam Witwer about his work in the Star Wars franchise and upcoming zombie game Days Gone! We also have: -A new LIVE edition of The Rundown daily news segment -This Day In Everything Cool for March 13 -Thor Ragnarok Blu-ray review and Marvel movie discussion -Buried Treasure segment on the Wii U game Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
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source:EPN.tv

 

[zenith16]

hmmm, some of this like the character of Twin blast would make for aGood stuff like the Xforce /cable character kain there afew others that would work too.



$12M Worth of Paragon Assets Released on the Unreal Engine Marketplace for Free










Posted Mar 19, 2018| News | 26 Comments

If you're an aspiring game developer and are utilizing the Unreal Engine, you will be interested to know that Epic has released every last one of Paragon's $12M worth of assets. This includes environments, skins, characters and every other asset created for the game that is closing on April 26th. All of these items can be downloaded and used free of charge and with "no strings attached".Read more














source: MMORPG.com

 

[zenith16]

Phoenix Point's mutation of XCOM shows the tactics revolution is still to come

[YT]ROUVN8zpiWA[/YT]
4 days ago​

Phoenix Point, the current brainchild of X-COM creator Julian Gollop, is going to be a real highlight of 2018. While I’ve only played (and...Read more







source:[FONT=&quot]PCGN[/FONT]

 

[zenith16]

Industry
[FONT=&quot]Warriors Orochi 4 news coming May 10[/FONT]
Published 4 hours ago. 14 comments.

But leaks mean we will likely hear about it sooner.

Koei Tecmo will share more information about Warriors Orochi 4 on May 10, the game’s official Japanese Twitter account teased in an update.

May 10 is a Thursday, which is also the day Weekly Famitsu releases. That likely means the magazine will be the first publication to share the new information. If the regular schedule is followed, details from the magazine should leak in the early morning (ET time) of May 8.

Warriors Orochi 4 is due out worldwide for unannounced platform(s) in 2018.

Also with

Playing Phoenix Point reveals a far more complex game than XCOM




[YT]C7KDTyePIc8[/YT]
4 days ago
Playing the XCOM-alike Phoenix Point, I’m reminded of that other timeless tale of planetary defence, Men in Black. Specifically the Noisy...Read more

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source: Gematsu&[FONT=&quot]PCGN[/FONT]