Zattikka, a major new player in social and casual gaming across online and mobile platforms today named their new EVP of North American Operations as Joel Breton, former Director of Content for MTV Networks’ AddictingGames.com. Joel Breton is a game industry veteran who has produced top-selling video games across twenty console platforms and created more than one hundred online games that have been played billions of times across the web. Breton began his game development career at Sega of America in 1994 where he worked on many of Sega’s classic games including Sonic and Knuckles, Virtua Fighter, Virtua Racer, Panzer … Continue reading Joel Breton Is New Zattikka Executive VP →

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced plans for a limited-release Collector’s Edition of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, the third expansion for the world’s most popular subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game, World of Warcraft. The special Collector’s Edition package, which will only be available at retail stores, will include the following exclusive bonus items in addition to the game disc: Art of the Cataclysm art book, featuring 176 pages of never-before-seen images from the archives of the Blizzard Entertainment cinematics department and the World of Warcraft development team, as well as progressive visuals from multiple stages of development. Exclusive in-game pet: … Continue reading World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector’s Edition Announced →

Melina Gerosa Bellows, currently executive vice president of Children’s Publishing, has assumed the expanded role of chief creative officer for National Geographic Kids and Family, it was announced today by National Geographic Global Media (NGGM) President Tim Kelly. In addition to overseeing the Children’s Book Division and serving as editor in chief of the award-winning National Geographic Kids and Little Kids magazines, Gerosa Bellows will work collaboratively across all NGGM units engaged in developing and producing kids- and family-oriented products, including Games, Entertainment and Digital Media, to manage the overall editorial characteristics of those products and ensure a consistent brand … Continue reading Bellows Is CCO For National Geographic Kids →

Flashman Studios, a leading business management firm in the interactive entertainment industry, announced today that it has reached a strategic representation agreement with Iron Galaxy Studios, a Chicago-based game development studio with decades of combined experience and several AAA titles under its belt. Per the agreement, Flashman will be responsible for handling all business management responsibilities for Iron Galaxy, the studio leads of which have worked on such top-tier projects as Bionic Commando, Dark Void, Supreme Commander 2 as well as several as-of-yet unannounced titles with major publishers such as Capcom Entertainment, Inc. "Flashman brings a lot to the business … Continue reading Flashman Signs Iron Galaxy Studios →

ZeniMax Media Inc., parent company of noted game publisher Bethesda Softworks, today announced it has completed the acquisition of veteran game developer Arkane Studios. Founded in 1999, Arkane has offices in Lyon, France and Austin, Texas and is led by co-creative directors Raphael Colantonio, Arkane’s founder and CEO who will also serve as president of Arkane, and Harvey Smith, lead designer on Deus Ex. Arkane’s first title, Arx Fatalis, was released in 2002 and became a fan favorite with its highly detailed environments and innovative gameplay. In addition, Arkane developed Dark Messiah of Might and Magic (PC version), and has … Continue reading ZeniMax (Bethesda) Acquires Arkane Studios →

Paradox Interactive today released Victoria 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Victoria. With over 200 countries to choose from and eight different types of government, the past is now your creation in this historical, grand strategy PC title. Paradox has also released a cinematic trailer to celebrate the occasion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO1Am2VlNuY Created by the developers of Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron, Victoria 2 is set during the colonial era of the 19th century featuring historical gameplay on a map of the entire world. Guide your nation from the era of absolute monarchies in the early 19th century, through expansion and … Continue reading Victoria II Ships →

Battlegrave has been added as the first ever PvP zone in the Fantasy Pirates MMO Captains of DarkTide (CoDT). The new zone throws players into head-to-head battles for the right to collect loot barrels that spawn periodically near the center of the region. Battlegrave is the first of a number of specially themed tactical battle zones announced at www.playdarktide.com, which include areas such as "Boss Lairs" and more PvP scenarios that will be introduced throughout open beta. Battlegrave challenges players to compete in a king-of-the-hill style map without the risk of losing items. Players whose ships are sunk during PvP … Continue reading Captains of DarkTide MMO Adds PvP →

Leading gaming peripherals manufacturer Splitfish Gameware announced today that they are extending their peripheral lineup with the premiere of the FRAGFX Shark, their new power conserving precision mouse FPS controller for the PlayStation 3, PC and Mac at Gamescom 2010, August 18-22. On hand to take on all challengers will be international Call of Duty champ Dennis Dozier (zDD). The FRAGFX Shark boasts a variety of innovations such as power conserving technology so that it requires only a single AA battery in the split fragchuck and mouse to provide 50+ hours of gaming time and 500 + hours on standby. … Continue reading Splitfish To Reveal Eco-Friendly PS3 Controller →

Gator Publishing Service (GPS), an innovative provider of comprehensive video game publishing services, today announced the formation of Collective Mindz, a new video game publisher. Collective Mindz is designed for independent video game publishers and developers who desire the support of a full-service North American publishing presence without exposing their companies to the risk or overhead inherent in establishing an office and building a staff. The new publishing arm also allows established video game publishers to take advantage of product opportunities they may have otherwise turned down due to product fit or costs. Gator Publishing Services will be attending gamescom … Continue reading Gator Publishing Forms Collective Mindz Game Group →

Pets are no longer restricted to fetching the morning paper and crowd pleasing tricks, as today Aion redefines how MMORPGs approach pets, creating an entirely new subsystem for players to explore within the upcoming free expansion, Aion: Assault on Balaurea. For the first time within Aion, players will have access to functional pets capable of storing goods, assisting with crafting, acting as guardians by alerting their masters to nearby enemies, and of course those designed to make their masters look good. While the pets system will continuously evolve throughout the life of the game, Aion: Assault on Balaurea will launch … Continue reading Aion Adding Functional Pets To MMO →