The national board of Screen Actors Guild (SAG) today voted to send members who work in the video game industry a referendum on the proposed Interactive Media Agreement. The referendum will also be available to any paid-up SAG member in good standing who requests a ballot. The referendum will be mailed out on July 13 and due back by July 28. As a result of today’s board decision, game producers have extended their contract offer to July 31. The board elected not to include a formal recommendation either for or against the proposal. The board’s action follows the June 21 … Continue reading SAG To Vote On Game Actors Contract →

Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online (MMO) gaming, yesterday released The Splitpaw Saga, the second exciting adventure pack for EverQuest II. Available via digital download for US $7.99, The Splitpaw Saga gives players hours of new story-rich content to explore. "We enjoy making sure that EverQuest II has new places to explore," said Senior Producer Scott Hartsman. "Adventure packs like The Splitpaw Saga let us bring out high-quality, story-rich content frequently. Whether you’re there to follow the story, adventure in new zones that scale to your level, or even to blow up your group … Continue reading EverQuest II Launches Splitpaw Saga →

I-play, the mobile games company, today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of British mobile games porting specialist and developer, Ditto Studios. This strategic acquisition will enable I-play to deliver its products to market more quickly, through Ditto's proprietary technology that accelerates the process of providing mobile games to the hundreds of different handsets available on the market. Mark Bridgeman will remain as Ditto's Managing Director (MD), whilst the other Ditto directors, Bob Wood, James Allcock, and Ian Metcalfe, will continue to manage the Ditto team. A full integration between both companies is now underway. Ditto is also an … Continue reading I-Play Buys Ditto Studios →

Responding to the Supreme Court’s ruling today in the case of MGM v. Grokster, the Entertainment Software Association’s President, Douglas Lowenstein, issued the following statement: "We are heartened by the Supreme Court's resounding decision and are hopeful that it will put an end to the efforts of those who for the last several years have advanced tortured and flawed legal rationales to legitimize good old fashioned copyright theft . The Supreme Court made clear that when people and companies actively and knowingly induce massive copyright infringement on the Internet, they are on the wrong side of the law. The ‘I … Continue reading ESA Celebrates Court Ruling →

Games industry senior executives, decision makers and researchers gathered in London last week for the ELSPA International Games Summit, with the market’s thought leaders taking this valuable opportunity to share their vision, their strategies and their concerns as the industry sits on the cusp of the next-generation transition. The annual event continues to grow from strength to strength and this, its third year, was its most successful yet – with a diverse selection of speakers and sessions, each of great relevance to the rapidly evolving business of games, and an audience comprised of senior executives from across the interactive entertainment … Continue reading Summit Charts Industry Course →

NCsoft Europe today unveiled its exciting plans for the largest tournament that the City of Heroes community has ever seen. Taking place over several months and involving players from all over Europe, the Super Summer Slam Spectacular (S4) offers something for players of all persuasions. S4 will take place over three separate stages. The initial stage (already underway but still very enterable) involves designing a set of costumes for a five-hero strong team to wear into battle. The costumes will be worn by the victorious players from the next stage, the Pentad Cup, which involves each server in Europe hosting … Continue reading European Superheroes To Compete →

Screen Actors Guild (SAG) announced today that SAG President Melissa Gilbert and National Executive Director/CEO Greg Hessinger will convene a special meeting of the national board on Wednesday, June 29, to consider the tentative Interactive Media Agreement with video game companies that was rejected this past Tuesday by SAG's National Executive Committee. "When the NEC rejected the tentative contract earlier this week, we said we'd explore all our remaining options," said Hessinger. "Since then, we have received feedback from enough of our membership to conclude that this matter must be brought before the full board for its consideration." The previous … Continue reading SAG Considering Deal →

Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announces that Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory for the Nintendo DS system has shipped to retailers across North America and will be available June 28, 2005. Key features of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory for Nintendo DS include: • All the new moves and gadgets of the console versions released in March 2005, but with the addition of the exclusive Swat Turn. • Touch Screen technology that allows players to manage the inventory, choose between three vision modes and maneuver the camera. • The wireless communication of the … Continue reading Splinter Cell Sneaks Onto DS →

Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today announced the acquisition of independent game developer Swordfish Studios. Under terms of the agreement, VU Games will retain Swordfish Studios’ U.K.-based team of 45 development professionals. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "Swordfish Studios has emerged as a strong creative force with an experienced and talented group of professionals," said Bruce Hack, CEO of VU Games. "Following the integration of Radical Entertainment into the VU Games organization and Blizzard Entertainment’s acquisition of Swingin’ Ape Studios earlier this year, the purchase of Swordfish further builds our internal development capabilities." Trevor Williams, Managing Director … Continue reading Vivendi Buys Swordfish →

Sony Online Entertainment Inc., and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced exclusive long-term licensing agreements allowing SOE to develop a DC Comics massively multiplayer online game for PC and next generation consoles, as well as the acquisition of The Matrix Online game by SOE. "By working with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment we will fuse the knowledge SOE has in the online space with some of Warner Bros.’ phenomenal properties," said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. "SOE will work closely with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Comics to maintain the authenticity consumers demand from the DC Comics franchises. We … Continue reading Sony Online Buys Matrix Game, DC Comics Rights →