Category Archives: News and Industry Happenings

Playboy.com Moving To PSP

Playboy.com today has announced its next step in delivering digital and downloadable beauties with the launch of its newest feature "PlayboyStation Portable." Given the tremendous popularity of the new Sony PlayStation Portable, Playboy.com has created a sci-fi themed pictorial of the Cyber Girl of the Year 2005 Amy Sue Cooper that was photographed and formatted specifically for viewing on this device. Playboy.com first harnessed the burgeoning handheld digital photo revolution last December by offering some of its sexiest girls next door in an exclusive "iBod" editorial feature for Apple’s iPod Photo. That feature was an international sensation, and thousands of … Continue reading Playboy.com Moving To PSP

Got Game Launches Squad Assault

Got Game Entertainment LLC today announced that it has reached a co-publishing agreement with Merscom LLC to bring World War II real-time strategy game "Squad Assault: Second Wave" for PC to North American retail. The game is a significantly updated, enhanced, and expanded release of the critically-acclaimed "Squad Assault: West Front", with even more new campaigns, operations, and single mission scenarios than previously announced, for at least 100 new battles. The North American release as "Squad Assault: Second Wave" incorporates all previously released patches and includes 800 MB of new content including over 50 new modder maps. The game also … Continue reading Got Game Launches Squad Assault

GameStop To Buy Electronics Boutique

GameStop announced today that it has a definitive merger agreement to purchase Electronics Boutique. A joint statement outlined the deal which will create the largest game-selling company in the world. Electronics Boutique reported $1.94 billion in sales last year. GameStop reported $1.84 billion in 2004. According to the agreement, GameStop will pay $38.15 in cash and 0.78795 shares of GameStop common stock for each Electronics Boutique share. The cash-stock combination is worth $55.18 or 34.2 percent over EB’s $41.12 closing price on Friday. As is typical in merger situations, both companies stock rose following the news. EB went up $14.50 … Continue reading GameStop To Buy Electronics Boutique

UBI Opens New Quebec Studio

Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced the creation of a new videogame development studio that will employ 200 designers, animators and programmers in Quebec City. This announcement is part of the recently announced project to create 1000 new jobs by 2010 in Quebec, thereby bringing its total number of employees to 2000 in the province. "Our expected growth in the five coming years will now come from both Montreal, as announced last February, and Quebec City," said Martin Tremblay, President and COO of Ubisoft's Montreal studios. ‘'Quebec City is a recognized creative hub and well-known … Continue reading UBI Opens New Quebec Studio

Foundation 9 Buys Pipeworks

Foundation 9 Entertainment, Inc., North America’s largest independent developer, today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Pipeworks Software, an independent studio focusing on development of entertainment software titles for major software publishers. After the transaction is completed, Pipeworks will continue to develop video games for the Sony PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, and the Sony PSPâ„¢ handheld entertainment system at its Eugene, Oregon studio. Additionally, Pipeworks President and Co-Founder, Dan Duncalf, will join the board of Foundation 9 Entertainment. "Dan Duncalf, Dan White, and their team will be a tremendous … Continue reading Foundation 9 Buys Pipeworks

Vindigo Enters Mobile Games Market

Vindigo, a leading mobile media company, today announced its entry into the rapidly growing mobile games market. Vindigo will release a broad selection of adventure and casual games in 2005, beginning with a fantasy graphic adventure game based on the bestselling Shadowgate franchise. The award-winning Shadowgate from Infinite Ventures has sold more than one and a half million copies worldwide on multiple platforms, making it a winning lead game title for Vindigo. With more than five million downloads of local information, personalization, and entertainment products and a distribution network including all top-tier wireless carriers, Vindigo leads the market for mobile … Continue reading Vindigo Enters Mobile Games Market

Jakks Brings Mortal Kombat To Contoller TV Game

Mortal Kombat TV Games controllers are portable gaming units that contain the original arcade version of the first videogame in the series, Mortal Kombat from Midway, and is the newest title from JAKKS Pacific, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: JAKK) award-winning TV Games line. All that is needed are batteries and a TV — no videogame consoles are required. Simply plug Mortal Kombat TV Games unit into the A/V jacks of any standard television set, and turn it on to morph into Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Raiden, Liu Kang and the rest of the Mortal Kombatants and lead them into battle in the hopes of … Continue reading Jakks Brings Mortal Kombat To Contoller TV Game

Double Shot Signs With Matrix

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and Double Shot Design (www.doubleshotdesign.com) today announced an agreement to publish the first of a series of black powder-era wargames. Black Powder Wars: Battles Of Napoleon will cover Napoleonic-era tactical combat with full multiplayer and scenario editor support. David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said, "We are on a Napoleonic roll, with three releases due this year, each covering a different scale of Napoleonic warfare. The Double Shot Design team has skillfully developed Black Powder Wars: Battles Of Napoleon to fill the tactical Napoleonic niche." Black Powder Wars: Battles Of Napoleon may be the first … Continue reading Double Shot Signs With Matrix

Telltale Releases Texas Hold'Em

Telltale Inc, today announced the worldwide launch of its character based poker game Telltale Texas Hold'Em! In this hilarious new game the player squares off against four wacky characters, all with their own individual playing styles. The engaging PC title is unique among video poker games, focusing on the characters more than the cards. "Texas Hold'Em is a phenomenon right now, not only as a card game, but also as an entertainment experience," said Telltale CEO Dan Connors. "Our character personality A.I. system allows us to capture the character interplay of a real Texas Hold'Em game better than any other … Continue reading Telltale Releases Texas Hold'Em

Part Two Being Called To Duty

Attention soldiers! Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) and acclaimed developer Infinity Ward are back in action with Call of Duty 2(tm), an all new epic title which delivers an unparalleled portrayal of the chaos and intensity that was World War II. The sequel to the award-winning Call of Duty(tm), Call of Duty 2 is powered by a proprietary new engine featuring striking new visuals, advanced A.I. technology, the most realistic squad combat and explosive action in new historic campaigns. The title is scheduled for release this fall and is not yet rated by the ESRB. Call of Duty 2 lets players … Continue reading Part Two Being Called To Duty