Game Developer magazine’s October issue features the 2nd annual report on the Top 20 game publishers. This market defining study profiles the world’s leading game publishers, analyzes the types of games the companies release and explores their relationships with external studios. The publication enhanced the credibility of the annual report by overhauling the criteria used for ranking. Although revenue is still a key factor, this year’s survey also measured game review scores, number of titles canceled, producer quality and the catalog of original IP to determine rankings. As a result of expanding criteria, the Top 20 list had a few … Continue reading Top 20 Publishers Named →

Alawar Entertainment (www.Alawar.com), a leading publisher of shareware games for players of all ages, has released Strike Ball, a 3D accelerated brick-busting game from Owl Studio. As in Alawar's popular Magic Ball game, the player uses a bat at the bottom of the screen to hit a ball that destroys bricks at the top of the display. To set itself apart, Alawar's new arcade offering allows the player to demolish elaborate animated scenes taken from the real world. Among the scenarios in Strike Ball is a level in which three battleships are attacking an enemy fortification. Players also have the … Continue reading Alawar Releases New Shareware Title →

They have come relentlessly. Like an army of Uruk Hai, they have come. Month after month, the fans have come to www.LOTR.com to hear the music. More than a million have come, downloading MP3 after MP3 of Chance Thomas’ original music from Vivendi-Universal Games’ Lord of the Rings series. "The response to Chance’s music at LOTR.com has been fantastic," says Guy Welch, web marketing manager for VU Games. "Chance's delivery of web-ready files, online liner notes, and behind-the-scenes photography helped us quickly create a unique way for fans to experience this brand." By the end of August 2004 the total … Continue reading LOTR Game Music Gets Million Downloads →

Sidhe Interactive announced today that they will offer scholarships to the value of $4,000 for students who wish to study on Media Design School’s Graduate Diploma of Game Development. "The New Zealand game development industry has experienced solid growth in recent years", commented Mario Wynands, Managing Director of Sidhe Interactive. "We are delighted to help ensure this growth is sustainable by offering opportunities to emerging, talented individuals". Sidhe will grant one scholarship per intake for first year students, based upon candidates’ skills and abilities, motivations and evidence of financial hardship. Media Design School will match the value of the scholarship … Continue reading Sidhe Offering Game Design Scholarships →

Revolution Software’s Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon is aiming to be ‘big in Japan’, thanks to an agreement with native publisher Marvelous Entertainment which will see a Revolution Software game appear on shelves throughout the nation for the very first time. Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon is scheduled to be released on PS2 today, published by Marvelous Entertainment. Whilst it is often normal for Japanese adventure games to be translated and released throughout Europe and America, it’s less usual for Western titles to make the trip the other way. Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon has been localised for the Japanese … Continue reading Broken Sword Gets Japanese Audience →

Get ready to dive into a new world that brings back memories of a classic arcade game. Germany's Suricate Software has released PacFish, a colorful takeoff on the Pac-Man-style maze games. PacFish lives in a vivid undersea world. There is plenty to eat in the twisting mazes but your fish is not alone. PacFish has quite a few enemies, dangerous marine creatures such as the Jellyfish, Sharks, Crabs, and many others. Some are persistent and annoying while others are quite clever and seem to have a mind of their own anticipating PacFish every move. Along the way PacFish will find … Continue reading PacFish Attacks! →

The ESA Foundation today announced that William "Bing" Gordon, executive vice president and chief creative officer of Electronic Arts (EA), will receive the 2004 Champions Award at the annual "Nite to Unite for Kids" event in recognition of his outstanding service and contributions to the interactive entertainment industry. "Nite to Unite for Kids" is the computer and video game industry's premiere charity fundraising event benefiting children's charities. "Bing’s is a legacy both made, and still in the making, and we are proud to recognize him as an industry champion," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the … Continue reading ESA's Gordon Gets Champions Award →

NBA LIVE 2005, the authentic and innovative new basketball videogame from Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), ships to retailers today under the EA SPORTSâ„¢ brand. In stores throughout North America just in time for the opening of NBA training camps, the NBA LIVE franchise celebrates its 10th year in style, with all new features, visually immersive graphics, and improved gameplay. NBA LIVE 2005 continues to set the standard as the most authentic and comprehensive hoops simulation ever created. New EA SPORTS Freestyle Air gameplay takes the action above the rim with new dunks and added in-air control on put-backs, tip-ins, and … Continue reading NBA Live Ships →

On October 5th Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude for PC, PS2 and Xbox will be shipped nationwide. That's right! The best-loved adventure game franchise of all time is back! Except these aren't dot matrixed boobies from the 80's. Larry just got an upgrade. College is tough for Larry's nephew Larry, who just isn't as smooth with the ladies as his legendary uncle. When a reality TV dating show comes to campus, Larry decides he’s going to revitalize his life by winning the contest and proving once and for all that he can live up to the shining example set … Continue reading Leisure Suit Larry Returns →

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS), today announced that, based on internal data, The Sims 2 sold more than one million copies at retail stores worldwide within the first ten days – the biggest PC launch in EA's 22-year history. "The Sims franchise has become a cultural phenomenon and The Sims 2 is a game that changes the way we think about our industry" said Frank Gibeau, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Electronic Arts. "The game has sold one million units worldwide in its first ten days at retail – more than fifty percent of those games were sold in Europe." "The … Continue reading Sims 2 Earns Big Simoleans →