The Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) and its members are mourning the passing of George Atkinson, who is generally considered to have been the "inventor" of video rental. Atkinson died Thursday in Los Angeles. "From George Atkinson's innovation, a tremendous industry has developed," said Bo Andersen, President of VSDA. There are now more than 24,000 video stores in the U.S. In 2004, there were 2.6 billion DVDs and VHS cassettes were rented, generating more than $8 billion in revenue. In the Fall of 1977, George Atkinson bought one Betamax and one VHS copy of each of the first 50 movie … Continue reading Game Rental Pioneer Dies →

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board unveiled a new game ranking that will fit between the E for everyone and the T for teen rank on the ratings ladder. The board had taken from heat recently about putting too lax ratings on certain games, but also from developers who felt their Everyone-aimed games were going into the Teen category. The E10+ rating will fill that void. "We found we were putting games we thought were preteen in the teen category," said Patricia Vance, president of the board. "And with the levels of sophistication in game play and graphics now, we felt … Continue reading ESRB Reveals New E10+ Rating →

Today, Ubisoft, one of the world's largest interactive game publishers, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire MC2-Microids' (Microids Canada) Canadian development operations and integrate them into its Montreal studio. The closing of this agreement is subject to requirements to be met by the two parties. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Following this agreement, Microids Canada's fifty employees will be integrated into Ubisoft's Montreal studio operations. This agreement does not cover any of MC2-Microids' intellectual property or projects currently under development.

DreamCatcher Games today announced Domination, a strategy game for Windows®, is now available in North America. Domination features a renewed global conflict between the Free Nations Union and the Phantom League on distant planets, including sci-fi land, sea and air warfare at a grand-strategy level. The game inherits all of the remarkable features of the original game and deepens the Massive Assault player experience through increased gameplay options and new strategic challenges. "With hundreds of hours of game play and thousands of units to control, this game will keep you occupied until sometime this summer," said Byron Gaum, Product Manager … Continue reading DreamCatcher's Domination Ships →

Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced that its highly anticipated submarine simulation, Silent Hunter III, for PC DVD, has gone gold. The game is set to launch March 15 at the manufacturer's suggested retail price of $39.99 – rated "T" for Teen. The latest title in the Silent Hunter franchise will add new dimensions to the simulation experience, where players will assume the role of U-boat commander, become immersed in a dynamic ocean environment and experience the intensity of WWII submarine warfare. The all-new 3D engine features impressive details such as historically accurate U-boat models that … Continue reading Silent Hunter III Goes Gold →

Video gamers aren’t going to have to travel any further than their local Scion dealership to compete for cash and a 2005 Scion xB in the National VGL Video Gaming Tournament, which begins this spring. The local tournaments will be held in twenty-eight metro markets throughout the United States. Scion has signed a one-year sponsorship agreement as a top level VGL tournament sponsor. Janet Catinna, Vice President of Turn-Key Marketing Services, brokered the sponsorship. The tour, which is made up of two tournament seasons, is produced and managed by the Video Gamers League (VGL) of Dallas, TX and Turn-Key Marketing … Continue reading Scion Dealers To Host VGL Tournaments →

RedOctane announced today that it has established a new division of the company dedicated to publishing software. Their first title for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system will be announced in Spring 2005. "Launching into a new business segment with the publishing of video games is a natural evolution for us," said Kai Huang, president of RedOctane. " We are committed to delivering the same high quality and fun found in our peripherals with the upcoming RedOctane software line." The game will join a prestigious line of award winning RedOctane video game accessories.

The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) will give special recognition to an academic, an industry professional and the founders of a media artists' group whose contributions have been invaluable to the evolution of interactive entertainment, during the 5th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards, Wednesday, March 9, 2005, at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco. Recipients include Richard Allan Bartle, Ph.D, founding father of Multi-User Dungeons (MUD), who will receive the First Penguin award; Sheri Graner Ray, a revered advocate of women's interests in game development, the Community Contribution award; and Matt Adams, Ju Row Farr and Nick Tandavanitj, … Continue reading Bartle, Ray, Farr And Tandavanitj To Get GDC Awards →

Cartoon Books and Telltale, today announced that Jeff Smith’s comic masterpiece Bone is coming to a computer near you. Long a popular independent comic, the award winning Bone was described by Publishers Weekly as "Charming, character driven fantasy with an elegant design and masterful storytelling." And now Telltale, a company that takes you to the worlds where characters like Bone play and invites you to play with them, will be creating new episodes for PC gaming. "Detailed rich characters and incredibly immersive story telling are everything to us," said Telltale’s CEO Dan Connors. "We are proud that Jeff Smith and … Continue reading Bone Comic Game Coming To PC →

As Arcade Town enters it's 6th year and beyond we anticipate further growth and more great titles. Join the fun today by going to www.arcadetown.com and see the selection of exciting games available to play or download! 2 million people a month can't be wrong!