Author Archives: Chris Morris

Analysis: What’s next for THQ?

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Troubled publisher THQ is massively reorganizing itself yet again, but is the elimination of its licensed kids’ games and 240 members of its staff enough to convince shareholders that the company means it this time?

The cloud hovering over THQ’s corporate head got a lot darker Wednesday – and the long-term forecast is pretty uncertain.

While there’s certainly nothing happy about 240 employees losing their jobs and it’s never a good sign when a CEO slashes his own salary, the actions could be the start of what THQ needs to do to ensure its long-term survival. But they may not be the end.

Read more at Gamasutra

White House exploring benefits of gaming

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The Obama administration is embracing the gamification movement in a big way.

Constance Steinkuehler has been hired as a senior policy analyst at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Sounds like a typical government title, huh? Here’s the catch: She studies video games.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

5 game genres on the decline

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The circle of life doesn’t stop — even in the video game world. No matter how popular a game genre might be, it’s always in danger of becoming irrelevant.

Sometimes, that’s due to oversaturation, or perhaps interests have simply shifted elsewhere. While no video game death is permanent, several genres are in deep hibernation — and others are threatening to join them. Here are five game types in serious need of some extra lives.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

EverQuest going free-to-play

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The game that made MMO games a viable force in the industry is going free-to-play.

EverQuest will drop its mandatory monthly pricing strategy in March, as the game hits its impressive 13th birthday — though like other free-to-play games Sony Online Entertainment currently distributes, there will be a tiered pricing plan for players who want more features and content.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Gamemaker THQ gets delisting notice from Nasdaq

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Video game publisher THQ, which has worked closely with several Hollywood studios throughout the years, is facing a delisting on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

The company, which has partnered with many Hollywood studios, including Dreamworks and Disney in recent years, has filed an 8K form with the Securities and Exchange Commission, announcing it has received a stock delisting notice from the stock market.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

How accurate are Madden’s Super Bowl predictions?

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While Electronic Arts has never let a good PR opportunity slip past, it might be a mistake to dismiss the company’s annual Super Bowl predictions. Gamasutra’s Chris Morris takes a look at Madden’s past results.

While Electronic Arts has never let a good PR opportunity slip past, it might be a mistake to dismiss the company’s annual Super Bowl predictions.

While the Madden prognostications are certainly a final attempt to move software before interest in the football category falls off a cliff until August, the game is eerily accurate when it comes to determining the winner of the big game.

Read more at Gamasutra

Nintendo reveals online network plans

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Nintendo might have a stable of terrific game franchises and groundbreaking systems, but when it comes to online gaming, the company is woefully behind.

It’s hoping to change that with its next-generation system, though, and started down that path by announcing a few details about the ‘Nintendo Network’ late last week

Read more at Yahoo! Games

‘Indie Game – The Movie’ to highlight Game Developer’s Conference

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Typically, the entertainment highlight of the annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco is the Game Developer’s Choice Awards – one of the video game industry’s more prestigious award ceremonies.

Those will still be handed out this year, but attendees are likely to be more excited about the announcement that Indie Game – The Movie will be screened at the show on March 5 at 6pm.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

In Videogames, Even Football Isn’t Without Controversy

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While football is a pretty family-friendly sport, it’s not always benign in the videogame world.

The NFL has been a part of the landscape for about as long as videogames have been around — and anything with such longevity tends to ruffle some feathers among both players and publishers.

Read more at CNBC.com

Opinion: How NFC tech could be Wii U’s saving grace

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From new ways to play Pokemon to new ways to pay for Pokemon, the Wii U’s newly-revealed NFC feature lays the groundwork for new business and gamplay opportunities for Nintendo and its partners.

Things haven’t been looking especially rosy for the Wii U over the past few months.

E3 crowds were interested in getting their hands on the company’s next generation console last June, but that’s fairly common for new gaming tech. For the rest of the world, the system didn’t seem to have a real hook they could sink their teeth into.

Read more at Gamasutra