Nintendo reveals 3DS launch details

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Chris Morris

Despite speculation that they might miss their launch target and price the system beyond the comfort zone of the mass audience, Nintendo’s 3DS handheld gaming system will launch on time and at a price point lower than many feared.

The 3DS, which lets players enjoy games in stereoscopic 3D without the need for special 3D glasses, will go on sale in North America on March 27 at a price of $249.99. That’s $100 higher than the launch price the DS had in 2004, but lower than the $300 many feared when the Japanese launch price was given.

When a simple game sale is so much more…

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Chris Morris

In the video game world, there’s bundling – and there’s true customer appreciation.

Valve Software is showing other publishers how to beef up a software release without looking like an obvious play to boost sales. The company announced Tuesday that gamers who buy the PlayStation 3 version of “Portal 2” will receive the PC/Mac version for free.

Steve Jobs takes new medical leave, keeps CEO title

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Chris Morris

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is taking a medical leave of absence from the company to focus on his health, the company announced Monday.

Jobs will continue as the company’s CEO and said he would continue to be involved in major strategic decisions for the company – but chief operating officer Tim Cook will be responsible for day-to-day operations at Apple.

2010 sees 6 percent drop in retail video game sales

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Chris Morris

2010 was another ugly year for video game retailers. Overall sales of video games were down 6 percent compared to the 2009 numbers – coming in at $18.58 billion. But there was some room for optimism.

Adding in other income streams, including digital downloads, used game sales, game rentals, subscriptions, social network games and mobile game apps, the NPD Group, which tallies the numbers, estimates preliminary software sales in 2010 were between $15.4 to $15.6 billion – which represented relatively flat growth compared to 2009 (though perhaps down by 1 percent).

Nintendo’s 3DS may eventually become a 3D camcorder too

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Chris Morris

Nintendo will break new ground with the 3DS portable gaming system later this year, offering the first consumer electronics device to let people enjoy stereoscopic 3D effects without wearing glasses. But it looks like the company might have much bigger ambitions for the gadget.

In the latest Iwata Asks Q&A with the company’s global CEO, Satoru Iwata reveals that he would like to include video recording capabilities into future updates of the 3DS, letting people shoot home movies in 3D and watch them back on their device or (presumably) on a 3D TV via SD card.

Just how popular are pirate sites?

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Chris Morris

The entertainment industry’s war on piracy is well known, but exactly how big an army it has been battling has always been something of a mystery.

MarkMonitor, which protects online brands for its clients, has done some counting, though, and it estimates that Web piracy sites distributing software, films and other products attract roughly 53 billion visits per year.

iPhone 4 coming to Verizon – officially

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Chris Morris

After years of rumors, speculation and pining, Verizon finally has the iPhone.

The company made the formal announcement Tuesday, confirming that the top smartphone on the market will be available to its customers in early March, ending AT&T’s long run of exclusivity with the device.

Latest World of Warcraft expansion sets new record

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Chris Morris

Blizzard’s MMO juggernaut “World of Warcraft” is showing no signs of slowing down.

The company announced Monday that the game’s latest expansion – “World of Warcraft: Cataclysm” – had sold 4.7 million copies worldwide in just one month. That makes it the fastest-selling PC game of all time, displacing “Wrath of the Lich King,” the previous “WoW” expansion.

CES 2011 Preview: Saturday’s things to watch

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Chris Morris

Things are starting to slow down at CES – kind of. The crowds will be huge today and the show isn’t over until tomorrow, but rather than the flood of announcements, seminars and keynotes, Saturday and Sunday are basically days for attendees to seek out the items they’ve missed.

This is when quality tends to win out over hype at the show – as word of mouth spreads about smaller devices that don’t have the marketing budgets of Panasonic, Sharp or other multi-billion dollar companies.

CES 2011 Preview: Friday’s things to watch

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Chris Morris

While showgoers get more hands-on time with the new crop of gadgets, Friday’s news cycle at CES will be more focused on the keynotes.

The day kicks off with an Innovation Power Panel keynote, featuring Cisco CEO John Chambers, GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt and Xerox Chairman and CEO Ursula Burns. It’s a good chance to pick the brain of some of the leading minds in consumer electronics – and a good way to gear up for another day of walking the floor, which is getting more and more crowded as the week goes on.

Chris Morris: Journalist

Category Archives: Variety – Technotainment