Netflix heads north

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Chris Morris

Netflix is taking the first steps to expanding globally. The online film rental service has announced plans to offer its streaming service to Canada beginning this fall.

The company will not offer rentals-via-mail to Canadians, as it does in the U.S. Instead, it is dubbing this expansion its “first streaming-only service.” Netflix, in recent years, has been focusing much more extensively on its online streaming services, striking U.S. partnerships with television and Blu-ray player manufacturers as well as video game consoles, Tivos and other devices.

Apple to offer iPhone 4 users free cases

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Chris Morris

Stung by ongoing media criticism and consumer complaints over the iPhone 4’s antenna, Apple has announced it will offer a free case to the more than 3 million people who have bought the device since its launch three weeks ago – and anyone who buys one for the next two-and-a-half months.

Users who have already purchased a bumper or case for the device will receive refunds – and the free case offer will extend to anyone who buys an iPhone 4 through Sept. 30. It also is offering a full refund for people who return their iPhone within 30 days of purchase, waving the restocking fee.

Xbox Live goes dark

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Chris Morris

(Note: I do not choose the headlines on Daily Variety stories.)

Two years ago, Microsoft announced plans to compete against television programmers on their own turf. On Thursday, the company conceded the first round to the networks.

After two successful seasons, the Microsoft has cancelled “1 vs. 100,” an online adaptation of the Endemol-created NBC gameshow. The game was the centerpiece of an experiment called Xbox Live Primetime — a scheduled series of interactive games that represented the videogame industry’s first serious foray into turf dominated by TV. It was a hit, too, setting a Guinness World Record for the most simultaneous contestants in a gameshow at 114,000.

Hardware’s up, but game sales plunge in June

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Chris Morris

June was another crummy month for video game sales – just like pretty much every other month this year. But, on the upside, a clearance sale on existing Xbox 360 hardware bumped hardware sales into positive territory.

Total sales for the industry came in at $1.1 billion, 6 percent behind last year’s pace, according to The NPD Group. Software sales, which are the number most people pay the closest attention to, were down 15 percent though, while hardware sales increased 5 percent.

Microsoft’s great experiment ends

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Chris Morris

When Microsoft announced plans to bring the TV game show “1 vs. 100” to the gaming space two years ago, a lot of people rolled their eyes and groaned a little bit. Not me. I thought it was one of the company’s most interesting announcements of that particular E3.

The game was the centerpiece of an experiment called Xbox Live Primetime – a scheduled series of interactive games that represented the video game industry’s first serious foray into the turf dominated by TV. It was a hit, even setting a Guinness World Record for the most simultaneous contestants in a game show – 114,000. Now it’s dead.

Apple to address iPhone 4 issues Friday

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Chris Morris

The iPhone launch might have been the biggest in Apple’s history, but it has also been marred by numerous complaints about the device’s antenna. Now, Apple appears ready to discuss consumer concerns and perhaps announce what it plans to do to address those issues.

The Cupertino-based company will hold a press conference Friday at 10am. It has declined to give details about who will speak or what will be addressed.

Ad veteran joins Activision

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Chris Morris

Activision Blizzard, the gaming industry’s largest publisher, has hired a high profile advertising and marketing veteran as CEO of its Activision Publishing arm.

Eric Hirshberg, who had served as CEO and chief creative officer of advertising and marketing agency Deutsch/LA, will join the company effective Sept. 7. He assumes the position from Mike Griffith, who was promoted to vice chairman of Activision Blizzard earlier this year.

New Activision Publishing CEO may have best resume of all time

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Chris Morris

Today’s appointment of Eric Hirshberg as CEO of Activision Publishing rounds out a nine-month search by the company and will fill the hole left by the promotion of Mike Griffith earlier this year.

Activision’s excited about the move for a number of reasons, but gamers should be excited because Eric Hirshberg might have the coolest freakin’ resume of all time.

Google gaga for gaming

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Chris Morris

Google, which has been a looming threat in the gaming world, appears to be edging closer to becoming a major player in online games.

The search giant has invested at least $100 million in social gaming company Zynga, the developer of some of the biggest games on Facebook, including “FarmVille” and “Mafia Wars,” to help launch Google Games, which is expected later this year.

Epic Mickey gets a comic book

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Chris Morris

Disney’s reintroduction of Mickey Mouse to the video game world is expanding into other mediums.

Beyond the work he is doing on “Epic Mickey,” developer Warren Spector is working on a comic book adaptation of the Wasteland world where the game is set. Comic and sci-fi superstar Peter David is assisting on the book (and likely doing most of the writing).

Chris Morris: Journalist

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