Tag Archives: video games

Opinion: The Video Game-Home Video Disconnect

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[Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris looks at the odd disconnect between video games and the film industry, discussing the ins-and-outs of “transmedia”, and how publishers could potentially take advantage of the system.]

Video games and Hollywood have always been the Woody Allen and Soon-Yi of the entertainment world. They’re together forever, but the fit has always been an odd one — and a little creepy at times.

Yet, for all the talk of film and video game synergy, you don’t see a lot of real world applications. Typically, the drill goes something like this: Studio wants to extend the reach of its upcoming nerd-friendly film; reaches agreement with game publisher; crappy game ensues (usually due to severely restricted development windows).

Read more at Gamasutra

Analysis: Should Nintendo Launch The Next Generation Now?

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With rumors circulating that Nintendo is planning to announce its next generation console at E3 this year, Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris discusses whether the company should make its boldest move to date.

The rumors have been gaining steam for a couple of weeks now. Nintendo, they say, is planning to announce its next generation console at E3 this year.

While the company, not surprisingly, isn’t commenting on the chatter, it’s hardly going out of its way to downplay it either. And the second quarter lineup for the system (along with growing whispers about a looming $50 price cut in May) didn’t do anything to quiet speculation.

Read more at Gamasutra

Interview: Sifteo Founders Pursue Wii-Like Enchantment

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Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris talks to Sifteo co-founders David Merrill and Jeevan Kalanithi about their new gaming system that plays games via small electronic blocks communicating wirelessly with a PC.

Long before people take a side in the Sony vs. Nintendo vs. Microsoft vs. Apple snipefests that so often dominate forum and comment chatter, they start with much simpler gaming interests.

Blocks… Sticks… Rocks… In many cases, board game pieces… Love of gaming often begins with some sort of tactile sensation. That physical connection sometimes fades once players get exposed to video games, but David Merrill and Jeevan Kalanithi are hoping to bring it back, by fusing the best parts of traditional and video gaming.

Read more at Gamasutra

Nielsen: Americans spend 13 minutes per day gaming on a TV

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The Nielsen Company, that arbiter of television ratings, has released a study breaking down American gaming habits. The study, part of its March 2011 State of the Media report, finds that Americans spend an average of 13 minutes playing video games on a television each day.

That might not sound like a lot, but keep in mind that the data was taken from Nielsen homes, which are made up of a wide swath of people, many of whom are not core gamers – and many of whom don’t even own a gaming console.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Opinion: NPD Sales Reporting Restirictions May Shoot Data Service In The Foot

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Veteran game journalist and Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris examines NPD’s moves to limit media access to U.S. video game sales figures, stating NPD “could be undercutting its own relevancy.”

I get why The NPD Group has been clamping down on distribution of its data recently. I really do.

But I’m starting to worry that as the company keeps an eye on its bottom line, it could be undercutting its own relevancy at a time when it’s already under assault.

Read more at Gamasutra

Nintendo president blasts cheap apps

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Nintendo’s global president Satoru Iwata is not happy with the app revolution – and it’s not just because of the competition it’s giving his company.

In his GDC keynote address discussing the state of the video game industry, Iwata was particular outspoken on his fear that the explosion in cheap and free apps has devalued game development and could eventually put the industry at risk.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

Video game sales continue their slide in January

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It has been two years since the video game industry has seen positive growth — and from the looks of things, it may not see it in 2011, either.

Game software sales were down 5 percent last month as compared to the same period in 2010, according to figures released today by the NPD Group. Hardware sales were even worse, slumping 8 percent.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Video Game Sales Get off to Slow Start in 2011

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2011 isn’t looking much better than 2010 or 2009 for retail sales of video games.

Despite comparing with weak numbers from a year ago, game software sales were down 5 percent last month versus 12 months earlier, coming in at $576 million, according to NPD Group, which tracks the industry. Overall, the industry was down 6 percent, dragged lower by continued weakness in the hardware category.

Read more at CNBC.com

Gaming icons head to the Smithsonian

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Are video games art? Enthusiasts, critics and courts might disagree, but the world’s largest museum is pretty clear on the matter.

Visitors to the Smithsonian American Art Museum are going to see some new faces next year. Nestled among the works by Georgia O’Keeffe and Edward Hopper will be a mustachioed plumber and a physicist who goes by the name of Gordon Freeman.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

 

Video Game Sales Drop 6% in 2010, Second Year of Declines

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For the second year in a row, retail sales were down in the video game industry — the first time it has recorded negative growth in back to back years.

The industry, as a whole, was down 6 percent compared to the 2009 figures, with sales of $18.58 billion. Software sales, which investors consider the best barometer of the industry’s health, were down 6 percent as well to $9.36 billion. (Adding in PC sales, the amount climbed to $10.1 billion, a 5 percent drop from last year.)

Read more at CNBC.com