| Australian retail games industry slips 23% in 2012 Feb 13th 2013, 01:53 New NPD figures reveal that the local games industry recorded sales of A$1.161 billion in 2012, a year-on-year decline of 23 percent. Sony claims PS3 was the highest-selling console during the period. Industry organisation the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (iGEA) today announced that Australian game sales achieved A$1.161 billion during 2012. The number represents a 23 percent decline on the previous year, according to market research company NPD Group Australia. The number is based on console hardware, game software, and game accessories sales made through Australian retailers. It does not include mobile or digital sales (Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, Steam, Origin), mobile in-app micro transactions, game subscriptions, or purchases made through online retailers. In 2012, the industry suffered a 12.8 percent slide on the year prior, down to A$1.5 billion from A$1.7 billion in 2010. iGEA CEO Ron Curry commented that while the figure paints a picture that the industry is slowing, the methods of consumer purchase and consumption habits of game content by players is changing, and is not representative of the industry’s broader health. ’As Australians consume video games across a broader range of mediums, it’s becoming harder to get a true indication of the value of the industry via a single source,’ said Curry. ’While there is a decline in traditional sales, the gaming industry as a whole remains buoyant as people shift towards a ’hybrid’ model in their consumption of interactive entertainment.’ Curry also attributes declines at retail to the current console generation--the longest in history. ’Apart from the increasing move towards digital content, the figures released by NPD show a drop in physical sales due in part to the ageing gaming consoles, a trend we saw back in 2005 at the end of the last console cycle.’ It’s a sentiment echoed by analysts at technology firm Telsyte, who are forecasting 18 percent year-on-year growth for digital games, subscriptions, and virtual goods to A$730 million in 2013, up from A$620 million in 2012. ’The growth in digital gaming is driven by mobile app gaming on smartphones and tablets, which is offsetting the decline in physical purchases and even pushing the overall games market into growth,’ said Sam Yip, senior research manager for Telsyte, in a statement. Financial services company PricewaterhouseCoopers confirmed that it anticipates similar positive trends. Its four-year Australian Entertainment and Media Outlook 2012-2016 report predicts growth of the Australian interactive entertainment industry by 7.4 percent over the next four years. The company pegs it as the largest consumer spend area in the country, surpassing music, film, and pay television, and beaten only by online commerce. Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCEA) has used the release of the industry numbers to assert its claim as the highest-selling game device for the 2012 period. According to SCEA, the PlayStation 3 achieved a 27 percent share of total hardware sales, and held the number one spot for software in the region, with its 28.9 percent share. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
|  | GameStop: 60 percent of gamers would not buy console that blocks used games Feb 13th 2013, 00:08 Executive Rob Lloyd says majority of consumers would not be interested in a future console that prohibits secondhand titles. If Microsoft or Sony--or both--decide to block used games with their next-generation platforms, the majority of consumers would not buy them. That's according to GameStop chief financial officer Rob Lloyd, who defended used games today during a presentation at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference this afternoon. "It's really only about 4 percent of our used game sales are games that were games released in the last 60 days," Lloyd said. "So it does not have a big impact on the sale of new product. So that's why publishers understand how important the preowned business is to them. Sony has said publicly that they don't intend to block used games in their next console. Microsoft has refused to or has not commented on the rumors that have hit the marketplace." Lloyd further noted that GameStop has conducted internal research on anticipated consumer buying behavior and shared this information with platform holders. This research has shown consumers want control over the games they purchase, he said. "Consumers want the ability to play preowned games; they want portability in their games; they want to play physical games," he said. "And to not have those things would be a substantial reason for them to not purchase a new console." Asked for a specific percentage, Lloyd said, "I think it's approximately 60 percent of the customers who have said they wouldn't buy a new console if it didn't play preowned games." "We'll be able to sell the new consoles that come from Microsoft and Sony regardless of what features they have or what they do or don't allow." Even if next-gen platforms from Microsoft and Sony do block used games, Lloyd said GameStop will still be able to sell these consoles and adapt appropriately. "We'll be able to sell the new consoles that come from Microsoft and Sony regardless of what features they have or what they do or don't allow," he said. "We'll have leading market share on the sale of those consoles. We'll adapt to what it does to the preowned business. And one of the ways we'll do that is through a continued healthy preowned business for today's generation of consoles." If the majority of gamers would not be interested in a next-gen console that blocks used games, why has the rumor floated around for so long? Lloyd said the preowned business is a tough one to crack; both sides have compelling arguments, he argued. "There's two constituencies that the publishers and the console-makers’have to consider. One is the retailer like GameStop that is moving their product through the chain. The second are the development firms that actually develop the games. Developers have historically not liked the preowned game business because they don't participate in the revenue streams." "The publishers really get caught in the middle," he added. "[The publisher] understands that, but also understands the importance of the preowned game business to the overcall ecosystem of the video game business. And so, I think that as the console makers balance those needs, they consider, 'Is this an appropriate thing to do? Would we make more money by doing this in the future?' I think what customers have told them at this point is they view it as a very unfriendly thing to do." Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | GameStop: Wii U needs blockbuster to spark sales Feb 12th 2013, 22:51 CFO Rob Lloyd says Wii U not performing on pace with original Wii "for a variety of reasons," one being a lack of major first-party titles. 
The Wii U has failed to match the sales pace of its original Wii predecessor for a "variety" of reasons, GameStop CFO Rob Lloyd said today, noting that a lack of major first-party titles is just one of the factors. Speaking during the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference this afternoon, the executive said the Wii U launch went off as predicted, but interest in the new console has since fallen off. "We were pleased with the allocation [of Wii U units] that we got through the launch. I think for us, it performed at expectation," Lloyd said. "I think what you're [now] seeing is the interest has not been to the overall level that [Nintendo] had hoped for. And it's not performing like the Wii did." "There are a variety of theories as to why that might be," he added. "But among them is there hasn't been the blockbuster from Nintendo. So Nintendo I think understands the need to have that first-party software available to drive Wii U sales." Nintendo has officially sold 3 million Wii U hardware units and 11 million software copies across the world since launch last year. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata last month apologized for a lack of Wii U software available. He explained that Nintendo understands the need for new titles surrounding the Wii U launch, but also acknowledged that achieving quality is of the utmost importance. Significant first-party titles for the Wii U are on the way, including a brand-new Wii U Legend of Zelda game and a Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker high-definition remake. Other Nintendo-produced Wii U titles revealed recently include new Yoshi, Mario, and Mario Kart offerings. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | GameStop to close 250 stores in 2013 Feb 12th 2013, 22:16 CFO Rob Lloyd says retailer will also open 60 to 70 stores across the world and acquire 40 from bankrupt shop GAME. GameStop plans to close 250 stores in 2013, company chief financial officer Rob Lloyd said today during a presentation at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference in San Francisco, California. In addition, the company will open 60 to 70 stores during the year, he said, which is fewer than the company created in 2012. Lloyd also revealed that GameStop will acquire 40 former GAME locations in France, following the retailer's bankruptcy last year. "We're using our PowerUp Rewards database to help customers move from stores that we want to close to other nearby stores," Lloyd said. "And closing 250 stores enables us to deal with the very small percentage of stores that are unprofitable, but also to close marginally profitable stores and actually make more money by moving customers to other nearby stores." Between opening, shuttering, and acquiring stores, Lloyd said GameStop's total worldwide square footage will be reduced by 2 percent. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | $60 horror games a tough sell, says Cliff Bleszinski Feb 12th 2013, 22:03 Former Gears of War developer says "true horror games" will see a resurgence when industry becomes fully digital. 
According to former Epic Games design director Cliff Bleszinski, a $60 horror game like Dead Space 3 is a tough sell. Writing on his personal Tumblr, the longtime game developer claimed such games are more commonly rented than purchased. "In the $60 disc-based market horror doesn't fly," Bleszinski said. "It's the ultimate 'Campaign Rental' that's played for 2 days and traded in and I'm sure [publisher Electronic Arts] knows this." Bleszinski added that "true horror" games do exist today (he called out PC games Slender and Amnesia: The Dark Descent as examples), but they will not become prominent until the industry goes fully digital. He also commented on evolution of the Dead Space series. Bleszinski said what began as a more "confined" horror experience has morphed into something much more broad, and this may not be a bad thing. "At the end of the day, this franchise feels like it's starting as a solo experience, a solitary and confined horror game, and now it's evolving into much more than that," he said. "You can either fight it or embrace it. I choose the latter, as at the end of the day it's FUN." Original Dead Space writer Antony Johnston said last week that Dead Space 3's new action focus was a "necessary evil" to broaden the game's fan base. For more on Dead Space 3, check out GameSpot's review. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Black Ops II Revolution DLC hits PS3, PC February 28 Feb 12th 2013, 20:51 Latest Call of Duty adds first map pack for new platforms on last day of this month. 
The Revolution map pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops II will come to the PlayStation 3 and PC February 28, Activision announced today. The content launched for the Xbox 360 last month. The pack is available as a free download for those who hold a $50 Black Ops II Season Pass and as an individual download for $15. Revolution for Black Ops II adds four new maps (Downhill, Hydro, Mirage, and Grind) for the game's multiplayer component, as well as a new Zombies map called Die Rise. In addition, the content ushers in a new game mode called Turned, in which players can compete against one another as a zombie. Lastly, the Revolution expansion for Black Ops II brings a bonus multiplayer weapon called the Peacekeeper, which features its own set of weapon challenges. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | EA explains why Medal of Honor: Warfighter came up short Feb 12th 2013, 20:14 Creative director Rich Hilleman says "execution" problems led to new shooter failing to perform up to expectation. 
Electronic Arts has come out to say Medal of Honor: Warfighter failed to make a mark due to "execution" problems during its development, including not having the necessary production talent. Speaking to Rock Paper Shotgun, EA chief creative director Rich Hilleman said the game's problems stemmed from EA's production of the game and not any external factors. "We don't think it's a genre problem," he said. "It's an execution problem. We don't think Medal of Honor's performance speaks to any particular bias in that space against modern settings or World War II or any of that. It's much more that we had some things we should've done better." "What we think right now is that, for the next couple years, we can just have one great thing in that space," he added. "So we're choosing for it to be Battlefield." The Medal of Honor series is now on hold. And according to Hilleman, the franchise going on hiatus is preferable to the series moving forward without the necessary creative talent in place for it to succeed. "I think a key part of this is having the right amount of high-quality production talent," Hilleman said. "And we didn't have the quality of leadership we needed to make [Medal of Honor] great. We just have to get the leadership aligned. We're blessed to have more titles than we can do well today. That's a good problem, frankly. In the long term, we have to make sure we don't kill those products by trying to do them when we can't do them well." For more on Medal of Honor: Warfighter, check out GameSpot's review. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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