 | Fallout publisher undecided on Xbox One used games Jun 7th 2013, 15:05 [UPDATE] Bethesda says "We haven't had time to fully understand and evaluate [Microsoft's] policy" on secondhand titles; Sega says it is not prepared to comment. 
[UPDATE] Following the publication of this story, a Sega representative told GameSpot that it is not prepared to comment on its Xbox One secondhand games stance. "I am not sure we're even prepared for a comment as we haven't even announced any next-gen titles yet. Stay tuned," a company representative said. The original story follows below As Microsoft announced yesterday, whether or not secondhand Xbox One games will be allowed--and if an activation fee will be required--will be left up to individual publishers. GameSpot has contacted a host of publishers asking them to clarify their stance on the matter, but thus far only Fallout and Elder Scrolls publisher Bethesda has responded. "We haven't had time to fully understand and evaluate their policy," a company representative said. GameSpot also reached out to major publishers including Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Capcom, Warner Bros., Take-Two, Ubisoft, and Konami. Responses will be added here if they are provided. Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter does not believe publishers will completely block Xbox One used games due to the possibility of significant gamer backlash or boycotts. At the same time, Pachter said some publishers may move to block Xbox One used games for a certain period of time after launch in an effort to avoid cannibalization of new game sales. This period of time was not specified, though Grand Theft Auto parent publisher Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick said last month that after eight weeks, publishers don't care much about used game sales. "If you can keep the game in consumer's hands for 8 weeks, you almost don't care anymore about used game sales because it's the first 8 weeks that really nail you," he said at the time. The Xbox One launches later this year. For more, check out GameSpot's news hub dedicated to the next-generation platform. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | GameStop shares rise after Xbox One reports Jun 7th 2013, 14:47 Retailer's share value climbs more than 7 percent in morning trading after Microsoft confirms decisions about uses games left up to publishers. 
Microsoft's recent announcement that decisions about secondhand Xbox One games will be left up to publishers has not hurt GameStop's share value. Instead, the opposite has proven true. In morning trading, GameStop shares are up more than 7 percent to $37.10 at press time. Only one publisher--Fallout studio Bethesda--has responded to GameSpot's request for comment regarding whether or not they will allow used Xbox One games or impose an activation fee. "We haven't had time to fully understand and evaluate their policy," a company representative said. Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter released a note on Microsoft's recently announced Xbox One policy today, stating he does not believe publishers will block used games or impose activation fees. "In our view, any publisher that disables used gaming risks a backlash or boycott of its titles by gamers, negatively impacting sales," he said. Describing potential activation fees, Pachter said these are similarly unlikely. "They would face a huge backlash" he said. "They wanted manufacturers to do the dirty work, and both refused." According to Pachter, GameStop stands to be hurt the most not from the impact of potential used games restrictions, but the recent revelation that Xbox One games will be available digitally on day-one. "We believe that this disclosure has the greatest potential to negatively impact GameStopés business, as GameStop is unlikely to participate directly in these digital sales," he said. At the same time, though, Pachter said it is in the best interests of Microsoft and publishers to integrate GameStop's PowerUp Rewards currency into digital transactions in some manner, thus giving the retailer a cut. The Xbox One launches later this year. For more, check out GameSpot's news hub dedicated to the next-generation platform. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Indie horror game Daylight coming to PS4 Jun 7th 2013, 14:23 Atlus publishing Zombie Studios' psychological horror game on PC and PlayStation early next year. 
Zombie Studios' psychological horror game Daylight will launch on PC and PlayStation 4 in early 2014, publisher Atlus announced today. Daylight is powered by Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4. In the game, players wake up in an abandoned hospital and only have their cell phone for illumination. The game features procedurally generated environments, meaning "no two experiences are the same," according to Zombie Studios. Daylight is not the only game from Zombie Studios headed to PS4. The company's free-to-play shooter Blacklight: Retribution is coming to the system as the first game from Sony's Pub Fund for the PS4. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Pachter: Publishers won't block Xbox One used games Jun 7th 2013, 13:32 Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter believes any publisher that disables used gaming runs risk of significant backlash or boycotts. 
Microsoft yesterday clarified the Xbox One's stance on used games, saying decisions will be left up to publishers concerning whether such games will be allowed and if a fee is to be required. In a note to investors today, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter said the majority of publishers will not block used games, at least in the system's first few yeas. "In our view, any publisher that disables used gaming risks a backlash or boycott of its titles by gamers, negatively impacting sales," he said. Pachter told GameSpot that activation fees are similarly unlikely. "They would face a huge backlash. They wanted manufacturers to do the dirty work, and both refused," he said. GameSpot has contacted major publishers including Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Capcom, Bethesda, Warner Bros., Take-Two, Ubisoft, and Konami about their stance on Xbox One used games. Thus far, only Bethesda has responded. "We haven't had time to fully understand and evaluate their policy," a company representative said. Pachter also commented on how Microsoft's Xbox One secondhand policy may affect leading industry retailer GameStop. He said publishers understand that currency generated from game trade-ins is beneficial to them and the secondhand market will remain viable overall. However, Pachter also said that publishers may block the trade-in of games for a certain period of time following a game's launch to avoid the cannibalization of new game sales. "However, many believe that used games sold in proximity to a new gameés release cannibalizes sales of the new title (we believe this is probably true), so we think that some publishers may limit used game trade-ins for a specified period of time following the gameés launch," he said. Grand Theft Auto parent publisher Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick said last month that publishers are only concerned about used games for eight weeks after launch. "If you can keep the game in consumer's hands for 8 weeks, you almost don't care anymore about used game sales because it's the first 8 weeks that really nail you," he said at the time. According to Pachter, GameStop stands to be hurt the most from Microsoft's recent announcement that all Xbox One games will be available digitally and physically on day-one. "We believe that this disclosure has the greatest potential to negatively impact GameStopés business, as GameStop is unlikely to participate directly in these digital sales," he said. At the same time, though, Pachter said it is in the best interests of Microsoft and publishers to integrate GameStop's PowerUp Rewards currency into digital transactions in some manner. How such a setup would work, according to Pachter, is laid out below. "We think it is possible that either gamers will be allowed to purchase digital content key codes from GameStopés DLC kiosks, or that Microsoft will somehow allow the company to integrate its PowerUp Rewards program directly through Xbox Live," Pachter said. "In the first scenario, GameStopés DLC kiosks could be used by Microsoft and the publishers to garner significant interest in upcoming and already available titles, maximizing pre-orders and in-store sales," he added. "In the second scenario, the amount of currency available to make purchases on Xbox Live would increase dramatically, and all parties would benefit from increased online spending." The Xbox One launches later this year. GameSpot will have more on the platform next week during the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | PS4 will debut below $400 says analyst Jun 7th 2013, 12:59 Sterne Agee's Arvind Bhatia says Sony has learned its lesson from PS3, believes Nintendo in a "tough spot." 
The PlayStation 4 will debut later this year below $400, Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia said in a note to investors today ahead of next week's Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. He said Sony was negatively impacted from launching the PlayStation 3 at an "extremely high" $600 and that the company will not repeat this pricing. "Given that experience, we believe Sony will aim to keep the price point for PlayStation 4 below $400," Bhatia said. He added that because Sony's PlayStation Network is free, the company is missing out on an opportunity to subsidize the next-generation system through a subscription model. Still, he believes Sony will stick with a sub-$400 price point, even if it means losing money on the console itself. Concerning Nintendo's showing at E3 next week, Bhatia said though the company is in a "tough spot" and expectations are low, it is unwise to bet against the Mario maker. "Never write-off Nintendo," he said, noting the company has the potential to surprise gamers. Last week, Deus Ex and Epic Mickey designer Warren Spector said, "You underestimate [Nintendo] at your peril." Though Nintendo is not holding its traditional media briefing this year, the company is launching a Nintendo Direct on June 11 to discuss the future of Wii U and 3DS. The first trailer for the upcoming Wii U and 3DS Super Smash Bros. game, among other things, will be shown at the event. Lastly, Bhatia discussed expectations for Microsoft, saying the company will use its E3 2013 showing to continue to emphasize the Xbox One as an all-in-one entertainment device. At the same time, he said he believes Microsoft will also refocus attention on the power of the device as a gaming console and will show off numerous platform exclusives. Microsoft has 15 Xbox One exclusives in the works, eight of which are all-new franchises. The company is expected to announce some of these at E3 next week and more during Gamescom in August. Bhatia does not believe Microsoft will share pricing information for the Xbox One at E3, instead leaving those details for a later event. A sub-$400 price point would be a "pleasant surprise," he said. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Wii U Zelda has 'unexpected elements' Jun 7th 2013, 12:13 Director Eiji Aonuma says untitled Zelda game for HD console will surprise games with new features. 
The upcoming Legend of Zelda game for Wii U aims to surprise gamers with "unexpected elements," according to comments from director Eiji Aonuma. The designer revealed the news in an interview with Edge (via ONM) about changes coming to both A Link to the Past 2 for 3DS and the untitled upcoming Wii U game. "I think the new additions will make players see the game in a different way," Aonuma said of A Link to the Past 2. "And, of course, we'll introduce even more unexpected elements in the Zelda game that we're making for Wii U." On top of A Link to the Past 2 and Zelda for Wii U, Nintendo is also working on an HD remake of 2003 game The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. That game is due out later this year. Aonuma may not be leading development on Zelda games forever. The developer recently said that he would like to move on to something new "before it's too late." "I'm 50 now, so I only have about ten more years to make games at Nintendo. I want to try all sorts of new things before it's too late," he said. "I don't want to get to the end of my career and only have worked on Zelda." Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Microsoft has more exclusives to announce after E3 Jun 7th 2013, 11:45 Executive Phil Spencer says E3 show is "all about games," and teases more reveals for Gamescom in August. 
Microsoft's Electronic Entertainment Expo showing next week won't include everything the publisher has to offer. Executive Phil Spencer has said on Twitter that the company has more Xbox exclusives to announce after the show and potentially during Gamescom in August. "E3 show is all games but we'll still have more exclusives to announce post E3," Spencer said (via VG247). "I expect GamesCom to be a good event." Microsoft previously said it would show off the "next chapter" of Xbox during Gamescom, set to take place in Cologne, Germany August 22-25. The company skipped last year's event. The Xbox maker has 15 Xbox One exclusives in development, eight of which are all-new franchises. Spencer also continued to tease that Microsoft will make a surprising Xbox 360 announcement during E3 next week. "Definitely have an announce that no one has guessed," Spencer said. "Let me know after the show if it was a surprise." Spencer first talked about this Xbox 360 announcement last month after the Xbox One announcement event. At the time, he explained that the Xbox 360 has many years of life left. "I think the [Xbox 360] is going to be very vibrant for many years. In fact, we have a huge, I think it's huge, [Xbox 360] announcement for E3 that I keep wanting to talk about, but I can't," Spencer said. "I think it will surprise people." The company earlier this week announced Fable Anniversary for the Xbox 360. Microsoft's E3 2013 briefing takes place Monday, June 10 at 9:30 a.m. PDT. GameSpot will be on-hand at the event. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | NPD: $3.5 billion spent on games in US during Q1 Jun 7th 2013, 11:22 Research group reports total industry sales in region for January-March period flat year-over-year; full-game downloads and DLC sales up 25 percent. 
A new study from research firm The NPD Group has found that gamers in the United States spent $3.5 billion on game content for the January-March period. This includes $1.37 billion spent on new physical console and PC software, $559 million on used and rental, and $1.59 billion on digital content. This category includes full-game and add-on content downloads, subscriptions, mobile games, and social network games. Overall, the $3.5 billion spent during the quarter is flat when compared to the same figure reported for Q1 2012. "Digital spending fully offset the declines in physical format spend in Q1'13," NPD analyst Liam Callahan said in a statement. "There is strong growth in full-game downloads and downloadable add-on content sales across consoles, PCs, and portables, up a combined 25 percent in the first quarter of this year." The NPD Group's finding came from the firm's latest Games Market Dynamics: U.S. report. Figures included are derived from the company's retail tracking services, as well as consumer spend estimation provided by publishing partners and calibrated by third-parties. Another recent report from The NPD Group found that free and mobile gamers outnumbered all other gamer segments in the US. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Cryptic Studios opens Seattle branch Jun 7th 2013, 08:50 Neverwinter and Star Trek Online developer's new office to focus on polishing and improving Champions Online. 
Cryptic Studio, the developer behind Star Trek Online and Neverwinter, will open a new studio located in Seattle, USA, called Cryptic North. According to a Gamasutra interview with Cryptic Studios CEO Jack Emmert, the majority of the staff from the new studio will be from the defunct Flying Lab Software (Pirates of the Burning Sea). The studio's head will be director Russell Williams, co-founder of Flying Lab Software. The new studio will be focused on polishing and improving Champions Online, as well as contributing to Star Trek Online and Neverwinter. On a related note, Emmert added that the company is open to making games for the PS4 and Xbox One and is actively researching the free-to-play business on consoles. For more information on Cryptic Studio's latest game, check out GameSpot's coverage on Neverwinter. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Interplay buys FreeSpace IP for $7,500 Jun 7th 2013, 08:49 THQ and Volition formerly held intellectual property; Interplay now holds space simulation trademark. 
Interplay Entertainment Corporation, the former publishers of the Fallout and Baldur's Gate series, bought the FreeSpace intellectual property from THQ and Volition for only $7,500. According to a court document on the KCC court documentation site, THQ and Volition relinquished the rights to the space simulation IP to Interplay, effectively making it the current trademark holder. The agreement was filed on June 4, but was made effective on May 10. Volition developed both Descent: FreeSpace titles in 1998 and 1999 under the publishing label of Interplay. Publisher THQ bought Volition in 2000, where the developer made the Red Faction and Saints Row series. Following THQ's bankruptcy, Koch Media bought Volition this year. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Project Diva F tunes in to North America and Europe this August Jun 7th 2013, 08:48 PS3 rhythm game to feature 38 unique songs and video-creating and sharing options; demo out on June 11. 
Sega has announced that it will be releasing Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F in North America and Europe this August. The PS3 game will be available at retail and on the PlayStation Network in North America. In Europe, however, the game will only be on PlayStation Network. A PSN demo of the rhythm game will be out on June 11 and June 12 in North America and Europe respectively. This is the first time a Project Diva game has been announced for release outside of Japan. The PS3 version of Project Diva F features 38 original songs, a video-editing option where players can make and share vocaloid videos, and a Diva House where players can interact with vocaloids in a house environment. The game also featured over 90 costumes and 100 accessories to customize the vocaloids with. There is no word on whether the PS Vita version of Project Diva F will be out in North America and Europe. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Crytek's CryEngine 3 to support PlayStation 4 Jun 7th 2013, 08:46 Crysis developer to "empower" engine licensees "to achieve their own ambitions on the console." 
Crytek, the creator of the Crysis series, has confirmed that its CryEngine 3 graphics engine will support Sony's PlayStation 4 console. According to a post on Crytek's official site, the engine is already used by PlayStation 4 developers. The studio said that it will "empower [engine licensees] to achieve their own ambitions on the console." Crytek's director of global business development Carl Jones said that "by supporting developers as they build for the future on PlayStation 4, we are cementing our position at the forefront of the industry and helping others to create the best games they can in this exciting period of transition." Last month, Crytek announced that CryEngine 3 would support Microsoft's Xbox One. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Atlus publishing R.I.P.D. game Jun 7th 2013, 07:07 Atlus to publish R.I.P.D. game based on upcoming Hollywood film. 
Upcoming supernatural movie R.I.P.D. will be receiving the video game treatment, according to a listing on the Australian Classification Board website. The post cites Saber Interactive as the game's developer, whilst Atlus' parent company Index Digital Media Inc will publish the title. While there are no specific details on the game, it has been rated MA15+ for strong impact violence, moderate impact themes, and mild impact drug use and language. Atlus was acquired by Index Holdings in 2006, and merged with the company in 2010, although the organisation continues to operate under the Atlas brand. This is not the first time that Saber Interactive and Atlus have worked together. The two businesses also partnered to produce third-person shooter God Mode. No release date was revealed for R.I.P.D, although the listing does state that the game will be multi platform. [ Watch Video ] Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Double Fineés Massive Chalice to feature same-sex marriage Jun 7th 2013, 05:29 The feature has been added as a result of community feedback; game targeting PC, Mac, Linux release. 
Double Fineés upcoming Massive Chalice game rocketed past its initial $725,000 Kickstarter goal, and currently sits at more than 22,500 backers, with 20 days to go. As a result of fan feedback, the forthcoming tactical strategy game will also include support for same-sex marriage, game lead Brad Muir has confirmed in an interview with Rock, Paper, Shotgun. éWe did not talk about [the possibility of gay marriage] until we launched the Kickstarter,é he told the website. éWe were so focused on pure pragmatic mechanics and how it would work and coupling and all these things that we hadn't [considered it]. That was something I got kinda blindsided by. That was really unfortunate. It kinda makes me feel s****y that ités not something Iéd thought of. I think ités sort of hetero privilege that I didn't see it coming.é Muir believes that funding the project through Kickstarter has provided the developer with part of the flexibility required to make the addition, and that had the team opted for more traditional financial support, a publisher would likely have nixed the opportunity to include the feature. éIf somebody did think about it during that whole thing, they would've probably just killed it, because it is such a controversial issue. Theyéd probably not want to have it associated with the game at all. And then theyéd give me a PR company line that Iéd have to tell in every interview, and itéd be super, super s****y. And then any gay gamers who are coming to the game and playing it and wanting to see themselves represented would just be really disappointed,é he said. The decision to include a same-sex marriage option is now a serious goal for the team, though with the game still in its early developmental stages, exact mechanics havenét yet been worked out. éWe've been talking about ways to actually incorporate gay marriage,é Muir said. éOne of the suggestions was to allow couples--male/female or otherwise--to contribute to the good of the realm via means other than childbirth. So couples could raise children or research technology. Thatés one interesting way to handle it. And then, if you couple it with the ability to foster children, I think thatés a way you could have same-sex couples in the game. And ités optional. People can choose to engage it or not.é Massive Chalice is being built on Double Fineés in-house Buddha engine, and will be launched on the PC, Mac, and Linux. No release date has been confirmed. The company is currently developing Dropchord and its point-and-click adventure game Broken Age. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | SimCity for Mac delayed to August Jun 7th 2013, 05:12 The Mac version of Maxis' urban planning simulation game SimCity will be delayed to August; Update 5.0 is scheduled to be released in a "couple of weeks" for PC users. 
Mac users will have to wait a little longer for the release of SimCity, as Maxis has announced the delay of the Mac version of the game. Posting on the official SimCity blog, senior producer Kip Katsarelis said the Mac version would be pushed back to an August release as the developer does "not believe it is ready for prime-time yet". Mac users will be granted access to the Launch Park for their patience, an in-game park that allows players to launch llama balloons. The Launch Park was originally released as part of update 4.0 to "early adopters" of the PC game. The blog entry also details the contents of the upcoming patch, update 5.0, which is scheduled to roll out in a "couple of weeks". Changes include new regional missions, improvements to Great Works, and in-game behavioural tweaks. SimCity launched in March, and was beset by widespread server woes. Despite its initial struggles, the game has sold over 1.6 million copies to date. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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