Game industry business news

3DS Tetris slots in next month

Nintendo will release a 3DS version of Tetris on October 21st, continuing the long-running block-stacking puzzle series. Released as Tetris Axis in the US, the game will simply be known as Tetris in the UK and Europe, and will feature more than 20 variations on the classic handheld game. Naturally, …

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Metro "can’t tell real world from fantasy"

Hardcore gamers become so immersed in virtual worlds that they turn to imaginary consoles to ‘zoom in’ to people in crowds or to pick things up from the floor.” That’s the opening to today’s Metro games-bashing piece. What it means MCV can’t tell you. If you have any idea than …

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Diablo III beta testing has begun

Closed beta testing for the long-awaited Diablo III has begun, Blizzard has confirmed, as the game enters what it describes as the final stages of development”. The beta allows gamers to play through the entirety of Act I either independently or in co-op. Five hero classes are selectable. It is …

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Star Wars Old Republic "will be the last large-scale subscription MMO"

EA’s Star Wars: The Old Republic will, whenever it eventually arrives, be the last large scale” MMO to monetise itself via monthly subscriptions. That’s the opinion of Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley. We see some very interesting trends in subscription gaming,” he told GamesIndustry. In our cancellation surveys for …

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IGDA feels ‘misrepresented’ in Financial Review’s grim portrait

The recent shutting down of EA’s Visceral Studios in Melbourne has led to coverage of the industry which makes the situation look overly bleak, and may not represent a realistic state of the sector. Giselle Rosman, spokesperson for the Independent Game Developers’ Association (IGDA) Melbourne felt that the Financial Review’s …

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INTERVIEW: Rob Bowling Part 1: ‘We compete with ourselves’

Activision Blizzard recently held a press event where MCV went hands-on with the superb multiplayer of CoD: Modern Warfare 3 and interviewed creative strategist Rob Bowling. Would you say Call of Duty is currently leading the pack in terms of post-launch support amongst AAA titles? It’s definitely something that we …

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Australian digital content to require more scrutiny?

The Australian has reported that an inquiry into the future communications landscape is suggesting regulation of digital content in Australia. The independent Convergence Review is analysing film, television and radio policy as compared with new media including Facebook, YouTube etc, and by extension is covering downloadable apps, both on mobile …

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Warner delays Batman Arkham City on PC

One of the most hyped games of next month has slipped until November – on PC at least. Warner Interactive has confirmed that the PC version of Batman: Arkham City will not be released alongside the console versions on October 18th. Instead, it will now be released some time in …

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LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 gets release date

Warner Interactive has confirmed an official UK release date for LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7. The game will be released on Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, Wii, DS, 3DS and PC on November 18th. It will span the events of Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince and The Deathly Hallows. …

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Release date for Battlefield 3 beta

EA has at last confirmed a release date for its multiplayer beta for Battlefield 3. It will go live and be accessible to all from Thursday September 29th, less than a month before the game’s global release. Consumers who have previously purchased specific Medal of Honor SKUs or have pre-ordered …

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