Game industry business news

Microsoft is confident that all consumers hwo pick up a copy of GTA IV on Xbox 360 will play the game via Xbox Live. The console’s online service allows up to 16 players to participate in 15 different online game types, ranging from co-operative play to cops-and-robbers team matches to …

Take Two executive chairman Strauss Zelnick has said that his firm’s decision to delay consideration of EA’s acquisitive $2 billion offer until after GTA IV’s release has been ‘vindicated’ by the game’s success. According to the New York Times, Zelnick said in a statement: The critical and consumer response to …

Give us a brief history of Grainger Games so far… The original Grainger Games was started by my Dad (Dan Bowyer) and I. We started trading as a partnership in 1997 with a market stall in the Grainger Market in Newcastle upon Tyne – hence the company name, Grainger Games. …

Activision has confirmed to Gaming Nexus that it will not be attending this year’s E3. In a statement to the website, Activision said: ‘After careful consideration, for business reasons Activision has decided not to participate in any official E3 activities. We wish the ESA best of luck with the show.’ …

Gamecock has revealed it will use the amBX technology in new titles Legendary and Velvet Assassin. The announcement was made after Philips and Gamecock partnered at the Expo for Interactive Entertainment (EIEIO) at Austin, Texas. Jo Cooke, chief marketing officer for amBX, said: Gamecock is another top drawer publisher signing …

In the wake of the Activision Blizzard deal and EA’s proposed move for Take Two, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has told investors that mergers and acquistions add little real value to the companies involved. Sometimes, some people say that Nintendo’s position will become even more solid if it purchased software …

Iwata on Microsoft’s rumoured wii-mote: I am also aware of the rumor and have seen a fake image made by a fan on the web which looks like a Wii Remote with the rumor that such a controller may be launched, However there is no way for us to comment …

After recently announcing his company had seen record full year revenues, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said Microsoft’s rumoured plan to launch its own Wiimote-style controller is no "big threat" to Nintendo’s current position in the market. In the wide-ranging interview, Iwata discussed major issues on the publishing and hardware side …

Iwata on mergers and acquisitions: Sometimes, some people say that Nintendo’s position will become even more solid if it purchased software companies by M&A, but I have no such intention because buying such companies will not contribute to strengthening Nintendo in the true sense. I believe that it is not …

Iwata on price cuts: We have not made our financial forecast with the premise of a hardware price cut. Also, we are not foreseeing the necessity for us to do a price cut in this fiscal year. If it is predetermined that the hardware price shall gradually decrease, then that …