Game industry business news

Optical disc hardware specialist Singulus has received orders for 21 Blu-Ray dual-layer duplication machines in the first quarter of this year – a faster adoption than of the format’s predeccesor DVD 11 years ago. "This means that the orders for Blu-ray in the first year of the dual layer technology …

Xbox president Robbie Bach has criticised Blu-Ray’s lack of sales success since the HD-DVD format imploded – and questioned why consumers would bother upscaling from DVD. Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, Bach also ruled out any possibility of a Blu-Ray enabled Xbox – either in this or the next …

Nintendo and Activision’s official distributor in New Zealand has gone into receivership. SPI (Softprint Interactive) boss William Flew confirmed to The New York Herald that the company has been placed into receivership. Flew could not comment on what that will mean for Nintendo or for game brand Activision, referring all …

Eidos is set to continue its support for Age of Conan following a stellar first week for the new IP. The game came second in the ChartTrack Top 40 in its debut week, only kept from the top spot by GTA IV, and has become the biggest PC game of …

Scheme allows US educators access to PSP and PS2 dev kits

US retail giant GameStop has launched a new TV ‘channel’ in association with CBS Outener and media software and services company Reflect Systems. The new in-store digital video network, GameStop TV, will be installed in over 4,000 GameStop locations. GameStop TV will feature product promotions, game previews, developer interviews and …

Codemasters has expanded its publishing operation into Japan – with its brand set to appear on a boxed release for the first time. The UK publisher’s Race Driver: GRID title will get a fully localised release in the territory on PS3 and 360 in the winter, and will be bundled …

Following Wii Fit’s spectacular plummet from the All Formats Chart, Nintendo has told MCV that it is doing everything it can to resolve the game’s UK stock shortage. Accepting there was an issue, Nintendo told MCV: There are pockets of stock shortages in areas of the UK but we are …

Sega has unveiled its full release schedule for the rest of 2008 to MCV – and dated two new Sonic games. The highly-anticipated Sonic Unleashed for 360, PS3, Wii and PS2 is set for release in November, whereas the Bioware-developed Sonic Chronicles is on course for September. The publisher has …

Publishers PlayLogic and Virgin Play have revealed a plot to partner for a joint venture named PlayV – and have promised to shake up the market. PlayV will bring PC, console and handheld products from both firms to the UK market, as well as offer a range of services to …