Game industry business news

Life as an independent retailer is no easy thing. The growing popularity of digital downloads, the immense trade-in power of UK chains, price cutting by major supermarkets and piracy are all threatening to erase the good ol’ indie from the High Street. Yet these bastions of the trade are not …

Play.com Live kicked off at Wembley last weekend to snaking queues, smiling faces and some stunning new games. Highlights included a talk from the Far Cry 2 developers, live performances from the likes of Elliot Minor and a giant, inflatable Stay Puft. For our first show it was an amazing …

Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment has brought in two well-known sales executives as it continues to expand in 2008: Spencer Crossley and Dean Purse. Spencer Crossley (left) joins the publisher as its UK head of sales. Crossley brings over 16 years industry experience. Previous roles ranged from Mindscape to Sony Computer …

Indie Grainger Games has told MCV that it plans to open 50 stores nationwide – proving that despite recent struggles, the indie sector is still alive and kicking. The retailer started up as a market stall in 1996 and has now progressed to boast 13 stores, located throughout the North …

The latest chapter in Nintendo’s online revolution has arrived in Japan in the shape of WiiWare – an indie games service that operates alongside the existing Virtual Console service. The key differentiator between Virtual Console and WiiWare is that whilst the former can only host games that have previously appeared …

Nintendoâ??s answer to XBLA and PSN arrives in the Far East

EA and MTV Games have revealed details for the upcoming Wii version of Rock Band, which was first announced by CEO John Riccitiello during EA’s third-quarter conference call in February. The game is set to feature 63 songs, and will be available in the US on June 22nd – along …

Electronic Arts CFO Warren Jenson is to leave the publisher. Jenson has served in the position for six years. He will stay with the firm to assist with its fiscal year-end close and financial reporting process – and ensure a smooth transition for his successor. "I want to thank Warren …

Ubisoft will no longer have to pay royalties to Tom Clancy after the new deal goes through, with Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter estimating that Ubisoft will pay around €60 million over three years. Post acquisition, Ubisoft expects to have a net cash position of around €130m by the end …

The industry’s most respected financial analysts have been discussing EA’s ‘hostile’ tender offer for Take Two – with some saying that it could happen quickly enough for Grand Theft Auto IV and Manhunt 2 to have EA’s name on their box. The group also deliberated the timescale of the deal …