Game industry business news

FOR What shouldn’t ever have really been anything more than a slight technical preference, the contention between PC users and Mac aficionados reaches pretty vicious levels at times. This was summed up perfectly in the reaction to the recent Mac and PC ads – personifying the difference between the two …

As part of its drive to put the PS3 at the front of the digital home, president of SCEE David Reeves showcased PlayTV – its personal video recording software. It allows users to watch, pause and record digital television programmes, and also allows remote viewing on the PSP. It will …

Sony development boss says â??trend is reversingâ??

Koch Media has bought Austrian games production company Games That Matter. The studio was established by Hannes Seifert and Niki Laber, founders of Rockstar Vienna, and now merges with Koch’s publishing label Deep Silver. The development house has been renamed Deep Silver Vienna, and will largely concentrate on creating games …

The Games Convention 2007 has opened with record figures, including a massive increase in exhibitor numbers, general attendees and floor space. A record beating 200,000 visitors are expected to attend in total. They will join 503 exhibitors from 31 countries – 34 per cent more than ever previously recorded. "This …

Five years after its withdrawal, Microsoft has revived its PC gaming peripheral brand – Sidewinder – with the announcement of a new mouse that it claims redefines customisation. Sidewinder, which for many years was a byword for PC gaming hardware, was retired by Microsoft back in 2002. Before that the …

The nominee list has been announced for the Leipzig Games Convention’s ‘Best Of GC Awards’ taking part over the next few days. The award winners will be announced on Friday morning at 11am in the Leipziger Messe Press Conference room. The categories and nominees are as follows: PC: – Sam …

Proposed ban on production of violent games may force hand

Electronic Arts announced further plans for its Harmonix-developed rhythm game Rock Band at its conference in Leipzig today – including the release of a PS2 version of the game. The publisher also confirmed that the titles would be released in the first quarter of 2008 in Europe – as previously …

Off to Leipzig? Taken aback by the hoardes of German gamers, industry types and enormity of the convention centre? We highlight the key players showing off their wares in Germany, and offer some insight into what to expect from Europe’s biggest games show – click through for more.