Publishing

Codemasters is to become the latest publisher to reward those who buy their games brand new with digital content not available to pre-owned buyers. This will begin with Race Driver: GRID Reloaded, due for release on Thursday, March 11th for PS3. The new SKU will include a copy of the …

The conspiracy theorists are out in force this morning after what began as a global issue with Sony’s PSN network has now escalated to what many people are calling an internal problem with some older PS3 consoles. Over the weekend many PS3 owners began complaining that they were unable to …

So new, risky IP can’t be a commercial success, right? Wrong. Sony’s hugely ambitious and totally off-the-wall interactive crime thriller Heavy Rain has lived up to the hype and debuted in top spot in the ELSPA GfK Chart-Track All Formats Top 40 this week. It’s Sony’s first UK number one …

US retailer Blockbuster has posted some disturbing numbers for its most recent financial quarter, with Q4 net losses at the company hitting $434.9m – up on the already savage $359.8m loss suffered in the same period a year before. Revenues fell by 18 per cent to $1.08bn. Company debts are …

The five-year console lifecycle is over – so anyone already turning their attentions to the possible features of PS4 can forget it, according to SCEA CEO Jack Tretton. In the old days it was ‘this thing is dead as a door nail in five years’, Tretton told Fast Company. Year …

Microsoft will directly challenge Nintendo’s mass-market media efforts when it launches Natal later this year. MCV understands that format-holder Microsoft is already planning early promotional efforts for the camera device to include celebrity endorsements and coverage in non-games media. Microsoft this week invited an ‘elite selection of media’ and non-games …

When Natal arrives later this year it will have a key USP over rivals Wii and Sony’s motion device – a truly controller-less interface. But SCEA boss Jack Tretton has stated that his company’s experience with the EyeToy has taught it that the approach brings with it its own disadvantages. …

Capcom is targeting a broader audience for MotoGP 09/10. To ensure the long-running franchise can be a mainstream hit, the upcoming title features more accessible controls. It also includes four difficulty levels for rival racers allowing non-gamers to tailor MotoGP to suit their abilities. Capcom is hoping the tweaks give …

The newest game to feature Nintendo’s anti-hero, Wario, will be released on April 30th for the Wii and DS. WarioWare: Do It Yourself will feature over 90 mini-games and allow players to create and share their own through a wi-fi connection. A mini-game editor will feature changeable graphics, animations, music …

Two audio heads doubt Jacquesâ?? claim that sound design remains under-funded