Publishing

Giant publisher Electronic Arts has named Rod Humble as EA’s executive vice president and new head of The Sims label, replacing Nancy Smith who will manage special new Sims projects before moving into a new as yet unnamed role. Humble has been with EA and The Sims label since 2004 …

Ahead of tomorrow’s Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft has spoken of its partnership with acclaimed Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest publisher Square Enix which will see the two showcase product side-by-side at the event. Microsoft sees its close ties with Square Enix as key to future success in the Japanese games …

THQ’s executive vice president of worldwide studios Jack Sorensen has left the company, sparking a reshuffle of its product development management – all part of an overall bid to improve the quality of titles coming out of its internal studios. Sorensen joined THQ as head of studios in 2001, after …

Credit crunch? What credit crunch? Wall Street worries aren’t stemming the flow of cash into the games industry – I-Play onwer Oberon Media has just scored a $20m boost from a Chinese investor. The Infinity I-China Fund has stepped up to help Oberon with its push into the Chinese gaming …

But without backroom staff or buying muscle, how do you expect Asda – which has 12 months to go on a two-year EUK deal – to handle Christmas alone? Same goes for Sainsbury’s, Zavvi and Morrisons. Some publishers say they’re waiting for Woolworths to collapse and take EUK with it. …

If naming all PAL territories were a pub quiz question, the Middle East would be the answer everyone would be kicking themselves for forgetting come the pint’n’pig snacks break. With piracy and typically harsh censorship rife, it’s little wonder that the region has never won status as a particular priority …

EA chairman Larry Probst has been named the new boss of the US Olympic Committee (USOC). Probst, who recinded his role of CEO at EA after 23 years when John Riccitiello took over the role last year, becomes chairman of the organisation. The 10-member Olympic Board chose Probst in a …

Closed beta for Realtime Worlds' MMO is imminent

Wright, Houser, Vrabeck, Rigopolus, Garriott, Newell and others donate to presidential campaigns

Retail came in for strong criticism after a series of dramatic price cuts, as we reported last week (MCV 26/09). With Morrisons slashing 50 per cent off the price of EA’s Mercenaries 2 and Asda trimming The Force Unleashed to 30 a week after release, the industry has already voiced concerns …