Publishing

President and CEO of THQ Brian Farrell has pointed the finger at Nintendo’s successful first party software for making the kids’ video games market extremely competitive”. In a Q4 earnings call with investors, Farrell cited Nintendo’s software success as a reason why THQ’s traditionally strong kids’ business did not meet …

THQ has announced a new addition to its WWE family of games as part of its full-year financial report. Legendsof Wrestlemania is due for release in March next year on next-gen formats. THQ CEO Brian Farrell told investors: Our new Legends game is scheduled to launch in conjunction with the …

Electronic Arts’ Casual Entertainment label VP Russell Arons has said that she disagrees with the idea that casual gaming needs to be for ‘everyone’ – stating that the genre can succeed by targeting niche audiences. Speaking to new MCV sister site CasualGaming.biz, Ms. Arons admitted that EA has tried to …

Silverlight-powered drag 'n' drop web software allows creation and sharing of casual games

THQ’s licensing partnership with Nickeolodeon has egenrated $1 billion in sales, the publisher has announced. Over 50 million Nickeoloedon games have been shifted under the THQ label, such as its Spongebob Squarepants games. "With the enormous popularity of Wii and DS coupled with our exceptionally diverse portfolio of Nickelodeon-based games, …

Infogrames has appointed Fabrice Hamaide as its new chief financial officer. Hamaide’s responsibilies include company finance, investor relations, financial communications, and legal and information technology functions. He will report directly to CEO David Gardner. Hamaide started his career in 1988 as a consultant for Ernst and Young, before working as …

Vivendi and Activision have both discontinued their membership with E3 organiser the Entertainment Software Association – the US equivalent of the UK’s ELSPA. The news comes after both firms – now one entity – confirmed that they would not be demonstrating their titles at this year’s E3. According to Joystiq, …

One Guardian commentator said that it would be ‘an act of cultural irresponsibility’ not to play GTA IV. Another in The Times termed it ‘the cultural event of the week’. While some media outlets still fall back on the tired old ‘outrage’ headlines, it is genuinely refreshing to see this …

Microsoft is confident that all consumers hwo pick up a copy of GTA IV on Xbox 360 will play the game via Xbox Live. The console’s online service allows up to 16 players to participate in 15 different online game types, ranging from co-operative play to cops-and-robbers team matches to …

Take Two executive chairman Strauss Zelnick has said that his firm’s decision to delay consideration of EA’s acquisitive $2 billion offer until after GTA IV’s release has been ‘vindicated’ by the game’s success. According to the New York Times, Zelnick said in a statement: The critical and consumer response to …