Publishing

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 …

Give us a brief history of Grainger Games so far… The original Grainger Games was started by my Dad (Dan Bowyer) and I. We started trading as a partnership in 1997 with a market stall in the Grainger Market in Newcastle upon Tyne – hence the company name, Grainger Games. …

Gamecock has revealed it will use the amBX technology in new titles Legendary and Velvet Assassin. The announcement was made after Philips and Gamecock partnered at the Expo for Interactive Entertainment (EIEIO) at Austin, Texas. Jo Cooke, chief marketing officer for amBX, said: Gamecock is another top drawer publisher signing …

Iwata on mergers and acquisitions: Sometimes, some people say that Nintendo’s position will become even more solid if it purchased software companies by M&A, but I have no such intention because buying such companies will not contribute to strengthening Nintendo in the true sense. I believe that it is not …