Archive for February, 2009

1. Quake Live launches Open Beta today

   February 24, 2009

   Quake Live will launch its open beta today, paving the way for FPS action in an ordinary browser. Quake Live has the potential to revolutionise first person shooter gaming in much the same way that the original Doom did. For our younger readers, Doom was freely-distributable shareware, which eventually reached 10 million downloads, of whom [...]

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   Posted in: Featured, Opinion

   Tagged with: advertising, browser games, browsers, doom, free games, id Software, iga worldwide, internet, shareware, starred

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2. Gamesbrief is now on Twitter

   February 20, 2009

   I’ve just added Twitter functionality. You can now stay up to date with the latest Gamesbrief stories. Just follow @gamesbrief or click on the Twitter under the subscribe links on the left.

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   Posted in: Sandbox

   Tagged with: admin, gamesbrief, twitter

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3. Microsoft acquires 3D camera technology – desperate to beat the Wii?

   February 19, 2009

   Israeli website Haaretz reports that Microsoft is in advanced talks to acquire 3DV Systems, a manufacturer of a sophisticated imaging controller that allows a web camera to act like a sophisticated game controller. (Thanks to GI.biz for the lead). Haaretz makes it clear this is not an brilliant exit: the mooted price is USD 35 [...]

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   Posted in: Analysis

   Tagged with: 3dv systems, elron, kleiner perkins, m&a, microsoft, pitango, rdc rafael development corporation

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4. Sim Bin goes barking mad at Slightly Mad

   February 19, 2009

   I think Marcus Ling, Executive VP at Sim Bin Studios in Sweden has completely lost the plot. In a strongly-worded release sent to a number of games websites including GamaSutra and Joystiq, Ling stated: “Sim Bin is taking legal advice and considering to also take legal actions against Slightly Mad Studios, as a result of [...]

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   Posted in: Analysis, Featured

   Tagged with: bonkers, brands, credits, legal, litigation, sim bin, slightly mad games, starred

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5. Zavvi saga over – 446 more job losses

   February 18, 2009

   The administration of Zavvi is finally over. MCV reports that the last Zavvi stores on the High Street will shut next week. There have been some rescues: Five stores sold to Head Entertainment, a new venture from former senior executives at Zavvi A further five stores sold to HMV, raising the total to 19 (subject [...]

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   Posted in: Game Over Zone

   Tagged with: closures, insolvency, job loss tracker, redundancies, zavvi

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6. Microsoft to cut jobs at Rare?

   February 17, 2009

   UPDATE: Gamesindustry.biz reports 12 staff have already been made redundant from Rare, with others required to reapply for their jobs internally. Following extensive layoffs in Microsoft’s games group, Develop reports that Rare is the latest studio facing job losses. The statement from Rare (which is shockingly full of corporate-ese) includes the sentence: “As we restructure [...]

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   Posted in: Game Over Zone

   Tagged with: job loss tracker, microsoft, rare, redundancies

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7. Activision unwashes its hands of Brutal Legend – but what’s the real steal?

   February 15, 2009

   According to this Variety report, Activision has thrown a public paddy regarding its ownership of Double Fine’s Brutal Legend. The game was an unfortunate casualty of the triage that went on following the Activision / Vivendi merger, where Activision upper management trimmed Vivendi’s entire catalogue down to only a handful of titles. Things were looking [...]

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   Posted in: Opinion

   Tagged with: activision, electronic arts, guest post, legal

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