Archive for September, 2009

1. Apple Genius. It could be genius.

   September 10, 2009

   In amongst a lot of ‘meh’ announcements from Apple yesterday might have been one that could change the fortunes of the AppStore. Genius is a recommendation engine for the AppStore. It looks at the Apps you have bought before and makes recommendations on what else you may like – based on the buying habits of [...]

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   Posted in: Distribution

   Tagged with: apple, iphone, starred

   4 Comments

2. Games Gone Wild – the #ggw tweets

   September 10, 2009

   Yesterday evening, Kemp Little and MindCandy hosted a get-together of the UK social games business. There were CEOs from companies like Playfish, eRepublik, CyberSports, Jolt Online, Playfire and Atari. There was a good showing from VCs as well, many of whom already have investments in the sector. There is clearly something very exciting happening to [...]

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   Posted in: Sandbox

   Tagged with: kemp little, social games

   4 Comments

3. The iPlayer gives the PS3 a place at the heart of the living room

   September 9, 2009

   It’s early days, but a report on the BBC blog suggests that Sony’s vision of a PlayStation at the heart of every living room may have taken a small step closer to reality. The PS3 now represents 10% of all iPlayer viewing, making the second most popular platform, behind the PC and ahead of the [...]

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   Posted in: Opinion

   Tagged with: bbc, hardware, iplayer, playstation 3, sony

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4. David Braben

   September 9, 2009

   BAFTA is hosting a “Conversation with David Braben” on Monday 14th September. I’ll be there. Maybe you want to come too. A Life In Video Games: Elite co-creator David Braben Monday September 14, 2009 at 6:15pm BAFTA 195 Piccadilly London, England 18:15 | Champagne Taittinger reception 19:00 | Event starts Celebrating 25 years since the [...]

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   Posted in: Past Events

   Tagged with: bafta, david braben, frontier

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5. Chinese gamers are pro-democracy, anti-microtransactions and hate “over-commercialisation” Who’d have thought it?

   September 9, 2009

   Tiananmen Square, eat your heart out. Nothing gets a gamer so riled as “suits” messing with their favourite franchise. So when a new version of The Legend Returns was launched, with shocking features such as allowing players to “spend real money to get in-game advantages, rather than having to earn their spurs in combat”, a [...]

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   Posted in: Opinion

   Tagged with: china, microtransactions, protest

   No Comments

6. Activision is doomed – why EA staffers joining casual games startups spells the end for Activision

   September 8, 2009

   No one leaves Activision to join a casual or web-gaming business, for the simple the reason that they just don’t get it. EA’s recent weakness is a strength, if only they can stop the brain drain. The exodus of EA staff to casual gaming startups continues apace. Owen Mahoney, former head of corporate development at [...]

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   Posted in: Opinion

   Tagged with: activision, electronic arts, outspark, starred

   4 Comments

7. Jagex fleshes out senior management team

   September 8, 2009

   British success story Jagex continues to expand its senior management team with the promotion of Rob Smith to COO. In recent months, the company has recruited veteran game designer Jon Hare and promoted CTO Mark Gerhard to CEO. All eyes now are on MechScape, a game that has been three years in gestation. The game [...]

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   Posted in: Sandbox

   Tagged with: appointments, jagex, people, rob smith

   4 Comments