フランスにおける子会社設立に関するお知らせ" [Capcom]

"It looks like our industry might have found its first Sundance. GameCity is a unique approach to a videogame festival that seems long overdue," Lorne Lanning.

GameCity loves Gatecrasher

New Venue for 2008 event

Special season *just* for students who want to enter the industry

More tea-parties confirmed

Dates to span popular pagan celebration

Nottingham UK, 30th October, 1st November. Now into its third year of ground-breaking games, premiere screenings, exclusive appearances - GameCity continues to bring you what other festivals can't. And a little of what they won't. Building on the success of the the previous two years, GameCity 3 promises buck the trend of phoning in lazy sequels by delivering a brilliant third installment where even Spider-Man and the Godfather couldn't.

GameCity is a festival celebrating the culture and potential of videogames, bringing the people who play them into contact with the people who make them - and who want to make them. Taking place across an entire city, GameCity brings gaming to huge variety of venues - from cinemas and market squares, to restaurants, cafes and schools. It remains the only event in the world to bring developers, students and lovers of interesting culture together in Indian restaurants.

Strongly supported by the games industry - GameCity is also unique in the way it bridges the divide between gaming and the wider world. The festival is perhaps the most visible example yet of the public sector stepping up and explicitly supporting the development of the games industry. Iain Simons, festival director commented, "We're delighted with the support that the festival has gained from the City of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University - its lead partner. It feels like a real milestone on the journey to mainstream culture for interactive entertainment that an event like this can happen at all - and then be embraced by the public sector."

"It looks like our industry might have found its first Sundance. GameCity is a unique approach to a videogame festival that seems long overdue," Lorne Lanning.

"GameCity shows us how a videogame shindig should be run" - Edge.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Running from 30 Oct to the 1st November, this is one Halloween party not to be missed.

www.gamecity.org

Rockstar Games Acquires Mad Doc Software

New York, NY - April 4, 2008 - Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today the formation of Rockstar New England through the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Andover, MA-based Mad Doc Software, one of the premier independent development studios in North America.

"The team at Mad Doc Software is extremely talented," said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. "Bringing them within the Rockstar Games family will enhance our core technology and further support our commitment to creating progressive and innovative gaming experiences."

Established in 1999 by Dr. Ian Lane Davis, Mad Doc Software has led development on and provided contracting services for triple-A titles, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence and networking. The studio most recently worked with Rockstar Games on the Xbox 360 version of the critically acclaimed Bully: Scholarship Edition.

"To be a part of Rockstar Games is an amazing opportunity for everyone here," said Dr. Davis, Studio Head of the new Rockstar New England. "We're eager to bring our expertise to bear in the character-driven, open-world stories that make Rockstar Games titles so uniquely compelling."

About Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., is a global developer, marketer, distributor and publisher of interactive entertainment software games for the PC, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Xbox 360® and Xbox® video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft, Wii™, Nintendo GameCube™, Nintendo DS™ and Game Boy® Advance. The Company publishes and develops products through its wholly owned labels Rockstar Games, 2K Games, 2K Sports and 2K Play, and distributes software, hardware and accessories in North America through its Jack of All Games subsidiary. Take-Two's common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at www.take2games.com

The girl was walking with a friend when a man, aged 16 to 18, ran up and kicked her in the leg, before taking the portable. That's kinda crap.

Has the Playstation Portable become the candy of the 21st Century?

Man grabs portable PlayStation from girl, 9 [Get Bracknell, via Gay Gamer]

Since the story broke, Manchester Cathedral has seen a significant rise in visitor numbers...Teachers tell us that teenagers in particular are interested to see a building which they thought was fictional.

The £372 million anti-obesity initiative doesn't overlook video games, and encourages parents to regulate the amount of time kids spend playing online, using some of the available family timers for consoles. The report also says the Department of Health will research the "impact of this 'screen time' on children's outcomes", observing how playing video games affects kids' physical fitness and overall health.

Industry professionals in Britain say that they support the decision and are willing to collaborate:

In response, director general of ELSPA [Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association] Paul Jackson said: "We look forward to working with the department on strategies to help in the education and support of parents and children. We as an industry wish to encourage healthy lifestyles and will therefore also take the opportunity of informing the government of the huge amount of active gaming devices and games which offer more active and interactive play."

I'm always encouraged when video games aren't seen as the source of all obesity problems in kids, and it's a step in the right direction whenever a government can recognize that games really aren't bad in moderation.

ELSPA welcomes anti-obesity scheme [MCV]

MAKE WAY FOR THE Q Wii N [The People]
[via Videogamer.com]

'Most of them have their own TVS and mobiles and 37 per cent are playing computer games for three hours or more a day - more than in most countries in the study.'

Video games blamed for reading problems [Metro.co.uk - Thanks Garwai]

£950,000 SEEDA grant ensures NCsoft Europe's growth in Brighton

Wednesday 26th September/...NCsoft Europe, one of the world's leading online gaming publishers, has announced that it is planning to expand its Brighton base and create over 100 new high skilled jobs following a major investment from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).

In its first three years NCsoft Europe has grown rapidly employing more skilled staff with every new project, which have included the launch of top games such as Lineage® II, City of Heroes®, Guild Wars®, City of Villains®.

The NCsoft office in Brighton is the European HQ for NCsoft Corporation, the Korean digital gaming developer and publisher. It began its operations in Brighton with three people in September 2004 and now employs 112.

SEEDA is injecting a Selective Finance for Investment in England (SFIE) Grant, ensuring continued sustained development. NCsoft's growth will allow it to diversify following the development and launch of a series of new products.

NCsoft is using SEEDA's SFIE to facilitate the expansion of its current base at Lanchester House, Brighton and support the company's move to the CityPoint development in two years time. 110 jobs at the company will be safeguarded and 116 new jobs are to be created by 2010.

Geoff Heath, NCsoft's CEO explains:

"Brighton is a lively and growing hub for the creative and software sector. Our expansion will stimulate local competition and the exchange of best practice in the region. SEEDA's support of our investment will help grow the business and keep us and Brighton at the forefront of our industry, both nationally and internationally. We'll also be in a position to recruit and further develop the very best talent available."

Jeff Alexander, Executive Director, SEEDA's Global Competitiveness division added:

"NCsoft has attracted national and global attention since its arrival in Brighton. The company is a magnet for highly skilled jobs- this is vital to Brighton and to the region and helps the South-east achieve the goals of the Regional Economic Strategy.

"The news is good for NCsoft and for Brighton and underlines SEEDA's commitment to attracting highly skilled creative employees with computer and language skills to the South East"

NCSOFT EUROPEAN OFFICE EXPANSION TO CREATE OVER 100 NEW HIGH-TECH JOBS [Develop]

The absolutely absurd circus surrounding the Church of England's sudden discovery that some of their buildings are indeed part of the modern landscape that make up the cities where games take place, seems to be drawing to a close.

The BBC reports today that Sony apologized to CoE for "causing any offence" for including a representation of the Manchester Cathedral in their popular PS3 shooter Resistance Fall of Man, but that Sony is pretty sure they had "sought all necessary permissions" to use the church.

Despite the apology and the apparent permission, the church still expect Sony to pull the game, which is, in a word, idiotic. Let me save you a bit of time Church of England. Under U.S. law (where the game was made) a company normally doesn't need to seek permission to depict a fictional event in a real place. Brian Crecente

Sony Apologizes to Church [BBC]

When asked by Member of Parliament for Manchester Central Tony Lloyd if he agreed Resistance: Fall of Man's choice of location was "not only in bad taste but also very, very insulting to not simply the Church of England, but people across the land who think it's inappropriate that big corporations behave in this way" Blair was inclined to agree. According to a report on the matter from Games Industry, Blair noted:

I've no doubt this debate will go on for a significant period of time, but I do agree. I think it is important that people understand there is a wider social responsibility as well as an interior responsibility for profits.

Oh, snap! Those Brits are ruthless. You can read more of Tony's ice cold opinions on the matter at GI. Let's hope this can all be resolved without calls for smiting. Michael McWhertor

Prime Minister responds to Church's Resistance complaints [Games Industry]

Church officials in the UK are up in arms over the inclusion of Manchester Cathedral as a setting for the PS3's FPS, Resistance Fall of Man. They claim that Sony used the nave of the cathedral for the scene of a huge battle without first gaining permission from the church itself. Additionally, they are incensed that a church would be used as a setting for such a violent game.

Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, The Bishop of Manchester admits that Manchester has a gun crime problem and he does not take the matter lightly.

For a global manufacturer to re-create one of our great cathedrals with photo-realistic quality and then encourage people to have guns battles in the building is beyond belief and highly irresponsible.

Sony hasn't returned church official's phone calls, but did give this quote to the Times newspaper through Sony rep, David Wilson.

It is entertainment, like Doctor Who or any other science fiction. It is not based on reality at all. Throughout the whole process we have sought permission where necessary.

The church is now calling for the game to be pulled from store shelves and an official apology from Sony or it will consider legal action against the gaming giant.

Seeing as Resistance is the PS3s top seller (over a million copies) and the crown jewel of the system's game collection, I doubt this will go down without a fight. But, who will win out in a battle between the Church and Sony? It's kind of like asking who would win in a fight between Superman and Jesus. The Church of Italy was able to successfully block the sale of Rule of Rose in Europe, but Sony is a huge company and with so many copies of the game already in players' hands, it's going to be quite a feat to have it removed removed from stores. So, keep an eye out gamers, we could be seeing the beginning of the battle of the century. Flynn De Marco

Cathedral row over computer game [BBC News]

More Moore Here [UK:R]