Kotaku: industry news

2010: Looking Back on Kotaku's Look Ahead

Owen Good — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:00:00 MST

We're 10 days from New Year's but tomorrow is the winter solstice, starting us on another trip around the sun. And a new year that will be full of its own controversies, challenges, triumphs, disappointments and delights in video gaming.

This past week Kotaku put a comprehensive look into its crystal ball, breaking down what's ahead for the major platforms, while also looking at the agendas and priorities of games' top influencers and constituencies over the 365 days to come.

This is our equivalent of baseball's hot stove league, when the season's done but there's still fun in pulling up a chair to opine and speculate. Please rejoin us and your fellow readers in the following features and discussions of 2010, the year to come in games.

2010: The Year Of Better PSP Games?2010: The Year Of Better PlayStation 3 Games?
2010: The Year of Better Xbox 360 Games?
2010: The Year of Better PC Games?
2010: The Year Of Better Wii Games?
2010: The Year of Better Nintendo DS Games?

What Won't Be Coming To Video Gaming In 2010

You're A Gamer In 2010 ... What Will You Do?
You're A Game Developer in 2010...What Will You Do?
You Run A Big Game Publisher In 2010...What Will You Do?
You're A Video Game Retailer In 2010...What Will You Do?

Atari Now on its Fourth CEO in Three Years

Owen Good — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:00:00 MST

I half imagine Atari's board of directors has a sticker on its windshield reminding it to change CEOs every 5,000 miles. Sure enough, it's happened again. Former chief operating officer Jeff Lapin is now in the top job.

The publisher of Star Trek Online gave no reasoning for the switch, only saying outgoing CEO David Gardner will remain with the company as a member of the board of directors. He had been the honcho since January 2008, taking over for Patrick Leleu, who had been CEO for only nine months. Leleu had succeeded 24-year CEO and Infogrames (as it was known then) cofounder Bruno Bonnell.

Lapin was Take-Two Interactive's CEO in 2003 and 2004 and was also an exec for THQ. Gardner was known for hiring former Sony VIP Phil Harrison to be Atari's president. Harrison stayed in that gig for a year.

Atari Replaces CEO [GameSpot]

Dozens of Tester Jobs Affected in Sony QA Consolidation

Owen Good — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:00:00 MST

Sony Computer Entertainment America is consolidating its two QA groups in one location, meaning 30 staff positions are being sent from the Bay Area to San Diego, Calif., and we hear another 100 contract positions were affected.

SCEA's Patrick Seybold confirmed to Kotaku the consolidation of the company's first-party QA operations, saying the decision was made to reduce costs and streamline its QA work through a single facility.

A source with knowledge of the Foster City operation told Kotaku that SCEA's location there had roughly 100 contract employees. Seybold didn't comment on exact numbers but did say "We also aim to have a contingency work force in San Diego," dependent on seasonal need, the same as in Foster City. Regardless, while Foster City's tester positions might be headed south this winter, the testers who held them probably won't.

Paid Less to Die More: The Actors' Union's Beef with Video Games

Owen Good — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:40:00 MST

The Screen Actors' Guild's rejection of a contract with game makers can be seen as a tempest in a teapot - 80 percent of voice work is non-union. But the LA Times goes further to see what's really at stake.

Mostly, SAG voice actors are concerned about a new work classification called "atmospheric voices," in which one actor supplies the dialogue for up to 20 incidental characters for the same $800 fee per four hours of recording. The actors also have a concern that all extra yelling, grunting, and yeaaarghing will place additional wear and tear on their pipes although the deal includes protections against "vocal stress,"

Said voice acting vet Dee Baker to the L.A. Times:

Before, you were doing three characters dying a horrible death. Now you're doing 20 characters dying a horrible death. Not only will this mean less money for more experiences, it's also going to be a lot more vocally difficult.

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists approved the deal. Its executive director said ratifying the deal is important to give publishers more reason to hire union talent. "A lot of employers are not signatories to our contract," its executive director told the Times, "and part of the reason is that we can't accommodate their budget ... This will keep us in the game."

If you're going to rip the union or its members for rejecting the contract or being too concerned about their vocal cords, at least read this entire article before commenting. Thanks.

Video Game Voice Actors Worry They're Getting Shortchanged [Los Angeles Times, thanks Andrew C.]

SAG Sacks Voice Acting Contract

Owen Good — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:20:00 MDT

A contract proposal hammered out between the Screen Actors Guild and video game publishers was shot down after a union vote. A key sticking point seemed to be "atmospheric" work, in which one actor voices multiple minor characters.

Variety reports that the guild members who work this contract - covering 70 games publishers and all the industry heavyweights - shot it down by nearly 2:1, in defiance of the SAG board's recommendation that it be approved. In particular, SAG's Hollywood caucus considered atmospheric work - one actor performing 20 different characters of up to 300 words at a daily base rate - a "major reduction" from the current collective bargaining agreement, Variety said.

When all's said and done here, this doesn't matter as much as the star power of the SAG name would indicate. Union work accounts for roughly 25 percent of video game voice work. Also, the board of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists gave an "an overwhelming and strong" endorsement that its members approve the contract.

SAG Rejects Tentative Video Game Deal [Variety]

Video Games Eight Times Bigger Than Erection Drugs

Owen Good — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:00:00 MDT

As seen on Flickr [thanks, tipster Mario Pants]

Analyst: Next Gen Begins After 2013

Owen Good — Sat, 02 May 2009 10:00:00 MDT

Everyone's favorite industry analyst, Michael Pachter, says that, rumored Wii HD upgrade not withstanding, this current console generation is gonna be with us at least four more years.

In an industry newsletter (as reported by Edge), Pachter wrote "We do not expect the ‘next' generation to begin before 2013, if at all." The "if at all" is really curious. But considering that's about four years away, by then who knows what will be playing, delivering or hosting our games. Or he could be imagining a future so ravaged by swine flu and economic hardship that we're all back to rolling hoops with a stick for our entertainment.

More definitively, Pachter said "no 'new' console(s) in 2010," which anyone could tell you, but to some investors it might not be so obvious. But he adds "other than the long-rumored high definition Wii, which is likely to upgrade the Wii to current console technology." That he does expect by the end of next year.

The chief force against premature next gen-eration would be game publishers, Pachter says. They "have as yet to capitalize on the immense investments made in being competitive in the current cycle," and so would resist a new console generation, with new software and development demands.

"We therefore think it is likely that the ‘next' generation will begin after 2013, meaning that software sales are likely to grow by a compounded annual rate of 6–10 percent for another five years," he concludes.

Analyst: No New Console Before 2013 [Edge]

Kotaku Originals: You Take That Back Brian Crecente

Owen Good — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 08:00:00 MST

The boss-mans learned a important lesson about other people's feelings when he called Wii Fit a wee fad. Indignant Wii Fitters ultrabombed his inbox to say not everyone who "plays" it looks like this.

That's right, many of them were in much worse shape when they first stepped on the balance board. But now they're trimmer, slimmer and rockin' a hardcasual physique that, while it may not look like they hang with Johnny Klebitz, is propping up the industry, Atlas-style. Or so says Brian in his magnum opus of a mea culpa. Anyway, that and more from the week in Kotaku's original reporting:

New York Comic-Con ‘09

Kotaku Reports Sales Figures, Seems Pleased
Microsoft Responds To January NPD Sales, Seems Pleased
Nintendo Responds To January NPD Sales, Seems Pleased
PSP Reaches 50 Million In Worldwide Sales
Activision Predict 2009 Console Sales
What Sells More, Dragon Ball Or Soul Calibur?
Monster Hunter Titles Ship 3 Million

Previews, Reviews and Impressions
Frankenreview F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
God of War III Impressions: Like A Threesome For Your Eyes
Flower Micro-Review: All We Are Is Dust In The Wind
90 Minutes With GTA: Chinatown Wars
Sonic And The Black Knight Preview: It's Probably Not For You
Does Watchmen: The End Is Nigh Fail The Rorschach Test?
Velvet Assassin Preview: Metal Gear Lite
Red Faction: Guerrilla Preview: Search And Destroy
inFamous Preview: Ride The Lightning
Light Bikes is a Handful of Tron Fun
Frankenreview: Flower
A Quick Look At Bomberman Ultra
A Quick Look At Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao

Features
Wii Fit is No Fad
From Warcraft Obsession to Game Creation
Knocked Up: A Look At Pregnancy In Video Games

Bidness
Square Enix Replies To Financials Delay Questions'
Blizzard Mum On Its One Big Game For 2009
Black DS Lite Has Been Discontinued
Square Enix Slashes Financial Forecast
Dragon Quest IX Delayed

Let's Make a Deal
Square Enix Trying To Buy Tomb Raider
Eidos Stock Explodes In Wake Of Square Enix Bid
Rumor: Midway's Wheelman Is Now Ubisoft's Wheelman [Update]

Disturbance in the Workforce
Rumor: Aliens RPG Canceled, Layoffs Hit
More Layoffs Hit NCSoft
Sega Losing Money, Closing Arcades, Cutting Jobs

Splattered House
Rumor: Namco Yanks Splatterhouse From Bottlerocket
Namco Confirms Ditching Splatterhouse Developers

Mmm-hm
Ditched Splatterhouse Developers Wish Namco "The Best"

Chun-Li, Pokemans and iPhone
Giratina Origin Forme Figure Up Close and Personal
Chun Li Movie Poster With Much Overdue Thighs
iPhone Puzzle Quest Gets Free Demo, Chapter 2 as Free Update

Insert Gratuitous Anti-Kill Bill Comment
Kill Bill Actress Selling Xbox 360 Resident Evil 5

Dead Rising
Translating The "Dead Rising 2" Trailer
Why Dead Rising 2 May Not Have Photography

Red Dead Rising Again
Red Dead Appreciation, and Hopes for Redemption

Kotaku Originals: Impressive Impressions

Owen Good — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:00:00 MST

In a week that saw our new previews format, we gave you the goods on Resident Evil 5 (preview) and Killzone 2 (impressions) plus nearly half-a-dozen more titles.

The previews weren't limited to just games. Jeff Kass gave everyone a look at the video-game parts of his comprehensive Columbine retrospective set for publication right around the 10th anniversary of the shootings. We appreciate the heads up, because April's going to throw violence and popular culture - and, yes, video games - back into the talk-show churn again.

Your week in original reporting:

More umlauts
Nintendo Sends Thank Yous To My Nintendo Überfans

Features:
K1
Electronic Arts Won't Run From Risk
No, World Of Warcraft Has Not Been Banned In Australia

Impressions, Previews and Reviews
About Kotaku Previews
Killzone 2 Impressions
Resident Evil 5 Preview: A Building Sense of Dread
Battlefield 1943: Pacific Preview: A Much Needed Upgrade
X-Men Origins: Wolverine Preview: A Bloody Good Time
New Wolfenstein Features Otherworld
Prototype Preview: Slick, But Not A Stand Out
First Look At Uncharted 2: Among Thieves In Action
Puzzle Quest: The Battle Of Grulkar Micro-Review: A Piece Of The Puzzle
Dawn of War II Co-op Campaign: An Identity Crisis?

News
Developer Reaches Back-Pay Deal With Government
Just How Big Is The Hori Real Arcade Pro Stick?
Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier Expands To North America

Bidness
U.S. Army Now In on Zombie Invasion of Best Buy
Nintendo Won't Comment On DSi Pricing Differences For Outside Japan
2008 Australian Console Sales Figures
Dragon Quest IX Brings Internet Shopping
Metal Gear And Pro Evolution Soccer Power Konami's Sales
Netflix LIVE App. Downloaded And Activated By A Million LIVE Users
Capcom Posts Sluggish Console Game Sales
Koei Posts Record Sales
So What's EA's Market Share Like These Days?
Zombies Invading Best Buy For Resident Evil 5 Launch
Amazon Casually Launches Digital Game Downloads

New Games
Mass Effect 2 Coming In 2010, Will Be "Multiplatform"
Dead Space Wii Announced
Mixed Martial Arts Title, New Shooter In Works At EA?

Vilent Vidja Games
New Columbine Book Touches on Gaming Connections

Pics
Hands Down, The Best Dead Rising Wii Screenshot
You Seem To Have Got GTAIV In My Google Earth

Boobie
Activision and Booth Babes Return to an E3 Ten Times Bigger Than Last Year's

Twitter List Becomes Entire Site of Addresses

Owen Good — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:00:00 MST

Sam Houston's list of game industry types who use Twitter got a lot of exposure last week. So much that he's launched a site, updated with even more devs, journalists, community managers and the like.

Yes, yours truly is on there, but so are many others we quote around these parts too. The list is broken up into four categories — game companies, game press, PR professionals, and communities/fansites.

There's a love/hate mood on Twitter — some do it obsessively, some are too cool for school about it — but there is always the possibility you catch some interesting scuttlebutt or revealing thoughts from those in the business or associated with it. This past week I spied a couple of things that ended up on this blog. And sometimes I talk about things that maybe aren't hefty enough for a blog post. Others have too. Ask Crecente about his Legos this weekend.

So for those interested, consider this, and not the previous post nor the page it linked to, as your bottom line clearing house. Sam's been pretty fanatical about updating this, and I'm sure he'll continue to do so as more begin using Twitter, or make their addresses known.

Game Industry Tweet: A Complete List of Video Game Professionals on Twitter

Kotaku Originals: Obi-Wat?

Owen Good — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 08:00:00 MST

Flipping Obi-Wan from good to bad? Is this pro rasslin'? Apparently Free Radical's decided to turn eternal Force face Ben Kenobi to heel. I'd rather see a bunkhouse stampede with Zuckuss, Porkins, and a Dianoga.

The retcon or newcon or noncon or whatever it was that eagle-eyed Crecente spotted in the leaked Battlefront III footage led another lively week of original reporting on Kotaku. Here is the week that was:

Features
A Buyer's Guide To A Console Generation Past
The Wii Holiday Grey Market 3: When Supply Meets Demand

News

Rockstar: Sorry, No Grand Theft Auto "V" In 2009
Major Minor's Majestic March Dated For Japan
Official Street Fighter IV Training Manual Packed with Cammy Junk, Seth Moves
Monster Hunter G Dated, Getting Own Classic Controller

Reviews
Frankenreview: Mirror's Edge (PC)
Lumines Supernova Review: Still Shinin'

Kotaku Reports December NPD Numbers, Seems Pleased
Nintendo Responds To December NPD Sales, Seems Pleased
Microsoft Responds To December NPD Sales, Seems Pleased
Sony Responds To December NPD Sales, Seems Pleased
Nintendo Breaks More Sales Records, Sells Over 5 Million Consoles In December
What Was 2008's Best Selling Game In The U.S.?
Nintendo's Wii And DS Sales Numbers Conquer Europe

CES 2009
Here's Your 2009 Consumer Electronics Show Coverage

Welcome to the Fams
Welcome To the Family: A Letter From Playstation's Peter Dille
Welcome To the Family: A Letter From Xbox 360's John Schappert

Obi-Wan, from a Certain Point of View
The Death of Evil Obi Flies in the Face of Flush Video Game Industry
Leaked Battlefront 3 Vid Reveals Surprising Plot Twist?

EA’s in Yr HR Ofc, Firin’ Ppl
Rumor: EA Planning More Layoffs, Mobile Division Already Hit
Rumor: EA Shuts Down Pandemic Studios Down Under
EA Responds to Pandemic Rumor

Boobie
Suicide Girls Rock Band Their Pants Off

Kotaku Originals: Frankly Mint

Owen Good — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:00:00 MST

Every time I see the Goatie coin I imagine Montel Williams on my TV at 2 a.m. hawking a set of collector's edition 50 State quarters with Fahey and Crecente painted on them.

Kotaku's annual awards were one highlight in a week that also featured McWhertor operating el lobo solo at CES. Nintendo came up with some patent technology thingie that'll certainly make it easier to produce half-assed reviews of their games. And, where half of an ass won't do, Cammy (not Dunaway, you freaks) supplies a whole one. Here's the past week in original coverage:

CES 2009:
Here's Your 2009 Consumer Electronics Show Coverage

News:
Nintendo "Kind Code" Patent Reveals Potential Paradigm Shift in Design
Developers Respond To Nintendo's Hint System Patent
Major Left 4 Dead Update Coming Very Soon to PC, Console
Bionic Commando Will Be Out Before Winter 2009
Want To Buy A Games Mag? Hardcore Gamer Is For Sale (On eBay)

Features:
An American (McGee) In Shanghai

Goaties:
Kotaku's 2008 Judges' Choice Awards
Kotaku's 2008 Games of the Year Awards

Reviews and Impressions:
Rolando Micro Review: The iPhone's Better LocoRoco
Three Things I Liked About X-Blades
Gunnar Gaming Glasses Review: Why Buy Wi-Five?

Bundles of Joy:
Valkyria of the Battlefield Goes Budget Priced
Japan Getting Resident Evil PS3 Bundle, Console
Japan Getting Star Ocean 4, Resident Evil 5 Xbox 360 Bundles
Limited "Dragon" PlayStation 3 Console Is For Japanese Eyes Only

T&A:
The Kind of Cammy Images You've Come To Expect

Schadenfreude:
Where Bad Games Go To Die (RIP Tabula Rasa)

Kotaku Originals: Short and to the Point

Owen Good — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 08:00:00 MST

Funde Razor brought in the dough, PlayStation Home went live and had the inevitable launch crashes, and Luke defused a bomb by singing into a microphone. The week that was in Kotaku's original reporting:

Highlights:
Kotaku Video Podcast: Excuses, Testicles and Resistance 2
Funde Razor Rocks Out Denver for Child's Play
New Xbox Experience Brought a Jump in Online Sales to Live
Home Launches On December 11
Kotaku's 2008 Gift Guide of Obscene Nicety and Sublime Naughtiness
Lips Review: Kinda Puckered Up

Reviews and Impressions
Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 2 - Tyranids, Battle Strategies, and Smack
Flower's A Breath Of Fresh Air
Frankenreview: Persona 4
Rock Band Portable Drum Kit Review: The Beat Of A Different Drum
Card-Based H-Game Princess Waltz Confuses My Sensibilities
Brothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes Micro-Review: A Touching Attempt
Skitching, Tasing and Water Bottles in Skate 2
Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition Impressions
Frankenreview: Prince of Persia

News and Features
Xbox Live Christmas Crash Won't Happen Again
White Knight Chronicles: The Box Art, The New Screenshots
Left 4 Dead Anti-Cheat Fix Released For Xbox 360
Please, Economic Crisis, Put An End To The Christmas Rush
And The Home Marketing Onslaught Begins...
EA: "We've Got Work To Do On The Wii"
Sony: Home Very Imminent, This Month Imminent, But Open Beta First
Gaming On A 103-Inch Plasma Television, Or Why You Should Embrace Split-Screen Multiplayer Again
2008: The Year Of The Casual Gamer?
Madworld Comes With a Taste of Multiplayer

Announcements:
Kotaku's So You Didn't Make it To Funde Razor Giveaway
What Do YOU Want Reviewed

Epic Games Wins Major Award

Owen Good — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:00:00 MST

News out of my home state: Epic Games has been recognized by the North Carolina Technology Association as the state's "Top Industry Driven Technology Company of the Year." I guess that means "the balls" in the industry-driven technology world. The award specifically cited the contribution Unreal Engine 3 has made to the gaming industry at large.

“We’re honored to be recognized by the NCTA as an industry leader in technology,” said Dr. Michael Capps, president of Epic Games. “The other nominees are trailblazers in their respective fields — for a game company like Epic to be singled out as the award winner is very flattering.” Indeed.

Epic Games Wins 2008 NCTA Award [GamersHell]

Sony Worldwide Grows Two New Heads

Mike Fahey — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:20:00 MDT

Sony Worldwide Studios continues to shuffle people about in the wake of Phil Harrison's departure, announcing not one but two new vice presidents, one for each side of the Atlantic. Heading up things over in Europe will be Sony Computer Entertainment Europe VP Michael Denny, who joined Sony in 1995 as the head of business affairs at Psygnosis, having served in various positions since then.

Over in the U.S. Sony San Diego Studios senior director Scott Rohde has been promoted to vice president of Sony Worldwide Studios America. Rohde was a co-founder of Page 44 studios, and has also worked in sports roles for Radical Entertainment and Sega of America.

Both new VPs will be responsible for the overall operations of Sony in their respective areas, reporting to Sony's replacement Harrison, Shuhei Yoshida. Welcome to the party gentlemen!

Sony Appoints New Europe, America Studio Heads [Gamasutra]

Industry Vets Form Music Video Games

Mike Fahey — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:20:00 MDT

In a move that could very well be just a bit late, games industry veterans David Warhol of Realtime Associates and Vincent Bitetti, formerly of the Take Two-purchased TDK Mediactive, have announced Music Video Games (MvG), a company focused on delivering casual interactive experiences to gamers and music fans alike.

“MvG has been created with the goal of bringing fun and easily accessible music games to an audience that has largely remained unnoticed to this point,” said Vincent Bitetti, CEO of MvG. “The music video game market and the online casual games market both continue to grow exponentially. MvG will provide games that will appeal to both demographics.”

Five years ago this would have been perfect. Now I'm not so sure we need more music games, casual or otherwise. Still, maybe MvG will find their niche. They've certainly got a dynamic name going for them, and a kick-ass logo. Go get 'em, plucky little upstart!

Veteran Video Game Talents Announce Launch of New Company, Music Video Games (MvG)
Seasoned Executives From the Music and Entertainment Space Join Forces to Launch Video Game Portal Focused on Casual Gamers and Music Fans

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Today the formation of Music Video Games™ (MvG) was announced, a music-based game company focused on delivering interactive entertainment experiences for both casual gamers and music fans. MvG was founded by David Warhol, president of video game studio Realtime Associates, Inc., and Vincent Bitetti, a video game publishing executive and former CEO of TDK Mediactive, which was sold to Take Two Interactive (NASDAQ:TTWO) in 2004.

“MvG has been created with the goal of bringing fun and easily accessible music games to an audience that has largely remained unnoticed to this point,” said Vincent Bitetti, CEO of MvG. “The music video game market and the online casual games market both continue to grow exponentially. MvG will provide games that will appeal to both demographics.”

Mr. Bitetti will act as the company’s CEO while Mr. Warhol will be the Chief Creative Officer. Acting as strategic advisors to the new company are music industry veteran Mark Goldstein, former Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at Warner Bros Records Inc. (NYSE:WMG), and interactive entertainment guru Tim Walsh, formerly the Senior Vice President of International Publishing, President of THQ Wireless, and a Corporate Officer at THQ (NASDAQ:THQI).

According to Pacific Crest Securities the U.S. online casual games business will grow to $725 million in 2008 from $375 million in 2006, with casual games becoming a primary industry growth driver for 2008 and beyond.

To find out more about MvG, please visit www.musicvideogames.net.

Kuju Comes To America

Mike Fahey — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:20:40 MST

One of Europe's leading independent game development companies is making the move to the U.S., as Kuju Entertainment announces the opening of Kuju America, they're first studio outside of the UK. The website for the new studio features a British flag emblazoned United States, coupled with the exclamation (warning?), "The Brits Are Coming!" The studio is located in beautiful San Francisco, convenient to a large pool of development talent as well as Kotaku weekend editor Flynn DeMarco.

Jonathan Newth, Corporate Development Officer of Kuju Entertainment, commented "The US, and San Francisco in particular, is a natural choice for our first non-UK studio. It's a hotbed of development talent, home to many leading publishers and some of the leading US games press.

Ah, so they've heard of Flynn! Excellent! Kuju America is already hard at work on their first title, which I'm sure they'll tell Flynn all about when they're ready.

Kuju America [Official Website]

Take-Two Acquires Power Of Illusion

Mike Fahey — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 08:40:48 MST

Mafia developer Illusion Softworks cast such a strong spell over Take-Two Interactive that the latter just had to have them, right now. Henceforth shall Illusion be known by their ~~married~~ acquired name, 2K Czech, and its 200 or so employees will live happily ever after. This also opens the way for the "Win a 2K Check From 2K Czech" Mafia II contest idea I am perfectly willing to sell to Take-Two for a fair price.

"We have an excellent working relationship with 2K Games and the utmost respect for them," said Petr Vochozka, CEO of 2K Czech. "We are pleased to become a 2K studio and are confident that this new partnership will strengthen our current and future projects."

Bah, so predictable. Just once I want a newly acquired CEO to go completely apeshit in a press release. "Dude, I have no idea what just happened! We just ordered a whole bunch of embroidered shirts too. F****."

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Acquires Illusion Softworks
New York, NY - January 7, 2008 - Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) today announced the acquisition of Illusion Softworks, a premier Central European-based game development studio with operations in Brno and Prague, the Czech Republic. Illusion Softworks has approximately 200 employees and will join Take-Two's 2K Games publishing label as its newest studio, 2K Czech.

Established in 1997, Illusion Softworks is the creator and owner of several hit video game franchises, including Mafia, Hidden & Dangerous and Vietcong. The studio is currently working with 2K Games on Mafia II, the sequel to the original Mafia, which helped establish the gangster genre and sold more than two million units.

"The acquisition of Illusion Softworks reflects our strategic focus on owning high-value intellectual property as we continue to expand our portfolio of triple-A titles," said Ben Feder, Chief Executive Officer of Take-Two.

Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K, said, "Adding 2K Czech to our network of development studios demonstrates our strong commitment to creating great franchises and building world-class creative teams. The 2K Czech team is responsible for several very innovative and highly-regarded franchises and we look forward to continuing to develop new and existing IP together."

"We have an excellent working relationship with 2K Games and the utmost respect for them," said Petr Vochozka, CEO of 2K Czech. "We are pleased to become a 2K studio and are confident that this new partnership will strengthen our current and future projects."

New 2K Studio Where The Girls Are Warm

Mike Fahey — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:20:16 MST

Take-Two Interactive has taken another 2K, this time in Northern California. 2K Marin, located in Novato California (Spanish for "No Dude") in northern Marin County, is a brand-spanking new development studio dedication to creating "original, industry-leading intellectual property", because no one wants to create unoriginal crap. The studio will also be working on products with the other 2K studios around the world.

"We're focused on continuing to bring new brands and cutting-edge gameplay to market with the creation of the 2K Marin studio," said Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K. "2K Marin will build upon our success in creating and leveraging AAA franchises."

2K Marin joins 2K Boston, 2K Australia, and 2K Games China in the pantheon of game development studios located very close to the front of the phone directory. 10tacle laughs at your puny placement.

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Announces Formation of 2K Marin
New Northern California Based Development Studio to Focus on Creating Original, Industry-Leading Intellectual Property

NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) today announced the formation of 2K Marin, a new development studio under its 2K publishing label. Located in Novato, California, 2K Marin will develop original intellectual property, as well as co-develop products with other 2K studios around the world.

"We're focused on continuing to bring new brands and cutting-edge gameplay to market with the creation of the 2K Marin studio," said Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K. "2K Marin will build upon our success in creating and leveraging AAA franchises."

2K Marin is the newest studio to join 2K's outstanding group of development studios located in Asia, Europe, Australia and North America.

For more information, visit the 2K Games website at www.2kgames.com.

NCsoft Acquires City Of Heroes, Creates New Studio

Mike Fahey — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:00:04 MST

NCsoft likes City of Heroes so much, it bought the IP! Formerly the joint property of NCsoft and developer Cryptic Studios, NCsoft has assumed full ownership of the game and its villainous counterpart. As part of a push to further develop City of Heroes, the company has also announced the formation of a new studio in Mountain View California dedicated to the title, centered around key members of the Cryptic and NCsoft City teams.

Matt Miller, Lead Designer on the City of Heroes project and formerly with Cryptic Studios said, "We're thrilled to be bringing the CoH franchise to the next level. And we couldn't be more pleased to be working completely under the NCsoft banner. We feel that City of Heroes' best days are in front of it."

This of course leaves Cryptic free to work on their ambitious Marvel super hero MMO without having to worry about that giant conflict of interest.

NCsoft Announces New Studio in North California; Takes Full Ownership of Successful City of Heroes Property

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 6, 2007—NCsoft® Corp, the world's leading developer and publisher of online computer games, today announced the formation of a new development studio in Mountain View, California. The announcement comes as the company begins a renewed push to further develop the City of Heroes® property, which is now 100 percent owned by NCsoft. Previous to today, ownership of the intellectual property (IP) was split between NCsoft and Cryptic Studios, the original developer of the project.

The new studio will be built around key members of the City of Heroes team from NCsoft and Cryptic Studios including the art, programming and design team leads.

"We're happy to announce that NCsoft has acquired full ownership of the City of Heroes IP," said Brian Clayton, NCsoft executive producer and manager of the new studio. "Our plans are clear. We are now in a position to make a major reinvestment in the City of Heroes product line. With our existing Cryptic and NCsoft team as the core, we will be able to run our current service without any interruption to our players, expand our studio to deliver triple-A content, and take City of Heroes to new heights."

NCsoft will soon be announcing formal plans for the City of Heroes IP, which will include expansions and sequels to the popular comic-book inspired massively multiplayer online (MMO) game.

Matt Miller, Lead Designer on the City of Heroes project and formerly with Cryptic Studios said, "We're thrilled to be bringing the CoH franchise to the next level. And we couldn't be more pleased to be working completely under the NCsoft banner. We feel that City of Heroes' best days are in front of it."

For more information about City of Heroes, go to http://www.cityofheroes.com.