Level-5 considers opening US office
This new enterprise would be the second new office opened by the company for this purpose — it recently established an overseas-focused office in Tokyo. Perhaps we’ll see self-published Level-5 games soon. Perhaps that way we can get timely Professor Layton releases!
[Via Siliconera]
Level-5 considers opening US office originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Ubisoft looking to publish AAA sequels more frequently
Ubisoft is planning on releasing their high-profile sequels more frequently, it was declared earlier today on the company’s third quarter earnings call. It took “three to four years to come back with Splinter Cell, Driver, Prince of Persia or Ghost Recon,” CEO Yves Guillemot explained, something they intend to change; “Our clear goal is to come more regularly with top brands.”
As written earlier, Ubisoft’s goal is to publish at least seven “franchise titles” aka follow-ups to already established properties in 2010-2011 — Ghost Recon Future Soldier, Splinter Cell Conviction, Prince of Persia The Forgotten Sands and the multiplayer-equipped follow-up to Assassin’s Creed II among them.
“We believe we can launch [new games] more often without risk or brand fatigue,” Guillemot said of the company’s commitment, adding that creating new properties will still be focused on as well, a number of which will be released before the company’s financial year 2012 ends in March 2012.
RedLynx digital strategy pays off, 1.5 million games sold in ’09
While the big fellas struggle to figure out how to make digitally distributed content profitable, smaller dev houses like RedLynx are handily succeeding. The Trials HD developer claims to have moved 1.5 million digital units worldwide (of all of its games) in 2009, though, as RedLynx itself points out, “most RedLynx games have also free promotional web versions available, bringing the company’s key titles to an even wider audience.”
Aside from putting out the Summer of Arcade XBLA release Trials HD last year, the Finnish company also made Monster Trucks Nitro on PC and a couple of iPhone games, assuredly assisting that 1.5 million statistic. CEO Tero Virtala looks forward to the coming year, saying things look “even better,” and adding that RedLynx is “bringing 8-10 new games to market.” We really, really hope the company brings more copies than that if it wants to move past 2009′s sales. Come on, guys — simple math!
RedLynx digital strategy pays off, 1.5 million games sold in ’09 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Xbox Live Marketplace Feb. schedule includes $10 Battlefield 1943 [update]
![bf 1943 cheap Xbox Live Marketplace Feb. schedule includes $10 Battlefield 1943 [update]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2010/02/bf-1943-cheap.jpg "Xbox Live Marketplace Feb. schedule includes $10 Battlefield 1943 [update]")
Update: Microsoft has issued a correction on this schedule. The Misadventures of P. B. Winterbottom will be priced at 800![microsoftpointslogosmall Xbox Live Marketplace Feb. schedule includes $10 Battlefield 1943 [update]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.xbox360fanboy.com/media/2007/11/microsoftpointslogosmall.gif "Xbox Live Marketplace Feb. schedule includes $10 Battlefield 1943 [update]")
($10), not 1200 ($15).
Major Nelson has a dropped a partial February schedule for Xbox Live Marketplace content, including a particularly nice Deal of the Week. Specifically, next week’s deal, beginning February 15, will be Battlefield 1943 for only 800 ($10). If you’ve yet to pick up the game, $10 is definitely a good price. Also starting next week, both Resident Evil 5 and Beautiful Katamari will hit the Games on Demand service.
The post also notes that this week marks the end of the second season of 1 vs 100. Tonight’s episode (9:00pm ET/6:00 pm PT) will feature Magda Apanowicz from SyFy’s series Caprica. For the season finale this Friday (10:00pm ET/7:00 pm PT), the game will feature 343 Industries’ Frank O’Connor and Bungie’s Marty O’Donnell.
See the full XBLM schedule after the break.
Continue reading Xbox Live Marketplace Feb. schedule includes $10 Battlefield 1943 [update]
Riccitiello reckons console price cuts came too late
Yesterday’s EA earnings call was packed with tidbits about upcoming games but, as reported by VG247, there was time for some minor mudslinging as well. During the call, EA CEO John Riccitiello was asked about industry health and tie ratios, and said “I think a… factor in 2009 was sort of a lack of aggressive pricing on first-party if you will, a little bit too late with their price-cuts.”
He later added that console use was actually up, even in the face of social gaming platforms like Facebook. So, think what you will about Riccy’s stance on price cut timing, the one thing that’s certain is that we‘re not to blame.
Riccitiello reckons console price cuts came too late originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Level-5 has surprises in store for Wii and PS3
Giving a speech at the deliciously-named C.C. Lemon Hall in Tokyo, Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino revealed that the developer has unannounced Wii and PS3 games in the works.
The developer’s current lineup is heavy on DS and mobile titles (including Professor Layton games, Ni no Kuni, and Fantasy Life), with one known console game: the followup to the PS3 role-playing game White Knight Chronicles. One of the unnamed Wii titles could be Inazuma Eleven Break, a console soccer RPG whose platform was never specified. Dragon Quest X, whose Wii development was confirmed by Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii, but whose developer was never named, is also a possibility. But this is all conjecture, since Hino said nothing other than that there were some new Wii and PS3 games.
[Via Andriasang]
Level-5 has surprises in store for Wii and PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Forza 3 Nurburgring GP Circuit track DLC out now
Attention gear heads and livery lovers, there’s a brand new track available for Forza Motorsport 3. The Nürburgring GP Track Pack is now out on Xbox Live Marketplace. As the name suggests, the DLC gives players access to the Nürburgring Grand Prix Circuit, offering both short loops and full loops for races. Should you be interested in laying some rubber on this track, or just showing off your latest artistic creation, Nürburgring will run you 400 ($5).
Shortcut: Download the Nuburgring GP Track Pack [via Xbox.com]
Forza 3 Nurburgring GP Circuit track DLC out now originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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