Economy, family dynamics, even bad weather blamed for downswing
New York Times Feb 21, 08 10:47 AM CST
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The number of American golfers is dropping—and those who do play aren't playing as much as they used to. Busy people aren't as willing to spend four hours on 18 holes, and the rise of electronic games has hurt outdoor activities. Golf professionals are trying to think up innovative ways to tame the hazards, the New York Times reports.
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Games made by gamers for gamers coming to XBox Live
MSNBC Feb 21, 08 4:01 AM CST
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Microsoft says it's going to bring democracy to video game creation and distribution, MSNBC reports. Microsoft's game-making kit has been a popular download, and the company is now introducing a way for gamers to share the games they make with millions of fellow enthusiasts. They plan to launch a YouTube-style XBox Live Community this fall where gamers will share, play, and rate their creations.
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Veteran rockers headline first one-band edition
USA Today Feb 15, 08 12:30 PM CST
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Aerosmith can add another big honor to its already-lengthy list: first solo act on a Guitar Hero release. Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, due out in June, will include realistic animations of the band's 30-year history, from high school band to Super Bowl halftime act, reports USA Today . The Hall of Famers have a new album coming up and hope to benefit from the promotion.
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It's for real this time, EA assures gamers
MarketWatch Feb 12, 08 6:12 PM CST
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EA said that its “Spore” videogame, long in development, would be released September 7, Marketwatch reports. The company is expecting the game, designed by “Sims” and “SimCity” creator Will Wright, to generate big revenues, given the near-mythical status its long gestation time and solid-gold pedigree have endowed it with.
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Broader demographics and a bond between multiplayer games and social networks key
Forbes Feb 11, 08 3:56 PM CST
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The upset Nintendo has secured against Microsoft and Sony as its simple-but-innovative Wii continues to dominate their processor-heavy rival consoles portends much for the future of gaming, writes Michael Noer for Forbes . Expect much more casual gaming and gamers, Noer writes, as low-time-commitment experiences and Wii-like intuitive controls snag demographics beyond the young male diehard.
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Brits want to keep violent games out of the hands of children
Guardian (UK) Feb 9, 08 5:38 PM CST
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Big Brother is looking to land hard on the video game industry in the UK, the Guardian reports, as the government plans to rate games for violence and make it illegal to sell them to children. Government ministers are also considering measures to block kids' Internet access to unsuitable games, emails or sites, the paper reports.
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Video games 'Guitar Hero' and 'Call of Duty 4' drive company's growth
MarketWatch Feb 8, 08 11:18 AM CST
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Gamers who love Activision for Call of Duty and Guitar Hero have some company on Wall Street today after the company reported a 90% earnings surge and an 80% bump in sales for the quarter ending Dec. 31, reports MarketWatch. The company reported net income of $272.2 million, up from $142.8 million a year ago, and revised its forecast for the current quarter upward.
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Game maker loses money despite soaring game sales
Associated Press Feb 1, 08 1:08 AM CST
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Video game sales are at an all-time high but the world's largest independent publisher of them has reported a third-quarter loss, reports the AP. Electronic Arts says the loss is down to restructuring and accounting changes. Revenue was up 17%, but the company saw its share of the market slip in Europe and North America and could face a difficult 2008.
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NM plan would fund outdoor programs
Huffington Post Jan 22, 08 5:20 PM CST
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A New Mexico environmental coalition is calling for a 1% sales tax on TVs and video games to fund outdoor programs for kids, and the idea is gaining steam, writes Carl Pope for the Huffington Post. Proponents of the "Leave No Child Inside” plan say the tax would raise $4 million a year and help kids get off their duffs and play outside.
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Despite softening economy, $18B total in US marks 43% jump
Associated Press Jan 18, 08 10:23 AM CST
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More video games were sold in 2007 than ever before, with a total of $17.94 billion marking a 43% increase over 2006, reports the AP. Much of the growth came from sales of Nintendo's chronically undersupplied Wii and Microsoft's Halo 3, market researcher NPD Group said. Nintendo dominated gaming system sales, moving 6.3 million Wii units and 8.5 million of the most popular system, the portable DS.
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Industry chiefs aim to get more of a say in Washington
New York Times Jan 14, 08 10:14 PM CST
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The video game industry has grown up and is going to start putting some quarters into Washington, the New York Times reports. Game makers have formed their first political action committee and will soon start making campaign donations to candidates, in hopes of steering more of them to the industry's side and head off attempts to further regulate their products.
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Microsoft apologizes for swamped system over holidays
BBC Jan 4, 08 3:19 PM CST
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Microsoft apologized to Xbox players who weren’t able to access its online gaming system over Christmas and promised them a free game to make up for it. The software company said the system got swamped by too many users trying to play at once. Members of the service will get a free Xbox Live Arcade game, reports the BBC .
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Guns 'N' Roses
legend admits defeat
Seattle Times Jan 3, 08 10:49 AM CST
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In order to beat the video game "Guitar Hero III," you have to outplay a virtual version of legendary guitarist Slash. If you can't quite cut it, don't feel so bad—the real Slash can't, either. "I just actually played it for the first time last night," the former Guns 'N' Roses guitarist tells the Seattle Times . "I'm terrible."
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Gamespot explores the evolution of the game concept sale
GameSpot Dec 22, 07 7:50 PM CST
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Picture the video game pitch: You sit down in front of a group software publisher execs with nothing more than a Powerpoint presentation and somehow try to communicate what your hypothetical digital world will be like and why it will be successful. Gamespot explores the evolution of pitching, from its unassuming beginnings to today’s pressure cookers.
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Charged with as adults with felony child abuse
Associated Press Dec 20, 07 3:40 PM CST
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A 16-year-old girl and her boyfriend beat to death her little sister while imitating moves from the Mortal Kombat video game, Colorado police say. Heather Trujillo and Lamar Roberts, 17, kicked, punched, and body-slammed 7-year-old Zoe Garcia until she was unconscious, CNN reports. They have been charged as adults with felony child abuse.
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