With each region the Wii is released in, impressive sales numbers have followed. American gamers bought 600,000 Wiis in the system's first eight days in North America. In Japan, 372,000 Wiis were sold in just two days. Late last week the Wii went on sale in Europe, and the first sales figures are in.
Nintendo says 50,000 Wiis were sold in the UK in the console's first 12 hours on the market. That translates to more than one console sold every second.
The Mario factory has yet to announce how many units were shipped to Europe, and as in other regions, the Wii remains a hard find for gamers.
"We are doing everything we can to meet demand throughout Christmas and the new year," said Nintendo UK general manager David Yarnton.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Aliens to spawn on next-gen systems
Hot on the heels of Scarface: The World Is Yours, The Godfather, and Reservoir Dogs, another old movie license has been dusted off to be turned into a game. The latest dormant property to see a gaming revival is the Alien series of sci-fi horror films. Sega and 20th Century Fox today announced that they would be bringing the acid-blooded extraterrestrials back to the world of console gaming.
Fans of the series can expect to see it adapted a number of ways, as the companies have confirmed that several Alien games--including a first-person shooter and a role-playing game--are currently in preproduction, with the first game scheduled to be released in 2009. The games will be for currently undisclosed "next-generation gaming systems."
The first Alien film came out in 1979, starring Sigourney Weaver as Lieutenant Ripley of the commercial spaceship Nostromo, which intercepts a distress call from a nearby planet. While investigating the planet, one of the crew becomes impregnated by an alien. Three sequels were made from the original, Aliens, Alien 3, and Alien: Resurrection. The franchise has also yielded a crossover spin-off in Alien Vs. Predator.
This is not the first time either company has adapted the sci-fi series for gaming. In 1993, Sega released the arcade game Alien 3: The Gun, while the Fox Interactive brand scored a hit with the PC first-person shooting series Alien Versus Predator. Other publishers to tackle the franchise in interactive form include Electronic Arts (Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction for PlayStation 2), Konami (Aliens for the arcade), Capcom (Alien Vs. Predator for the arcade), and the former incarnation of Acclaim (Alien Trilogy and Alien 3 for multiple platforms).
This is the second announcement of a Sega-made movie adaptation in as many months. In November, the publisher confirmed it had signed a deal for next-gen games based on Marvel's upcoming Iron Man film. The company is also making a next-gen game based on another, still unannounced, Marvel superhero license.
Fans of the series can expect to see it adapted a number of ways, as the companies have confirmed that several Alien games--including a first-person shooter and a role-playing game--are currently in preproduction, with the first game scheduled to be released in 2009. The games will be for currently undisclosed "next-generation gaming systems."
The first Alien film came out in 1979, starring Sigourney Weaver as Lieutenant Ripley of the commercial spaceship Nostromo, which intercepts a distress call from a nearby planet. While investigating the planet, one of the crew becomes impregnated by an alien. Three sequels were made from the original, Aliens, Alien 3, and Alien: Resurrection. The franchise has also yielded a crossover spin-off in Alien Vs. Predator.
This is not the first time either company has adapted the sci-fi series for gaming. In 1993, Sega released the arcade game Alien 3: The Gun, while the Fox Interactive brand scored a hit with the PC first-person shooting series Alien Versus Predator. Other publishers to tackle the franchise in interactive form include Electronic Arts (Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction for PlayStation 2), Konami (Aliens for the arcade), Capcom (Alien Vs. Predator for the arcade), and the former incarnation of Acclaim (Alien Trilogy and Alien 3 for multiple platforms).
This is the second announcement of a Sega-made movie adaptation in as many months. In November, the publisher confirmed it had signed a deal for next-gen games based on Marvel's upcoming Iron Man film. The company is also making a next-gen game based on another, still unannounced, Marvel superhero license.
Assault Heroes to assault XBL
Microsoft continues its Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays program this week with Sierra Online's Assault Heroes. The game, developed by Wanako Studios, will be available at 1 a.m. on Wednesday for 800 points ($10).
Assault Heroes is an arcade-style, top-down-perspective shooter in which gamers steer heavily armed 4x4s, drive souped-up motorboats, or go at it on foot against wave after wave of enemies. Armed with weapons such as flamethrowers, grenades, and flak cannons, players can take on the challenge alone or play cooperatively with a friend online or offline.
Assault Heroes is rated T for Teen. For more information, read GameSpot's
Assault Heroes is an arcade-style, top-down-perspective shooter in which gamers steer heavily armed 4x4s, drive souped-up motorboats, or go at it on foot against wave after wave of enemies. Armed with weapons such as flamethrowers, grenades, and flak cannons, players can take on the challenge alone or play cooperatively with a friend online or offline.
Assault Heroes is rated T for Teen. For more information, read GameSpot's
Microsoft releases XNA Studio Express
Most of the community aspect of the Xbox 360 has been made famous by Xbox Live. But when Microsoft says they want gamers to be involved with the Xbox 360, most didn't realize they mean actually making games.
Today, Microsoft released XNA Game Studio Express, a suite of applications and tools designed to facilitate game design by eliminating the need to write repetitive code.
The download is free from Microsoft's XNA Web site, and requires a Windows XP-based PC. The kit itself is based on the Visual C# 2005 Express Edition and Microsoft's .NET Compact Framework.
Also debuting today is the XNA Creators Club through Xbox Live Marketplace. Those who join the group will have access to various resources, including assets, samples, and white papers from game vets. The XNA Creators Club costs $49 for four months or $99 for a full-year membership.
"The XNA Creators Club is really the first of its kind--an opportunity to join a community of other developers who are empowered to bring their game ideas to life on a next-generation console system," said Microsoft's general manager of the Game Developer Group Chris Satchell. "What users will see today is just the beginning of the plans we have to revolutionize game development one creative game idea at a time."
Today, Microsoft released XNA Game Studio Express, a suite of applications and tools designed to facilitate game design by eliminating the need to write repetitive code.
The download is free from Microsoft's XNA Web site, and requires a Windows XP-based PC. The kit itself is based on the Visual C# 2005 Express Edition and Microsoft's .NET Compact Framework.
Also debuting today is the XNA Creators Club through Xbox Live Marketplace. Those who join the group will have access to various resources, including assets, samples, and white papers from game vets. The XNA Creators Club costs $49 for four months or $99 for a full-year membership.
"The XNA Creators Club is really the first of its kind--an opportunity to join a community of other developers who are empowered to bring their game ideas to life on a next-generation console system," said Microsoft's general manager of the Game Developer Group Chris Satchell. "What users will see today is just the beginning of the plans we have to revolutionize game development one creative game idea at a time."
Take-Two feels heat in $$ scandal
The execs at Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two Interactive, Inc. suffered yet another public humiliation. In documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today and in a statement released to the public, investors, and the press, the Grand Theft Auo and Bully publisher outlined the conclusion of an internal investigation designed to ferret out wrongdoing related to the granting of stock options.
The ferret has spoken, and it has smelled a rat.
In a statement, the company said that an independent committee found "there were improprieties in the process of granting and documenting stock options and that incorrect measurement dates for certain stock option grants were used for financial accounting purposes."
The company said it will need to "restate historical financial statements to record non-cash charges for compensation expense relating to past stock option grants," and that "all consolidated financial statements, earnings releases and similar communications issued by the Company containing financial information for periods beginning 1997 through April 30, 2006 should no longer be relied upon."
According to the statement, the internal investigation--which could negate the financial reporting of Take-Two for the past 10 years--found no misconduct by either CEO and president Paul Eibeler or CFO Karl Winters.
Along with more than a hundred other publicly traded companies (including CNET Networks, the owner of GameSpot), Take-Two is under investigation by the SEC for practices related to the granting of stock options, specifically the back-dating of options, a practice which is designed to circumvent SEC rules and invariably puts more money into the pockets of a select group of company officials. Today's statement has no impact on that still-ongoing investigation announced in July.
The publisher is no stranger to the SEC, recently paying $7.5 million to settle an SEC lawsuit brought in 2005. The SEC alleged the company had overstated financial results from 2000 to 2001.
Today's news, released before the markets opened, erased Friday's uptick. On Friday, shares in the company rose 2.9 percent to $20.10 for the day; today, Take-Two shares shed 2.4 percent, closing at $19.66.
Financial writer Herb Greenberg stated in his MarketWatch blog today, "when you see such blatant wrongdoing, you can't help but wonder (with any company) where else the company might have been acting too aggressively for its own good...[and yet] investors continue to flock to Take-Two (and other stocks) as if all is well in its (their) world. Remarkable."
The ferret has spoken, and it has smelled a rat.
In a statement, the company said that an independent committee found "there were improprieties in the process of granting and documenting stock options and that incorrect measurement dates for certain stock option grants were used for financial accounting purposes."
The company said it will need to "restate historical financial statements to record non-cash charges for compensation expense relating to past stock option grants," and that "all consolidated financial statements, earnings releases and similar communications issued by the Company containing financial information for periods beginning 1997 through April 30, 2006 should no longer be relied upon."
According to the statement, the internal investigation--which could negate the financial reporting of Take-Two for the past 10 years--found no misconduct by either CEO and president Paul Eibeler or CFO Karl Winters.
Along with more than a hundred other publicly traded companies (including CNET Networks, the owner of GameSpot), Take-Two is under investigation by the SEC for practices related to the granting of stock options, specifically the back-dating of options, a practice which is designed to circumvent SEC rules and invariably puts more money into the pockets of a select group of company officials. Today's statement has no impact on that still-ongoing investigation announced in July.
The publisher is no stranger to the SEC, recently paying $7.5 million to settle an SEC lawsuit brought in 2005. The SEC alleged the company had overstated financial results from 2000 to 2001.
Today's news, released before the markets opened, erased Friday's uptick. On Friday, shares in the company rose 2.9 percent to $20.10 for the day; today, Take-Two shares shed 2.4 percent, closing at $19.66.
Financial writer Herb Greenberg stated in his MarketWatch blog today, "when you see such blatant wrongdoing, you can't help but wonder (with any company) where else the company might have been acting too aggressively for its own good...[and yet] investors continue to flock to Take-Two (and other stocks) as if all is well in its (their) world. Remarkable."
Red 5 taps some green
Red 5, a game developer composed primarily of former World of Warcraft designers, today said it secured $18.5 million in venture capital funding.
The investment comes from two well-respected VC firms: Benchmark Capital and Sierra Ventures. As reported earlier in GameSpot, Red 5 Studios was formed in September 2004 by a team of former World of Warcraft developers, including team lead Mark Kern. In addition to the team's work on WOW, its credentials include Diablo II, Warcraft III, and the Starcraft series. Red 5 staffers are currently working on a title to be published by Korean online game giant Webzen.
Of the investment, Benchmark general partner Bill Gurley told Reuters that "massive online games like World of Warcraft will become a dominant form of entertainment."
Coincidently, another Western developer with an upcoming title slated to be published by Webzen recently tapped its own funding. Last Friday, Real Time Worlds announced it had secured $31 million in funding.
The investment comes from two well-respected VC firms: Benchmark Capital and Sierra Ventures. As reported earlier in GameSpot, Red 5 Studios was formed in September 2004 by a team of former World of Warcraft developers, including team lead Mark Kern. In addition to the team's work on WOW, its credentials include Diablo II, Warcraft III, and the Starcraft series. Red 5 staffers are currently working on a title to be published by Korean online game giant Webzen.
Of the investment, Benchmark general partner Bill Gurley told Reuters that "massive online games like World of Warcraft will become a dominant form of entertainment."
Coincidently, another Western developer with an upcoming title slated to be published by Webzen recently tapped its own funding. Last Friday, Real Time Worlds announced it had secured $31 million in funding.
Quartet of titles hit Wii's Virtual Console
The wave of old-school games continues to pile onto the Wii's Virtual Console. Nintendo today announced that four more games from the days of yesteryear are now available for purchase. Joining the ranks of Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, and Sonic the Hedgehog are one title from the Nintendo Entertainment System, a pair from the Sega Genesis, and one from the TurboGrafx-16.
Gamers who like their hockey 8-bit can now download Ice Hockey for 500 Wii points ($5). Originally released in 1988 for the NES, Ice Hockey features six national teams and three different weight classes of players, allowing coaches to go with a nimble lineup or a team of crushing bruisers.
Gunstar Heroes, which first appeared on the Sega Genesis in 1993, brings side-scrolling run-and-gun action to the Wii. Playing as one of the famed Gunstar twins, gamers will take on Colonel Red and a host of his minions in an attempt to foil his plans of destruction. Gunstar Heroes will set gamers back 800 Wii points ($8).
The curiously named Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, also originally a Genesis title, is a puzzle game featuring characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog universe. Like the popular puzzle game Puyo Puyo, this game tasks gamers with matching four blocks of the same color and causing mayhem for opponents. Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine costs 800 Wii points ($8).
Late last week, Hudson Entertainment dropped a few hints that a TurboGrafx-16 game would be making an appearance on the Virtual Console today. Based on clues, many suspected it would be Alien Crush...and they were right. Alien Crush was originally released in 1989 and sells for 600 Wii points ($6).
All four games can be purchased from the WIi Shop Channel. Nintendo plans to add new Virtual Console games each Monday.
Gamers who like their hockey 8-bit can now download Ice Hockey for 500 Wii points ($5). Originally released in 1988 for the NES, Ice Hockey features six national teams and three different weight classes of players, allowing coaches to go with a nimble lineup or a team of crushing bruisers.
Gunstar Heroes, which first appeared on the Sega Genesis in 1993, brings side-scrolling run-and-gun action to the Wii. Playing as one of the famed Gunstar twins, gamers will take on Colonel Red and a host of his minions in an attempt to foil his plans of destruction. Gunstar Heroes will set gamers back 800 Wii points ($8).
The curiously named Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, also originally a Genesis title, is a puzzle game featuring characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog universe. Like the popular puzzle game Puyo Puyo, this game tasks gamers with matching four blocks of the same color and causing mayhem for opponents. Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine costs 800 Wii points ($8).
Late last week, Hudson Entertainment dropped a few hints that a TurboGrafx-16 game would be making an appearance on the Virtual Console today. Based on clues, many suspected it would be Alien Crush...and they were right. Alien Crush was originally released in 1989 and sells for 600 Wii points ($6).
All four games can be purchased from the WIi Shop Channel. Nintendo plans to add new Virtual Console games each Monday.
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