Ubisoft expands into China

Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announces the opening of a new video game development studio in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Richard Tsao, senior producer at Ubisoft’s Shanghai studio, has been appointed managing director of the new studio. Ubisoft Chengdu will initially focus on internal outsourcing and in time will be responsible for developing online titles for PC, consoles and handhelds.

The opening of the new studio was celebrated today at a signing ceremony with Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer of Ubisoft, as well as the Party Secretary of Chengdu Hi-Tech Zone, Mr. Jing Gang and Mr. Han Chun Lin, Director of Chengdu’s Hi-Tech Zone.

Following on its history of success in China, with Ubisoft’s Shanghai studio already the second-largest Ubisoft development team in the world, the new studio in Chengdu will open its doors in Tianfu Software Park with 10 team members and the goal of expanding to 200 developers over the next year. Chengdu, with over 35,000 software programming graduates per year, is one of the most technologically developed cities in Western China, offering long-term growth opportunities based on a talented and highly educated local population. With its cutting-edge infrastructure and a local Hi-Tech Zone, Chengdu attracts international companies from all over the world and will provide a perfect environment for Ubisoft to establish an outstanding development studio.

“The success of our studio in Shanghai, which has been further confirmed with the launch of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for the PLAYSTATION 3 system, has encouraged us to extend our growth in China,” said Christine Burgess-Quémard, executive director, Worldwide Studios at Ubisoft. “We are convinced that Chengdu offers the perfect environment for our expansion, offering a great number of highly educated and talented people.”

Richard Tsao’s career in games development began at Microsoft, where he helped to ship games such as Dungeon Siege and Mech Warrior 4. He then moved to Crytek, shipping Far Cry® and managing pre-production for Crysis before coming to Ubisoft Shanghai where he was most recently responsible for projects including Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter® 2 for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Before video games, Rich gathered a decade of development experience as a technical project manager and programmer for various client/server software projects, including deploying the first online billing system for MSN Internet access service.

Ubisoft was the first major developer to establish itself in China, opening a development studio in Shanghai in 1996. Ubisoft’s Shanghai studio, managed by Corinne Leroy, has developed internationally renowned games including Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow® for the Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, which reached No. 1 shortly after its release in 2004. The studio celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and the team is currently developing an entirely new franchise, Tom Clancy’s EndWar™, which will release in 2008.

10000 Retailers will open for Halo 3 midnight launch

More than 10,000 retailers in the United States alone are expected to open their doors at midnight on September 25 to begin selling Halo 3.

One million copies of the game have already been pre-ordered in North America. The company also recently announced pricing for a Halo 3-themed Xbox 360 console.

Halo 2 sold 2.4 million copies and earned up to US 125 million in its first 24 hours on store shelves. Microsoft expects Halo 3's launch to shatter its predecessor's day-one entertainment sales record.

In what Microsoft has dubbed the "Unite to Fight" launch week, regional events will be held at retailers in locations including New York City, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Miami, allowing gamers a chance to win merchandise and play the game with local celebrities.

In the US, Best Buy will be making Xbox LIVE Gold free for everyone during the first three days of Halo 3's availability. From September 25 through September 27, everyone with an Xbox 360 and a broadband connection can become an Xbox LIVE Gold member and experience Halo 3 online.

Microsoft will be giving away 8,000 points during this free Xbox LIVE period to 144 randomly-selected people. Those winners will also receive a chance to win one of two grand prizes, which include a Halo-themed Pontiac GXP Street Edition valued at USD 28,000 and a Samsung home theater entertainment system valued at USD 3,499.97.

Pontiac itself has teamed up with Microsoft to provide 1,000 lucky winners a copy of Halo 3 before it's available in stores with their "First to Own" promotion. Meanwhile, at the NASCAR Dover 400 on September 23rd, David Stremme will be driving the number 40 Target/Halo 3 inspired race car.

Microsoft has also announced Game with Fame sessions during the first week of Halo 3's launch, allowing gamers to play against their favorite actors, bands, and sports stars over Xbox LIVE. Bungie's Halo 3 development team will also be on Xbox LIVE during launch week, giving gamers a chance to play against the talent behind the game.

Finally, a new Xbox 360 Halo 3 theme and gamerpic will be available for Xbox LIVE Gold members only during launch week.

Source: GamesIndustry

Colin McRae - Star of Video Game Franchise - Dies in Helicopter Crash

Colin McRae, winner of 25 World Rally Championships and star of video game franchises, was killed in a helicopter crash Saturday along with his 5-year-old son, 6-year-old Ben Porcelli and 37-year-old Graeme Duncan. The 39 year old McRae was piloting said helicopter which he owned and was licensed to fly, when it crashed into a wooded area near his home in Scotland. According to police, the aircraft was badly burned, making it impossible for officials to immediately identify the occupants.McRae’s career spans the World Rally Championship from 1987 until 2004, the Paris to Dakar rally, the Le Mans 24 hour race, the Race of Champions and the X Games. McRae’s success on the rally circuit led to a computer game “Colin McRae Rally,” first released in 1998, which is now found on PlayStation, Game Boy, Xbox and PSP platforms - and most recently DiRT for the PC, PS3, and Xbxo 30.

“He was really daring, always pushing it further,” Formula One driver Heikki Kovalainen said. “I always liked his attitude. It was maximum attack always and he had some big rolls sometimes. Every time he had one, though it was like: ‘Oh well, it’s just a roll,’ and he just carried on.”

McRae received an MBE award in 1996 from Queen Elizabeth II. He was married and also has a daughter.

The staff at Gaming Today would like everyone to please keep Colin’s family and the families of Graeme Duncan and Ben Porcelli in your thoughts and prayers as they go through the trying times ahead. It will be hard enough to deal with the loss of Colin and Graeme, but even more difficult due to the fact that young children were involved.
AP

Colin McRae, 1968 – 2007

Everyone at Codemasters, especially those who worked directly with Colin McRae, is deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic events of this weekend.

The loss of Colin McRae is deeply distressing. That it involved his son and another so young makes it even more tragic. Our thoughts are with his family and those closest to him and we share in their pain.

For over ten years, Colin was part of the Codemasters family and it was a privilege to have a man recognised as a true legend on the team. He always took a keen interest in the game experience, wanting to make sure it was without equal in its portrayal of the sport.

His contribution was inspirational and brought his technical expertise and passion for rally driving to each and every McRae game. Through the popularity of those games, he brought a whole new audience to the sport itself.

Codemasters’ relationship with Colin began through Jim, David and Richard Darling and their condolences, along with ours, are passed to Colin’s family. We are heavy of heart at his passing but we are also brimming with pride at knowing him and to have played a small role in his life.

He will never be forgotten by all at Codemasters.

The Colin McRae series of video games:
Developed and published by Codemasters in partnership with Colin McRae, the McRae games now form a 9 million+ selling series. The first game, Colin McRae Rally, was published in the summer of 1998 for the PlayStation and PC. It became an international best-seller and set a benchmark for rally video games that only its sequels could better. Colin McRae Rally 2.0, for the PlayStation and PC, followed in 2000, with Colin McRae Rally 3, for the PlayStation 2 and PC, in 2002.

With Colin’s input, the series continued to evolve with an ever growing variety of car makes and classes, stages and countries featured through the games of 2003 and 2004, Colin McRae Rally 04 and Colin McRae Rally 2005 respectively (PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC).

Most recently, the series diversified further, mirroring Colin’s own participation in a broader range of motor sports, with year’s title: Colin McRae: DiRT. Published in June for the Xbox 360 and PC, and most recently for the PlayStation 3, Colin McRae: DiRT has players competing in off-road races on gravel, mud and dirt tracks all over the world. www.codemasters.co.uk

Colin McRae’s website – www.colinmcrae.com – is now hosting Messages of Condolence http://www.colinmcrae.com/condolences.asp

Project Gotham Racing 4

Update For All Project Gotham Racing Fans!
Racing For The Gold! "Project Gotham Racing 4" Goes Gold

New game web site launches as the latest installment of the legendary racing series gets set to release exclusively on Xbox 360 on 12th October 2007

Microsoft Game Studios and Bizarre Creations today announced that “Project Gotham Racing 4” (“PGR 4”), the latest installment of the best-selling and award-winning racing franchise, has been released to manufacturing. The team also confirmed that the game’s new web site is up and running. Fans can now visit http://www.pgrnations.com for all the latest news, features and updates from the “PGR” universe and the team at Bizarre.

Set to redefine the experience “PGR” fans have come to know and love, “PGR 4” is set to race onto store shelves on 12th October. Featuring a unique, exciting racing experience where dramatic racing action is captured in breathtaking cinematic style, “PGR 4” is sure to capture the attention of racing fans everywhere. The all new addition of motorcycles adds a new dimension to the “PGR” driving experience by allowing gamers to compete and pull off amazing driving manoeuvres not possible on four wheels.

The official “PGR 4” web site at http://www.pgrnations.com contains the most recent news and updates in the Project Gotham universe. Currently, the web site is the home to the game’s full robust vehicles list, including models from the world’s top car and motorcycle manufacturers, as well as the official Achievements list. The site will be continually updated to give fans a true home base with all the “PGR 4” information and content they’re looking for.

From the inspired minds at Bizarre Creations, “PGR 4” offers franchise fans and new players alike exciting new ways to race over Xbox LIVE. “PGR 4” allows drivers to build a global racing community through team-oriented gameplay while making it easy to find their favourite races, friends, ghosts, replays or photos. Additional improvements to the unique Kudos rewards system provides gamers with more incentives to show off their distinctive driving styles including the ability to purchase new vehicles, game modes, gamerpics and more at the “PGR” Shop. “PGR 4” will be available at retailers nationwide on 12th October for an estimated retail price of £44.99.

Pokémon Diamond/Pearl

DISCOVER THE ULTIMATE POKÉMON TRADING DATABASE!

Over 10 million people globally are enjoying the phenomenon that is Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl and in Europe, 1.6 million copies have been sold in just 7 weeks since launch. For the first time in the Pokémon series, these games have allowed fans to trade Pokémon with anyone in the world via the Global Trading Station, using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. Now an all-new and exciting Pokémon service is being made available, as fans are invited to visit the Pokémon GTS website - www.pokemon-gts.net - where they can keep up-to-date on the global Pokémon trade.

From Friday 14th September, 5pm CET, the Pokémon GTS website will be the place to go for fans across the globe, giving them access to top trading information such as the most traded Pokémon, most deposited and wanted Pokémon at the Global Trading Station, as well as discovering which Pokémon are being traded most in each country. The top 50 most traded Pokémon, as well the top 50 most wanted and most deposited Pokémon in the world.

Trying to work out which Pokémon are the best to collect? Using the GTS site, you can simply click on the image of the Pokémon being traded to gain all the information you could ever need, including Pokémon name, type, moves learnt and the time, date and country it was deposited in. What’s more, users have the opportunity to bookmark any Pokémon discovered, adding them to a ‘favourites’ folder to look out for next time they visit the GTS in Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl.

Using the interactive globe element, users can rotate and research Pokémon trading action from many parts of the world. By simply spinning the globe and clicking an area of interest, users can find out more details about the Pokémon but also discover facts about many countries, including capital city, population, language spoken and local greetings!

So log on and discover a whole new world of trading everyone’s favourite Pokémon! Visit www.pokemon-gts.net from 14th September.

Madden NFL '08 scores high

More than 2 million units sold

The NPD Group has released the US hardware and software sales figures for August 2007, with EA's Madden NFL '08 dominating the charts.

The Xbox 360 version of the game was number one, with 896,600 units sold, followed by the PlayStation 2 version, with 643,600 units sold. The PlayStation 3 version of the game sold 336,200 units, which was good enough for fourth place overall.

The Wii, Xbox, and PSP versions of Madden NFL '08 were in eleventh, twelfth, and eighteenth place, respectively.

Bioshock, which is atop the charts in other countries, came in third with 490,900 units sold.

Three Wii games--Wii Play, Metroid Prime 3, and Mario Strikers: Charged--took the fifth, sixth, and seventh positions on the charts. Mario Party 8, also for the Wii, was in the ninth spot.

Guitar Hero II for the PS2, with the guitar controller, sold 145,400 units and was in eighth place. The follow-up, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s for PS2, made tenth place on the charts with sales of 127,100 units. The Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II was in seventeenth place on the August sales chart.

Hardware-wise, Nintendo continues to dominate, with an estimated 403,600 Wii consoles and 383,300 DS handhelds sold in the US in August.

Microsoft sold 276,700 Xbox 360 consoles on the strength of a price cut, with Sony selling 130,600 PlayStation 3 consoles. Sony also sold 202,000 PlayStation 2 consoles and 151,200 PSP handhelds.

Overall, videogame hardware and software sales were up 46 per cent from the same period last year.

Sony could cut prices as Halo 3 spoiler

Price reduction would continue overall market growth for '07

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter believes Sony couldn't pick a better time or place to announce further price cuts for the PS3 and PS2 than next week's Tokyo Game Show.

Not only would a much-rumoured price announcement take some of the shine off rival Microsoft's Halo 3 launch on September 25, but it would also help the US industry see a further increase in sales for the rest of 2007.

"There have been recent rumours about a new 40GB PS3 sku planned for release prior to the holidays at a USD 399 price point, and other rumours about an impending PS2 price cut to USD 99," noted Pachter.

"We think that both of these ideas have merit, and note that SCE president Kaz Hirai is the keynote speaker at next week’s Tokyo Game Show. If the rumours are true, we cannot think of a better forum for making such an announcement, given that the event is less than a week before the launch of arch rival Microsoft’s Halo 3.

"Should Sony cut prices, we think that continued strong industry sales are all but certain," he added.

Recent figures from the NPD Group have shown that sales of the PlayStation 3 are trailing the Wii and Xbox 360 in North America – with Xbox 360 sales double that of the PS3 in August.

Pachter also estimates that Halo 3 will sell over 3 million units in the US in 12 days, helping to drive Xbox 360 console sales over 400,000 in the month of September.

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Japan sees hardware sales slump

Console units shifting less than half of numbers compared to last month

Japan's hardware sales have taken a nosedive in the past month, with some platforms now selling fewer than half the numbers of just four weeks ago.

According to figures from Media Create, last week's console sales were the lowest for many months, with top-seller Nintendo DS shifting fewer than 100,000 units for the second week in a row.

It sold 77,488 last week, compared to 153,834 during the week ending August 19, with almost all the other consoles dropping by a similar proportion.

The Wii sold 29,088 last week compared to an August high of 73,938, the PlayStation Portable sold just 15,564 - down from 33,715 four weeks ago - and the PlayStation 3 also fell by around 40 percent, from 21,720 units to 13,248.

Usually it would be possible to point to specific software title releases contributing to strong hardware sales, but comparing the same weekly data shows that the week ending August 19 boasted no new titles in the top ten, with the best-selling game notching up 127,724 sales.

That's compared with last week, when there were three new entries in the software top ten, and the number one game sold 186,422 units.

The complete hardware sales figures are as follows:

1. Nintendo DS (77,488)

2. Nintendo Wii (29,088)

3. Sony PSP (15,564)

4. Sony PS2 (13,360)

5. Sony PS3 (13,248)

6. Microsoft Xbox 360 (1,286)

7. Nintendo GBA (550)

8. Nintendo GameCube (82)

Snoopy the Flying Ace Mobile Game

Following the July launch of Snoopy the Flying Ace for mobile phones, Namco Networks, a leading publisher and developer of mobile games and entertainment for the mass-market casual gamer, today announced a sweepstakes for Sprint’s mobile phone customers who purchase Snoopy the Flying Ace.

“As an original game based on a mass-market brand, Snoopy the Flying Ace appeals to millions of consumers, both young and old, and the game stays true to brand by incorporating some of its most recognizable storylines and characters,” said Scott Rubin, vice president of sales and marketing, Namco Networks. “Because the mobile gaming industry continues to gain popularity, publishers and carriers must do as much as possible to introduce new consumers to the high level of quality and fun that can be had on mobile phones. Through this sweepstakes, we will encourage mobile game customers to download and play Snoopy the Flying Ace and as a result, increase awareness about how entertaining mobile gaming can be.”

The sweepstakes is simple to enter. Sprint customers can enter from their handsets’ games home page on the Sprint wireless Web or by texting the word ‘snoopy’ to 26262 on their Sprint wireless phone (standard text and data rates apply). Visit www.namcogames.com/snoopy for the official rules and an alternate method of entry.

Namco Networks will award one grand prize winner with a trip to the Charles M. Schulz museum in Napa Valley for a VIP behind-the-scenes tour complete with accommodations, airfare and car service plus $1,000 in spending money. Additionally, 25 runners-up will receive Peanuts® Classics: The Ultimate Box Set that includes eight hardcover classic Peanuts titles plus The Peanuts Cookbook, available for the first time in 30 years. The giveaway will run through Oct. 15, 2007.

In Snoopy the Flying Ace by Namco, players put their piloting skills to the test. In Snoopy’s famous fantasy as the WWI Flying Ace, players steer his Sopwith Camel deep within ”enemy territory,” the familiar Peanuts neighborhood, to capture balloons and raise Woodstock’s nest. Players earn points by collecting bonus items in the air while raiding Peanuts gang “ground troops.” Players can double, triple or quadruple their score by recruiting bird buddies along the way to help Woodstock. When using the game’s network components, available on select phones, earned points can be redeemed for unlockable features and rewards such as downloads of PEANUTS comic strips from Namco’s server-based comic collection.

Snoopy the Flying Ace is currently available on most Sprint Vision and Power Vision phones. For more information, including handset compatibility, visit www.NamcoGames.com/snoopy.

NINTENDO DS LITE GOES PLATINUM!

Not content with just providing a raft of quality titles to look forward to this winter, Nintendo of Europe is adding a new colour of Nintendo DS Lite to the range. Joining the already popular black, white and pink versions, from 12th October 2007, Nintendo DS Lite will be available across Europe in silver - the perfect accessory whatever you are wearing!

Nintendo DS has become Europe’s best-selling games console, with over 14 million sold to date and in many markets across Europe it is the fastest selling handheld games console in history. Strong sales are being maintained even in traditionally slow sales periods in the video games industry’s seasonality and this is being seen with software as well as hardware. More Brain Training from Dr. Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain? will soon hit the 1 million milestone in Europe, with over 915,000 already sold in just 11 weeks since launch. The original Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? has sold over 3.3 million copies and continues to feature high in software sales charts across Europe, despite launching over a year ago. Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl have sold approximately 1.6 million copies combined in just 7 weeks since their launch.

As sales continue to grow at a rapid rate, it is not only traditional gamers who are enjoying the touch screen controls and wide range of software. Whether you wish to exercise your brain, train and communicate with puppies, battle and collect Pokémon or embark on in-depth adventures, the DS has software that is appealing to both avid games and new gamers of all ages. This momentum for Nintendo DS is set to continue with forthcoming new releases, including the highly anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass which launches across Europe on 19th October 2007.

Nintendo DS Lite Silver launches across Europe on 12th October and will be available for the estimated retail price around £99.