Nintendo named world's most successful games development studio

NINTENDO TOPPLES EA WHILE EUROPE POWERS AHEAD IN THE ONLY RANKING OF GAME DEVELOPERS COMMERCIAL PROWESS

Annual Develop 100 Report Names And Numbers The World's Most Successful Studios

The fourth annual Develop 100, which ranks the world’s games development studios according to the sales of their games at UK retail.

The book is published, in association with Sheridans and amBX, by the editorial team behind Develop magazine – the leading international publication for games developers.

Nintendo takes the number one spot in the 2008 edition of the Develop 100, knocking down EA Canada, which held the top place in the previous three editions of the list. Games made by the firm’s Kyoto and Tokyo-based development teams, which include Brain Training and Super Mario Galaxy, generated £129.83m in revenue – up almost 200 per cent year-on-year.

But despite the increased success of Nintendo and other Japanese studios – and the widely reported pressures from low-cost development centres in Canada – the Develop 100 shows European studios in good health. Development teams in the UK and mainland Europe claim 36 places in the list between them, having generated £284m at UK retail in 2007 – higher than Canada’s 12 studios and £221m revenues.

The Develop 100 is an invaluable guide that throws light on the real winners in one of the world’s fastest-growing creative industries, tracking the sales of every game released and sold in 2007 at UK retail, the world’s third-largest software market.

"A must-read book for everyone in the games industry, whether studio manager or contract worker, the Develop 100 provides an invaluable barometer of trends and data backed by our incisive analysis," commented Develop editor Michael French.

"While the success of the Wii and DS has helped a number of Japanese firms triumph, it’s good to also see developers in the UK and mainland Europe punching above their weight to claim a huge chunk of the credit for some of last year’s best-selling games."

The listing, from 1 to 100, plus a free digital edition, can be found at www.develop100.com.

Massive pirate operation smashed in UK Sunday market raid

Raid Reveals Illegally Pirated Nintendo DS Discs Containing £6,000-Worth Of Games

Illegally copied Nintendo DS games stored on discs marked ‘Volume 9 DS Games’ (the disc) were recovered as part of an 85,000 disc haul at an East Yorkshire Sunday market raid turned out to be the first of their kind seized in the UK for the Nintendo DS, ELSPA forensic experts today revealed.

Recovered at the Walton Street market, based in Hull, it transpires that the discs contained approximately 200 current games for the Nintendo DS.



According to ELSPA’s forensic experts, the disc is the first of its kind discovered in the UK. It has been appearing for approximately four-to-six weeks, but no Nintendo DS discs such as those seized at Hull’s Walton market have previously been found.

The raid, part of a collaborative effort to clampdown on the increased presence of counterfeited goods at the market, was carried out by officers from Hull CID, Hull Trading Standards, the Riverside NPT (Neighbourhood Patrol Team), ELSPA (the Entertainment Leisure And Software Publishers’ Association) IP Crime Unit, MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society), and representatives from Adidas and Nike worked together to identify illegally copied games, music and counterfeit clothes.

The approximate value of the software on the disc, should a member of the public purchase it in a High Street shop, is £6,000.

A number of people were interviewed by local Trading Standards officers after being found selling counterfeit clothing and footwear and will be prosecuted. Part of the operation involved the confiscation of counterfeited goods from traders who fled from the market, leaving their stalls and stock behind as officers entered the market.

John Hillier, who heads up ELSPA’s crime unit, said: “Piracy costs the games industry dear – just like that of any other entertainment industry. Making good and inventive games is an expensive and creative process, with some titles today costing £20m or more to develop. To make a quality title involves teams of highly skilled professionals, from programmers and graphic artists to voice actors and musicians. When a pirate sells illegally copied games they undermine the viability of our industry. The worst-case scenario is that pirate activity could cost the jobs of some of the creative talent and that would be a catastrophe.

“There are other things which the public should be made aware of about counterfeit games. Some of them will damage hardware, such as PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii consoles. Others will not play in PCs and consoles at all or, if they do, the quality of the graphics or gameplay mechanics may be impaired. Finally, pirated software comes with no quality assurance – so if the games do not play properly then retailers and publishers will not replace them.”

Michael Rawlinson, managing director of ELSPA, said: “Walton Street has recently been plagued by criminals selling illegally copied games, music and clothing. ELSPA would like to thank local Trading Standards and all other attending authorities for their efforts in stamping out illegal products from the marketplace and helping protect legitimate traders.”

Det. Sgt Reed of Hull CID, said: “We have made big inroads into the market now and it is our intention to keep raiding it. We’re going to meet with Trading Standards and see whether we can make this a regular thing.”

Mike Pindar, Trading Standards officer for Hull City County Council, said: “Local traders have gone out of business as a result of these counterfeiters and people who buy from them. The people who lose out are the retailers and the public. We’re going to be very active on counterfeiting and it is only a matter of time before these people receive a visit from the police and ourselves.”

A spokesman for entertainment chain HMV said piracy was costing the industry “hundreds of millions of pounds”. He added: “If people visit record stores they will find the price of DVDs and CDs has come down so significantly there is no reason for people to pay a couple of pounds less for pirate copies, which are low quality and support criminals.”

NCsoft steps up battle in the fight against illegal game servers

NCsoft, the world-leading, publisher of massively multiplayer online games such as Guild Wars, Lineage II and City of Heroes, today announced that it was stepping up its fight against the growing menace of intellectual property theft. This action comes as a direct response to the rise of illegal online game servers throughout Eastern Europe, particularly in Greece and Russia where NCsoft’s fantasy-based online role playing game, Lineage II, is extremely popular.

The fraudulent servers in question are being used by players playing at home and in internet cafes, but such unauthorised servers often feature – or require users to download – illegally modified and potentially harmful game data, thereby changing the intended online experience.

NCsoft’s European office has identified several prominent illegal servers across Europe and is in the process of taking action against individuals and corporations deemed to be in breach of international copyright laws. In a lawsuit that was commenced last year in Greece, NCsoft successfully obtained a court order against Internet Cafe business, ‘e-GLOBAL’ following which four of its cafes were raided and illegal software was seized. This led to the shutting down of illegal servers on which pirate copies of Lineage II software was loaded. Georgios Katostaris – Chairman of the Board and Managing Director, Constantinos Zygouras – Vice-Chairman of the Board and Managing Director, Athanassios Dobros – Deputy Managing Director and Dimitrios Koutsoukos – Administrator of the company under the name ‘INTERNET DYNAMICS LLC’ have all been made personal defendants to the proceedings that are continuing in the Greek Courts in which NCsoft is seeking damages as well as criminal remedies.

“Illegal game servers, such as those operating from e-GLOBAL, have a hugely negative impact on both NCsoft Europe and its customers,” commented Max Brown, NCsoft Europe’s Sales & Operations Director. “They seriously affect the player’s experience of our products and rob the company of potential revenue that is used to further enhance the player experience on official servers. NCsoft’s loss in revenue from e-GLOBAL’s operation is estimated in excess of six million Euros. We are defiant in our resolve to stamp out theft of NCsoft’s intellectual properties and are prepared to take the strongest measures to do so.”

NCsoft has a proven track record in combating illegal servers, having worked with the FBI in November 2006 to shut down a substantial unofficial Lineage II server run by US-based website, L2Extreme.com. Following multiple raids across cities throughout the US, L2Extreme’s fraudulent servers – which claimed to support 50,000 active users – were taken offline, as was the L2Extreme.com website.

Log in and play Age of Conan, from Friday April 18th - 20thh

Funcom, Eidos and GameSpot Reveal Unique Age of Conan PvP weekend

- 15,000 gamers get exclusive Age of Conan access from April 18th to April 20th -

Eidos and Funcom is proud to announce a unique Beta partnership with GameSpot.com, one of the world's biggest gaming websites. In a highly exclusive event, 15,000 gamers from across the world can log in and play Age of Conan, non-stop, from Friday April 18th to Sunday April 20th. The unique PvP weekend allows lucky gamers to test a limited part of the PvP functionality of Age of Conan, and the two different PvP mini-games Capture the Skull and Team Annihilation will be available.

To make the weekend even more interesting Eidos and Funcom also includes the engaging Age of Conan character creation system, allowing players to create avatars with strong personalities. All 12 classes in the game, including the barbarian, can be picked and tested, with Funcom transforming each character into a fully specced level 20 death machine. In PvP lobbies players can then chat and socialize, prior to entering PvP matches. Participants are urged to test different classes, and offer any feedback on the forums. There will also be forums on GameSpot.com where people can talk about the event, and Funcom staff will be present to gather feedback.



“The battlefields of Hyboria are craving new, fresh blood,” says an enthusiastic Game Director/Producer Gaute Godager at Funcom. “Throwing newcomers into a fully specced level 20 PVP character is naturally a challenge in this most unforgiving of all MMO environments, but I am confident the players will rise to this challenge. We have spent years fine-tuning the combat system in Age of Conan, and allowing GameSpot readers to be the first to get a small glimpse of this is something we really look forward to.”

The unique PvP weekend marks an escalation in the stress testing for Age of Conan, and aspiring barbarians can now sign up on GameSpot’s website. The 15.000 lucky winners will be then contacted by email on Wednesday the 16th of April, and then they can then start downloading the game. The servers open at 1600 EST Friday the 18th of April and close at 1600 EST on Sunday the 20st of April. Funcom would like to point out that the PvP weekend is still a part of the beta testing process, and that it is a part of the planned stress test escalations towards launch. As of such it is not fully representative of the final product, and players are asked to treat it accordingly. Stress traffic issues may therefore occur.

Age of Conan is consistently mentioned as one of the most anticipated PC games in development. It has received more than twentyfive covers on high-profile gaming magazines across the globe and more than fifteen major awards, including numerous "Best MMO of E3" awards and the official "Best Online Game" award at the Games Convention 2007. Age of Conan is a key title in Microsoft's Games for Windows line-up, and a showcase title for nVidia. The game is set to launch in several territories on May 20th, 2008.

For more information on Age of Conan – either in English, German, French or Spanish – visit the official website at www.ageofconan.com where you also can access the respective community websites.

To sign up for the unique PvP beta weekend

To post on the Conan PvP weekend forums

To see what GameSpot has previously written about Age of Conan


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Hudson show Nintendo Wii - DECA SPORTS Wii at New York Comic Con

Hudson Entertainment Showing
DECA SPORTS Wii at the NY Comic Con April 18-20

Hudson Now Taking Press Appointments for the Show

Hudson Entertainment will be at the New York Comic Con
April 18-20 in the Konami booth.

They are only allowing individual demo sessions to
show off their exciting upcoming Wii sports title, DECA SPORTS.

Pirated Pirates Vs Ninjas Dodgeball Delays Release

Pirated Pirates v Ninjas Dodgeball Delays Release

Gamecock Media Group announced today that due to pirated copies of Blazing Lizard’s upcoming Pirates v Ninjas Dodgeball being on the loose the game will be revamped and held until later this Spring.

“We see the irony in all this,” noted Christopher Stockman, Studio Director at Blazing Lizard. “Rest assured, we have a crack team of Ninjas on the case and hunting down all pirates. On the positive side it gives us a chance to go back and add in additional content to the game.”



What this means for fans of Pirates (the sea-faring kind) and Ninjas is more bang for their buck when the game releases (this also includes fans of the other teams in the game, Robots and Zombies). In addition to the free-flinging arcade dodgeball events already in place (look out for Peg-Leg Stomps and Shuriken Attacks.), Blazing Lizard is adding more traditional rules dodgeball modes where teams stay only on their side and multiple dodgeballs are in play. Now we can settle the score once and for all.

For more info visit www.piratesvsninjas.com. If you are one of the pirates, watch your back!

[disclaimer: the game has not been pirated but we wanted an excuse to announce the wait for the game and the new game mode.]

Nokia €70,000 mobile games contest

Nokia Mobile Games Innovation Challenge dares developers to 'rock' mobile games world

Three most innovative concepts offered Nokia Publishing pre-production contracts and cash prizes

Nokia launched the worldwide Mobile Games Innovation Challenge, a unique global competition with €70,000 in prizes, designed to encourage development of innovative game concepts with the power to positively disrupt the global mobile gaming industry and to help propel mobile gaming with handheld devices into a new and exciting future.

The first competition of its kind to encourage unique concepts in mobile gaming from developers of all backgrounds and all levels, the Mobile Games Innovation Challenge seeks the best in groundbreaking ideas and game concepts from the brightest and most creative minds in mobile gaming today.

Sponsored by Nokia Publishing, the Mobile Games Innovation Challenge invites developers to submit mobile gaming concepts to help drive mobile gaming to the next level, relying on the advanced features and functionalities of N-Gage compatible devices, and Java- or Symbian-based Series 40 or S60 devices from Nokia.

The three most innovative game concepts will be offered Nokia Publishing pre-production contracts, targeting publication of their winning concept on the corresponding Nokia device platform. In addition, the first winner will be awarded €40,000, the second €20,000, and the third €10,000 to enable the participant to further develop the concept.

“Nokia enthusiastically presents this Mobile Games Innovation Challenge as a unique opportunity for the best and brightest mobile game developers worldwide to really rock the industry with innovative, one-of-a-kind concepts that showcase what you can do with our mobile platforms,” said Dr Mark Ollila, director of games publishing, Nokia. “The pre-production contracts and €70,000 in cash prizes toward development of the winning game concepts is only part of the excitement – the Challenge also gives developers a chance to truly make their mark on global mobile gaming through unique and positively disruptive gaming concepts never seen before.”

Beginning immediately, developers wishing to compete for the Mobile Games Innovation Challenge can submit their game concepts online at http://developer.n-gage.com/innovation. Contestants are encouraged to enter more than one mobile gaming concept, with the winners to be selected by an external panel of mobile gaming industry experts on the criteria of innovation, fun, feasibility of execution, and market potential.

Gaming concept submissions will continue through August 20, 2008. The winners will be chosen by the external panel of judges and announced during a special award ceremony at the Nokia Games Summit in Rome, Italy, October 29-30, 2008.

Deadline for submission of all applications is August 20, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. GMT. Further information on the registration process, including description of entries and eligibility requirements are available at http://developer.n-gage.com/innovation.

Maximum Football 2.0 PC video game gets an update

A new update has blitzed through the offensive line and his headed straight for hard drives!

Matrix Games and Wintervalley Software are pleased to announce the release of the comprehensive 2.2.70 update for Maximum Football 2.0. The latest update includes a few gameplay tweaks and some improvements in recording statistics, especially with fumbles.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “The Maximum-Football system has been steadily improving and is no doubt one of the best football management sims on the market. Whether its gridiron action and bone crunching hits or in-depth strategy and coaching finesse, Maximum Football 2.0 has what every football fan wants!”

Maximum-Football 2.0 is the latest and greatest release from the acclaimed sports management video game studio, Wintervalley Software. Bringing a whole host of new features like full Xbox 360 controller support, full DirectX 9.0 utilization, and scores of other upgrades and improvements, Maximum-Football 2.0 delivers on gameplay and fun like a bullet pass through double coverage. Like its predecessor, Maximum-Football 2.0 allows players to experience the thrill of managing a team in any league!

Design and play in leagues where you pick the size and layout. Play against others in user created leagues. The sky is the limit to how far you can take Maximum-Football 2.0. Get down and dirty with the editor as you create new plays and playbooks, design your own uniforms and helmets, and even select nicknames to appear on jerseys.

Maximum-Football 2.0 is the football fan’s dream. Whether you are a head coach or an armchair quarterback, Maximum-Football 2.0 has the features for you.

Get more information on Maximum Football 2.0 from its product page. This update is comprehensive and will bring the version of the game up to 2.2.70.

THQ Wireless Announces Worms 2008 For Mobile Phones

THQ Wireless Announces Worms 2008 For Mobile Phones

New Sequel to the Successful Worms Series Scheduled for Release In May 2008

THQ Wireless a subsidiary of THQ today announced an agreement with Team17 Software Ltd. to publish Worms 2008 A Space Oddity for mobile handsets worldwide. Whilst being an entirely new game, Worms 2008 retains all the familiar award-winning gameplay and unique sense of humour that has epitomised the brand for more than a decade. The game will showcase a whole raft of new gameplay features including four all-new mini-games, an enhanced single player campaign mode, an all-new landscape view mode and new loopy weapons.

Worms 2008 features a story of intergalactic Worm travellers exploring their solar system. The improved single-player campaign missions feature varying objectives to keep the player on their toes as they fight to defend installations, repair space crafts, collect rare minerals and battle to the death against alien races. With the space setting comes a host of new weapons, including the Impact Frag, Atom Packs and Cluster Frags, which are based around the classic Worms weapons but share all new artwork and names with Worms: A Space Oddity, released earlier this year for Nintendo Wii.

Worms 2008 also features all new graphics and new animations, including new looks for the opponent alien races. Advanced landscape generation systems have enabled more realistic levels. Graphical effects like smoke trails help to bring shots to life, while multi-layered parallax particles enhance the depth of field effect and have direct impact from gameplay, reacting to the direction and strength of the wind.

Also, debuting in Worms 2008 is a new AI system that allows enemy worms to determine the greatest threats, navigate the landscape and unleash a variety of weapons. Players will also be able to see the main game in landscape mode, as well as classic portrait mode. This view will allow the user to see more of the landscape and will give an experience closer to playing the game on a widescreen.

Worms 2008 is scheduled to be available for over 850 mobile phones starting in June 2008.

POSTAL Movie - the funniest film of the year

POSTAL Movie Campaign Delivers Raves in NY, Chicago

SRO advance screenings of Uwe Boll’s “Postal” at New York’s Tribeca Film Center on April 1 and April 3 in Chicago have created genuine buzz regarding the film’s May 23rd rollout. The popular site Times Square Gossip, in a story entitled “Osama Bin Laden Goes time last night with Village People icon Randy Jones at the screening of ‘Postal’, the new movie based on the hit video game. This is a must see movie if you want to have some old time laughs. Scenes with Osama Bin Laden are so funny you are going to drop your popcorn…”

Times Square Gossip went on to attest: “’Postal’ will take you back to all the laughs you had as a teen. I haven't seen a movie this funny since then, with the audience yelling and falling on the floor laughing.”

Michael J. Hein, Director of The New York City City Horror Film Festival, declares: “’Postal’ is the funniest film of the year…hands down!”

After the New York event, Uwe and Vince Desi, RWS’s ringleader; took part in a no-holds-barred Q&A session with the audience. Packed houses in both New York and Chicago enjoyed the latest cut of the film. “The most recent edits have really sharpened the film,” reports Big Apple-native Desi, who took a break from developing POSTAL III at Running With Scissors’ Tucson headquarters.

Meanwhile, POSTAL fan Tara “Evilstara” Jarvis attended the Chicago sneak preview and wrote: “[My husband and] I laughed so hard I almost wet my pants and he had tears in his eyes. It was awesome!”

Special Note: This Press Release includes the third installment in our series of “Postal” movie-style one-sheets. Collect ‘em all!

For more information on the upcoming POSTAL Movie, Postal games and gear, as well as updates on the development of POSTAL III visit our new expanded site www.gopostal.com and be sure to visit PostalNation.net for in-depth coverage of the RWS scene.

WARNING: Adult content on website