Sony and Microsoft Spend $94 Million on Video Game Television Advertising

JULY 3, 2014 • During the first five months of 2014 Sony Computer Ent. America and Microsoft Corp. combined spent $93.7 million to advertise their latest consoles on U.S. television, as reported in the Wall Street Journal based on estimates provided by research firm iSpot.tv. Total video game television advertising spend for the period was $226.5 million. Between the two console makers Sony spent $59 million to support the PS4 versus Microsoft’s $34.7 mill.....

Microsoft Acquires Gears of War IP

JAN. 28, 2014 • Epic Games’ Gears of War franchise has been acquired by Microsoft Studios. Financial terms were not disclosed but the deal secures the IP for Microsoft including rights to all existing and future games, entertainment experiences and merchandise. Vancouver, BC-based Black Tusk Studios will now be responsible for development of Gears of War product moving forward. In addition, Epic’s former Gears of War director of production Rod Fergus.....

Microsoft Grabs Nokia Hardware Biz

SEPT. 3, 2013 • With its 2011 partnership deal coming up for recommitment next year, Microsoft Corp. is paying €5.44 billion ($7.2 billion) to purchase Nokia Corp.’s phone business outright. The transaction amount is about one-quarter of Nokia’s 2012 sales. Of the total, €3.79 billion is devoted to purchasing Nokia’s devices business and 8,500 key patents, with €1.65 bill.....

Steve Ballmer to Retire From Microsoft

AUG. 23, 2013 • Microsoft Corp. chief executive Steve Ballmer has announced he will retire within the next 12 months after a successor for the position is chosen. The company’s board of directors has appointed a special committee to oversee the succession process that includes lead independent director John Thompson, chairman of the board Bill Gates, chairman of the audit committee Chuck Noski, and compensation committee chairman Steve Luczo. The only clu.....

Microsoft Prices Xbox One High

JUNE 10, 2013 • The Xbox One will launch this November in North America and Europe, priced at $499, €499 ($661) and £429 ($668). Microsoft Corp. had not detailed pricing or release month when it revealed its new console late last month. The company did receive criticism at the time for a presentation that was heavy on entertainment media content and enhanced voice/gesture interface features, whil.....

Microsoft SmartGlass Examined

OCT. 31, 2012 • The Kinect motion controller was a tremendous boon to the Xbox 360 released far back in 2005 – helping to extend market share for the console at the very time that sales should have been trailing off.  While much outside attention is being focused on what the next Xbox will look like and when it will arrive, Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division has launched a new complementary input technology, SmartGlass. Although Kinect can e.....

Microsoft TV Studio Launched

SEPT. 18, 2012 • To date, Microsoft Entertainment has sourced most of its non-game content for Xbox Live from broadcast media sources. That’s changing though as the company has announced the launch of its own Microsoft TV production studio in Los Angeles. Tapped to lead the new facility is Nancy Tellem, who was president of the CBS Network Television Entertainment Group until 2009 where she oversaw program development, production, business affairs and oper.....