Japan Consumer Affairs Agency Eyes Chance Item Sales

MAY 6, 2012 ● According to Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, the Japan Consumer Affairs Agency found a virtual item model used social networking service (SNS) websites constitutes a violation of a law that banning onerous sales methods. Players of the online games can obtain a a rare virtual item after purchasing a certain number of other less rare items. The catch is users usually must purchase many items before the item they need is ac.....

Japan Game Market Shrinks

JAN. 5, 2012 • According to Japanese publisher Enterbrain, the Japan game market contracted ¥459 billion ($5.9 billion), or 8%. The contraction is the fourth such year-on-year drop in a row.  Hardware sales, however, grew 2.4% to ¥179 billion ($2.3 billion). .....
Nexon IPO Expects ¥100 Billion Listing

Nexon IPO Expects ¥100 Billion Listing

NOV. 7, 2011 • Nexon Co. Ltd. hopes listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange will raise as much as ¥100 billion yen ($1.3 billion) once the Nexon IPO is complete in December. According to the Bloomberg news service, Nexon hired Nomura Holdings Inc., Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to manage the offering in Japan, the U.S. and Europe. The IPO would be the biggest by a company listing in Japan this year, and the second largest in the technology industry wo.....

Lineage II Taken Free-to-Play

NOV. 2, 2011 • With the release of the Goddess of Destruction expansion, publisher NCsoft is transitioning Lineage II free-to-play. No restrictions on content access will be placed on free players. NCsoft is also crafting a new starting experience for new players to get them into the game without a severe disadvantage compared to existing players. Virtual items for sale will be geared to enhanced convenience or cosmetics. The expansion also adds new character c.....

Ubisoft Opens Mid East Studio in Abu Dhabi

OCT. 25, 2011 • Abu Dhabi was chosen as the location for the latest of Ubisoft’s development studios, set to open in December. Yannick Theler, a 10-year veteran with the publisher, will head the new studio. In addition to creating games, the Abu Dhabi operation will also train local talent in cooperation with twofour54, Ubisoft’s media partner in the venture. Impact: A lot of lip s.....
Flextronics Starts Brazil Production for Xbox 360s

Flextronics Starts Brazil Production for Xbox 360s

SEPT. 28, 2011 • Microsoft announced that its production partner Flextronics Intl. Ltd. is now producing Xbox 360s in Manaus, regional capital of Brazil’s Amazonas state. The production facility can produce up to 17,000 of the consoles a week.  Sales of these Brazilian-made Xbox 360s are expected to commence in Brazil during October. Such local production is expected to reduce the cost to consumers in the country by 40%. .....