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.....

Lego Universe Shut Down

NOV. 1, 2011 • The Lego Group announced that its Lego Universe MMO would be shut down on Jan. 31. Any paid subscribers still in the game by Dec. 31 will get their final month of enhanced service free of charge. The reason given for the decision was that the online world game based on Lego’s brick building toys did not attract sufficient users. Impact: Lego Universe is a product that woul.....

MechWarrior Returns

NOV. 1, 2011 • The one hugely popular MechWarrior franchise is set to return during the second half of 2012 in the form of a free-to-play online squad title by Vancouver-based Piranha Games. Gameplay in MechWarrior Online will be based on matches between four-person teams. while these matches will not take place in a persistent world, the actual results information from these battles will be persistent. Virtual items that can purchased online are not expected to.....

Nintendo 3DS Sales Reach 6.68M

OCT. 27, 2011 • Nintendo 3DS sales reached 6.68 million units since the system’s February launch in Japan. To boost sales, the suggested retail price was dropped to $180 from $250 last August. Nintendo said that it had sold 8.13 million units of 3DS software worldwide to date. By March 2012 the company projects it will have sold 16 million 3DS systems, and 50 million software units, the latter a reduction from the originally estimated 70 million units......

Sony Buys Out Sony Ericsson

OCT. 27, 2011 • Sony Corp. is buying out its Swedish partner for €1.05 billion ($1.45 billion) to assume full control of the Sony Ericsson mobile phone joint venture. The acquisition transfers a range of patents to Sony, and better enables the consumer electronics maker to better int.....

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.....

KMM Brisbane Shuttered

OCT. 17, 2011 • KMM Brisbane became the latest game studio to shut down in Australia. The branch of KMM Sydney was set up to work on Happy Feet Two on various platforms and had been operating for less than a year. Many of those employed there had come from Krome Studios, which was shuttered in 2010. Other Australian developers to close down in the last two years include a branch of EA’s Visceral Games, Pandemic Studios, Team Bondi, as well as THQ’s Brisb.....

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