THQ Testing Free-to-Play

SEPT. 23, 2010 • THQ chief executive explained on an investor conference call how the publisher will be testing an adapted F2P model with its retail titles. The concept is to release stripped down versions of selected titles for between $29 and $39, and providing consumers the option of purchasing up to $100 in addition DLC. The model will be tested next year with THQ’s MX vs ATV off-road racing game. .....

Interview IMVU Banks On Chat

SEPT. 20, 2010 • Somewhere between social networks and text chat is IMVU. Since 2004 the service has been perfecting a 3D virtual environment where users deck out their avatars in the fashion style of their choice, and go out to chat with the people they meet. In many ways the concept reads like The Sims Online stripped of the simulation gameplay elements, in favor of a doubling down on user-generated content and player interaction. .....

Netflix Streaming Popular

SEPT. 17, 2010 • A survey by Credit Suisse discovered 37% of Netflix subscribers aged 25 to 34 substituted Netflix streaming option for their pay television. Similarly, about 30% of users between 18 and 24 are using Netflix’s streaming video service instead of cable or satellite. The survey polled 250 Netflix subscribers. Impact: While a relatively small sample, the Credit Suisse survey resu.....

Realtime Worlds APB MMO Locked Down

SEPT. 15, 2010 • Only a month after Scotland-based developer Realtime Worlds went into administration – the British form of bankruptcy – its APB MMOG was shut down. The game had been live for less than three months.  No buyers were found to acquire the MMOG. Impact: Realtime Worlds and the APB MMOG show the risk associated with high end development.  Over the past five years, Realtime ha.....

4GB Xbox 360 & Halo Reach

SEPT. 15, 2010 • Microsoft Corp. acknowledged that its 4GB Xbox 360 Slim had a problem with some multiplayer features of Halo Reach. The game is Microsoft’s primary lead-in to the fall sales period, and drove $200 million in worldwide sales its first day in release. On the 4GB Slim, co-operative multiplayer modes will not function as the game will request access to a hard drive, and will ignore the available system memory. .....

Consumers Wary of 3D Television

SEPT. 9, 2010 • According to a report by The Nielsen Company, consumers who were surveyed about the future purchase of a 3D television returned some sobering responses. Of the 25% of those who said they were very likely to purchase a 3D TV, after a full demonstration, only 12% said they were very likely to buy a 3D television. About 89 percent of those surveyed for the Focusing on the 3DTV Experience report did not like 3D glasses because they felt they no longe.....

Need For Speed Word Adds Free-to-Play

SEPT. 9, 2010 • Since its launch on July 27 Need For Speed World attracted 1 million registered players. The racing MMO was initially free-to-play up to level 10, at which point advancement in the game ceased until the $20 Starter Pack was purchased. But following the announcement, Electronic Arts opened up all levels to free play, and will monetize the title using virtual items to made available later. .....

End of content

End of content