Games Industry Wire

Durham, USA – May 11th, 2007 – From the creators of ‘Age of Conan’, ‘Anarchy Online’, ‘The Longest Journey’ and ‘Dreamfall’ comes a brave new massively multiplayer online role-playing game for the PC and Xbox 360. Taking place on our earth, in our times, ‘The Secret World’ (TSW) is inspired by history and mythology, modern conspiracy theories and ancient mysteries.
For there really is a world within ours, a secret world, where magic exists, monsters roam and ancient forces are fighting for the dominance of earth. It is a world of legendary stories, ageless conflicts and powerful cabals. In this world, …read more

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Originally, Publisher 2K Games and developer Firaxis jointly announced that a Wii build of Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution was underway alongside Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo DS incarnations. However, 2K Games confirmed to IGN Wii today that the Wii iteration of the real-time strategy game has been put on indefinite hold.
“Development for the Wii version of Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution is currently on hold,” a spokesperson for 2K Games said. “We are focusing our attention on creating the best possible Civilization experience for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo DS platforms.”

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Codemasters Online has just unveiled their next generation MMORPG set for release in 2008, Jumpgate Evolution. Developed by the US-based experienced MMOG developer NetDevil, Jumpgate Evolution is a space-based MMO incorporating all-new action style gameplay like never seen before in any previous online game.
‘We are very pleased to be working with NetDevil to release this exciting project across North America & Europe. Jumpgate Evolution brings something new and fresh to the online persistent space,” commented David Solari, Vice President, Codemasters Online. “The all-action approach and thrilling, twitch-based space combat really sets it apart from other MMOs in the market and …read more

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Sega has announced that it will begin shortly distribution of Master System titles on Nintendo’s Virtual Console service. Sega currently distributes via the Virtual Console a large library of classics for its once successful 16-bit Mega Drive (aka Genesis in America).
The Master System is the 8-bit predecessor to the Genesis/Mega Drive which was released opposite the NES and, while popular in Europe, failed to take the spotlight from the Nintendo console elsewhere.

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Last November when Electronic Arts shut its Chicago studio, EA Games president Frank Gibeau said that pulling the plug on the studio was “the toughest decision I’ve made in my career.” But the plug was fatefully pulled, with a promise to relocate some staffers and offer others severance packages.
One former EA Chicago member that won’t be needing the assistance of EA’s HR department is the studio’s former general manager himself, long-time Electronic Arts exec Kudo Tsunoda. Tsunoda has been offered a post within the Xbox division at Microsoft, a Microsoft staffer confirmed today. Guess which series is he put …read more

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New York, NY – January 24, 2008 – Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), is proud to announce the release date for Grand Theft Auto IV, the new title in the genre-defining Grand Theft Auto franchise. Developed by Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto IV will be simultaneously available for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and will be in stores worldwide on April 29, 2008.
“We are so excited to be releasing Grand Theft Auto IV,” said Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar …read more

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CARY, N.C. (January 22, 2008) – Epic Games, Inc., one of the world’s leading game developers and creator of the industry’s most popular game engine, today announced plans to demonstrate the latest Unreal Engine 3 features at this year’s Game Developers Conference, which will be held next month at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Calif. Epic will hold closed door presentations for its prospective customers, evaluators, licensees, members of its Integrated Partners Program and the media.

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Sega Japan has announced that two of its high profile first quarter titles have been pushed back. Dramatic Dungeon Sakura Taisen, originally set for DS release on 2/21, will now arrive a month later on 3/19. Even bigger is the delay for Wii’s Mysterious Dungeon Fuurai no Shiren 3 which, instead of its original 2/28 release, will now make it out in June. These dates are all Japan only.
As expected, Sega cited a need to up the quality of the two titles as reason for the delays.

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Chalk another one for Valve’s Steam service as EVE Online, the space-faring massively multiplayer online game developed and published by Iceland-based CCP, is now available via the digital distribution service. The game is the first MMO to be offered on Steam, and the early downloaders will be treated to a 21-day trial period. The special offer also includes a $5 discount on the first month’s full subscription to EVE Online.
“Launching EVE on Steam means the addition of another fantastic PC game and the introduction of MMOs on Steam,” said Jason Holtman, director of business development at Valve. “The team at …read more

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Subscriptions to the World of Warcraft MMORPG have surpassed the 10 million subscriber mark worldwide, according to developer Blizzard Entertainment. The game, now more than three years old, has become the most popular massively-multiplayer online role-playing game, taking the top sales spot among PC games around the world in 2005 and 2006. WoW was only outsold in 2007 by its expansion pack – World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade. A second WoW expansion, World of Warcraft: The Rise of the Lich King, is in development.
“It’s very gratifying to see gamers around the world continuing to show such enthusiasm and support for …read more

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