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[Here’s yet another report predicting Nintendo’s downfall in the console market.]

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TalkBack / Strategy Analytics Looks at Consoles

« on: October 17, 2002, 09:36:30 AM »

Here’s yet another report predicting Nintendo’s downfall in the console market.

Business analysis company Strategy Analytics published a report on the home console market earlier this month.  The report discusses the obvious fact that Sony owns the vast majority of the market, but perhaps more interesting is its analysis of Microsoft and Nintendo’s positions.  

“This report determines that the games console market is entering a critical three-month period which could determine success or failure for both GameCube and XBox. Several factors lead to the conclusion that Nintendo will probably exit the console market since the survival threshold for any game platform is now in the region of 15-20 million systems deployed. This continues to rise as games development costs increase. Furthermore, in spite of Xbox’s slow start, Microsoft will continue to commit the funds necessary to evolve their Xbox platform into a full-fledged broadband home entertainment system.”

It seems that although the GameCube is slightly ahead of the Xbox, the report predicts that Nintendo is most likely to withdraw from the console market.  History suggests that there is no reliable indicator of the future in this market, though, so the only way to really know is to wait and see.

[The import store is finally up and running again, now with a few changes in its inventory.]

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TalkBack / Lik Sang Back Online

« on: October 17, 2002, 08:47:35 AM »

The import store is finally up and running again, now with a few changes in its inventory.

Earlier this month, Hong Kong based import and modification store Lik Sang closed its doors due to prosecutions by Microsoft involving the sale and promotion of mod chips and other products that allegedly encourage pirated software.  Now back online, the store has revealed the full story involving Sony and Nintendo’s involvement as well.    As a result, Lik Sang has announced it will no longer carry any of the items Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft disapprove of.  Below is the statement, as found on Lik Sang’s web site.

On September 16th a lawsuit against Lik Sang International Limited and it's directors was filed in the High Court of Hong Kong by the companies Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft alleging infringment of copyrighted material by the selling of Mod Chips or other development and backup devices for the Plaintiffs consoles.  

On September 17th, the High Court of Hong Kong issued Orders and Injunctions against Lik Sang which prevented selling or advertising Mod Chips (and other similar products in question). The details outlined in those Injunctions basically took Lik-Sang.com, the company and more than 20 full-time employees "down" - business was officially closed till today. Lik Sang and it's employees couldn't even speak about the case due to an injunction of the High Court.  

Lik Sang International Limited has removed all the products in question from it's website and started it's business operation again this Tuesday, October 15th. Un-shipped orders will be processed in due course and the first shipments are scheduled to be dispatched by November 1st. Customers with unshipped orders will receive emails with shipping & or cancellation information. In the meantime, new orders are welcome.  

Please note that Lik Sang International Limited has always sold the products in questions with the legitimate uses in mind. The products haven't been considered by us as illegal. All the Court Orders were issued before hearing a single word from the company. However, Lik Sang is now not in a position to sell the questioned products in the immediate future.

[Check out an interview with Blizzard's Bill Roper on their recent announcements!]

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TalkBack / Blizzard Interview

« on: October 17, 2002, 08:02:58 AM »

Check out an interview with Blizzard's Bill Roper on their recent announcements!

GameSpot recently conducted a brief interview with the vice president of Blizzard North, Bill Roper, on the company’s recently announced handheld conversions of three classic SNES games as well as Blizzard’s re-entry into the console market.  Below is an excerpt from the full article:

GS: Do you expect the game [The Lost Vikings] will play any differently on the GBA? Are there specific changes or enhancements planned?  BR: While we may need to make some minor modifications, we are very focused on translating our Classic Arcade games as faithfully as possible. Filled with intense arcade action and traditionally compelling gameplay, these titles bring big fun to the small screen just as they are. In a sense, we want to help preserve the history of our company and our industry by making games like The Lost Vikings available as they were originally intended to be played.  

Be sure to check out the full article at GameSpot.

[Do you have mad skills at EA's NHL series? Then be sure to check this out!]

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TalkBack / Hockey Gamer Tourneys

« on: October 17, 2002, 07:51:54 AM »

Do you have mad skills at EA's NHL series?  Then be sure to check this out!

EA SPORTS NHL 2003 GLOBAL CHAMPIONSHIP TO DECIDE THE WORLD'S GREATEST HOCKEY GAMER

REDWOOD CITY, CA –October 17, 2002—EA SPORTS(tm) and the NHL® are looking for the world's best hockey gamer! The NHL 2003 Global Championship finals will be held at the 2003 NHL All-Star Game in South Florida on February 1, 2003. Finalists from the US, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland will compete against each other in a battle to name the NHL 2003 Global Champion. Each country will run individual tournaments to find a finalist to represent their country. Details on each country's tournaments are as follows:  

  United States Hockey fans can sign up to compete in the Global Championship tournaments at participating Electronics Boutique stores in the US. Sign-ups begin on October 1, 2002. First to come, first to play and spaces are limited, so sign up early! Qualifying tournaments take place on Saturday, October 19. The winners of the qualifying matches return to the same store for the quarter-finals on Sunday, October 20 and, if they're victorious, the semi-finals and final match. Each store winner will win a prize pack which includes a copy of NHL 2003 from EA SPORTS, an NHL replica jersey, and an NHL hat. Plus, each store winner will automatically be entered into the Grand Prize drawing. The Grand Prize includes a trip for two to the 2003 NHL All-Star Game, including airfare, hotel accommodations, and tickets to all the official NHL All-Star events. The Grand Prize winner will also represent the United States in the NHL 2003 Global Championship, competing against winners from around the world! .    Canada Hockey fans can sign up to compete in the NHL 2003 Global Championship tournaments at any Electronics Boutique store in Canada. Sign-ups begin on October 1, 2002. First to come, first served! Qualifying tournaments take place on Saturday, October 19. The winners of the qualifying matches return to the same store for the quarter-finals on Sunday, October 20 and, if they're victorious, the semi-finals and final match. Each store winner will win a prize pack which includes a copy of NHL 2003 from EA SPORTS, an NHL replica jersey, and an NHL hat. Plus, each store winner will automatically be entered into the Grand Prize drawing. The Grand Prize includes a trip for two to the 2003 NHL All-Star Game, including airfare, hotel accommodations, and tickets to all the official NHL All-Star events. The Grand Prize winner will also represent Canada in the final NHL 2003 Global Championship, competing against winners from around the world!    

No purchase necessary  

Eligibility restrictions apply  

Tournament sign-ups began October 1, 2002.  Tournaments will be held on October 19 and 20, 2002.  

Void where prohibited  

Go to www.easports.com for official rules

[Acclaim announces the soundtrack to its highly anticipated BMX game!]

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TalkBack / BMX XXX Soundtrack revealed

« on: October 16, 2002, 11:04:54 PM »

Acclaim announces the soundtrack to its highly anticipated BMX game!

AKA ACCLAIM UNVEILS DYNAMIC IN-GAME MUSIC SOUNDTRACK FOR 'BMX XXX'

Controversial Action Sports Game to Feature Today's Top Artists, Including Green Day, 311, Sublime, N.E.R.D, De La Soul and Motley Crue

GLEN COVE, NY, October 16, 2002 - Heightening the immersive gameplay experience of what's sure to be the hottest title for the next-generation consoles this holiday season, AKA Acclaim, a division of Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ.SC: AKLM), today unveiled the scorching new soundtrack for its November release, BMX XXX(TM). Featuring world-renowned artists including Green Day, 311, Sublime N.E.R.D, De La Soul and Motley Crue, BMX XXX(TM) is the first action sports video game designed specifically for today's mature gaming audience. BMX XXX(TM) has quickly become one of the most talked about and controversial titles for this holiday season. Combining outrageous Hollywood humor and characters, beautiful women from New York's famous Scores club and incredible arcade action, BMX XXX(TM) will deliver an unparalleled interactive entertainment experience.  

Consumers have already been given a taste of the BMX XXX(TM) soundtrack on the game's official web site (http://www.bmxxxx.com) which launched October 1, 2002, on the game trailer featuring 'Down' by 311, that has been downloaded from the site by more than 500,000 consumers.  

"AKA Acclaim has captured the raw sound that reflects the lifestyle of today's mature gamer," said Ben Fischbach, Senior Brand Manager of AKA Acclaim. "The BMX XXX(TM) soundtrack spans numerous musical genres and complements the game's over-the-top humor and incredible BMX action."  

Acclaim's official BMX XXX(TM) in-game music soundtrack includes:

Green Day - "Basket Case";  

N.E.R.D - "Lapdance";  

311 - "Down";  

Saliva - "Click, Click, Boom";  

Alien Breed - "Crackling" and "Evil Twin";  

Taking Back Sunday - "Cute without the E";  

Trust Company - "Downfall";  

Motley Crue - "Girls, Girls, Girls";  

Ten Foot Pole - "Plastic" and "Giving Gravity a Hand";  

De La Soul - "The Magic Number";  

New Found Glory - "My Friends Over You";  

KRS One- "Step into a World (Rapture's Delight)";  

Brand New Sin - "SPP" and "Judgement Day";  

Audiovent - "The Energy";  

Eric B and Rakim- "Know the Ledge";  

Large Professor - "Bout that time".  

From pedals to pimps, from stunts to strippers, BMX XXX(TM) has consumers abuzz with its envelope-pushing humor and jaw-dropping scenes. Featured on the August cover of Game Informer, the top story on CNN.com and in the pages of The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Maxim and Wired, the game will feature thousands of scripted jokes and events created by some of Hollywood's top comedic writers.  

BMX XXX(TM) will be available in November across all of the next-generation platforms at suggested retail prices to be determined. For more information on BMX XXX(TM), please visit http://www.bmxxxx.com. In addition, consumers can pre-order the game at www.ebgames.com or www.gamestop.com, and receive a free BMX XXX(TM) T-shirt.  

[Vigilante 8's developer joins Activision's family of development studios.]

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TalkBack / Activision Buys Luxoflux

« on: October 11, 2002, 09:33:19 PM »

Vigilante 8's developer joins Activision's family of development studios.

ACTIVISION® ACQUIRES SOFTWARE DEVELOPER  LUXOFLUX CORPORATION

Luxoflux is Currently in Development with  True Crime™: Streets of LA™ and Sequel to “Shrek”

Santa Monica, CA –October 11, 2002 – Further enhancing its internal console development capabilities, Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq:  ATVI), today announced the acquisition of software developer Luxoflux Corporation.  

Activision and Luxoflux have collaborated since 1997 most recently on LucasArts Entertainment’s Star Wars Demolition.  Luxoflux is currently in development on Activision’s upcoming title True Crime: Streets of L.A and a game based on the sequel to DreamWorks Pictures’ blockbuster Academy Award® winning feature film “Shrek” which is being co-developed and co-published by TDK Mediactive, Inc. and Activision.

Founded by Adrian Stephens and Peter Morawiec, Luxoflux operates a 30- person studio in Santa Monica, CA.  The company has proprietary technology that can be used to create compelling interactive entertainment experiences across multiple console platforms.   Under the terms of the agreement, Luxoflux has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision.  As part of the transaction, Luxoflux’s management team and key employees have signed long-term employment contracts with Activision.  

Activision’s Executive Vice President of Worldwide Studios, Larry Goldberg, said, “Luxoflux’s strong and diverse talent pool further enhances our product development capabilities and will play a key role in Activision’s continued leadership on the console platforms.  Luxoflux has a proven track record in developing fun and compelling games and we are confident that their best work is yet to come.”

"We are delighted to become a part of the oldest independent video game publisher in the world," states Adrian Stephens, president of Luxoflux.   "We look forward to continuing to contribute to the company's  success with our unique brand of original gameplay and technology."  

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.  Founded in 1979, Activision posted revenues of $786 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, Scandinavia and the Netherlands.  More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.  

[You know you need to check this out!]

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TalkBack / Official Metroid Prime Website

« on: September 20, 2002, 10:12:21 AM »

You know you need to check this out!

While still early, Nintendo’s official Metroid Prime website now up and running.  Currently little more than a teaser page, the site promises a November 2002 release date and houses an impressive 1:10 of game footage, including heat and X-ray vision as well as other visual treats.  There’s some ambiguity as to how big the small and large versions of the footage are, but the one of better quality is well worth any additional wait.  While the Quicktime videos reveal little new information, the larger version of this promotional video does an excellent job of showcasing the game’s graphical crispness and is just plain cool.  Sadly, the site doesn't allow the viewer to download the movies to their hard drive.