Sony slashes PlayStation price to revive sales

2011-08-16T13:00:19Z

COLOGNE, Germany (Reuters) - Sony Corp is slashing the price of its basic PlayStation 3 gaming console by nearly a fifth in the

Eyes on holiday season, casual games at Gamescom

2011-08-15T17:00:08Z

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Hackers, holiday season sales and "casual" gaming are expected to be in the spotlight at gamescom" class="inform">Gamescom, Europe's biggest video game trade fair, which throws its doors open to visitors th...

Supreme Court strikes down California video game law

2011-06-27T08:00:18Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court struck down on Monday a California law banning sales or rentals of violent video games to minors as a violation of free-speech rights, its first ruling in a video game case.

By a 7-2 vote, the justices upheld a ruling by an appeals c...

Capcom sticks to its guns in transition to Smurfs

2011-06-08T15:00:24Z

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sticking power was what helped Japan's Capcom, best known for macho games like Street Fighter and Resident Evil...

Nintendo lifts lid on WiiU for 2012

2011-06-07T10:30:45Z

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Nintendo announced a new videogame console called the WiiU that plays high-definition graphics and features a 6.2-inch touchscreen on its controller, improving on its hit Reuters Health) - Overweight kids might benefit from swapping their traditional video games for "active" ones that get them off the couch, a new study suggests.

The study, of 322 overweight 10- to 14-year-olds, found that those whose usual, sedentary video games were partly replaced with active games gained less weight over six months.

For years, experts have worried that the...

Sony dubs new handheld game player PlayStation Vita

2011-06-06T19:00:08Z

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sony said on Monday its new handheld game device would be called PlayStation Vita. The company added that it would partner with AT&T as exclusive carrier for the 3G version of the device in ...

Microsoft expands Kinect, adds TV to Xbox in U.S

2011-06-06T11:30:14Z

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp is looking to put its popular Kinect motion-sensing device at the heart of its Xbox game console, unveiling p...

Sony to begin restoring PlayStation in Asia on Saturday

2011-05-27T10:00:30Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony said it would begin restoring its PlayStation videogame network in Japan and elsewhere in Asia Saturday, more th...

Sony to begin restoring PlayStation network in Asia

2011-05-27T02:00:19Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp said on Friday it would begin the restoration of its PlayStation videogame network in Asia, including TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp suffered a massive breach in its video game online network that led to the theft of names, addresses and possibly credit card data belonging to 77 million user accounts in what is one of the largest-ever Internet security break-ins.

Sony ...

Microsoft sells 10 million Kinect devices

2011-03-09T12:00:15Z

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday it has sold more than 10 million Kinect motion-sensing game system units worldwide in just over four months, making it the fastest-selling consumer device on recor...

Sony says PS3s seized in Netherlands in LG dispute

2011-03-03T23:30:09Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp said on Friday shipments of its PlayStation 3 game consoles were being seized by customs officers in the Netherlands following a cour...

Game eyes step change in online revenue

2011-02-16T00:00:05Z

LONDON (Reuters) - British PC and video games retailer Game said it is aiming to revive its fortunes by increasing sales over the Internet and converting more visitors to its stores into paying customers.

Updating on strategy on Wednesday the firm, which trades from over 1,300 stores in nine European countries and Australia

Nintendo warns children not to play new player in 3D

2011-01-03T00:00:14Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - Nintendo Co has warned children six years old or younger should not play games in 3D mode on a new 3D-capable handheld game player slated for an early 2011 debut, citing possible health risks.

The RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - Video game makers leave behind a year of slow sales in 2010, but are hopeful that a new generation of games for tablet computers, mobile phones and Web social networks will spur a return to growth in 2011.

The explosion of mobile games lik...

Activision seeks $400 million damages from EA

2010-12-22T04:00:11Z

BANGALORE (Reuters) - Activision Blizzard Inc is seeking $400 million damages from Electronic Arts Inc in a lawsuit related to its "<...

Sony on track to sell 15 mln PS3s in 2010/11: exec

2010-12-22T03:30:09Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp is on target to sell 15 million PlayStation 3 game consoles in the business year to March 31, 2011, a company executive said on Wednesday.

"Sales at the end of the year are as we ex...

"Call of Duty: Black Ops" sets record for Activision

2010-12-21T12:00:42Z

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Activision Blizzard Inc has raked in more than $1 billion in worldwide sales of "Call of Duty: Black Ops," the latest installment of the U.S.

Activision sells 3.3 million Warcraft games on first day

2010-12-13T11:31:10Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Activision Blizzard Inc sold 3.3 million copies of its latest "World of Warcraft" game in its first day on...

OnLive to offer streaming movies, challenge Netflix

2010-12-06T16:00:23Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Cloud video game service OnLive said it plans to begin offering streaming movies and television shows, mounting a challenge to Netflix Inc.

OnLive, a closely watched startup that allows u...

Game industry in flux, investors watch and wait

2010-12-03T13:02:02Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Video game publishers say they have positioned themselves to capitalize on the future of digital entertainment. Investors will need more convincing.

The heads of the major U.S. game makers, speaking this week at the Reuters Global Media Summit, explained why the battering from investors was unwarranted.

Activision Blizzard shares rise before game launch

2010-11-08T14:00:26Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Activision Blizzard Inc shares rose more than 5 percent on Monday, ahead of Tuesday's release of "Call of Duty: Black Ops."

U.S. pre-orders of ...

Demand for Sony Move game controllers outstrips supply

2010-10-21T14:01:12Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sony said on Thursday it sold 1 million units of its Move motion-based video game controller in its first month on the American market, and that demand was outstripping supply.

Jack Tretton, president and CEO of SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sony Corp said on Thursday it sold 1 million units of its Move motion-based video game controller in its first month on the market in the Americas region.

Sony delays launch of latest "Gran Turismo" game

2010-10-13T21:30:23Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp has delayed the launch of "Gran Turismo 5," the latest version of the top-selling motor racing game for its CHICAGO (Reuters) - The success of video games for wannabe rockers has prompted a new wave of music games -- ones that actually teach players how to really play music.

Harmonix, the game developer that created the first two Activision "

Sony: likely to meet annual PS3 sales target

2010-09-16T04:00:04Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp said on Thursday its PS3 game console sales were on track to reach its target of 15 million units for the year to March 2011, with sales for the April-September first half likely just abo...

Microsoft: "Halo: Reach" sales hit $200 million on 1st day

2010-09-15T19:30:09Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - Microsoft said on Thursday that its new videogame "Halo: Reach" had generated $200 million in sales on its launch day.

"Halo: Reach" is the latest version of its blockbuster "Halo" franchise and went on s...

"Resident Evil" movie uses 3D to engage viewers

2010-09-09T03:15:11Z

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Video gamers are used to immersing themselves into virtual worlds so filmmakers turning video games into movies are aiming to keep them as involved, by adding 3D.

Sony Pictures' "Germany (Reuters) - Microsoft's motion-sensing game system Kinect will hit European retail stores before Christmas, the company said, as it battles for customers with rivals

Superheroes forge new career path in video games

2010-07-28T11:54:19Z

SAN DIEGO, California (Reuters) - Superheroes are enjoying a new career path, heading straight from the pages of comic books into video games and no longer having to stop at Hollywood to collect their credentials first.

For every movie blockbuster like Reuters Health) - Long hours in front of the television, whether channel surfing or gaming, could make it difficult for kids to concentrate in school, psychologists said Monday.

While researchers are still divided on the issue, the findings jibe with most earlier work on the effects of television watching in kids, they said.

"What we don't know at this point is why TV and video games really would caus...

U.S. video game sales down 5 percent in May - NPD

2010-10-22T12:28:03Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sales of video game software and equipment in the United States fell 5 percent in May, industry tracker NPD said on Thursday, dragged down by sagging demand for game consoles.

Game software performed well in the month, with sales rising 4 percent to $466.3 million. Hardware sal...

Book asks why do video games matter?

2010-06-15T16:00:51Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Video games almost took over Tom Bissell's life, thrusting him into an intoxicating months-long, cocaine-fueled binge playing Grand Theft Auto.

But like any good writer, he got a book out of it -- and possibly a new career direction.

Bissell's book, "Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter," was published this month by LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sony Corp will launch its motion-controlled gaming system on September 15, getting to market months ahead of a rival platform from Microsoft Corp as the two prepare to go head-to-head on one of the hottest tren...

Cloud-gaming service OnLive set for launch

2010-06-15T06:15:25Z

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - OnLive announced on Tuesday initial lineup of games and a new pricing plan ahead of its launch on Thursday, as the "cloud-gaming" service prepares its much anticipated rollout.

OnLive emerged from years of stealth development in 2009 with a plan to offer instant, lag-free access to video games stored remotely on servers in data centers. The...

Microsoft Xbox will carry live ESPN events

2010-10-22T12:27:06Z

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp has struck a deal with Walt Disney Co's ESPN network to broadcast live sporting events -- for free -- into

Microsoft christens motion-gaming "Kinect"

2010-10-06T12:47:05Z

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp christening its new motion-sensing game system "Kinect," on Sunday offered a sneak peek of upcoming titles it hopes will help draw a new generation of casual players into the 40 million-strong Xbox g...

Violent videogames harmless for most kids: studies

2010-06-09T09:30:19Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Violent videogames can increase aggression and hostility in some players but they can also benefit others by honing their visual/spatial skills and improving social networking ability, scientists said.

In a special issue of the journal Review of General Psychology published by the American Psychologica...

Nintendo to cut price of some DS models in Japan

2010-10-22T12:26:32Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese game console maker Nintendo Co said on Wednesday that it plans to cut the price of some of its DS handheld game consoles in Japan.

The company said it will lower the price of its SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sales of video game hardware and software plunged 26 percent in April, industry tracker NPD said on Thursday, one of the largest declines over the past decade.

The research group said sales in the United States, the world's largest market, fell to $766.2 million.

Software...

Gameworld: Free games lure new players including women, elderly

2010-10-22T12:26:19Z

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters Life!) - The video game industry has weathered the economic slowdown better than most industries, but there could be a reason -- free games with new figures showing up to a third of gamers don't pay to play.

More people are getting into gaming through free titles like LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) - If your dream job is to work in the video game industry then the future is looking brighter with industry players seeing a pick-up in the number of jobs becoming available although salaries remain flat.

"Hiring is up from last year, but the market is rough," said SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sales of video game gear and software in the United States climbed 6 percent in March, industry tracker NPD said on Thursday, bouncing back somewhat after declining for two straight months.

Hardware sales slipped 4 percent in the month, but software sales jumped 10 percent.

...

South Korea to put curfew on online games for kids

2010-04-13T02:15:12Z

SEOUL (Reuters Life!) - South Korea plans to cut off on-line video games at midnight for school-age children and allow parents to set limits on playing hours to curb problems of Internet gaming addiction in the world's most wired country.

The sensational case in March of parents whose infant daughter starved to death while...

Microsoft sues UK game controller maker

2010-10-22T12:25:37Z

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp on Thursday filed a lawsuit claiming British video game accessory maker Datel Design and Development Ltd is illegally copying the software company's game console controllers.

Microsoft, which makes the Xbox

Take-Two Taking Former Executives to Court

2010-10-25T12:39:50Z

...

A virtual farm turns new ground for game developers

2010-10-06T12:46:26Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A virtual farm attracting up to 83 million aspiring farmers monthly has video game developers scrambling to find ways to plough the booming popularity of games on social networks.

Sites like Facebook, which has an estimated 400 million users, and SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A virtual farm attracting up to 83 million aspiring farmers monthly has video game developers scrambling to find ways to plough the booming popularity of games on social networks.

Sites like Facebook, which has an estimated 400 million users, and TOKYO (Reuters) - Nintendo Co Ltd plans to launch a new model of its DS handheld game gear that allows users to play three-dimensional (3D) games without using special glasses.

The Japanese firm said the new portable player will be able to play titles created for previous SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - OnLive is set to launch its "cloud-based" video game service in June, as the closely watched start-up looks to challenge home console heavyweights with the promise of on-demand gaming.

OnLive will roll out to PC and Mac users in the SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Nintendo will bring its latest dual-screen handheld video game system to the United States at the end of March, the company said on Wednesday.

The Nintend...

Nintendo handheld game system DSi XL coming to U.S.

2010-10-22T12:19:40Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Nintendo Co Ltd <7974.OS> will bring its latest dual-screen handheld video game system to the United States at the end of March, the company said on Wednesday.

The SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sales of video game equipment and software in the United States rose 4 percent in December to a record $5.5 billion, research group NPD said on Thursday, as the industry closed out a difficult year on an upbeat note.

December was led by stronger-than-expected sales of game hard...

2010 promises more titles for core gamers

2010-10-22T13:34:07Z

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - With a new year ahead, video game publishers are returning to their roots and core gamers to maintain sales at a time when a contraction in the industry is expected to mean fewer overall new releases.

Mainstream audiences are expected to flock to upcoming big titles like

Japanese man takes video game character as wife

2010-04-16T08:14:15Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese man has married a character in a popular video game, taking her -- and his handheld game console -- on an overseas honeymoon.

The man, who prefers to use his online moniker SAL9000, met character Nene Anegasaki while playing dating simulation game "Love Plus."

They got married a few...

EA sees fewer game titles

2010-10-22T15:40:32Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Electronic Arts Inc sees a future where its online and mobile games are as critical as "Madden NFL" and other console games as the company focuses on building core franchises and winnows its number of titles, said Chief Executive John Riccitiello.

EA currently pu...

Walmart targets video games with latest price cuts

2010-10-22T12:19:11Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc is cutting prices on popular video games by $10 each and offering a $50 gift card with the purchase of a Nintendo Wii video game console as the retailer tries to lure shoppers to its U.S. stores...

Activision says "Call of Duty" series tops $3 billion

2010-10-22T15:39:58Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Activision Blizzard Inc said on Friday its "Call of Duty" video game franchise pushed past the $3 billion mark in global retail sales.

Overall, the "Call of Duty" series has sold more than 55 million ...

China wants content, values censored in online games

2010-10-22T12:29:04Z

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China said it will tighten regulations in its rapidly growing online games sector, requiring game operators to enhance socialist values in their games and hire specialized staff to monitor content.

China's Ministry of Culture

"Call of Duty" game sells $550 million in five days

2010-10-22T12:19:19Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Activision Blizzard Inc said its video game "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" scored record sales of $550 million in its first five days, but the company is still concerned about weak consumer spending.

The game, a "first-pers...

October U.S. video game sales down 19 percent: NPD

2010-10-22T15:38:50Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sales of video game equipment and software in the United States tumbled 19 percent in October to $1.07 billion, research group NPD said on Thursday, troubling figures as the industry heads into the most important selling weeks of the year.

Once thought to be relatively insulate...

Gameworld: Academics hope history in video games spurs interest

2010-10-06T12:46:30Z

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - Portraying Leonardo da Vinci or World War II in a video game is challenging game developers to mix fun with facts while academics hope this growing genre will get players more interested in history.

Gary

Activision says "Call of Duty" sets launch record

2010-10-22T13:35:42Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Activision Blizzard Inc said it sold 4.7 million copies of "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" for $310 million on its first day, setting a new record for the video game industry.

The shooting game went on sale on Tuesday in the...

Academics hope history in video games spurs interest

2010-10-06T12:46:28Z

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters Life!) - Portraying Leonardo da Vinci or World War II in a video game is challenging game developers to mix fun with facts while academics hope this growing genre will get players more interested in history.

Gary

Electronic Arts buys social game maker Playfish

2010-10-22T12:19:27Z

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Electronic Arts Inc has acquired privately held Playfish for $275 million in cash plus other consideration as the maker of the "Madden NFL" series expands in the growing social gaming sector.

EA paid about $275 million in cash for 2-year-old Playfish, which makes games for people to play on computers with friends, unlike trad...

NetEase gets China non-approval notice

2010-04-16T09:27:45Z

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - China's No.2 Internet games operator NetEase.com Inc said it has been notified by a Chinese government agency that its operation of the World of Warcraft game does not ha...

Nintendo to launch larger-screen DS for $222

2010-10-22T12:29:05Z

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's game toy maker Nintendo said on Thursday it will launch a new version of Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi LL, featuring a 4.2 inch screen wit...

"Deadliest," "Wild" becoming video games

2010-04-16T09:37:19Z

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Discovery Communications is partnering with game publisher Crave to turn two of its top-rated series, "Man vs. Wild" and "D...

As recession bites, video gamers turn to downloads

2010-10-22T15:36:08Z

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters Life!) - As the recession takes a bite out of video games sales in the stores, consumers are opting to download more games to save money while keeping themselves entertained.

Video game sales slid 14 percent in the United State...

Virtual economies in videogames used as case studies

2010-04-16T10:02:53Z

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - Virtual economies set up in videogames as players trade items are being used as case studies to track and model real-world economies.

As more people join massively multiplayer online (MMO) videogame worlds like Beverly Dove holds a sign as she speaks during a city council meeting in Berkeley, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010. The council in this famously liberal city is considering a resolution Tuesday night bestowing hero status on Pfc. Bradley Manning, the soldier at the center of the

The latest in Reuters Group Plc

Sony sells 321,000 PlayStation Vita units in two days

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Sony yet to grab new Monster Hunter for PS Vita