It may mean that many smaller companies will survive . . EA have learnt that they can no longer gobble up smaller companies, sell off their assets and lose a competitor, no matter how small it may be.
WHich is why it's new CEO has started the EA Partnership section. Allowing gaming studios to be 'acquired', yet still giving them the freedom of an independent studio, but with the financial backing needed to produce even better games.
They won't have to worry as much ...
Irrespective of a companies business plan being bloated etc, any loss in the industry cause it harm across the board. That's quite a few mouth (read families) out of work and their associated companies losing work due to dropping of contacts, which in turn has an effect on others, right down to the retailer.
Many gamers seem very cavalier in these matters, forgetting that the ppl that make you YOUR games have kids, mortgages, and all the things that go along with anything related...
Never been a big fighting fan actually, all looks rather odd, but hey, each to their own . .As if you could smack someone in the head with a 20kg dumbell and the person get up, year right - NOT
Agreed 110$+% mate. Anyone that says they are NOT a fanboi and makes such comments is in fact a HUGE fanboi - period.
All the consoles are worth it if you check out what is in them when compared to modern day technology. The idea with any tech is to bring it out, then begin reducing production costs so you can reduce the RRP.
That does NOT reduce the value of the product.
It's like saying one Ferrari is better than another model, simply because it min...
It's nice to have the news before the news breaks - for a change, so props to the writer for getting it up as quickly as he did . . . If ANYONE knows of "real News" and wants to write an item on it, then get in contact with OXCGN. We do the occasional Guest Contributor and you get your item up on the net and seen and "appreciated" by more than just those here at N4G
Just to confirm and squash any doubting thomas's, it's OFFICIAL:
SYDNEY 11 November 2008 – Microsoft today has lowered the price of the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system in Australia to a starting price of AU$299.00 RRP* - less than half the RRP price1 of the next cheapest hi-definition console in the country.
With Christmas just around the corner, all Xbox consoles will come with complimentary games for a limited time at participating retailers.
Sony can't lower it's prices any further they have said so, and they simply can not do it any time soon. Do a google on their inability to drop pricing. And yes, back to the Map Editor in Far Cry 2 . . .
Well axtually, Australia DI have a price cut just a few months ago mate, and Official one at that . . a drop of around $AUD30 - $50 on variouis models. SO yes, that IS two price drops in just as many months.
The current economic crisis does have a bearing on sales, and if the prices are ABOVE what ppl are prepared to pay, then sales do NOT happen - period.
Think outside the box for a change. The world is loosing $$ as we speak, they do turn to gaming in such times, a...
Get a grip and understand economic and production cycles mate, you might learn something if you came out of your Sony Cave. At least there ARE some sensible Sony fans in here, they visit our site and actually comment sensible things, unlike some.
SOny can never break even with the PS3, Ken K saw to that when he blew their budget right out of the water and clear across the Pacific Ocean.
Great console, excellent games, stupid management and one that doesn't listen to ...
Unless you have verification to say otherwise, I'd have to disagree with you there. MS have been breaking even on "production" for some time, retail is anothe rmatter. The two are separate entities. Do some googling and you'll find your answer soon enough.
The reason MS are able to reduce the price is that like all companies, yhe begin the scaling down process as soon as the first sets roll off the production line.
2 months before its release, the design te...
We "can't supply the link as the "source" could lose their job, and no matter WHAT anyone says, we will NOT break an agreement with a source, no matter if it makes us seem like liars etc. which we are not.
All I can say is this person KNOWS the insides of the stores and is a major insider within the retailer, and has NEVER given a bum-steer in the past. Hence not wanting to disclose his name or source . . I trust you understand that much. Beside, within 12 hours, y...
We LOVE competitions, and we have some more Gears 2 stuff coming up soon, some Fable II Pub Codes, Shaun White Snowboarding and EndWar stuff from Ubisoft, and Atari are sending us some stuff for a few comps soon.
Plus we get to do an exclusive Test Drive on a certain game soon . . .
Yes we are, and it's nice to have some sun shinning on our side of the globe for a change.
Not everything has to happen in the UK or USA. Many Publishers are seeing Australia as a great launching pad, as we are basically 16 - 20 hours ahead of the rest of the world depending on location. SO doing events here means they are effectively out a day early than their "scheduled" dates in the other major regions.
SO they are sending teams here. Ubisoft did it with...
WHooppee . . .Just when I can NOT afford a new console Elite please, they drop the price and I still can't afford one - bugger. But it sure as hell will soften many "fence sitters" into popping off their perch and giving the 360 a try, especially with all the great games coming out right now.
They'd be made not to. Makes it about the best buy around. And with the 360 outselling the PS3 in Japan of all places a week ago, this could help bolster locals into buying seeing ...
The COD4 Engine is just that, and Engine, just like the Unreal Engine 3 (or 4 when it appears in late '09), as it's the Frostbite Engine from DICE or Ego Engine from Codies.
Engines are used to allow the developer to concentrate on the "gameplay" not the mechanics of a game. If a developers can hire/rent/licence a game engine, which a huge amount of them do, it gives us as gamers a better quality game. Rather than havingthem have to spend 2/3rds of the time working on c...
Found out it's the Press Event covering the beginning of the Tournament, so it's still great, and we'll be there naturally. Be nice to see them in real life, but I do believe Tiger is rather good at the Game . . or so I've heard. And Federer is a dapt hand at the controller . .
I do love how MS isn't scared to throw money at things to get it out for the community. God, We had The Dolls, Gears Of War and Bathurst all within 10 days here in Sydney.
We had the $80k Cho...
I want to go . . bahhh . . . BOth Tiger Woods and Roger Federer are excellent sportsmen and it would be great to meet with them. SO best of luck guys.
First this and someone else has to cover it, then the Champion Of Gaming Tournament in Sydney this Friday with Tiger Woods and Roger Federer . .damn, I wish I was better at gaming . bugger.
But thanks guys for covering this for us.
I think this game will set a few ppl back a few pegs actually.
Sure, it's NOT COD4, it's NOT meant to be, but it can be compared to it - why?
Because it's the 5th iteration of the wait for it FRANCHISE . . . . so ...
No probs mate. Hey, something to do with maturity (no offense meant JK) . .but I do have a few years up on many, and while some might think I'm a tad old - "hey man yah to old ta bee playin' games dude" . . it doesn't matter, as it's what helps me on many levels.
There's many ppl out there that you (generally speaking) could have great 'conversations and discussions with, but there's also a HUGE amount that simply squash that sort of stuff and call anything over 5 line...
I can't see how it won't work, seeing that the company responsible for the MMO genre' is the one making the game/s for Ubisoft . . .a wise move actually. Acquire a specialised company for a specific genre', give them the financial backing they may not have had access to long term, and set them lose on making a new IP, which they may well of had in the pipeline before the acqisition, but simply could not afford to follow up on it ?
Knowing Ubi, they will not hamper Massive when it...