Game Biz News
Disney plans to switch online gaming site Toontown from a subscription model to an ad-supported one, according to Mediaweek. Disney Online has been charging users $9.95/month to access unlimited game titles since it launched 4 years ago. The company is currently negotiating with advertisers and is already beta testing a free version of the site.
Sony announced it is officially lowering the price of its 60GB PlayStation 3 console from $599 to $499, in time for the stripped down E3 gaming convention in L.A. this week. Beginning in August, a new 80GB model will retail for $599, including a free copy of the hit racing game MotorStorm. The PS3, originally launched in November, was outsold 4 to 1 in May by Nintendo's Wii and almost 2 to 1 by Microsoft's Xbox 360 according to the NPD Group.
Twentieth Century Fox is getting into the swing of using web 2.0 techniques to promote The Simpsons Movie. Fox launched a feature on The Simpsons Movie site allowing users to create their own Simpsons avatar. The studio is sponsoring a user generated contest with USAToday.com in the 15 towns across the
ONLINE GAMING SET TO SOAR
Electronic Arts' Director of E-Commerce John Burns looks to the future
Tuesday 10th July/...Within the next three years online gamers could be spending more than £2billion a year in pursuit of cyber-gaming pleasures, according to Electronic Arts’ director of E-Commerce, John Burns.
Europeans currently spend on average ten hours a week online – a total set to sky-rocket in the near future according to Burns. Speaking at a two-day conference examining ‘the challenges of online gaming’ staged in
“Not only is gaming a significant industry in size now but online gaming is an important step for us as an industry,” he explained. “Many people play online games and it is not just confined to a hard-core of gamers, it is very broad and widespread. There are many people playing online games of all ages, male and female.”
Burns told delegates that there are currently 100 million online games players globally – a total set to soar thanks to increasingly fast broadband connections installed in private homes.
“European broadband penetration is growing, from 2006 at around 35 per cent to over 45 per cent by 2012,” he said. “Household penetration of broadband is also exponential - and we are looking at that growing in
“Not only is online significant in scope now, but it is accelerating. We are only at the beginning of this curve - and we are also only at the beginning of this curve as far as consumers go. The projected spend of online gamers by 2010 is $4.4bn [£2.18bn].”
Gamers are playing more online titles for a number of reasons, but the main one according to Burns is the sense of community the medium offers. “Online games expand your world,” he said. “And players can replicate in a larger [online] world what they have in the off-line world.”
The Highly Anticipated Age of Exploration MMORPG Now Available For Download at www.swordofthenewworld.com
IRVINE, Calif. – (July 10, 2007) – K2 Network, Inc. (www.k2network.net), an online game publisher today announced that its epic Age of Exploration MMORPG Sword of the New World: Granado Espada will be available in download in North America and Europe this week. The game is available at www.swordofthenewworld.com.
“With its unique and compelling gameplay that caters to both the seasoned and novice MMORPG player, Sword of the New World fits into K2 Network’s unique vision of Gamers First”, said Grantley Day, Vice President of Product Development at K2 Network. “Sword of the
Sword of the
Sword of the
Pay2Play CD Networks Premium Package-$19.99
The official download partner for Sword of the New World: Granado Espada, CD Networks, offers a premium package with a one-time fee of $19.99 and includes a fast download of the client, an exclusive UPC character, 10,000 VIS (in-game currency) and the first month subscription fee included ($8.95 a month thereafter). This package also includes full game access, trading and auction support with no level cap. Players who already have the client downloaded and installed can also purchase this package without having to re-install the client. To sign up for this package visit www.swordofthenewworld.com.
Pay2Play Monthly Subscription Package-$8.95
Players who want the basic monthly subscription package can purchase it for an $8.95 monthly fee.
This package includes full game access, trading and auction support with no level cap and the ability to purchase in-game items. To sign up for this package visit www.swordofthenewworld.com.
Free2Play™
Players can download and play Sword of the
For more information about Sword of the
José María Aranda | Sierra Online | PH: 310.431.4736 | FX: 310.431.2736
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vivendi Games- http://www.vivendigames.com : The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material of Vivendi Games which is for the exclusive use of the individual designated above as the recipient. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact immediately the sender by returning e-mail and delete the material from any computer. If you are not the specified recipient, you are hereby notified that all disclosure, reproduction, distribution or action taken on the basis of this message is prohibited.
