Posts Tagged activision
Call of Duty: Ghosts also coming out on PS4
Activision took up a lot of time at the Xbox event yesterday, enough to make some fans believe Call of Duty was going completely Xbox. Infinity Ward decided to hit Twitter just to make sure gamers knew the new game, Ghosts, was coming to PS4.
Call of Duty: Ghosts will also be coming to PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, but there is no signal of a Wii U launch. This goes against previous concepts that Activision would include Wii U in the line up of launch consoles.
Many had mixed reviews on the Xbox event and we can see why Infinity Ward may want to clear up any rumours they were going Xbox One exclusive, although they will launch DLC content on Xbox One first.
Source: InfinityWard Twitter
Call of Duty: Ghosts will take advantage of Xbox One graphics horsepower
Call of Duty: Ghosts was shown off at the end of the Xbox Event and Activision made a big meal of the time they had, showing the new engine, delving into the power of a good story and showing the dynamic maps created in multiplayer.
One of the best things Activision announced was the new engine, since Call of Duty 4 the company has kept the same engine for all their Call of Duty games and this meant no dynamic maps or powerful animation.
Activision have went into a lot of depth about the design and improvements of the engine, they have even made sure the fish swim out of the way when the user brushes past them underwater.
We expect Call of Duty: Ghosts will be at E3 with a huge new feature roll, this is only the beginning of the hype for a blockbuster November launch, with the two next generation consoles coming at the same time.
Call of Duty: Ghosts shown off on Vine
An early look at Call of Duty: Ghosts, the next edition in the ever expanding series by Activision, has been shown off on popular iOS app Vine early today.
The six second action packed development trailer shows some interesting shots of the half build version of the game, set for release in November 5 this year.
Activision is preparing to show off some early parts of the game at the Xbox reveal this week, May 21. The game will also be on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, PC and “next generation consoles”, which we assume will be PlayStation and Xbox.
Call of Duty: Ghosts will bring a new story, setting and cast, much needed with the long running Modern Warfare series. Treyarch may follow the same path with their next title.
Wipeout for Android officially hits the Play Store
Let’s face it— most of us secretly enjoy watching all those faceplants, falls and general slip-ups found on the classic TV show Wipeout, but you been itching for a chance to partake in that type of competitive glory? Well famed game publisher Activision is giving us the chance to live out our wildest dreams by unleashing the Wipeout Android game to the masses. Just like in the real-life gameshow, the premise of the game is for players to go through a gauntlet of obstacles with the end goal of not necessarily to complete them— but to wipeout as best as you possibly can. The great thing about this is users get style points for different wipeouts— so if you have a sick wipeout, players won’t be made fun of like in real life— but rather they will be praised for taking the wipeout like a champ and looking cool while doing it! In addition to having different obstacles like the classic Topple Towers, the game also features some cool replay modes like the ability to re-run wipeouts in slow motion and the ability to compete against friends and earn achievements— giving the game some pretty solid longevity.
The game is available now for all Gingerbread+ devices for $1.99, so if you’re ready to try out a different type of cool action– hit the break to grab the game today.
Come comment on this article: Wipeout for Android officially hits the Play Store
[New Game] Activision’s Wipeout Brings Big Balls To The Small Screen
Activision has invited players to “say Hello to the BIG BALLS” (emphasis not added, we promise) with Wipeout, the Pitfall maker’s latest entry into the Play Store.
The game is based on ABC’s television show of the same name, in which contestants (typically in colorful dress) haphazardly schlep through various obstacles including big balls, swinging platforms, “topple towers,” and various rubberized battering instruments. Activision’s game looks to bring that experience to your mobile device, giving you the fun of trying to avoid wipeouts, while also retaining the option to view them in super slow motion and snap screenshots.
Player’s can “choose from a range of wacky contestants,” each with their own abilities, play through entire seasons of the show, replay the best wipeouts, and cash in “style points” (earned in game) for various unlockables.
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[New Game] Activision’s Wipeout Brings Big Balls To The Small Screen was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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Wipeout for Android officially hits the Play Store
Let’s face it— most of us secretly enjoy watching all those faceplants, falls and general slip-ups found on the classic TV show Wipeout, but you been itching for a chance to partake in that type of competitive glory? Well famed game publisher Activision is giving us the chance to live out our wildest dreams by unleashing the Wipeout Android game to the masses. Just like in the real-life gameshow, the premise of the game is for players to go through a gauntlet of obstacles with the end goal of not necessarily to complete them— but to wipeout as best as you possibly can. The great thing about this is users get style points for different wipeouts— so if you have a sick wipeout, players won’t be made fun of like in real life— but rather they will be praised for taking the wipeout like a champ and looking cool while doing it! In addition to having different obstacles like the classic Topple Towers, the game also features some cool replay modes like the ability to re-run wipeouts in slow motion and the ability to compete against friends and earn achievements— giving the game some pretty solid longevity.
The game is available now for all Gingerbread+ devices for $1.99, so if you’re ready to try out a different type of cool action– hit the break to grab the game today.
Come comment on this article: Wipeout for Android officially hits the Play Store
Activision releases ‘Wipeout’ the game for Android
The popular game publisher Activision who is responsible for many of the Call of Duty games have just released a neat new game on the Google Play Store. Everything you love about the fun and goofy hit TV show Wipeout is now available for our Android smartphones and tablets. Yup, Activision Publishing Co has just released the game this afternoon. Read on to find out all the details.
Based and designed off the hit TV game show Wipeout, you’ll be dodging huge wipeout balls, running up ramps, and jumping over obstacles as long as you can manage. You’ll get to run, jump and dive through many of your favorite challenges designed right from the hit TV show. Interesting right? The graphics sure aren’t all that great, and we received terrible iOS screenshots, but hey the game is only $1.99 at the moment.
Since many of you guys (myself included) will never get to participate in the fun that ABC shows us on TV with Wipeout, you’ll get to enjoy a few of those moments with the official game. I’m sure they could have released a much better game, but it looks pretty fun from the few screenshots available.
Just like the TV show you’ll be trying to clear levels. You’ll be earning points for clearing them safely, or also be rewarded points for terrible and ridiculous wipeouts. All those style points you earn will unlock new contestants, shows, different costumes and even power-up options. Apparently the Slo-Mo helmet power-up is worth saving for, so that’s a thing. They even offer an instant replay in slow motion so you can enjoy the best wipeouts right on your phone. Give it a try today from the link below.
[via Play Store] – Thanks Joe!
Wipeout for Android officially hits the Play Store
Let’s face it— most of us secretly enjoy watching all those faceplants, falls and general slip-ups found on the classic TV show Wipeout, but you been itching for a chance to partake in that type of competitive glory? Well famed game publisher Activision is giving us the chance to live out our wildest dreams by unleashing the Wipeout Android game to the masses. Just like in the real-life gameshow, the premise of the game is for players to go through a gauntlet of obstacles with the end goal of not necessarily to complete them— but to wipeout as best as you possibly can. The great thing about this is users get style points for different wipeouts— so if you have a sick wipeout, players won’t be made fun of like in real life— but rather they will be praised for taking the wipeout like a champ and looking cool while doing it! In addition to having different obstacles like the classic Topple Towers, the game also features some cool replay modes like the ability to re-run wipeouts in slow motion and the ability to compete against friends and earn achievements— giving the game some pretty solid longevity.
The game is available now for all Gingerbread+ devices for $1.99, so if you’re ready to try out a different type of cool action– hit the break to grab the game today.
Come comment on this article: Wipeout for Android officially hits the Play Store
Wipeout for Android brings obstacle course fun to your mobile devices
A lot of us have probably wished to participate in the obstacle course show Wipeout, but the reality is that most of us won’t. We can always live vicariously through video games, though, and that’s exactly why Activision teamed up with ABC to bring a game based on the hit TV show to Android. Already available for iOS, Wipeout lets you take on courses like the Big Balls and Topple Towers, and you’ll earn points for making it through unscathed or wiping out in the most ridiculous ways possible.
Style points can be used to unlock new shows, contestants, costumes and power-up helmets like the Amaze-O-Helmet and Slow-Mo Helmet. You can play through a number of themed courses such as Sports Night, Old MacBallsy, an alien-themed course and a monster-themed course. One of the coolest features is being able to record your Wipeouts and run-throughs, and share them with your friends and family on Facebook.
You’ll partake in all this with a range of different characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Some might be faster, yet more prone to wiping out, while others could be slower with better balance. You can net all of this for a quick payment of just $2 — that’s cheap enough to skip a full meal from the dollar menu for a day — so head to the Google Play Store and give it a whirl if you’ve been waiting.
Pitfall! Now Available On the Play Store
There’s just something about playing classic titles on our small devices these days, although some titles are best left in our memories. The latest game to grace our mobile devices is Pitfall! Well-known console software developer, Activision, has taken the 30 year old title and has breathed new life into it with an all new look and gameplay sure to appease fans of the classic while also in hopes of gaining a few new fans. Now, time to explain to your little one what an Atari 2600 was. Grab it via the Store link below.
Pitfall! Now Available On the Play Store
There’s just something about playing classic titles on our small devices these days, although some titles are best left in our memories. The latest game to grace our mobile devices is Pitfall! Well-known console software developer, Activision, has taken the 30 year old title and has breathed new life into it with an all new look and gameplay sure to appease fans of the classic while also in hopes of gaining a few new fans. Now, time to explain to your little one what an Atari 2600 was. Grab it via the Store link below.
Pitfall! Now Available On the Play Store
There’s just something about playing classic titles on our small devices these days, although some titles are best left in our memories. The latest game to grace our mobile devices is Pitfall! Well-known console software developer, Activision, has taken the 30 year old title and has breathed new life into it with an all new look and gameplay sure to appease fans of the classic while also in hopes of gaining a few new fans. Now, time to explain to your little one what an Atari 2600 was. Grab it via the Store link below.
Pitfall Harry celebrates his 30th with a re-booted release on Android
The original version of Pitfall came along with the Activision Anthology game that landed in Google Play a while back. And well, as of today, Pitfall Harry has returned to Android with a “re-envisioned and re-booted” release. This latest release is simply called Pitfall and has arrived for the 30th anniversary of the original.
Needless to say, this version of Pitfall does not look like the original. The game is available for free and with support for devices running Android 2.3.3 or later. This version of Pitfall is in a ‘free runner” style and has you navigating though the jungle as well as narrow trenches, dark caverns, and cascading waterfalls.
You will also have to navigate things such as rattlesnakes and scorpions as well as fiery volcanic flames, tumbling ancient artifacts and narrow cliff side pathways. The game has swipe and tilt controls and sharing over Twitter and Facebook — so you can brag to your friends about how good you are at Pitfall.
All said and done, this looks like a nice follow-up to the original. And if nothing else, we are fairly sure it will make those who remember playing the original feel rather old. Otherwise, the only thing we see missing, it would have been cool if Activision included the original game release as a bonus. But hey, this version if free and we really shouldn’t be so greedy.
[via Google Play]
Atari classic Pitfall! re-imagined for Android devices, available now
If you’re a fan of classic gaming, you probably have a fond place in your heart for Pitfall!. The free running game set Pitfall Harry in a maze of a jungle where he had to avoid such dangers as quicksand, snakes, and pits while collecting lost treasures. Now it’s back, re-imagined for Android devices with 3D graphics and all new challenges as well as the ability to compare scores to friends on Facebook and Twitter
The updated version of Pitfall! was a big hit on iOS devices in 2012 and Activision is hoping for similar success on the Android platform, where the game is available completely free of charge in the Google Play Store. The game is supported on most newer Android smartphones and tablets.
Activision’s Re-Imagined Pitfall! Makes Its Way to Android
This morning, the re-imagined Atari classic Pitfall! has made its way to Android. Thanks to Activision, we have another great game to get us through the holiday break. The game plays much like Temple Run, but with many more environments which could help the replay value. What makes it even better is that its completely free [...]
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Activision’s 30th-Anniversary PITFALL! Rework Hits The Play Store As An Endless Runner With A Little More To Offer
Bringing its already-popular (on iOS) reimagining of the Atari classic to Android, Activision released Pitfall! to the Play Store today. For those who haven’t seen or played the newly conceptualized Pitfall, it shares very little with the original – you’ll still be dodging snakes, swinging on ropes, and jump over impossible pitfalls, but this time you’ll be playing an “endless-runner” a la Temple Run. Unlike Temple Run, however, Pitfall’s protagonist (Pitfall Harry) uses a whip to defeat whatever wild foes happen to be in his way. Harry will also find himself riding various vehicles and running through plenty of dynamic environments.
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Activision’s 30th-Anniversary PITFALL! Rework Hits The Play Store As An Endless Runner With A Little More To Offer was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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Blizzard announces launch date of StarCraft II: Heart of Swarm
Blizzard Activision announced this week the release date of the second part of their StarCraft II trilogy, planning to launch the Heart of the Swarm title on March 12, 2013.
StarCraft II: Heart of Swarm will showcase an array of new features, including new units, fresh characters and more compelling gameplay to add excitement to an already popular real-time strategy game.
As an expansion to StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, the Heart of Swarm feature the character of Sarah Kerrigan – the Queen of Blades – as she guides a legion of Zerg species against the autocratic reign of Terran leader Arcturus Mengsk.
Three versions (the standard edition, the Digital Deluxe edition, and the Collector’s edition) of the latest StarCraft title will be available for sale in March.
The Collector’s Edition of Heart of Swarm will also hit the market at a suggested retail price of $79.99. The Collector’s Edition offers digital and physical goodies.
Gamers are also given the choice of buying a Digital Deluxe version of the expansion, which includes digital items from the Collector’s Edition. Blizzard is also offering the Digital Deluxe version on their website www.StarCraft2.com at $59.99 USD.
Gamers purchasing the standard edition digitally or at retail will be given the option to upgrade to the Digital Deluxe version at any time for an additional price of $20 USD.
“With Heart of the Swarm, our goal has been to expand on the multiplayer action and cinematic storytelling of Wings of Liberty,” CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment Mike Morhaime.
Rookie gamers can also have the opportunity to duke it out with the big gun, thanks to the StarCraft II’s new leveling system.
“Combined with features like unranked matchmaking and our new leveling system, this expansion elevates the StarCraft II experience for players of all skill levels,” said Morhaime.
Call Of Duty Elite App Gets Updated To Support Black Ops II
Activision’s Call Of Duty Elite Android app has been updated to support the latest version of the first person shooter, Black Ops II. The app allows players of the Call Of Duty franchise to access historical player stats, game summaries and edit in-game options like custom weapons sets and logos. If going through all of your stats or watching Call of Duty Elite TV gets you in the playing mood, remember you can always jump on Call Of Duty Black Ops Zombies on any Android device.
Halo – A smash hit on launch day
The latest installment of highly successful Halo gaming franchise was a smash hit on its launch day as Microsoft announced Monday that it already sold US$220 million globally in the first 24 hours of sales.
In a statement released by Microsoft, Halo 4 has already exceeded the $200 million figure in sales and is expected to surpass $300 million in the first week.
Halo 4, the first of the new Halo series trilogy, outperformed the previous mark set by its predecessor Halo 3, which generated $200 million in global sales on its launch day in September of 2010.
“We’re thrilled that ‘Halo 4′ has emerged as the biggest U.S. entertainment launch of the year,” said Microsoft Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer.
Microsoft has already racked up $3.38 billion in sales since it launched the first-person gaming franchise in 2001. The enormous figures generated by Halo 4 on its first day prompted Microsoft’s stocks to increase by 2.1 percent at $28.22 on Nasdaq.
Market analysts will be closely monitoring the sale of Halo 4 in the coming days with the hope that the game can pump up some blood life in the spiraling console gaming industry.
Halo 4 is also poised to compete with Activision Blizzard Inc’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, which hits the market on Tuesday.
Halo 4 features the return of the series main protagonist Master Chief, who’s back after a five-year absence to save human kind from alien invasion – the Prometheans – and rescue his longtime friend and artificial-intelligence construct Cortana.
Aside from its compelling storyline, the game’s multiplayer capabilities, new sets of foes, and neat graphics provided a great overall gaming experience.
Bungie Studios introduced the Halo series, which was bought by Microsoft in 2000. Bungie worked together with Microsoft to release the next two Halo installments until it decided to move separate ways five years later.
Microsoft retained the game’s intellectual property rights and contracted 343 industries to develop Halo 4. On the other hand, Bungie studios signed a ten-year pact with rival Activision Blizzard, which is reportedly brewing a new title set to be released next year.
Strong sales for Halo 4 and Black Ops 2 measure gaming industry growth
The video game industry has not been immune to the onslaught of mobile gaming, but the strong sales of Microsoft’s vaunted Halo 4 game is a positive sign. Microsoft’s flagship game is set to compete with Activision Blizzard Inc’s upcoming Call of Duty game.
The arrival of smartphones and tablets had not only affected the PC industry but also the video gaming industry, where many companies see their revenues dip significantly. The performance of both high-end games during the upcoming holiday season will be used as a barometer to determine the future demand in this sector.
The Call of Duty series from Activision is currently the reigning best-selling game but Microsoft’s Halo 4 sales will certainly take a significant toll into its sales on Xbox console. However, Call of Duty is not an exclusive as it is also available in Sony Corp’s PlayStation, PCs, and Nintendo Co Ltd’s Wii system.
Microsoft has announced that Halo 4 has so far bagged up to $220 million in sales around the world during its launch day, breaking the record of Halo: Reach released in 2010. Microsoft expects sales to reach $300 million during the first week.
Meanwhile, Activision upped its expectation for the release of its Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, citing strong sales this holiday. It expects that Black Ops 2 will surpass the previous record set by its predecessor, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 racked up more than $400 million in sales during its release day in stores around North America. The installment hit a $1 billion mark in sales 16 days after the release.
The new Call of Duty franchise will hit stores today and will be available for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. A dedicated Wii version will be made for a new Wii console that will be launched on November 18.
Avind Bhatia, an analyst from Sterne Agee, cited the good starts on some popular titles like the 15 percent rise in sales for Halo 4 compared to its predecessor, and Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed III that was released on October, which saw its sales numbers double over its previous installment launched last year.
Bhatia said that even a small rise in sales numbers or flat sales over last year’s offerings for Black Ops II would be a good sign for the rest of the quarter.
He said: “There’s no reason to believe the early sales won’t be strong but the question is beyond the December quarter. It boils down to the legs the game may have beyond the first few weeks or the first quarter.”
The Call of Duty series has been the biggest-selling game during the holiday season from November to December since 2008. the series has also represented about 14 percent of total software sales during the previous holiday season, said Liam Callahan, an analyst from research firm NPD Group.
Black Ops 2 will feature a Cold War backdrop as well as a futuristic setting in 2025. Gamers will also be allowed to stream gameplay directly from YouTube live.
source: reuters
Microsoft launches Halo 4 with high aims
Microsoft’s much vaunted Halo series is back with the release of Halo 4 today. The latest version of Halo is set to compete against another blockbuster from Activision Blizzard, the Call of Duty series.
Master Chief, the main protagonist, has generated over $3 billion since it was released in 2001. The green-armored soldier came back to life after a five-year absence. The Halo title has garnered millions of fans around the world in more than 40 countries.
Made by Microsoft Studios, the Halo franchise was the first successful game of the developer as it began to tread the waters of the gaming industry back in 2001. the original Halo game was released together with the first Xbox. Microsoft Studios has sold over 46 million copies of the game until now, which also helped propel the popularity of Xbox console around the world, bypassing its rivals PlayStation and Wii.
It is yet unclear if the new Halo installment can beat the upcoming “Call of Duty: Black Ops 2″, which will launch next week. Halo series is the now the biggest title on the Xbox platform.
On the other hand, Nintendo is also releasing a new Wii U platform that will come with a paired tablet controller these coming holidays. Top game maker Activision is also set to release a special edition Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 title for Wii U on November 18.
The 5-year hiatus of main Halo character Master Chief seems to be working for the new game according to Ryan McCaffrey, the editor of Xbox section in videogame site IGN.com.
“Call of Duty has taken over as the most popular game on the Xbox, so I think it will be very close,” McCaffrey added.
The Halo 4 story revolves around Master Chief’s rampage in killing enemy aliens while trying to save his dear friend and artificial intelligence buddy named Cortana.
Microsoft has high goals for Halo 4. Halo: Reach, the previous installment without Master Chief, launched in September 2010 and bagged $200 million in sales around the world during the release date.
The software giant will be hosting promotional events in cities like London, Berlin, and Seattle during the release date.
Microsoft also upped the ante in promoting the game in Europe by transforming the small country of Liechtenstein into a futuristic Halo-like universe. The country’s historic landmarks and countryside were overhauled and reporters were allowed to test the game.
The largest United States retail chain, GameStop Corp, will also be hosting its own midnight events for the game.
Fans had been lining GameStop stores in anticipation of the game, as early as 12 hours before the title launch. Some of them were dressed in Halo Costumes.
GameStop spokeswoman Wendy Dominguez said: “They’ve either pre-ordered Halo or they’re waiting to get their hands on a copy and they’re pretty excited about it.”
source: reuters
Gameloft’s Modern Combat 3 On Sale Through Google Play For Only a Buck
For a limited time, Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation is just $0.99 on Google Play. If you’re in the dark, Modern Combat is Gameloft’s take on Activision’s highly successful Call of Duty series. It features action-packed war scenarios with modern weapons and tactics. The game’s size is of epic proportions and requires 1.37GB of space [...]
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Minecraft maker expresses dismay over Windows 8
Minecraft’s creator Markus “Notch” Persson is the most recent one in the PC gaming industry to criticize the Windows 8 platform. Persson is apparently not very enthusiastic about his perceived ruining of PC ecosystem by Microsoft.
His comments reinforce negative comments of other personalities in the gaming industry including Activision Blizzard and Valve.
Persson shared his thoughts in his tweets by saying “Got an email from Microsoft, wanting to help ‘certify’ minecraft for win 8. I told them to stop trying to ruin the PC as an open platform.”
The huge success of Minecraft, a game that lets users utilize blocks to create their world, made Persson an interesting game creator to watch out for.
He added: “I’d rather have minecraft not run on win 8 at all than to play along. Maybe we can convince a few people not to switch to win 8 that way.
Persson’s game has reached 7.5 million in sales, earning him a special award by British Academy of Film and Television Arts, describing him “an inspiration for all games developers”.
Persson’s issue with Microsoft is the Redmond giant’s certification scheme. Microsoft demands that Minecraft has to conform to Microsoft’s gesture “touch language” and to abide by the app’s store’s avoidance of adult content.
That said, it is clear that Minecraft has been screened to work perfectly fine with Windows 8 when run on a PC. However, the game snagged Windows 8 app store requirements because it is rated PEGI 18-a game allowed to be played by adults over 18 year old only.
Interestingly, Microsoft will offer a separate desktop app store that will offer a different set of rules that will focus more on compatibility and security requirements.
Like Google and Apple’s scheme, Microsoft will take a 30% cut on sales of items made through the marketplace.
Developers are still allowed to sell their wares outside the marketplace without certification on machines running Windows 8 system. Such games will play if the PCs are x86-based system utilizing chips made by AMD and Intel. On the other hand, app makers planning to sell their wares for Windows 8 variant will have to follow the restrictions.
Gabe Newell of Valve commented before that Windows 8 spells a “catastrophe for everyone in the PC space”. He expressed his view that he would prefer an open platform and that Microsoft’s plan to charge a 30% cut on sales might drive other firms out of business due to pressure on their sales profits.
Valve runs its own online marketplace offering a number of games as well as developing its own titles.
Activision Blizzard’s Rob Pardo also said that Windows 8 was “not awesome for Blizzard either”.
Despite these comments, some developers see hope in Windows stores. They think that the design of the touchscreen interface will attract more users to install more apps on their mobile gadgets.
One of such interested persons in the upcoming Windows 8 stores is Jason Kingsley, founder of Rebellion Studios, which sells its products on Valve Steam system. “Microsoft get a lot of things right,” he said.
“One of the problems at the moment is that while we can get games out to a worldwide audience the issue is visibility. I think this is a potential route to greater visibility for the independent sector… though the jury is still out about whether it’s the right way to go.”
He is positive that his company should be able to pass Microsoft’s certification.
Although Microsoft refused to comment officially on Persson’s comments, a tech blog called Neowin accused him of being a “hypocrite”.
An editorial piece on Neowin is quoted as saying: “You have a very successful version of Minecraft on the Mac and iOS platforms. You didn’t have a problem with Apple’s closed systems policy when you launched the iOS or Mac versions.”
“And let’s not forget the Xbox 360 version… Microsoft controls everything on the Xbox dashboard,” it added.
Persson reacted on his Twitter page with this: “Microsoft owns the Xbox. Apple owns the iOS. The charm of the PC is that nobody owns it… Microsoft is free to do whatever they want with their OS. I won’t support all of what they do, however.”
source: bbc
Amazon Allows In-App Purchases Of Physical Products
Although Amazon has made its identity as a seller of tablet PCs and e-readers through the Kindle Fire and the Kindle, it is still first and foremost a retailing company. Recently, it underscored these two roles by allowing app developers to sell physical products through the application itself.
This decision has a number of benefits, both for the app developers as well as Amazon. The most obvious is that the app developers may earn more income from the app. This could make the new Kindle devices that Amazon recently unveiled along with the Amazon’s Appstore for Android more attractive for developers. Moreover, this feature will help Amazon stand out from its competitors, Google and Apple, which do not offer the same service at the moment.
Amazon had already inked a deal with Activision, the popular video game publisher behind titles like Guitar Hero and several Marvel games. Activision has a game for kids called Skylanders Cloud Patrol. Players of the game will be able to purchase a real toy based on a character in the game through a one-click system. The developer will send the toy to the child’s doorstep. Meanwhile, the child will be able to unlock the character in the game through the purchase and use such character to play in the game.
Even prior to this announcement, Amazon has been recognized as a good place for developers to monetize their apps. Last March, a report from Flurry examined the top apps on the Amazon Appstore for Android, Google Play, and the Apple App Store. They found out that Amazon apps are able to generate as much revenue as iOS apps for as much as 89%, while Google Play apps only get 29% of the same.
Apart from Activision, several game companies also sell toys. Rovio, for one, has Angry Birds merchandise, while Zynga is reportedly in talks with Hasbro to create toys based on their games. These companies, and even others not involved in making games for children, can take advantage of Amazon’s new offering.
via allthingsd
Amazon In-App purchases to expand to include physical goods
Similar to some of the aftermath of Google I/O this past summer, as Amazon’s press event last week fades into history we are starting to discover some other changes in their ecosystem that may have been overlooked in the excitement of the Amazon Kindle Fire HD announcement. One of these new features Amazon is implementing is the ability for developers to sell physical goods “in-app.” Initially this appears to only be rolling out in games, but other uses are sure to emerge. This capability will be a point of differentiation compared to Google and Apple.
Amazon has indicated their first partner is Activision, which plans to make toys available in its Skylanders game. The toys will connect to the game using a “portal” plugged into a videogame console. Once plugged in, the toy activates a character inside the game. In order to purchase the characters, players will buy them from within the game using Amazon’s 1-Click Purchasing. Amazon indicates a player’s progression with a character in the console version of the game will carryover to the mobile version. This will likely be achieved using Amazon’s new Whispersync for games capability that was announced last week. An indication of how important games are to Amazon’s overall strategy is the announcement that the new Kindle Fire will have a separate tab to access the games category in the Appstore.
Is the ability to order physical goods something to get excited about? Can you think of any ways this could be used effectively outside of games?
source: All Things D
Amazon Will Offer Developers The Option To Sell Physical Items Via In-App Purchases
Well, this is sure to be an upset to the market. Amazon is going to allow developers the ability to offer in-app purchases to consumers for physical items that will be shipped to their homes. It’s a little unclear yet if it will be limited to developers with products already on Amazon’s website, or if Amazon will merely facilitate the transfer of shipping information. Could developers include in-app purchases of a physical product that they will handle distribution of themselves? That could be a huge boon for independent merchandise sellers, but obviously carries with it some inherent complications.
One of the first partners to offer products will be Activision, selling Skylanders characters.
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Amazon Will Offer Developers The Option To Sell Physical Items Via In-App Purchases was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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Amazon extends in-app purchases to physical goods
In-app purchases have been paying off for developers. They provide a middle ground between offering software at a premium price and free but ad-filled apps and games. Amazon is looking to expand the ability to monetize apps by taking in-app purchases to the next level. Using their unique position as both a retailer of digital and physical goods, the company announced alongside its new Kindle Fire lineup the ability for devs to sell physical goods using their apps as a storefront.
To start, Activision will be peddling a line of toys within their game Skylanders, a console title with a mobile companion app. The game’s unique augmented reality experience that brings physical figures into the digital realm (toys are recognized by a “portal” connected the console and transmitted into the game) means players will be seeking to expand their collection of characters to incorporate into the experience. An ideal testing ground for the feature, which incorporates Amazon’s one-click purchasing.
The ability to sell physical goods not only provides a chance to monetize apps further, but also differentiates what Amazon is offering compare to both Google and Apple. It does so in a way that should be appealing to both developers and mobile users.
[via AllThingsD]
Activision’s Call of Duty Black Ops Zombies Now Supports All Android Devices
If you’ve been waiting for Call of Duty Black Ops Zombies to end that silly Xperia exclusive agreement, today is the day. Finally, owners of any Android device can go pick up Black Ops Zombies for the same price of $6.99 on Google Play. I don’t think much else needs to be said – it’s [...]
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Activision Anthology arrives on Android with 45 classics in tow
Ready for some nostalgia? Hopefully you are, because Activision has just unleashed the Activision Anthology on the Google Play Store. The anthology features 45 classic Activision games, and though the app is free, you’re going to have to shell out cash for most of the titles Activision is touting in this release. That isn’t true for all of the games, however, as just downloading the app nets you Kaboom! for free.
As for the other 44 games – which include Pitfall, River Raid, The Activision Decathalon, Stampede, Pitfall II and Demon Attack – you’ll have to lay down some cash to access those. The rates aren’t too bad, though, with Activision offering bundle packs of 11 games for $2.99 each. You can also purchase the entire collection for the “special limited-time introductory price” of $6.99. There’s no word on when that price will increase, or what it will increase to when it does.
This package comes with a number of bonuses, allowing players to collect digital versions of the game patches Activision was pushing back in the 1980s. The Activision Anthology comes complete with Facebook and Game Center integration, along with support for leaderboards and achievements. There are also a number of different control schemes to pick from, and the original box art and manual for each game are included so you can get a real blast from the past.
All in all, this doesn’t seem like too bad a package, considering the extras Activision has included. It seems pretty reasonably priced as well – $6.99 is not a bad price to pay for 45 games, especially if you grew up playing them and would like to revisit the past every once in a while. The Activision Anthology is available now on the Google Play Store [download] – will you be picking it up?
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