GTA5: First viral signs

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/grand-theft-auto-5-marketing-kicks-off-with-viral-epsilon-progr/

Grand Theft Auto 5 marketing kicks off with viral 'Epsilon Program' site

 

A Twitter account for something called the "Epsilon Program" has materialized in the past few days, linking off to a freaky (and annoying) website for a pseudo-religion called "KIFFLOM", registered by Take Two Software.

The site features a thinly-veiled parody of the real-life Scientology organization and includes such hilarious "facts" as: "If you have a birth mark, you may be descended from Kraff, the famous Emperor of the 4th Paradigm." Considering that the next iteration of GTA is set in a faux Los Angeles and that the Epsilon Program was featured in a gags found within GTA: San Andreas, odds are good that we're looking at an early viral campaign for Grand Theft Auto 5. Good timing, since only yesterday investors were asking why the hype train for GTA 5 had not yet left the station.

Teasers and drip marketing ahoy, this seems to be Rockstar Games' GTA5 ploy - with no sign of a release for the next GTA.

(So far we have last November's trailer and 3 batches of 3 screenshots...)

 

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/364797/gta-5-third-new-batch-of-screenshots-capture-police-chase/

Fifa 13 soundtrack released

Bloc Party, Two Door Cinema Club, Kasabian for FIFA 13 soundtrack

Passion Pit, The Enemy, Deadmau5, Django Django also feature on football game's soundtrack

http://www.nme.com/news/bloc-party/65955

"What being indie means"

http://www.edge-online.com/features/capy-games-nathan-vella-what-being-indie-means

What is an independent game?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_video_game_development

Broken Sword & Kickstarter

http://www.edge-online.com/news/broken-sword-serpents-curse-hits-kickstarter-goal

Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse hits Kickstarter goal

$400,000 goal hit with 16 days to spare; sequel to Beneath A Steel Sky to be greenlit if project raises a million dollars.

An example of crowd funding working out - a modern method of funding projects that involves asking the consumers to help fund the development of a product in exchange for a free copy of the finished article etc.

Mojang callaborates with the UN

http://www.edge-online.com/news/mojang-announces-block-block-collaboration-un

 

Mojang announces Block By Block, a collaboration with the UN

Minecraft developer aims to get youth involved with town planning and upgrade 300 public spaces by 2016.

Psygnosis and Studio Liverpool, 1984-2012

http://www.edge-online.com/features/psygnosis-and-studio-liverpool-1984-2012

Classic Liverpool games studio to close. Psygnosis RIP.
(Wipeout on the PlayStation - the first non-Japanese title for PlayStation)

PS4 and Xbox 720 for 2014?

http://www.oxm.co.uk/45532/gamestop-either-ps4-or-xbox-720-could-fall-back-to-2014/

Gamestop: either PS4 or Xbox 720 could fall back to 2014

US retailer doesn't think both machines will launch next year

Until around abouts five minutes ago, a 2013 Xbox 720 release date seemed all but certain. Gamestop's chief marketing officer Ashley Sheetz and CEO Paul Raines have introduced a note of caution, however - the company expects either PS4 or Xbox 720 to join the Wii U at retail next year, but not both.

Xbox 720 delay

http://www.oxm.co.uk/45583/xbox-720-launch-date-might-be-delayed-rumour/

Xbox 720 launch date might be delayed - rumour

Trouble making the chips, apparently

Just to pour a bit more oil on the uncertain waters of the next Xbox, a new report has emerged suggesting that the console may miss its expected 2013 release date.

EA: now is a bad time for new IP, best wait for "spectacular" next gen consoles

http://www.oxm.co.uk/45534/ea-now-is-a-bad-time-for-new-ip-best-wait-for-spectacular-next-gen-consoles/

"The market doesn't reward new IP this late in the cycle"

Sucks to be you, Dishonored, Remember Me and Watch Dogs - you're strolling into the commercial equivalent of quicksand. Or at least, that's what EA's president of labels Frank Gibeau would have us believe. Speaking to GI, Gibeau has reiterated the popular view that it's unwise to launch new IPs late in a hardware generation, and advocated innovating within established franchises instead.

Square Enix makes console games 'free' online

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19409211

Square Enix's CoreOnline makes console games 'free' online

Developer Square Enix has launched a service allowing gamers to play high definition full console-quality titles through their web browser.

CoreOnline streams games from the firm's back catalogue for free, with users encouraged to watch advertising in order to "earn" more playing time.

Titles that are on offer include Hitman and, soon, Tomb Raider.

The launch followed news that OnLive, another streaming service, was struggling.

The company was forced to sell its assets to a venture capital firm - a controversial move which wiped out investors' stakes and staff's share rights.

Blog situation explained.. well, attempt at it!

I was rubbish at explaining the Blog situation.
You will need a Blog for your Music Magazine coursework creations after Christmas - we will create that nearer the time as it must only be that particular unit inside that Blog or the examiners who will visit your Blog to mark it will flip out.

***HOWEVER*** in the course of most days I will be glancing at a lot of videogame industry news feeds, some of which would be worth reading for you good people. Therefore, it may be worthwhile for you to open a Blogging account, if only to access my recommended links and start compiling examples to learn so you can reference them in the exam

Mr Howard

Schoolboy found hanged: Call of Duty to blame

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/9522314/Coroner-under-18s-should-not-play-Call-of-Duty.html

Call of Duty and other violent video games are harmful to children, coroner warns at inquest of schoolboy found hanged.

Make of this what you will

Welcome Year 12

Hi Year 12, good to meet you this afternoon.

So this is the weird and wonderful world of videogames!
Here's what I would like for you do over the weekend...

1. Create a blog at www.blogger.com - name it dhsmediaFIRSTNAME followed by the initial of your SECOND NAME so John Smith would have the blog address of dhsmediajohns

2. Reply to this post with your address so I can keep tabs on your postings to see if you are on the right lines.

3. Make your first post - All I would like is a cheesy introduction saying hello, introducing yourself and then telling us about your experiences with video games - in what form can they be found in your household? How often do you get involved? What kind of games are played? (Remember, Mobile gaming, games on Apple Devices, Facebook games and PC games count too! Not just console central)

Just from 5 minutes going round I can tell we have a wide range so we will able to help each other on this module.

4. Not the most academic watch but a great overview of the topic of videogames is Charlie Brooker's Gameswipe - a videogame version of his Screenwipe series. It goes through the main genres of games in a lighthearted (often foulmouthed) fashion and if you could have a pen and paper whilst you watch it and make some notes on the genres of games mentioned, then that would be excellent preparation for Monday.
You can find Gameswipe by clicking here or you can find it by searching for it on YouTube.


Cheers

Mr Howard