Game industry business news

CNN: GTA IV training our kids to kill

American news network CNN has broadcast an astounding attack on Rockstar’s GTA IV – in which presenter Glenn Beck says the game is training our kids to be killers” and teaches young men to treat women like whores”. In the diatribe, which carries the headline ‘Grand Theft Morality’, Beck likens …

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COMMENT: Believe the hype

One Guardian commentator said that it would be ‘an act of cultural irresponsibility’ not to play GTA IV. Another in The Times termed it ‘the cultural event of the week’. While some media outlets still fall back on the tired old ‘outrage’ headlines, it is genuinely refreshing to see this …

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Gamestop: GTA IV is encouraging PS2 owners to upgrade to PS3

Gamestop’s senior VP of merchandising has revealed that the release of GTA IV has inspired a ‘vigorous’ uptake in purchases of PS3 hardware. In a statement to the press reported by GameDaily, Bob McKenzie said: "From our position, the launch of GTA IV has been tremendous in driving traffic to …

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Microsoft: 360 GTA outselling PS3 version 2-to-1 in US

Microsoft’s product manager for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live Aaron Greenberg has claimed that US retailers have sold double the number of units of GTA IV on 360 than they have on PS3. In an in-depth interview with Next-Gen, Greenberg said: "What we’ve heard anecdotally from our retail partners is …

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Microsoft: All GTA 360 owners will join Live

Microsoft is confident that all consumers hwo pick up a copy of GTA IV on Xbox 360 will play the game via Xbox Live. The console’s online service allows up to 16 players to participate in 15 different online game types, ranging from co-operative play to cops-and-robbers team matches to …

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Zelnick: GTA success vindicates EA bid rejection

Take Two executive chairman Strauss Zelnick has said that his firm’s decision to delay consideration of EA’s acquisitive $2 billion offer until after GTA IV’s release has been ‘vindicated’ by the game’s success. According to the New York Times, Zelnick said in a statement: The critical and consumer response to …

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UK RETAIL PROFILE: Grainger Games

Give us a brief history of Grainger Games so far… The original Grainger Games was started by my Dad (Dan Bowyer) and I. We started trading as a partnership in 1997 with a market stall in the Grainger Market in Newcastle upon Tyne – hence the company name, Grainger Games. …

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Activision pulls out of E3

Activision has confirmed to Gaming Nexus that it will not be attending this year’s E3. In a statement to the website, Activision said: ‘After careful consideration, for business reasons Activision has decided not to participate in any official E3 activities. We wish the ESA best of luck with the show.’ …

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Gamecock signs up to amBX

Gamecock has revealed it will use the amBX technology in new titles Legendary and Velvet Assassin. The announcement was made after Philips and Gamecock partnered at the Expo for Interactive Entertainment (EIEIO) at Austin, Texas. Jo Cooke, chief marketing officer for amBX, said: Gamecock is another top drawer publisher signing …

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