Music industry has grown 32% in 2008 through Games

According to UBS analyst Ben Schachter, music games have been a “key driver” for music industry this year, with “sales of music-themed games responsible for 19% of overall industry software dollars in July (15% YTD) and 44% of y/y industry dollar growth during the month (32% of growth YTD).”

That’s not insignificant. In a research note, Schachter has also pointed out that Guitar Hero franchise dollars year-to-date are up a mighty 87 percent.

In terms of units, Guitar Hero is up 82 percent this year. On a dollars basis, the recent DS release of Guitar Hero: On Tour took in more than $15 million in July alone.

Moreover, MTV Games’ Rock Band bundles on Wii, PS2 and Xbox 360 combined for nearly $47 million in sales in July.

Source: videogaming247.com

Its very interesting, and shows just how big the gaming industry is. Apart from the obvious titles like Guitar Hero, Rock Band etc (which introduced even me to some gems) games like Need For Speed, FIFA, and Burnout now feature major artists. Driving along to ‘Decadence’ by Disturbed made NFS: Most Wanted what it is (for me), and the R&B/Rap songs which I would not have otherwise heard of, also fit into the game seamlessly.

WWE Star Wants More Violence In Games

Taken from Eurogamer

WWE man-mountain Randy Orton last night became an unlikely defender of the industry’s creative freedoms, urging developers to fight back against critics with a rallying cry for “more violence” in videogames.

The fantasy wrestling superstar, who’s currently sidelined with a broken collarbone, was in London to promote THQ’s SmackDown vs. Raw 2009, and revealed to Eurogamer how he was sick and tired of the bad press gaming receives, insisting that the makers of adult titles had nothing to be ashamed of.

“Violence sells. I want to see more violence in games - the more blood the better,” he told us. Orton argued that videogames were the least of parents’ worries, when some “don’t know their kids are watching South Park”.

He cited the example of the Scorcese gangster flick Goodfellas as evidence that movie violence could be far more shocking than anything in a videogame, calling Grand Theft Auto “just a cartoon” in comparison.

“The violence [in Goodfellas] is against human beings. There’s rape in movies - you see all kinds of f***ed up s*** on film,” he observed. Playing Mortal Kombat underage, added the man who now hits people for a living, hadn’t done him any harm.

Orton, in true narcissistic WWE fashion, enjoys “playing with himself” in the game, and is particularly pleased with the accuracy of his tattoos in this year’s update. He owns an Xbox 360 and Wii, his favourite recent game being Mario Kart, although he sticks to the regular controller as “the wheel is just a gimmick”.

The birth of his baby daughter last month has meant he’s been “too covered in poop” to play much else, though. Give the man a column.

The Yuke’s-developed WWE series remains THQ’s most successful property, the last one shifting over 6 million copies.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw is out on PS3, 360, PS2, PSP, Wii and DS on 11th November, with THQ keen to flag up a new tag-team mechanic, Create-A-Finisher feature, co-op storylines, the belated introduction of downloadable content, and online play in the Wii version.

The Daily Mail would have a field day if it read this. Anyway, I think what he said is actually wrong, but it does raise a point about violence in video games.

GTAIV is already being blamed for dozens of violent crimes, Manhunt 2 was banned (then released), God of War caused an uproar, even Tom Clancy’s: Ghost Recon game was banned in Mexico because the Mexican army were the antagonists, and on a side note, Pokemon: Emerald was banned in Saudi Arabia for allegedly promoting Zionism and (particularly in the case of the trading card game) involving gambling…

My point is that there are far worse things going on than violence in video games. Blaming them is often an excuse to pass the buck, and gamers should not be punished for a few nut jobs who imitate what they see on screen. Randy Orton sadly missed this point, instead saying that violence sells and that he wants more money for pretending to hit people. This is the kind of guy that is a PR nightmare and makes a joke of the gaming industry. Idiot.

Win A Counter Strike/Counter Strike: Source Server for Free

Yes, my good friend F!SH is giving away a server for Counter Strike or Counter Strike: Source (whichever you prefer) to the person, or group, that designs the best banner to advertise his website and clan, and I assure you this is 100% genuine.

Full details, terms and conditions, and rules are all here

If you think you can create a banner good enough to win this competition, register with us and post your entry before 1st September [ 01.09.08 ] for your chance to win.

Martin ‘F!5H’ Andersson is kindly giving away a server, completely free, and all you have to do is create a banner for us. Details and rules are below.

The banner must link back to the Sensitivity website homepage, and must be as appealing and interesting as possible. Preferably featuring either CodD 4, Warcraft 3, CS, or CS:S. The size of the banner must be 600×140. The banner must also include the slogan ‘More Power In Game’ and the title ‘#Sensitivity’.

Post all your entries HERE to enter.

There will only be one winner, although a clan/multiple people may enter as one entry. The server can be used for either Counter Strike 1.6, or Counter Strike:Source, and the winner will receive their own server, completely free with full admin status for 6 months, no fee’s are required and there are no payments of any kind.

Good Luck!

For your completely free chance to win the server, Enter here

Diablo 3 Officially Announced

The rumors have been in circulation for what seems an eternity. It has been confirmed, denied, spoken of openly, and whispered about it hushed tones. Anytime anyone invoked the name in forums or in general discussion, they were either ridiculed or backed up by a singing choir of die-hard fans who in their hearts wanted this just as much. All has not been in vain my friends. The years of speculation, denials, “we’ll see’s” and back and forth between “reliable sources” shrouded in mystery are over.

Diablo III is coming.

Who really doubted it though? Last year the frenzy that surrounded Blizzcon over the possibility of it was nothing compared to the one this year. In all honesty, it is just a continuation of what was already floating about, but from the exact date and time these rumors (hopes) were conceived - its purpose has finally come to fruition. Isn’t wonderful? Ok, now to the goods.

VG247 is at the Worldwide Invitational at the Porte de Versailles Expo Centre in Paris, and they were there waiting with baited breath like the rest of the gaming industry when Blizzard announced Diablo III. I will be getting the majority of my information from them, since they are in the middle of the D3 press conference as of this sentence.

Here is what I have pulled from the Blizzard site so far this morning:

And the Heavens Shall Tremble……

Two decades have passed since the demonic denizens, Diablo, Mephisto, and Baal, wandered the world of Sanctuary in a vicious rampage to shackle humanity into unholy slavery. Yet for those who battled the Prime Evils directly, the memory fades slowly and the wounds of the soul still burn.

When Deckard Cain returns to the ruins of Tristram’s Cathedral seeking clues to new stirrings of evil, a comet from the heavens strikes the very ground where Diablo once entered the world. The comet carries a dark omen in its fiery being and it calls the heroes of Sanctuary to defend the mortal world against the rising powers of the Burning Hells – and even the failing luminaries of the High Heavens itself.

Featuring:

* An all new world, a fully-realized Sanctuary – the living, breathing gothic fantasy world of Diablo III rendered in gorgeous 3D

* Battle the unholy forces of the Burning Hells with all-new character classes like the otherworldly Witch Doctor, or with re-imagined warriors from Diablo’s past: such as the fierce Barbarian.

* Rain Hell on your enemies wielding the interactive environment as a weapon: lay cunning traps, turn destructible objects against your foes, and use environmental obstacles to your advantage - all powered by the Havoc physics system.

* Experience the intensity of multiplayer Diablo III over an all-new, wickedly-enhanced Battle.net platform with numerous enhancements to make connecting with your friends easier – and cooperative gameplay more fun.

According to the lead designer on Diablo III, “[the game] is first and foremost a co-operative game,” he said. Not sure what to think about that - I hope it means that the single-player experience will be just as great.

Anyway, all your equipment is custom designed and will adapt to each class’ unique look along with more quests than ever before. Classes posted so far are the Barbarian and Witch Doctor, Beast include the Undead, Khazra, Gnarled Walkers, and Dark Cultists. The Diablo III site also included two environments, Deckard Cain’s journal, and details on one of the dungeons - The Cathedral.

Blizzard has released over twenty screens this morning, mainly artwork, but one thing we can gather from it is like previous versions, we will once again be looking down on the game - which I was a bit worried about to be honest - I was afraid they would change that, glad my fears were unjustified.

Source: http://news.filefront.com/diablo-iii-announced-at-blizzard-invitational-in-paris/

zomg Excitement is washing over me, can’t wait for more details

http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/19700
http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/19704
http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/19701