Edge Online - Interactive Entertainment Today

Black Ops Tops Nordic Chart Again

Nathan Brown — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 11:32:44 +0000

Treyarch FPS still pointing and laughing from top spot at its lesser-selling contemporaries.

All-conquering Activision shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops is once again number one in the Nordic all-format chart, which comprises total sales across Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, for the week ending January 1.

Facebook Civ Renamed As Closed Alpha Begins

Nathan Brown — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 11:01:52 +0000

Players invited to sign up – in teams – for initial testing of Firaxis’ upcoming Civ World.

The long-awaited Facebook version of Firaxis’ Civilization has a new name, Civ World, and a closed alpha test for the game will begin on January 12.

The 2010 Edge Awards: Indie Game

Edge Staff — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 10:20:44 +0000

Out award for the best indie game of 2010.

Runner up: Neptune's Pride
Format: PC Publisher: Iron Helmet Games Developer: In-house

Iwata: GameCube Could Do 3D

Nathan Brown — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 10:01:28 +0000

Nintendo president reveals working 3D tech dropped due to cost of screens; GBA SP could do it too.

Satoru Iwata, president and CEO of Nintendo, has revealed that its GameCube console had circuitry for 3D compatibility.

Homefront to Use THQ Online Pass

Nathan Brown — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:20:19 +0000

Multiformat shooter will cap level progress for second-hand buyers unless they cough up $10.

Upcoming multiformat shooter Homefront is to make use of publisher THQ’s Online Pass in its multiplayer component.

The Online Pass is THQ’s response to increasing second-hand game sales. New copies of the game will contain a single-use code that unlocks certain content, in this case the bulk of its online multiplayer.

Sony Responds To PS3 Hacks

Nathan Brown — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:32:39 +0000

Manufacturer breaks cover and comments on recent security breaches; network updates planned.

Sony has at last broken silence on recent developments which have seen its PlayStation 3's security measures completely defeated.

The firm has remained resolutely tight-lipped since news broke that a hacking group named fail0verflow had gained full control over the system, after reverse engineering the code used to sign authorised software as genuine.

Mac App Store Open For Business

Nathan Brown — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:16:59 +0000

Home computer equivalent of iOS App Store opens doors a little early with over 1,000 apps to download.

Apple’s Mac App Store, a version of its mobile software marketplace for Mac computers, has just launched in 90 countries, a few hours earlier than expected.

Users will need to update their Snow Leopard operating system to the newly-released Mac OS 10.6.6, and will find a link to the Mac App Store in their dock once the update completes.

The 2010 Edge Awards: Audio Design

Edge Staff — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:07:09 +0000

Our award for the best audio design of 2010.

Runner up: Sid Meier's Civilization V
Format: PC Publisher: 2K Games Developer: Firaxis

Mobile Ad Spend to Increase Tenfold in Five Years

Nathan Brown — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:52:40 +0000

UK research firm claims advertising will be worth $894m per year by 2015; end-user revenues to hit $11 billion.

Global advertising spend on mobile games is set to increase tenfold in the next five years, according to a report.

The Mobile Games whitepaper, published by UK firm Juniper Research, says that by 2015 mobile ad spend will have risen to $894 million per year, compared to just $87 million last year.

Microsoft Announces Second XBLA House Party

Nathan Brown — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:02:18 +0000

Beyond Good & Evil HD, Torchlight, Bejeweled Blitz and more coming in February.

At its CES keynote last night Microsoft announced that House Party, the Xbox Live Arcade promotion that debuted last year, is to return next month.

Buzz, Blue Toad Dev Going Digital-Only

Nathan Brown — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:15:22 +0000

Relentless announces intent to move away from disc-based 'hardcore' market after Blue Toad success.

Relentless Software, the developer of the Buzz! quiz games and Blue Toad Murder Files, has said it intends to move away from the disc-based retail market and go digital-only.

Ilomilo Review

Edge Staff — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:12:14 +0000

Format: Xbox 360
Release: Out now
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Southend Interactive

Microsoft: No Link Between Kinect and RRoD

Nathan Brown — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 11:23:59 +0000

BBC report cites users experiencing dreaded hardware fault within days of Kinect purchase.

Microsoft has swiftly moved to deny an alleged link between its Kinect motion sensor and long-standing Xbox 360 hardware problem the Red Ring Of Death.

The BBC reported yesterday on a link between the two with Xbox 360 owners complaining that their console suffered the common hardware fault shortly after they used Kinect for the first time.

Microsoft Hails Kinect Sales Figures

Nathan Brown — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:47:28 +0000

Sales of 8m in two months smash sales targets; video chat app Avatar Kinect incoming.

Microsoft has said that its motion-sensing peripheral Kinect has sold 8m units worldwide since its launch in November.

Stringer: 60m Users On PSN

Nathan Brown — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:29:39 +0000

Sony CEO reveals figures during CES keynote; dwarfs Microsoft’s Xbox Live userbase.

Howard Stringer, chairman, president and CEO of Sony, has said that 60 million accounts have been created on its online service PlayStation Network.

The 2010 Edge Awards: Visual Design

Edge Staff — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:15:50 +0000

Our award for the best visual design of 2010.

Runner up: Limbo
Format: 360 Publisher: Playdead Developer: In-house

The 2010 Edge Awards: Developer

Edge Staff — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:21:49 +0000

Our award for the best developer of 2010.

Runner up: Harmonix
Key Games: Rock Band 3, Dance Central

THQ Announces Long-Term Mattel Deal

Nathan Brown — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:00:05 +0000

Publisher set to release toy tie-ins on every platform imaginable; uDraw Pictionary up first.

Publisher THQ has signed a multi-year deal with Mattel to develop and publish games based on the toy manufacturer’s many beloved brands.

An agreement which is very broad in scope enables THQ to design, develop and market games for consoles, handhelds, PCs, mobiles and social networks, with the publisher indicating Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price and He-Man tie-ins are planned.

Gamers’ Voice To Play Games With MPs

Nathan Brown — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:15:43 +0000

Pressure group invites MPs, industry representatives and press to House of Commons gaming event.

Independent pressure group Gamers’ Voice have invited UK politicians to a special gaming event at the House of Commons.

Report: Harmonix Buys Independence For $49.99

Nathan Brown — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:59:35 +0000

Claims Viacom sold Harmonix for the price of a game; tax benefit and liability transfer sweeten the deal.

Rock Band developer Harmonix returned to independent status for the cost of one of its games, according to reports in the US.