tag:www.busygamernews.com,2009://1 2007-07-17T22:32:21Z News, reviews and advocacy for gamers who have a life. Movable Type Publishing Platform 4.01 tag:www.busygamernews.com,2006://1.963 2006-08-08T15:05:43Z 2007-07-17T22:32:21Z

The PC demo for Lego Star Wars II is now available for download. Set in the original trilogy (aka "the good ones"), the game features more expansive levels, free roaming vehicles, scads of secret stuff to find and co-op...

Gamewatcher The PC demo for Lego Star Wars II is now available for download. Set in the original trilogy (aka "the good ones"), the game features more expansive levels, free roaming vehicles, scads of secret stuff to find and co-op play. Oh, and Han shoots first. The game is due Sept. 12 with versions for pretty much every platform you can think of... ]]> tag:www.busygamernews.com,2006://1.850 2006-03-14T09:20:42Z 2007-07-17T22:36:41Z

In what's both a marketing gimmick and an odd fit, Depeche Mode have meshed their synthesizer pop style with the language of The Sims to create a machinima marketing video for The Sims 2 set to their song Suffer Well....

Gamewatcher In what's both a marketing gimmick and an odd fit, Depeche Mode have meshed their synthesizer pop style with the language of The Sims to create a machinima marketing video for The Sims 2 set to their song Suffer Well. The video is an idiotic ode to human/robot love intercut with performing band avatars, but it's worth a listen just to hear Dave Gahan singing in Sim-lish - that nonsensical yet emotive language of The Sims. You can find the video on thesims2.ea.com, or view it at youtube.com... ]]> tag:www.busygamernews.com,2005://1.704 2005-10-04T16:22:08Z 2007-07-17T22:37:14Z

The news that Best Buy is moving into used videogames is sending shockwaves through the industry. While good for consumers who don't need a shiny new game on launch day, it spells doom and gloom for publishers and developers (who...

Gamewatcher The news that Best Buy is moving into used videogames is sending shockwaves through the industry. While good for consumers who don't need a shiny new game on launch day, it spells doom and gloom for publishers and developers (who make no profit on secondhand sales) and for their chief competition, EB/Gamestop (who've so far dominated this high profit center). Right now, only a handful of Best Buy stores in California and Illinois are offering used titles, but you can expect this trend to spread. The backlash could spur even higher game prices, more digital distribution (a la Steam and console downloads) and tighter license agreements... ]]> tag:www.busygamernews.com,2005://1.676 2005-09-07T17:24:06Z 2006-11-14T22:07:29Z

The SEC has approved the GameStop-Electronic Boutique merger. If approved by stockholders in early October (and considering the recent stock boosts, this is a no brainer), there will most likely be fewer choices for gamers this holiday. Let's hope that...

Gamewatcher The SEC has approved the GameStop-Electronic Boutique merger. If approved by stockholders in early October (and considering the recent stock boosts, this is a no brainer), there will most likely be fewer choices for gamers this holiday. Let's hope that a smaller chain steps up to take on the new Goliath... tag:www.busygamernews.com,2005://1.497 2005-03-03T17:13:14Z 2007-07-17T22:37:14Z

The Entertainment Software Rating Board is introducing a new rating between E (for Everyone, which really means 6 and up) and T (for Teen, or 13 and up). The E10+ rating is designed to help parents distinguish between games appropriate...

Gamewatcher The Entertainment Software Rating Board is introducing a new rating between E (for Everyone, which really means 6 and up) and T (for Teen, or 13 and up). The E10+ rating is designed to help parents distinguish between games appropriate for young kids and those with a significant amount of mild violence (cartoon or otherwise), mild language and/or suggestive themes. No word yet on the first title to carry this rating, but the "10+" on the new logo isn't very prominent... ]]> tag:www.busygamernews.com,2005://1.462 2005-01-27T16:50:20Z 2006-11-14T22:07:29Z

Gamewatcher dismantling Microsoft's major sports franchises, then the recent buying spree (the NFL exclusivity contract and now Battlefield 1942 developer DICE). Plus, it's been dropping hints of an aggressive takeover of prime competitor Ubisoft. Now it's balancing the books by laying off 60 employees from its L.A. studio. Speculation runs that this move favors workers on the underperforming GoldenEye: Rogue Agent and Medal of Honor games, but it could be targeted at those who whine about its sweatshop-like treatment of developers - as evidenced in the blog of an "EA widow" and another who was fired for not putting in enough overtime on The Urbz: Sims in the City...

[See related Blog] ]]> tag:www.busygamernews.com,2005://1.460 2005-01-25T14:09:25Z 2006-11-14T22:07:29Z

Take-Two Interactive has made a parry to EA's NFL exclusivity thrust. The software publisher (best known for the Grand Theft Auto games) locked in a 7-year exclusive contract with Major League Baseball for player likenesses (not teams or stadiums), but...

Gamewatcher EA's NFL exclusivity thrust. The software publisher (best known for the Grand Theft Auto games) locked in a 7-year exclusive contract with Major League Baseball for player likenesses (not teams or stadiums), but only third-party rights. This means console makers Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony can still offer MLB titles, if they choose, and EA (who had the top seller with MVP Baseball last year) could always partner with one of them. Take-Two also bought out Sega on its ESPN sports development studios, meaning Sega is officially out of the sports business... ]]>