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Sony considers splitting the company after proposed IPO

May 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Sony considering splitting entertainment and business divisions

Sony executives are considering splitting the company’s entertainment and electronics divisions, following billionaire Daniel Loeb’s proposed initial public offering of its entertainment business. The entertainment arm includes all PlayStation properties, alongside Sony’s film and music businesses.

Loeb, with Third Point LLC, owns a 6 percent stake in Sony worth $ 1.1 billion, and is Sony’s biggest investor. Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai confirmed that the top brass is considering Loeb’s offer, but didn’t say when it would come to a decision, Bloomberg reports.

“It’s only a start,” Hirai said. “It’s important that the board will discuss this and come to a decision that represents Sony’s stance.” Following Loeb’s offer yesterday, Sony stock surged 9 percent.

JoystiqSony considers splitting the company after proposed IPO originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 May 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shaq’s licensing company trademarks ‘Shaqfighter’

May 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment



Mine O’ Mine, the licensing company responsible for all things bearing the resemblance of the legendarily mononymous Shaq, has registered a trademark for “Shaqfighter.” The trademark’s Goods and Services qualifications cover the term for “providing online games” and “computer and video game characters,” among many other purposes along that line, which leads us to believe that this is probably a video game thing.

Of course, when the words “Shaq” and “fighter” are thrown together in such close proximity, 1994′s Shaq-fu immediately springs to mind for any of us old enough to remember it in all of its confusing, supernatural glory. Well, “glory.” Here’s hoping this new jam ends up being more than an Infinity Blade clone starring an endless bloodline of medieval Shaqs. Actually …

JoystiqShaq’s licensing company trademarks ‘Shaqfighter’ originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Attend a ‘Theatre of War’ in Company of Heroes 2

May 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Company of Heroes 2 gets Theater of War mode

Sega recently announced a new mode for Company of Heroes 2 called Theatre of War. Shipping with the game in June, the mode will include new solo and cooperative scenarios based in different, well, theaters of war. Sorry, theatres.

The game will launch with 18 missions from noteworthy battles in 1941 in the Theatre of War mode, nine for each of the German and Soviet Red Army factions. At later dates, Relic will add new missions to the mode for Company of Heroes 2 players to download. The game will launch June 25 on PC.

Gallery: Company of Heroes 2 (5/3/13)

Continue reading Attend a ‘Theatre of War’ in Company of Heroes 2

JoystiqAttend a ‘Theatre of War’ in Company of Heroes 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 May 2013 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokémon Company Confirms New Mewtwo With Animated Clip

April 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Earlier this month, images of a new Pokémon with a striking resemblance to Mewtwo appeared online, sparking debate over who or what this new Mewtwo is. A short video clip from Pokémon Company International may answer your questions, or stoke the debate fire.

This new Pokémon is certainly a form of Mewtwo, but I'm still confused as to whether this a whole new Mewtwo. It could be a Pichu/Pikachu situation, with this Mewtwo being a previously undiscovered prior evolution of Mewtwo.

In any case, we'll find out more when Pokémon X and Y releases later this year. Check out the clip below, and be sure to share your theories in the comments below.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

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Company of Heroes 2 closed beta enters Facebook ‘Like’ phase

April 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

“Operation: Facebook Like” is in effect for the Company of Heroes 2 closed beta. For a “limited time,” the CoH2 closed beta will be made available to folks who click the “like” button on the game’s Facebook page.

Once they’ve done so, new recruits will be able to access a key generation tool while the closed beta is active. Players will need the Steam client to access the beta and redeem the key.

“After a successful first phase, we are delighted to be able to open the closed beta up to all of our Facebook fans and invite them to help us test and improve the game,” said CoH2 Producer Greg Wilson.

Company of Heroes 2 will roll out onto the eastern front in North America and Europe on June 25.

Gallery: Company of Heroes 2 (4/10/13)

Continue reading Company of Heroes 2 closed beta enters Facebook ‘Like’ phase

JoystiqCompany of Heroes 2 closed beta enters Facebook ‘Like’ phase originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Invitation to war: Company of Heroes 2 beta key giveaway [Update: We're out of keys!]

April 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Update: We’re plum out of beta keys. Now go play it and tell us what you think in the comments.

Company of Heroes 2 from the now Sega-owned Relic Entertainment is currently in closed beta testing, and Joystiq has infiltrated the publisher’s stronghold and acquired 1,000 codes to give away to its most dedicated soldiers.

The Company of Heroes 2 closed beta has a level cap of 40 and features six maps, including two areas not seen in previous testing. Multiplayer and skirmish modes are available across all maps for players to wage war versus AI or human members of their own personal axis of evil in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, or 4v4 battles.

If you were lucky enough to acquire a code, redemption is simple: Select ‘Add a Game,’ then ‘Activate a Product Code on Steam’ and enter your unique key.

JoystiqInvitation to war: Company of Heroes 2 beta key giveaway [Update: We're out of keys!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Layoffs hit EA, company ‘not disclosing specific teams impacted’

April 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Following up with EA about the closure of EA Mobile Montreal, we’ve received the following statement from the company.

“EA is sharpening its focus to provide games for new platforms and mobile. In some cases, this involves reducing team sizes as we evolve into a more efficient organization,” the company told Joystiq. “These are difficult decisions to let go of good people who have made important contributions to EA, and whenever possible we retrain or relocate employees to new roles. Streamlining our operations will help ensure EA is bringing the best next-generation games to players around the world.”

These layoffs and closures were expected in the wake of former CEO John Riccitiello’s resignation last month. In his departure letter to the company, Riccitiello wrote, “My decision to leave EA is really all about my accountability for the shortcomings in our financial results this year. It currently looks like we will come in at the low end of, or slightly below, the financial guidance we issued to the Street, and we have fallen short of the internal operating plan we set one year ago. And for that, I am 100 percent accountable.”

If you’re a member of an affected team, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

…developing…

JoystiqLayoffs hit EA, company ‘not disclosing specific teams impacted’ originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Microsoft Studios creative director Adam Orth no longer with company

April 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Adam Orth, the Microsoft Studios creative director who caused a stir among consumers last week by tweeting his opinions on “always-on” devices, is no longer a Microsoft employee, according to “two sources” speaking with Polygon.

Last week, Microsoft publicly apologized for Orth’s comments, saying that “this person is not a spokesperson for Microsoft, and his personal views do not reflect the customer centric approach we take to our products or how we would communicate directly with our loyal consumers.”

We have reached out to Microsoft for a statement on the situation and will update this story if we learn more.

JoystiqReport: Microsoft Studios creative director Adam Orth no longer with company originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Company of Heroes 2 beta goes live April 2nd

April 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

SEGA has announced today that Company of Heroes 2 will be running an exclusive, early access beta which will go live April 2nd. The closed beta will only be for eligible pre-order customers only and a second beta phase for a larger audience will be available in the coming weeks.

Beta testers will get access to six maps with 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 competitive gameplay, and play either alone or with teammates against the AI. Players also get the first 40 levels of progression and will get to customize their loadouts with the new Army Customizer.

Greg Wilson, Producer of Company of Heroes 2, commented, “We are excited to be able to launch the closed beta for Company of Heroes 2. We invite our fans to help us test and balance the game prior to launch, as well as see the changes we’ve already made since the Alpha test in December.”

Company of Heroes 2 was set to release March 12 of this year, but that date has now been moved to June 25th.


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EA Brings Home Second Consecutive “Worst Company In America” Award

April 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

I think it's safe to say that Peter Moore is not currently dancing around the EA offices to "We are the Champions." His company has had a rough 2013 so far, and today isn't making it any better. The voting in the final round of Consumerist's "Worst Company in America" competition has wrapped up and, for the second year running, EA has won the not-so-coveted "Golden Poo Award."

In their wrap-up post declaring the SimCity publisher the "victor," Consumerist cited a number of factors contributing to EA's triumph over its final opponent, Bank of America. Writer Chris Morran hones in on three points: failure to provide a product people want, high prices (especially with the publisher pocketing in-game advertising money), and subpar support of their titles. Consumerist also takes another shot at Moore's attempt at an apology and rationalization via a published statement last week, reiterating the fallacies and inaccuracies put forward by EA's chief operating officer.

This year has already seen the fumbled launch of the high profile SimCity, the departure of CEO John Riccitiello due to poor financial performance, the closure of Visceral Montreal prior to the release of Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel, and a Battlefield 4 reveal that has met critical skepticism (largely due to bombastic claims that don't align with the footage shown at GDC). Furthermore, EA was nowhere to be found at February's PlayStation 4 event in New York City. Rumors are circulating that the publisher has struck a deal with Microsoft. Until the curtain is pulled back on the next Xbox (rumored for the end of May), we won't know for certain.

[via Consumerist]

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