"gaming" articles
Microsoft Corp is about to jump back into the TV game. Only this time, it may aim at cable, satellite and phone companies.The software powerhouse has held talks with TV networks to create a new subscription-based TV service on its Xbox gaming console that would rival efforts by Google Inc , Apple Inc and Netflix Inc , sources told Reuters.
Microsoft's latest explorations after investments in MSNBC and WebTV come as efforts to redefine living room entertainment have...
VUDU's online VoD service is now available on the PlayStation 3. Video-on-demand through the connected game console is currently the largest revenue generator for online video today. We estimate that 10% of all U.S. broadband households are using - at least occasionally - a connected game console to watch premium VoD such as movies. This is generating - today - up to $300 million in premium movie VoD revenues at the game console.
Viacom Inc . the New York-based entertainment company is preparing to unload its Harmonix videogame division, maker of the popular "Rock Band" line of games. Viacom reported profit for the latest quarter fell 59% after it took $260 million in write-downs related to Harmonix, which has long been a drag on the bottom line.
Harmonix has been on the block since September, and Viacom is now in deal talks with both videogame companies and private-equity firms, according to people...
Here's another offering in the wireless PC-to-TV solution category. The IGUGU Gamecore includes a transmitter/receiver to provide connection between the computer and television, and IGUGU has also designed a ten-foot user interface for PC applications on the TV, particularly gaming. ASUS' WiCast product is another one on the list.
The gaming business is undergoing a major shift away from subscription models as virtual items become a larger part of its economy, reaching almost $6 billion worldwide in microtransaction revenues by 2015, according to international research firm Parks Associates.
Gamers are investing real money in virtual items in Farmville, World of Warcraft, and other online games, to the point they are filing lawsuits to establish ‘ownership’ of these virtual goods. The enormous...
Key Numbers
* Worldwide residential broadband subscriptions are expected to grow from 530 million at year-end 2010 to more than 730 million by year-end 2015.
* Worldwide households with home networks will grow from 50% of all broadband Internet households to nearly two-thirds by year-end 2015.
* Global households with residential gateways are expected to grow from 130 million at year-end 2010 to more than 300 million by year-end 2015.
* Potential connected home revenues for...
Avanquest Software and SoftAtHome have partnered to bring universal parental control capabilities to networking devices. With SoftAtHome's focus on residential gateway and set-top box software, this feature will apply parental controls to different types of home network devices, including smartphones, connected television, tablet computer, game console, and more.
We are already seeing strong uptake in broadband service provider-deployed parental controls software in Europe. From...
LOVEFiLM's streamed content (about 5,000 titles) has been available on Sony BRAVIA® and Samsung Internet @ TV HDTVs and Blu-ray players in the U.K.. Now, this content is available on PlayStation 3 game consoles , expanding LOVEFiLM's potential footprint to about three million homes.
LOVEFiLM offers a subscription service starting from £5.99 (€6.80) a month. PlayStation users will be able to access the service via the console’s XMB menu system. Lovefilm is set to launch on...
