ALPHA | CHART
THE DEALS MINDFUSE SIGNS ENGINE Californian developer MindFuse has signed up to use Simutronics’ HeroEngine online game platform for its ‘advanced-casual’ MMO Gatheryn. Having chosen the toolset, Mindfuse’s team, which has a head count of just thirty people, expects to release its game in the first half of 2009. www.midnfusegames.com MASSIVE As well as appointing JJ Richards as a new boss, Microsoft’s advertising company has signed an 18-game deal with Activision to include in-game advertising in titles like Guitar Hero: World Tour. A second deal with Blizzard has been signed to assist with Battle.net which will not include in-game ads. www.massiveincorporated.com EA ACQUIRES J2MSOFT J2MSoft, the free-to-play specialist, has signed a deal with EA to offer the American publisher an in-road into the highly lucrative Asian online gaming sector. “This is a significant step in EA's strategic plan,” said the publisher’s president in Asia Jon Neirmann. www.electronicarts.co.uk ACONY SNAPS UP PROFX Independent studio Acony has confirmed that it is using Allegorithmic’s procedural texturing tool ProFX in the development of its upcoming free-to-play online multiplayer shooter Parabellum. “By using ProFX we could increase the amount of high-quality content and optimise the download size,” said Acony’s Frank Trigub. www.acony-games.xg1.net CRAZYBOX AQUIRED NDOORS, the developer of Atlantica Online, has aquired fellow Korean company CrazyBox Entertainment. The move will allow NDOORS to use Crazybox’s FPS technology in forthcoming shooter releases. www.ndoors.com/eng BLUE FANG GAMES North American independent developer Blue Fang Games has opted to use Hansoft’s production managemnent toolset. Hansoft CEO Patric Palm said his company were ‘excited’ to be providing Blue Fang with its technology. www.bluefang.com
DEVELOPER CHART (26TH OCTOBER TO 22ND NOVEMBER)
1 LAST MONTH
LAST MONTH
LAST MONTH
20 | DECEMBER 2008/JANUARY 2009
76
BEST SELLING GAME: MARIO KART WII Despite some of Nintendo’s early DS and Wii titles continuing to occupy the chart, the developer has had to endure an unheard of two months away from the top spot. Perhaps Wii Fit has become a victim of its own success and the entire nation has become supremely healthy superbeings.
Wii
EPIC GAMES
BEST SELLING GAME: GEARS OF WAR 2 The finger of blame often hovers in the face of the Xbox 360, pointing at the sheer volume of butch space marine-themed shooters. Regardless, it is obvious that Microsoft fans can’t get enough of gravelly voices and oversized body armour, as Epic’s Gears of War 2 goes a long way towards proving.
XB360
EA CANADA
BEST SELLING GAME: FIFA 09 This year EA Canada has proved that FIFA can wow the critics as well as the retailers, having breathed new life into the long-running series. In the ongoing extra time battle between FIFA and Pro Evo, it seems that this year EA’s tribute to the beautiful game has taken the lead from its rival.
1
5 LAST MONTH
NINTENDO
61
4
CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR
PS3, XB360, PC, Wii
2
3
BEST SELLING GAME:
With Infinity Ward developing the previous Call of Duty to great acclaim, the pressure was on Treyarch to follow up with a release to rival Modern Warfare’s slick game design. Defying cynical gamers’ expectations, the studio has obviously satisfied the public, keeping Nintendo from the top spot.
70
2 LAST MONTH
TREYARCH
PS3, PS2, PSP, PC, Wii, XB360
BETHESDA
BEST SELLING GAME:
FALLOUT 3
Pushing its creator an astonishing 71 places up the chart, Bethesda’s Fallout 3 has clearly captured the imagination of the game buying public. As the studio’s first title since the most recent Elder Scrolls game, the post-apocalyptic shooter gives the American company reason to feel confident.
PS3, PC, XB360