MCV519 January 9th 2009 by Intent Media (now Newbay Media Europe)

MCV

THE INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Friday January 9 2009 £3.25

THEY’VE COME FOR BRAINS YOU’LL GIVE THEM BULLETS

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THE MARKET FOR COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAMES

Issue 519 Friday January 9 2008 £3.25

04 Goodbye Woolies

14 2K talks

Zavvi still in search of a buyer as last Woolworths stores shut down

Global 2K President Christoph Hartmann tackles the industry’s biggest issues

06 GAME goes rental

08 US store targets UK

Specialist retailer teams up with SwapGame for LoveFilm-style offer

Retailer GamerDoc ready to launch assault on this side of the Atlantic

05 FIFA 09 hits 2m

11 The best of 2009

EA’s football title could become the most succesful sports game ever

MCV and key industry execs highlight 50 things to look forward to this year

EVERY BUYER ● EVERY BRANCH ● EVERY INDIE ● EVERY WEEK

INCORPORATING

Nintendo drives UK’s £4bn bonanza in ‘08 Wii and DS account for half of £1.9bn software sales ● Hardware and peripherals up their game to take £1.97bn by Michael French THE UK games industry is toasting a record year – with exclusive data obtained by MCV showing that evergreen Nintendo titles helped the UK market generate an astounding £4 billion in 2008. That makes it the biggest year ever for UK software revenues. Indeed, annual ELSPA/Gfk-ChartTrack data indicates that the market has

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and the platform holder was responsible for much of the market’s overall expansion, Gfk-ChartTrack director Dorian Bloch told MCV. “The two lead formats in terms of software sold are Wii first, closely followed by the DS,” he said. “40m units of software sold on those platforms, much of that driven by those games which appeal to new market demographics.”

GTA, COD and FIFA all still sell in huge numbers - but the new headline games appeal to 40 year-olds. Dorian Bloch, Gfk-ChartTrack

doubled in size in just under five years. Eighty-three million software units were sold in 2008, worth £1.9bn alone – whilst 9.3m handheld and console hardware units were sold, worth some £1.422bn. Peripheral sales also spiked significantly, up 82 per cent in value to £549m. Half of all software revenues came on Nintendo formats –

MARKET BREAKDOWN Total Market Value ...........£4.034bn Console Hardware..............£1.422bn ...............▲ 14% Peripherals ...........................£549m ..................▲ 82%

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“A few years ago we’d have been talking about more targeted games like GTA, FIFA and Call of Duty being the big sellers. They still sell in huge numbers, but the headline games now are titles which can also appeal to 40 year-olds as well as traditional gamers.” The ‘Nintendo effect’ has created evergreen titles that sell year-round. Brain Training has been a permanent fixture in the

Software: .............................£1.905bn...............▲ 23% (Wii) ........................................£481m....................▲ 112% (DS)..........................................£481m....................▲ 17% (360) ......................................£443m...................▲ 38% (PS3) .......................................£334m...................▲ 115%

charts since it arrived in 2007 – and elsewhere more recent release Mario Kart Wii has rarely been out of the top ten since its arrival in April 2008. In the 2008 Top 10 listed by SKU (below), the top five games were titles from Nintendo formats – all released by April 2008 at the latest.

2008 TOP 10 - INDIVIDUAL SKUS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Mario Kart Wii ..............................................................Wii ...................................Nintendo Wii Fit...............................................................................Wii ...................................Nintendo Wii Play............................................................................Wii ...................................Nintendo Dr Kawashima's Brain Training .............................DS....................................Nintendo Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games .................Wii ...........................................Sega GTA IV .............................................................................360 ..................................Rockstar GTA IV .............................................................................PS3 ..................................Rockstar Call of Duty: World at War ......................................360 ................................Activision Carnival Funfair ...........................................................Wii ...............................................2K FIFA 09 ...........................................................................360 .............................................EA

Nintendo format titles also put on a good showing in the 2008 All Formats Top 10. “These products that sell consistently are a relatively new phenomenon, but it will continue,” predicted Bloch. A £549m explosion in the peripherals market – up 82 per cent on last year – was

predominantly driven by mass market music games Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Guitar Hero III was the 12th bestselling game in the 2008 All Formats list. “A lot of the peripheral growth is down to the music segment, which also has wide appeal,” explained Bloch.

2008 TOP 10 - ALL FORMATS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

FIFA 09 ...............................................................................................................................EA Mario Kart Wii .......................................................................................................Nintendo GTA IV .......................................................................................................................Rockstar Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games ..................................................................Sega Wii Fit .......................................................................................................................Nintendo Call of Duty: World at War .............................................................................Activision Wii Play ....................................................................................................................Nintendo Dr Kawashima's Brain Training ......................................................................Nintendo Lego Indiana Jones ............................................................................................LucasArts Carnival Funfair ................................................................................................................2K

PERSONNEL 18 RETAIL BIZ 19 NEW RELEASES 24 HIGH STREET 26 CHARTS 28

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NEWS

[LEADER] BOOM TIME SO, AS we accurately predicted in a pre-Christmas report on mcvuk.com, the UK games industry has enjoyed another record breaking year. A figure of £4bn total market revenues with the market twice as big as it was in 2002 is to be widely celebrated. However, it will be no surprise if some doommonger soon proclaims the Golden Age of 2007/2008 over as consumers tighten their belts. So fingers crossed that the new demographics attracted to video games have been drawn in for good, and don’t see it as a disposable entertainment source. During the two-week holiday at Christmas, I sunk around 50 hours into Fallout 3. Tragic waste of time? Maybe to some – but at £35 for the game, that means just 70p for each hour of play, and I’ll happily pay for more. So here’s hoping that consumers (and those usually quick to criticise the industry) bear this value for money in mind should the economic climate continue to put pressure on spending.

DON’T COUNT SONY OUT YET Given Microsoft was quick to also claim sales victories earlier this week, and Nintendo’s hand in market growth reiterated on the cover, you might be left wondering what this means for Sony. Sure, despite an impressive rise to claim 17 per cent of the software market in 2008, the PS3 has yet to factor greatly in the expansion the trade is celebrating. But despite what the bloggers might want to believe about the PlayStation division being a slaughter-worthy ‘sacred cow’ – as some web reports blathered earlier this week – games is still one of firm’s big money makers, unlike TVs and other goods it is classically known for. So with SCEE specifically doing well for its owner in the sales stakes, any knee-jerk suggestions at this point that a price cut is needed might be ill-founded. Indeed, at a time when pressure on the pound continues to mount, it’s more likely that Sony couldn’t cut the price even if it wanted, and such a move would create problems rather than solve any.

SAVVY REPLACES ZAVVI It wasn’t great timing when Zavvi’s Christmas surprise present to staff was the chain going into administration on Christmas Eve. Our thoughts go out to those 3,000 employees left waiting to find out what happens next. But, er, every cloud… There’s now some prime retail spots available to a savvy retailer, including (as we reveal on the right), the iconic Tottenham Court Road/Oxford Street site. Perfect space for a GAME or GameStation superstore? Or even one of those luxury GameStop concept stores being trialled in the USA… Interested parties should get their applications into a certain Mr Branson ASAP. michael.french@intentmedia.co.uk

EUK still causing strife High Street legend dies as final store shuts ● WH Smith in trouble? by Tim Ingham THE LIGHTS have finally been turned off on Woolworths’ 100-year existence on the UK High Street – as the death of subsidiary EUK continues to cause ructions across the entertainment retail sector. The last remaining Woolworths store was shut down on Tuesday (January 6th)

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of interest we receive and the ongoing trading results of the business.” The entertainment store was forced into administration on December 24th, calling EUK’s demise “too much for the business to cope with”. Ernst & Young have since confirmed that 69 employees – over half of all head office staff – have been made redundant at Zavvi’s West London HQ.

Zavvi’s continuing as a going concern depends on the level of interest we receive and the business’ trading results. Ernst and Young spokesperson

– as fellow retail casualty Zavvi struggled to find a buyer. MCV understands that Zavvi’s administrators Ernst & Young are yet to receive a firm offer for the business – despite seeing significant enquiries. “We’ve had a good level of interest in the Zavvi business,” said an Ernst & Young spokesperson. “Zavvi’s lifespan as a going concern depends on the level

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Zavvi's Irish business is now in provisional liquidation – the Irish equivalent of administration. And things aren’t looking good for WH Smith – which sourced around ten per cent of its entertainment stock from EUK. The Sun reported this week that the chain is ‘running out of hundreds of items’ – with many CDs, games and DVDs out of stock.

Industry positive about 2009 KEY UK industry members have told MCV of their biggest hopes for the next 12 months – and remain positive despite the economic doom and gloom that lead to EUK’s troubles. Themes include defying the ‘credit crunch’, the spread of releases and the rise of PlayStation 3. MD of Sega Europe North Alan Pritchard told MCV: “Sony and PS3 have been very quiet up to now. Nintendo marched on in 2008 and 360 enjoyed a massive three months at the end of the year. There’s a lot more to come from Sony.” Activision UK MD Andrew Brown commented: “I hope

Pritchard (left), Brown (middle) and Morgan (right) have all offered upbeat views on the year ahead for retail and the games industry

that in-home entertainment – and of course video games – proves to be resistant to the economic downturn. “As long as demand continues to grow, the market will eventually adjust to the bad news of retail closures.”

And GAME CEO Lisa Morgan added: “It would be good to see the launch of high quality releases spread throughout the year, alleviating some of the Q4 congestion.” ■ For the full story, turn to page 11.

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as Woolies turns out the lights [PRE ORDERS] ● Significant interest in Zavvi – but no bids for beleaguered entertainment retailer yet A WH Smith spokesperson told MCV: “Any gaps are to be expected following the busy Christmas period, however we are replenishing stock as quickly as possible.” And EUK administrator Deloitte is in hot water with entertainment suppliers, who

are reportedly preparing legal action to claw back millions of pounds of stock. Deloitte offered MCV a “no comment” on the matter when contacted, but has said it is in “constructive talks” with suppliers to ‘realise value from EUK’s inventory’.

TOP 10 KILLZONE 2 PS3 SONY

2. RESIDENT EVIL 5 PS3 ..............................................CAPCOM

WOOLIES LENDERS IN CASH WINDFALL

3. RESIDENT EVIL 5

Woolworths’ lenders are expected to collect millions of pounds in controversial fees following the firm’s collapse. The consortium of secured creditors – which include Bank of Ireland subsidiary Burdale Financial, Barclay’s and Bank Of America – are expected to recover the £385m they lent to Woolworths in February 2008. The Telegraph reported this week that the lenders will also collect millions of pounds in “penalty fees”.

4. FINAL FANTASY XIII

360 ..............................................CAPCOM

PS3........................................SQUARE ENIX

5. ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES 360 ..................................................SEGA

6. RACE PRO 360 ..................................................ATARI

VIRGIN RULES OUT HIGH STREET RETURN

7. GOD OF WAR III Virgin has put paid to any suggestion it will return to High Street retail, after Sir Richard Branson ‘inherited’ seven Zavvi stores this week. MCV can reveal that Branson still holds the leases on Zavvi’s flagship Tottenham Court Road store, the chain’s biggest store in Birmingham and five other retail sites. But despite speculation that Branson would use the sites to bring back Virgin Megastores after 16 months away from the High Street, a Virgin spokesperson told MCV: “We made a conscious effort to get out of High Street retail a couple of years ago and nothing’s changed. We won’t go back. We’ll sub-let these stores to somebody else.”

FIFA surges past 2m UK sales EA IS celebrating a dual Christmas triumph – after FIFA 09 took the official Christmas No.1 spot in the All Formats chart and sailed past two million UK sales. The title returned to the top of the GFK-ChartTrack/ELSPA All Formats Top 40 this week, following a post-Christmas sales jump – and some strategic price promotions at retail. EA UK marketing manager Dan Holman told MCV: “We had a couple of well-timed promotions in place in the run-up to Christmas, but, more importantly, we’ve made an exceptional football game this year which has sold

incredible numbers week on week since release. “We have now sold in excess of two million in the UK making it the fastest selling FIFA title to date.” Looking ahead to the next 12 months, Holman added: “Sales are still very good and we’ll continue to market FIFA 09 throughout the remainder of the football season. We’re confident this will be the bestselling FIFA game to date but we still have some way to go. “We are continuing to work with several Premier and Football League teams so we’ll look to create initiatives around key matches.”

PS3 ..................................................SONY

8. ALAN WAKE 360 ..........................................MICROSOFT

9. TEKKEN 6 PS3 ....................................NAMCO BANDAI

10. STREET FIGHTER IV 360 ..............................................CAPCOM Week ending January 3rd Source: SHOPTO.COM

[MARKET VALUE]

£69.7m 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30

£109.2m

£112.8m

£69.7m

5,014,647 Units

5,415,393 Units

3,498,103 Units

Week Ending December 20th

Week Ending December 27th

Week Ending January 3rd

The latest iteration in the franchise is the fastest selling FIFA to tdate

Total UK Software Sales Source: ELSPA/ChartTrack and Intent Media

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GAME Group launches online rental service Specialist retailer partners with SwapGame for LoveFilm-esque offer by Christopher Dring GAME has unveiled its first foray into the games rental space with its new online service – GAME Rentals. The service was formed in partnership with SwapGame, and allows consumers to borrow two games at a time for a monthly fee. GAME

small subscription each month. Two games can be rented at a time, and when customers post one back to us, another will be sent out to them. “It is a great way to help customers try games out before they buy. GAME.co.uk gives customers every possible choice, so that whichever way they want to get hold of

GAME Rental uses the SwapGame system, which was launched back in 2003. And the firm’s managing director Marc Day is excited by the new partnership: “We’re delighted to be working with GAME and have worked closely with them to deliver a superb consumer offering,” commented Day. “With

Rentals also offers unlimited play time with no late fees. “We spent a lot of time talking to customers, to find out what services they want from us and how we can help them enjoy more games and get great value,” GAME’s online business MD Alex Croft told MCV. “GAME Rentals will allow customers to rent games for a

games, we offer it – be it through home delivery, downloading, renting, ordering online or collecting in store.” “In terms of promotion for the service, we’re currently marketing GAME Rentals to the hundreds of thousands of people who visit GAME.co.uk each day. We are also running targeted email campaigns to drive awareness.”

GAME’s brand presence and our rental expertise, we believe GAME Rentals will be a huge success for the UK games market.” GAME Rentals is set to include the latest blockbuster games as well as classic titles, and will cover the Xbox 360, Xbox, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii and DS consoles.

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GAME Rentals is a great way to help customers try the latest games before they buy for just a small subscription each month. Alex Croft, GAME

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GAME: 01256 784000

Wii Fit could be out of stock this month NINTENDO IS expecting the nation’s post-Christmas health push to drive sales of Wii Fit in January – but has told MCV that there may be stock shortages during the month.

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week’s All Formats list. It currently sits at No. 3 in the dedicated UK Wii chart. And with sales of exercise equipment and DVDs rocketing after the public’s

We are continuing to ship stock into the UK on a weekly basis and are doing all we can to minimise disappointment. Nintendo Spokesperson

The title, which comes with the Wii Balance Board, secured the No. 10 spot in the ChartTrack/ELSPA Christmas top ten chart last month, but slipped to No. 20 in this

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Christmas excesses, many at retail are expecting an uplift in the sales of the innovative fitness title. A Nintendo spokesperson told MCV: “We are expecting

demand for Wii Fit to continue to be strong throughout January as it has been since its launch in April 2008. “As ever we are continuing to ship stock into the UK on a weekly basis and are doing all we can to minimise potential disappointment. “However, despite increasing global production and shipping more product into the market than ever before, we may still have some stock shortages of Wii Fit.” Wii Fit has been a massive hit for Nintendo since it was released last year, and has been a mainstay in the All Formats top ten. The title also continues to garner

FIT SALES: Wii Fit is still a sell out nine months after it was launched

unprecedented PR at a national level. This week, The Daily Mail ran a full feature entitled: ‘How to get fit... with a Nintendo Wii’.

Nintendo’s announcement that it’s launching a Wii video service this year also attracted media attention last week. Nintendo: 01753 483700

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TRADE BULLETIN

Hartmann: ‘Carnival rivals are struggling to shine on Wii’ 2K boss says new casual games would have to fight ‘flood of crappy titles’ to succeed by Tim Ingham THE GLOBAL boss of 2K has predicted that publishers bringing non-licensed games to Wii this year could struggle – as the console’s market is “flooded by crappy titles”. Speaking to MCV, Christoph Hartmann said that his company would find it difficult to secure

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titles and two are hits, they will finance the other eight. “But they forget these eight crappy titles will flood the market and will lead to problems in terms of production – and upset retailers. Also, the consumer will be pissed off because they’ll be confused.” Of 2K’s own success on Wii with Carnival, Hartmann said

There’s far too much stuff in the Wii market and it is a risk not to have well known brands in your games. Christoph Hartmann, 2K

the success it has enjoyed with its Carnival game if it had to release it today. He told MCV: “Where people go wrong in the casual market is that, while the development costs are exploding on the casual side, they’re treating the Wii like the old PC market – making cheap, accessible games. They think if they make ten

OUT 16th JANUARY 2009 PS3, PC-DVD, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS

The Lord of the Rings Conquest allows players to play through a campaign on both ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’ sides of the battles, solo, online and in co-op multiplayer, tackling objectives the way they want.

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that getting the title early to market was key. He added: “Had we released it last week, it would have been much tougher. There’s far too much stuff in the Wii market [now] and it’s hard to shine. While the Wii is the strongest growing console, it’s a risk not to have well known brands in your games.”

CASUAL SENSATION: Carnival Games was a big seller for 2K in 2008

In our exclusive interview, Hartmann also discussed 2K Game’s plans to widen its popular sports portfolio, the industries battle against the

so-called ‘credit crunch’ and the future of its megafranchise, Bioshock. ■ Turn to page 14 to read our Q&A with Christoph Hartmann.

PlayV boasts ‘fantastic’ 2009 line-up UK SUB-DISTRIBUTOR PlayV has unveiled its full first quarter line-up, which the company hopes will build on the ‘solid foundations’ it established during 2008. The company kicks off the year in February with its multiple Mind Your Language DS titles, which will be joined by kids DS games Hello! Pocoyo and Lola and Virginia. February will also see the release of War Leaders: Clash of Nations on PC and B Team: Metal Cartoon Squad for DS.

PlayV has also lined up the multi-platform Real Madrid: The Game for March (set for release on PC, Wii, DS, PSP and PS2), alongside Age of Pirates: City of Abandoned Ships for PC, Away: Shuffle Dungeon for DS, Pool Hall Pro for PC and Wii and Vertigo, which is also due in March for PC and Wii. “We’re very proud of our early 2009 catalogue, which sees a real mix of strong product and fantastic licensing which carry broad appeal,” commented PlayV marketing manager Brian Faller. “The last quarter of 2008 was all about PlayV establishing itself. The first half of 2009 will

COMING SOON: PlayV has lined up a ‘real mix’ of games for the next three months

be about building on solid foundations and delivering great games to the marketplace.” PlayV was formed in July last year as a joint venture between V2.Play and Playlogic, and is responsible for the distribution of both publishers’

OUT 23rd JANUARY 2009 PS3 and Xbox 360

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OUT 13th FEBRUARY 2009 PS3, Xbox 360, PC-DVD

titles in the UK and securing new products independently for the UK, European and North American markets.

Build up your arsenal, command your crew, establish & hold your crime rings. As the Godfather there will be a price on your head and a target on your back, but don’t take it personally. After all, it’s only business.

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ea.com

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US games specialist targets UK Franchise concept GamerDoc prepares to rival Gamestation and GAME as it looks to expand this year by Tim Ingham NORTH America’s fastestgrowing specialist is ready to take on GAME and Gamestation – as it launches its first stores in the UK later this year. GamerDoc, a franchise concept that offers the opportunity to own, develop and operate a retail video games store, was launched in December 2007. President of GamerDoc Jim Belanger told MCV that the firm was looking to recruit existing UK indies – and use their market knowledge to take on the big boys. “We feel very confident that we can take what we have and bring it to your market,” Belanger revealed. “We have two major competitors in GAME there and Gamestop here in the US. “In the UK in particular, GAME has some fine stores – but that can only make us better. Gaming in Europe is only going to outgrow the

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Gaming in Europe is only going to outgrow the United States and we want to be part of that. Jim Belanger, GamerDoc

United States and we want to be part of that.” Belanger told MCV that the company was talking to

GamerDoc’s Jim Belanger (inset) reckons that the firm’s store layout and design can cater to both casual and hardcore audiences

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interested parties in the UK and Germany – and expected to launch its first store in 2009 or the start of 2010.

He added: “We’re looking for the right people to partner with or to franchise. Once we’ve built one store, we’d look to build five or ten more pretty quickly. “The biggest difference between us and GAME and Gamestop is what happens to

the gamer when they walk into a store. We see a very clear distinction between the hardcore gamer and the casual gamer and we cater to each differently. Sometimes their knowledge is not as high.” GamerDoc: (+001) 888426-5576

City Interactive plans to look beyond PC this year CITY INTERACTIVE has told MCV it will enter the console and handheld markets this year in a move to further grow its business. The PC specialist is currently preparing its debut DS release, Sushi Academy, due in

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console sector. To date we have been known solely as a PC games publisher. The launch of this title will elevate us to a new level and that will continue throughout 2009.” Harding described the release as a “natural

Consoles will form an integral part of our future as we are adapting to market changes and trends in the industry.

Leonard Harding, City Interactive

February. Further console and handheld releases are to be expected as the year progresses. Speaking to MCV, the publisher’s UK sales manager Leonard Harding said: “This will be our first foray into the

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progression” of the company’s business as City Interactive seeks to evolve as a publisher, bringing their products to a wider audience, while still supporting its established audience on the PC.

City Interactive’s first DS title arrives next month

“We have seen the success of formats like the DS and Wii, and it is only natural that we should want to be a part of it and share in the success that comes with releasing products on these formats,” he said. “Consoles will form an integral part of our future as we are adapting to market changes and trends in the games industry, which consoles and handhelds are the focal point of. It has been a phenomenal past year for that sector and some amazing games have been released on those formats. It is our aim to bring games to this market that are not only successful but also bring enjoyment to the consumer.” City Interactive: 01908 843637

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Capcom expansion drive kicks off as part of ‘strongest ever’ Q1 Key releases land in February and March ● Japanese firm growing European team by Christopher Dring RESIDENT EVIL 5 and Street Fighter IV headline a starstudded Q1 line-up for Capcom, as the firm plans to add new recruits to its European operations. The line-up also includes 360 and PS3 title Bionic Commando and the Wii edition of Dead Rising. “It’s definitely going to be a strong quarter for us, maybe our strongest ever,” explained senior marketing manager Michael Pattison, adding that he hopes sales of core games like Capcom’s will buck any potential downturn in consumer spending. “The industry isn’t immune to what’s happening in the economy. People’s disposal income will be cut and they’re going to be more discerning about their purchases. Core games are perhaps better placed than those targeting a more casual audience, as core gamers

Street Fighter IV arrives at retail on February 20th, while Resident Evil 5 hits on March 13th

[IN BRIEF] MICROSOFT: Xbox 360 enjoyed its biggest sales period in history this Christmas, with hardware sales almost doubling yearon-year. Over eight million units have been sold across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to date – with 28m consoles sold globally. NINTENDO: The Wii manufacturer will launch a video distribution service through the home console following a deal with Japanese ad agency Denetsu. No plans have currently been made to bring the service to the UK.

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Resident Evil is going to be the biggest title in the series to date, reaching the widest user base in its history. Michael Pattison, Capcom

will obviously purchase more games than a casual gamer. “Our hopes for our Q1 lineup are very high indeed.

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Resident Evil is by all accounts going to be the biggest title in the series to date, reaching the widest user base in its history.”

Capcom also hopes the lineup can attract talent to work at the publisher in 2009: “We’re always looking to bring strong talent on board,” added Pattison. “We’re still looking to expand when the opportunity and time is right. With an everstronger line-up in 2009 we’re certainly well positioned to continue to expand.” Capcom: 020 8846 2566

EEK W E H T F O N CAMPAIG N K COLLECTIO BOO C I S S A L C 0 0 1

The final release of 2008 introduced gamers to some true literary classics, and the firm backed the game with a big Christmas marketing push that will continue deep into 2009…

Sponsored by

Nintendo kicked off the launch of 100 Classic Book Collection with a three-week long advertising push. However, the firm plans to prolong sales with continued advertising well into the New Year. TELEVISION The main part of Nintendo’s campaign started on TV, with an intensive three-week campaign beginning late December and running through to the middle of January. The creative shows off the authors that appear in the collection as well as the software’s

KONAMI: Metal Gear Solid producer Hideo Kojima revealed his Japanese studio Kojima Productions will undergo a revamp in 2009 in a bid to better compete with developers in the West. SONY: Analyst firm Nielsen revealed the most played console of 2008 in the US was the PS2, accounting for 31.7 per cent of the country’s total game time and outperforming its next gen rivals. Xbox 360 placed second, followed by Wii. EA: Combined sales for titles under the publisher’s partnership with veteran toymaker Hasbro have exceeded two million units globally. All the Hasbro games, including NERF NStrike, Littlest Pet Shop and Hasbro Family Game Night were released in Q4 2008.

functionality (such as changing text size). The first wave of ads started appearing from Christmas Day to capitalise on the high viewing figures. IN-STORE To complement the television activity, a variety of in-store materials have also been released. The materials will include display units mimicking a shelf of books, counter top displays, lama standee and life-size standees of a hundred books stacked high. The point of sale will also feature the imagery of Ronan Keating enjoying the game.

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2009 HIGHLIGHTS

50 things to look out for in

2008 was a year filled with top new games, record breaking sales and high drama. MCV provides 50 reasons why 2009 is set to be even better…

2009… 1: THE RETURN OF HALO Two Halo titles are set to bookend 2009. Ensemble’s Halo Wars is due on February 27th, whilst Bungie’s Halo ODST will arrive in time for Christmas. Both games are certain to dominate sales at retail. 2: MORE GRAND THEFT AUTO Two GTA IV 360 downloadable packs are sure to boost Live point card sales, whilst Chinatown Wars hits DS on March 20th. 3: BEST BUY IS COMING The US giant will finally land in the UK with help from The Carphone Warehouse. 7: RESIDENT EVIL 5 Michael Pattison, Capcom UK senior marketing director says: “I’m looking forward to peace in the Middle East, Newcastle signing Asprilla as manager and 2009’s biggest game – Resident Evil 5.” 5: THE WII GETS HARDCORE Some may argue that core gamers were under-represented on Wii in 2008.

However, with Sin and Punishment, Mad World, The Conduit and a host of unannounced Nintendo projects, 2009 is on course to turn that all around.

10: FIFA 10 VS. PES 2010 EA and Konami go head-to-head again. FIFA won last year, but never rule out PES from staging a dramatic come-back.

6: GHOSTBUSTERS CALL IN Did Activision Blizzard make a mistake in letting this one go? Atari seems to think so. Look forward to this in June.

11: MCV AWARDS 2009 This year’s Awards will be better than ever, with new categories that will give the UK’s top stores more chances to win.

7: PS3 MARKET SURGE? Alan Pritchard, Sega Europe North MD says:“They’ve been very quiet up until now. Nintendo have marched on this year, and 360 has had a massive three months. There’s a lot more to come from Sony.” 8. THE DSI COMETH The big hardware launch of 2009 is set to hit shelves in the spring. 9: BIOSHOCK RETURNS The follow up to 2K’s 2007 smash hit is due in the fourth quarter, and is certain to sell by the bucket load.

12: WII GETS A REBOOT Wii Sports Resort could be the biggest game of 2009, and the bundled Wii MotionPlus is sure to be the next Wii evolution. Expect them in the spring. 13: THE SIMS 3 ARRIVES The third in the 100 million unit selling mega franchise hits shelves in March.

15: DEVELOP CONFERENCE 2009 The UK's biggest gathering of developers comes round again on July 14th. 16: MODERN WARFARE TO RETURN World at War may have dominated the charts over Christmas, but expect the return to the popular modern setting to do even better at the end of the year. 17: E3 BACK TO ITS BEST? The glitz and glamour of E3 returns to the Los Angeles Convention Centre from June 2nd – 4th. 18: XBOX 360 TURNS FOUR 2009 may be its fourth year, but the 360 isn’t slowing in its old age. Expect new NXE features, big triple-A releases and an increased mass market focus.

14: EMERGING MARKETS Rod Cousens, Codemasters CEO says: “This year I hope retailers and publishers establish a framework to co-exist and grow the industry. Another hope is the escalation of emerging markets.”

19: INDIE REVOLUTION Some independents maybe struggling, but the more savvy store managers are looking to grow in 2009. CHIPS promises exciting new developments for the year, and Grainger Games is already opening more stores in the North of England.

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2009 HIGHLIGHTS 20: IDEF 2009 The increasingly popular European trade show returns to Cannes on June 30th. 21: APB ARRIVES Colin Macdonald, Realtime Worlds Studio Manager says: “Our New Year’s Resolutions are to put the finishing touches to our online title APB, see it through one of the biggest game launches of 2009, and contribute to proving that gaming is a formidable industry.”

29: GRAN TURISMO 5 RACES IN The endlessly popular racer is set to be one of Sony’s big Christmas releases. 30: A DECISION TO BE MADE ON AGE RATINGS David Reeves, CEO and President SCEE says: “PEGI is the way to go. Byron was right – we must put forward the protection of children and, speaking with ISFE, I know they can do it.”

22: LEIPZIG/COLOGNE 2009 The rival German trade fairs run from August 19th to 23rd.

31: ASSASSIN’S CREED 2 Rumours are already flying about one of 2007’s biggest new IPs, hinting at a possible 2009 Christmas release.

23: BEAT ‘EM UPS FIGHT BACK Beat ‘em ups return this year, with Street Fighter IV on February 20th, and Tekken 6 during Q4.

32: BIGGEST EVER Q1? The Sims 3, Resident Evil 5, GTA: Chinatown Wars, Halo Wars, and Sonic are all due over the next three months.

24: BIZZARE’S TWO UNANNOUNCED TITLES Sarah Chudley, Bizarre Creations director says:“Our New Year’s resolutions is to make Activision proud of their new recruits by developing two triple-A titles for them.” 25: TOM CLANCY SERIES EXPANDS Ubisoft has a promising line-up of Tom Clancy titles slated for 2009. These Include air-based combat title Hawx, and gamers can also expect to see something of Splinter Cell: Conviction 26: GAMESTOP COMING? Many top industry personnel feel it’s just a matter of time before GameStop begins to make serious waves in the UK market. Could 2009 be the year?

33: STAR WARS: OLD REPUBLIC PC sector rejoice! A Star Wars MMO from the talented team at Bioware that could even give World of Warcraft a run for its money is due later in the year. 34: RETAIL TO BENEFIT FROM MMO GAMING... A series of big MMO titles are scheduled for retail in 2009, including the release of Football Manager Live (due January 23rd), Eve Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic and Champions Online. 35: RISE OF THE IPHONE With big name titles, such as Metal Gear Solid Touch, the iPhone could be a real contender to the DS’ crown in 2009. 36: NO MORE CLUTTER

27: CODEMASTERS DRIVES ON Codemasters’ off-road racer Colin Mcrae: Dirt 2 and its new F1 title are due this year, and both are certain to be big hits.

Martin Defries, MD and COO of Rising Star Games says: “I hope to see the clutter of ‘me too’ products vanish and make way for original DS and Wii games.”

28: THE NOT-SO FINAL FANTASY The legendary Square Enix RPG series lands on PS3 and Xbox 360 later this year.

37: BATMAN SWOOPS IN Eidos’ Batman: Arkham Asylum is set to land on consoles later this year.

38: SEGA’S FIRST HALF EXTRAVAGANZA Sega’s got a huge first half line-up, filled with new IP and core releases. Games include: The Conduit, Mad World, Empire: Total War, Football Manager Live, Aliens: Colonial Marines, Alpha Protocol, House of the Dead: Overkill, Stormrise, Sega Megadrive Collection and Sonic and the Black Knight. 39: RED FACTION: GUERRILLA The third in the classic Red Faction franchise hits PS3, Xbox 360 and PC this quarter. 40: PS3 PRICE CUT? Could SCEE bow to retail, consumer and economic pressure and cut the price of its PlayStation 3 console? Leading industry analysts seem to think so, potentially giving the format a boost during 2009.

41: MORE EVENLY SPREAD RELEASES Lisa Morgan, GAME CEO says: “It would be good to see the launch of high quality releases spread throughout the year, alleviating some of the Q4 congestion.” 42: ATARI’S RESURGENCE Following the appointment of Phil Harrison and David Gardner, Atari has got a line-up worth getting excited about. Title due this year include: Eve Online, Tekken 6, Ghostbusters, Afro Samurai, Race Pro, Ready 2 Rumble, The Chronicles of Riddick, The Witcher: Rise Of The White Wolf and Family Ski. 43: MORE LAYTON? Last year’s Professor Layton was a sell out at retail. So expect the second and third games (which are already out in Japan) to head to the UK soon. 44: DSI WARE Following in the footsteps of WiiWare comes its DS equivalent, which is set to launch alongside the DSi – providing new opportunities for developers.

45: INCREASED AWARENESS FOR GAMES Christoph Hartmann, 2K President says: “It’s important that the industry keeps growing in the public awareness. We should have worldwide recognition as a major industry that makes major money. We should have more respect. I still feel it’s not the case within the entertainment industry. When you walk into Hollywood, you still feel they think we’re the toy guys. They forget we’re dealing with budgets that are equally as large as theirs – and that we’re actually more successful.” 46: MORE MUSIC 2008 saw the worlds of music and games grow closer together, and expect that to continue this year, with Guitar Hero: Metallica and Disney’s Ultimate Band.

47: TONY HAWK REVAMP Activision Blizzard’s Tony Hawk’s franchise returns this year with a brand new control system. 48. THE BEATLES HIT CONSOLES The Fab Four are set to enter the world of video games following a collaboration between MTV Networks, Harmonix and Apple Corp. 49: EA’S NEW IP After the success of Dead Space, Mirror’s Edge and Spore, Electronic Arts will continue its commitment to new IP in 2009, including the release of the promising Dante’s Inferno. 50. DEFYING THE ECONOMY Andrew Brown, Activision UK MD says: “I hope that in-home entertainment and of course video games – proves to be resistant to the economic down turn. As long as demand continues to grow, the market will eventually adjust to the bad news of retail closures.”

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FRIDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2009 F.E.A.R 2: PROJECT ORIGIN software © 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Developed by Monolith Productions, Inc. Monolith and the Monolith Logo are trademarks of Monolith Productions, Inc. F.E.A.R is a trademark of Vivendi Games, Inc. and is used only to identify the product. No sponsorship or endorsement by Vivendi Games should be inferred from the use of that mark. Microsoft, Windows, the Windows Vista Start button, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies, and ‘Games for Windows’ and the Windows Vista Start button logo are used under license from Microsoft. “ ” and “PLAYSTATION” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PLAYSTATION®3 system – online access requires broadband Internet service and a wireless access point or LAN. Certain limitations apply to Wi-Fi connectivity. User is responsible for Internet service fees. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. F.E.A.R 2: PROJECT ORIGIN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WB SHIELD: ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s09)

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MCV INTERVIEW CHRISTOPH HARTMANN, PRESIDENT, 2K

Talking Take Two 2K’s global president Christoph Hartmann is looking forward to a stellar 2009. Here, he speaks to Tim Ingham about the state of the industry… How do you think the industry will be affected long-term by the socalled ‘credit crunch’? Traditionally, when the economy does badly, the entertainment market grows. I don’t see why it should be any different this time. The recession is coming, but it’s not only about the sad situation of people worrying if they can pay their mortgage – it’s people wondering if they can still afford to spend £500 to go crazy in Ibiza twice a year. People spend less than a tenth of that on a video game that will last for hours in their own home. Cost-wise for a decent amount of hours of entertainment, it’s cheap. Brutally cheap. The recession shouldn’t have too much of an impact.

something new. And we got Nintendo’s support, which was also a factor. The promise of the title is also straightforward: ‘Carnival’ tells you exactly what’s in the box. Sure, it doesn’t have a movie licence or Mario; but everyone can imagine what it does in a nanosecond just by looking at it. Would you have had that success if it came out six months later? Had we released it last week, it would have been much tougher. There’s far too much stuff in the Wii market and it’s hard to shine. While the Wii’s the strongest growing console, it’s a risk not to have well known brands in your games. If you’re a girl that goes to a nightclub at 11pm, it’s easy to shine. If you go at 2am when all the models are there, it’s much harder. You’ll have to get up on the loudspeaker and dance a little to create some attention.

As a third-party publisher, what do you make of the Nintendo software market? The reality is, the Nintendo market always gets super overcrowded. The only Wii publishers make ten titles five titles that do well on their machines are the top and think that if two are hits, five titles – and there’s a it’s okay. But their crappy good chance three of games flood the market. them are first party. Christoph Hartmann, 2K Where people go wrong in the casual market is that, while the development costs are exploding on the Do you see iPod Touch as a rival to casual side, they’re treating the Wii like DS and PSP – as Apple has claimed the old PC market – making very cheap, it can be? accessible games. They think if they We’re very much a multiplatform make ten titles and two are hits, they developer – so we’ll give any system a will finance the other eight. But they try. With the iPod, we look at the forget the other eight crappy titles will commercial opportunity, but realistically. flood the market and will lead to We’ll give it away to other people to do problems in terms of production and for us, or we’ll do it in China to give it a manufacturing – and upset retailers. The try. We could allow one of our premium consumer will be pissed off because studios to give it a go, and I’m sure they’ll be confused. How many Cooking product development would be very Mamas or pony games does the excited. But it would be a bit of a waste consumer really need? of time. Sid Meier’s very excited by it, for instance, but it’s not a clever use of Carnival has been a great success his time. I don’t think it will become on Wii. What’s its secret? serious competition to DS. It’s still Getting it early to the market. It was cheaper to get a handheld than an iPod also decently innovative and did Touch. And at some point you cannot

“

have a machine that does everything. You can watch movies on it, but they’re a little bit too small. You can browse the internet or write emails, but it’s fiddly and by no means perfect. If Apple really want to go up against Nintendo and Sony, they need their own gaming device. Are they capable of it? Sure. They’re adventurous, they have balls and a great marketing power. But I don’t think the iPod can do it. Do you have any plans to take the 2K Sports brand into genres more loved by Europeans? We need a real European title to grow in that region – we focus a lot on US sports at the moment. We’re always willing to try things. We do the best tennis game on the market, which does okay in the UK. We tried to do boxing, but it didn’t do that well. But at least we gave it a try. On snowboarding, we did Amped, which did well and had good scores. But after the last one, we got scared about whether the market numbers were as high as we needed. We felt we’d leave it for later. Now others are making snowboarding games, we might go back and do it again.

”

What about a football game? That’s the one sport you need to really break the European market. There are two great games out there – both are really respected and crown jewels for the companies involved. How many people tried to have another football game? Everyone – and I think everyone got burnt. Even having another football manager game here would be very hard. The last thing I’d do is burn a gazillion dollars on what’s already out. But if anyone in our group comes up with a good, innovative idea for the football market, we’d definitely be willing to do it. Five years ago, if someone came to us with the idea of a street football game

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MCV 09/01/09 15

MCV INTERVIEW CHRISTOPH HARTMANN, PRESIDENT, 2K we might have done it. The success of the street football game shows it’s possible to do something new and successful in that genre. Are there any genres in gaming that you feel 2K should have more of a presence in? We want anywhere between five to eight IPs that are very franchisable and give us steady profit. It’s all about good ideas. We will keep building. The video games market has made it harder to come up with a new genre, but we’re always ready to do that.

“

Star Wars is a fight of good against evil, just like Bioshock. If we spin it the right way, we could do six parts. But we have to be careful not to cash in. Christoph Hartmann, 2K

”

TOUGH TALKER: 2K boss Christoph Hartmann isn’t one to mince his words when discussing industry matters

Are you confident that Bioshock can become a monster franchise that can go on for decades? Some of the mega-franchises we talk about only lasted ten years because companies took five years to ship a game. Look at Duke Nukem. It’s been a great franchise for 20 years, because it seems like it’s been in development for 20 years. For Bioshock, because it’s so story driven, the question obviously arises: how long can you do it without turning into The Matrix? The first Matrix was great, the second one was weird and the third one, you thought: “Who [making this] is on crack and who isn’t?”. But, then again, look at Star Wars. It’s a fight between good and evil, just like Bioshock. If we spin it the right way and get the right twist of innovation, we can make six parts of it. But we have to be careful not to cash in. I won’t name the company, but there was a great racing game years ago. They brought it back year-on-year. If you look at the scores, it’s hard to believe what they’ve done to it. It’s upsetting, actually.

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PROFILE: MAJESTY HOUSE

The firm has recently moved into new custombuilt premises to house its growing team

Majesty’s Secret Services Majesty House is possibly not a company most would recognise, yet its Midas value publishing label will be known by many retailers. And its Ghostlight and Laughing Jackal divisions are increasingly making a name for themselves. In honour of Midas’ tenth anniversary, MCV takes a look at the firm and what it has to offer… IF YOU WERE to ask most people in the industry to name a UK publisher which has just celebrated its tenth anniversary, that’s still independent, has a growing development studio, achieved a top three hit on PSP last year and announced a major licensing agreement with ITV, they’d be hard-pushed to name the company. Indeed, if you were to even name the parent company, Majesty House, many people would still struggle to put a finger on the business. But the Midas brand of budget games has become a staple of many games and entertainment retailers over the past decade, with the brand notching up sales of over 11 million units on the PlayStation format alone. The company’s Ghostlight label, meanwhile, has made great strides since

it was established two years ago, last summer achieving a significant hit with PSP title International Athletics. And the most recent addition to the group, the Laughing Jackal development studio, continues to grow – with further expansion planned for the production team over the coming year. MAJESTY HOUSE

The holding company for Midas, Ghostlight and Laughing Jackal, Majesty House is privately owned and, boasting of a strong financial position, the company has just completed a move to purpose-built and wholly-owned new offices in Braintree, Essex. With 20,000 square feet of space and state of the art facilities, the new building also gives all three divisions the opportunity to grow.

“In the last 18 months the Majesty House group has nearly doubled its headcount, bringing in new talent in all departments,” points out VP and head of sales Sam Collins. “Majesty House will always be on the look out for exceptional people to add value to the group and this will continue into 2009 – going against the current market trend of downsizing. “We’re acutely aware of the current and expected future difficulties within both our own sector and the economy as a whole. Both the management of, and investors in, Majesty House are fully prepared to guide the group through these difficult times. “Our plans for 2009 and beyond are well-rounded and robust. We already have our release schedule for 2009 put in place with our SKU count up slightly on 2008. We have proven winners and

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PROFILE: MAJESTY HOUSE

The Majesty House team – which includes labels Midas and Ghostlight plus development team Laughing Jackal – has doubled its headcount in the last 18 months

Collins (left) and Morgan (right) are confident that the firm can keep building on a decade of success

exciting new ranges that will give us the point of difference in the marketplace. We also have the scope to take advantage of new opportunities that may arise so we can react with speed to maximise their potential.” MIDAS TOUCH

Having just celebrated its tenth anniversary, the Midas label is looking to build on its success over the past decade, during which time it has published 157 console titles; has enjoyed 17 Top 20 titles; has notched up two number one games; and sold over 11 million units on PlayStation in PAL territories. Not a bad achievement for a brand that specialises in value products. It has also been awarded six Volume Sales Awards from ELSPA/ChartTrack including two Gold awards (200,000 UK sell-through), the only dedicated console budget publisher to reach this level. Understandably, Midas is now refocusing its efforts on the leading formats, including DS, Wii, Xbox 360, PC and – later this year – PS3. Key titles for Midas this year are new additions to the Clever Kids educational line-up, Digitars, plus Read And Play.

“

For 2009 we have proven winners and exciting new ranges that will give us the point of difference in the marketplace. Sam Collins, Majesty House

”

“Clever Kids has been a huge success for Midas since its inception in Q4 2007,” enthuses Collins. “Being the first Curriculum-inspired range of titles on the DS format gave us a fantastic USP. All across Europe retailers supported the range and this success has encouraged us to expand the range with new titles and new formats.” With new additions to the range in Q1 and Q2, the Clever Kids range will boast eight titles for DS and PC and six for Wii. 2009 will see the emergence of a new range of branded games featuring amusing and loveable digital heroes and villains – the Digitars. Designed and created in-house by Lauging Jackal, the team at Midas believes that Digitars is a DS franchise in the making. In addition, tapping into the pre-teens market, Midas will later this year release a new range of storybook and adventures titles for DS. “Taking classic tales and creating an immersive and interactive gaming experience, we believe parents and children alike will find Read And Play a great introductory range to handheld gaming,” says Collins.

important judges into the finished product,” explains Majesty House’s VP head of development Stephen Morgan. “The demographic of the TV series is a perfect match for the two Nintendo formats and, with the recent announcement of a new series commissioned for airing on ITV in Q1, Dancing On Ice The Video Game could be one of the biggest sellers of the first half of the year.” Ghostlight is targeting the hardcore in 2009 with To End All Wars later this year. This gritty, atmospheric WWI first person shooter will be Ghostlight’s first PS3 and Xbox 360 title and has already garnered praise in the specialist games mags with over 40 pages of coverage to date. On the Wii, the label will release International Athletics and Mary King’s Riding School 2 in the first half of 2009. Meanwhile, a new focus for the company will be the iPhone, with the release of International Athletics for the format. “We expect great things from this intuitive platform and will ensure that we use the incredible scope of the format to its best advantage,” says Morgan.

GHOSTLIGHT ILLUMINATES

LAUGHING JACKAL

After a great 2008 Ghostlight is set to further stamp its mark on the European market with an expanded release schedule and several potential chart busters. Top of the list is Dancing on Ice for DS and Wii, which Ghostlight announced late last year and which is set for release in March. It’s the officially licensed game of the hit ITV series, of course, with the 2008 show attracting a huge 14 million viewers, making it the third most watched show of the year. “The show format lends itself perfectly to a video game and Ghostlight will incorporate this and the all-

“Laughing Jackal are on a real high at the moment, having seen their first DS title, Road To Vegas, successfully released in Europe,” boasts Morgan. “Four more projects are well underway, including Mary King’s Riding School 2 on Wii, Digitars on DS, The Big Deal on DS and a conversion of a title for Xbox 360. “There are further plans to expand the team’s production facility to offer a complete production solution for third party publishers. These services will include product conversions, localisation, QA and submissions and creation of printed and marketing materials.”

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EA’S NEED FOR SPEED stood tall in the Indie Charts during the closing days of 2008, rising five places and outperforming other bestsellers such as Call Of Duty: World At War and FIFA 09. The critically-acclaimed DS title Professor Layton and the Curious Village followed shortly after, maintaining its position at No.2, forming the first of two high-ranking Nintendo titles, with Mario Kart Wii just below it. The Xbox 360 and PS3 version of Call Of Duty: World At War are neck-and-neck at No.4 and 5 respectively, pushing Wii Play

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“This week sees a number or re-entries, and all three major football releases for Q4 2008 are in the upper end of the Indie Charts.” down to No.6. Both versions of Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training rise in position, while the likes of Gears Of War 2, PES 2009 and Left 4 Dead fall a few places. This week sees a number of re-entries into the Top 20, most notably the Xbox 360, PS3 and PS2 versions of FIFA 09, Christmas No.1 in the All Formats Chart, returning to No.7, No.10 and No.12. All three major football releases for Q4 2008 are in the upper end of the Indie Charts. Also making their comebacks are Fable II at No.11, Quantum Of Solace at No.17 and, more surprisingly, Mario Kart DS at No.14, a game released back in November 2005 – making it the oldest game in the Indie Charts. james.batchelor@intentmedia.co.uk

goes continental this week as we track down FROM THE FRONTLINE MCV Dominik Szaro of Polish indie Gekon… What is life like as a Polish indie? We sell online and in a conventional shop in Wroclaw city. Competition in Wroclaw isn’t strong and I think the people who shop at MediaMarkt, Saturn and EMPIK are paying much more for games because they don’t know about indies such as us. What makes your store successful? In 2004 when we started selling online, there weren’t many sites like ours. It was a simple website I wrote as my MA thesis. A year later, I rented a small office and had my first employee. At first we only sold accessories, and started to sell games in 2006. Right now we have over 5,000 items in stock. Our income doubles each year. If we had a more competent workforce we could do even better.

What sort of customers do you get in your store? Mostly core 360 and PS3 users. 95 per cent are men aged between 17 and 30 years of age. About a half of our income comes from second hand games. Maybe it lowers distributor income, but I think it’s better than chipping your console. What is your biggest challenge? Piracy is rife in Poland with loads of stolen games on eBay and Allegro. Polish distributors are a joke. They have maybe ten per cent of new games, and sell them for double the price of GAME UK. So many of us just buy from the UK. It’s difficult to open an account with foreign distributors. For example, Gem just said no, and Centresoft won’t ship to Poland.

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As part of its sale, GAME has reduced the price of Guitar Hero: World Tour’s complete band pack to £129.98 on Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii – a saving of £50.

Online shoppers can save £145 when they purchase an Xbox 360 premium console with Gears Of War 2, Fallout 3 and PES 2009 for only £179.99.

MARGIN MAKER

The 2008 Christmas No.1 video game FIFA 09 has been reduced in price across all formats in HMV’s sale. It’s now available from between £14.99 and £24.99.

While Nintendo’s decision to design the Wii’s controller around the familiar structure of a remote makes it instantly accessible to a wider audience, it also makes the controller prone to becoming lost down the side of the couch along with its television-operating counterpart. Antigrav Media’s latest product, the new Wii Remote Stand solves this problem by providing a tidy storage option for Nintendo’s gamers. The soft material pouch is officially licensed, bearing the Wii logo to prove it. It’s small enough to store controllers neatly and houses both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Wii owners with multiple stands can link them together with the simple loops either side

of the stand, and at the competitive price of £9.99, consumers won’t be hard pushed to collect a whole set. Thanks to the use of material rather than plastic, each one folds flat for easy storage when the stands are not being used. Antigrav Media: 01785 816858

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FAR CRY 2 PC, PS3, 360

MARIO KART WII Wii

QUANTUM OF SOLACE PS2, PS3, 360, Wii, PC, DS ACTIVISION BLIZZARD

SONIC UNLEASHED 360, Wii, PS3, PS2

UBISOFT NINTENDO

PUBLISHER

NEED FOR SPEED: UNDERCOVER EA CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR ACTIVISION BLIZZARD LEG0 BATMAN WARNER BROS. PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2009 KONAMI WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2009 THQ GUITAR HERO: WORLD TOUR ACTIVISION BLIZZARD DISNEY SING IT: HSM3 DISNEY MANHUNT 2 ROCKSTAR STAR WARS: FORCE UNLEASHED LUCASARTS

6 8 RE

10 9

PSP THIS LAST WEEK WEEK

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NEED FOR SPEED: UNDERCOVER FOOTBALL MANAGER 2009 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2009 STAR WARS: FORCE UNLEASHED MIDNIGHT CLUB: LA REMIX LEGO BATMAN WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2009 TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 2009 MANHUNT 2

[4]

TITLE

[5]

DEVELOPER: EA PUBLISHER: EA EA SEGA KONAMI LUCASARTS ROCKSTAR WARNER BROS. THQ EA ROCKSTAR

DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, 360

PS3, Wii, 360, PS2 ACTIVISION BLIZZARD

SEGA NINTENDO UBISOFT NINTENDO

SEGA

GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS

CARNIVAL: FUNFAIR GAMES Wii, DS

GEARS OF WAR 2 360

TOMB RAIDER: UNDERWORLD DS, PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, 360 EIDOS

PRINCE OF PERSIA 360, PS3, PC

MIRROR’S EDGE PS3, 360, PC

360, PS3, Wii, PS2 ACTIVISION BLIZZARD

2K PLAY MICROSOFT

UBISOFT EA

LEGO INDIANA JONES DS, PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, 360, PSP

LUCASARTS

DR KAWASHIMA’S BRAIN TRAINING DS

NINTENDO

FALLOUT 3 PS3, 360, PC

BETHESDA

WII FIT Wii

NINTENDO

THIS LAST WEEK WEEK

PUBLISHER

PUBLISHER ACTIVISION BLLZZARD

PC CD-ROM

[FULL PRICE]

FIFA ‘09

2 3 4 6 8 5 7 10

[3]

DEVELOPER: EA CANADA PUBLISHER: EA

TITLE

DEVELOPER: EA PUBLISHER: EA

UBISOFT

[FULL PRICE]

TITLE

FORMAT: 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS, PC

LAST WEEK

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 THIS WEEK

1 RE

[2]

FIFA 09

SEGA

FIFA 09

2 3

TOP 40ALL

PUBLISHER

100 CLASSIC BOOK COLLECTION NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. MORE BRAIN TRAINING MARIO KART DS MARIO & SONIC: OLYMPIC GAMES IMAGINE: TEACHER NINTENDOGS: LABRADOR & FRIENDS IMAGINE: DREAM WEDDINGS 42 ALL-TIME CLASSIC

[ENTERTAINMENT - FALL PRICES]

[FULL PRICE]

TITLE

PUBLISHER

FOOTBALL MANAGER 2009

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

C&C: RED ALERT 3 EA WOW: WRATH OF THE LICH KING ACTIVISION BLIZZARDA THE SIMS 2: DOUBLE DELUXE EA SPORE EA CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR ACTIVISION BLIZZARD THE SIMS 2: APARTMENT LIFE EA GRAND THEFT AUTO IV ROCKSTAR FAR CRY 2 UBISOFT FALLOUT 3 BETHESDA

3 4 7 5 2 11 6 9 8

DEVELOPER: SPORTS INTERACTIVE PUBLISHER: SEGA

28,29 MCV519_final:46-47 MCV405

6/1/09

14:27

Page 2

RETAILBIZ: RETAIL CHARTS WWW.MCVUK.COM

MCV 09/01/09 29

THE NEW Year begins with a return to the No.1 spot

its debut at No.27. Below this, the charts are rife

for EA’s FIFA 09, once again outperforming the likes

with re-entries, with the likes of GTA IV, Tiger

of Call Of Duty: World At War and Need For Speed (in

Woods 09, Call Of Duty 4 and Mario Kart DS returing to the Top 40. Mario Kart Wii leads the way for several older releases, including Guitar Hero III and Carnival: Funfair Games, taking in higher positions in the chart, thanks to support inherent to post-Christmas sales. James Batchelor

World At War and Need For Speed settle for No.2 and No.3 respecitely, with Guitar Hero: World Tour rising to No.4. Only one new title enters the charts, with Nintendo’s 100 Classic Book Collection for DS making

PS3

L FORMATS Highest New Entry

LEGO BATMAN DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, 360

WALL ● E DS, PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, 360, PSP

PRO EVO 2009 PS3, PS2, PSP, PC, 360

THIS LAST WEEK WEEK

Highest Top 40 Climber WARNER BROS. THQ KONAMI

SHAUN WHITE SNOWBOARDING

FOOTBALL MANAGER 2009 MAC, PSP, PC

WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2009

NEW

100 CLASSIC BOOK COLLECTION DS

NINTENDO

GRAND THEFT AUTO IV 360, PS3, PC

ROCKSTAR

DS, PS2, PS3, PSP, 360, Wii, PC UBISOFT

DS, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, 360

LITTLEBIGPLANET PS3

THE FORCE UNLEASHED DS, PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, 360, PSP LUCASARTS

SONY

BIG BEACH SPORTS Wii

THQ

NEW SUPER MARIO BROS DS

KUNG FU PANDA PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, 360, DS

MORE BRAIN TRAINING DS

NINTENDO

TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 09 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD NINTENDO

MIDNIGHT CLUB: LOS ANGELES 360, PS3

COD4: MODERN WARFARE 360, PS3, PC, DS ACTIVISION BLIZZARD

MARIO KART DS DS

ANIMAL CROSSING: TO THE CITY Wii

PC CD-ROM THIS LAST WEEK WEEK

ROCKSTAR

NINTENDO NINTENDO

PUBLISHER

THE SIMS: MANSION & GARDEN

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

WORLD OF WARCRAFT ACTIVISION BLIZZARD THE SIMS 2: OPEN FOR BUSINESS EA THE SIMS 2: PETS EA THE SIMS 2: UNIVERSITY EA VIRTUA FIGHTER GRABIT THE SIMS 2: FREETIME EA CIVILIZATION IV COMPLETE TAKE 2 MASS EFFECT EA THE SIMS 2: BON VOYAGE EA

2 13 11 16 4 3 RE

5 6

CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FIFA ‘09 NEED FOR SPEED: UNDERCOVER LITTLEBIGPLANET FAR CRY 2 PRINCE OF PERSIA FALLOUT 3 RESISTANCE 2 GUITAR HERO: WORLD TOUR QUANTUM OF SOLACE

3 4 2 7 8 9 5 14 10

DEVELOPER: TREYARCH PUBLISHER: ACTIVISION BLIZZARD

WII THIS LAST WEEK WEEK

EA EA SONY UBISOFT UBISOFT BETHESDA SONY ACTIVISION BLIZZARD ACTIVISION BLIZZARD

[FULL PRICE] TITLE

DEVELOPER: MAXIS PUBLISHER: EA

PUBLISHER

MARIO KART WII

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES WII FIT GUITAR HERO: WORLD TOUR RAYMAN RAVING RABBIDS TV PARTY ANIMAL CROSSING: LET’S GO TO THE CITY SONIC UNLEASHED SHAUN WHITE SNOWBOARDING TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 2009 CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR

2 3 7 5 4 6 9 15 12

DEVELOPER: NINTENDO PUBLISHER: NINTENDO

XBOX 360

[BUDGET PRICE]

TITLE

PUBLISHER

THQ

RAYMAN RAVING RABBIDS TV PARTY Wii, DS UBISOFT

TITLE

SEGA

[FULL PRICE]

THIS LAST WEEK WEEK

SEGA NINTENDO ACTIVISION BLIZZARD UBISOFT NINTENDO SEGA UBISOFT EA ACTIVISION BLIZZARD

[FULL PRICE]

TITLE

CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

GEARS OF WAR 2 FIFA ‘09 NEED FOR SPEED: UNDERCOVER FAR CRY 2 GUITAR HERO: WORLD TOUR PRINCE OF PERSIA QUANTUM OF SOLACE FALLOUT 3 FABLE II

2 4 3 5 7 10 8 11 16

unit sales terms, at least) as it did at Christmas.

WEEK ENDING 03/01/09

PUBLISHER

DEVELOPER: TREYARCH PUBLISHER: ACTIVISION BLIZZARD MICROSOFT EA EA UBISOFT ACTIVISION BLIZZARD UBISOFT ACTIVISION BLIZZARD BETHESDA MICROSOFT

[SOURCE]

[ANALYSIS]

30-35 MCV519_final:Layout 1

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TO ADVERTISE CONTACT ROB BAKER ON: 01992 535647 OR DISTRIBUTION

DIRECTORY KEY CONTACTS

CREATIVE & PROMOTIONAL SERVICES Wrapstar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)7778 204970 DISTRIBUTION Creative Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8664 3456 Gem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01279 822800 Ideal Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01767 689 720 Keyne Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0870 1216051 Logic3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01923 471 000 Meroncourt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01462 680060 Music Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0113 234 4112

Gem Creative Get your message out Gem Creative offer retail specific design and production support including trade & consumer advertising campaigns, Point of Sale, marketing collateral, repackaging, bundling and concept solutions.

Contact Neil Handa Gem Distribution Ltd St George House Parkway Harlow Business Park Harlow Essex CM19 5QF 01279 822822 www.gem.co.uk POS

Packaging

Publishing

One integrated solution Flyers

Brochures

Trade PR

Media Buying

GEM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01279 822800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.gem.co.uk DISTRIBUTION

GAMES CONSOLE REPAIR Total Console Repair Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 087 19 18 17 21 LOCALISATION Absolute Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0141 220 5600 Partnertrans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +49 (0)2104 172660 Testronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01753 653 722 Universally Speaking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01480 210621 STORE FITTINGS AMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01924 507 217 DISC REPAIR TDR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01202 489 500 Perfect Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 020 8778 5164 RTI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01895 252 191 IDEAL SOFTWARE . . . . . . . +44 (0) 1767 689720 . . . . . . . . . . www.idealsoftware.net CREATIVE & PROMOTIONAL SERVICES

DISTRIBUTION

WRAPSTAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . +44 (0) 7778 204970 . . . . . . . . www.wrapstar-skins.com

CREATIVE DISTRIBUTION. . . . 0208 6643456 . . . . www.creativedistribution.co.uk

30-35 MCV519_final:Layout 1

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Page 2

ROB.BAKER@INTENTMEDIA.CO.UK DISTRIBUTION

EDITORIAL PLANNER Some of the special issues coming up in MCV, the only trade publication that covers all sectors of the market... FRIDAY JANUARY 16th

GAMES RECRUITMENT SPECIAL AND SALARY GUIDE As the job market picks up after the Christmas and New Year lull, employees often think about changing careers. MCV’s Recruitment Special takes a look at the sector and dispells those money myths with our detailed games salary guide. FRIDAY JANUARY 23rd

TERRITORY REPORT: SCANDINAVIA AND BENELUX It’s time to cast aside those cliches and take a closer look at the gaming landscape of Holland, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. How has the rise of gaming affected these nations, and are there any gaps in the markets for publishers and retailers? MCV investigates the state of play and potential of these diverse countries.

GFK-CHARTTRACK YEAR REVIEW The figures are in. But what was the biggest game of the year? Which formats flourished while others floundered? And which games bucked expectations to become the bestselling games of the year? MCV takes a close look at the GFK ChartTrack statistics and provides the ultimate summary of the sales bonanza 2008 provided to the games industry. FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6th

MCV AWARDS PREVIEW We take a look forward to the biggest night in the trade’s calendar – the only awards voted by the industry, for the industry. This year’s event, which takes place on Thursday, April 23rd, features new awards categories to reward teamwork, staff and innovation in publishing, distribution and retail sectors. The venue for the awards ceremony is The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London.

IN-GAME ADVERTISING MCV investigates one of the most lucrative and misunderstood sectors in the modern industry. With expert advice and case studies from the leading companies in the market, we’ll take a look at the state of play, both in terms of online and boxed games – and discuss where the business is expected to move in the future. FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27th

TERRITORY REPORT: EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE On the other side of our home continent, the Eastern and Central areas are home to unique cultures of their own. Where there are people, there are gamers, and MCV investigates how they are supplied, speaking with the major retailers and publishers in these regions. FRIDAY MARCH 13th

DUPLICATION AND COPY PROTECTION MCV takes a look at the process between the end of a game’s development and its release, whereby the discs are protected against piracy and replicated ready for distribution. We speak to the major players in this segment of the industry to shed some light on this crucial but often overlooked segment of the industry.

FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT:

CHRIS.DRING@INTENTMEDIA.CO.UK LOGIC 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01923 471000 . . . . . . . . . . . www.uksales@logic3.com

30-35 MCV519_final:Layout 1

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Page 3

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT ROB BAKER ON: 01992 535647 OR

SUPPORT YOUR PRINT ADVERTISING WITH AN

Develop is the only dedicated publication for the UK and European games development community. It reaches over 8,000 request-only subscribers every month. STUDIOS 7 Seas Technologies ......................................www.7seastech.com Atomic Planet...........................................+44 (0) 1642 871 100 Blitz Games Studios..................................+44 (0) 1926 880 000 Broadsword Interactive ..............................+44 (0) 1970 626299 Denki ................................................................www.denki.co.uk Fuse Games ..........................................careers@fusegames.com Oxygen ....................................................+44 (0) 1933 446437 Realtime Worlds.......................................+44 (0) 1382 202 821 Rebellion .................................................+44 (0) 1865 792 201 Stainless Games...................................jobs@stainlessgames.com Strawdog Studio.......................................+44 (0) 1332 258 862 TOOLS bluegfx ....................................................+44 (0) 1483 467 200 Epic Games ....................................................+1 919 870 1516 Fork Particle ...............................................00 (1) 925 417 1785 Natural Motion ..........................................+44 (0)1865 250575

ONLINE PRESENCE £450 PER MONTH SITE WIDE BUTTON Size: 300x100 pixels File type: Animated Flash swf or animated gif

£550 PER MONTH TOP 4 BUTTON PLUS EMAIL NEWSFLASH Size: 140x120 pixels File type: Static jpeg or animated gif

SERVICES 3D Creation Studio ..................................+44 (0) 151 236 9992 Absolute Quality .......................................+44 (0)141 220 5600 Air Studios ...............................................+44 (0) 207 794 0660 GAMEINDUSTRYJOBS.eu .............................+31 3110 7504580 High Score...............................................+44 (0) 1295 738 337 Partnertrans .............................................+49 (0) 2104 172 660 Philips amBX .......................................................www.ambx.com Testronic Labs ...........................................+44 (0)1753 653 722 Tsunami Sounds.......................................+44 (0) 207 350 2828 Universally Speaking ................................+44 (0) 1480 210 621 To be included in the Develop Directory (which appears every month in Develop and every week in MCV) contact jaspreet.kandola@intentmedia.co.uk. All subscription requests should go to mcv.subscriptions@c-cms.com

DISTRIBUTION

For further online advertising information please contact

Lesley.Blumson@intentmedia.co.uk or call 01992 535647

MCVUK.COM March ‘08 Page Views 471,735 Sessions served 304,870 Unique Visitors 215,754

Feb ‘08 404,964 242,537 163,712

www.mcvuk.com MERONCOURT . . . . . . . . . . +44 (0) 1462 680060 . . . http://trade.meroncourt.co.uk

MCV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01992 535647 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.mcvuk.com

30-35 MCV519_final:Layout 1

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ROB.BAKER@INTENTMEDIA.CO.UK GAMES CONSOLE REPAIR

Insider’s | Guide

TOTAL CONSOLE REPAIR . . . . . . 087 19 18 17 21. . . . . www.totalconsolerepair.co.uk LOCALISATION

This week Insider’s Guide takes a look at localisation, as we speak to Spanish firm Localsoft’s Randall Mage...

ABSOLUTE QUALITY . . . . . . +44 (0)141 220 5600 . . . . . www.absolutequality.co.uk

How has localisation changed over the last few years? Video game localisation has experienced a boom over the last few years. With the rise of casual gaming, MMOs and digital downloading, we have noticed an increase in the demand of target languages over the past few years.

LOCALISATION

Is the industry taking localisation more seriously these days? Definitely. Publishers and developers realise the potential of internationalisation. Many companies now have in-house localisation experts and project managers to help them manage their localisation needs. How would you like to see your relationship with developers evolve in the future? We are always happy to interact

PARTNERTRANS . . . . . . . . . +49 (0)2104 172660. . . . . . . . . . . www.partnertrans.com

with developers. It allows us to give them our input and streamline the localisation process right from the start. We try to get our localisation engineers and project managers involved with the developers and publishers at an early stage to plan localisation. By now most developers know that many foreign languages are longer than English and require approximately 20 to 30 per cent extra character space. What’s the key to being a successful localisation firm? We have successfully localised over 700 video game titles since 1988 into every imaginable language and platform and we believe it all comes down to hard work, top quality, meeting deadlines, flexibility, dedication, consistency, understanding client's needs, enthusiasm... the list goes on and on.

30-35 MCV519_final:Layout 1

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10:18

Page 5

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT ROB BAKER ON: 01992 535647 OR LOCALISATION

SUPPORT YOUR PRINT ADVERTISING WITH AN

ONLINE PRESENCE

For further online advertising information please contact

Lesley.Blumson@intentmedia.co.uk or call 01992 535647 TESTRONIC LABORATORIES . . . +44 (0) 1753 653 722. . . . www.testroniclabs.com LOCALISATION

MCV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01992 535647 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.mcvuk.com DISC REPAIR

We’ll make sure your disc repair is up to scratch With TDR, you’ve a tried and tested way to increase your disc repair business and generate extra turnover and profit as a result. Call or visit our website to find out more. Disc-Go-Devil Devilishly good and only £666

TDR OneStep just £1295

01202 489 500

www.totaldiscrepair.co.uk

UNIVERSALLY SPEAKING . . . . . . . 01480 210621 . . . . . . . . . . . www.usspeaking.com

TOTAL DISC REPAIR. . . . . . . . . . 01202 489500 . . . . . . . . . www.totaldiscrepair.co.uk

STORE FITTINGS

DISC REPAIR

HIGH PERFORMANCE OPTICAL DISC REPAIR SYSTEMS Eco Senior Fully Automatic Repair System

Eco Smart

Entry Level Repair System

Call 01895 252191 for Introductory Offers Eco Master

50 disc Automatic Repair System

AMA DISPLAYS . . . . . . . . . . +44 (0) 1924 507217 . . . . . . . . . www.ama-displays.co.uk

www.rtico.com RTI-inbox@rtiuk.co.uk

High Speed Optical Disc Inspection System

RTI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01895 252191 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.rtico.com

30-35 MCV519_final:Layout 1

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ROB.BAKER@INTENTMEDIA.CO.UK DISC REPAIR

DISC-GO-DEVIL Only

£666 Plus VAT

DIARY DATES ‘08 From the MCV Industry Pub Quiz to the PC Retail Awards, here are all the essential industry dates to get in your diary…

JANUARY CES INTERNATIONAL 2009 Thursday, January 8thJanuary 10th Las Vegas, USA www.CESweb.org BETT 2009 Wednesday, January 14thSaturday, January 17th Olympia, London www.bettshow.com

MARCH BAFTA 09 Tuesday March 10th Park Lane Hilton, London www.bafta.org/awards/video-games PC RETAIL AWARDS 2009 Thursday, March 19th Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington katie.rawlings@intentmedia.co.uk

HELL OF A PRICE FOR A WICKED MACHINE. Introducing the new Disc-Go-Devil - a stunning price-performance breakthrough in disc repair. O O O O

One-stage, fully automated repair Simple to use Small and robust History function for accurate monitoring of usage 30 day money-back guarantee and 1 year warranty as standard

GDC 09 Monday, March 23rdFriday, March 27th San Francisco, USA www.gdconf.com

E3 Tuesday, June 2ndThursday, June 4th LA Convention Centre, LA www.e3expo.com GAMEHORIZON CONFERENCE Thursday, June 23rd-24th The Sage, Newcastle, UK www.gamehorizonconference.com

DEVELOP CONFERENCE 2009 Tuesday, July 14thThursday, July 16th Brighton, UK www.develop-conference.com

AUGUST

www.totaldiscrepair.co.uk/devil

TOTAL DISC REPAIR. . . . . . . . . . 01202 489500 . . . . . . . . . www.totaldiscrepair.co.uk

The MCV/Xbox 360 Pub Quiz gives retailers, suppliers and the media the chance to show off their general knowledge skills in an appropriate arena for our industry – the local pub. There will be thousands of pounds’ worth of prizes up for grabs to the best performers on the night, as well as loads of top-

JUNE

JULY

01202 489 500

MCV/XBOX 360 PUB QUIZ Thursday, February 19th Sway Bar, London dave.roberts@ intentmedia.co.uk

GAMESCOM Wednesday, August 19thSunday, August 23rd Cologne, Germany www.gamescom-cologne.com

notch booze and food. MCV INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE AWARDS Thursday, April 23rd The Brewery, London jodie.holdway@ bhpr.co.uk The biggest night in the games industry calendar returns to the Brewery and will feature awards split across three categories; Retail, PR and Marketing, and People and Industry. A whopping 650 representatives from all corners of the UK games trade will be attending this essential industry event.

36,37 MCV519_FINAL:Layout 1

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INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION 36 MCV 09/01/09

WWW.MCVUK.COM

International Distribution Guide AUSTRALIA

CYPRUS

All Interactive.................Helensvale Town Centre

Gibareio.............................................................Nicosia

COMGAME 576 LTD

GOODTONES AFA INTERACTIVE

GREAT GAMES LTD

66 Hughes Street, Mile End,

1 Alkaiou Street / Office 1 /

South Australia 5031

Engomi / Nicosia 2404 / Cyprus

Tel: +61 8823 41355

tel. +357 22 666612 www.greatgames.com.cy

INNELEC MULTIMEDIA

1042 Budapest, Arpad UT 112, Hungary

45 rue Delizy,

Tel: +36 1 369 2686

93692 PANTIN Cedex

Fax: +36 1 272 0109

France

Email: bzsolt@576.hu

Email purchase: f_alglave@innelec.com

Web: www.576.hu

Email export sales: g_armspach@innelec.com Tel: 00.33.1.48.10.55.55

ICELAND Sena ................................................................Reykavik

DENMARK

GERMANY

INDIA TM

THQ AUSTRALIA, MILESTONE INTERACTIVE

NEW ZEALAND & ASIA. Asia Pacific HQ - Level 8/606 St.Kilda Rd,

ENTERTAINMENT TRADING APS

Melbourne, Vic, Australia, 3004

Stenholm 1, 9400,

Web: asiapac-sales@thq.com

Norresundby, Denmark

Tel: +6139573.9203

Phone: +45 70277640 Fax: +45 70277650 email: sales@entertainment-trading.com

Red Ant...................................Baulkham Hills, NSW

Web www.entertainment-trading.com

AUSTRIA

SOFTWARE LIMITED Pramukh Plaza, 2nd Floor,

DTP ENTERTAINMENT AG

Cardinal Gracious Road,

Goldbekplatz 3-5, 22303

Chakala, Andheri East,

Hamburg, Germany

Mumbai 400 099, INDIA.

Tel: +49 (0)40 66 99 10 0

Tel: +91 22 28203319

Fax: +49 (0)40 66 99 10 10

Fax: +91 22 28203334

email: s.lass@dtp-entertainment.com

email: distribution@milestoneinteractive.com

Web: www.dtp-entertainment.com

website: www.milestoneinteractive.com

Koch Media GmbH...............................Rottenmann Play Art Multimedia Handels GmbH....Rankweil

GATEWAY DISTRIBUTION APS Gateway Distribution ApS

BELGIUM

+44 1279 408 665 (UK)

Horelec S.A. ...........................................Bruxelles

+45 7026 0870 (DK)

CLD Distribution S.A. .........................Fernelmont

dt@gatewaydistribution.dk www.gatewaydistribution.dk

BENELUX ESTONIA Andrico ..............................................................Tallinn

FINLAND GAMEWORLD

Panvision Oy.......................................................Turku

Cornusbaan 1, 2908 KB Capelle A/D IJssel Tel: +31 10 298 3838 Web: rishi@gameworld.nl

FRANCE EMC GROUPE CASINO..........Croissy Beaubourg

Groß Electronic .......................................Rohrnbach

ISRAEL

Otto Group ...................................................Hamburg

Hed-Arzi......................................................Or-Yehuda

Playcom Software Vertriebs .......................Erfurt Vitrex Multimedia Großhandel.....................Erfurt

ITALY Cidiverte Spa ...............................................Gallarate Coop Italia..........................................Sesto F.NO (FI)

GREECE

Digital Bros spa................................................Milano

Centric ...............................................................Athens

Leader Spa.................................Gazzada Schianno

Nortec Multimedia.........................................Athens

Newave Italia...................................................Firenze

Zegetron S.A....................................................Athens

Promovideo SRL ...........................................Senago

NETHERLANDS HUNGARY

Gameworld BV............................Capelle A/D Ijssel

Antec .............................................................Budapest

Micromedia BV...........................................Nijmegen Favour Games..................................................Tilburg Rigu Sound B.V................2153 GB Nieuw Vennep

TO ADVERTISE IN THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION GUIDE

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INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION WWW.MCVUK.COM

MCV 09/01/09 37

The International Distribution Guide is dedicated to promoting companies outside of the UK. If you are looking for new customers overseas, then look no further...

NEW ZEALAND Gamewizz..........................................................Albany

v.2 PLAY. LDA Studio Office Marquês de Pombal –

NORWAY Pan Vision Norway.....................................Trollasen

Avenida de Loulé nº 123 1069-152 -

INTERACTIVE

DREAMGEAR, LLC

Lisbon, Portugal

Diagonal, 662-664, 3ª planta D, 08034,

20001 S. Western Ave.

MPX.no .......................................................Sandefjord Platekompaniet....................................................Oslo Massemedia AS...........................................Notteroy Pan Vision Norway..............................................Oslo

PLANETA DEAGOSTINI

Tel. 00351 21 31 46 51 0

Barcelona, Spain,

Torrance, CA 90501

Fax 00351 21 31 61 12 5

Tel: +34 93 492 08 89

Phone: 310-222-5522 x 111

RUSSIA

distributioninteractive@planetadeagostini.es

Fax: 310-222-5577

www.planetadeagostini.net

Contact: Moris Mirzadeh Email: moris@dreamgear.net

POLAND CD Projekt Sp. z o.o......................................Warsaw

VIRGIN PLAY AKELLA

Paseo de la Castellana 9 – 11,

12/1 Bolshaya Novodmitrovskaya st., 28046 Madrid, Spain

U.S. GAMES DISTRIBUTION, INC.

127015, Moscow, Russia Phone: +7 (495) 363-4612 Fax: +7 (495) 363-4615

Tel: +34 91 789 35 50

16700 Schoenborn St.

Web: www.virginplay.es

#2 North Hills, CA. 91343 Tel: +1 818 920 9393

http://en.akella.com DistribucionesVideográficas Digitales ....Madrid

info@usgamesdist.com

Hitzona.............................................................Moscow

Distribuye Palmera................................Las Palmas

www.usgamesdist.com

Noviy Disk .......................................................Moscow

JC Distribuciones .............................................Getxo

Soft Club..........................................................Moscow

Shine Star, S.A...........................................Barcelona

TECHLAND Sp. z.o.o. Kazmierza Wlk 27, 50-077 Wroclaw, Poland Email: business@techland.pl Web: www.techland.pl Tel: +48 71 341 76 95 Fax: +48 71 343 98 96

UAE

Vellod...................................................................Mitishi

SWEDEN SINGAPORE

Bergsala AB............................................Kungsbacka

Replay Interactive....................................Singapore

Panvision....................................................Stockholm

Red Entertainment Distribution ..................Dubai

SIBA AB ...................................................Gothenburg

PORTUGAL ecofilmes...............................Sao Joao Da Madeira

SOUTH AFRICA

PLUTO GAMES

Midigital ..............................................Johannesburg

SWITZERLAND

Nu Metro Interactive ......................Johannesburg

ABC Software GmbH.......................................Buchs

PO Box 10705, Office 103-104 Emirates Islamic Bank Building,Dubai, UAE. www.pluto-games.com

PLANETA DEAGOSTINI

SPAIN

TURKEY

Tel: +971 4261 8111

Ardistel. S.L..................................................Zaragoza

ARAL Import..................................................Istanbul

Fax: +971 4261 8112

Distribuciones Videográficas Digitales ....MADRID

Nortec Eurasia...............................................Istanbul Modern Pluto Trading LLC...............Saudi Arabia

Lamee Software S.L. .....................................Madrid

UNITED STATES

INTERACTIVE

Pluto Derinton Games LLC............................Egypt

Diagonal, 662-664, 3ª planta D,

BASCO, INC.

08034, Barcelona,

VIDEO GAMES DISTRIBUTOR

Spain, Tel: +34 93 492 08 89 distributioninteractive@planetadeagostini.es www.planetadeagostini.net

NXT Global LLC .................................................Dubai

FRIENDWARE

Tel: 1-917-627-3000

Marques de Monteagudo 18,

Fax: 1-718-228-4401

28028 Madrid, Spain

Email: sales@bascodistribution.com

email: juan.bustamante@friendware.es

Web: www.bascodistribution.com

PLEASE CONTACT ROB.BAKER@INTENTMEDIA.CO.UK

Keyne full page

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Looking for a new reliable supplier... Look no further!

Keyne Distribution ● Software and hardware distributor ● All top platform new releases in stock ● Flexible next day delivery to the UK and most European destinations ● Over 500 different products in stock at all times ● Terms of trading will be 30 days on insured Customers ● Shipping is by Customers account, or on our UPS - Fedex or DHL account. ● The fastest growing independent distributor in the United Kingdom

Tel: 0870 1216051 Fax: 0870 1216053 Email: phil@keynedistribution.co.uk Unit C105, MKTWO Business Centre, 1-6 Barton Road, Water Eaton Ind Est, Milton Keynes, MK2 3HU

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MCV 09/01/09 39

TIM BEST: A TRIBUTE

TIM BEST: The veteran games designer will be sorely missed by the games industry

TIM BEST: 1956 - 2008 IT IS WITH great sadness we announce the sudden death of Tim Best on Tuesday 16th December. Tim had been an active member of the computer games industry since the early days, including over twenty years working with System 3. Tim started with System 3 as a storyboard and games designer and was involved in

developing the majority of their games. Titles such as the iconic The Last Ninja series, Vendetta, Constructor and Mob Rule represent just some of his achievements. His remarkable passion for words and voracious appetite for information fuelled his interests in marketing and manual writing. He became more involved in this in latter

years, as well as excerising his impressive skills in photography and web design. He will be most fondly remembered by everyone who knew him for his quick wit and cheery demeanour. Although he was not one to take the limelight, he would always be there supporting the team late into the night when the pressure was on.

Tim was a good friend and colleague and will be sorely missed. He was a very family oriented man and is survived by his wife, mother and his two sons. The family held a cremation and remembrance service on December 30th on the Isle of Wight to where he moved just over a year ago, fulfilling a long held desire he had.

The family would welcome donations in his memory for his two chosen charities: the RNLI and the Earl Mountbatten Hospice on the Isle Of Wight. Any donations are to be sent to the Funeral Directors: Downer & White, 43 Sandown Road, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 9JL. John Twiddy, System 3

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PIC OF THE WEEK Ladies and gentlefellows, introducing... 50 Cent and THQuizzle’s Notorious Thugz. A new hip-hop-grimecrunk extravaganza, witness the mad lyrical skillz of the UK publisher’s fierce MC foursome (left to right): Lee ‘lick a shot’ Skitrell; Emma ‘money, (em)ma problems’ Fifield; the main man himself, 50 ‘I wish I was in PR and marketing like this lot’ Cent; and Dani ‘Doggy Dogg’ Robinson. Mark our words: By the time Fiddyendorsed game Blood On The Sand comes out in February, they’ll be huge.

OFF THE RECORD

This week, THQ gets down with 50 Cent as Mastertronic’s Garry Williams mixes with the stars. Elsewhere, we look back at two of December’s biggest industry parties...

Whenever the MCV team has gone ‘up the Arse’, we’ve been surrounde d by toothless, gurning gooners who look like their sole source of nutrition is KFC and rainwater. So how does Mastertronic’s Garry Williams get to meet such fabled celebrities as film director Spike Lee and actor Clive Owen (above) when he visits The Emirates? Not only that, but he even gets to make a classic caucasian attempt at hip-h op hand signage whilst meeting Obam a-revering Gus from EastEnders .A quick pause for thought on Gus here. It might be a fictional worl d. But Sonia Jackson. Yes you did. Jesu s. Yes you did.

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MCV 09/01/09 41

Official Xbox Magazine’s Mike Channell bags first place in the final race, earning himself £2,000 in the process

Eight runners up won a tasty Playseat racing frame – worth a very tidy £300 each – after battling it out on System 3’s games

CVG’s Gavin Ogden throws a bit of verbal abuse at Sony’s Hugo Bustillos – but Hugo retains full concentration

Official Nintendo Editor and former MCV chief Neil Long stares at those magical dazzling lights

Over £10,000 worth of prizes were up for grabs at System 3’s industry tournament for new titles SuperCar Challenge and William’s Pinball Classics. A shame we were rubbish, then...

Has the UK industry ever stayed so focused for so long? Funny what the lure of £2,000 will do to a man...

Official Nintendo Magazine’s Chris Borgan gets his flippers moving in the heat of competition

System 3’s new racer SuperCar Challenge was shown for the first time at the event

Based on some racing performances, we should all hope these gentlemen don’t drive in real life

System 3 President and lifelong pinball fan Mark Cale shows all around him how it’s done

Future’s cheeky chappy Lee Nutter is congratulated by four-time Ferrari Challenge champion Ange Barde

Our press release told us these girls were ‘pinball virgins’. [Insert your own caption here]

Even Codemasters head honcho Rod Cousens can’t resist the appeal of the tilted table

Official Nintendo’s Chris Borgman and Fred Dutton discuss the finer points of their strategy

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PRMAGEDDON

Every year the great and the good of the UK’s games PR industry throw a bit of a lavish Christmas do for themselves and their favourite journalists – and 2008 was no exception. Here we offer a glimpse into one of the great ‘networking opportunities’ of recent times, as the likes of Tim Ponting, Lee Kirton, Stefan McGarry, Sam Brace, Ben Payne, Dan Griliopoulos, Stefano Petrullo, Mike Jackson, Paul Vale, Jon Hicks and many more see off the year in style...

EDITORIAL: 01992 535646 ADVERTISING: 01992 535647 FAX: 01992 535648 Advertising Manager: Lesley Blumson Lesley.Blumson@intentmedia.co.uk

Please address all enquiries to:

Editor-In-Chief: Michael French Michael.French@intentmedia.co.uk

Advertising Executive: Rob baker Rob.Baker@intentmedia.co.uk

Associate Editor: Tim Ingham Tim.Ingham@intentmedia.co.uk

Art Director: Stuart Moody Stuart.Moody@intentmedia.co.uk

MCV, Intent Media, Saxon House, 6a St. Andrew Street, Hertford SG14 1JA.

Managing Editor: Lisa Foster Lisa.Foster@intentmedia.co.uk

Retail Editor: Ben Parfitt Ben.Parfitt@intentmedia.co.uk Staff Writer: Chris Dring Chris.Dring@intentmedia.co.uk Staff Writer: James Batchelor James.Batchelor@intentmedia.co.uk Contributors: Ed Fear, Andrew Wooden, Owain Bennallack

Design: Adam Butler Adam.Butler@intentmedia.co.uk Production Manager: Suzanne Powles Suzanne.Powles@intentmedia.co.uk Business Development: Dave Roberts Dave.Roberts@intentmedia.co.uk Contributing Editor: Samantha Loveday Samantha.Loveday@intentmedia.co.uk Circulation & Marketing: Hannah Short Hannah.Short@intentmedia.co.uk

Finance Director: Hilary Cole Finance Manager: Siobhan Cook Finance Assistant: Zarah Aslam

Managing Director/Publisher: Stuart Dinsey Stuart.Dinsey@intentmedia.co.uk Telephone: 01992 535688

Printed By: Pensord, Tram Road,Pontllanfraith Blackwood, NP12 2YA

MCV is a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation and the Periodical Publishers Association. Membership of the ABC and PPA provides our advertising partners with confidence in our circulation statements. For the 12 months ending December 2007, MCV had an average weekly net circulation of 9,086. MCV’s circulation is 100 per cent named and zero per cent duplicated.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS United Kingdom £150 l Europe £175 l Rest of the World £250 To order your subscription via Visa, Mastercard, Switch or AMEX or to make changes to your subscription details, contact mcv.subscriptions@c-cms.com or call 01580 883848.

SAXON HOUSE, 6A ST. ANDREW STREET, HERTFORD, HERTFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND SG14 1JA Intent Media specialises in trade titles for entertainment and leisure markets. As well as MCV, Intent publishes PC Retail for retailers and suppliers to the computer trade, Develop Magazine for games programmers, producers and artists, ToyNews for all sectors of the toy industry and Mobile Entertainment.

Intent has also recently launched BikeBiz and MI Pro. www.intentmedia.co.uk

MCV has an exclusive media partnership with Famitsu - Japan’s leading video games analyst and news source

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To o place an order please con ntact the SEGA team at our exclusive distributor Centresoft on 0121 625 3816.

www.sega.co.uk © SEGA. SEGA, the SEGA logo, THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD and THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD: OVERKILL are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA Corporation. Headstrong Games Ltd. is a registered subsidiary of Kuju PLC, part of Catalis NV group company, and is a trademark of Kuju PLC in the U. K. and other countries. All Rights Reserved. Wii AND THE Wii LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS OF NINTENDO.