My Game Center

A look at results from selected companies in the video games business:

Oct. 20: Microsoft Corp. says revenue from the Xbox 360 products and services grew 7 percent, led by higher revenue from the Xbox Live service and offset by decreased revenue from video games and fewer consoles sold. Microsoft says video game revenue decreased because the same period a year ago had strong sales of “Halo Reach.” Microsoft says it shipped 2.3 million Xbox 360 consoles during the latest quarter, compared with 2.8 million a year ago.

Oct. 27: Nintendo co., maker of the Wii game console and DS handheld, reports a larger net loss and reduces its full-year forecast, battered by the strong yen and weak software sales. The company says a price reduction has lifted sales of the 3DS handheld, which offers 3D gaming without special glasses. One title, “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D,” sold more than a million units, but the company acknowledged that the 3DS “has yet to have many hit titles.” Wii console sales for the latest six-month period fell to 3.35 million units from 4.97 million units a year ago, while software sales declined to 36.45 million units from 65.21 million a year earlier.

Electronic Arts Inc. takes a hit despite solid results after the video game publisher failed to raise full-year guidance as some had expected. its quarterly loss expanded from a year ago because of higher costs, but revenue grew. The company says such titles as “FIFA 12,” ”Madden NFL 12″ and “The Sims Social” performed well, while “Battlefield 3″ was off to a good start.

Wednesday: Sony Corp. reports an 8 percent revenue decline in the game business because of a price reduction in the PlayStation 3 console ahead of the holiday season.

THQ Inc., a maker of video games, says it lost more money in the latest quarter than a year ago, as the company spent more on development, marketing and other expenses. but its revenue grew and surpassed expectations. The company’s upbeat forecast for the all-important holiday quarter, however, lifted its stock sharply.

Tuesday: Activision Blizzard Inc., Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.

Nov. 17: GameStop Corp.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct 04, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) —-Record 3.2 Million Units Sold-Through in less Than one Week

–Almost 350,000 Fans Connect to FIFA Ultimate Team Early Web-Start

Electronic Arts inc. /quotes/zigman/71356/quotes/nls/erts ERTS -1.88% today announced the most successful launch in EA SPORTS history as EA SPORTS(TM) FIFA 12 hit store shelves and online retailers across the globe. Critical accolades have rolled in for the highest rated sports videogame of this console generation^, and fans around the world have already played more than 200 million minutes of online games of FIFA 12.*

Based on internal estimates since its September 27 launch in North America and September 30 worldwide, FIFA 12 has sold-through an estimated 3.2 million units across all consoles worldwide**, making it the biggest launch in the history of sports videogames and the biggest videogame launch of 2011 to date. These are preliminary EA estimates. EA plans to provide further information regarding sales of FIFA 12 during its earnings call for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012.

“FIFA 12 is a stunning achievement by our team at EA Canada,” said Andrew Wilson, Executive Vice-President of EA SPORTS. “The massive FIFA online community has overwhelmingly connected to the new live services in the game, including EA SPORTS Football Club, and we intend to keep them engaged all season long as FIFA 12 follows the heartbeat of the football season.”

Other notable achievements from the game’s record-breaking launch include:

— FIFA 12 sell-through is estimated to be up approximately 23 percent over last year’s record-breaking launch.

— FIFA 12 for iPhone and iPad has already sold 879,000 units, and achieved the Top Grossing App for iPhone on 30 worldwide storefronts.

— October 1, 2011 was the busiest day for online gaming in EA SPORTS history. Fans registered more than 10 million EA SPORTS game sessions, including almost eight million game sessions of FIFA 12.

— almost 350,000 fans engaged in the early web-start for FIFA 12 Ultimate Team via easportsfootball.com, and more than 14 million trades have already occurred within the Ultimate Team mode. for the first time ever, FIFA Ultimate Team is available on disc for fans to enjoy the thrill of building, managing and playing with their ultimate team of football superstars.

— the launch of FIFA 12 also saw the introduction of EA SPORTS Football Club — the heartbeat of FIFA 12. Millions of fans around the world have already pledged their allegiance to their favourite team through the Support your Club feature. to date, the clubs with the most supporters*** are:

Manchester United — 241,767 supporters FC Barcelona — 144,709 supporters Arsenal — 131,305 supporters Real Madrid — 126,806 supporters Liverpool — 118,182 supporters

Chosen “Best Console Game” at Gamescom and winner of the prestigious E3 Game Critics award for “Best Sports Game” at E3 2011, FIFA 12 is the highest rated sports videogame of this console generation with a Metacritic rating of 92 on the PlayStation(R)3 computer entertainment system and 91 on Xbox 360(R) videogame and entertainment system, including perfect scores from leading media outlets like 1UP, USA Today, GamePro and the Guardian. IGN (9.5 out of 10) called FIFA 12 “amazing” and Everyeye.it (9.5 out of 10) wrote, “FIFA 12 is simply the best football simulation ever made.”

FIFA 12 brings to the pitch the game-changing new Player Impact Engine, and revolutionary gameplay innovations inspired by the real-world game, including all-new Precision Dribbling, Tactical Defending, and Pro Player Intelligence. Plus, new live services and breakthrough social experiences like EA SPORTS Football Club and FIFA Ultimate Team deepen fans’ connection to the real-world game, their favorite club, and their friends, rivals and millions of other players around the world in the massive FIFA online community.

FIFA 12 is localized into 18 languages and available in 51 countries. it is available for the PlayStation(R)3, Xbox 360(R), PC, Mac, Wii(TM), PlayStation(R)2, Nintendo 3DS(TM), PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, iPhone(R), iPad(TM), and iPod(R) touch. the game is available for digital download on PC at origin.com .

FIFA 12 is rated E for everyone by the ESRB and Pegi 3+. Screenshots are available at info.ea.com . for the latest news on FIFA Soccer 12 join more than six million fans in the EA SPORTS FIFA community at facebook.com/easportsfifa or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/easportsfifa .

EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL(R) hockey, NBA JAM basketball, NCAA(R) Football, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) golf, and EA SPORTS Active. for more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit easports.com to connect, share and compete.

^ Source – metacritic.com as of October 3, 2011 *according to internal data sources as of October 2, 2011 ** according to internal sales data as of October 2, 2011 *** according to internal data sources as of October 3, 2011

about Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts /quotes/zigman/71356/quotes/nls/erts ERTS -1.88% is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. the Company’s game franchises are offered as both packaged goods products and online services delivered through Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets. EA has more than 100 million registered players and operates in 75 countries.

in fiscal 2011, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster franchises such as the Sims(TM), Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed(TM), Battlefield, and Mass Effect(TM). more information about EA is available at info.ea.com .

EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Active, the Sims and Need for Speed are trademarks of Electronic Arts inc. Mass Effect is a trademark of EA International (Studio and Publishing) ltd. John Madden, NFL, NCAA, Tiger Woods, PGA TOUR and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. “PlayStation” and the “PSP” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment inc. Xbox 360 is a trademark of the Microsoft group of companies. Wii and Nintendo 3DS are trademarks of Nintendo. iPad is a trademark of Apple inc. iPod and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery available: businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50017786&lang=en

SOURCE: Electronic Arts inc.

Electronic Arts inc. Tiffany Steckler, +41 2231 61322 EA Corporate Communications tsteckler@ea.com Colin Macrae, 604-456-3685 Sr. Director, Communications cmacrae@ea.com David Tinson, 650-628-5189 VP, Communications dtinson@ea.com

Copyright Business Wire 2011

The world’s most popular sport has produced EA Sports’ biggest game launch to date. Electronic Arts today announced that FIFA 12 sold through an estimated 3.2 million copies in the first week after its September 27 North American debut, enough to be dubbed “the most successful launch in EA Sports history.”

EA says that total–based on its own preliminary estimates–qualifies FIFA 12′s launch as the biggest of any sports game ever, and the biggest of any game released in 2011 to date. The publisher also revealed a few other stats from the game’s launch, saying sell-through is up 23 percent year-over-year, with the iPhone and iPad versions combining to sell 879,000 copies. it also pushed EA Sports’ online servers to their busiest day ever, with players logging 10 million sessions in the label’s games, nearly 8 million of those accounted for by FIFA 12.

Among the headline features in FIFA 12 are the new Player Impact Engine and new dribbling mechanics in an effort to deliver a more realistic touch on the ball. Defense has likewise been tweaked, with a greater emphasis being placed on position play and ball interception. The publisher is also introducing the EA Sports Football Club feature, a free service that offers news and updates on the real-world sport.

for more on the sim, check out GameSpot’s review of FIFA 12.

GD Star Ratingloading…

Electronic Arts’ attendance at the recent GAMEfest event in Birmingham played host to the UK debut of many titles, and for consumers need for Speed: the Run was one of these titles. the first public outing for the game proved that, despite the misgivings after this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Electronic Arts weren’t about to put one of their biggest names out to roost. Well, not again anyway.

Lessons have obviously been learnt from need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, as need for Speed: the Run’s handling is balanced perfectly between realism and playability. It’s a design that allows the player to turn on a pinhead but doesn’t push the limits so far that every sharp adjustment leads to spinning out. need for Speed: the Run is never going to compete against Gran Turismo 5 or Forza Motorsport 4 in terms of realism, but it’s most certainly not intended to, as will surely be grasped from the game’s premise.

Need for Speed: the Run takes place as part of a countrywide challenge. the player is challenged to an illicit, high-stakes race across, striving to be the first to get from San Francisco to New York. Of course, it’s never that straight-forward, with the player visiting a number of famous locations en route. all you have are your driving skills and sheer determination as you battle against some of the world’s most notorious drivers on the USA’s most dangerous roads.

The race Electronic Theatre took part in was a point-to-point event, as it would be easy to assume most of the game’s stages will be. the differentiator lies in the mid-race objectives, and here in this event it was a simple need to overtake a set number of opponents prior to reaching the finish line. the player earns experience for each overtake successfully accomplished – and more so for doing it cleanly – but also for other mid-race activities. Overtaking in rapid succession was the biggest payoff Electronic Theatre witnessed, though we were assured that there were many other feats that would offer bonuses in the final build.

Of course, what hasn’t yet been seen is just how need for Speed: the Run’s format will lend itself to variety. the tracks may well be plentiful, but the build Electronic Theatre experienced offered just one, and upon that just one vehicle. exactly if and how players will be given the option to utilise different vehicles while maintaining the storyline remains to be seen. it had been suggested that each stage in campaign would require completion in the preset vehicle first prior to be being able to play in any chosen automobile, however this has not been confirmed.

Need for Speed: the Run is another of those titles which is expected to perform will at launch due to it’s name alone. however, the wavering success of the franchise after the buzz of the need for Speed: Underground releases has proven that it’s not a hard-and-fast rule that the prefix addition of need for Speed to the title is enough of a tie to the consumer to guarantee success. need for Speed: SHIFT found success in attempting something new, while need for Speed: Hot Pursuit returned to a previous popular format. need for Speed: the Run lies somewhere between the two, with the closet comparison in terms of premise being Cruisn’ USA. hopefully Electronic Arts will have done enough to secure need for Speed: the Run a larger audience than Nintendo and Midway’s underappreciated free ride along route 66.

Electronic Theatre Preview: need for Speed: the Run, 4.9 out of 5 based on 17 ratings

You surely have by now seen the newest commercial for promoting the upcoming release of the ever-popular FIFA Soccer video game franchise. The commercial features athletes Landon Donovan, Hope Solo, Steve Nash, and Tim Lincecum.  Electronic Arts inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced the launch of the “EA SPORTS™ FIFA Soccer 12 Takeover Tour,” a nationwide, 40-city, six-week long program that showcases FIFA Soccer 12, the number one selling sports videogame franchise on the planet, and PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment systems.  The tour is scheduled to arrive in Washington, D.C. on October 14th.Throughout six weeks, two vehicles outfitted with 15 TVs along with 15 PS3™ systems, plus a full-time crew, will travel the East Coast while another team will visit West Coast cities.  At each Tour stop, fans will have the opportunity to play FIFA Soccer 12, as well as receive free prizes courtesy of EA SPORTS and PlayStation®, including Adidas-branded FIFA Soccer 12 T-shirts and the chance to win a PS3™ system.The EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 12 Takeover Tour will be supported by an integrated marketing campaign, including live Twitter feeds, Facebook fan page updates, PlayStation.com and more, that will drive game and tour awareness, in addition to driving attendance at Tour stops. FIFA Soccer 12 will be available in stores September 27 in North America and September 30 worldwide for the PlayStation®3, Xbox 360®, PC, Mac, Wii™, PC, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo 3DS™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, iPhone®, iPad™, and iPod® touch. The game will also be available for digital download on PC at origin.com.For more information about the EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 12 Takeover Tour, including specific Tour stop details, visit EA.com/soccer/news/FIFA-12-Takeover-Tour-1 or via the Tour’s Twitter Feed at twitter.com/EAFIFA12Tour.  Visit the official FIFA Soccer 12 game page at fifa.easports.com/. 

FIFA 12 Only CRACK-RELOADED | 22 Mb

Year: 2011 | Genre: Sport (Soccer) / 3D | Platform: PC | Publication Type: Only CRACK Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: EA Canada

Only Crack by RELOADED!

On the game: FIFA Soccer 12 brings to the pitch the game-changing new Player Impact Engine, a physics engine built to deliver real-world physicality in every interaction on the pitch. Revolutionary gameplay innovations inspired by the real-world of soccer make FIFA Soccer 12 deeper and more engaging. All-new Precision Dribbling delivers a higher fidelity of touch on the ball for attacking players, while Tactical Defending fundamentally changes the approach to defending by placing equal importance on positioning, intercepting passes and tackling. Plus, CPU players have been infused with Pro Player Intelligence, the next generation of player intelligence and performance. Stay tuned for more features to be announced in the coming months.

NFO:

Code:paste2.org/p/1674756

Install: 1. Unrar. 2. Burn or mount the image. 3. Install the game. Redistributables as needed in __Installer dir afterwards. 4. Copy over the cracked content from the Crack dir on the disc to your Game dir. 5. Play the game. Video config is in Gamefifasetupfifasetup.exe.

Year: 2011 Genre: Sport (Soccer) / 3D Developer: EA Canada Publisher: Electronic Arts Platform: PC Publication Type: Only CRACK Size: 22 Mb

Download:

Code:filesonic.com/file/2211712201

Original file crack (scene):

Code:filesonic.com/file/2211690471

Electronic Arts put the biscuit in the basket nearly a half million times last week. The publisher today revealed that it sold 451,000 copies of NHL 12 in the game’s first week on sale.

The hockey sim posted franchise-best retail receipts of more than $27 million worldwide for its launch week, with the number of copies sold up 19 percent year-over-year. The publisher also said gamers posted 6.9 million online game sessions during the launch week, the most in the series’ history.

EA Sports updated this year’s version of the series with a new “Full Contact” physics engine. The publisher aimed to increase realism in the game, adding in such features as goalies that can be interfered with more realistically, as well as net battles. It also revamped the Be a Pro career mode and added a handful of legends to the game, including Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Gordie Howe.

EA’s plans for hockey don’t end with NHL 12. The publisher also today announced NHL Superstars, a free-to-play Facebook game that will launch early next month. in Superstars, players will cobble together a team of pros and pit them against their friends’ squads in head-to-head matchups.

EA sports Active 2.0EA Sports Active 2.0available now! (release date:November 16th, 2010), by Electronic Arts (EA Sports)[news] [trailer] [gameplay] [screenshots][preview] [review] [achievements] [order here]Read on for more info on this Kinect game, and the other Kinect Game that just released: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part I. Refer to our full Kinect Games list if you are interested in not just these two but an overview of all Kinect Games.Kinect Game: EA Sports Active 2.0 informationCreate unlimited customizable workouts with combinations of more than 70 games and activities, and exercise with games every day without the need for a controllerTrack your heart rate on screen in real time with the innovative EA Sports Active heart rate monitor that rests comfortably on your forearmWatch your body’s every move translate seamlessly on screenChart your progress and share your achievements as part of the EA Sports Active online global community, and join groups of people with similar goalsBuild muscle with foundational exercises like squats, lunges and bicep curls, and shake up your routine with a huge range of fun fitness activities from mountain biking and dodgeball to boxing and moreCommit to a progressive nine-week body-conditioning program crafted by fitness experts to get you in shape and keep you motivated, following a workout roadmapAdd on extra workout mini-programs to keep your motivation high after nine weeks are upGet customized fitness advice from a personal trainerDownload new workouts and exercises via Xbox Live to keep workouts fresh and maintain motivation (Internet connection and EA account required)Includes the EA Sports Active 2 game and the Active heart rate monitorFor 1 to 2 playersSimilar Kinect GamesYour Shape: Fitness EvolvedThe biggest Loser: Ultimate WorkoutZumba Fitness (18th of November, 2010)Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part IHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part Iavailable now! (release date:November 16th, 2010), by Electronic Arts[news] [trailer] [gameplay] [screenshots][preview] [review] [achievements] [order here]Kinect Game: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part I Info

Yes, I know, the video says 19th of November, but Amazon reports the 16th, so I guess they’ll deliver it early then!the time for learning is over. the time to meet your destiny has arrived. the Harry Potter saga builds to its thrilling conclusion in this game based on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part I. the stakes have never been higher for Harry, and Deathly Hallows takes the franchise in a new direction centered on furious wand-based combat. You’re on the run right from the start in a desperate quest to destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Battle Dementors, Death Eaters, and other powerful enemies with only your wand to help you. Use potions, your Invisibility Cloak, and more while you stare down your destiny as the only one who can defeat Voldemort.the first hybrid Kinect game! well, you don’t required Kinect for this game, but you get some additional fun with Kinect!the wand is the ultimate weapon – Hold nothing back! Unleash an arsenal of formidable magic to defeat attackers, protect yourself from harm and evade capture.Deadly enemies lurk around every corner – Fight Voldemort’s minions, including Death Eaters, Snatchers and Dementors. Overcome a host of fierce creatures attacking on instinct alone. No other Harry Potter game has had this level of action!Become a master in stealth – Use the Invisibility Cloak, Polyjuice Potion and Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder to avoid detection and sneak past adversaries.Unique cover mechanics – Use magic to create and wield cover. Throw your cover at enemies, turning defence into attack.Powerful potions – Find potions that can be used to attack, escape, restore health or increase your luck.Similar Kinect enabled GamesThere’s nothing quite like it just yet.do you feel it isinterestingwe line-up games that just released, or will be release on 123 Kinect? the game information texts are the officially release game descriptions on Amazon. Share your thoughts below!

Comments

26 comments so far

You didn’t mention a a long time exclusive developer Insomniac Games, which has produced the delightful Ratchet and Clank games along with Resistance and Spyro.

Jason says: Insomniac are independent. their next game after Resistance 3 will be multi-format and published by Electronic Arts. I’m sure Sony tried many times to bring them into the fold, but Ted Price has said many times that the studio’s independence was really important to them. 

Matthew Barton | Running with the Devil. – August 11, 2011, 7:55AM

ajm – August 11, 2011, 8:30AM

Definitely plays a part, I find that Sony’s exclusives have far better quality than most third-party games. they look better than most and are more fun to play. some third party games are poorly ported though.

gertec | Sydney – August 11, 2011, 9:17AM

I was going to bring you up on:

"a single loss could be described as unfortunate, but to lose several key studios looks careless or worse still, appears as if Microsoft is not committed to the long-term future of its Xbox gaming division".

But then you addressed this yourself with:

"Microsoft has relied much more heavily on third-party support than Nintendo and Sony, and it hasn’t yet seemed to have hurt them. in fact, it could be a reason why the Xbox business has remained so profitable."

So yes, thank you for realising that it really doesnt matter WHO makes the game so long as your platform acquires it exclusively (even timed exclusively if required).

Darryn | Melbourne – August 11, 2011, 10:04AM

maybe its also because Microsofts console is easier to program for and with. just like the OS. they release good SDK’s and rely on others.

Sony, this generation, is known for its harder to code for system.

Gankul | Warriewood – August 11, 2011, 10:11AM

360 exclusives are terrible – I only have 6 and half of those are Halo. Pfft…

Nintendo and Sony on the other hand really have it going on in this department.

Charlie Miso | Part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor – August 11, 2011, 10:16AM

I dont know about ‘far better’ quality.

The only first party franchise winning majority adoration from the wider games press is Uncharted; specificially the sequel, which picked up alot of GOTY 2009 awards.

Most others can be viewed positively sure, your likes of infamous, ratchet & clank, killzone have their audiences. but compared to the mindshare mutliplatform games have enjoyed the last few years I’d say your conclusion of general better quality is well off.

I think this is largely a myth brought about by the idea that exclusive platform development translates to greater familiarity which translates to better games.

To that I say Resistance 2.

Its hard to point out any first party developer / product that has been able to significantly stand out above their multiplatform counter-parts over the last 3-4 years. I would name Mass Effect 2, but as we know its no longer platform exclusive.

Ultimately I think exclusives attracts headlines – attracts fanboys – attracts tunnel vision – attracts sales, though the numbers generally might not be as impressive compared to the rest of the industry any more.

It doesnt really matter all that much whether given exclusive IP franchise is developed internally or farmed out.

I think Microsoft’s ‘retreat’ from first party development has been somewhat vindicated by the relative success of XBLA & Kinect. while 3 of their major franchises will recieve a release this year – Halo Annivesary, Gears of War 3 & Forza 4.

I cant say I purchased an Xbox360 or a PS3 due to exclusives alone. in fact for Xbox360, I was pushed over the line by EB having their first extensive sale of 360 titles, while my PS3 purchase came down to release of ‘Eye of Judgement’ & the forthcoming Rock Band.

Darryn | Melbourne – August 11, 2011, 10:17AM

I had no specific reason why I first got an Xbox, I just felt like getting a console and it seemed reasonable. My love for Halo, Fable and assorted Bioware games (KOTOR, Jade Empire), and the impending release of Oblivion, kept me on the Microsoft tip for the 360… which looking back on the games I’ve played, I’m happy I did.

But given the way things are going for multi-platform releases for so many of the games from developers/in franchises that I like (and I think Sony taking the lead in exclusives), I’m not sure what I will do next generation. (Geez, pipe-dream wish for next gen is the quality of Sony exclusives mixed with the quality of MS XBL online services).

So in short, yes. Microsoft need to pick up their act on exclusives. And no, XBLA releases and Kinect avatar games don’t cut it.

Swordfactor – August 11, 2011, 10:24AM

I’d argue Bioshock, even if it is multi-platform now.

@topic if I were purchasing one now, I’d probably go the PS3 for Uncharted. but… if I was purchasing one now, I’m not sure I’d know that.

Mr Ak – August 11, 2011, 10:38AM

Surely the only reason for exclusives, as you elude to in your comments, is to have the market ‘decide’ to jump on your platform first, whether it then becomes a household exclusive platform is up to the financial & enthusiast factors of the individual.

Therefore, should it really surprise anyone now that 6 years into this console cycle, the exclusives have slowly declined from Microsoft? Sony still had a point to prove 2009 and even into 2010. they assumed to take the mantle of industry leader by years end 2007 & got a rude awakening.

When you think of the position both companies were in mid-late 2005 – almost every significant franchise had PS2 as its primary development platform & many took the view that porting was not worth the effort – to where we are now; I would say Microsoft have achieved something almost unpredictable.

Jason makes mention of the studios Microsoft has nominally ‘lost’ from exclusives developer to multiplatform, but can anyone produce a list of PS2 exclusives that went multiplatform over the last 5 years? It would be huge.

The honcho’s at Microsoft Studios arent dummies. they would know that for their successor console to have a shot it would need compelling exclusive titles. I dont think where they are currently, deep in XBLA & Kinect, should be seen as much of an indication on their plans for the next generation.

But then maybe Im blinded by faith?

Darryn | Melbourne – August 11, 2011, 10:40AM

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Press Release Source: Electronic Arts inc. on Thursday August 11, 2011, 9:00 am EDT

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Electronic Arts inc., (NASDAQ:ERTS – News) announced today that the EA SPORTS™ tennis simulation video game, EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis 2, will be entering the high definition era for the first time and will be available on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, including support of the PlayStation® move controller. EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis 2 will feature all four Grand Slam® championships and is the only game to feature Wimbledon. Players can experience the thrill of serving up aces on Wimbledon’s prestigious Centre Court, hitting cross-court winners on the clay courts of the French Open, play under the bright lights at the U.S. Open or work on your serve and volley game at the Australian Open. in addition, the game features a deep roster of elite past and present players and will be coming worldwide in 2012.

“We are very excited to bring the EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis franchise to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms and leverage the graphical power of these high definition consoles,” said Line Producer Thomas Singleton. “Players will now get to experience the excitement and drama of serving it up on prestigious tennis venues such as Wimbledon’s famed Centre Court.”

Grand Slam® Tennis 2 will include a host of gameplay features including:

• All-New Total Racquet Control: Control every shot with the right analog stick, smashing forehands, backhands, overheads and volleys with precision, accuracy and power. Utilize this innovative control system to take your game to the top! But if you prefer the old school button controls, those are still available!
• Become a Champion: Become a true Grand Slam® tournament champion by capturing all four major championships in succession. The prestige of some of the most historic events in tennis come alive like never before, including the Australian Open, French Open, U.S. Open and exclusive to EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis franchise – Wimbledon.
• PlayStation move Support: The motion control experience gets you on your feet and puts a racquet right in the palm of your hands. From casual players to tennis masters, you truly have the chance to swing your way to victory.
• Legends of now and Then: Play with or against more than 20 of the greatest players to ever grace the courts, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Bjorn Borg, Maria Sharapova, Serena and Venus Williams and exclusive to EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis franchise, seventeen-time winner of a Grand Slam® tournament John McEnroe.
• Professional, Realistic, Organic (P.R.O.). AI: The playing styles and behaviors of the sport’s greatest stars are captured right down to their signature swings and emotional reactions. Realistic tactics and strategies are your keys to success against each legend whether playing on hard court, clay or grass. The organic artificial intelligence adapts to your game so there’s never a dull moment!
• ESPN Grand Slam® Tournament Classics: Relive some of the most memorable moments in tennis. From Borg versus McEnroe to Nadal versus Federer, play your way through history unlocking up to 25 amazing moments of Grand Slam® tournaments.
• Deep Tennis Experience: Play countless hours of tennis in Grand Slam® Career mode – singles and doubles, through a 10-year career or battle online. A wide variety of online gameplay features, Photo Game Face and more keep your experience fresh and authentic.

for more information about Grand Slam® Tennis 2, visit easports.com/grandslamtennis2.

EA SPORTS™ is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA JAM basketball, NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS Active. For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit easports.com to connect, share and compete.

for more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game communities, please visit easports.com to connect, share and compete.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS – News) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company’s game franchises are offered as both packaged goods products and online services delivered through Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets. EA has more than 100 million registered players and operates in 75 countries.

in fiscal 2011, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster franchises such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed™, Battlefield, and Mass Effect™. more information about EA is available at info.ea.com.

EA, EA SPORTS, The Sims and Need for Speed are trademarks of Electronic Arts inc. Mass Effect is a trademark of EA International (Studio and Publishing) ltd. GRAND SLAM is a registered Trademark jointly owned by Tennis Australia, French Tennis Federation, all England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and the United States Tennis Association. GRAND SLAM is used by EA with the permission of the GSTP. John Madden, NFL, NHL, NBA, NCAA, Tiger Woods, PGA TOUR, The Masters and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment inc. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. all other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.