News

ZT Online Developer Giant Interactive Reports Drop In Q2 Profits
ZT Online Developer Giant Interactive Reports Drop In Q2 Profits
Chinese online game company Giant Interactive has posted financial results for the second quarter of the 2011 fiscal year, noting a 94.5 percent year-on-year drop in profits to RMB10.2 million ($1.6 million).
Aug. 9, 2011
Playfish And Facebook Speak On The Launch Of The Sims Social
Playfish And Facebook Speak On The Launch Of The Sims Social
EA threw an event in San Francisco to promote the launch of The Sims Social, which is currently in open beta and which will launch soon -- and Gamasutra got a chance to speak to Playfish's CJ Prober and Facebook's Ethan Beard about the game.
Aug. 9, 2011
Opinion: Synchronous or Asynchronous Gameplay
Opinion: Synchronous or Asynchronous Gameplay
In this opinion piece, UK-based game designer Tadhg Kelly describes the differences between game time and real time, outlines contemporal and atemporal play, and discusses interactions between synchrony and "temporany."
Aug. 9, 2011
Lego Universe Adds Leveling System
Lego Universe Adds Leveling System
A leveling system has now been added to the Lego Universe MMO as a means of giving players "a sense of achievement," allowing players to level their characters up via missions and achievements.
Aug. 9, 2011
EA's Playfish Signs With Nanigans Ad Engine
EA's Playfish Signs With Nanigans Ad Engine
Playfish announced today that it has signed an agreement with real-time bidding platform Nanigans that will see the company's Nanigans Ad Engine used to manage Facebook advertising campaigns exclusively.
Aug. 9, 2011
Activision: Call Of Duty Gamers 'More Engaged' Than Facebook Gamers
Activision: Call Of Duty Gamers 'More Engaged' Than Facebook Gamers
Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg said his company's cautious approach toward the social space is warranted, and that Call of Duty gamers are "more engaged" than those who play the top Facebook titles.
Aug. 9, 2011
Gamasutra Member Blogs: From Encounter Design To iPad Controls
Gamasutra Member Blogs: From Encounter Design To iPad Controls
In highlights from Gamasutra's Member Blogs, our bloggers write about diverse topics, such as encounter design in shooters, adapting an HTML5 game's controls for the iPad, lessons from BioWare vet
Aug. 9, 2011
Game Rental Company GameFly Goes Digital With Unlimited Play Service
Game Rental Company GameFly Goes Digital With Unlimited Play Service
GameFly will launch a new "unlimited play" digital delivery service for subscribers this Holiday season, the company has announced, bringing to mind packages offered by Netflix.
Aug. 9, 2011
Analysts Not As Confident As Take-Two On NBA 2K12
Analysts Not As Confident As Take-Two On NBA 2K12
Despite a potential league lockout looking more and more likely, Take-Two is confident that its retro-focused NBA 2K12 will continue the series' healthy sales. Analysts are not so sure.
Aug. 9, 2011
Kim: Early Developer Ecosystems Key In Emerging Platforms
Kim: Early Developer Ecosystems Key In Emerging Platforms
Former Microsoft Games Studios vice president Shane Kim talks to Gamasutra about joining Moai platform creator Zipline Games' board of directors, and his view of the rapidly-shifting mobile market.
Aug. 9, 2011
Feature: How History And Fiction Affected Age Of Empires II
Feature: How History And Fiction Affected Age Of Empires II
In Gamasutra's latest feature, the portrayal of Joan of Arc in Age of Empires II is examined, with an ex-Ensemble developer describing the player as a "semi
Aug. 9, 2011
Hampshire school data breach highlights need for multiple passwords
Hampshire school data breach highlights need for multiple passwords
A data breach at Bay House School in Hampshire has highlighted the importance of not using the same password for different websites and applications, say experts.
Aug. 9, 2011