Connected Gaming Week - June 22, 2012

by Wonacott Communications

To build a legacy in the gaming industry isn't to release a few hit titles, it requires a longevity that supersedes a generation of consoles. Chinese Internet and mobile operator Tencent made a huge stride in establishing its own dynasty this week by acquiring a significant minority stake in Epic Games, creators of the Gears of War franchise and owners of the Unreal graphics engine license. How this fits in to Tencent's  online gaming future hasn't been disclosed yet, but if the success of League of Legends, which the company acquired last year for $400 million is any indication, Tencent's legacy is just beginning.

In other dynastic news this week was the announcement of Electronic Arts selling the film rights to its Need for Speed racing franchise to DreamWorks Studios, with a movie due out sometime in 2014. Additionally, Ubisoft took a similar step by registering film domains for its E3 shocker Watch Dogs. This isn’t the only game Ubisoft plans to make into a movie with the company talking to Paramount Pictures for a Splinter Cell film. 

Finally, presented with limited comment is this amazing infographic from AppAnnie, the mobile analytical firm that's tracked statistics on Apple's iTunes store and Google Play (formerly Android Marketplace). If you had any doubt about the seriousness of the mobile games market, consider those doubts erased.

The Industry
Australian R18+ Video Games Rating Finally Passed
The Future of Gaming Tech Looks Brighter Than Ever
The Time is Right for Socially Positive Games, Says ESA Head
UKIE Polling Devs to Ensure Effective Tax Breaks for Game Industry
Analysis: Little Hope for Short-Term U.S. Game Retail Turnaround
The End of the Console Era?

The Players
CBS Wins Battle for Draw Something TV Show - Report
Facebook Abandons Credits, Allows App Developers to Charge Monthly Fees
Ubisoft Registers Watch Dogs Film Domains
Facebook Launches Game Subscriptions
Gaming Company Gaikai Seeks Buyer
Nintendo UK GM David Yarnton Leaves Company After 17 Years
South Korea Forces Blizzard to Give Diablo III Refunds
Tencent Acquires Minority Stake in Epic Games
App Annie Launches Analytics for Google Play Android Apps
Kickstarter Success Rate for Games Even Lower Than Initially Reported
Gameloft Bringing “My Little Pony” Game to Mobile Platforms This Year

The Entertainment
Anarchy Reigns Delayed Until 2013
Binding of Isaac Sells 700 Thousand, Console Version Teased
Enter the Dominatrix Now Part of Saints Row 4
Need for Speed Gets the DreamWorks Movie Treatment
Fire Emblem 3DS Confirmed for 2013
Pangya Announces Global Cup Tournament Challenge

The Technologies
Microsoft Announcement: ‘Surface’ Tablet with Windows 8
Will Xbox 360 Be Banned in the United States?
Vita Hardware and Software Sales Spike in Japan
Xbox 720 Due Spring 2014 - Analyst
Amazon Lists Wii U for December 21
Nintendo 3DS Gets Bigger with 3DS XL Announcement

Upcoming Industry Events
MobileBeat / GamesBeat, San Francisco, July 10-12
San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego, July 12-15,
Gamescom, Cologne, Aug. 15-19
PAX Prime, Seattle, Aug. 31-Sept. 2
New York Games Conference, New York, Sept. 5
LOGIN, San Francisco, Sept. 26-27
GDC Online, Austin, Oct. 10-13