PlayStation Move Interview

Joystiq’s Andrew Yoon interviews Scott Rohde, vice president at Sony Worldwide Studios overseeing games for PlayStation Move. Yoon gets insight on what s coming down the pike for the device from Sony and third-party developers.

Read it at Joystiq.

Venturing Into Social Gaming

Writing for Forbes, Oliver J. Chiang penned this article after attending a panel at last week’s Game Developers Conference gathering investors from Norwest Venture Partners, The Raine Group and Vanedge Capital. The panel discussed where venture money is now looking to flow in the social game category. Read it at Forbes.

M2 Research Report On Female Gamers

Reposted from Friday’s the[a]listdaily, here’s the report from Wanda Meloni of M2 Research, The Next Frontier Female Gaming Demographics. Apparently the link we used expired at some point over the weekend. You can now read it at M2 Research.

(Thanks to M2 Research for spotting it and updating the link for us.)

CAA Nabs Ex-Infinity Ward Heads

The two Call of Duty and Modern Warfare co-creators who were recently let go by Activision might be wheeling and dealing even as they re embroiled in a lawsuit over their release. LA Times reports that ex-Infinity Ward heads Vince Zampella and Jason West have signed with Creative Artists Agency, one of Hollywood s top talent agencies. The outlet says the signing of the pair, considered top videogame brass after making Modern Warfare 2 one of the most profitable games in history, is a coup for CAA. A source told the paper that other Hollywood agencies were chasing the game makers before CAA closed the deal. LA Times also calls the move a sign that Zampell and West are already seeking their next gig despite just filing a suit against Activision for wrongful termination. Read more at LA Times.

PlayStation Home Sees Growth Spurts

Joystiq reports on a Sony session at last week’s Game Developers Conference highlighting recent growth spurts for PlayStation Home, the free avatar-populated social and gaming space on PlayStation Network. During the session Sony PlayStation Home director Jack Buser said the service now has twelve million users, doubling its user base since June 2009 and adding two million users since just December. He added that 85 percent of those who sign up and create avatars return more than once to the service. Buser called Home an incredibly important part of Sony’s strategy” and cited internal efforts with creating content for it. Joystiq says Buser’s talk was directed to developers considering making games and other content specifically for Home. Read more at Joystiq.

For Music Gamers, A Real Axe To Grind

Seven45 Studios used the Game Developers Conference to unveil a music game destined for videogame consoles that incorporates a real guitar, reports AP.  The studio, owned by Boston based musical instrument maker First Act, is developing Power Gig: Rise of the SixString for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game will use a real six-string guitar in place of the mostly button-based, guitar-shaped controllers utilized in Activision s Guitar Hero and MTV Games Rock Band games. Seven45 Studios told AP that Power Gig will have an easy mode similar to those titles beat-based rhythm games as well as challenges where players must strum specific chords. But with its controller being a real guitar, players can use it outside of the game by plugging it into any standard amp. AP says Power Gig is slated for fall 2010 release and will be priced comparably to current music game and accessory bundles. Read more from AP.

NPD Reports Another Decline For Game Industry Sales

Industry Gamers has its recap of NPD Group’s game sales report for February. The outlet’s editors tag team the report, which recorded yet another down month for the industry. David Radd recaps, and James Brightman talks to analysts Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities and Jesse Divnich of EEDAR for insight into the numbers.

 

 

Ad Age Viral Video Chart For Week Of March 1

Ad Age lists the top 10 viral videos for the week of March 1 based on viewer tracking by online video firm Visible Measures.

 

New entries this week are a Pedigree dog food spot, a Pamela Anderson spot for Australia’s GoDaddy clone Crazy Domains, and a World Cup themed viral from Pepsi. Old Spice stays at the top for the second week in a row. Check out the full list and watch the videos at Ad Age.

Doritos Tablet

Just like Apple’s doing with app devices, Doritos is out to make nacho chips a little less mobile. The Frito Lay brand has a viral video spoofing the iPad and just about all things Apple, complete with upbeat tone, lofty verbiage and pristine white background. Check it out at FastCompany.