Details For LittleBigPlanet 2’s Euro Collector’s Edition

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Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today unveiled the details of the Limited Collector s Edition of LittleBigPlanet 2. It will include seven exclusive PSN avatars, plus seven Sackboy outfits, including a Toy Story 3 Alien Costume, a Tron: Legacy Clu Costume, a Muppets The Great Gonzo Costume and four animal costumes.

Sadly, this collector’s edition does not include the plush Sackboys or LittleBigPlanet bookends that the American version has. Pre-order bonuses for LittleBigPlanet 2 include iconic PlayStation characters Jak, Daxter, Ratchet and Clank.

Source: blog.eu.playstation.com

Entropia Universe Sees $335,000 Land Deal

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According to a report on EntropiaPlanets, the largest virtual item sale in the history of Entropia Universe (or any other virtual world) recently took place. Several bio domes, a mall, stadium and a club were sold from Jon Jacobs to John Foma Kalun for the princely sum of $335,000.

Jacobs has been involved in expensive transactions in the past, including a virtual asteroid for $100,000. That was the most expensive virtual item sale (which is legal in Entropia Universe) until the 2009 sale of the Crystal Palace Space Station for $330,000.

Source: Edge

MMO Market Seeing Transition From Subscription To Microtransactions – Report

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Parks Associates estimates that microtransactions will overtake subscription models for MMO games going forward. They estimate that $6 billion will be spent on virtual goods by 2015.

“Gamers are investing real money in virtual items in Farmville, World of Warcraft, and other online games, to the point they are filing lawsuits to establish ‘ownership’ of these virtual goods,” said Pietro Macchiarella, research analyst for Parks Associates. “The enormous player base, availability on multiple devices, and the introduction of instruments such as Facebook Credits contribute to growing revenues.”

In their report Online Gaming: Global Outlook, 19 percent of active gamers spend money on in-game items, while online game subscriptions went down from 35 percent in 2008 to 28 percent in 2010. Companies like Zynga and Nexon have capitalized on this growing trend.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult to justify subscription fees,” Macchiarella said. “Thanks to social games and free-to-play MMOs, both casual and hardcore players have the option of playing quality games online for free. The virtual-items model that has proven so successful in Asia is finally generating significant revenues in North America.”

Utopios: Breakfast Of Heroes

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NCsoft took a unique tack for a recent press copy, releasing it in a box of cereal called Utopios. Along with the cereal, there’s also the City of Heroes Going Rogue Complete Collection, a Heroclix figure, a graphic novel, and a sketch of Mike Fahey as a superhero.

Source: Kotaku

Blizzard Preps New Charity Pets

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Blizzard revealed a sneak peak at the latest pets for World of Warcraft: Lil’ Ragnaros and the Moonkin Hatchling. Part of the proceeds from the purchase of both will go to the Make-A-Wish foundation.

The Moonkin Hatchling pet, it must be noted, comes in two forms, one for the Horde and one for the Alliance. The release date and charity partnership plans will be announced soon.

Source: US.Battle.Net

IPhone Users Have Bigger Credit Card Bills, Lower Mobile Payments

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Mobile pay service Pageonce recently revealed some insightful user data. Interestingly, iPhone users have far and away the highest average monthly credit card balance, a full 35 percent higher than Windows Mobile users whether this means they have more debt or simply use their cards more is unknown.

More interestingly, however, was the revelation that the monthly phone bills were actually cheaper. Pageonce data shows that Windows Mobile users have the highest mobile phone bills (this is the current charges plus any past due), writes Steve Schultz, COO of Pageonce. The average Windows Mobile user has a 24.5 percent higher wireless bill than the average iPhone user.

What How can that be I thought app- and data-obsessed iPhone users would have had the highest bills. I suspect Blackberry’s high proportion of business users account for its higher bills, he continued. Android and Windows Mobile users may have a higher proportion of family plans. I need to study it more, but it’s interesting data nonetheless. I’d love to hear your hypotheses and explanations.

Source: Pageonce

Gazillion Gets $60 Million In Funding

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Gazillion Entertainment has received $60 million in funding from Singapore PE firm Temasek Holdings. The developer says it will use this money to expand its business.

Gazillion has been working on the development of mainstream MMO titles like Marvel Super Hero Squad and Lego Universe. Temasek Holdings, which is owned by the Singapore government, is joined by previous Gazillion backers that include Hearst Corp., Abu Dhabi Media Company, Revolution Ventures, and Pelion Ventures.

Source: PaidContent.Org