3/15 Edge Online - Interactive Entertainment Today

Edge Online - Interactive Entertainment Today Insomniac Opens Social Games Division March 14, 2011 at 8:52 AM Ratchet And Clank studio sets up dedicated mobile and social wing, Insomniac Click. Insomniac, developer of the Ratchet And Clank series, has formed a dedicated social gaming division, Insomniac Click. In a lengthy blog post on the firm’s website, Insomniac CCO Brian Hastings says that a formal move into mobile and social gaming is “a pragmatic necessity”. read more Bigpoint Raises Its Game March 14, 2011 at 8:31 AM How Germany's biggest browser-game publisher is closing the gap between free-to-play and triple-A. read more Don Bluth Returns With Tapper World Tour March 14, 2011 at 8:03 AM Dragon’s Lair animator returning to videogames with iOS title slated for spring release. Renowned animator and filmmaker Don Bluth has announced a return to videogames with Tapper World Tour. Bluth and partner Gary Goldman are teaming up with Warner Bros and Square One Studios on the game, set for an iOS release, an update of Midway’s 1983 arcade game using Bluth’s distinctive animation. read more Dragon Age II Tops UK Chart March 14, 2011 at 6:58 AM Bioware RPG takes top spot in its first week on sale, knocking Pokémon White from the summit. BioWare’s roleplaying sequel Dragon Age II is the new UK number one. It knocks last week’s number one, Pokémon White, into second place, with Pokémon Black falling to fourth spot as Fight Night Champion holds onto the third place it secured in last week’s chart. read more Publishers Pledge Support To Earthquake Relief March 14, 2011 at 6:33 AM Sony, Nintendo and Namco among Japanese firms to dip into their pockets to help relief effort. A host of Japanese publishers have announced that they are donating to charity to help fund the relief effort following last Friday’s Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. According to Andriasang, Tecmo Koei is donating 10 million yen to the Japan Red Cross, and is also accepting donations from staff and the general public. Sega Sammy is to donate 200 million yen. read more Earthquake Brings Cancellations and Delays March 14, 2011 at 5:08 AM Yakuza, Marvel Vs Capcom 3, Motorstorm and more cancelled or delayed following Tohoku earthquake. The Tohoku earthquake and resulting tsunami have brought widespread devastation to Japan, and as the relief effort begins, news is beginning to filter through of a number of cancellations and delays for planned videogame releases. read more Game Industry Hit As Nikkei Slumps March 14, 2011 at 4:07 AM Sony, Capcom, Tecmo Koei hit hard as 23.5 trillion yen wiped off stock market in busiest day of trading since WWII. Some $287 billion was wiped off the value of the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Monday, the first day of trading since Friday’s Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and several videogame firms have been hit hard. read more Zynga Partners With Save The Children March 14, 2011 at 3:17 AM Social gaming giant adds special virtual items, with all sales proceeds going to earthquake relief fund. Facebook gaming king Zynga has teamed up with Save The Children to help raise funds for the relief effort in Japan following last Friday’s Tohoku earthquake. Zynga is introducing ways to donate into eight of its games, with 100 per cent of the purchase price of certain virtual items to be passed on to the Japan Earthquake Tsunami Children Emergency Fund, set up by Save The Children. read more Sega Donates Revenues To Earthquake Relief March 14, 2011 at 2:40 AM One week’s sales revenue from Sports Interactive’s Football Manager Handheld to be donated to earthquake relief. Sega and Sports Interactive are to donate a week’s sales revenue to a Tohoku earthquake relief fund. For one week beginning last Friday, the day the earthquake struck north-eastern Japan, all sales revenue from iPhone title Football Manager Handheld 2011 will be donated to charity. read more Irem Cancels Disaster Report 4 March 14, 2011 at 2:23 AM PS3 title, originally set for release this spring, cancelled following Tohoku earthquake. Irem has cancelled Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories in the wake of Friday’s Tohoku earthquake and resulting tsunami. Andriasang reports that Irem released a brief statement confirming the game’s cancellation, neglecting to provide a reason but apologising to fans and those who had worked on the game. read more Japanese Online Services Shut Down To Save Power March 14, 2011 at 1:53 AM Metal Gear Online, Final Fantasy XI and XIV shut down to conserve energy following power plant explosions. Several Japanese online gaming services have been shut down in a bid to save power following last Friday’s earthquake and tsunami. read more