November 17, 2005
The BS Brotherhood of the Networks
Today's LA Times ran the following piece: Networks say TV ads still matter Subhead: Executives seek to use their own research and findings from Nielsen to show that DVRs such as TiVo don't pose as big a threat as once fear. Translation: Self-serving and flawed research respectively. Let's continue...Findings... [MORE]
June 23, 2005
DG Launches Games.net
IDG Entertainment, which publishes GamePro magazine, has launched a gamer-targeted Web site, Games.net.
The new site leverages IDG's gaming expertise, focusing on gaming news, product reviews, downloads and cheats using a combination of original content and content aggregated from IDG's various online properties.
Upon launch, Games.net joins a crowded online universe of gamer-oriented fare. Besides the numerous blogs and niche gamer sites, properties ranging from GameSpot.com to IGN.com to IDG's own GamePro.com each cover similar territory. Just this week, Future Network USA launched two gaming-related online properties.
May 02, 2005
TBS Enters Gaming Fray With GameTap Channel
Turner Broadcasting System announced on Wednesday that it will join the video game business with a new broadband channel called GameTap, set to launch in fourth quarter.
Adopting the same strategy it used to build Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies, Turner's plan is to acquire a library of 1,100 video games (of old and newer titles) so gamers can access everything from Pac Man and Sonic to Myst and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. The network currently has deals in place with about 17 game publishers for around 1,000 games.
"Games will be to the 21st century what movies were the 20th century," said Blake Lewin, vice president of product development for Turner who created the platform for GameTap.
Come fall, gamers will be able to download software from the Web site gametap.com to their desktop and access top games that go all the way back to the heyday of the 1980s arcade scene. The cost per subscriber will be $10-$20 per month.
There will also be limited sponsorship opportunities for advertisers. Turner declined to elaborate on advertising models, but one possibility of sponsorship could be through the packaging Turner plans to create around the video game content. Similar to TBS's "Dinner & A Movie," GameTap will offer hosted segments featuring "making of" and "behind the scenes" clips about the games.
"If we are successful with this, advertisers [will] realize this is a good place to promote new games," Lewin said.
Lewin and Quinn began working on the channel about two years ago after realizing that 40 percent of homes had a gaming console. They further presumed that the high number of consoles meant people were playing games rather than watching TBS and TNT.
"Our [affiliate] programming partners are asking us to produce linear content and video-on-demand product, but a good portion of their business is hi-speed applications," said Dennis Quinn, executive vp of business development. "We are trying to build compelling brands that will flow across all platforms."
According to Turner's analysis of market research, the number of broadband-equipped homes will jump 110 percent to 80 million by 2010.
April 20, 2005
THQ Announces Support for Microsoft's Next-Generation Xbox Video Game Platform
THQ today announced support for Microsoft's next-generation Xbox(R) video game platform. Internal studios Relic Entertainment and Volition, Inc. are leading the company's efforts by developing new, exclusive content for the new system.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041118/LATH093LOGO)
"Microsoft's next-generation technology will enable a level of realism never before experienced by gamers," said Jack Sorensen, executive vice president of worldwide studios, THQ. "The teams at Relic and Volition have been working closely with the development team at Microsoft to ensure that our titles utilize the new system to its fullest potential."
About Xbox
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live online service. The tagline, "it's good to play together," captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.
About THQ
THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Korea and Australia. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com and www.thqwireless.com. THQ, THQ Wireless and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "THQ") and may include, but are not limited to, statements related to the release of Microsoft's next-generation Xbox videogame system and THQ's intent to develop content for such system. Such statements are based upon management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements, including, but not limited to economic, competitive and technological factors affecting the operations, markets, products, services and pricing of THQ. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQ's financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2004, and particularly the discussion of risk factors that may affect results of operations set forth therein. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
WildTangent, 24/7 Real Media Team Up
Yet another player has entered the emerging in-game advertising space as WildTangent, which publishes and markets online games, has partnered with 24/7 Real Media and will begin serving live ads within games across its network.
WildTangent has relationships with several major PC manufacturers, game portals, and broadband providers through which users can test out a variety of online games up to a certain level free of charge. These players then have option to purchase the full version of these games, typically priced at $19.95. The company recorded 150 million "game plays" in 2004.
The first game to feature 24/7 Real Media's Open Stream ad serving technology will be "Snowboard Super Jam," which will feature prominent presence from both Jeep and Oakley, including dynamic, billboard like placements as well as products from these brands which have been permanently integrated into the game.
WildTangent joins Massive and IGN as recent entrants into live in-game advertising, which is expected to grow significantly over the next five years.
April 14, 2005
In-Game Ads to Grow to $875 Mil. in 2009
The in-game advertising market will grow from $118 million last year to $875 million by 2009, representing a whopping increase of over 640 percent, according to an analyst from the Yankee Group.
Yankee Group senior analyst Michael Goodman, presenting at Thursday's Advertising in Games Forum in New York, said that currently more than 70 percent of dollars going toward game advertising are put toward developing 'advergames,' or games built around a particular product, rather than ads placed within actual video game play.
