OMG | Black Isle Studios Returns! ... With No One From Black Isle Studios Onboard

The KING of PC RPG's, Black Isle Studios, is BACK — is what we would be saying if Black Isle Studios didn't scatter to the winds aeons ago, its top talent now working in far flung pockets of the gaming industry.

But, Interplay seems excited about it.

On the Wire | Epic Apple vs. Samsung Deathmatch Wraps Up

People wait in line to get inside for the Apple and Samsung trial during a lunch break at a federal courthouse in San Jose, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012.

By Paul Elias

Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A lawyer for Apple said Tuesday that Samsung was having a "crisis of design" after the launch of the iPhone, and executives with the South Korean company were determined to illegally cash in on the success of the revolutionary device.

Samsung's lawyer countered that the technology giant was simply and legally giving consumers what they want: Smart phones with big screens.

On the Wire | Tech titans face off in court over iPhone, iPad

Source: AP Photo/Sascha Schuermann

By Paul Elias | Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — Two tech titans will square off in federal court Monday in a closely watched trial over control of the U.S. smartphone and computer tablet markets.

Apple Inc. filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics Co. last year alleging the world's largest technology company's smartphones and computer tablets are illegal knockoffs of its popular iPhone and iPad products. The Cupertino-based company is demanding $2.5 billion in damages, an award that would dwarf the largest patent-related verdict to date.

[UPDATE] 38 Studios Pleads with R.I. Gov't for More Assistance

Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, center, is followed by members of the media as he departs the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation headquarters, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling asked Rhode Island for additional help to save his video game company Wednesday, prompting state leaders to consider whether the firm is viable enough to justify further investment.

[UPDATE] R.I. Gov't: Kingdoms of Amalur's 38 Studios in trouble

Screenshot from 38 Studios' Kingdoms of Amalur

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Associated Press) — Rhode Island leaders are working to help former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's video game company remain viable after it failed to make a scheduled $1.125 million payment to the state's economic development agency.

Valve Settles With Blizzard, Retains DOTA Trademark

The legal kerfuffle over Valve's revived version of Defense of the Ancients ended today, with Blizzard surrendering commercial use of the "DOTA" trademark.

Blizzard released a short and somewhat cryptic press release that states they'll be allowed to use the name to refer to their version of the RTS on message boards, fan sites and the like, but the title will be officially called, "Blizzard All-Stars"henceforth.

... What's in a name?

Adam Sessler Departs G4TV

Kotaku is reporting the departure of longstanding G4tv personality Adam Sessler, formerly part of the network's flagship gaming show "X-Play."

Sessler debuted X-Play alongside fellow G4-ian Morgan Webb in 1998 so this unceremonious exit is rather surprising - he had been one of the most recognizable figures on the network for over 10 years.

Read on for an official statement from Sessler's camp.

Ubisoft sued for Assassins' Creed copyright infringment

"Nothing is true, everything is permitted" - except for copyright infringment. Ubisoft's flagship franchise Assassin's Creed has drawn a copyright suit from science fiction author John L. Beiswenger.

Beiswenger's 2002 book, Link, allegedly established many of the themes found in the AC plot, namely genetic memory and "spiritual or biblical tones." Link also insinuates that the eponymous "Link" device (comparable to AC's "Animus") may have been used for assassination purposes. Innnnnteresting.

Beiswenger is suing for up to $5.25 million but Ars talked to legal analysts who don't hold out much hope for the suit. Attorney/blogger Mark Methenitis says the key is what makes a narrative element infringing:

"The level of comparison they're trying to make would be along the lines of both Back to the Future and Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure have time machines as plot devices, so one must be infringing the other," he said. "A copyright does not protect abstract ideas at that level."

With the recently revealed Assassin's Creed 3 looking damn good, anything that might derail Desmond's generational/assassinational story would be most heinous, bro.

VIA: Boing Boing
SOURCE: Ars Technica

SOPA Being Resurrected? MPAA Head Thinks So

It appears the Stop Online Piracy Act could be back from beyond the legislative grave.

As Ars Technica reports, Chris Dodd, the former senator from Connecticut and current head of the Motion Picture Association of America, told The Hollywood Reporter he's "confident" that there are "conversations going on now" in regards to SOPA-style legislation.

Apparently, some people do not remember what happened last time Congress tried to push censoring legislation on the Internet. Seriously, I'm not going through another Reddit Blackout Day. That day was so boring.

Sony Shutters Zipper Interactive

Confirming rumors heard late last week, Sony has decided to close Zipper Interactive, the studio responsible for the PS2's SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals and the PS3's MAG.

In a statement released to Game Informer today, Sony stated that the closing was "a result of a normal cycle of resource re-alignment within SCE WWS."

SOCOM, MAG, and Zipper's Vita offering, Unit 13, will continue to enjoy PSN support - Unit 13's Daily Challenges will also be updated.

At closing, Game Informer reports Zipper had around 80 employees.

VIA: Joystiq
SOURCE: Game Informer

Call of Duty Creative Strategist Robert Bowling steps down

The face of Activision's thoroughly successful Call of Duty franchise, Creative Strategist Robert Bowling, announced today that he is leaving Infinity Ward and Activision. The resignation came via Twitter.

[RUMOR] SOCOM creator Zipper to close its doors

Kotaku caught wind that Sony's first-party champion Zipper Interactive will be shutting down, in light of recent talk of layoffs and project cancellation.

Kotaku says the scope of the layoffs suggest that this is the end of the line for the SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals dev.

SOCOM (and Zipper) created a multiplayer sensation for Sony during the last console era at a time when Sony struggled to find an online identity next to the fluent/affluent Xbox.

Sony declined to talk to Kotaku, citing the catch-all of canned publisher responses: no commenting on rumors.

Ohhh man, Jared's going to be upset.


SOURCE: Kotaku

Peter Molyneux leaves Lionhead for startup company

Geez, you take off one day during GDC and all hell breaks loose.

Peter Molyneux, of Black & White and Fable fame, has decided to leave Lionhead Studios in favor of a creative director position at mysterious startup 22 Cans, founded by former Lionhead CTO Tim Rance.

"It is with mixed emotions that I made the decision to leave Microsoft and Lionhead Studios, the company that I co-founded in 1997, at the conclusion of development of Fable: The Journey," Molyneux said in a statement released to Kotaku.

Europe starts to tip against ACTA

Source: Nexus404

Just recently, digital demonstrators in the States hammered out a definitive victory against the Stop Online Piracy Act. Far-flung pockets of the Internet were gimped or blacked out entirely in protest of the censorship implications of SOPA.

This caused dozens of lawmakers - mostly bandwagon-jumpers to be sure - to think twice before supporting a bill that might make potential voters mad.

This won't stop those same lawmakers from pushing similar legislation on other countries - where anti-piracy proponents claim thieves are stealing the content of "hard-working" Americans on a daily basis.

Read on to see how the SOPA victory may not have meant a damn thing against the might of a pincer attack from foreign governments.

Electronic Arts CFO Eric Brown moves to Polycom

Another story about someone leaving EA.

This time, it's not a customer - it's upper management. Maybe ex-EA CFO Eric Brown is also having problems with his Origin account?