CCP Games hires David Reid as chief marketing officer as Dust 514 nears launch
Gearing up for a big marketing campaign, Eve Online game publisher CCP Games has hired David Reid as its new chief marketing officer.
Reid joins the Reykjavik, Iceland-based company as it prepares to launch its biggest game in years, the first-person shooter sci-fi title Dust 514. The hire gives CCP Games some veteran marketing firepower, as Reid previous served as marketing chief for Trion Worlds, GameTap and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 business.
CCP Games has operated the sci-fi massively multiplayer online game Eve Online since 2003. Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, chief executive of CCP, said in an interview that the game has been profitable since 2004 and it has grown its user base every year. Right now, it has 350,000 subscribers, up 10 times since 2004. Those players have shown great allegiance to the title, where they can fly starships around a galaxy, mine resources and build things from them, and fight against players in other alliances. Players are devoted to the hardcore game in part because it has a robust economy for players to buy and sell objects in the virtual world.
Reid (pictured) said in an interview that he is excited about CCP’s opportunity to greatly expand its universe of players with Dust 514, which is a first-person shooter game on the PlayStation 3 that takes place on a planet within the Eve Online universe. What makes it interesting is that Eve Online players can battle above the planet with their starships and make a difference in the battle on the ground. Likewise, the players on the ground in the first-person shooter game can influence what happens up in space with Eve Online. As such, it’s a unique opportunity for groundbreaking cross-platform game play and marketing, Reid said.
Not only is Dust 514 an interesting marketing challenge, it’s also a big technological challenge, Pétursson said. The company has had to more than double its computing power to accommodate a single game environment and backend that is shared by both games. on top of that, CCP Games has to synchronize game play across the PlayStation 3 and PC game platforms.
Reid will also drive the marketing strategy for World of Darkness, an upcoming MMO with a vampire and werewolf theme. That game is in pre-production now.
CCP just recently launched Crucible, the latest free expansion for Eve Online, and it also has a private alpha test going for Dust 514. Reid will be based in the San Francisco Bay Area and report to Pétursson. Reid will run marketing activities such as branding, corporate communications, PR, advertising, social media and customer acquisition.
Most recently, Reid helped launch Rift, the fantasy MMO from Trion Worlds. he managed a team of 50 people and helped get Rift to more than 1 million paid activations in just a few months. he orchestrated the Rift ad campaign, which used the tagline “We’re not in Azeroth Anymore,” a reference to the chief rival World of Warcraft.
Before joining Trion as senior vice president of marketing, Reid was president of publishing at NCsoft West. he was also vice president of marketing for game portal GameTap and director of the Xbox global platform marketing for Microsoft.
Pétursson said, “We’re very happy to have David joining us. We are innovating in this space and have been looking for the right people to help us expand. David is a great evangelist.”
Reid acknowledged that Trion Worlds was an interesting company to work at, but he said he felt that the job at CCP was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“We had a great launch with Rift and I have nothing bad to say about it,” Reid said. “But I have kept my eye on CCP for a very long time.”
“The success of CCP has been astonishing year after year,” Reid said. “The company has staggering potential, with Dust 514 coming and World of Darkness aiming for a broader audience. CCP is doing something that is very unique among the MMOs. “
“As we enter one of the most important years in CCP’s history, we’ll rely heavily on David to help us bring our revolutionary gaming experiences to even more players, on more platforms, around the world,” said Petursson.
Reid said he would ramp up efforts to get Dust 514 in the hands of the press and will start publicizing the game through a variety of means.
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Companies: CCP Games
People: David Reid, Hilmar Veigar Pétursson
CCP Games hires David Reid as chief marketing officer as Dust 514 nears launch
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Categories: Technology Tags: eve online, gametap, reykjavik iceland, xbox 360
Re-imagined XCOM: Enemy Unknown revealed
Not content with one new XCOM game, 2K (via Game Informer) has lifted the lid on a re-imagining of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, coming to PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Development is being handled by trusted Civilization studio Firaxis Games and we’re promised a full-on strategy game that puts players in command of a global team fighting aliens.
"It’s been a dream of ours to recreate X-COM with our unique creative vision. We’re huge fans of the original game and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to re-envision a game that is as beloved as X-COM," said Steve Martin, president of Firaxis Games. "we were careful to keep XCOM: Enemy Unknown true to the elements that made X-COM such a revered game while delivering an entirely new story and gameplay experience for both die-hard X-COM fans and newcomers to the franchise."
Turn-based gameplay is confirmed, as is a real-time strategic view and destructible environments. More details will be found in the February issue of Game Informer.
VideoGamer.com Analysis
The more action orientated XCOM slipped from its March date and is now set for release between April 2012 and March 2013. given the autumn date for Enemy Unknown, we expect XCOM to hit stores in the springtime or even miss 2012 altogether.
Re-imagined XCOM: Enemy Unknown revealed
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Categories: iPod, iPhone, Xbox 360 Tags: autumn, game informer, global team, Xbox, xbox 360
Microsoft Xbox 360 60GB – The 2nd Gen Gaming Console Whiz
Without a doubt, Microsoft hit big time with their foray in the gaming console community. Their first entry was the Xbox and its success helped elevate the technology involved in gaming consoles. Its successor, the Xbox 360 also met similar successes although it did have its fair share of problems. after its initial release in 2005, the box 360 received hardware upgrades which allowed it to store more data and perform better and faster than ever, one of the models, which was released in 2008, was the Microsoft Xbox 360 60GB, also known as Xbox 360 Pro or Xbox 360 Premium.
The Xbox 360 60GB was an upgrade of an earlier version of the Microsoft Xbox 360 Pro/Premium which had a 20GB hard disk. the new upgraded version was highly anticipated by numerous gamers all over the world but because of the problems it encountered in the initial release of the Xbox 360, the highly expected turnout was not met.
But, the Microsoft Xbox 360 60GB has received a big overhaul in its internal aspects and gained a solid position not only as an excellent game console, but also, a multi media hub for an entertainment centre whether in the living room or the bedroom. this was because the Xbox 360, despite having multitude internet content available to it, was also integrated with the online streaming service from Netflix. but again, the 360 was highly dependent on internet connection speed for quality so it wasn’t able to provide true high DVD quality because of the huge file size it generally comes in.
For hardcore gamers who don’t want to shell out the extra hundred bucks for a bigger HDD, 120 GB for the Elite model, the Microsoft Xbox 360 60GB will be adequate enough. While there is another model in the line-up cheaper than the Xbox 360 60GB, the entry level Xbox 360 Arcade, it does not come with a hard disk drive.
Another great addition that Microsoft added for the 2008 line-up was the increase in warranty. because of the highly publicized Three Rings of Death problem many Xbox users experienced, the increase in the warranty period offered a relief for those who might experience the failure, said to be caused by overheating of the unit. the Xbox 360 60GB though had decreased reports of this problem, including all models manufactured in 2007 and later, these are the units equipped with HDMI ports.
And those same models have also received a 65nm processor called the Falcon CPU, which was smaller, generated less heat, and did not require much energy like its predecessor, the 90nm version. but for all intent and purposes, this Microsoft Xbox has an internal system that is designed and built to perform like a computer. It’s capable of producing top notch video output and has a processing power from three cores operating at 3.2GHZ each.
Design wise, the Microsoft Xbox 360 60GB is slightly smaller than the original unit. the new model can also be made to stand up. when laid down, the 360 measured 12.15 inches in width, 3.27 inches in height, and a depth of 10.15 inches, it also weighed 8.8 pounds. the face of this Microsoft Xbox has a hinged door where underneath you will find 2 USB ports and two slots for memory cards.
Sleek and sexy looking with an inward curve, the Microsoft Xbox 360 60GB can also be personalized using interchangeable face plates. inside the box, you will find an instruction book, power lead and adaptor, a headset with mic, Ethernet cable, component lead, component to HDMI converter, component to SCART converter, and a wireless controller.
Despite having problems in the past, Microsoft has done a great job of continually improving the system. And at the end of the day, the Microsoft Xbox 360 60GB certainly delivers in quality and there really is no comparison to the performance quality it provides on its games.
Microsoft Xbox 360 60GB – The 2nd Gen Gaming Console Whiz
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Categories: Technology Tags: living room, successes, xbox 360, xbox 360 premium
Upcoming Game Releases of 2012
As 2011 draws to a close, we are already looking forward to the new year in gaming. here are our top 10 games of 2012 to look out for.
Halo 4
Platform: Xbox 360
One of the biggest reasons for the Xbox 360′s popularity has been the contribution from Bungie’s Halo franchise. Announced at E3, Halo 4 is the sequel of the 2007 game and continues where the 3rd game finished in which Master Chief and Cortana are lost in space and discovering a mysterious planet. with Halo 3 still ranked as the biggest ever selling game on Xbox 360, expect this new installment to gain a hype just a big.
Mass Effect 3
Release date: 6th March NA, 9th March EU
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
The final edition in Bioware’s epic trilogy. the sci-fi RPG game follows from Mass Effect 2′s DLC Arrival pack and follows Commander Shepard’s last attempts to the save the galaxy. Unlike the previous two games, the third game includes multiplayer co-op for the first time and will also include a Gears of War style Horde mode.
Borderlands 2
Release date: 1st September
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Set 5 years after the first game, Borderlands 2 comes with new enemies, weapons, environments and a new gun system. As well as that there is also two player spilt-screen and four player online co-op.
GTA V
Platforms: Ps3,Xbox 360(TBC)
The controversial open world game returns. the debut trailer was released by Rockstar Games in november and is set away from Liberty city but to the L.A based city Los Santos. Rockstar president Sam Houser has said that GTA 5 is a “radical reinvention of the Grand Theft Auto universe”.
Tomb Raider
Release date: TBC
Platforms: PC,PS3, Xbox 360
A young Lara Croft is shipwrecked and kidnapped to strange island. the game has a new look compared to its predecessors and is based on survival rather than discovery. it is also a change from the recognised gameplay with inclusions of quick time events and more complex puzzles.
FIFA Street
Release date: March 2012
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360
The fourth game is an entirely new change to the series and gets rid of the cartoon style visuals of the third game. EA’s biggest announcement for this game was the signing of Lionel Messi who appears on the cover and is no longer the face of the PES games.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
Release date: 6th March NA, 9th March EU
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PSP
The fourth game in the Ghost Recon series is set in the futuristic settings of the Middle East and Asia. the third person shooter includes more specific aiming and a camouflage setting. the game also uses the Xbox Kinect peripheral and its voice control to present a new way of playing the game.
Assassin’s Creed III
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360 (TBC)
No confirmation has yet been announced about the surroundings of the game. however the director of Revelations, Alexandre Amacio, has stated that a new Assassin’s Creed game should be released around December 2012. former creative director Patrice Desilets has also said that the game could revolve around the conspiracy theory that the world will end in 2012.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Release date: TBC
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360
Between the events of metal gear solid 2 and 4, this installment does not play you in the role of Solid Snake but inside the cyborg ninja Raiden. the game focusses on sword-fighting rather than the traditional stealth gameplay from most of the games.
Max Payne 3
Release date: March 2012
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Another gaming series from RockStar returns with its first on the current generation consoles. Set eight years after the second game, Max has left new York City and has been double-crossed in the new setting of Sao Paulo, Brazil. the new gameplay features include new cover mechanics and an over-the-shoulder zoom aiming.
Upcoming Game Releases of 2012
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Categories: iPod, iPhone, Xbox 360 Tags: dlc, horde, lost in space, mysterious planet, xbox 360
The Future of the Gaming Industry – The Xbox Kinetic Is Truly Remarkable
Take your self on a gaming experience of epic proportion. the new Xbox kinetic was designed to bring people into gaming that normally would not be a gamer. with an unique full body game play, where your whole body is the controller.
The Xbox 360 has just jumped into the motion sensor gaming technology. the PlayStation 3 just released the PlayStation move controller. Xbox had to come up with something unique of their own, so Xbox has just release the kinetic, which enables full body game play.
The Xbox kinetic is very unique in the fact the kinetic isn’t a controller at all. It’s a sensor which plugs into your console via USB port. the idea behind it, was to create an innovative way to bring games to all ages of people. the kinetic wants to bring people and families together in a social way as you can all play together. So in sorts, the Xbox 360 is now advertising itself as the new family gaming console. the kinetic is very cool, in the fact you play a game the way you think it should be played. If for example you are playing a soccer game, you would use your legs and feet in a similar fashion as playing soccer. this is a perfect way for kids to exercise in the dead of winter. Even for adults of all ages, video games are a perfect way to get off the couch and moving.
The kinetic uses no controllers or cords to play, all sensor technology. the coolest part is the fact it is voice activated. Meaning you can know tell your Xbox 360 console to turn on, shut off, and browse all with the quick movement of your hand. this quite possibly could be the future of the gaming industry.
The kinetic does sound like a great gadget to enhance your gaming experience. the motion sensor sounds great, but how good are the games going to be? Gamers want to be able to play the action adventure, role playing games with this device. the current library only consists of: sports games, exercise games, and so on. the kinetic will cost you around $150, which is pretty expensive for a gadget. I just need to know if quality games or going to be released or will it have the same lack luster library of the Nintendo Wii.
The Future of the Gaming Industry – The Xbox Kinetic Is Truly Remarkable
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Categories: Technology Tags: gamer, gaming experience, sorts, xbox 360
