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The ARC nerve-stimulation system could help quadriplegic patients move their arms again
Onward Medical passed another developmental milestone on Wednesday with the first successful successful use of its electrode array to restore function to a patient’s upper limbs.
The Repopulation adds entertainer skills, PvP tweaks
Did you hear that? It was the sound of cheering, as thousands of Star Wars Galaxies fans rejoiced at the news that another MMORPG is finally riffing on its one-of-a-kind Entertainer profession. The MMO in question is The Repopulation, a sci-fi sandbox that just released its end-of-the-month update. Chief among the interesting additions for November was the Entertainment skill line, which grants players the ability to be the life of the party via music, storytelling, dancing, crowd motivation, "and other means." The system grants long-term buffs to entertained players provided that said entertaining happens in social/resting areas (think pubs, inns, theaters, etc.). Players may also make temporary wilderness camps that act as social areas. There's quite a bit more to this month's update, including PvP tweaks and the usual beta balancing adjustments. Full details are available at The Repopulation's official website. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Carmageddon site registered to Square Enix updated with countdown
If you're compiling a mental list of franchises which will be summoned from their respective graves at E3 2011, it might be a safe bet to tack Stainless Games' Carmageddon onto the list. The website Carmageddon.com -- a domain registered to Square Enix Europe, owner of the original game's co-publisher SCi -- was recently updated with an ever-popular countdown timer, as well as three Jolly Rogers. The countdown is scheduled to terminate at 5 a.m. on June 1, which seems like a weird time to announce much of anything -- assuming there's something to announce. Now, if it were us, we'd wait the extra week and announce it at the gigantic, well-publicized annual trade show. Unless, of course, this is a countdown-countdown; a maneuver that's also rapidly increasing in popularity.
VC Tuesday: Shooting cars and Shootanto
It's an extremely low-key week on the Japanese Virtual Console, with only two obscure-ish 8-bit titles available for download. Ninja-kun, the precursor to Ninja Jajamaru-kun, is kind of unique, in that it's a vertically-oriented action platformer. But a vertically-oriented action platformer without the complex level designs of something like Kid Icarus or Metroid just means a lot of jumping straight up. We think it's super-cute, though, and we'd enjoy the opportunity to buy it. S.C.I.(Special Criminal Investigation) is the sequel to Chase H.Q. What's so special about the criminal investigation this time? You can shoot at your fleeing suspects. Ninja-kun: Majou no Bouken (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) S.C.I. (PC Engine, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) We can't help but be envious of Japanese Wii owners who are now able to download the single WiiWare title this week: Shootanto looks hilariously ill-conceived and poorly made, and is probably great fun to play and laugh at. Shootanto (1-2 players, 600 Wii Points)
MCV: Square Enix considering Eidos acquisition; Warner's still in it
Honestly, we're starting to lose track. In what we can only imagine is routine for its flagship heroine, Lady Croft, Eidos (née SCi) is being courted by a gaggle of interested suitors, ranging from the longtime admirer Warner Bros. Interactive, to recent newcomers EA and Ubisoft, and now ... Square Enix?MCV reports the Japanese gaming giant is looking more to the West than ever, not only starting Square Enix LA – a new US-based studio – but also considering an acquisition of Eidos to rival current acquisition front-runner WBIE. While MCV's anonymous source thinks "Warner's [acquisition bid] will still win" MCV speculates that "Square Enix could opt to buy single assets – perhaps just IO and the Hitman brand," whom SE president Yoichi Wada "has already visited." Let's just hope that whoever acquires Eidos and all of her assets takes good care of them. It's not just Lara and Hitman ... we've got Deus Ex 3 to consider, you know.
SCi: Just call me 'Eidos'
What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet ... but what about a struggling video game publisher? SCi has officially taken the name of its subsidiary, Eidos, finalizing a change that was announced in September. True to Juliet's musings, though, it isn't one name or the other that makes the UK publisher so attractive to potential buyers.A bargain is a bargain, after all. And with SCi Eidos stock down 92% over the past year and a couple notable franchises on the table (Hi Tomb Raider! Yo Hitman!), the company could call itself "Donkeylips" and still be shareholders' must-have deal of the holiday season.
Rumor: SCi eyed for takeover by EA and Ubisoft
In the latest round of buyout gossip surrounding the company, UK newspaper The Daily Mail reports that SCi – which owns Eidos – is in talks with EA and Ubisoft over a potential takeover, citing a "source familiar with the matter." Both companies are said to have approached SCi to initiate negotiations, likely spurred by a 92% drop in SCi's stock price over the past year.The source also told the Mail that this massive devaluation has those eyeing a takeover of struggling SCi excited by the prospect of obtaining the rights to franchises such as Tomb Raider and Hitman "on the cheap." Warner Bros. Interactive was rumored to have interest in an SCi buyout in October, something which the Mail reports is still a possibility, even with bigger guns like EA and Ubisoft in the mix.[Via GI.biz]
SCi invites Warner Bros to buy more stock
SCi is getting used to being on a dinner plate, so much so that the financially despondent publisher has invited Warner Bros. to the table for seconds. In the wake of the home entertainment giant's £60 million investment earlier this year, the Eidos parent put a freeze on Warner Bros' ability to purchase any more of SCi's precious stock until January 25, 2009, a hold that Gamasutra reports will be lifted a bit sooner than expected. According to the report, the pair will be able to resume their financial tango on December 1, 2008, with the caveat that Warner Bros. will not be allowed to own more than 30 percent of SCi's total worth. Warner's investment in SCi currently stands at 16.13 percent, giving the media company ample opportunity to gift wrap just what every struggling company would want to find under its tree this Christmas -- freedom from financial ruin.
Rumor: Warner Bros. looking to acquire SCi/Eidos
Speculation is mounting that Warner Bros. is getting ready to buy UK publisher SCi (soon to be Eidos PLC). According to "sources" speaking to GI.biz, Warner Bros. has been looking for another tasty company to gobble up since taking over Traveller's Tales last year. The departure of two non-executive SCi board members is seen as another sign that Warner Bros. is getting ready to pounce on the financially distraught publisher.Warner Bros. had previously given the troubled publisher £60 million to keep its head above water. SCi does hold the rights to some pretty lucrative franchises like Tomb Raider, Hitman and Deus Ex. We contacted Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter for his take on the situation. His response can be found after the break.
Non-executive director quits SCi board
SCi (soon to be Eidos PLC) announced that Aaron Brown has stepped down as non-executive director of the company, just about four months after joining. Brown worked for investor Robert Tchenguiz and no reason was given for the resignation, nor does the company have any plans to replace him.We weren't sure what this meant, so we picked up the bat phone and asked Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter what the dealio is. He told us it's "impossible to read anything into this." Explaining that Brown was Tchenguiz's rep on the board. Tchenguiz could have wanted him to do something else or perhaps Brown got another job. SCi has gone through several shake-ups lately after losing $177 million last year.
EA to mobile-ize Eidos franchises
EA announced today that it will create mobile versions of financially beleaguered Eidos Interactive's franchises. EA now holds the licenses to "all existing mobile channels and devices" for Tomb Raider Underworld, Just Cause 2, California Games X and Minesweeper. EA has the option of doing mobile versions of most Eidos games for the next three years.The Tomb Raider and Just Cause titles will be based off the upcoming sequels, while California Games X will be a "brand new version" of the '87 Commodore 64 game (hacky sack, y'all!). Of course, Minesweeper is the game which has been packaged with Windows since 1992.
SCi Entertainment loses $177 million in Fiscal '08, changes name
We knew SCi Entertainment, parent company of Eidos, had financial issues, but we didn't realize those "issues" totaled a $177 million loss for the company in its fiscal year, ending June 30. The company has been in the midst of a major restructuring ever since it received a bailout investment of $107 million from Warner Bros earlier this year. The company also announced it plans to change its name to Eidos PLC.The company states it will focus on higher quality games by giving more attention to key franchises: Hitman; Deus Ex; Championship Manager (?); and Lady Croft's series. Tomb Raider: Underworld will release this November, with Deus Ex 3 rumored to be fully unveiled soon.
The Underworld opens its gates in time for the holidays
Your scheduled jaunt into the underworld now has an actual time frame for, uh ... scheduling. Word hits today that Lara Croft's latest adventure will be available for you to play through later on this year. Tomb Raider: Underworld will release this November across all platforms.If you're looking for more on the game, visit the Tomb Raider Portal. There's plenty of goodies there, including a podcast and behind-the-scenes write-ups on the game.
SCi board welcomes bailout members
MCV reports that Warner Bros. Home Entertainment president Kevin Tsujihara has joined the board of SCi, parent company of Eidos, as non-executive director. Tsujihara's position is part of the agreement the two companies made when WBHE dropped £60 million on SCi to save it from further financial issues devastation.Also joining the SCi board, in the same role as Tsujihara, is Aaron Brown, an associate of investor Robert Tchenguiz, who also made a similar (but considerably further under the radar) deal as Warner Bros. There's a lot of money and power in that boardroom, now let's see if anything half-decent comes of it.
Eidos closes down their marketing department
As a result of the recent deal with Warner Bros., Eidos has now announced it will close down its North American marketing, sales and PR departments completely. This coming after their parent company SCi's announcement to cut 25% of its worldwide workforce earlier this year. It hasn't been an easy year for the publisher of such successful titles as Hitman, Deus Ex and the Tomb Raider series, but this may just be the restructuring they've needed.Most importantly for us though, we wonder what this means for Age of Conan, which is handled by Eidos. SCi mentions the fact that they have discontinued development on 14 different game projects in an effort to stem the company's financial losses, including a $161 million deficit in the second half of 2007, and a refocus on high profile games likely to generate a larger return. We can only hope they're talking about Age of Conan.
Rumor: Eidos lays off marketing, PR, and sales departments following Warner Bros. investment
Our hearts were warmed to hear of SCi's seeming salvation as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment acquired 171 million shares in the floundering company (for nearly £60 million) -- an investment that would "benefit of all [their] major franchises" and put the once-great publisher Eidos back on the map. However, according to 1UP, a number of insiders have reported that this act of gaming industry cartography could have some far less publicized consequences.Much like the pushy girlfriend who doesn't allow you to bring your autographed Erasure poster into your new apartment, Eidos may have recently kicked their entire marketing, public relations, and sales departments to the curb following their Warner Bros. bailout, according to the 1UP tipsters. Whether this was a stipulation of the WB deal, or a continuation of SCi's systematic operating cost reduction (or if the information is even legit), we're not sure. We just hope they don't fire the one guy who wants to make a Mister Mosquito sequel.
Lara Croft parent SCi gets 60m from Warner Bros.
SCi Entertainment, video game publisher Eidos' troubled parent company, has been on the ropes as of late. After rumors of a takeover earlier this month and turning down an outright acquisition offer earlier this week, it's gotten a £60 million investment from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment with the sale of 171 million shares.SCi also announced a strategic relationship with the entertainment giant – which also has a presence in gaming with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment – giving the UK-based company "increased scale" in the North American market. Warner apparently has great faith in SCi's "new management team" and "their track record of rich franchises" like Tomb Raider (Underworld remains "encouraging" they say), Hitman, Deus Ex, and Thief.... alright, we made up the Thief part. We're just still curious what Eidos Montreal is up to.[Via GameDaily BIZ]
SCi receives, turns aside potential takeover bid
While talk of a takeover of British publisher SCi continues to be tossed around, this doesn't mean that Lara Croft's troubled parent is open to shacking up with just anyone. This week the company confirmed that it has received an offer from an unspecified suitor at a "significant premium" to SCi's current share price. However, the company stayed strong, turning away what we imagine to be bags of money emblazoned with dollar signs, claiming the offer was "not be in the best interests of the company or its shareholders." Still, with 14 projects in the vertical file and key management on the run, it might be time for SCi to lower its standards.
Eidos 'needs to be more ruthless,' says SCi CEO
SCi Entertainment Group CEO Phil Rogers, whose company owns Eidos, said the publishing company needs to lose its ruth, so to speak. Speaking to MCV, Rogers said, "In today's environment of lengthening development cycles and increasing costs, we need to be more ruthless and focus on our quality titles."Rogers also said that, on a whole, Eidos has released "too many average games which are tying up resources." We think Rogers is either really pushing for a new company direction or he's using tough words to drive up stock prices further for an oft-speculated takeover. In either sense, if he keeps to his word (that's a big "if"), it bodes well for secret project T.
SCi shares up amidst takeover speculation
Following a precipitous drop in stock price in January, resulting in the resignations of key management, Eidos parent company SCi reportedly plans to radically restructure its business, with 14 (!) product cancellations as well as a 25% workforce reduction (read: firings).Now, Guardian blogger Nick Fletcher reports the company's "shares are up again on renewed takeover speculation." He says, "Talk is of an 80p a share offer" – a 32% premium over their closing price of 60.50p today – and that potential bidders include Time Warner (who already own 10% of the publisher), Infogrames (who already have a problem child to deal with), and Ubisoft (who has said it has no intention of making an offer). Let the speculation commence!
