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EA considering free-to-play UFC game for Brazil
During a talk at the Credit Suisse Technology Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, EA CEO Andrew Wilson noted that the publisher is leveraging opportunities to create free-to-play games for Brazil. Among the two properties Wilson said the publisher is actively considering for the region was a new game using the UFC license, as Brazil is home to a strong fanbase for mixed martial arts. Additionally, Wilson said the company has plans to launch FIFA Online World in Brazil and Russia leading up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup event slated to take place in Brazil. The free-to-play game is built on the same technology as FIFA Online 3, which EA will bring to China after having already launched it in Korea with Nexon as its publishing partner. "We are absolutely looking at [Brazil] in detail, and we think we have at least two, but likely more products that will have strong appeal there," Wilson said.
Inaugural Super BR Jam donates 100% of proceeds to help kids in Rio
Super BR Jam is bringing together 30 indie development studios from across Brazil for a little bit of gaming and a whole lot of charity. Those so inclined can donate any amount of money they choose to receive copies of every game made during the game jam, while those who pay $5 or more will receive eight more games, including The Showdown Effect, Dungeonland, and Magicka. All proceeds will go to Solar Meninos de Luz, an organization that provides education and healthcare to low-income kids in Rio de Janeiro. The game jam itself is already over, having run from November 22 to November 24. The bundle package is likewise available for a limited time, and will close shop December 4. You can learn more and purchase the bundle by visiting the Super BR Jam website. [Thanks, Ran!]
Brazilian government asks why Apple charges its citizens in U.S. dollars
Brazil's Consumer Protection Secretariat recently wrote a formal letter to Apple inquiring why the company charges consumers on its Brazilian iTunes storefront in U.S. dollars as opposed to the Brazilian real. Now the iTunes Store first debuted in Brazil, and an assortment of other Latin American countries, back in December of 2011. That being the case, one can only wonder why the Brazilian government waited nearly two years before deciding to take a look at this particular issue. According to the India Times, product pricing in Brazil, as a matter of law, must be priced using local currency rates. Apple reportedly has 10 days to respond to the government inquiry lest it face a fine of $2.6 million. One looming question remains: Should Apple find itself subject to a fine, will it pay the fee with dollars or with reals.
Brazil wants to know why Apple bills its citizens in US dollars
Brazil's national currency is the real, but you wouldn't know that by looking at its iTunes storefront. Apple prices everything there in US dollars, which has led Brazil's Consumer Protection Secretariat to write a formal letter to the company requesting an explanation. We're not sure why this has taken so long, given that iTunes came to Brazil two years ago, but in any case Apple now has ten days in which to respond or face the threat of a penalty. Other countries that've tackled Apple over its pricing policies in the past have generally failed to reach a resolution, and in some cases citizens have even been urged to take matters into their own hands.
New FIFA World Cup game in development for Xbox One and PS4
During yesterday's investor call to discuss EA's second quarter of fiscal 2014 financial results, CEO Andrew Wilson noted that the publisher is working on a new FIFA World Cup expansion game. Additionally, CFO Blake Jorgensen brought up FIFA World Cup again when asked about next-gen games in development, indicating that the game will appear on Xbox One and PS4. It is unknown if the game will also be developed for current generation systems. "In the last two weeks, you've also seen several announcements about our product slate for the remainder of this year and into FY15," Wilson said. "We are refining our focus on our biggest brands and great new IP in development, including The Sims 4, EA Sports UFC, FIFA World Cup and Dragon Age: Inquisition." EA Sports traditionally launches a new World Cup-branded game in line with the global sporting event, which occurs every four years. The last game in the series was 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, which launched in April 2010. Given that the next World Cup is scheduled to begin in June 2014 in Brazil, a new entry in the sub-series is hardly surprising. The publisher's next-gen efforts will not include Tiger Woods in its future golf games, and Jorgensen also noted that Titanfall will be exclusive to Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC "for the life of the title" during the call. EA will launch the next-gen version of FIFA 14 along with the new consoles this coming month.
Apple's first retail store in Brazil may open as soon as March 2014
With over 400 Apple retail stores worldwide, you might be surprised to know that Apple hasn't yet expanded its retail chain into Latin America. According to a recent report from 9to5Mac, however, that may be poised to change in just a few months. Mark Gurman reports that Apple is planning to open up a retail store in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by March of 2014. Interestingly enough, the report claims that Apple is aiming to relocate some seasoned Apple retail employees down to Brazil to help get things up and running. Also worth noting is that the timing of the store opening will be such that it will be up and running ahead of one of the world's most popular events -- the World Cup. The opening of the Apple Store in Rio de Janeiro during this time period, a source added, is perfectly scheduled to occur in the few months before the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The internationally-watched sporting event takes place between June and July of 2014 at a stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Tourists visiting the event from across the globe will likely bring an uptake in visits to the new Apple retail in the region. This move would not be unprecedented: in the months prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Apple opened up a flagship store in the city. It's well established that Apple's chain of retail store are incredibly profitable, and with the bulk of Apple's retail operations located in the U.S., that leaves Apple with a tremendous retail opportunity abroad. Brazil in particular appears to be a strategic location, and Quartz on Monday explained why Apple expanding into the land where the "lungs of the earth" reside is a really big deal. The move into Brazil is a big deal. Smartphone sales, for one, have been booming in the region-sales jumped by 53% in the first quarter of 2013 alone, and grew more than in any other region in the second quarter-and Brazil, Latin America's largest economy, has a lot to do with it. Customers in the country are so enamored with iPhones that many are willing to pay upwards of $1,000 for Apple's new 5c, which retails for about $550 in the US. Furthermore, Latin America is quickly becoming a digital-age goldmine. Internet penetration currently hovers around 45% in the region, and more than 250 million people are now connected to the internet. Very soon, Latin America will have more internet users than the US and Canada. Looking ahead, Apple indicated during its earnings conference call on Monday that it plans to build over 30 new retail stores over the next 12 months. Tellingly, 20 of those will be located outside of the U.S. In many ways, Apple's international retail expansion is just getting underway.
Ayrton Senna rides again in Brazilian Gran Turismo 6 bundle
Racing legend Ayrton Senna died in 1994, but thanks to a new agreement between the makers of Gran Turismo 6 and the Ayrton Senna Institute, his sizable legacy can be leveraged to help the children of Brazil. Sony has so far revealed two components of the agreement: A Gran Turismo 6 bundle earmarked for Brazil, and a "long-term partnership" that will, in some fashion, benefit the millions of children the Institute has been working to educate. Details on the latter half of the agreement are scant, but we do know that on December 6 a special Ayrton Senna-branded PlayStation 3 bundle will hit the South American nation. Though relatively simple - the bundle includes Gran Turismo 6, a 250GB PlayStation 3 and a single controller - the real draw for this package is being able to relive the adventures of Ayrton Senna. According to Sony, downloadable updates are planned for periodic release following the launch of Gran Turismo 6 that will specifically focus on Senna's most famous races, and undoubtedly his rivalry with Alain Prost. It's currently unknown whether this bundle will be available in other territories, or if it's exclusive to Brazil.
Angry Birds: Star Wars rated for next-gen by ESRB
Angry Birds: Star Wars is X-winging its way onto PS4 and Xbox One, at least according to multiple ratings. North American ratings board ESRB listed it for the next-gen systems this week, while in Brazil the game was classified for both systems back in July. To add further evidence, in August retailer GameFly listed the next-gen versions too. When approached on the ratings, an Activision rep told Joystiq the company wasn't able to comment. What we do know is Rovio's fusion of force and feathers is coming to Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, and PC, and you can peck it up for those systems on October 29. Meanwhile, Angry Birds Star Wars 2 is available on PC as of today, if you'd prefer to play it on a computer far, far away from your mobiles.
Xbox One Kinect shrinks minimum distance requirement to 4.6 feet
Microsoft said it improved Kinect on the Xbox One, and now a leaked setup manual indicates how little space it requires to operate. The PDF NeoGAF spotted notes that a minimum 1.4 meters (just over 4.5-feet) between the user and Microsoft's new do-all sensor is all that's required. For those of us with cozy living quarters, this could be a bit more generous than the last one's recommended six to eight-foot gap. We've reached out to Microsoft for an official comment and will update this post if we hear back. Until then however, we're hoping that November 22nd will mark the end of us rearranging our living room to play the latest Dance Central.
LG unveils the Fireweb, its first Firefox OS smartphone (video)
So far, Firefox OS has been limited to ultra-basic smartphones like the ZTE Open. LG is expanding the platform's reach today by releasing its inaugural Mozilla-powered handset, the Fireweb. The 4-inch device is still designed for newcomers between its 480 x 320 display, 1GHz Qualcomm processor and 4GB of expandable storage. However, its 5-megapixel camera is a big improvement over shooters in preceding phones -- this is the first Firefox OS phone with both autofocusing and an LED flash. Appropriately, LG is pricing the Fireweb above its simpler counterparts. Vivo Brazil is selling the Fireweb today for $449 BRL ($207 US) to pay-as-you-go customers, or $129 BRL ($59 US) to regular subscribers. It's now more expensive than LG's cheapest Android device, the $399 BRL ($184) Optimus L3 II. Hop past the break for both a video demo of the Fireweb and details of a Firefox OS market expansion that now includes Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay. Update: We've tweaked the post to reflect that the handset has 4GB of storage, not 2GB as previously noted.
PS4 so expensive in Brazil due to import taxes, says Sony
63 percent of Brazil's astronomical PS4 price tag comes from import taxes and fees, according to Sony Computer Entertainment America. Following uproar over the next-gen console costing around $1,800 USD in the country, Sony moved to clarify the various contributors to that figure. General Manager for Latin America Marc Stanley broke down the price on the PS Blog, noting 15.5 percent came from retailer markups and 21.5 percent from a "PS4 transfer price" equivalent to $390, roughly the console's asking price in North America. "We have read thousands of your comments and heard your frustration loud and clear about the PlayStation 4 retail price of R$3,999 in Brazil," Stanley wrote (via a translation provided to Joystiq by a Sony representative). "We want to emphasize that it isn't in the interest of Sony Computer Entertainment America to sell PS4 units at this high retail price, as it's not good for our gamers and it's not good for the PlayStation brand." Stanley said SCEA will continue to discuss the import taxes with government agencies as it seeks to bring down the PS4's price. He added SCEA is looking ahead to "the opportunity" of manufacturing the console locally which would significantly reduce the price, although he didn't note when that would or could happen. SCEA began production of PS3 units in the country in May of this year, some three years after the console was launched there at a similarly wallet-breaking price.
PlanetSide 2 is heading to Brazil
PlanetSide 2 is adding another stamp in its passport: It's heading to Brazil! If you happen to live in that neck of the woods, you'll soon be able to jump into the explosive action on local servers thanks to a new partnership announced by SOE today. Brazil's largest game publisher, Gamerica, will bring the free-to-play MMOFPS to the country and another company, UOL BoaCompra, will handle local payment methods. Under this agreement, Gamerica will have exclusive publishing rights for the PC in Brazil and will provide dedicated servers, local customer support, and payment gateways (through UOL BoaCompra). PS2 remains free-to-play and players can make purchases in-game using their preferred payment methods in their country. [Source: SOE press release]
PlayStation 4 goes to Brazil, in the region of 1800 USD
Kicking yourself because PlayStation 4 pre-orders are all gobbled up in North America? Why not travel to beautiful Brazil where the platform is set to launch on November 29? Quanto custa, or how much does it cost, you might wonder? With the current exchange rate, the R$3,999 PS4 in Brazil would only hit your wallet for just over the equivalent of $1,800 USD, according to the PlayStation Brazil Blog. Games are priced at R$179, or around $82 USD. On second thought, perhaps you should hold off on that trip. Brazil's video game industry has been labeled "possibly the fastest growing games market in the world when it comes to total consumer spending," according to market research and consulting firm NewZoo. Though the console business continues to grow in Latin America, including in Argentina where the PlayStation 4 is expected to launch at around the equivalent of $1,100 USD, import taxes drastically inflate the price of hardware. [AP/Getty Images]
Apple receives clearance to sell iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in Brazil
Apple yesterday announced that both the iPhone 5s and 5c will be launching in more than 25 countries on Friday, October 25. Just one week later, more than a dozen additional countries will be getting the iPhone treatment as well. You can check out a full list of those countries over here. While the list includes countries from all across the globe, from Albania to Moldova and everything in between, one country conspicuously missing from the iPhone launch festivities is Brazil. That, however, may soon change. ZDNet is reporting that the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) recently granted the requisite authorization for Apple to sell its new iPhone lineup in the country. The new Apple devices will be compatible with the 4G technology available in Brazil and work at the frequency adopted locally, which is 2600 MHz. The previous iPhone and iPad sold in Brazil operated in the 700 MHz band. According to Anatel, the iPhones will be manufactured by Foxconn in the company's factory in São Paulo, in the countryside town of Jundiaí. However, the company is yet to announce the release date and the price of the devices. While no release date has yet been announced, both the iPhone 4s and iPhone 5 launched in Brazil in December of their respective release years. So, perhaps, the 5s and 5c will see similar launch windows.
Mac mini prices climb in several countries
The iMac refresh earlier this week apparently wasn't the only change to the Apple lineup. 9to5Mac is reporting that all Mac mini configurations are now more expensive in a number of countries, including Australia, Brazil, Portugal and Malaysia. As an example of the price bumps, the prices of the Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz, Intel Core i7 2.3 GHz and Mac mini with OS X Server models are currently A$749, A$999 and A$1,249, respectively. Previously, the same three models sold for A$699, A$899 and A$1,099. Some accessories are also a bit more expensive in certain countries, with MacRumors reporting that UK customers are now paying £2 more for an Apple Wireless Keyboard, £8 more for replacement MacBook and MacBook Pro batteries and £15 more for a Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter. The Mac mini hasn't been updated recently, and still uses the last-generation Intel Ivy Bridge processors instead of the newer Haswell processors. Whether the mini will receive a refresh during next month's expected Apple event is unknown, or it could just suddenly end up with new specifications like the iMac did this week.
Brazilian judge whacks IGB Electronica in iPhone trademark lawsuit
Apple has won its appeal against IGB Electronica in Brazil regarding the "iPhone" name in that country, according to BNAmericas. The company had been locked in a lawsuit with Brazilian company IGB Electronica, which was granted the Brazilian iPhone trademark in 2007. IGB originally applied for the iPhone trademark in 2000 and since 2007, it has been selling a smartphone by the name of "Iphone" under its G-Gradiente brand. In February, Apple lost the trademark dispute with IGB, but now a judge has thrown that verdict out and ruled that both companies may use the iPhone name. In his ruling, the judge said that though IGB owned the trademark in the country first, they did nothing with it until after Apple's iPhone went on sale elsewhere in the world. He credited Apple with creating a brand under the "iPhone" name, noting its trademarks in other locations. IGB Electronica plans to appeal this decision.
Apple looking to fill more than 200 new positions in China
Apple has a good chunk of the consumer electronics market in the developed world, with the company's flagship iPhone and iPad products still flying off the shelves. But there's still a lot of the world -- in particular Brazil, Russia, India and China -- where the company can make huge inroads. Apple appears to be turning its attention to China, with more than 200 job openings appearing in the last several weeks on LinkedIn. With the Chinese government and state-run media focusing on environmental and workplace issues at Foxconn facilities where Apple products are manufactured, and attacks earlier this year over warranty policies that allegedly discriminated against Chinese customers, the company has obviously decided to put assets on the ground to keep an eye on things. The advertised openings included a number of Supplier Responsibility positions, as well as an Environmental Affairs Program Manager. Apple is also hiring senior engineers in Taiwan, which has led to some speculation that the company is considering opening a new R&D facility in the island nation to focus on iPhone product development.
Samsung faces Brazilian government lawsuit over poor working conditions
While Apple and Samsung do have their differences, they unfortunately share at least one similarity: labor violation allegations. The latter now faces yet another labor-related charge, not about its Chinese factories, but one in Brazil. According to Reporter Brasil, Brazil's Ministry of Labor has filed a lawsuit against the Korean company for poor working conditions in a smartphone assembly plant located in Zona Franca de Manaus. Accusations include excessive work hours without rest, few chairs to sit on and a plethora of health problems ranging from bad backs to tendonitis. As a result, 2,018 requests for withdrawal have been filed, which is almost half that of the factory's 5,600 employees. The government is seeking around 250 million reais (roughly $110 million) to compensate workers. In a statement to the Brazilian publication, Samsung says it will cooperate fully with authorities and have pledged to ensure "the highest industry standards regarding safety, health and well-being."
FIFA 14 will have 19 'authentic' Brazilian teams
EA Sports announced that it reached licensing agreements with 19 soccer clubs in Brazil today, and will be bringing those teams to FIFA 14 this year. FIFA 13 had 20 Brazilian teams, but not all of them were exactly "real." Unlike the English Premier League, Brazilian league team licenses are negotiated on a team-by-team basis. FIFA 14 will include 19 authentic teams, "meaning authentic kits, club name, crest and real players," an EA representative told Joystiq. "However, unlicensed clubs can still feature in-game under our FIFPro license which enables us to use real player name/likeness," EA added. So of those 20 Brazilian teams in FIFA 13, a handful were unlicensed clubs. That means fully-licensed teams such as Internacional, Nautico and Ponte Preta in FIFA 14 were seen as I. Porto Alegre, N. Recife and P. Campinas in FIFA 13. "We call these clubs 'art generic' because an artist makes the kit/crest look very similar. Football fans know the difference," EA said. FIFA 14 will only include clubs from the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A league (the top league of three within Brazil's professional soccer system) with the exception of Palmeiras, a popular team that was recently relegated to Serie B. EA does not have licensing agreements in place for use of team logos and kits for two Serie A teams that were in FIFA 13 and Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 2013, EC Bahia and SC Corinthians. The publisher is still in negotiations for "additional club and league licenses and will have more announcements to make." FIFA 14 is due out in North America on September 24, and will also come to PS4 and Xbox One later this year.
iPad mini finally goes on sale in Brazil tomorrow, June 25
According to MacworldBrasil, the iPad mini will finally go on sale in Brazil tomorrow, June 25. That's eight months after the iPad mini debuted. Brazil is an important market to Apple, in addition to Russia, China and India. Brazilian retailers FNAC and Saraiva each published the June 25 release date on their respective websites. There's no word on pricing for the iPad mini in Brazil yet, where Apple products are often costly due to import taxes. It's notable, however, that Apple has worked with Foxconn to open a factory in Brazil, which is now operational. If it's handling the iPad mini, prices could be lower than anticipated.
