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Warner brings Pay-Per-View, Video on Demand to China, hopes people will actually pay for it
Piracy may run rampant in China, but that hasn't stopped Warner Bros. from launching the country's first national Pay-Per-View and Video on Demand service. Under the program, movies like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 1 will be broadcast on You On Demand's platform, and distributed to Chinese living rooms in cooperation with China Home Cinema -- a branch of CCTV-6. According to You On Demand's estimates, the service should be available in about three million homes by the end of this summer, and will have the potential to reach a full 200 million cable-equipped households. That's certainly a huge market, and one that could provide some serious revenue -- assuming, of course, that people are actually willing to pay for movies. Full PR after the break.
THQ takes on distribution of four Codemasters releases this year
THQ announced today that, through its THQ Partners unit, it would be handling the North American distribution of four of Codemasters 2011 releases. In fact, THQ Partners actually began its task today, with the release of Dirt 3 into the retail channel. The deal also encompasses distribution of Operation Flashpoint: Red River, Bodycount and F1 2011. The new Operation Flashpoint hits June 7, with Bodycount set for "later this summer." Financial details of the deal weren't disclosed, but it has been confirmed that Codies will continue to handle the marketing of all four titles in-house.
Netflix seals deal to stream Miramax movies, starting in June
Netflix has just gone and scooped up another big content deal for itself. The movie streaming service has tied the knot with Miramax on a multi-year agreement to allow streaming of films from the latter's extensive library. Pulp Fiction, The English Patient, Kill Bill, and hundreds of others will be added to the Netflix Watch Instantly catalog on a rotating basis, starting next month. This marks the first time Miramax flicks have been available on a digital subscription service. An agreement between these two companies was last rumored in March, with a five-year term and $100 million price being mooted as the likely parameters for getting it done. Neither outfit would disclose the cost to Netflix, but the benefit to you, dear subscriber, is pretty obvious. Full PR after the break.
Sony: every NGP game will be available to download, some might not even make it to physical release
We're filling the time between now and the NGP's holiday season release the best way we know how: by hunting down yet more information about it. Andrew House, the man in charge of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, has delivered the latest tidbit in an interview with MCV, where he states unequivocally that every game on the next PlayStation Portable will be available to buy as a download. Notably, he also expresses Sony's desire to have simultaneous distribution in both digital and physical channels, but that sounds a lot less concrete than his promise that every game will be downloadable. Digital-only games also figure prominently in Andrew's vision of the NGP's future, as he expects them to diversify choice for consumers alongside the big time titles like Uncharted. To learn more about Sony's replacement of UMDs with flash memory and the reasoning behind the PlayStation Suite, follow the source link below for the full interview.
Lionsgate, Studiocanal to distribute Miramax movies, Pulp Fiction Blu-ray coming in June
Lionsgate and Studiocanal have signed a deal with Miramax to distribute its library of movies around the world, with Lionsgate handling things in the US while Studiocanal takes over the UK and Europe. Most specifically, Miramax CEO Mike Lang reveals in a blog posting that the first three Scream movies will be rereleased when Scream 4 comes to theaters in April, and the long awaited Pulp Fiction Blu-ray will finally be released in the US in June. All the rest of the details are in the press release after the break, check the blog post for more of his thoughts on DVD extras and the future of digital delivery -- Ultraviolet isn't mentioned by name, but clearly he thinks the digital locker concept is the future of video.
WSJ: Google plans a 'digital newsstand' to unite all newspapers and magazines under Android's umbrella
The Wall Street Journal has rounded up its cabal of sources today to present another delicious new battlefield in the struggle between Google and Apple for mobile supremacy. Specifically, it reports that the Mountain View team has approached Time Warner, Condé Nast and Hearst -- three of the biggest publishers of periodicals in the US -- with a view to offering their content through a Google-operated "digital newsstand" for Android devices. The appeal for media companies will be an easier route to monetizing their content, apparently, including the possibility that Google could take a smaller slice of revenues than the 30 percent charged by Apple and Amazon. There's also word of developments behind the scenes at Cupertino, where "several changes in iTunes" are expected to improve the publisher's experience of using the service, including making it easier to offer long-term subscriptions and related discounts. Apple's had nothing to say on the matter, while Google's responded by noting it's always in discussions with publishers and has nothing to announce at this point.
GameStop cards can buy Kreds on Kongregate, retail sales fueling digital profits
If you were a little puzzled about why retail chain GameStop invested in the Flash gaming site Kongregate earlier this year, here's (at least part of) your answer. The company has announced that GameStop gift cards will now be able to purchase Kongregate's "Kreds" virtual currency, which can then be used to buy unlocks and items in Kongregate games, or even "tip" developers who upload games to the site. Each dollar on a GameStop card equals 10 Kreds, and since those gift cards can be found not only in GameStop stores, but at grocery stores, bookstores and other places of commerce, that's a lot more Kreds Kongregate kan kapture. Whoops, sorry, we got a little karried away there. The company is also offering a promotion for the deal, with up to 30 percent bonus Kreds given for any GameStop card used on the site through December 8. You have to give it to GameStop -- it's coming up with some really interesting ideas in its efforts to stay floating above the onrushing tide of digital distribution.
The Daily Grind: Want a box with that?
With the proliferation of digital-download gaming going on these days, it's getting progressively harder for those of us that care about box copies, collectors editions, cheesy cloth maps, and cheaply produced pewter figurines to get our fix. It's obvious why developers and publishers love digital delivery, as it saves them a lot of distribution money, but does it really benefit the consumer aside from scratching our instant gratification itch? As I look over at the MMO box museum cluttering the shelves of my game room, I take no small amount of comfort in the fact that I got something tangible for my fifty bucks, even though in most cases the games themselves were incapable of sustaining my interest past the free month. In fact, I've only purchased a digital download twice: Fallen Earth (and I later obtained a box just because) and Darkfall (still hunting for a box). Subscription-based MMOs are inherently more about renting than owning but -- for now at least -- you can still get a physical copy of your favorite virtual world and, if you're lucky, an outdated manual and a map. Today we ask you, dear readers, do you want a box, or are you OK with leaving your games on a remote server? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Tekken movie lands US distributor, coming 2011
Anchor Bay Films has acquired the distribution rights to Tekken (the movie), a live-action adaptation of Namco Bandai's fighting game franchise. Produced by Crystal Sky Pictures, the film is expected to be released "widely" in the United States next year, reports ComingSoon.net. (The movie premiered in Japan this past March, courtesy of Warner Bros.) "The Tekken video game franchise has sold millions of copies over the past decade," said Anchor Bay president Bill Clark. "Crystal Sky has invested millions in the production, making sure they were able to convey not only the incredible fight scenes, but also the emotional journey of the main character, Jin" (as seen above). The movie has grossed just over a half million dollars to date, according to Box Office Mojo.%Gallery-85755%
Lego and Warner Bros. partner on Lego Universe distribution
In an attempt to further expand its digital Lego empire, Warner Bros. has partnered with the iconic brick manufacturer and NetDevil to act as the retail distributor for their upcoming family-friendly MMO, Lego Universe. According to the press release announcing the partnership, Warner Bros. will be responsible for distributing the game "outside of LEGO channels." We assume they're talking about Lego Stores, and Legoland, and the underground Lego black market which operates in the shady corners of most metropolitan cities.
Fallen Earth announces partnership with Interactive Gaming Software
The changes at Fallen Earth just keep coming. Today brings us news that Fallen Earth has formed a distribution partnership with publisher and distributor Interactive Gaming Software. So what does this mean for Fallen Earth? In short, it means onward and upward: "As Fallen Earth grows, the need to make the game easily accessible both nationally as well as internationally has become essential," says Marketing Manager Jessica Orr. From the sound of things we're going to see the game made available to a wider audience, beginning its addition to "several new digital and retail outlets in late Q2." Speculation regarding any connection between this partnership and the recent layoffs is only natural, but all involved parties seem very optimistic about the direction things are going for the game. Making Fallen Earth available to a wider market brings the potential for many more subscriptions, so we'll be watching the population of Sector 1 with interest.
Europe to get boxed retail copies of Global Agenda
Digital distribution is the in thing these days. Steam, in particular, has turned PC games into something that's almost easier to buy at home rather than in the store, with a ridiculously wide selection and the promise of never worrying about lost discs. The biggest drawbacks are the download times and potentially losing your login, and what MMO player doesn't plan for those issues? But there's still something nice about a boxed copy, which is why European gamers can take joy in the fact that Global Agenda will be releasing a boxed retail copy of the game starting in September 2010. Thus far, the game has been using primary distribution through Steam, which has worked well -- but as the official statement explains, a retail box helps improve visibility. The game will launch in an English version in cooperation with Iceberg Interactive, with a German version due out a bit later. No word is given on whether or not an American boxed version will be available. It's a unique opportunity for Global Agenda, which itself is a very unique game, and success with the boxed copies likely will lead to more developing projects and more content for the game's fans.
Redbox deal with Fox puts a 4 week hold on new releases, starting with Avatar
Consider that Redbox / Fox lawsuit cancelled -- as well any plans you had to watch Avatar this weekend for a buck a day. Under their new distribution agreement (starting with this week's blockbuster flick) the movie maker will directly supply Redbox but only 28 days after a movie is released and with the directive they will not be resold later. No real surprises here considering the recent slew of similar agreements affecting our favorite budget rental options, including the note that this applies to Blu-ray discs as well, with no word when they will be available outside of "testing in select markets." It's cool, we were just waiting to watch The Blind Side this weekend anyway.
Left Behind Games expands Walmart distribution to 'broad area of states'
[dennissylvesterhurd] In an SEC filing of a letter to investors yesterday, Left Behind Games (the publisher of, um, Left Behind games) detailed plans to expand its Walmart distribution model from an initial 100-store testing ground in Texas to the somewhat amorphous "limited number of Walmart stores covering a broad area of states." CEO Troy Lyndon added, "The original test proved that when Christians are aware of the existence of Left Behind Games, they will respond and purchase them." In a follow-up conversation, Lyndon told Joystiq that the company's games are no longer available in the original 100 stores, and that the new initiative actually puts LBG's games in fewer stores than before (though this time across multiple states). It's Lyndon's belief, however, that a repackaging of the publisher's games -- all 3 Charlie Church Mouse games in a single $20-priced box and the Left Behind titles released with updates applied -- combined with reaching new markets, "will provide us with ongoing market insight and a chance to enhance sales." Lyndon also told us that the test in Texas was "a huge success; we performed at about the top 10-percent level last Christmas." Oddly, in neither the letter to investors nor in his conversation with us did Lyndon mention his company's upcoming expansion into console game publishing, Bible Adventures. It's like it just got ... left behind. Update: Left Behind Games CEO Troy Lyndon has told us "Bible Adventures (Charlie Church Mouse 3D) is still on schedule for a 2011 Wii release," so there you have it!
Nintendo distributing Monster Hunter 3 in Europe this April
Nintendo appears to be confident in the sales potential of Capcom's Monster Hunter Tri. The company will take on sales, marketing, and distribution of the Wii action RPG in Europe and Australia, as it did for Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles and Zack and Wiki. Despite Capcom's announcement that the title would be delayed, Monster Hunter Tri will be released in April in the West -- just out of its original Q1 window. "Nintendo has identified Monster Hunter Tri as a key title for the Wii platform in 2010," Capcom Europe senior director of marketing Michael Pattison said. " We are really excited about partnering with Nintendo to further develop this franchise." Perhaps it could be developed further by releasing the Classic Controller Pro along with it. Just an option. %Gallery-34117%
Take-Two sells Jack of All Games
Take-Two announced the sale of Jack of All Games to software distribution mega-company Synnex. Jack of All Games, acquired by Take-Two in 1998, distributes games published by Take-Two (and its various brands) to retail. The sale is expected to be completed sometime in the first quarter of 2010, and will cost Synnex "$43.25 million, including $36.50 million in cash and up to an additional $6.75 million based on the achievement of certain items." In the announcement, Take-Two CEO Ben Feder indicated that the company will continue to work with Jack of All Games after the sale. Though at first this move would seem to be aimed at bringing money in during a period of disappointing performance, the company also reduced its forecasted first-quarter revenues, since it can no longer count money being brought in by Jack of All Games.
Android's Device Dashboard offers version distribution insight, pity for users still on 1.1
Google's Android team has released a cool new site to help developers keep tabs on the distribution of the platform's various versions, something that's going to become increasingly important as it continues to splinter across manufacturers and countless devices, specs, and capabilities. The Device Dashboard is presently showing that 1.6 (Donut, if you recall correctly) owns the lion's share of the market, but 1.5 Cupcake is still contributing 27.7 percent to the mix -- thanks largely to the Hero, we suspect. 2.0.1, only available in wide distribution on the Droid at this point, owns another 14.8 percent, but you can bet this whole pie is going to drastically repaint itself countless times in 2010 -- and each version brings different bullet points to the table, which means devs are going to be facing tough choices deciding what to target. It may never have Apple-style hardware and software uniformity, but at least stuff like this'll help app shops make more informed decisions as they push out products.
EpixHD to appear on Cox next?
Looks like EpixHD may have a second distribution partner soon, Bloomberg is reporting rumors that it is close to a deal with Cox to bring the premium movie network / online streaming service to its network in 2010. Analys reports peg as many as 1,000 FiOS subscribers per day signing up for the channel in its first month there, but that investors are currently focused on the slow progress in expanding to other carriers for Epix. more than a third of them take advantage of the online streaming, we'll see if capped & throttled cable customers have the same response.
Alganon expands to Impulse distribution
Alganon isn't necessarily the darling of the MMO world at the moment, with a large number of people drawing conclusions about it before even setting foot in the game. So, really, more or less par for the course. But it has launched, it's developing its content, and it's clearly making moves to get itself noticed as something new and good. And if recent moves are any indications, one of the best ways to get yourself noticed is expanding on to the much-beloved digital distribution sources. The game has just been made available on the Impulse service, run by Stardock. Those of you with acute memories may recall that it wasn't so long ago that Alganon had an exclusive setup with Direct2Drive. However, expansion is always a good thing, especially for a smaller studio looking to improve their visibility. There's no word on any exclusive giveaways a la the plethora of Fallen Earth bonuses for different services, but that's all right -- it's good enough to know that if you have a want for the game, there are more ways to go about getting it.
Best Buy partnering with CinemaNow to stream first-run DVDs to 'all web-connected devices sold'
Can you live without physical media? Are you ready to buy into owning a license without any physical property to show for your purchase? We hope so 'cause that's the future. Today Best Buy will announce confirmation of its rumored partnership with CinemaNow in a deal that will stream first-run DVDs directly to consumers. Better yet, according to an AP report, the software required to access CinemaNow's video library "will be included on all the Web-connected devices sold in Best Buy's more than 1,000 U.S. stores." If taken literally then wow, just wow... that's a lot of devices. However, since Best Buy sells Apple's iPhone and iPod touch, and there's no way that Apple's going to let a retailer tamper with its devices, we think the AP's wording is a bit ambitious. The idea here is simple: pay once for a DVD then eventually be able to play it on any device be it a television, Blu-ray player, PC, smartphone or some other connected device. The new Best Buy-branded service will launch "early next year" according to Chris Homeister (yes, that's his real surname), as Best Buy gets "into this business in a big way." Remember, Best Buy already announced a streaming Netflix deal and partnerships with TiVo and Napster that will be launching early next year as well. And we've already seen Sonic Solutions, CinemaNow's owner since last year, bunging its 1080p-capable CinemaNow service into every connected-device imaginable -- even 3D content for 3D Vision-ready displays. The whole concept sounds very much like Disney's Keychest which already sounded very much like the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (or DECE) consortium. Hopefully Best Buy will clear up the details later today when this gets really official. The future is now -- too bad US broadband is so yesterday. Update: It's official. The agreement will allow customers to "buy or rent" from CinemaNow's library of content on "connected consumer electronics" sold through Best Buy retail stores or BestBuy.com. New titles will "often" (note the qualification) be made available day and date of the DVD release. The service will also leverage digital copies to bridge the physical and digital stream worlds. See the full press release for all the detail. Show full PR text Best Buy Co., Inc (NYSE:BBY) and Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ:SNIC) today announced a strategic relationship that will result in a new Best Buy customer offering in its growing line-up of digital entertainment products. The new on-demand movie and entertainment service will be powered by Sonic's Roxio CinemaNow™ and will allow consumers to have access to buy or rent a vast library of premium content. To power this offering, Best Buy has entered into a multi-year agreement in which Best Buy plans to license and deploy Sonic's Roxio CinemaNow™ technology and services platform to make on-demand digital content delivery a standard feature on connected consumer electronics devices sold throughout U.S. Best Buy retail stores and BestBuy.com. Under the terms of the agreement, Best Buy acquired warrants enabling it to purchase shares of Sonic Solutions common stock. Best Buy, one of the largest consumer electronics retailers in the world, has a strong track record of bringing innovative technologies to a broad audience through its consumer-focused marketing, education, and Geek Squad services. To foster the consumer appetite for obtaining on-demand premium content electronically, Best Buy intends to embed the Roxio CinemaNow technology on a wide array of devices - web-connected television sets, portable media players, PCs, Blu-ray Disc players, set-top boxes, and mobile phones - from a variety of manufacturers. Best Buy expects to undertake a marketing program to educate consumers about the increased convenience, flexibility, and choice digital content delivery affords. With the new Best Buy service, consumers will have access to buy or rent an extensive library of premium content including new movies, TV shows, independent films, and older catalog movies, which they will be able to access on devices in the broad ecosystem. It is anticipated that new titles will often be available on the same day they become available on DVDs in retail outlets. Together with their Studio partners, Best Buy and Sonic plan to also collaborate on new service and content offerings, including those that leverage digital copies to bridge physical disc sales and electronic sell through. "Best Buy is in a great position to expand the market for on-demand home entertainment," said Thomas Gewecke, president, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. "The combination of Sonic's platform with Best Buy's expertise in selling consumer electronics, video content and technical services creates an opportunity for a wide variety of exciting new consumer offerings." "Our relationship with Sonic Solutions allows Best Buy to quickly establish a strong position in the digital delivery of video entertainment," said Brian Dunn, CEO of Best Buy. "It also enables us to make deeper and more meaningful connections with our customers and expand our relationships with content owners and hardware vendors to create compelling new home entertainment solutions." "With Best Buy's ability to drive in-store promotion and education, consumers will come to quickly understand and appreciate the convenience, flexibility, and control that digitally-delivered video entertainment affords them," said Dave Habiger, president and CEO, Sonic Solutions. "With Best Buy's focus, we expect on-demand entertainment to quickly grow into a mass market activity, with digital sell-through and rental becoming a significant new revenue stream for content owners." Roxio CinemaNow includes Hollywood-approved digital rights management, encoding and adaptive delivery technologies, and secure device-optimized playback of premium entertainment. Roxio CinemaNow's cloud-based media services power devices which consumers can use to seamlessly enjoy video entertainment anytime and anywhere across the broadest range of devices. The Roxio CinemaNow ecosystem includes PCs, connected TVs, set top DVRs, Blu-ray Disc and mobile media players from leading manufacturers such as Archos, Dell, HP, LG, Microsoft, Nintendo, Pioneer and TiVo and is powering internet movie delivery for Blockbuster. Read -- AP report Read -- New York Times
