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Sony Computer Entertainment merges Japan and Asia divisions
Sony Computer Entertainment's Japan and Asia divisions are as of today collectively Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia. The perhaps awkwardly named combination is being headed up by former SCE Japan chief Hiroshi Kawano, while former SCE Asia president Hiroyuki Oda becomes the unit's deputy president. The move sees a number of the two divisions' departments merge into one, with Sony looking to continue the cost-cutting initiatives it implemented across the last fiscal year.A month ago, Sony sold its Tokyo-based Osaki building for around $1.2 billion, this after the sale of its US headquarters earlier this year for $1.1 billion. Sony says it expects to turn an operating profit for the fiscal year ending March 31.
'Ice silver' Vita hits Asian markets on March 6
Asia will get an "ice silver" PlayStation Vita on March 6, Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong announced. While those dwelling in other regions contend with fits of jealousy, remember that Sony has a "PlayStation 2013" event scheduled for February 20, during which the Wall Street Journal said the PS4 will be announced.In the meantime, Western players still have a referral program to take advantage of, which grants trend-setters $20 for convincing a friend to buy a now less-exciting black Vita system.[Thanks, Mohammed!]
Sony Asia president discusses repercussions of piracy
During GC Asia's Sony keynote, SCE Asia president Tetsuhiko Yasuda delivered a keynote on piracy and how it's affecting his region. Piracy has always been a big deal in Asia, but Yasuda says it's getting to the point where it's deterring the gradual development of the Asian games industry.Yasuda said that the loss of sales due to software piracy has affected employees at almost every level of development, from the producer who hasn't been able to receive royalties to the youth that dream of being a game developer. For producers, Yasuda says these royalties contribute "to the healthy development of the software business," but warned that, in the long run, students aspiring to be developers will "suffer the most" when they eventually release their first game and feel the pain of lost sales.
Sony inks deal with Taiwanese dev consortium
Sony has made big strides in developer relations in Taiwan, as the Taipei Times reports the manufacturer has signed a new deal with Taiwanese developers in an effort to help boost the PS3's and PSP's presence in the region. It's been down due to consumers flocking to the cheaper Wii and, consequently, causing the development manpower to follow. Through this new deal with Sony Computer Entertainment Asia, six different independent developers will work on PlayStation products. The Taipei Times implies that digital content on the PS3 and PSP Go is likely to result. In addition, the deal will see the Taiwanese government subsidizing development costs by 40%, hopefully making Taiwan a much more attractive place to make games.
