Xbox 360 marks 28 straight months atop U.S. market; industry sales sink 25%

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Just days before we get our first look at the next-generation Xbox, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 continues to dominate the U.S. video game industry. The latest numbers from NPD market research firm are out and the Xbox 360 was the top-selling console in April, marking the 28th straight month atop the U.S. console market. Microsoft sold… Read More…

Nintendo courts smartphone apps, stays away from smartphones

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The headline today in the Japan Times is an attention-grabber: “Nintendo taps smartphone apps for console boost.” Finally, Mario and Zelda on your iPhone or Galaxy S3? Well, no. The story is about Nintendo’s attempt to convince app developers to port their smartphone (and tablet) apps and games to Nintendo consoles including the new Wii… Read More…

Nintendo’s digital sales on the rise as company stays focused on games

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While sales of Nintendo’s Wii U continue to suffer, it appears the move to digital games has been helping the company’s overall profit. Nintendo of America CEO Reggie Fils-Aime told GamesIndustry that digital sales are “soaring.” He said that of the 15 Nintendo-made games available on the 3DS eShop, 11 percent of sales have come… Read More…

Name that Tech Tune: Do you know this Nintendo game?

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Updated below with answer and winner. This week’s Name that Tech Tune challenge is on the tougher end of the spectrum, hand-picked by Nintendo remix musician The Icarus Kid for the on-stage taping of our GeekWire radio show this week. Given that, it probably goes without saying that it’s a Nintendo tune. However, it’s definitely… Read More…

VIDEO: What makes Seattle such an awesome gaming city

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The list of game development companies in the Seattle area, from Valve to PopCap to 343, is certainly impressive. And to show how awesome the Emerald City’s gaming scene is, GameSpot just put out a really well-done video showcasing the talent here. They spoke with several of the city’s leading game devs, from Pete Parsons… Read More…

Xbox chief: Main rivals are Nintendo, Sony, Apple and Google … but not Valve

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The competitive landscape for Microsoft’s Xbox console is expanding to include Apple and Google, but the company’s top game and entertainment executive doesn’t see Valve’s move into the living room as particularly competitive with what Microsoft is doing. That was one of the more interesting tidbits from media event on Microsoft’s Redmond campus yesterday. The… Read More…

Nintendo sued over 3D patent in 3DS handheld console

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Not only is Nintendo dealing with less-than-stellar Wii U sales, but now the company is being sued over 3D technology used in its 3DS handheld console. Reuters is reporting that inventor and former Sony employee Seijiro Tomita is suing Nintendo over 3-D images he claimed to develop. Tomita says that Nintendo used his patent without… Read More…

Nintendo wants WiiU.com domain, files cybersquatting complaint

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The latest sales numbers of Nintendo’s Wii U are not good, so maybe a new website at WiiU.com can help the cause. Unfortunately for Nintendo, someone else owns the WiiU.com domain name. And so today the company filed a cybersquatting complaint with the World Intellectual Property Forum to snatch it back. According to domainnewswire.com, WiiU.com was registered back… Read More…

Ouch: Nintendo sold just 57,000 Wii U’s in January, report says

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Nintendo President Satoru Iwata told Reuters last month that the sales of the Wii U, which debuted Nov. 18, were “not bad.” Well, new numbers show that it’s worse than that. CNET is reporting that Nintendo sold just 57,000 Wii U’s last month, barely 20 percent of what Microsoft’s Xbox 360 (281,000) sold during the same time frame. That’s also… Read More…

A gamer’s dream: ‘The Art of Video Games’ exhibit debuts Friday at the EMP (PHOTOS)

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If you’ve ever wanted to jump in a time machine and relive the 40-year history of video games, well, Seattle’s EMP museum is the place to do it. Opening this Friday is a kickass exhibit called The Art of Video Games. From the Atari VCS to Myst to the Nintendo Wii, the exhibit takes you through… Read More…