Xbox One's ability to play in-development code has Minecraft-esque implications for gamers

The Xbox One's retail units will also run in-progress game code and function as debug units for budding devs, but Xbox VP Marc Whitten says not all of that functionality will be available when the console launches this November. More details will be available during Gamescom 2013 this August, but he told us in an interview this afternoon that "some of this won't be there for launch." Self-publishing for indies, however, is already on the table, though Whitten didn't provide a specific roadmap for when and how it'll work. "It's something we've been working on for a long time -- how do we shorten that process, how do we automate a lot of the core requirements checking and some of those things. That'll continue to be our focus around that," he said. Nor would he confirm the turnaround time, said to be close to Apple's 14-day turnaround, though he did suggest it could be even shorter. Again, more details will arise closer to Gamescom, but in the meantime Whitten says: "As games move towards games as a service, that becomes a more important part of the cycle. It's the reason that we dropped the title update fees, as an example. We'll announce more on the specifics, but our goal is frankly just to minimize that." Beyond benefitting indie devs, Whitten spoke to the implications of retail consoles running in-progress code could have on gamers. "I'm not confirming any feature or anything like that," he prefaced. But? "This idea of how can [Xbox] Live and the console work on a... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2013-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #important part #ll announce #early access

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With Interest From Asia, Mid-Core Game Developer nWay Raises $5 Million Series A

NWay, the two-year-old gaming startup behind the Facebook game Chrono Blade, has raised a $5 million Series A round. Co-founder and CEO Taehoon Kim said TransLink Capital, which led the round, is well connected in Asia and that the action RPG has generated interest from Asian publishers. The... Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #asian publishers #company plans #year --


Leveling the Playing Field

Big publishers have a natural advantage over smaller competition. Increased purchasing power, data collection and cross-marketing opportunities are a few of the perks of having multiple magazines in different markets. The ability to experiment and make mistakes is a less tangible, but equally... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2013-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #playing field #big publishers #natural advantage #data collection


Virgin buys inside story of Minecraft

Virgin Books has bought a book that goes behind the scenes of the digital gaming phenomenon... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #virgin books


Google Play update showcases big-screen optimized apps on tablets

As promised a month or so ago, Google Play is implementing a few changes today that'll push tablet-optimized apps to the forefront. That is, if you're using a device not quite small enough to be considered a phone (though we admit there are certain handhelds that bridge the gap). Indeed, tablet... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-11-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #android tablets #google play #tablet users


Google Play Newsstand merges Currents, magazines and newspapers on Android today, iOS in 2014

Google is not particularly great at keeping secrets. Its Nexus devices always leak and peeks at code are constantly revealing features before they're announced. So, it's no surprise that, exactly one month after we reported references to a Google Play Newsstand popping up, Mountain View is... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #content hub #magazine subscriptions #home screen #personal data


Former Kate Spade Art Director Develops An Adorbs Book App For Kids

My Monster, by Julianna Goodman, bridges the divide between slick digital storytelling and homemade visuals.It's rare to see and "touch" things on the iPad screen that evoke the texture, color, and unpolished feel of real life. Fortunately, a new children's book app corrects that shortcoming,... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ipad screen #real life


Of stage and screens: Broadway websites play leading role

Robert Diamond's initial brush with Broadway and technology began with Phantom of the Opera and a fascination with its leading man. "Hey, I'm a straight guy who loves Michael Crawford. When I was still in college I created the official Michael Crawford website," said the self-described nerd, who... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #biggest competitors #traditional newspapers #save money #home office #breaking news #google news


Mining the ‘Minecraft’ Phenomenon

At first we looked at Minecraft as the basis for an interesting case study about how the Internet has changed things for entrepreneurs,” said Linus Larsson, coauthor of Minecraft: The Unlikely Tale of Markus “Notch” Persson and the Game that Changed Everything (which is coming from Seven Stories... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'</em>s Comic Book Easter Eggs: Pyrokinesis and Code Names

Last night's episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., "Girl in the Flower Dress," didn't feature many overt comic book callbacks, but it did live firmly in the kind of post-Avengers, post-comic book universe that all the Marvel characters seem to occupy, regardless of medium. And the residents of that... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2013-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A Year of Lessons from Korea’s Book App Developer Moglue

TaeWoo Kim, CEO of Moglue — the Korean platform for book app development — reflects on the first year in business after launching his publishing-related startup. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Timothy Leary-developed video games found in New York Public Library archive

The New York Public Library recently discovered a treasure trove of video games in its archives created by psychedelic evangelist Timothy Leary. Over 375 floppies (talk about flashbacks) containing a "dozen or so" games developed by the LSD-advocate in the '80s -- some are playable via emulation... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google Play Ebooks Expands to 9 New Asian Countries

Google has expanded Play ebook sales to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and New Zealand. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #asian countries #hong kong


Self-Publishing and the Industry: Implications and Impact

A discussion with nine experts from Frankfurt Academy's CONTEC 2013 interactive learning lab on self-publishing's implications for the industry. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-Publishing Growth is Organic in the Developing World

Emerging markets incorporate international digital publishing models, while at the same time putting their own stamp on them, writes Octavio Kulesz. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #developing world


Blackwell's to open digital development office

Blackwell’s is setting up a new digital development office with nine new members of staff.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Xbox VP Phil Harrison: 'I hope we do have to deal with tens of thousands of games'

Microsoft Xbox corporate VP Phil Harrison isn't worried that making publishing open on Xbox One will flood the console's storefront with junk. In fact, he welcomes the impending flood. "I hope we have to deal with tens of thousands of games," Harrison told Engadget in an interview this week... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-08-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook offers promotional help to small game developers

Hoping to strengthen its services for mobile users, Facebook has created a new program to encourage third-party developers to build games that will run on the company's mobile clients.The new pilot program, called Facebook Mobile Games Publishing, will assist selected game development shops in... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pilot program #mobile apps #targeting capabilities #valuable audience


Disney developing Artemis Fowl film

The Walt Disney Studios is developing a film adaptation of the first two novels in Eoin Colfer... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook sends friend request to mobile game developers

Facebook and the gaming community have a tumultuous relationship. Hardcore gamers look down on the social media giant for offering casual games like Farmville. However, Facebook has proven to be a great way to link gamers together. For instance, I am a big fan of Candy Crush Saga and Words With... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2013-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google Play Store to Rent and Sell Textbooks

Google is getting into the textbook business by selling and renting materials from the top five education publishers in the US. The new service will launch August 8. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #education publishers