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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Google adding textbooks to the Play Store

While most people associate Android with text-messages, Google hopes you will think of it in another "text" aspect too -- textbooks. Today, Google announces that it is bringing textbooks to the Play Store. The company has partnered with all five major textbook publishers -- Cengage, Wiley,... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2013-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #google announces #play store #normal price


Xbox One retail consoles double as debug units, Microsoft to allow indie self-publishing (update)

Microsoft's Xbox One is getting decidedly more indie-friendly with today's confirmation from Microsoft that its forthcoming game console will double as a developer debug unit. In so many words, each $500 unit purchased at retail this holiday will also run in-progress game code, enabling... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #full statement #late august


Xbox One to allow indie games makers

Microsoft is to allow independent games developers to self-publish on its Xbox One games console, in a reversal of its previous policy. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2013-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sony's four pillar approach to game publishing on PlayStation 4 aims to level the playing field

Sony's already said that it's making game publishing on PlayStation 4 even easier than it is on the PlayStation 3, but Senior Account Manager of Development at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Agostino Simonetta today explained exactly what that means. Sony's apparently applying a "four... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #playing field #personal relationship #traditional publishers


NBCUniversal Taps Lion Forge Comics to Develop Digital Comic Books Based on Beloved 80s TV Shows

NBCUniversal, one of the world’s premier media and entertainment companies, has partnered with digital publisher Lion Forge Comics to develop licensed comic books based on popular TV shows from the 1980s and 90s. Under the agreement license ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #entertainment companies


Developing Collections ‘By Any Means Necessay’

Some call it multicultural, some call it Africana, some call it a “special collection.” PW spoke with librarians about collecting materials for and by African-Americans for public, school and academic libraries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #special collection #pw spoke #academic libraries


Fair Play? French Want to End Amazon’s Free Book Delivery

The French government announced a plan to introduce a law to stop Amazon from offering discounts and free delivery for books, citing it as "unfair" competitive practice. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fair play #offering discounts #free delivery


Steve Jobs' draft email plays pivotal role in antitrust case

An email composed, but never sent, by former Apple CEO Steve Jobs may prove instrumental in the Justice Department's case that Apple, along with the five largest book publishers, colluded to fix prices for electronic books.In a draft email intended for Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue about... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #electronic books #orin snyder


African-American-Interest Collection Development for Libraries

New! For the July 1, 2013 issue (reservation deadline June 17, 2013): Some call it multicultural, some call it Africana, some call it a “special collection”; but whatever it’s called, the procurement of materials that reflect black culture is a part of a librarian’s job, and we wanted to hear... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #school libraries #public libraries #special collection


SIBA's 'Code Read' Off to Successful Start

In order to better gauge social media success, and help usher foot traffic into bookstores, SIBA has launched the marketing initiative, "Code Read.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA panel asks: Do book critics need an ethics code?

The National Book Critics Circle recently surveyed reviewers about whether ethics guidelines are necessary for the industry. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book critics


Barnes & Noble boosts content on Nook with Google Play

Barnes & Noble is adding the Google Play store to HD versions of its Nook tablet, in a bid to counter slowing sales of its devices.Nook HD and Nook HD+ customers will be able to access over 700,000 Android apps and games, millions of songs and more, besides the Chrome browser, Gmail,... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nook hd #nook store #google play #google search #google maps #barnes noble #chrome browser


New Adult Is Hot, but Will It Play Abroad?

While interest in romance titles is showing no signs of slowing down—they continue to find their way into top spots on bestseller lists and command major advances from big-six editors—it’s the newish category new adult that is particularly hot right now. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #romance titles #top spots #bestseller lists


Librii: A New Kind Of Digital Library For The Developing World

This new library-in-a-shipping-container plans on using growing Internet access in Africa to create a new model for making available both electronic information and physical books. It’s a conundrum that library advocates have struggled with for years: in many areas in the developing world,... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #educational programs


Bertelsmann to develop education business

Bertelsmann plans to develop an education business division with the long-term potential to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bertelsmann plans


Google Play Books now available in Mexico

Despite going on quite the world tour, Google Play Books hasn't been available as close by as Mexico. That's been rectified: the online bookstore is now open in the country, with both local titles and prices in Pesos. As with some other countries, the expansion also gives Mexicans their first... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #world tour #online bookstore #local titles #android apps #image credit #android policesource


Free ebook copies of The Da Vinci Code'

Doubleday has announced that free copies of Dan Brown's famous 'The Da Vinci Code will be available as a promotion for Brown's new novel 'Inferno.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dan brown


Dan Brown conspiracy? 'The Da Vinci Code' ebooks -- free!

Doubleday has announced that it will be giving away free ebooks of Dan Brown's international bestseller "The Da Vinci Code" this week. Doubleday has announced that it will be giving away free ebooks of Dan Brown's international bestseller "The Da Vinci Code" this week.  The free digital download... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #free ebooks #dan brown #international bestseller #10th anniversary


Is There a Dearth of Literary Agents in Developing Markets?

Evidence is growing that a lack of skilled, knowledgable literary agents may be hindering the translation and publishing of books from developing markets in Asia and Latin America. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary agents #developing markets #latin america


Google Play Books comes to India with an updated Android app in tow

Google Play Books has been on a slow world tour that hasn't given Asia much love. Google is addressing that regional deficit in grand fashion today by launching its digital bookshop in India. The collection includes the expected blend of local and international titles, although the Books... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #international titles #content strategy #source link