Now on the iPhone and iPod Touch for the first time is FIFA 10, which can be downloaded via the App store. FIFA Soccer 10 can also be bought in store all throughout Europe for the PS3, XBox 360, PC, PS2 and the mobile platform.
FIFA for the iPhone is the only full-licensed soccer games in the App Store. It mirrors the 2009-10 teams in real life from the leagues worldwide. It’s very simple to use and allows the user a lot of mobility and accuracy. Added on is different camera angles and slow motion replay. And if ever in the mood for a good challenge, simply uses Wi-Fi to connect with friends. READ MORE »
Microsoft announced that it will be lowering the estimated retail price (ERP) of the Core Xbox 360 in Europe from ?199.99 to ?159.99 making it the least expensive console in the region.
Also receiving a price cut are the Premium and Elite systems which will retail for ?199.99 from ?249.99 and ?259.99 from ?299.99 respectively.
“Xbox 360 is now mass market in Europe,” said Chris Lewis, Vice President, Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business Europe. “History shows that £159.99 is the price point where a console’s audience begins to expand, and with these new ERPs in place we’re ready to bring more consumers into the Xbox 360 world.”
The new ERPs are part of Microsoft’s on-going mission to give the Xbox 360 a much wider mass market appeal and will take effect March 14th. There is no word on whether or not North America will see a similar price drop.
In an interview with gameindustry.biz, Yoichi Wada, president of Square Enix, shows interest in expanding to western markets, more specifically Europe.
Yoichi explains the health of the Japanese game market by saying: “Nintendo has been doing really well, and DS particularly is enjoying a great boom. But when it comes to games for core gamers, it’s quite weak. Sooner or later core gamers will become impatient, and there’ll be a point where ‘real’ games will resume growth, but it’s not happening at the moment. However, for core games, the European and American markets are growing at enormous speed.”
Square Enix competitors such as Sega and Capcom have been successful in expanding to western markets by creating their own studios in the region such as Sega Racing Studios in the UK, a strategy that Yoichi would like to equal or exceed.
While Yoichi recognises that Square Enix is famous for its RPG’s, he believes that the team’s story telling ability and the care that they put into their games could be transferred to any genre.
