I apologize for the delay this week; I will get this up on time next week.
It’s that time of week again when we take a fond look back at the top five news stories from the week. Welcome to the Weekly Wrap-Up. Below you’ll find a brief summary of the stories, but for the full articles, click on the hyperlink. Feel free to let us know if you agree or disagree with our choices; if you have suggestions for future entries, feel free to email me at jeremy.tyler@bagogames.com.
Enjoy!
Number 5
Fable Anniversary Announced
An HD remake of the original Fable from the original Xbox has been announced and confirmed by Microsoft. The remake, officially called Fable Anniversary, will bring an updated version of Fable, complete with Achievements, new UI interface, SmartGlass Support, 1080p resolution and The Lost Chapters expansion.
“We’re really excited to bring Fable to Xbox 360,” said Ted Timmins, Lead Designer on Fable Anniversary. “It’s the game that the Fable community has been asking for, so we wanted to make sure Fable Anniversary delivered the definitive Fable experience for both long-time fans and newcomers to the franchise.”
Number 4
Michael Pachter Predicts PlayStation 4 Will Be $349, Xbox One Will Be $399
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has made his own predictions regarding the prices of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and they’re pretty reasonable. In an E3-Preview note sent to various investors, Pachter predicted that Sony’s PlayStation 4 will come out at a cost of $349, while Microsoft’s Xbox One will be $50 higher at $399. His guesses are based on the material costs of both systems, with the PS4 being $275 and the Xbox One being $325.
Despite the Xbox One having a predicted higher price, Pachter stated that it could be subsidized through a subscription contract with a broadband, cable or ISP provider.
“We believe the ability to watch live TV from a cable, telco, or satellite set-top box through Xbox One could entice an MSO to drive subscriptions through a subsidized box in exchange for a multi-year contract. The ‘always connected’ requirement for the Xbox One likely means that a broadband connection will be required, suggesting to us that ISPs may have an incentive to offer a subsidy as well.”
Number 3
Diablo III Announced for PS3 and Xbox 360, Coming September 3rd
Blizzard has announced an Xbox 360 version of Diablo III, as well as a release date of Sept 3rd for current-gen consoles. The console port of the game was first revealed during the PlayStation Meeting back in February, where it was confirmed to be coming to the PS3 and PS4.
Those that pre-order Diablo III will receive the Infernal Helm in-game item that provides an XP bonus to your characters that wear it. The PlayStation 4 version of the game was not discussed, nor was a potential Xbox One release.
Number 2
Kiefer Sutherland to Voice Snake in Metal Gear Solid V
During Konami’s Pre-E3 show, Hideo Kojima revealed that Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer on 24) would be taking on the role of Snake in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
Kojima explains that he wanted Snake to have a ‘more subdued performance expressed through subtle facial movements and tone of voice, rather than words.’ As the game takes place in 1984, where Snake is 49 years old, they needed someone who could easily ‘convey the facial and vocal qualities of a man in his 40s’.
“It’s an honor to be able to play this character,” said Sutherland. “This character has an unbelievable legacy. But there’s a real, personal quality to the character that I connected to.”
Number 1
Zynga Laying Off 18% of Staff, Undergoing Company-Wide Changes
Zynga has announced that the company will be facing substantial cost reductions, including the closure of several office locations and a huge workforce reduction. The amount of employees said to be affected amounts to 520 people, or 18% of the staff. Zynga has stated that this move will result in an estimated $70 million to $80 million in ‘pre-tax annualized cash expense savings.’
Back in February, the company closed three of their offices, which resulted in the relocation of those teams, in an attempt to shift focus to ‘creating franchises and driving profitability.’
Zynga Founder and CEO Mark Pincus sent a note to all employees regarding the layoffs and other changers and can be read, in full in the main article.
Honorable Mentions
This week had a lot of big news and the news staff and I found it hard to narrow it down to the usual five stories:
- Square Enix Holding Pre-E3 Event to discuss the ‘Future of Final Fantasy’
- Respawn Entertainment’s Debut Title Revealed to be Called Titanfall
- Platinum Games News Teased for Next Week
If you missed out on the big news items this week, you can check out our weekly podcast and get an audio update of this week’s madness from our podcasting team. Listen to us as we talk about some things seriously and a few other things not so much. We guarantee this episode will make you shake your fist at times and nod your head at others.