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EA Posts Strong Quarterly Earnings Results
Electronic Arts posted its latest financial results for the April-June fiscal quarter, in which the publishing giant reported $815 million in sales and $96 million in net profit. These figures were above analysts’ expectations, thus pushing the stock up 4.5% to $16.92 in after-hours trading. Much of the positive results were due to of games with low-development costs such as 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, new content for the iPad and social networking, and layoffs of employees which helped to bring down costs. While the news was well received by virtually everyone, EA’s real test will come in the holiday season, in which the company typically makes 40% of its revenue.
Source: Associated Press
New Details on The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
An interview with Eiji Aonuma and the recent issue of Nintendo Power have revealed a few additional details regarding the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword title for the Wii. Of note, are the following:
- Aonuma confirms that the feminine figure representing the sword is not Princess Zelda
- The demo area from E3 was a field below the clouds and will be divided up in the final game
- Elements of dungeons and fields are being combined to be more seamless
- The sword has a treasure-seeking ability
- Bosses from the demo will not appear in the same locations in the final version
- There will be situations in the game in which you have to run away from enemies or are unarmed
- The game may have more than the 8 items shown at E3
- There is no interest in having Link speak as that would ruin the image of his character
- There will be a method of traveling between the game’s two worlds but Aonuma won’t reveal it yet
- Ganon, Gorons and Zoras may or may not be in the final game
Source: GoNintendo
Iwata Says Next Home Console To Be Announced As Late As Possible
Nintendo President and CEO Satoru Iwata recently commented in a financial Q&A about when he will begin talking about a successor to the Wii. In his own words, “We are of course studying and developing the next console to Wii. However, there is a big difference between studying a product and announcing what it is and when we will release it. I am afraid to say that the history of entertainment is also the history of imitation. At the same time, it is really important for our business to positively surprise people. Will you be surprised by our completed product if we told you how it is surprising three years in advance? Therefore, we basically disclose information on our products as late as possible. We believe this is the best approach for the entertainment products we are developing.”
Source: GoNintendo
3 years? Or was that just a metaphor? So the next Nintendo, like I said could be out on time, 5 years, by Nov. 2011. Usually, system announcements are made 1.5 years in advance. That’s why I expected something from someone this year, since it’s been almost a full cycle. But if Nintendo wants to wait until the last minute ( while MS and Sony admit “We got nothin”) that’s fine with me!
I really think Wii’s successor is coming sooner than later. 2011 is iffy– maybe for Japan– but 2012 definitely. If Wii software sales continue to decline through the rest of the year the 2011 date is even more likely.
Wii’s really novel, but I don’t think it’s as “future proof” as 360 and PS3 are, two machines which will likely get away with waiting several more years before being succeeded with a new machine.
The 360 isn’t as future proof as many are thinking. I belive that’s why Kinect is being “launched as a console would be” in the words of MS. I think Kinect is supposed to push the life of 360 longer, but it isn’t going to work. MS will be forced to launch a console sooner than they want and sooner than others are ready for.
The PS3 is very future proof with it’s ability to play BD discs and updated to play 3D BDs. MS doesn’t have that option. I don’t think Sony believes in Move further future proofing the PS3 like MS does of Kinect.
Oh, and as for link not speaking, they also mentioned that they don’t think NPCs speaking would be a good thing either.