Cloud gaming platform OnLive is finally due to roll out wireless internet support later this month.
It was restricted to wired network connections upon its June launch, apparently due to issues regarding the wider variety of latency and bandwidth offered by Wi-Fi.
The new version will initially be available as a beta download only.
Seattle developer and Steam owner Valve has dismissed the possibility of ever floating on the stock market.
The given reason was fear of meddling in creative decisions by shareholders.
"Any bad decision I ever see out there is because somebody created this different customer that was whoever funds them," lead designer Erik Johnson told PC Gamer, "and not the consumer of the product."
Intel and The Game Creators are seeking applications to a new independent development competition.
The scheme involves submitting netbook-friendly games, made with the Dark Basic Professional or Darkd GDK amateur dev tools, to Intel's AppUp download channel.
The Windows-based App Store alternative, launched in January, enables developers to sell small titles for low-spec PCs.
UK studio Blitz has confirmed it will build "full motion control functionality" into its BlitzTech middleware engine.
The SDK now includes features designed to work with both Microsoft's Kinect and Sony' s Move.
The new tech was created over the last year, for forthcoming Blitz titles Yoostar2 and The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout.
Sony has confirmed that Qriocity, a new cloud-based, subscription model music and video streaming service, will be launching on a several hardware devices later this year in Europe.
Video on demand via Qriocity has been available in the US since April, but this year will see the launch of new music streaming service Music Unlimited.
The service has been announced for PS3s, Bravia televisions, Blu-ray systems and VAIO computers at launch, but will be coming to more Sony hardware in future.
Sony has delayed the European firmware update to its PlayStation 3 console, intended to support playback of 3D Blu-ray movies.
The new release date is now slated for October 1.
The change in date, which was announced at Sony's IAF2010 press event yesterday, means an extra month's wait until early 3DTV adopters can watch any 3D films, as the firmware had originally been touted for September.
Mobile game multiplayer tech-maker Aurora Feint has unveiled a new cross-platform service known as OpenFeint Playtime, which will allow real-time online play between users of Apple's iOS and Android-based devices.
The service, which will also feature real-time voice chat, follows hot on the heels of Apple's confirmation that its Game Center will launch alongside its new range of hardware next week.
The new system also fleshes out Aurora Feint's hints about further cross-platform development last month.
An "intense lobbying effort" is underway in the US as the deadline for filing briefs either for or against the state of California's law banning the rental or sale of violent videogames to minors looms.
According to a report on Law.com only 11 states have signed up in support of California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's stance, when up to 40 would normally be expected in a child protection case with the Supreme Court set to rule on whether or not the law breaks the country's First Amendment.
That part of the Constitution states that: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
LucasArts has confirmed redundancies at its San Francisco headquarters, following widespread speculation of staffing and project cuts.
While the company has yet to confirm the number and nature of the layoffs, a statement acquiesced that "LucasArts is reorganizing its teams to better address the needs of the internal studio. Unfortunately, this means adjusting staffing."
Game blog Kotaku has reported internal sources as alleging 85 staff were lost in total - 60 developers and 25 from QA, as well as the claimed axing of two projects.
Steve Jobs has claimed iPod Touch is "the number one portable games player in the world", outlining Apple's growing ambitions in the games space with new hardware, an iOS update, an Unreal Engine 3 demo and the reveal of Game Center during a combative press conference.
Speaking on stage in San Francisco - streamed live online and broadcast at a separate Apple event in central London attended by GamesIndustry.biz - Jobs announced that "the biggest change in the iPod line ever" and the new operating system update would be released next week.
The new iPod Touch, noticeably slimmer than the current model, adds iPhone 4's A4 CPU, retina display and gyroscope, plus a front-mounted camera and HD video capture. The device will be available in 8Gb, 32Gb and 64Gb versions, priced at £189, £249 and £329 respectively.
PopCap Games Chief Creative Officer Jason Kapalka has claimed that current publishers are not ready forwith the new age of mobile and social gaming.
Observing that "FarmVille is probably more of a WoW-killer than the Old Republic," the co-founder of the Bejewelled developer felt that many gamers no longer had the time on their hands necessary for traditional games.
"I think increasingly a lot of people are in that position, and games have to evolve to meet that need," he told GamesIndustry.biz in an interview published today.
The director general of UK trade association ELSPA, Michael Rawlinson, has stated his belief that the British videogames industry needs to unite and work more closely together.
The announcement, during a keynote speech at the Digital Spark conference, comes a week before the organisation is set to rebrand to UKIE - UK Interactive Entertainment - as it seeks to expand its remit from looking after the interests of traditional publishers alone.
"Boundaries are blurring between developer and publisher and with these changes new opportunities are arising, and we all need to adapt to make the most of this brave new world," he said.
Early bird tickets for Screen Yorkshire and Game Republic's Games Invest event at this year's Eurogamer Expo are currently available at discount rates.
Early tickets are available until September 6, and are priced at £35 as opposed to the full price of £50.
The event provides small and medium companies a chance to get advice on finding investment funds for games projects, as well as providing informal and formal pitching opportunities.
Yahoo! Japan and developer DeNA's joint venture development portal Yahoo! Mobage is set to open to the public on 1 October, and hopes to reach 72 million Japanese internet users with its PC and mobile game service.
The company is seeking to attract American developers with the promise of reaching DeNA's 20 million monthly mobile users and Yahoo! Japan's 52 million internet users.
Developers have been able to access DeNA's mobile platform, Mobage, since January this year. DeNA claim this has led to participants seeing a reported ten-fold sales increase in six months, with an average earning of $1 million (£652,230) per month for a top game.
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed that its long-awaited RTS sequel, StarCraft II, has now sold over 3 million units after one month of availability.
The news follows strong early sales of the game, which became the fastest-selling PC RTS title ever after shifting 1.5 million copies in the first two days after release.
"We appreciate all the enthusiasm that players around the world have shown for StarCraft II," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment. "It was important to us to deliver an overall gameplay experience that was accessible, balanced, and fun, and it's been gratifying to see how strongly the global community has already embraced the game."
UK retailer GAME has made its first steps into online distribution, with the release of new software tool GAME Downloader.
While the application does not allow full game downloads as yet, at least it scans users' PCs for installed games and then provides automatic notification whenever new patches or DLC becomes available.
The Downloader can also notify gamers as to the availability of demos, trailers, mods and indie games.
Catalis SE, the group that owns Kuju Entertainment, has announced that it is splitting out its Doublesix studio from the rest of the company to stand alone as a new business division.
The division will continue to work in the digital download and self-publishing sector, following the success of titles including Burn Zombie Burn and South Park's Let's Go Tower Defense Play or PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade respectively.
"It's important for us to separate Kuju's more traditional and core work for hire business from projects that fall into the digital self-published realm," said Kuju CEO Nigel Robbins. "Kuju's three other studios and the imprints under Doublesix Video Games may share a common goal of creating compelling quality games, but the disciplines are somewhat different and the new structure will bring out the best in both divisions."
The North East of North (NeoN) festival is to return to Dundee in November, offering a full month of digital arts events across the city.
While the programme also encompasses design, art and music, games are a major part of the proceedings. The University of Abertay will run a series of panels, debates and workshops on November 11 to 12, hosted and attended by a wide array of software companies.
On November 8 to 10, the city additionally plays host to AppCon and AppJam, respectively a conference and 48-hour development competition for mobile and social games.
Micropayment firm ATLAS Interactive has appointed a new Chief Operations Officer.
Andreas Pritzlaff has been promoted after two years working in Mobile Solutions at the German firm, and will now head up business operations including product management, purchasing, business development and customer care.
Said Marco Priewe, Managing Director of ATLAS, "Mr. Pritzlaff has in the past two years contributed significantly to the development of Mobile Solutions and has several years of experience in the telecommunications industry. I am pleased that our management team consisting of Andreas Syska-Funk and I could expand further with Mr. Pritzlaff, an important member."
