Epic Games says Google paid phone and game makers to avoid $1-billion app store hit

"Fortnite" developer Epic Games on Thursday unsealed details about contracts it alleges Alphabet Inc's Google signed with phone makers and other top video game companies to avoid losing $1.1 billion in annual app store profit.

Epic in 2018 launched "Fortnite" through its website and a partnership with handset maker Samsung Electronics Co , bypassing Google's Play Store, which charges developers fees of up to 30 perecnt of their sales.

Google feared other companies copying Epic and blocked that possibility by erecting unlawful hurdles, Epic alleged in an antitrust lawsuit filed against Google last year.

Google said the lawsuit remains baseless and mischaracterizes business conversations. A trial has not been scheduled.

Among new details a judge ordered be unredacted, Google in 2019 estimated up to $6 billion in Play revenue and $1.1 billion in profit would be at risk in 2022 alone if Epic's approach spread and alternative stores found success, according to the lawsuit.

But Google avoided the feared hit.

In 2019, it launched "Premier Device Program" to pay phone makers to ensure the Play Store's exclusivity and limit the appeal of partnerships similar to what Epic had reached with Samsung, according to the newly released details.

Premier partners received 12 percent of Google's search revenues from their phones, compared with 8 percent traditionally, according to the filing. Some partners, including LG Electronics Inc and Lenovo Group's Motorola, also received 3 percent to 6 percent of Google "Play spend."

Separately, Google in 2019 as part of an effort dubbed "Project Hug" approved spending "hundreds of millions of dollars" on over 20 top developers in marketing and other benefits to keep them on the Play Store, according to the details. The "vast majority" accepted Google's offer by December 2020.

According to the lawsuit, Google internally called the new deals a success in stopping a "contagion" of developers sidestepping the Play Store. 

-reuters-

Lego posts record profit in 2020 as lockdowns spur play

Lego posted a record profit in 2020 as pandemic lockdowns around the world left people whiling away their time indoors playing games and buying online, the Danish company said on Wednesday.

The unlisted family business registered a 19 percent rise in net profit to 9.9 billion kroner (1.3 billion euros, $1.6 billion), its biggest profit ever.

Sales jumped by 13 percent, to 43.7 billion kroner.

The maker of colorful plastic bricks said it had increased its global market share even though it was forced to temporarily close its plants in China and Mexico due to the pandemic, which led to higher supply costs.

Sales rose across the board, thanks to growing online shopping and a doubling of visits to its websites, as well as the opening of 134 stores, including 91 in China where the group intends to expand further.

Despite the rise in online sales, Lego, based in Billund in western Denmark, plans to open 120 new stores in 2021, including 80 in China.

In addition to its classic bricks, which remain among its most sold products, the company has in recent years moved strongly into areas such as video games, movies, cartoons and Legoland amusement parks.

Lego -- a contraction of the Danish 'Leg godt' or 'Play well' -- noted in particular the success of its Super Mario game collaboration with Nintendo launched in August, where players can build real life versions of 2D Super Mario levels.

After a vast restructuring in 2017, Lego turned its focus to multimedia games and sustainability.

While Lego's iconic bricks are virtually unbreakable and reusable for generations, plastic is increasingly shunned due to the lasting harms its chemical components do to the planet. Lego has therefore vowed that its bricks will be 100 percent sustainable by 2030.

The company also aims for its manufacturing plants to be carbon neutral by 2022, and is gradually phasing out its plastic bags separating pieces and replacing them with recycled paper.

Agence France-Presse

The Tokyo Olympics are coming. Vacation idea?

In less than a year, the sporting world will descend on Tokyo for the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games. An estimated 600,000 overseas visitors are expected to flock to the Japanese capital and surrounding regions, and the games — as they are every four years — will be an endurance test of planning and logistics for organizers and attendees alike.

But there are ways for international guests to make the most of their stay in Tokyo and help ensure the smooth operation of the games. This guide will help.

When are the Tokyo Games? Where are the venues?

The 2020 Olympics will officially kick off with the opening ceremony in Tokyo on July 24, with preliminary softball and soccer matches starting on July 22, and run through Aug. 9. Following a two-week breather, the Paralympics will begin Aug. 25 and conclude Sept. 6.

The games will be held across nine prefectures, with the majority taking place in two areas of Tokyo: the Heritage Zone, using revamped buildings from the 1964 Olympics, and Tokyo Bay Zone, designed to serve as a “model for innovative urban development.”

Venues outside of Tokyo include the Sapporo Dome on the northern island of Hokkaido (hosting soccer) and the Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium in Fukushima.

What are the new sports?

Five new sports will be added to the Olympic lineup, which now stands at 33: Skateboarding, “sports climbing,” surfing and, appropriately for Japan, baseball and softball, and karate. Existing sports, such as canoeing, kayaking, boxing and fencing, will also see a rebalancing with additional events added, primarily with an eye toward increased gender equality.

How can I get tickets to the Olympics? Is it too late?

The first round of Tokyo Olympics ticketing was limited by lottery system to residents of Japan and closed on May 28. A subsequent “relief measure” lottery was held in August. Paralympic tickets were also awarded on a lottery basis, and closed on Sept. 9.

Thirty percent of an estimated 7.8 million have been set aside for overseas visitors, sold by “Authorized Ticket Resellers.” For those in the United States, ticket sales will be handled by CoSport and went on sale in July. As of this writing, all available tickets have been sold, although subsequent rounds of ticketing are expected to take place on an ongoing basis through 2020, before the start of the games.

The Tokyo Olympics organizing committee will also host an online resale site beginning in the spring, with ticket prices capped at the original face value. Available for both foreign visitors and Japanese residents, the official resale service may provide relief for those shut out of the initial rounds of ticketing.

What happens if I can’t secure any tickets at all?

Lack of tickets does not necessarily mean a lack of Olympics fun in and around Tokyo. The organizing committee has approved 30 “Live Site” venues across Japan for non-ticketholders, including in areas affected by the Tohoku and Kumamoto earthquakes. These sites will feature live televised sports broadcasts, cultural events and among other programs, attendees will have the chance to try out various Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Is it true that I won’t be allowed to post photos of events to social media?

Shortly after the first round of tickets went on sale in Japan, controversy arose over certain aspects of the terms and conditions attached to the purchase of tickets, namely, the transfer of intellectual property rights of photos taken by attendees at Olympic events to the organizing committee. Would this mean then that the committee — notorious for protecting its IP rights — would then crack down on social media photos?

Organizers have clarified that, while the committee is, in fact, claiming copyright over photos taken by ticket holders, it will not prevent those photos from being posted to social media. Only commercial reproduction of photos will be disallowed. Controversially, however, audio and video clips taken by spectators are not permitted to be posted on social media. Organizers are expected to be vigilant in filing takedown notices with social media networks.

What is the best way to access the venues each day?

Unsurprisingly, Tokyo’s extensive public transit system will be key in shuttling attendees to and from venues each day. Even with companies embracing remote work during the games, to help ease Tokyo’s famously packed trains, the influx of tourists is nonetheless expected to tax the system. Regardless, using Tokyo’s rail and subway networks is everyone’s best bet for reaching the venues.

For a cheery twist, JR East and Pasmo (Tokyo Metro) in September began offering special contactless fare cards featuring colorful designs and characters for overseas guests. These cards can also be used for quick, cashless payment at retailers and restaurants in and around rail stations.

Tokyo’s train and metro schedules look complicated. Help!

Fortunately, helpful tools are available to assist navigating the byzantine scheduling and routing of Tokyo’s trains. Hyperdia has long been the go-to website for expats in Japan for searching out train routes — simply enter the originating and destination stations, desired departure or arrival time and Hyperdia will provide up to 10 routes, which can be ranked by trip length, number of transfers required, or price.

Above all, it is important to trust the information provided. Hopping on an earlier local train can add significant time to one’s commute, while taking a rapid train may mean passing through your desired station without stopping.

For those looking to keep things simple, Tokyo’s famed Yamanote Line with its famous green livery is a circular commuter line that hits all of the major stations in Tokyo. Whether one has Shibuya dreams or a craving for crepes in Harajuku, the Yamanote Line is an easy — though not necessarily the fastest — option to travel between major stations in the city.

I can’t get over the price of the hotels! Good thing I can cram 10 people into a room, right?

Yes and no, but mostly no. Unsurprisingly, hotels in and around Tokyo will feature some eye-popping prices. Already, “capsule” hotels that normally run around $20 per night are advertising prices exceeding $100.

There is certainly temptation to split the cost of a single room across multiple guests, but it may not work. First, Japan’s notoriously small (by Western standards) hotel rooms would be extremely cramped quarters for three or four people.

The real problem, however, comes with Japanese law and hotel practices. Unlike many destinations, Japanese hotels charge on a per-person, per-night rate, not simply by the room. If you reserve a double room for one adult, but show up to check-in with a travel companion, be prepared to pay up for the additional guest. Further, to comply with safety regulations, hotel rooms are limited by type in the number of guests they may have — a room rated as “single” occupancy can only have a single adult, and so on.

Hotels — particularly those three-stars and below, and especially spartan “business” hotels — are sticklers for these rules and practice strict access control — some chains require guests to leave their key at the front desk when leaving the property, and most have their front desks facing the entrance and elevators to monitor those entering. While high-end Western hotel properties are less fastidious about access control, visitors to Japan should be aware of occupancy restrictions at most hotels in the country.

 What are my other options?

After a rocky regulatory start, Airbnb stays in Japan have taken off to help meet the country’s current tourism boom. Bookings are going fast, however, and those that remain are priced at a premium.

To combat the anticipated hotel room shortfall, cruise ships are also expected to be pressed into service to serve as floating hotels.

Plans fell through? Couldn’t find a hotel room for some nights?

There are some last-ditch options available for visitors to Japan. There are 24-hour internet cafes, which offer cheap, comfortable — if cramped — overnight packages on a walk-in basis. These are popular choices for locals who missed the last train home.

Owing to often paper-thin walls and multigenerational households, “love hotels” are also common in big cities, and can double as last-minute walk-in accommodations in a pinch. While more expensive than an internet cafe, love hotels provide a safe, comfortable place to stay if one’s regular hotel reservation falls through.

What are some meals that I absolutely must try without breaking the bank?

Whether it be a stand-up izakaya, mom-and-pop restaurant or $300-a-course sushi, it is almost impossible to go wrong when it comes to dining out in Japan.

And, despite Tokyo’s reputation as a notoriously expensive city, great meals do not necessarily need to cost an arm and a leg. Indeed, thanks to strict food safety and marketing laws, as well as high standards of Japanese consumers, even fast-service restaurants such as the ubiquitous chains Gusto, Saizeriya and Royal Host, offer fare of surprisingly high quality.

For the best bang for the buck, head to Shinjukukappo Nakajima, or for ramen lovers, Nakiryu in Tokyo’s Toshima district — Michelin-starred restaurants where lunch sets start at under $10.

Besides the games I wasn’t able to get tickets on a few days. What else should I do?

Luckily, the games are occurring during the high season for Japanese festivals and other sporting events, leaving no shortage of alternatives for visitors to the capital.

For those looking for an authentic taste of Japan, a summer “matsuri” festival is a great bet. Tokyo’s famed Sumida fireworks display at the end of July is normally a crowded affair, but for a roomier experience, head to Takasaki Fireworks Matsuri in nearby Gunma prefecture. Held on the first Saturday in August, the festival features elaborate dashi floats, live music and is capped off with an hourlong fireworks display, one of the largest in the region.

As an added benefit, the festival has wide open fields from which the fireworks display can be viewed. Simply put down a tarp to reserve a viewing spot, walk back to the city center for the festivities and return later to enjoy the show.

For the sports-minded, the famed national high school Koushien baseball tournament also runs from early to late August. With a ticket costing $8 to $20 and granting access to three to four games daily, fans can enjoy high-quality baseball in a packed stadium with the energy of a professional game.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Do video games, mental illness drive US massacres?

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Monday tied mass shootings that left 31 dead in 2 US cities over the weekend to hate, violent video games and mental illness.

But with 255 mass shooting events counted so far this year in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive, analysts say those factors don't explain all the violence.

Not all mass shooters show signs of mental health problems, or play violent video games, or have political grudges. But one factor is omnipresent: the ease of acquiring guns.

VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES 

"We must stop the glorification of violence in our society. This includes the gruesome and grisly video games that are now commonplace," Trump said.

It's true that some recent mass shooters played violent video games obsessively.

Adam Lanza, who killed 26 schoolchildren and school employees at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012, spent hours a day playing some of the most violent video games, including one called "School Shooting."

Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida in 2018, reportedly played violent video games up to 15 hours a day.

But Chris Ferguson, a psychology professor at Stetson University who has studied the issue, says there is no causal link with real attacks.

Hundreds of millions of people around the world play first-person shooter games such as "Fortnite" and "Call of Duty," and do not turn into mass murderers.

"Violent video games do not contribute to mass shootings, not in whole, not in part," said Ferguson.

"It's probably actively causing harm to the extent it distracts people from real causes of violence," he said on Twitter.

The American Psychological Association has found a link between violent games and films and increased aggression among children, but says it is only one risk factor.

MENTAL ILLNESS 

Trump also tied shootings to "mentally disturbed individuals" who should not have access to firearms.

"Mental illness and hatred pull the trigger -- not the gun," he said.

There is a link in some cases.

Marine Corps veteran Ian David Long, 28, who killed 12 at a country music bar in California in November last year, was believed to have post-traumatic stress disorder.

Twenty-four-year-old Connor Betts, who killed nine on Sunday at a bar in Ohio, reportedly showed dangerous tendencies while in high school.

And Cruz, the Florida high school attacker, had a history of mental health problems.

"On the face of it, somebody that goes out and massacres a bunch of strangers, that's not the act of a healthy mind," Jeffrey Swanson, a professor in psychiatry at Duke University School of Medicine, told AFP.

Yet, he said, there are 10 million Americans with serious mental illnesses "and the overwhelming majority of them do not engage in violent behavior."

Most mass shooters, he said, "do not have the serious identifiable mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, that impairs the brain's ability to reason or see reality, or bipolar disorder."

DIVISIVE POLITICS AND THE INTERNET 

Some attacks are also linked to divisive politics, which play out online, especially on the 8chan website.

Like two earlier mass murderers, the man who killed 22 at a Walmart in Texas on Saturday, identified in media reports as 21-year-old Patrick Crusius, released a "manifesto" on 8chan attacking the "Hispanic invasion" from Mexico, echoing Trump's own political rhetoric.

According to journalist Robert Evans, writing on of Bellingcat, 8chan has turned mass shootings into a video-game-like competition, where body counts are referred to as "high scores." 

"The act of massacring innocents has been gamified," he wrote on Sunday.

AVAILABILITY OF GUNS 

Still, one common thread in all the attacks is the ease of obtaining weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Stephen Paddock, who massacred 58 people and wounded hundreds attending a concert in Las Vegas in 2017, was not apparently mentally ill, ideologically motivated, or a video gamer. He launched his attack using two dozen weapons, mostly AR-15-type assault rifles.

Robert Bowers, who killed 11 people at a Pennsylvania synagogue last October, carried 4 guns in his attack and legally owned 21.

And Betts had an assault rifle he ordered online from Texas, equipped with a 100-round drum magazine.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

With streaming move, Google eyes future of gaming

SAN FRANCISCO -- Google is looking to transform internet-age game play, with an expected launch of a streaming service which uses the tech giant's power in the internet cloud.

Expected Tuesday is the debut of a ramped-up version of a cloud gaming platform Google tested recently in partnership with Ubisoft.

A video clip teasing a keynote presentation at an annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco invites people to "Gather around as we unveil Google's vision for the future of gaming."

The clip cycles through an accelerating collage of scenes one might find in video games, but says nothing about what Google will announce at the event, which will be live-streamed at YouTube.

Google collaborated with French video game colossus Ubisoft to use the hit "Assassin's Creed" franchise to test "Project Stream" technology for hosting the kind of quick, seamless play powered by in-home consoles as an online service.

A select number of people in the US were able to play "Assassin's Creed Odyssey" streamed to Chrome browsers on desktop or laptop computers.

A recently uncovered patent that Google filed for a video game controller hinted that the tech firm might be planning to release its own console and controller to go along with a streaming service.

'XCLOUD' ON THE HORIZON 

Video games are following television and music into the cloud, with console-quality play on its way to being a streaming service as easy to access as Netflix or Spotify.

Computing power in data centers and devices from televisions to smartphones has surged and streaming technology has advanced, providing tools to break blockbuster titles from confines of consoles or personal computers.

Google, whose YouTube video service operates an eSports platform for viewing game competitions, will be entering a sector with other powerful competitors including Sony and Microsoft.

Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said late last year that a keenly anticipated "xCloud" streaming service was in "early days."

Microsoft's Xbox consoles and games unit are big business for the Redmond, Washington-based technology titan, which has been adapting to modern lifestyles in which software is hosted as a service online and tapped into using whichever gadgets people prefer.

Video game titan Electronic Arts also has laid out a vision of streaming video games enhanced with artificial intelligence to create "living, breathing worlds that constantly evolve."

BIGGER WORLD OF PLAY 

Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter sees Amazon, Apple and Google as potential big players in the space given huge investments they have made in data centers that provide cloud services to millions of people.

Amazon, a major cloud operator through its Amazon Web Services, also owns popular game play-streaming service Twitch.

Console quality video game play streamed online as a service, hosted on servers in the internet cloud, faces challenges including moving data quickly enough to avoid lags in action or imagery.

Improvements in internet bandwidth, computing power and data storage capabilities are enabling "disruptive technologies" such as streaming that can change the way games are created as well as played, according to Ubisoft.

While streaming game services might nibble at consoles sales, they are more likely to broaden the audience of players to anyone with an internet connection, according to analysts.

The US video game industry generated a record $43.4 billion in revenue in 2018, up 18 percent from the prior year, according to data released by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and NPD Group.

"Console, PC, and mobile platforms all saw significant growth, while developing portions of the market like subscription and streaming services gave us a peek into a future full of possibilities for the industry and gamers," NPD analyst Mat Piscatella said in a release.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Flappy Bird creator set to release new game

MANILA -- Dong Nguyen, the creator of the phenomenal Flappy Bird game, is set to release his follow-up to the highly addicting game later this week.

According to a report from gaming website TouchArcade, Swing Copters will be available on app stores starting Thursday for free, with an option to pay a small fee to remove ads.

The game, which has several similarities to Nguyen's earlier hit, features a man wearing a propeller helmet instead of a flying bird as the main character.

The goal is virtually the same as Flappy Bird -- users have to navigate through a series of obstacles and score as much points as possible.

Nguyen, a game-maker from Vietnam, earlier made headlines when his first game, Flappy Bird, became the most downloaded free game in Apple's App Store.

It reportedly earned him over $50,000 in ad revenue a day but was controversially pulled from the online store in February.

Nguyen explained that the reason he removed the game was because of the "unwanted" attention he has been receiving since Flappy Bird's shot to fame.

He tweeted at the time: "I'm sorry Flappy Bird users, 22 hours from now, I will take Flappy Bird down. I cannot take this anymore."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Flappy Bird to fly again this August

MANILA - Mobile game developer Dong Nguyen confirmed the return of the smash mobile hit, Flappy Bird, complete with multiplayer and changes to make it "less addictive."

Speaking with CNBC's Kelly Evans, Nguyen discussed his plans to put the title back in the App Store in August, as well as future games such as the one he described as a "man jumping from one building to another."

Back in February, Nguyen made headlines when he decided to remove the highly-addictive mobile game from the App Store, despite earning more than $50,000 per day from ad revenue.

His decision, according to him stemmed from the attention he has been receiving since the game's shot to fame.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Videogame 'Demokratia' mocks Russian politics

MOSCOW -- Buy voters, divert public funds, become an all-powerful tsar: it's all part of the fun in videogame "Demokratia," whose merciless take on Russian politics has made it a runaway success in the land of Vladimir Putin.

"Begin the ballot-stuffing!" and "Voter participation is 146%!" announce the characters in Demokratia, who bear more than a passing resemblance to well-known Russian politicians.

The game has already been downloaded by 1.5 million Russians, and is picking up around 100,000 new users every month according to its creator, NeskinSoft.

To build a Russian democracy, the player combines elements to create new objects -- similar to the smash US puzzle game Triple Town.

Three currency notes secures a sheep, three sheep make a voter, three voters make an election office -- and so on until you've reached the summit of power.

Players can also learn to ignore budgets, violate the constitution and pay off parliamentarians.

'A KGB colonel'

Some elements, like the "jailed lawyer" -- an apparent reference to opposition leader (and lawyer) Alexei Navalny -- can be used to combat pro-regime bad guys like the "colonel of the KGB," which happens to be President Putin's former job.

Navalny, a fierce critic of Putin, became famous after publishing leaked documents on his blog exposing corruption in high places and ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Moscow last year.

The game's creator, Valentin Merzlikin, has openly supported Navalny.

The 37-year-old computer programmer, originally from Moscow, has made the strange decision to move to Belarus -- hardly known as a bastion of democracy.

With so many anti-government activists being hounded by the authorities, he wanted to "give them something to amuse them," he joked in a phone interview with AFP.

"Demokratia" was released on December 10, 2011, the same day as allegations of rigging in parliamentary elections triggered a wave of protests that continued until Putin's re-election as president the following May.

"We got 100,000 downloads in the first week," recalled Merzlikin.

Pussy Riot

Since then, there have been around 20 new versions of the game, featuring new personalities each time, from female activist group Pussy Riot to US singer Madonna, who has publicly backed the group.

Gamers will find that the pinnacle of the game does not stop at Putin. They can keep going up to "Mahatma Gandhi," "Jesus" or Russian icons such as poet Alexander Pushkin and cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

"Demokratia is very popular because it's a game that is both provocative and without propaganda," said analysis firm Hungry Shark.

In Russia, where nine out of 10 people regularly indulge in gaming, "videogames have become more important than cinema or literature," said blogger Dmitri Goblin Poutchkov.

Recognizing the threat, the state has tried to fight back. Two popular social media sites -- Odnoklassniki and Mail.ru -- have blocked Demokratia.

The government has also tried to create its own games with a more pro-regime slant. One example, touted in state-backed media, is "Snowdev Run" where an ex-KGB agent saves Moscow from zombies. A gaming website described it as attempting to "glorify Vladimir Putin, but it ultimately fails."

Not everyone is enamored of Demokratia's mocking tone, however.

"Regardless of what I think of Putin, this game is amoral and cynical," wrote one reviewer on the MacRadar website.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WeChat adds games in latest version

MANILA – China’s hot messaging app WeChat recently launched its newest version in the Philippines, which includes three games, more animated stickers and an expanded group chat feature.

WeChat 5.1 hopes to attract more casual gamers with the side-scrolling race game “Gunz Dash” and the puzzle games “2 Day’s Match” and “Craz3 Match,” which are all available for iOS, Android, Symbian, Windows Phone and BlackBerry users.

Steve Zheng, WeChat’s senior business development manager, noted that bulk of their users in the Philippines are university students and young professionals, who usually like playing games on their smartphones.

“University students are our biggest users here,” Zheng told ABS-CBNnews.com, not citing figures. “They like to share photos and they use our talk feature every day.”

“The university students and young professionals, they are happy to introduce WeChat to their friends so they can talk to each other,” he added. “WeChat has developed a lot of features such as animated stickers. We made a lot of new stickers to engage them so they can better express their emotions.”

WeChat 5.1 can now accommodate up to 100 users in its group chat service from the previous limit of 40.

Zheng said those who have downloaded the app can also “save” their favorite messages and photos, as well as share their experiences more creatively via an exclusive app called “StoryCam.”

“We’re more focused on how to improve the user experience,” he said.

WeChat has almost 500 million users as of July last year, with 100 million of them coming from China.

Citing Google Trends, Zheng said their app is one of the Top 3 searched apps in the Philippines.

“We have yet to expand to other countries,” he said, noting that they are now available in some parts of Southeast Asia.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Most searched gadgets, apps in PH in 2013

MANILA – Google Philippines recently released its “zeitgeist” for 2013, which includes lists of top searches for different categories.

Also part of the search engine giant’s zeitgeist are technology-related lists, from “most searched” smartphones and tablets to applications and PC games.

Samsung Galaxy S4 registered the highest number of web searches among Filipinos this year in the smartphone category, followed by its rival, iPhone 5s.

Apple dominates the most searched tablets in the Philippines this year with the iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air, with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 3 landing in third place.

For apps, the photo editing tool Camera 360 leads the pack, followed by the running castle adventure game Running Fred.

Meanwhile, the anime-style 3D massively multiplayer online role-playing game Chrono Tales tops Google Philippines’ most searched list of PC games, followed by the popular basketball game NBA 2K14.

Below are the complete lists:

Smartphones

Samsung Galaxy S4
iPhone 5s
Sony Xperia Z
Samsung Galaxy Grand
iPhone 6
Galaxy Note 3
Samsung S3 Mini
Nexus 5
HTC One
Starmobile Knight

Tablets

iPad Mini 2
iPad Air
Galaxy Tab 3
Samsung Note 8
Skyworth tablet
Acer tablet
iView tablet
iPad 4
iPad Mini
Cherry Mobile tablet

Apps

Camera 360
WeChat
4pics1word
Moment Cam
Line
Logo Quiz Philippines
Viber for Android
Candy Crush
Google Keep

PC games

Chrono Tales
NBA 2K14
Pockie Saints
Assault Fire
Scarlet Blade
DotA
Cat Mario
Minecraft
NBA 2K13
Pirate King International

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

5 security tips for gamers

MANILA – Security software firm Kaspersky Lab shared some tips for gamers as it released data about the number of gaming-related attacks globally.

In a statement, Kaspersky Lab said it recorded a total of 11.7 million attacks on gamers in 2013, with users hit by 34,000 gaming malware every day on average.

Russian gamers were most at risk with more than 8 million attempts on them by hackers, followed by Vietnam (503,947), China (376,058), India (207,245), Spain (139,078), Poland (127,583), Turkey (121,164), Taiwan (97,843), Thailand (92,914) and Italy (75,155).

The Philippines was not included in the list.

As many people are expected to receive games as presents this Christmas, Kaspersky Lab urged users to take the right precautions.

The security software firm noted several types of attacks, such as a fake Minecraft tool that promises to let users ban other players; a fake Grand Theft Auto V download that claims to let users access the game for free; and the traditional phishing, which lures users into handing over data or money with the promise of discounts or cheap gaming goods.

“Gaming has an ever increasing fanbase, which means that the number of potential victims for cyber criminals is rising as well,” said Christian Funk, a senior virus analyst from Kaspersky Lab’s Global Research and Analysis Team.

“Cybercriminals are putting a lot of effort into their attacks and we can see a surge in their sophistication. During Christmas when a lot of new games are being released, gamers need to be even more attentive to stay secure,” Funk added.

Here are Kaspersky Lab’s five tips for gamers:

1. Don’t click through on any offers that look too good to be true, whether from your inbox or on social networks like Facebook or Twitter. If an offer comes through and looks legitimate, ensure the sender is trusted before hitting a link or handing over any details. If in doubt, contact the company the sender claims to be from.

2. Use strong and varied passwords across your gaming accounts. As we’ve seen this year, gaming companies get hacked and logins are leaked. If you don’t have different credentials, stealing one set could be a cybercriminal’s key to open all your different accounts using that same password. Consider investing in a password manager as it will give you simple, smart protection.

3. Get a good quality antivirus. With rafts of gaming malware out there and the increasing sophistication of malicious software, you’ll need some level of protection. You’ll need an antivirus that goes beyond signature-based detection to look at file reputation if you want to stop the smartest malware from getting on your system.

4. Be careful whom you befriend. It’s easy to make friends in virtual worlds today, but not all are doing so innocently. Beware of anyone who asks for your personal details as they may want to do more than just contact you.

5. Only download titles from legitimate sellers. If you’re downloading an illegal copy of a game, you aren’t just breaking the law. You also risk getting malware on your machine as crooks often disguise malicious software as game files.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sony to charge fees for multiplayer games on PS4

Sony Corp plans to charge a monthly fee of $9.99 in the United States and 6.99 euros ($9.40) in Europe for playing multiplayer online games on its PlayStation 4 (PS4) console scheduled to debut this month, the Nikkei business daily reported without citing sources.

Multiplayer games can be played for free on PlayStation 3.

Sony plans to charge 500 yen ($5.00) a month for multiplayer games in Japan when the new console debuts in February, the Nikkei said.

Sony plans to make PS4 more attractive by including more social networking functions, such as the ability to chat with fellow players, the business daily reported.

Microsoft Corp's Xbox One will also launch this month.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sneak peek: Angry Birds Star Wars 2 game

MANILA -- Mobile games maker Rovio Entertainment announced on Monday that it will launch Angry Birds Star Wars II, the follow-up to the popular Angry Birds Star Wars title, on September 19 through various app stores.

Rovio also released a teaser video on YouTube.

In a joint release with Lucasfilm, Rovio said Angry Birds Star Wars II will follow the story of the three prequel “Star Wars” movies, including the introduction of never-before-seen game characters. Players can choose to “Join the Pork Side” and play as one of the villainous pigs.

“Angry Birds Star Wars was a blockbuster hit for us and Lucasfilm with over 100 million downloads since its release. We are thrilled to be able to introduce the exciting next chapter in the Angry Birds Star Wars saga to our fans around the world,” Jami Laes, executive vice president of games at Rovio Entertainment, said in a statement.

According to Laes, the new characters include versions of young Anakin, Mace Windu and Darth Maul.

The new game will also feature Hasbro’s Telepods technology “to extend the experience beyond the app and bring a whole new dimension to the gameplay,” Raes said.

Telepods are physical toys players place near the smartphone or tablet to teleport them into a game, a function similar to games such as Activision's Skylanders franchise and the upcoming Disney Infinity, according to USA Today. Over 30 toys will be available when the game launches.

“Hasbro worked closely with both Rovio and Lucasfilm to deliver a fully integrated Telepods experience with the new Angry Birds Star Wars II app. Now fans can enjoy unprecedented and seamless dual play in both physical and digital Angry Birds experiences,” John Frascotti, Hasbro’s chief marketing officer, said in the statement.

The Telepods will be available in retail stores by September for the game launch and will be presented to the public for the first time at San Diego Comic-con this month.

Simultaneously with the launch of Angry Bird Star Wars II in September, a new line of merchandise will also be introduced to coincide with the game including a complete line of toys, apparel, accessories and books.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Can PH become center of animation and gaming services?

MANILA, Philippines - Can the Philippines become the next prime destination for animation and gaming-related services?

Industry groups, Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI) and the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), certainly think so.

"The country’s animation and gaming sectors carry a large potential for the Philippine information technology and business process management industry. By training our future leaders, they can strive to lead the next generation in building up the Philippines as the next prime destination for animation and gaming-related services,” said ACPI president Grace Dimaranan said in a statement.

Alvin Juban, president of the GDAP, said the Philippines' partnerships with other countries will allow the two sectors to market to potential clients.

Recently, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority established a partnership with the South Korean government to train Filipino animators and game developers. Under the program, two Filipino animators and two game developers trained in Paju, Gyeonggi province for two months.

"We hope to have our game developers and animators penetrate the global market and take a bigger slice of the global market. Immersing them in a successful and technologically-adept country such as Korea have surely given them the skills and training that they needed,” Juban said.

Research firm MarketsandMarkets said the global animation and gaming market is expected to grow to $242.93 billion by 2016 from $122.2 billion in 2010. India dominates the industry with 40% of the estimated $1.5 billion global animation and game development market, follwed by South Korea with 15% share and the Philippines with 10% share.

Nelson Udaundo, one of the animators who trained in South Korea, said the Philippine and Korean industries share similarities.

"Both industries practice Western-style animation having had decades of experience in Western production projects as well as setbacks... But we can learn from how the Koreans brought back their industry to life through the creation of original content, which led them to carve out a respectable niche in the global animation suppliers market," he said.

ACPI and GDAP are working closely with IBPAP to lead their respective sectors in conquering the global market. IBPAP consists of 300 industry and support-industry members, including five associations — the ACPI, GDAP, Contact Center Association of the Philippines,Healthcare Information Management Outsourcing Association of the Philippines, and Philippine Software Industry Association.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

'Grand Theft' game comes to Apple screens

SAN FRANCISCO, California - The maker of the popular "Grand Theft Auto" videogames said Thursday that a version of the game was being offered for users of Apple's iPhone and iPad devices.

Rockstar Games said "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City 10th Anniversary Edition" was available for download.

It is the successor to Grand Theft Auto III and "is everything we loved about the 80s packed into a sprawling open world action game," said Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games.

"We're thrilled to let mobile and tablet players experience everything Vice City has to offer."

The franchise has sold more than 114 million copies since its debut in 1997.

Rockstar is coming out with "GTA V" for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 videogame consoles or personal computers sometime between March and July.

The videogame franchise has won legions of fans and cadres of critics with game play in which triumph depends on acts such as carjacking, gambling and killing.

Play in Grand Theft Auto games has included simulated sex with prostitutes and drunken driving.

The franchise's appeal is fueled by captivating story lines and an open-world format that lets players go wherever they wish in game worlds.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Phones, tablets transform handheld game market

LOS ANGELES — Smartphones and tablet computers are expanding the market for handheld video games and challenging traditional devices, forcing game developers to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape.

Executives at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) held this week in Los Angeles said the industry — long focused on generating blockbuster titles for PlayStation, Wii or Xbox 360 — are taking a new look at portable platforms.

The new market includes not only die-hard gamers but more casual players, the kind who tap the touchscreens of their iPhones or Android devices while riding the train or waiting for the dentist.

Olivier Pierre, of the game publisher BulkyPix, said there is room for both segments to grow.

“Mobile is a new platform, as is Facebook. And these new platforms do not cover the same audience as console games,” he said.

“I don’t see a real competition between smartphones and consoles so far. Maybe in the future, but that’s not the case right now.”

But some analysts say the rise of smartphones and tablets is threatening to crowd out handheld consoles like Nintendo’s 3DS and the Sony Vita.

A survey by ABI Research shows some 38 million handheld gaming devices from Sony and Nintendo are expected to ship in 2013, down from a peak of 47 million in 2008.

The report said smartphone and tablet use for gaming continues to expand, providing increased competition in the handheld market.

“Mobile devices will compete with dedicated handheld gaming devices, but select consumer segments like core gamers and those individuals who do not want or have a smartphone or tablet will still provide some demand,” ABI analyst Michael Inouye said.

Jack Buser, senior director of PlayStation Digital Platforms for Sony, said growth in mobile games is good for the market.

“Because of the prevalence of digital devices, (users) are discovering that, yes, they are gamers,” he told AFP.

“This is a trend that is extremely healthy for the industry, and we will embrace it. We are all for the evangelization of electronic games to the broadest audience possible.”

Mobile gaming is a unique market, with games that are either free — financed by advertising — or costing just a few dollars.

This represents a change for classic developers, which invest millions of dollars in major franchises and sell games for around $60 apiece.

“The game should be designed for mobile,” said Eiji Araki, head of the social games studio GREE.

“The mobile player is different from the console game player. They are always online and they can play games all the time… so the game should be designed for three-minute sessions, for minimum times.”

Mobile is a hot topic at E3, a major gathering for the gaming industry.

New mobile game releases are coming from GREE, social games maker Zynga, and industry heavyweights like Electronic Arts.

A mobile version of the auto racing game “Need for Speed,” the arcade game “Tiny Troopers” and the romantic comedy “The Act” are all on display at E3.

Araki, whose company has seen rapid growth in recent years, said the mobile space is special: “The games are getting simpler and easier as the casual audience grows.”

source: interaksyon.com