Wall Street Watch This Week: Let's Start Playing Games
The tired video game industry needs a spark -- and it may get it with this week's release of the next installment of the record-setting Call of Duty franchise.
Activision
3 Ways the Video Game Business Could Bounce Back
Folks aren't buying video games the way they used to -- and that's a problem for the industry. But if the big players are willing to consider some outrageous strategies, they can buy themselves some bonus lives.
5 Things To Watch Next Week: Murdoch Mania, Soda Wars and More
Even as investors reel from the stock-market roller coaster this week, Wall Street is moving on, with plenty of news on the way. Next week will bring headlines about retail and gaming earnings, as well as quarterly reports from News Corp., SodaStream and some newly public Chinese firms.
How to Make Investing a Family Affair
Teenage boys talking about business and investing? It happens in this household. The Bush family has even made a household contest out of following the market. But mother Joan, who says that the investment education goes in both generational directions, is hoping for tangible returns.
Activision Discontinues 'Guitar Hero,' Narrows Earnings Loss
Activision Blizzard's shares fell after the video-game maker forecast that 2011 sales would fall short of analysts' estimates and announced that it would cease creating Guitar Hero games because of lackluster sales.
Activision Sues Video-Game Rival Electronic Arts Over Alleged Poaching
Activision Blizzard has added video-game competitor Electronic Arts to its $400 million countersuit against two former executives of "Call of Duty" creator Infinity Ward, claiming that EA tried to lure the executives away while they were still under contract with Activision.
More Downloads, Fewer Discs: U.S. Video Game Sales Remain Flat
U.S. gamers spent about the same amount of money on video games last year as they did in 2009, even as sales of consoles and other hardware took a plunge. Purchases of physical game discs slid 5%, in spite of the record-breaking success of "Call of Duty: Black Ops," but downloadable and social-network games made up the difference.
Online Video-Game Pirates Outgun the Publishers
At least 5.2 million copies of Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Black Ops were illegally downloaded between its Nov. 9 release and the end of 2010. All told, more than 19 million people illegally downloaded five of the top-selling games of 2010. As broadband spreads, so does the piracy.
'Call of Duty: Black Ops' Video Game Sales Soar Past $1 Billion
Activision Blizzard's "Call of Duty: Black Ops" video game has raked in more than $1 billion in sales since its Nov. 9 release, making it the fastest-selling video game in history -- and one of the fastest-selling entertainment products of all time.
Top-Selling Video Games of All Time
November delivered some welcome news for the gaming industry, with sales of consoles and games surging 8%. And Activision had plenty of reasons to smile as strong sales of Black Ops, the latest installment in the Call of Duty franchise -- earned it another spot on the list of best-selling video games.
Most Successful Video-Game Debut Ever: 'Call of Duty: Black Ops'
Videogame publisher Activision Blizzard said its "Call of Duty: Black Ops" has had the most successful entertainment debut ever, generating more than $650 million in global sales in five days.
New 'Call of Duty' Breaks First-Day Gaming Sales Record
Videogame publisher Activision Blizzard said its "Call of Duty: Black Ops" set a new first-day videogame sales record, generating about $360 million in U.S. and U.K. sales within the first 24 hours of its release Tuesday. The company already has sold 5.6 million copies.
Activision Blizzard Shoots Past Its Earnings Targets
Activision Blizzard posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter results thanks to strong holiday sales of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 -- last year's best-selling video-game title. The company also initiated a dividend and announced a $1 billion share repurchase program.
