videogames

Atari U.S. Files for Chapter 11 to Separate from French Parent Company

Video game maker Atari's U.S. operations have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to separate from their French parent company, which is filing a similar motion separately in France. Atari says the move is necessary to secure investments it needs to grow in mobile and downloadable video games.

Will Nintendo's New Touchpad Controller Win Back Gamers?

Ahead of the E3 conference, Nintendo has unveiled a new controller that it hopes will revolutionize the way video games are played: the Wii U GamePad, with both traditional controls and a touchscreen. Can it revive Nintendo's fortunes?

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.

What to Watch This Week: The Games Are Afoot

Let's go over some items that will help shape the week ahead for Wall Street: The Hunger Games will give theaters a much needed boost; FuelBand may do the same for Nike; video game sellers hunger for hits; and Tiffany and Oracle will give us clues about the recovery.

Why Zynga Will Never Be Great Again

Zynga is the undisputed king of social gaming for Facebook and smartphones, and its stock price gives it a market cap nearly as big as video game leader Activision Blizzard. But at less than 5 years old, has the bulldog already jumped the shark?

5 Reasons You're Not Buying Video Games Anymore

The latest news on the video game front isn't pretty. Media tracker NPD Group's data reveals that industry sales plunged 21% last month. It's clear that the industry is undergoing a radical shift, but for investors, the more important issue is why.

'Zumba Fitness' Maker Majesco Hits the Wall

Suddenly, Majesco Entertainment isn't living up to its COOL ticker symbol. Shares of the video game developer and publisher got crushed on Tuesday after it surprised the markets by following its previous three blowout quarters with a loss for Q4.

Zynga's $10 Billion IPO Game: Should You Play?

If you're not familiar with Zynga, the undisputed champ of social gaming, odds are that you're not a fixture on Facebook or into smartphone app gaming. This month, it rolls the dice on a big public offering. Are you game?

Why Activision Blizzard Will Never Be Great Again

Yes, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 posted a new sales record last week. But Activision Blizzard just can't keep a hold on fickle gamers. Guitar Hero hit a high note, then went silent, and now World of Warcraft is losing population fast.

Savings Experiment: Video Games

Any legit gamer knows that the billion dollar gaming industry has to compete for your business. There are stores and websites that specialize in trading, discount and rentals, as well as plenty of free online games and downloadable titles. When certain games are released, they may be nearly impossible to buy cheap. Still, you may be able to beat the industry at their own game.

Why GameStop Will Never Be Great Again

For many years, GameStop has had a business model that couldn't fail: Sell the hottest new gaming gear, take used games and equipment in trade, keep knowledgeable staff, and don't overpay on rent. But that model is starting collapse, and soon, it may be "Game Over" for GameStop.

Analysts: Santa's Bag Will Be Filled With Bargains

Consumers can expect a holiday shopping season heavy on promotional offers as stores offer sweet bargains on all manner of products amid a still-sluggish economy -- good news for buyers of tablet computers, smartphones and video games, all predicted to be big gift items this year.

Why Nintendo Will Never Be Great Again

Once upon a time, Nintendo was king of the video game consoles, but that day is long gone. Shares of Nintendo hit a five-year low this summer, wiping away any gains from the Wii era, and it took a steep operating loss to boot last quarter. Here's why there are no bonus lives in its future.

Supreme Court Ruling Is Big Win for Video Game Industry

In a 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court Monday granted the video game industry some serious leeway, striking down California's ban on the sale of violent video games to minors. Here's more on what it means for the industry.

Summer Spendin': Who Wins When School's Out?

Summer vacation has hardly begun, and the chorus of "buy me, buy me" is already at full volume in homes across the country. And parents can only say no to so many of those requests. So which companies are gong to benefit from the school break? DailyFinance has a few ideas.

Nintendo to Unveil Wii Update in June, But at What Price?

Under pressure to respond to competitors offering souped-up features for their video game systems, Nintendo announced Monday that it will offer a sneak peak of the Wii's successor in June. While consumers may love the shiny new system, the real question is how much it will cost.

Xbox Shortages May Run Through February

Microsoft sold out of its Xbox video-game console in late December thanks to strong holiday-season demand, and may have product shortages in January and February as well, as the company's Kinect motion-sensor device has boosted the popularity of the system, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported.

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.

Will Microsoft Kinect Topple the Nintendo Wii?

How long can Nintendo Wii maintain its position as the reigning video-game console? Microsoft shipped an astronomical 8 million Kinect game systems in the past two months, undermining Wii's leadership -- already weakened by competition from the Xbox and PlayStation 3.

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.

Panasonic to Re-enter Portable Gaming with New Device

Panasonic is gearing up to challenge Nintendo and Sony with a new handheld video-game player code-named "Jungle," Bloomberg News reported Tuesday. After leaving the portable-gaming market a decade ago, can this new device make Panasonic a major player?