Video Games, Electronics | featured news

New research shows that tablets have made big inroads against traditional gaming platforms among U.S. adults who play video games. For marketers, the research brings good news in the form of an acceptance to seeing advertising within video games—as long as the games themselves are free—and a willingness to see familiar brand names and products within games.

One reason some people waited in long lines to be the first to get the new Nintendo Wii U console has nothing to do with the games. With Wii U devices all but guaranteed to be sold out at retailers around the world this Christmas, some buyers immediately put their new consoles on Ebay. Wii Us are already selling for over $500 on the site. There were well over 2,500 consoles listed on the world’s largest auction site just hours after it went on sale on November 18 at the Nintendo World store in New York City and around the globe.

Nintendo's Wii U hits stores this weekend, testing the videogame giant's strategy of pushing pricey hardware in a videogame market increasingly geared toward mobile gadgets.

The Wii U’s main selling point is a new touch-screen controller that is a cross between the iPad Mini and a traditional video game controller.

Multiscreen gaming is emerging as a major trend as consumers increasingly access games through their PCs, consoles, tablets and smartphones.

For Apple and Zynga, this E3 was a magical event. Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo all retreated within the crumbling walls of aging franchises and spin-off sequels. Under attack from mobile and social games, the Big Three console vendors are stumbling through the year 2012. Nintendo had a notably disappointing Wii U showcase and Sony’s Vita lacks the powerful slate of new titles it needs. We may be drifting towards a scenario where Nintendo shrinks to a rump company focusing only on portable gaming – and knocks out Sony’s PS Vita in the process.

Kazuo Hirai said he would focus Sony’s resources away from its unprofitable television business and more toward mobile devices, cameras and games.

With the upcoming launch of Sony's PS Vita in the UK, Europe, and North American markets, Ewan Spence reckons that far from being the last gasp of a traditional model, the Vita is going to be welcomed by gamers with open arms.

In the wake of another investor backlash, the company president remains adamant in his stance against mobile gaming.

Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play has been on the market in the US for just under eight weeks; reviews of the combined cell phone / gaming handheld have been mixed. The Android experience has been generally good, but the screen is exceptionally dim, certain hardware functions are limited, battery life is lower than average, and the device's game...