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 Features
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Localizing
Games for the European Market
by Thomas Puha [04.03.01] As the industry is slowly gearing up for the
spring and cranking out those all-important E3 demos, this year's first
Eurospeak delves into the issue of game localization; an issue that is becoming
more and more important in the EU markets.
Mobile Games at ECTS...oh, and Playstation 2 As Well by Thomas Puha [10.03.00] Massive ECTS stands from Konami, Nintendo and Sony may have helped to bring in the crowds, but a large number of stands were populated by wireless telecom developers. The game industry's keen on finding mutual ground with mobile phone companies, and telecoms might save ECTS. The shift of focus from games to more alternative products, however, might be yet another reason for publishers to stay away. PS2 Delays and Pre-ECTS Tension by Thomas Puha [08.28.00] Sony is making everybody wait in Europe, both for the arrival of the Playstation 2 as well to see what they'll be showing at ECTS. Meanwhile, it seems that Pokemon still has plenty of fans in the U.K. Quantity Matters, Quality Doesn't by David Jenkins [04.19.00] That seems to be the mantra these days, as game publishers hardly take notice of whether their games are good or not -- attributing surprise hits and surprise failures to the impersonal forces of marketing, scheduling and budgets. Also in Europe: Playstation game prices might drop as low as £7.99, but free Dreamcasts don't seem to be on the horizon. The Little Console that Could by David Jenkins [03.20.00] In a flash, Playstation 2 has taken over the eastern world, but that hasn't stopped Sony from making waves in Europe as well, as the look of the Playstation and the price of its games are both going to be changing in the coming months. Also, a whole host of new and interesting data, proving once and for all that Murder She Wrote drives children to violence, and that the Sega Master System will never die. March Madness? by David Jenkins [03.03.00] Europe seems to be going off its rocker. SVG has somehow gotten distribution rights for the entire Squaresoft franchise, Infogrames sees a beautiful future in which games are much, much shorter, and the boss of Sega Europe announced publicly that he likes neither blood nor walls. The Future... Can Wait? by David Jenkins [02.22.00] In a smashingly desperate move, Nintendo has decided to delay the release of Game Boy Advance because of the current success of Game Boy Color. In the same vein, David Jenkins has decided to forego buying new videogames at all anymore, because hey, the old ones work just fine. Life in the City by David Jenkins [02.04.00] Eidos' stock value is dropping, as are the number of quality releases for the Dreamcast. But with the release of Playstation 2 drawing ever closer, videogame hype continues to abound, despite Sony's authoritarian restriction on the word "Playstation" itself. David Jenkins reports from the land where the sun never sets. The Budgets are Coming! by David Jenkins [01.13.00] Console titles just don't seem to be packing much of a punch these days, with a number of big name sequels selling poorly, and a seeming surge in budget game sales. Even Quake III Arena wasn't much of a hit over in Europe, but as David Jenkins reminds us, for the British, it's FIFA all the way to the cup. The Day the Plumbing Died by David Jenkins [12.15.99] Console mortality rates are climbing, with the N64 slipping from bad to worse in the UK, and Sega utterly botching the Australian launch of Dreamcast. In other news, Argonaut plans to go public, despite admitting that they produce bad games, Tiberian Sun picks up Game of the Year at the InDin awards, and the ELSPA reveals that video games aren't morally corrupting after all. Price Wars: Episode XXVII - The Phantom Price Point by David Jenkins [12.01.99] A short time ago, in a country somewhat far away, video game prices were exorbitant and gamers had no choice but to pay. Now competition has driven British consule prices back down into the realm of the reasonable, and the Empire is most definitely in a time of trouble -- with Dixons offering free Playstations to anyone buying five games at £29.99, and Tesco still charging nearly twice that for some of the same titles. Video Game Publishers in Damnation Shocker by David Jenkins [11.17.99] Video game developers across Europe seem to be buying themselves one way tickets into the under-world. Shiny's Messiah ad campaign is censored on grounds of papal defamation, The Great Train Robbery stirs up conflict in Britain, and Michael Jordan teams up with Lara Croft to form a tomb-raiding slam-dunking advertising duo. Sega: How To Win Friends and Influence People by David Jenkins [11.02.99] Dreamcast's super-debut in Europe has turned the tide of the European consule market, bringing some critics to proclaim the Nintendo 64 a dead format. Of course, Dreamcast's record isn't perfect either. In other news, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time pulls of a legendary performance at the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards, and Lara Croft may finally be ending her PSX monogomy. Dreamcast’s Dream Debut in Europe by David Jenkins [10.21.99] Sega seems to be off to a strong start in Europe. The Dreamcast just landed there, and it looks like Sega's goal of selling one million units in Europe within 12 months will be easily attained. Also: the British Video Standards Council takes on Take 2. Sony Versus the World by David Jenkins [10.08.99] Sony seems to have been having more than a spot of trouble this week - whether it came in the form of Tesco-knockoffs or Virgin's price wars. Other stories include trouble between Infogrames and its serfs, as well as Peter Molyneux's latest publishing alliance. Sega Casts Spell, Gives Sony Bad Dream by David Jenkins [09.24.99] Sega gets busy toasting its own success with the Dreamcast, while Microsoft starts rumors in the wings about developing its own console. Further news about the success of ECTS. EuroSpeak: ECTS 1999 by David Jenkins [09.10.99] The show rundown: get the inside scoop on Lara Croft’s girl scout years, Sony’s rampant decadence, and the top new titles as chosen by a gaggle of drunken reporters at the latest ECTS. Scenes from a Mall by David Jenkins [08.27.99] Mr. Jenkins once again unleashes his impeccably-timed British wit on all things Euro-games-industry. Read his take on the current console price wars, who's buying-up whom, HEAT.NET's entry into the British online arena, and Robbie "The Ego Has Landed" Williams. Sega (And SNK And Sony) Start the Next- Next-Generation by David Jenkins [08.13.99] A look at the Euro line-up for the Dreamcast launch, some new developments from SNK, and a preview of what's doing with ECTS and Sony's not-so-secret DevCon '99. The Phantom Barber Menace of Sega by David Jenkins [07.30.99] The UK continues to be underwhelmed by all things Star Wars, Dreamcast toys with an, ahem, unusual marketing campaign, and more companies gobble one another. Infogrames goes theme park. Market Driven by Discount Driver by David Jenkins [07.16.99] Price-slashing, take-overs, console MDs, and the chance to tell ELSPA what it should coat in metal. All in these weeks edition of Eurospeak. Develop! 99 - When Lampposts Attack by David Jenkins [07.02.99] The Develop! Conference brought speakers, conflict, and car wrecks in London this past week. Virgin remains in the middle of controversy, and Sega, EA, and Eidos all get in on soccer – I mean football – sponsorships. The Daft Side of the Force by David Jenkins [06.18.99] Our European correspondant takes issue with the lumbering Lucas empire, notes the gimpiness of the aging PlayStation, and applauds the collapse of some old barriers to a European online gaming community. Money in the UK by David Jenkins [06.04.99] In the post-E3 malaise, David Jenkins gives us the latest who-made-money, who-bought-whom, and who-got-sued from the Eurosphere. Special highlights include British Telecom's Dreamcast plans, and Microsoft's newfound appreciation for ELSPA standards (post-lawsuit, of course). A Flurry of Euro-Stats by David Jenkins [05.21.99] David Jenkins reports in from the European front with all kinds of interesting facts and figures - including a breakdown of who buys the most games in the Euro-market, which games are the top retailers, and exactly how the Germans differ from the Irish. Also inside: a play-by-play of the latest finger-pointing match between Microsoft and ELSPA.
A British Invasion, Soccer, and Bullfrogs Domination Down Under by David Jenkins [04.23.99] This week, David Jenkins uses Sarcasm-O-Vision to peer inside the strategic planning over at Sega, EA and Infogrames draw up battle plans on the Australian front, an update on the Virgin Suit, and other news. Mergers, Defections, and Other Funny Business by David Jenkins [04.09.99] David Jenkins casts his cynical eye on the internal convulsions of the Euro game industry. Read on about Infogrames's ever-expanding empire, more tough times for Psygnosis, and Eidos's steady glare over John Romero's shoulder. Nintendo Non-news by David Jenkins [03.26.99] David Jenkins gives us the scoop from across the Atlantic. In this week's Eurospeak, the French decide that some games are just plain tacky, Nintendo releases some non-news, Sega gives further public evidence of its blundering ways, SN Systems catches Sony's wave, and one more company bites the dust. Sega Meets the Rumor Mill by David Jenkins[03.05.99] The buzz in europe isn't kind to Dreamcast. David Jenkins dishes this and other tasty tidbits, such as the ELSPA fracas over the PlayStation cheat card, and the results of the infinitely reliable Nintendo Sex Survey. Milia '99 Wrap Up by David Jenkins [02.19.99]Just back from Cannes, Jenkins covers the swank goings-on at Cannes, where Infogrames, Sega, and others made news. Also find out how Microsoft was bested in Scotland by Lemon Dog. Money, Money, Money by David Jenkins [02.05.99]The UK game market tops the £1 billion mark, Sega floats a huge bond issue to finance Dreamcast rollout, Eidos and EA fiscal results in Britain, and more. Cover-Mount War Strikes Britain by David Jenkins [01.22.99] The threat of another cover-mount war looms over Britain, as one of IDG's new game magazines distributes a full version of Earth 2140 with its magazine. Is this the first sign of magazine publishing Armageddon in Britain? Sequels Stalk the UK Charts by David Jenkins [01.08.99] A quick look at the best Christmas sellers in the UK reveals that sequels are more popular than ever before. When will the madness end? With the latest announcement of Donkey Kong 64, not anytime soon, apparently. Nintendo: the Ghost of Christmas Blast by David Jenkins [12.18.98] Poor old Nintendo has managed to create the best game ever but nobody is buying it. Then there's the distribution bungle that's caused the ire of UK retailers. It's a sad state of affairs for the "big N." Publishers Clean House this Holiday Season by David Jenkins [12.11.98] In spite of publishers flooding the market with titles in time for the Yuletide season, it's a dreary line up this year. It seems Father Christmas thinks we've all been very naughty boys and girls. Christmas Traditions by David Jenkins [12.04.98] While David enjoys most Yuletide festivities just as much as the next bloke, he doesn't enjoy waiting all year for interesting new releases, only to be bombarded during the holidays with hundreds of titles from which to choose. EA's Sweet Spot by David Jenkins [11.13.98]Jenkins reviews the titles most likely to make Electronic Arts happy and prosperous when ol' Saint Nick hits the UK. Jenkins also covers merchandising schemes bound to bring the kiddies flocking to the department stores, and recounts the winners at this years BAFTA Interactive Awards. Devil Worshipping Importers by David Jenkins [10.30.98] In this week's Eurospeak, David looks at Konami's marketing strategies, a new company of the block, Cool Beans, and the European chart topping titles. Europe Welcomes Dreamcast Into the Fold by David Jenkins [10.16.98] European retailers and publishers are surprisingly optimistic about the release of Dreamcast, even if many of their punters have yet to be convinced that Sega is anything more than yesterdays’ news. Sony Gives Short Shrift to the Euro Market by David Jenkins [10.02.98] Judging from delays in game titles releases in England, the gist of Eurospeak this week is that major players in the industry act as if Europeans don’t deserve to be treated as well as Americans or Japanese. ECTS A Bust by David Jenkins [09.18.98] Attendance was up by six percent, the place crawled with press and semi naked women. So what was the problem with this year's European Computer Trade Show? Wild Rumors Run Amok by David Jenkins [09.04.98] With the guts of their operation now void, Virgin only has a few UK-based projects still on the go. Its once enviable affiliate deals are limited to a few European distribution deals. Jenkins checks in on media moguls and the latest industry rumors. The Struggle Continues by David Jenkins [08.21.98] The news from across the pond never seems to be without challenges. This week Ian Hetherington, Nintendo and Sensible Software face their own uphill battles to get product to market and make positive impacts in our industry. Lionhead Mirrors G.O.D. by David Jenkins [08.07.98] Peter Molyneux announces the formation of Lionhead Satellites, an incubator for talented, underexposed game development studios. In France, Milia reaches out to game developers. Learning to Love Dreamcast by David Jenkins [07.24.98] Several European publishers have fallen all over themselves to announce their plans with Sega's Dreamcast. And the World Cup's hypnotic grip on Euro-fans leads to a 1% drop in sales for July (and a 75% leap in the consumption of beer). Power of the Dark Side by David Jenkins [07.10.98] Territorial battles emerge up as new floundering developers become good bounty and Bill Gates offers further proof that he is the emperor by proclaiming purple a national color in England. Psygnosis Shake-Up by David Jenkins [06.26.98] Will Sony sell Psygnosis? The departure of Ian Hetherington definitely signals some big changes. And Eurospeak questions the release of DeerHunter in Europe. Sayonara Sony by David Jenkins [06.12.98] In this week's Tension with Sony leads to the departure of Psygnosis co-founder Ian Hetherington. Dream-On, Marketers by David Jenkins [05.29.98] Eurospeak blows its euro-cool over the naming of Sega's new machine. And at E3 this week, the Scottish Games Alliance arrives in force. I Want My GameTV by David Jenkins [05.22.98] In France, Infogrames CEO Bruno Bonnell plans the launch of an MTV-style 24-hour video games channel. Recycles, Retreads, and Rejects by David Jenkins [04.24.98] Forecasted by the UK industry press to be the "best year ever", 1998 has fizzled into unimaginative titles and countless soccer (football) retreads. Meanwhile, Eurospeak questions Psygnosis' fame. Media-Spawned April Foolery by David Jenkins [04.10.98] Scum: The Game attracts the wrath of the tabloids. Meanwhile Eurospeak does a little navel-gazing and wonders if UK-based games are "too British" for the worldwide market. Nintendo Discovers the "Lost Continent" by David Jenkins [03.27.98] Good news for players and developers alike. Nintendo of Europe's (NOE) recent mega-expansion indicates that Nintendo is serious about building business in Europe. Pay and Pay and Pay, then Play by David Jenkins [03.13.98] In online gaming, British Telecom offers a solution to the latency blues while UK-based WirePlay struggles to stay afloat. RIP...two more independent evelopment houses bite the dust while Sega UK teeters on the edge. Not so Quiet on the Western Front by David Jenkins [02.13.98] With French-based Infogrames making overtures to purchasing Virgin Interactive and fellow countymen Titus aquiring US developer BlueSky Software, EuroSpeak wonders if a Gallic takeover of the industry is conceivable. Founder Flees Probe Entertainment by David Jenkins [01.30.98] This Week.....veteran game developer Fergus McGovern says sayonara to Probe. Myth launch in the UK leads to a lawsuit. Sega flounders while Sony celebrates its success in Europe. Media Prank Backfires by David Jenkins [01.16.98] "Across the pond", our Gamasutra correspondent reports how a false story pushed by BMG Interactive generates heaps of negative press for the UK game industry. Plus, Quake II gets banned in Germany. And the Winners Are... by David Jenkins [01.01.98] The Christmas charts for the UK's best selling games are in! Game Sales Puts Santa Out of Business by David Jenkins [12.12.97] Eidos enjoys Tomb Raider II's success in Europe; Activision reveals its overseas plans; BMG Interactive pulls a prank to promote Grand Theft Auto. Price Drops Lead to New Alliances by David Jenkins [11.28.97] In Leading UK publishers and distributors band together to tackle recent price drops; rumors concerning Core Design are brushed off; GT Interactive Europe goes on a spree. Game Publishers Get Political by David Jenkins [11.14.97] Publishers lobby the UK government; EA and Activision show huge 2nd quarter returns; the Nintendo 64 price drop yields some surprises. A Merry UK Christmas...for Sony by David Jenkins [10.31.97] Welcome to Eurospeak, Gamasutra's newest column. Every two weeks David Jenkins will be providing industry news as it plays out in the UK and the rest of Europe. This week: Sony scores; Crystal Dynamics goes Europe; and Euro-politicos perk-up to homegrown developers.
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