Sony’s Free Realms game signs up a million users in 17 days
Sony Online Entertainment said today it has registered more than a million users in 17 days for its kid-focused Free Realms massively multiplayer online game.
The game uses the free-to-play business model pioneered in Asia, where players start playing for free and pay for virtual goods one at a time in micro-transactions.
John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment in San Diego, said the response to the game was overwhelming. Smedley, who gave the keynote speech at… Continue Reading
Three major league speakers to highlight entrepreneurship at GamesBeat 09 conference
VentureBeat is proud to announce three more heavy hitters who’ll be speaking at our GamesBeat 2009 Games Conference conference next month, which will focus on the most important issues in the video game industry:
The speakers are John Smedley (left), president of Sony Online Entertainment; Seamus Blackley, head of the games department at Creative Artists Agency and co-creator of the Xbox; and Curt Schilling founder and chairman of online game maker 38 Studios and Boston Red… Continue Reading
Sony Online Entertainment buys Pox Nora
Sony Online Entertainment, the online games division of Sony, has bought the Pox Nora online collectible strategy game from Tucson-based developer Octopi.
As part of the deal, members of the Octopi development team will form SOE’s new Tuscon game development studio. They will support Pox Nora and work with SOE’s Denver, Colo.-based game studio on new trading card and strategy game products. The deal closed Jan. 16.
Pox Nora is a free-to-play game, but players who want… Continue Reading