THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI), on behalf of THQ/JAKKS Pacific, LLC, will take over the Gem Theatre this evening for the fifth annual THQ Superstar Challenge. A total of 16 elite Superstars from World Wrestling Entertainment will compete in a bracket-style video game tournament featuring THQ/JAKKS Pacific’s internationally acclaimed WWE(R) SmackDown(R) vs. Raw(R) 2007 for the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.
“The fifth annual THQ Superstar Challenge in Detroit celebrates the hard work and dedication of WWE and its Superstars throughout the year,” said Bob Aniello, senior vice president, worldwide marketing, THQ. “The WWE Superstars participate extensively in the making of our WWE video games, and with the success of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, it’s great to see them come together to enjoy the finished product.”
“Over the years, the THQ Superstar Challenge has evolved and grown, becoming an essential part of WrestleMania weekend,” said Monty Ross, senior director, consumer marketing, World Wrestling Entertainment. “Among our Superstars, an amazing video game and an engaging performance by Nonpoint, attendees are in for a great night of entertainment.”
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According to MCV UK who got their statistics from ChartTrack, over 165,000 PlayStation 3 units were sold in the United Kingdom on opening weekend.
This figure means that Sony’s new console has broken the record for the fastest-selling UK launch of a home console and second only to its handheld predecessor, the Sony PSP (Which sold 220,000 units on opening weekend). For relative purposes, the Nintendo Wii sold 105,000 units and the Xbox 360 sold 70,000 in its December 2005 Launch.
The put things into perspective, 165,000 units was not Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s full stock on launch day, which was 220,000. That means roughly 75% of total stock was sold, however, according to Sony, that is part of their overall strategy. We’ll see over the next few months how things playout.
According to reports from Australia, Sony’s PlayStation 3 enjoyed sales of over 20,000 units since its launch last Friday, March 23. “The combined sales of hardware, peripherals and software generated in excess of AU$25 million (USD 20.2 million) of retail spending,” Sony Computer of Entertainment announced with regards to the console’s earning in the region.
Breaking down this 25 million into its separate components, we find that roughly AU$ 20 million (US$ 16.1 million) is accredited to the 20,000-plus PS3 consoles, with AU$ 5 million (US$ 4 million) being attributed to sales of related software (video games and Blu-ray movies), and accessories (controllers, keyboards, HDMI cables, etc). The PS3 costs AU$ 999.95 (US$ 810), with first-party games priced at AU$ 99.95 (US$ 81) each
On a similar bit of good news, it was earlier reported that the PlayStation 3 broke previous sales records in the UK as it hit over 165,000 sales - a good 75 percent of the 220,000 PS3 units allocated to the region.
This supercedes all given expectations of Sony’s Austrailian launch which turned out more employees and media than actual customers. (See Kotaku Coverage)
The company trails Microsoft and Nintendo in sales of next generation consoles and the launch has been beset with problems in the last year. But the PlayStation brand remains strong with gamers and one million PS3s will hit shops on day one.
At the London launch everyone who bought a PS3 also received a free 46-inch Sony Bravia HD television and a free taxi ride home. In total, the giveaway amounted to £250,000 worth of televisons to more than 100 gamers.
At the head of the queue, 17-year-old Ritatsu Thomas (Pictured Right) said the giveaway and PS3 had been worth the 36-hour wait. He said: “I feel fantastic. I’m delighted that everyone here also gets a television.” Sony has declared its launch of PlayStation 3 to date as a success, saying early sales are faster than those of its predecessor PS2.
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Video games reach more players than retail sales figures suggest, according to a report issued on Wednesday by private research and measurement firm Interpret. The firm’s Gameasure report comes as video game makers try to woo advertisers, who are looking for new ways to connect with young males — an audience that plays a lot of video games and is watching less network television.
“Retail sales capture only a portion of the total audience playing individual game titles, suggesting current in-game advertising deals, which are primarily tied to these sales figures, undervalue the medium,” Michael Dowling, Interpret’s CEO said in a statement.
Dowling said the report shows advertisers should consider the impact of social game play, game rentals, used game sales and pass-around.
For example, NPD Group research showed Activision Inc.’s “Call of Duty 3″ sold 2 million units in the United States as of February 3. According to the Gameasure report, that game was played by 9 million people.
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New Line Cinema has acquired the film rights to the hit video game “Gears of War,” which overtook “Halo 2″ to become the most popular title on the Xbox Live service following its release last November.
“Set on the planet Sera, the game thrusts players into a battle for survival between humans and a race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet known as the Locust Horde. Players assume identities of soldiers on Delta Squad as they fight to save the Sera’s inhabitants.
The game, developed by Epic Games, sold more than 3 million units worldwide in its first 10 weeks. It also has received numerous awards, including Gamespot’s Game of the Year and the Interactive Achievement Awards’ Overall Game of the Year.
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“We want to reassure all of our 6 million Xbox Live members that we have looked into the situation and found no evidence of any compromise of the security of Bungie.net or our Live network,” Microsoft said in a statement.
The world’s biggest software maker said there have been a few isolated incidents where malicious users have attempted to get personal information from unsuspecting users and to use that information to get access to the victim’s Live accounts.
Microsoft, maker of the Xbox 360 video game console and the popular “Halo” game franchise, said earlier Wednesday it was investigating the reports of fraud.
Security has been a major concern for Microsoft, whose operating system is a favorite target for hackers, and for online commerce sites such as eBay Inc., which has an entire team devoted to online security and safety.
A handful of gamers gathered to line up for the launch at the Virgin Megastore in central London on Thursday afternoon, eating free sandwiches and playing racing game “MotorStorm” on a giant screen.
First in the queue was student Ritatsu Thomas, 17, who arrived at 5 a.m. on Wednesday with his own sleeping bag. He passed the time playing computer games in the store’s basement.
Most of his friends want one of the new consoles, but have been put off by its 425 pound ($836) price, he said.
“They want to buy it but don’t have the money,” he said, adding his pals had bought the cheaper Wii, made by rival Nintendo Co Ltd instead. Thomas already owns a Wii, an Xbox 360, a PlayStation 2 and a GameCube.
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He named the site Kongregate.com and in June began inviting game developers and players to test it. At the end of 2006, he opened the site to people of all stripes, who can create, submit and play games free of charge.
So far, the advertising-supported site offers 300 games that are rated by players, who chat online as they play.
“Not all of them are gems, but the top 100 are,” said Greer, 36, who founded the company with his sister Emily, 32, and offers game makers a share of the site’s ad revenue.
Reed Hoffman, founder of business networking site LinkedIn and a former PayPal executive, said timing played a big role in his decision to become an investor in the company.
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Computer games fans slept on the floor of a London store on Thursday to be among the first in Europe to buy Sony’s PlayStation 3 console, despite concerns over its price.
A small group of shoppers snatched a few hours’ rest in sleeping bags at the Virgin Megastore and enjoyed a sneak preview of a motor racing game before the machine goes on sale at midnight.
But there was little sign of the frenzy that surrounded its launch in the United States and Japan last year when thousands queued or camped outside stores.
Only a handful of gamers were queuing at major London stores early on Thursday. Police have raised concerns about young people being mugged for their consoles at late-night launches.
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