gaming

News Byte

Caesars IPO Hits Jackpot

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on February 8 at 9:55 am PT

Caesars Entertainment stock popped 82 percent on the first day of its public offering, trading at $16.39 a share. The Las Vegas company sold only 1.8 million shares, at a price of $9 each. Caesars, known for its casinos, is also betting on new online initiatives, such as social and real-money gaming. The IPO will provide an exit for some of its investors, who paid $28 billion to take it private four months ago. Because of its debt balance of $22 billion, some analysts view the deal as unattractive.

News Byte

Apple Poaches Another Xbox Marketing Vet

John Paczkowski in News on February 2 at 8:05 am PT

Robin Burrowes, former head of Xbox Live marketing in Europe, has a new job. At Apple. The exec, who served as head of product marketing for Xbox Live in Europe for three years — and before that, as marketing manager for Xbox U.K. — is heading to Apple’s European office to oversee App Store marketing. Burrowes is the latest hire in a parade of gaming executives recruited by Apple that includes former Nintendo PR manager Robert Saunders and former Xbox PR manager Nick Grange.

Videogamers Embark on Nonkilling Spree

Conor Dougherty, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in News on February 1 at 11:58 am PT

Killing is easy in the moral vacuum of videogames. So when Daniel Mullins needed a challenge, he gave peace a chance.

Dude, Where’s My Facebook IPO Filing? (Ashton’s on Hold!)

Kara Swisher in News on February 1 at 5:50 am PT

Mr. Kutcher really wants to know what’s what this fine IPO-awaiting morning.

Nintendo Swings to Loss

Daisuke Wakabayashi, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in News on January 26 at 1:40 am PT

Grappling with a sluggish debut for its new hand-held game system and petering demand for its flagship home console, Nintendo Co. swung to a loss for the first nine months of its fiscal year and scaled back sales forecasts for its 3DS portable system and Wii.

Hot-Button Topic: Do Women Buy More Consumer Tech Than Men?

Lauren Goode in Commerce on January 17 at 3:12 pm PT

Women spend more than men on consumer electronics. And men spend more than women on consumer electronics. Confused yet? Here’s a different way of looking at it.

In the 1986 movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", Ferris got a computer, while Jeannie got a car.

Xbox Accounted for 40 Percent of All Videogame Sales in 2011

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 12 at 5:57 pm PT

Despite sales declines bringing down the overall game industry last year, Microsoft dominated the market, with the Xbox capturing nearly half of all consumer spending from physical sales.

PlayStation Vita Sales Tank in Second Week

John Paczkowski in News on December 29, 2011 at 3:45 am PT

Youch. Down more than 75 percent from launch week.

What Connects a PlayStation Vita to a Walkman? A Designer.

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on December 23, 2011 at 12:57 pm PT

Sony’s upcoming handheld gaming device, the PlayStation Vita, was developed in part by one of the original creators of one of the most successful consumer electronics devices of all time.

News Byte

Complaints About Sony PlayStation Vita Arise After Japan Launch

Lauren Goode in News on December 20, 2011 at 8:28 pm PT

Sony issued an apologetic statement and posted a system update on Monday, after complaints emerged about its new handheld device, the Sony PlayStation Vita. The portable gaming system launched in Japan this past weekend; 321,400 units were sold in two days. Some users are reporting that the Vita has been freezing and crashing in early use of the device.