Activision

Video game giant Activision scored a major coup Thursday with the signing of a deal to publish the next franchise from Halo developer Bungie.

The partnership is intended to last 10 years and means that Activision, which is owned by Activision Blizzard, will be in a position to publish several iterations of Bungie's next franchise. Given the tremendous success of the various Halo games--all told, they have generated more than $1.5 billion in sales--an exclusive deal to publish Bungie's next series of games is a very big win for Activision, and a blow to its rival, Electronic … Read more

Between the legal drama playing out in the South Bay (Gizmodo raid! Dubious warrants! Potential counter-suits!) and the latest developments in the Infinity Ward/Activision internal drama (Involuntary labor! Withholding royalties and bonuses!), it's pretty much the Days of our Lives around here. Also, no Hulu in the UK, and Comcast gets a big, steaming pile of poo from its users. But at least it's Golden Poo.

Microsoft inks patent licensing deal with HTC http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2010/apr10/04-27mshtcpr.mspx… Read more

If what you've really been missing is a 10-pound, 10-inch statue of the Noble Team, the team of fighters that are the heroes of the hotly-anticipated video game Halo: Reach, then don't fret. Your time is coming soon.

Mere mortals may scoff at the need for such a collectible, but true Halo fans know that those who end up with these icons are going to be the envy of the many who can't get their hands on them. Thankfully, everyone will have the same chances of ending up with one.

On Thursday, Microsoft and Bungie unveiled the details of the Halo: Reach "limited" and "Legendary" editions, both of which are now available for pre-order and will be released sometime this fall. As previously reported, the Halo: Reach beta will begin on May 3. The game will be an Xbox 360 exclusive.

The limited edition, which will cost Halo fans $80, includes the game disc and manual, as well as a game disc "housed in recovered ONI 'black box;'" an Elite armor set that players can use when they're in multiplayer mode; and an artifact bag with the personal journal of Dr. Halsey, as well as "other classified documents and effects that unravel long-held secrets from the Halo universe."… Read more

On today's show, Apple wants to wipe all HTC phones from the face of the earth, apparently because Steve Jobs is just grouchy about this whole business. Donald and Molly engage in a nice long talk about the validity of software patents, and then we wonder whether anyone would actually line up to buy a new 3D HDTV. Meanwhile, the well-meaning House of Lords is probably going to destroy the Internet.

Apple: HTC phones caused ‘irreparable injury’; asks for ban on … Read more

After the best month in its history, the video game industry in January returned to the pattern it followed throughout 2009: sharp year-over-year monthly declines.

According to a report Thursday from industry analyst, The NPD Group, video game sales across the board were $1.17 billion in January, down 13 percent from $1.34 billion a year earlier. Hardware sales were worst hit, down 21 percent year-over-year, while software was down 12 percent.

It's likely that the December numbers, when the industry turned in record sales of $5.53 billion, and January's poor performance are linked. Huge numbers … Read more

Video game software sales across the world's three largest markets--the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom--fell 8 percent in 2009, according to a joint report issued Wednesday by a consortium of industry analyst firms. The UK led the way with a 14 percent plunge.

But one title that can't be blamed for the difficult year is Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The fastest-selling video game of all time turned in sales of 11.86 million copies in the three markets, despite only being released in November.

The annual Top Global Markets report, which is … Read more

This week, we debate the pros and cons of Apple's iPad touchscreen tablet, as well as Intel's new Wireless Display technology; plus, there's some good news for fans of DRM-free gaming.

Related links: >>Should the Apple iPad be considered a computer? >>10 things Netbooks still do better than an iPad >>Classic Activision games go DRM-free

>>Watch the Digital City live every Monday at 3pm EST on CNET Live! >>Subscribe to Digital City on iTunes >>Join the Digital City Facebook fan page >>Need more? Follow Dan on Twitter! … Read more

In a new deal with classic gaming Web site Good Old Games (GOG.com), game publisher Activision is rereleasing many of its classic titles in a DRM-free format. Two of the games are available starting January 28, and Good Old Games says additional entries "will be unveiled gradually in the coming weeks."

One of the two initial releases is Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura (2001), a cult-favorite open-ended RPG. Our sister site GameSpot said of the game: "If you're serious about role-playing games--so serious that you don't care about graphics but instead just want … Read more

A survey backed by video game publisher Activision shows that most parents know what their kids are playing and that they're fine with it.

The survey, conducted by market researcher The Harrison Group, also reveals that both parents and children are aware of the Entertainment Software Review Board's ratings system.

The survey found that 82 percent of parents and 75 percent of children are familiar with ESRB ratings. It also found that 70 percent of parents "pay close attention to the ratings when purchasing a game for themselves or their families" and that 62 percent of … Read more