Crysis 2 - Trailer (2011)

Dead Space 2 : Demo Hints & Tips Feature

Learn how to use stasis and kinesis in Dead Space 2 which is shipping for PS3 and Xbox 360 on January 25, 2011. A demonstration of upgrading Isaac's suit is also shown along with killing methods.

Dead Space 2 Trailer

DS2 ships on January 25, 2010. J-Sonoma is on vacation for the remainder of 2010.

EA CEO Talks Acquisitions

   In an interview with Bloomberg yesterday, EA CEO John Riccitiello described potential acquisitions as "too expensive" thus far and went on to say, "There are probably 25 companies on our radar that would make sense for us at somewhere between 5 and 10 percent of the asking price.” When asked about the possibility of acquiring Harmonix which produces the Rock Band rhythm games, Riccitello stated, "While buying the Rock Band music video game franchise could make “theoretical” sense, it’s not the strategic direction the company is moving in." In 2006, Harmonix was acquired by MTV Networks which is owned by Viacom. Earlier this month, Viacom expressed their interest in selling Harmonix which is unprofitable.

EA And Paramount Digital Entertainment Team Up For ‘Rango’ The Video Game

Official Press Release
Rango the Video Game to Launch Alongside Paramount Pictures’ Upcoming Animated Feature Film
   EA and Paramount Digital Entertainment today announced a distribution agreement that will catapult an upcoming Paramount property into the hands of gamers worldwide. Rango The Video Game, is an action-adventure title inspired by the upcoming animated feature film starring the voice of Johnny Depp.
Rango The Video Game invites players to continue on Rango’s wild journey through new adventures inspired by the movie.  The game is set in the Old West town of ‘Dirt’ where players romp through a gritty, pint-sized, Wild West filled with wild rides, off-color characters and frantic shoot-outs. Rango is Paramount Pictures’ first full-length animated feature film; both the film and the video game will be released in March 2011.

   “We are thrilled to be working with Paramount and the upcoming release of the video game version of its first animated feature,” said Sinjin Bain, Vice President of EA Partners at Electronic Arts. “Rango is a one-of-a-kind character that we know kids will love. We’re excited to give families worldwide the opportunity to take the humor and fun from the big screen into their living rooms.”

   “We are pleased to team up with EA to deliver an exciting, action-packed adventure game that captures the spirit of the film and puts the fate of Dirt in players’ hands,” said Tom Lesinski, President of Paramount Digital Entertainment.  “We’ve added exciting twists and turns in the video game that will challenge players of all levels on their adventures as Rango.”

   Developed by Artificial Mind & Movement, Rango The Video Game will be available on console platforms including the PlayStation 3 computer and entertainment system, Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, Wii, and Nintendo DS in March 2011. Rango The Video Game has not been rated by the ESRB and PEGI.

EA buys Chillingo for under $20 million

From the LA Times today:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/10/ea-buys-iphone-game-publisher-chillingo.html
   Electronic Arts has snapped up Chillingo, a U.K. publisher of Angry Birds and other iPhone and iPad games, for less than $20 million in cash, according to sources close to the deal. Holly Rockwood, EA's spokesperson, confirmed the purchase Wednesday morning, but would not comment on the acquisition amount.

   Chillingo is an aggregator and a distributor of mobile games based in the United Kingdom. Continuing from the LA Times article: 

   Its two top titles, Cut the Rope and Angry Birds, occupy the No. 1 and 3 spots on the chart of top paid apps in iTunes Wednesday morning. Cut the Rope, developed by ZeptoLab, sold 1 million paid downloads within the first 10 days of release on Oct. 7. Neither Rovio, which developed Angry Birds, nor ZeptoLab is part of EA's acquisition.

   I think the deal is a "Meh" kind of buy. I like that EA's buying into new areas of strength in the gaming industry but as I've mentioned before, console gaming will always be where the big money and revenue is. All Things D had pegged the Chillingo buy at $80-$200 million which was optimistic but ~$20 million sounds about right for a morsel to be absorbed into the EA juggernaut. I also think EA should buy into online gaming distribution and that's Valve which operates Steam.

   In related news, I've completed my buys into EA earlier this morning - a total of 5000 shares which will be held in the account for the next 5 years. I might write out-of-the-money calls against the position about 3 times a year to earn income but those shares won't be sold until 2015-2016 depending on how I view the overall market at that time. I'm concentrating on my Amazon position from here on out.

Medal of Honor sells 1.5 million copies in under 1 week

   Remember the mediocre reviews granted to Medal of Honor last week which caused EA shares to sell off? Despite those mediocre reviews, EA nevertheless presold and sold 1.5 million copies of the game globally in under a week. Maybe no one reads reviews but the "mediocrity" of the game has apparently not caused a sales slump as so-called investors had feared. With the holiday season dead ahead, I'd estimate that EA will sell another 250,000-500,000 copies of the game before the end of the year. If the latter number is hit, EA would have booked roughly $100 million in revenue on the game - not bad.

   EA shares continue to sell off on the back of market weakness but I've been adding shares. I've decided to increase my position to a total of 5000 shares which I'll sit on like a rooster for the next 5 years. My position is currently at 4600 shares so I have another 400 to buy before I lock EA up and then concentrate on my Amazon position. 

EA Sports Active 2

Is this the Jane Fonda Workout for the new generation?

Electronics Arts shares look attractive

   I sold my EA shares a few years ago but I've been buying them back again between $16 and $18. EA closed at $17.65 on Friday and I think they're a buy all the way up to $19. The strategy that I use to purchase shares in a position is as follows:

1) I determine an amount of shares that I want to own. In EA's case, my target quantity is 4000 shares.
2) When price reaches a level where I gauge the risk/reward proposition to be attractive, I enter a limit buy for 200-500 shares in each trade. For example, I started the position earlier this year by buying 200 shares at $17.
3) I bought shares all the way down to $16 but stopped when EA dropped to the $14-$15 area. Yes, I was feeling queasy when I saw prints that I didn't expect.
4) When EA recovered to $16+, I started buying again on strength. As it continued higher, I added shares above $16. I'm currently sitting on 2800 shares and I have another 1200 to buy before my position is full.

   Some may question why I didn't buy when EA was $15. Well, when shares drop below my comfort level, I won't sell my position but I won't add to it anymore because I don't know if the next price is going to be $13 or even $11. EA has been punished by the market and rightfully so for the moves and acquisitions they've made in the past couple of years.

   With the economy recovering in the next few years, I am willing to buy into EA now because they'll improve with the economy as more consumers return to their freespending ways. What's my target on EA? I think the highs of 2005 wouldn't be out of the question. That's when EA traded around $60 and I think there's at least one more split in EA when it reaches that level again within the next 5 years.