Prototype Updates

BioWare RPG named best 2009 game developed in Great White North; Assassin's Creed II wins four categories, including best console game.

DICE 2010: Outspoken executive Bobby Kotick laments passing on The Sims, Harmonix, explains "taking the fun out of making games," and announces $500,000 indie game challenge.

[UPDATE] Publisher's "realigning [of] resources" sees Prototype staff culled, Transformers studio shuttered; Guitar Hero rumored to be taken from Neversoft.

$1.038 billion in revs yield $195 million in profit for Call of Duty, World of Warcraft publisher; Starcraft II delayed to "first half of 2010"; Modern Warfare 2 most preordered game to date; COD4 sells 14 million; new James Bond, Spider-Man, post-Ride Tony Hawk next year.

Prototype tops NPD's monthly non-PC top 20 with nearly 600,000 units, while Ghostbusters just misses the top 10; Sims 3 new PC king, Spore Galactic Adventures opens strong.

[UPDATE] Analysts' fears exceeded as hardware sales nosedive 38 percent year-on-year--but rise monthly; DS still sells 766,500 as Activision's superhero platformer swoops off with nearly 600,000.

EEDAR's Jesse Divnich and Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter now believe gaming industry will grow only 5% in 2009; $50 PS3, Wii discount, 360 response possible.

Pacific Crest Securities' Evan Wilson expects Fight Night Round 4 to break 1 million in disappointing month, says recession may be hitting games harder than previously thought.