Facebook, FTC Talks Said To Be Ongoing

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Facebook is currently in formal talks with the Federal Trade Commission over claims that the site violated users’ privacy. This comes as a result of changed default privacy settings which disclosed more information than was previously made public.

The settlement on the table would require that Facebook get consent before sharing material posted under earlier, more restrictive terms according to a source. This agreement would also require an independent review of Facebook’s privacy practices.

“In order to successfully issue its IPO, Facebook had to send a signal to investors that it’s putting the threat of regulatory intervention aside,” said Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy.

“The FTC’s action is long overdue,” Marc Rotenberg, another executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy. “It’s becoming increasingly obvious that the commission has to announce its final decision in this matter. The changes in Facebook privacy settings have continued to be the most frustrating online experience for Internet users.”

The complaint against Facebook includes reveal information like names, profile photos, lists of friends, pages they are fans of, gender, geographic regions and networks to which they belong. It was hoped that Facebook would adopt for more opt-outs for personal information, and some believe that the company is learning.

“There was a lot of confusion around the changes they rolled out in 2009,” said Justin Brookman, senior resident fellow of the Center for Democracy and Technology. “They’ve made improvements since then around the user controls.”

Source: BusinessWeek.com

Call Of Duty Elite Founders Get Extra Month

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Since Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 released, the Call of Duty Elite service has been absolutely blitzed and mostly unavailable. As Beachhead Studios increases their server capacity, they announced a method to do right by their most loyal subscribers.

“And for our premium members who are Founders, know that granting your status and delivering your in-game benefits in MW3 is a priority,” revealed Beachhead. “Also, to ensure that every premium member receives their full money’s worth, we are immediately and automatically extending your membership to Call of Duty Elite by 30 days at no additional cost. If you’re still considering becoming a premium member, we’re going to extend Founder eligibility until the end of the month, and you will also receive the additional 30 days of access.”

Source: callofduty.com/elite/status

Abobo’s Big Adventure Right In Your Face

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Game mash-ups like I Wanna Be the Guy are becoming more popular as time goes on and some dedicated fans have made a new one. Can you recognize all the various games in this fan-made game

Skyrim Epic Rap

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No doubt millions of gamers worldwide have plunged headfirst into the world of Skyrim over the weekend, going on quests and collecting Dragon Shouts. Dan Bull has performed a rap equal to this epic fantasy tale for all to enjoy.

APB: Reloaded – Be All You Can’t Be

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APB: Reloaded is finally ready to relaunch and it’s got the trailer to prove it. [a]list games and GamersFirst present an impressive live-action trailer produced by the Ayzenberg Group with Chaundon rapping the titular song Be All You Can’t Be.

Be The Zelda Fan Of The Week

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The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is around the corner and in anticipation a new app called “Welcome” has been unlocked on the official Facebook page. Fans that “Like” the page can test their Zelda knowledge with an interactive quiz. Also, they can submit a photo of themselves and be featured in the profile picture of the page for a week! Fans can also browse a gallery of YouTube clips that celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Zelda. On the official home page, fans can explore the world of Skyward Sword in an interactive page that explores each area telling more of the story.

OnLive Says U.K. Launch Reached ‘Millions’

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OnLive has revealed that the U.K. launch of the service has reached millions of users, adding to the already tens of millions of users from around the globe. The cloud gaming service when live in the U.K. on September 22, roughly a year after the U.S. launch, and they indicate they had to roll out more servers to meet demand.

“The growth in the U.K. has been faster than when we launched in the U.S.,” Perlman said. “It went beyond what we ever imagined. Overwhelmed is not even the word. The numbers in the UK are ten times what we projected.”

Source: MCV

Nintendo ‘Standing On Burning Platform’ In Portable Space

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Digital content distribution has changed the face of music, altered the way news is consumed and had a notable effect on other industries like magazines, books, television, music, film and more. However, nothing has perhaps been more altered than portable games.

“The most striking trend is that iOS and Android games have tripled their market share from roughly 20 percent in 2009 to nearly 60 percent in just two years,” notes Peter Farago of Flurry. “Simultaneously, Nintendo, the once dominant player, has been crushed down to owning about one-third of market in 2011, from having controlled more than two-thirds in 2009. Combined, iOS and Android game revenue delivered $500 million, $800 million and $1.9 billion over 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively.”

What is disrupting mobile games is the freemium game model, $0.99 games and the critical mass of smartphones on the market. Nintendo and Sony’s portable game revenue has dropped precipitously, posting a combined $2.2 billion for 2009, $1.6 billion for 2010 and $1.4 billion in 2011.

“Due in part to its demise in the portable game category, Nintendo is facing its first fiscal year loss since the company began reporting profits in 1981,” noted Farago. “Combined with slumping Wii sales, Nintendo is indeed struggling, even with its powerful stable of original IP led by Mario Brothers, and despite the fact that the exchange rate between the Japanese Yen and U.S. dollar is currently in its favor.”

“Equally concerning for Nintendo is that the battle for video game dominance is entering the living room, with entries by both Apple and Google into the TV category,” he added. “Ostensibly, this new class of hardware will create a new platform upon which the digital distribution model of apps will be overlaid. Now, in addition to tablet form-factor competition, the console game industry, which currently pits Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo against each other, will additionally face competition from Apple and Google TV initiatives. Beyond 2011, if Nintendo continues to face financial hardship, it may be forced to consider difficult choices such as divesting its hardware business and distributing its content, for the first time, across non-proprietary platforms.

“In our last review of the portable game category, comparing 2009 to 2010 revenue, we believed Mario was already ‘standing on a burning platform.’ With 2011 numbers now added to the story, it appears that the inferno has intensified, and that Nintendo may truly face a Nokia-like decision to jump or perish in the flames of its own burning platform,” Farago concluded.

Source: blog.flurry.com

Xbox Live: From 50k To 35 Million In A Decade

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Xbox Live head of marketing Robin Burrowes recently claimed that all entertainment will have an interactive component in five years. Furthermore, he says that a multitude of factors has grown Xbox Live from 50,000 users in 2002 to 35 million by the end of 2010; a new member is added every two seconds.

“We know already that users are resonating with the fact that the games console goes beyond its usual remit,” said Burrowes.

Burrowes noted that also said that over 75 percent of European console owners watch DVDs or Blu-ray movies on their consoles, and 72 percent download content. Another 42 percent of people use social networks, chat and e-mail to talk with others during a TV program or video.

Source: Develop

Gran Turismo 6 In The Garage Right Now

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Kazunori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital, mentioned at the Specialty Equipment Market Association industry trade show that he has driven most of the cars in Gran Turismo 5 and that more DLC is on the way. More exciting than that, however, was a question of the next game in the series.

“Of course we’re working on GT6 already, and I think what really will be the separating factor is something that we can’t update through a DLC is something that obviously has to be saved for GT6,” said Yamauchi. “Things that we can provide through DLC we will, so that’s really the [marked] difference.”

Source: IGN