WRAL Tech Wire

It's live! Microsoft rolls out new XBox One console

Microsoft, the top seller in U.S. consoles for more than two years, will face fresh competition from Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 4, scheduled for release near year-end, and Nintendo Co.'s Wii-U, introduced last November. It also must fend off a larger threat: companies including Apple, Facebook, Google Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. offering an array of entertainment services, software and products.

 Huge crowd shows East Coast Game Conference becoming international draw

Having drawn a crowd of more than 1,300 people, the organizers of the East Coast Game Conference have big plans for the future while continuing to nurture the region's game industry. Troy Knight, one of the show's co-founders, talks about future plans and the state of the Triangle gaming industry today.

East Coast Game Conference

 Epic confirms working with well-known producer on 'Gears' movie

A spokesperson for Cary-based Epic tells WRALTechWire that the videogame company is in fact working with a big-name producer in another attempt to take "Gears of War" to movie screens.

"Gears" may still someday be a movie

 'Gears of War' may finally go to big screen if new deal works out

After years of talks and a deal that fell through with the "Lord of the Rings' director, Cary-based Epic Games may be nearing a deal with Hollywood for a feature film about "Gears of War." And the producer is a big name, says Hollywood's Variety.

A Gears movie coming at last?

 Inside Triangle videogame industry: What developers need to hear in tough times

A record crowd turns out for the fifth annual East Coast Game Conference in Raleigh, but attendees hear the truth about surviving in the rough-and-tumble industry. WRALTechWire Insider Joe Procopio gets the real story beyond the hype of the Triangle's videogame industry hub.

Attendees search for jobs, insight at ECGC

Epic Games' top marketer Kendall Boyd leaves for Microsoft post

Marketing director Kendall Boyd has left Epic Games for Microsoft. Find out what he'll be doing at at Microsoft.

Microsoft unveiling new Xbox May 21?; game sales slide; Zynga slips

Microsoft Corp. plans a "special unveiling" related to the Xbox, suggesting that the world's biggest software maker use the event to introduce the latest version of its game console. Meanwhile, game industry sales fell in March, according to NPD.

 If ex-Epic creative guru Cliff Bleszinki starts a video game studio, it will be in NC

"This is the south and some people have concerns about the south, but this isn't your grandfather's rebel flag south," says former Epic Games creative executive Cliff Bleszinski. "This is the new south and ... I believe it's going to evolve into ultimately a burgeoning video game hub."

Cliff Bleszinski

 East Coast Game Conference focusing on careers, Triangle job market

For the first time, the fifth annual East Coast Game Conference is unveiling a career track for participants to provide insights on what they need to know to break into this fast-growing industry.

 Former Epic Games exec Rod Fergusson on move again

TechWireGamer: Rod Fergusson, a former producer at Epic Games who left last year to join Irrational Games, has quit that company and is looking for another opportunity.

 Epic embraces emerging technology to support virtual reality

With development kits for virtual reality technology from Iculus shipping to game makers around the world this week, an Oculus-read version of Epic's Unreal Development Kit (UDK) will be included.

 Epic Games expands empire with growing Unreal engine business

The Cary-based game development company continues to flex its growing muscles in the video game industry beyond the "Gears of War" franchise with continued refinements and more uses for the Unreal game development engine.

Unreal powers BioShock Infinite

 Under new owner, Escapist aims to be a bigger 'mouth' for gamers

Durham-based The Escapist, which touts itself as the "mouthpiece of the gaming generation." aims to make its web site and entertainment offerings even bigger under the ownership of Alloy Digital.

The Escapist - "mouthpiece for the gaming generation"

 EA's CEO Riccitiello stepping down; successor search underway

Electronic Arts' CEO leaves as EA and other traditional video game companies struggle to adjust to a world where consumers turn to mobile devices and cheap or free online games instead of buying expensive packaged titles.

 Writing the tale: Getting the back story on new Gears

Writer Rob Auten takes WRALTechWire inside the new "Gears of War: Judgment," which launches Tuesday. Epic Games turned to new writers for the fourth title in its $1 billion franchise, and one of them tells his side of the "Judgment" story.

"Baird" in new Gears

 Going into battle with new 'Gears of War: Judgment'

Epic Games is pushing the single player experience forward with "Gears of War: Judgment," a prequel set 15 years before the original game. The latest title in the $1 billion franchise for the Cary-based company hits stores March 19. WRALTechWire gets an inside look.

New "Gears" coming in March

 Former Epic Games president ends advisory role with company

Tech Wire Gamer: Michael Capps announces on his Facebook page that he is parting all company ties with Epic Games where he had served as president.

Mike Capps - with a huge guardian warrior

 Launch video touts 'blood, gore' - New Gears of War nears

Tech Wire Gamer: Epic Games and Microsoft unleashed the launch video trailer for the new "Gears of War" title that goes on sale March 19. Viewers and players beware: "Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language" ahead.

 Video games might offer emotional benefit to seniors, NCSU study says

Tech Wire Gamer: Video games might have a new, untapped demographic - the elderly. Research from North Carolina State University finds that older adults who played video games reported higher levels of emotional well-being.

Elderly benefit from gaming

 Epic Games co-founder, wife invest in Carolina Hurricanes

Tech Wire Gamer: Mark Rein, co-founder and vice president of Cary-based Epic Games, and his wife, Tara Rein, and Chuck Hammel, president and owner of PITT OHIO, a Pittsburgh-based trucking company, are among the new investors in the NHL Carolina Hurricanes.