By John

Icelandic publisher CCP Games has big plans for Atlanta

Posted by By John | Mar 9, 2009

is thriving in Iceland despite the bankruptcy of the country. The publishers of the massively multiplayer online (MMO) sci-fi game, “EVE Online,” has over 250,000 gamers paying a $15 monthly subscription fee to explore the science fiction universe of EVE. There are another 50,000 players trying out the free 14-day trial version of the game through Eveonline.com or Steam.com. “We have really big plans for this game,” said Magnus Berggson, vice president of sales, CCP Games. “We have things coming out that will ensure that it will continue growing. It’s the type of game that gets better with more...

Tech Trek to India – Remembering the terror in Mumbai

Posted by By John | Mar 3, 2009

Editor’s note: John Yates, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP partner and an internationally recognized technology attorney, is in India this week on a “tech trek” looking to generate business opportunities for the Atlanta and southeast technology sector. He is posting blog and video entries at . The law firm has offices in Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah and Washington, D.C. Local Tech Wire will be following Yates’ trip and posting Yates’ observations and news.MUMBAI, India – The entire world knows about November’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed more than 170 people and wounded hundreds more. Many of them died at...

EA Sports’ Morrisville studio has a hit with NASCAR Kart Racing

Posted by By John | Mar 2, 2009

Editor’s note: John Gaudiosi covers the videogame industry for Local Tech Wire and WRAL.com. MORRISVILLE, N.C. — NASCAR fans won’t have a new simulation game this year, but EA Sports has shipped the new family-oriented . The game is the second title, and second consecutive NASCAR game, from EA’s Morrisville studio. So far, the 10-man team that has created "NASCAR 09" on PlayStation 2 and NASCAR’s answer to Mario Kart on Wii has been a great success. The new Wii game has garnered a MetaCritic.com rating of 70 from major game outlets. When it comes to NASCAR games, critics...

Tech Trek to India – Perceptions, regulations

Posted by By John | Mar 2, 2009

Editor’s note: John Yates, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP partner and an internationally recognized technology attorney, is in India this week on a “tech trek” looking to generate business opportunities for the Atlanta and southeast technology sector. He is posting blog and video entries at . The law firm has offices in Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah and Washington, D.C. Local Tech Wire will be following Yates’ trip and posting Yates’ observations and news. ATLANTA – Americans have pretty clear ideas about what they think India is like. But what do Indians think about the U.S., and specifically Atlanta? That’s one...

‘Mods’ and ‘modders’ expand Unreal Tournament 3, also get a chance to cash in

Posted by By John | Feb 27, 2009

continues to encourage additions to its game with “mods” submitted by developers from around the world. Modifications, or mods, are being made by so-called mdders, in a $1 million five-phase “Make Something Unreal Contest” that Epic is sponsoring along with Intel. Final winners will be disclosed later this year. The most recently completed round of the competition – phase two – included $70,000 in cash prizes. Unreal Tournament has already sold more than 1 million copies, but the Cary-based creators of the game are keeping it fresh with additional content. “This contest is just one of the ways that...

Tech Trek to India – The venture capital landscape

Posted by By John | Feb 27, 2009

Editor’s note: John Yates, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP partner and an internationally recognized technology attorney, is in India this week on a “tech trek” looking to generate business opportunities for the Atlanta and southeast technology sector. He is posting blog and video entries at . The law firm has offices in Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah and Washington, D.C. Local Tech Wire will be following Yates’ trip and posting Yates’ observations and news. ATLANTA – My law partner Jason D’Cruz and I are back in the office from our business trip to India and reflecting on the things we learned...

Sony has new games coming; PS3 price cut expected

Posted by By John | Feb 26, 2009

Editor’s note: John Gaudiosi covers the videogame industry for Local Tech Wire. RALEIGH, N.C. – Sony Computer Entertainment America’s hosting its annual retail and publisher conference Destination PlayStation this week, which is taking place in Arizona. As a result, there’s been a lot of news emanating from the desert. There have also been rumors floating around that Sony could cut the price of its PlayStation 3 by $100. The PS3 currently retails for $400. Sony announced that its free PlayStation Network online community has surpassed 20 million registered users across 55 countries. Sony has sold over 21.3 million PS3s...

Tech Trek to India day 10 – Beyond Slumdog – India’s entrepreneurial allure

Posted by By John | Feb 25, 2009

Editor’s note: John Yates, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP partner and an internationally recognized technology attorney, is in India this week on a “tech trek” looking to generate business opportunities for the Atlanta and southeast technology sector. He is posting blog and video entries at . The law firm has offices in Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah and Washington, D.C. Local Tech Wire will be following Yates’ trip and posting Yates’ observations and news. DELHI, India – Travelers to India are often concerned about catching some third world disease – malaria, hepatitis, or “Delhi belly”. A select few entrepreneurs catch a...

Tech Trek to India Day 9 – A Bright Spot in the global economy

Posted by By John | Feb 24, 2009

Editor’s note: John Yates, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP partner and an internationally recognized technology attorney, is in India this week on a “tech trek” looking to generate business opportunities for the Atlanta and southeast technology sector. He is posting blog and video entries at . The law firm has offices in Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah and Washington, D.C. Local Tech Wire will be following Yates’ trip and posting Yates’ observations and news.DELHI, India – I’m spending another day in Delhi at the ITechLaw conference. This group is composed of international technology lawyers from throughout the world – great contacts...

Posts by By John