text:
Video games in a rut as E3 show kicks off
Aging console cycle, cloudy outlook makes stocks 'absurdly cheap.'
By Dan Gallagher
As the video game industry kicks off its annual E3 conference this week, investors have taken a particularly dim view of the sector, as the aging console cycle and slumping retail sales have hit the stocks hard.
It is unclear whether this year's show will do much to boost enthusiasm for the group, as it has in years past. Only Nintendo is expected to showcase new gaming hardware -- the Wii-U console that was previewed last year and is expected to launch this fall. No new Xbox or PlayStation hardware is expected at the event, and most of the big game releases expected to be on display will be sequels to long-established franchises such as "Call of Duty," "Halo" and "Madden NFL."
"What's happening is that everyone expects this year's E3 to be a dud, so why buy the stocks ahead of the show?" said Doug Creutz of Cowen & Co. in an interview.
He noted that investors are already looking ahead to the next console cycle. Both the Xbox and PlayStation platforms are aging, but new updates to those consoles are not expected to begin until late 2013 at the earliest.
"It's certainly not more than a year away," Creutz said of the next console cycle. "The question for investors then becomes: 'Do I need to own the group?' "
All of the major pure-play videogame stocks are in the red for the year to date, underperforming the S&P 500. Electronic Arts (EA) and Sony (SNE) are down 35% and 30% for the year, respectively. Nintendo (NTDOY), Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) and GameStop (GME) are also trading on strong doube-digit declines, while Activision Blizzard (ATVI) has seen a more modest drop of about 5% for the year to date.
Valuations are low as well, what Creutz describes as "absurdly cheap." The three major third-party game publishers -- EA, Activision and Take-Two -- are trading at 55% below their average forward price-to-earnings ratios for the last five years, according to data from FactSet Research.
Part of the reason for the negative sentiment -- on top of what has been a rough few month for the broader market -- is the fact that the current console cycle is getting long in the tooth. The Xbox 360 is in its seventh year, with the PlayStation 3 and Wii on the six year mark. That -- along with fresh competition from cheaper mobile and social games -- has hurt the retail sales results for the sector in the last year.
January through April saw strong double-digit declines in sales of game hardware and software in traditional retail outlets, according to data from the NPD Group. That figure does not track growing sales in digital-only channels, such as Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network.
This has led to game publishers vastly shrinking the number of titles they launch in a given year -- focusing instead on blockbuster franchises that sell not only game disks but also downloadable expansion content. And those are the types of games expected to feature big at this year's E3 show.
"Every single game you hear about is going to be a sequel to an old franchise," predicted Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities.
The main draws of this year's show from the action-shooter category are expected to include "Halo 4" from Microsoft (MSFT), developed exclusively for the Xbox 360, while Activision will show off "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2," and EA will preview "Medal of Honor: Warfighter" — all slated for fall release. (Microsoft owns and publishes TechBiz, an MSN Money site.)
EA will also showcase the next installments of its popular sports franchises such as "Madden NFL" and "FIFA," as well as the next big sequel to its "Need For Speed" racing series.
But downloadable content will play a bigger role this year than in year's past. EA in particular will show off up-coming expansion content for its "Battlefield 3" and "Star Wars: The Old Repubic" games. Activision may share more developments of its online "Call of Duty" platform called "Elite."
According to Jesse Divnich, vice president and lead analyst for the market research firm Electronic Entertainment Design and Research, or EEDAR, the main goal for game-makers this year is to maintain interest among key consumers until the full launch of the next console cycle.
"The primary goal is to keep consumers excited until we see the new hardware," Divnich said. "It's true that the market is softening. Consumers are looking for different forms of entertainment. The industry has to keep them excited enough to maintain momentum."
Wild cards this year may be include "Grand Theft Auto V," the next installment of the wildly popular urban action franchise from Rockstar Games. Take-Two, the publisher of the series, has not put out any release date for the series, though analysts widely expect the game to hit before the end of the company's fiscal year — with most expecting a March release.
Activision may also give a preview of the game franchise being developed by Bungie, the original developer of the "Halo" franchise, which is building an as-yet-unnamed title for Activision. Documents released though a recently settled lawsuit between Activision and another developer suggest the first Bungie game is expected for late 2013. Analysts are mixed on whether the company will choose to preview the title this year.
Epic Games may also preview its next "Gears of War" installment for the Xbox 360. And LucasArts — the videogame studio owned by George Lucas — announced plans to showcase "Star Wars 1313," a "mature-themed action title, during the show. No expected release date for the game has been given.
The E3 conference will begin in Los Angeles on Monday morning, with a press conference by Microsoft for its Xbox platform in the morning, followed by events for EA, Ubisoft and Sony later in the day.
Nintendo will host its own press event on Tuesday morning, where it is expected to showcase its high-definition Wii-U console, due for launch later this year. Investors will be looking for more details on the specific launch date and price of the console, as the company's shares have fallen hard of late as sales of its Wii console and handheld devices have fallen sharply.
More from MarketWatch
The reason video games are down so much (other than the economic slump) is that there are no original games anymore; like the article said every major release is a sequal - essentially a rehash of the same game with new maps and maybe some minor upgrades to the previous installment. I guess I can see where they are coming from - its far easier and much, much more profitable to churn out a dozen sequals to a game in a few years instead of coming up with original ideas. Sequals themselves aren't bad, but the game should at least try to feign an attempt at telling a good story.
Game makers are getting lazy, they have shifted the focus of video games from playability, fun factor and depth to dumping everything into graphics while simultaniously shortening game play time to sell off more sequals and DLC, and don't get me started on how easy 99.99% of games are.
All in all the overall quality of video games as a whole has taken a nose dive ever since around the time when the Playstation 2 was released, the best console games of today pale in comparison to the heavyweights of the Super Nintendo/Sega Genesis era. Even computer games are severely diminished - the only games that have any sort of quality to them are the monthly pay to play MMO games - and even those lack anything resembling true quality. They replaced challenges and puzzles with timesinking, endless grinding and random chance.
Games of Chrono Trigger calibur are but a memory to game makers today.
Copyright © 2014 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Morningstar Inc. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Morningstar Inc. Quotes delayed by up to 15 minutes, except where indicated otherwise. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by Morningstar Inc.
Start investing in technology companies with help from financial writers and experts who know the industry best. Learn what to look for in a technology company to make the right investment decisions.
Forget Facebook: DataCoup allows users to sell their private data directly to businesses. But will consumers feel comfortable taking them up on the offer?
- Shared
- Commented
- Viewed
- Video: Easy DIY smoked meats at home
A charcuterie master shares his process for cold-smoking meat at home.
- Jetpacks about to go mainstream
- Weird things covered by home insurance
- Bing: 70 percent of adults report 'digital eye strain'


text:
"This whole world is wild at heart, and weird on top."
The things you pick up as you go.
Subscribe to RSS Talk To Me, Bitches AboutHipstergramTwitterArchiveBuilding & DecoratingFoodD.I.Y
Interior decoration is a secret hobby of mine— I love moving in and setting things up and moving furniture around and all that. So, when I found this website, it made my life, considering I'll (hopefully!) be moving into a probably pretty small room come June.
I know what I'm doing with the rest of my night!
1 note
Leave Note / Reblog
Architecture Interior Design Decorating Apartments Awesome
noteworthy nautical ~ drop anchor!
This pillow…
It belongs in this house, yes?
4 notes
Leave Note / Reblog
Sailing Interior Design Decorating Awesome
All sorts of kitchen orgasm.
303 notes
Leave Note / Reblog
Architecture Interior Design Kitchen Bitches Things I Want Decorating
"Sometimes when I dream, I sense a part of me that's missing. It's a strange feeling having your heart remember something your mind can not."- A Little Princess
Have successfully transformed attic apartment from that…to this.
6 notes
Leave Note / Reblog
Apartments Architecture Interior Design Life Movies Quotes Decorating
Interior design porn.
May I please have that exposed pole with perfect patina, rough-hewn table, and perfect picture shelves?
Thanks, that'd really make my day better.
(Source: designtraveller)
204 notes
Leave Note / Reblog
Architecture Interior Design Porn Things I Want Decorating
Those sinks.
That woodwork.
2,990 notes
Leave Note / Reblog
Architecture Candlelight Interior Design Things I Want Wood Decorating
What's that? Oh nothing…just my secret indoor pool. Baller!
What the shit is this black magic/awesomeness.
43 notes
Leave Note / Reblog
Awesome Interior Design Water Architecture Blue Wood wtf.
AHHHHHHHHHH Herman Miller lounge chair and ottoman. AND books. AND hardwood floors. AND a spiral staircase. To more books. AND a window-wall.
Personal library porn. Build this, and I will come, and I will marry you.
1,522 notes
Leave Note / Reblog
Architecture Books Furniture Interior Design These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things Things I Want Decorating
Oh, my. OH, MY!
From the windows, to the floors. Til' the drool drop down, j'adore.
1,653 notes
Leave Note / Reblog
Amazing Arcitecture Interior Design Things I Want White Wood Decorating
Don't you know; my childhood bedroom has ended up being the biggest and best of all those that I've lived in yet.
God, I love interior decorating. Theme here is Old Meets New— The Windsor chair, marble-top dresser, and dark wood nightstands are from a totally different era and contrast the modern, futuristic lamps, light-finished wood tables, and colorful magazines and picture frames scattered around the room. It seemed fitting, given the circumstances.
5 notes
Leave Note / Reblog
Life Bed Childhood Home Apartments Interior Design Decorating Architecture
I want all of these.
All of them forever always all kinds every one.
203,029 notes
Leave Note / Reblog
Amazing Architecture Books Interior Design Library Things I Need Things I Want Decorating
I could do with a little bit of this in my life.
454 notes
Leave Note / Reblog
Nature Trees Fall Architecture Beauty Interior Design Wood Landscape Beauty

subset: commoncrawl


text:
By: -Koenig-
Unlockable content from The story telling masterpiece,Epic micky. One of Walt Disneys first creations,An Oswald the lucky rabbit,animated cartoon,that predates the birth of micky.
Views: 548 | Posted: 05/25/2011
By: Wiilbur
Mushroom cosplay creeping out the neighbours lol xD Stay tuned for the next video that I am about to upload if you want to see the mushroom cosplay in action at KumoriCon 2010. Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XMvzOC90Q4&feature=related
Views: 660 | Posted: 05/25/2011
By: pennyman
Hailey Bright from COIN-OP TV interviews Warren Spector the Creative Director on Disney Epic Mickey for the Nintendo Wii from PAX 2010. Find out first hand what getting involved in this project meant to Spector and how Epic Mickey is a 'first' in video game design.
Views: 493 | Posted: 05/25/2011
By: Chris
In this I lay down the smack with an intro of my first podcast. As a promo im just going to see how things go and hopefully it will continue. I talk about movies coming out such as Scott Pilgrim, The Expendables, Vampires Suck and some others. I touch upon upcoming games and share my views on Mortal Kombat 9. I also want to show you a hilarious youtube video. Big Booty Bitches Song link here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctVmNb... For those interested in the Spill crews review I have posted it here: Its very brief but it gets the point across well enough.
Views: 644 | Posted: 05/25/2011
By: tansup3rman
Epic Mickey for Nintendo Wii
Views: 1,029 | Posted: 04/22/2011
By: -Koenig-
What do you get when you Cross:The legend of Zelda,Space Mountan And TRON? PeteTronic from Diney Epic Mickey.
Views: 1,035 | Posted: 04/07/2011
By: lordander
Sunset Street, A great painting on the wall
Views: 377 | Posted: 01/23/2011
The developers of Disney Epic Mickey tell all about the story and the engaging experience of the Disney Mascot's newest adventure.
Views: 24,992 | Posted: 12/16/2010
By: -Koenig-
Clock Tower boss battle footage from Epic Micky.
Views: 457 | Posted: 12/15/2010
Australian electronic music producer D!tto presents the Epiculous trailer for Disney's Epic Mickey video game.
Views: 20,954 | Posted: 11/30/2010
Rumors began to swirl yesterday that Austin-based Junction Point studios, the team...
Posted: Mar 21, 2012
Week of
Sep. 28
Week of
Oct. 05
Week of
Oct. 12
Week of
Oct. 19
Week of
Oct. 26
Release Date: 09/29/2014
Outland's world comes swathed in two distinct colors that allow players to choose between being defense or offense in...
Release Date: 09/29/2014
Shadow Puppeteer is a co-op puzzle platformer.
Release Date: 09/29/2014
TinyKeep is an upcoming action roguelike game with procedurally generated dungeons, emergent monsters, deadly traps...
Release Date: 09/30/2014
PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 09/30/2014
A third-person action game set in Middle-earth that explores an original story of vengeance and redemption.
PC, Ouya, PS4, PS3
Release Date: 09/30/2014
An HD update to a homebrew RPG first created and released on SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive.
iOS, Xbox 360, Wii U, Wii, 3DS, PS3,
Release Date: 10/05/2014
, PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 10/07/2014
Taking the series back to its horror roots, Alien Isolation strands players on a desolate space station as they try...
PC, Mac
Release Date: 10/07/2014
The sequel to Costume Quest continues the players' adventurous trek for candy on Halloween.
, Xbox 360, PS3, 3DS
Release Date: 10/07/2014
PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Release Date: 10/07/2014
PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 10/07/2014
Release Date: 10/14/2014
Release Date: 10/14/2014
Play as officer Wei Shen and infiltrate Triad organization called Sun On Yee, in Sleeping Dogs from Square Enix.
Release Date: 10/14/2014
A turn-based strategy game exclusively for PS3, from Atlas and NIS America.
PS3, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Xbox 360
Release Date: 10/14/2014
A suvival horror game from the creator of the Resident Evil series.
PS3, Wii U, Wii, Xbox 360
Release Date: 10/14/2014
Vita, , PS3, Xbox 360
Release Date: 10/14/2014
The Walking Dead: Season Two will continue the story of Clementine, a young girl orphaned at the outset of the undead...
PS3, Xbox 360, 3DS
Release Date: 10/21/2014
Release Date: 10/22/2014
, Vita, PS3, PS4
Release Date: 10/24/2014
A new chapter of the saga unfolds with more than 55 playable warriors to choose from, devastating new attacks and...
PS3, , Xbox 360, Vita
Release Date: 10/28/2014
, Xbox 360, PS3
Release Date: 10/28/2014
linux, PC, Mac
Release Date: 11/01/2014
Dreamfall Chapters is the long-awaited sequel to acclaimed PC adventure games The Longest Journey and Dreamfall: The...


text:
Letters to the Editor
The Editor:
St. Martin's Clothing Bank wishes to thank everyone for their support in providing adult, baby and young children's clothing, as well as linens and blankets. We are no longer taking items made from leather: shoes, purses, belts or coats.
All clothing for children ages six through 12 should be taken to the Family Service Center. And please remember we take clean/laundered clothes only. The clothing bank is located next door to the Blaine Food Bank at 500 C Street and is open for donations and to clients on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon.
We also are looking for additional volunteers! Anyone who is willing to help one Friday a month for three hours, please call Lynne Chapman at 371-3070.
Brent Brentnall
Community Assistance Program
The Editor:
The Blaine Food Bank received 8,283 pounds of canned goods from our generous neighbors. That is 10 percent more than last year.
With gas prices out of control and food costs on the rise we are very grateful for all that were able to donate. Many families are being served because of the community in which we live.
If you missed the pick up last Saturday, we take donations every Tuesday and Friday between 9 a.m. and noon. This is the time of year when we need your help. Businesses – if you would like to have a food drive at your office, we would be happy to pick up the food. Just give us a call at 360/332-6350.
Many thanks to all who gave of their time and donations. Our volunteers and clients are grateful to all that help fight hunger in our community.
Sheila Connors
Blaine Food Bank
The Editor:
I was mystified to see my name dragged into Mickey Masdeo's May letter – essentially an ad hominem attack on Lincoln Rutter's cogent letter of April 24 regarding Birch Bay's incorporation feasibility study.
I have neither publicly weighed in on nor have I involved myself whatsoever in the incorporation debate (and, for the record, I resigned from the steering committee over a year-and-a-half ago). Nevertheless, I'm compelled to correct several misrepresentations and factual errors in Mr. Masdeo's letter.
The "petition" to remove Birch Point from Birch Bay's UGA was actually a 2004 survey conducted by Neighbors for Birch Point – mostly over e-mail and by phone – to gauge community support for a resolution proposed by then-county council chair Dan McShane. The resolution included removing areas of Point Whitehorn from Birch Bay's UGA.
Dan McShane is a trained, practicing geologist. His resolution addressed several urgent issues, among them, the need to slow down development in Birch Point/Point Whitehorn to lessen impact on their sensitive feeder bluffs and tidelands that impact the precious bay.
The resolution drew overwhelming community support (hundreds of people!), as documented in the survey, which included a detailed, neighborhood-by-neighborhood analysis (keyed to a map), down to the level of indicating, where possible, each household's position – pro or con (great concepts for an invaluable, fair-minded approach to the incorporation issue). Public testimonies by a coalition of neighbors from Birch Point, Birch Bay, and Point Whitehorn further convinced council to pass the resolution.
That's called democracy, Mr. Masdeo: wise, visionary decision-making by elected officials – informed by sound, intelligently presented information, and above all, informed by the will of the people who would be affected (great concepts for an invaluable, fair-minded approach to the incorporation issue).
Regarding incorporation, the community should seriously weigh Mr. Rutter's data with the feasibility study's data. I've observed that Mr. Rutter freely and regularly offers objective, well-reasoned, and rigorously-researched information to this community – committed solely to the interest of sound decision-making, responsible growth (vs. uncontrolled growth, no matter what the cost), and good stewardship and long-term preservation of our incomparable bay, its beautiful environs, and its vibrant wildlife – i.e., what brought us all here.
Regarding Mr. Masdeo, it's "noteworthy" that he serves on the steering committee's incorporation sub-committee ... Need I say more?
Jo Slivinski
Neighbors for Birch Point
The Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to the local businesses and citizens who contributed through generous donations for my senior project. It is without a doubt that if not for the support I received from several people, my project would have fallen well short of the potential and success that I strived for from the beginning. My deep thanks to Bay Medical, Bayside Beauty, B C Dispatch, Breivik Construction, Jasper Engines, Mailboxes International, The Northern Light, Sports Unlimited, TC Trans, Inc., and all the family and friends who also supported this endeavor.
A special thank you goes to the Blaine ASB for contributing the last few hundred. I needed to purchase a quality sound system for Pipeline fields.
Collectively, these companies offered enough money to purchase a $2,000 sound system (all-weather speakers, amplifier, microphone and ground cables), which was far better than what I had originally planned for and I am very grateful for their support.
I am especially thankful for Tim Walter, Wes Thompson, Jim Kenoyer and teacher Jim Nelson who helped me install and connect the sound system in time for our senior game against favored Anacortes who we upset 2-1 for my last home game as a Borderite. This made my whole project well worth the time spent organizing and accumulating the funds necessary to put it all together.
So thank you once again to all of the contributors, I am very grateful for the support you have shown me as well as the Blaine baseball team.
Brandon Bleecker
The Editor:
My wife and I have lived in Blaine for over a half century. For years, the most upkeep done in town was when someone painted their house. Blaine had a well-earned reputation of having the worst streets in the county.
In recent years, new streets and sidewalks have blossomed all over twon with small parks and landscaping. New buildings have sprouted like mushrooms and many old structures were given a facelift.
A beautiful square built at the end of H Street overlooking the harbor has a great statue of three persons watching for their men to come home from the sea. It marks our heritage and gives our town a touch of class.
The dignity of the square and its meaning have now been ruined by the addition of a pile of scrap iron that is supposed to resemble a sea horse which is not native to our area.
I suppose some "great" artist is proud of a work that desecrates the square. This pile of junk should be hidden in the back yard of the "artist" or sent to Parberry's where it belongs.
Dick Vander Yacht
The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank-you letters should be limited to 10 names. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.
send your letter to:
225 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230 or fax 360/332-2777.
Letters Policy
The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank you letters are limited to five individuals or groups. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.
Please email letters to email@example.com


text:
Birthday: April 8
Hometown: Hampshire, England, UK
Where You've Seen Her: If you haven't already spotted British bombshell Gabriella Wilde's modeling ads for big brands like Lacoste, then prepare to meet her in the new horror flick, Carrie, in theaters this week. Before she joined the bloody (get it?) awesome cast of the Stephen King remake, Wilde appeared in the movie The Three Musketeers and on the series Doctor Who. Next up for the actress are the movies Squatters and Endless Love, due out in 2014. Until then, hold onto your pigs and get ready to have the sin scared out of you in Carrie, out Friday.
Get to know another girl, Brenda Song, and check out Maxim's November Cover Girl, Lacey Chabert.
Gabriella Wilde
October 16, 2013
Around the Web


text:
Hackensack chain saw event is Sept. 27-29
Ten professional chain saw carvers will start creating art from logs in Hackensack at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27, in the city park during the ninth annual chain saw carving event in Hackensack.
The 10 carvers come from Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota this year.
Are you a newspaper subscriber but you don't have a Digital Access account yet? https://secure.forumcomm.com/?publisher_ID=40&event=subscriber/lookup.
You will need your subscription account number and phone number. Not sure if you have an account? Email us at email@example.com and we can help you.