Today on Headline
RePLAY: the ESA explains its support for SOPA, the 3DS makes a rebound and
rumor has it that Nintendo’s Wii U is also an e-reader!
Even though major
publishers like Nintendo, Sony and Electronic Arts jumped ship last week from supporting
the Stop Online Piracy act, the Entertainment Software Association stands firm
with its backing for the bill and released a statement today explaining why:
“As an industry of innovators and creators, we understand the
importance of both technological innovation and content protection, and do not
believe the two are mutually exclusive. Rogue websites – those singularly
devoted to profiting from their blatant illegal piracy – restrict demand for
legitimate video game products and services, thereby costing jobs. Our industry
needs effective remedies to address this specific problem, and we support the
House and Senate proposals to achieve this objective. We are mindful of
concerns raised about a negative impact on innovation. We look forward to
working with the House and Senate, and all interested parties, to find the
right balance and define useful remedies to combat willful wrongdoers that do
not impede lawful product and business model innovation.”
Additionally, the ESA
is aware of objections against SOPA, and responded:
“We are mindful of concerns raised about a negative impact on
innovation. We look forward to working with the House and Senate, and all
interested parties, to find the right balance and define useful remedies to
combat willful wrongdoers that do not impede lawful product and business model
innovation.”
The ESA is a video
game trade group that is responsible for organizing the annual Electronic
Entertainment Expo and its defense of video games as protected speech in the
U.S. Supreme Court. A lot of major publishers
are members of the ESA, and therefore, despite their withdrawal from SOPA, are
still supporting the bill by proxy.
SOPA’s critics assert that
SOPA authorizes content owners to effectively shut down internet websites on
the basis of copyright infringement, which includes:
·
Mods
·
“Let’s Play” videos
·
Video replays
·
Video reviews and commentary
·
Unofficial game guides
·
The taking, hosting, and sharing of screenshots,
artistic or otherwise
·
Image forums (Reddit, 4chan)
*Source: Kotaku
Nintendo sure knows how to make a miraculous comeback. After dismal sales numbers, a major price cut in less than six months, and anxious investors— Nintendo is celebrating the new year with news that that the 3DS crossed over the 4 million units mark.
According to Nintendo,
the 3DS sold more than the Wii did in its first nine months. No doubt the sales
jump was attributed to the massive price cut and the release of Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7.
Needless to say,
predictions of the 3DS’s death were highly exaggerated.
*Source: BusinessWire
Nintendo’s Wii U was
met with a lot of comparisons to tablet PCs— and if this rumor of it being an
e-reader is true, it will be a dead-on contrast.
According to Forget
the Box, Nintendo is planning on making the Wii U into a Kindle or Nook
equivalent with the ability to download or stream books, magazines, newspapers
or other publications.
But to lend some credence
to the rumor, Forget the Box adds that Nintendo is looking into making electronic
strategy guides and instruction booklets available for download too.
Considering what we’ve
seen of the Wii U, the rumor sounds plausible. However, it is just a rumor and
should be taken with a grain of salt.
*Source: Forget the Box via Game Informer
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