Sega has announced they have signed a digital distribution deal with GamersGate, allowing many of the Japanese publisher’s PC titles to be available through the popular GamersGate portal.
The first games available will be Universe at War: Earth Assault and Football Manager 2009, two popular back catalog titles. Titles such as Condemned, Rome: Total War and OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast are set to hit the service soon as well.
“We look forward to welcoming such a well-established and celebrated partner to our growing online portfolio,” noted GamersGate CEO Theodore Bergquist. “With the addition of Sega’s excellent portfolio of games, GamersGate further strengthens its position as a leading digital download portal.”
Result for: sega
On January 1st the iconic cartoon character Popeye the Sailor Man became public domain in the EU, following the EU law that restricts copyrights of authors for only 70 years after their death.
Elzie Segar, the creator of the beloved character died in late 1938.
The ‘Popeye industry’ generates $2.5 billion USD in annual sales and merchandise comes in the form of books, toys, computer games, canned spinach and even a fast-food chain. Being public domain means that anyone can sell Popeye drawings merchandise, with no worries of needing authorization for being responsible for royalties.
It is important to note that the character is only public domain in the EU, and is still protected in the US until 2024, 95 years after the creator’s death. The Popeye trademark however, is a separate entity and is owned by the Hearst Corporation which should should protect the brand very aggressively.
Adds Mark Owen, an intellectual property specialist at the law firm Harbottle & Lewis: “The Segar drawings are out of copyright, so anyone could put those on T-shirts, posters and cards and create a thriving business. If you sold a Popeye toy or Popeye spinach can, you could be infringing the trademark.”
Mr Owen also notes: “Popeye is one of the first of the famous 20th-century cartoon characters to fall out of copyright. Betty Boop and ultimately Mickey Mouse will follow.”
Result for: sega
After only four days of being available, the Apple iPhone SDK has been downloaded over 100,000 times by developers, said the company.
A few of the more notable developers that are now working on titles are Electronic Arts, THQ, PopCap, Namco, id Software and Sega.
“Developer reaction to the iPhone SDK has been incredible with more than 100,000 downloads in the first four days,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice VP of Worldwide Product Marketing.
“Also, over one million people have watched the launch video on Apple.com, further demonstrating the incredible interest developers have in creating applications for the iPhone.”
The SDK is free for all to download and Apple has also launched the App Store which will allow would-be developers to deliver applications and games directly to iPhone and iPod Touch users.
“The iPhone is the mobile platform game developers have been dreaming of,” said Scott Zerby, vice president, of THQ Wireless.
“We’re looking at how we can use the iPhone’s innovative user interface to create new game experiences for our big brand entertainment partners that consumers love.”
