Everything we do is with an eye toward achieving our long-term goal of maximizing the content you can access as conveniently as possible in a way that 'works' for the content owner. In the short-term that may require us to make some tough decisions...

After quietly blocking access through PS3′s internet browser just two weeks ago, users who queried the situtation, surprisingly recieved a “content-less” apology through email. The Hulu representative said that blocking streaming was in the best interest of the PS3 users and Hulu. Reports have suggested it could be as a result of pressure from their content providers.

Despite Hulu is only available to viewers from the US, as reported before, the VoD service is finally going to arrive in the UK in the next couple of months and no doubt the mainstream platform will be the PS3.

However, users who queried what was happening with PS3 streaming, recieved a modest apology from a Hulu representative hinting that if they carry on with giving PS3 users the VoD service online, this could dentin their relationship with another company, which in this current economic climate would not be too clever. The full “apology”  can be seen below thanks to Gizimodo,

Thanks for writing. In order to answer your question, some context might be
helpful.

For decades, the TV/movie industry has built its business model on a windowing
strategy. Content rights are granted for limited time periods across specific
distribution channels. For example, a movie starts in theaters, then moves to
pay-per-view and DVD, then to pay-cable channels, later to broadcast, and so on
down the line. Similarly, TV shows are available on TV first, then in repeats,
then to DVD and possibly syndication, etc.

Distribution availability across platforms — theaters vs. TV vs. recorded media
like DVDs vs. online streaming vs. mobile phones — was always implicitly or
explicitly controlled in that world. But a few factors have made the barriers
between those platforms more permeable: the rise of the web, increased broadband
availability, the ease of digitizing video, and the increase in the computing
power of devices like gaming consoles, set-top boxes, and mobile phones.

However, in the near-term, the windowing strategy is still dominant in the
business. Billions of dollars flow in across these different windows, and entire
companies are organized around them. Nothing productive comes from flouting that
reality (except to law firms who work on the occasional lawsuit).

It’s the Content Providers!

Thus, from all the information Hulu have provided us with, we can conclude that it is not Hulu that have the issue with PS3 users watching Hulu, instead it is the content providers. They are wary of the prinicpal of streaming online on a gaming console which is actually linked up with television. Reports have already suggested it could be something to do with licensing agreements with other video companies. However, there is no need to be disheartened since this is only a slight change of course to the overall goal of a smooth, VoD service. All the problem seems to be is with the digital streaming rights which is sure to be sorted out in the coming weeks.

“We do, however, expect these windows to converge over time. There’s no way around that, and we’re working hard with all of our partners to guide and participate in this important transition in the business.

“Everything we do is with an eye toward achieving our long-term goal of maximizing the content you can access as conveniently as possible in a way that “works” for the content owner. In the short-term that may require us to make some tough decisions, but we only do so when we believe it improves our long-term prospects to build a more enduring, legal solution to that same problem.”

Do you think Hulu will ever come to the UK? Are Hulu just blaming all their problems on content providers? Please feel free to comment below.

If the government succeed, there will be a whole lot of games taken off websites that sell the games.

Many of us aren’t aware what is going on in other countries in regard to online e-commerce. However, we think you should become more involved so that you will benefit it. For example, if you see a decent buy on Ebay but it is based in Australia, and is MA15+, you cannot purchase this item as a result of what the Australian government are planning to do. From personal experience, I have found Australia sell the most up-to-date games online and so this will be a huge blow economically.

What is being planned?

Well, the Australian government are attempting to target the gaming market by fully utulizing their “internet censorship” system. The regime will block all websites selling games that are only appropriate for users who are 15 or older resulting in a huge decline in online gaming sales. Is this the right thing to do seeing as the economy is going to be hit by the recession hard?

This may not be so bad in most countries as they have 18+ gaming categories whereas in Australia MA15+ is the highest it goes! This drawback means that companies need to use more resources by lowering the violence in most of the games.

Has it already begun?

According to reports, the filtering scheme has been applied to shops selling these MA15+ games and Senator Conroy said that the Internet Service Providers (ISPS) will block all content related to games including flash, web and downloadable games.

This filter plan will effectively block all gaming websites with a tiny bit of violence which, as I said before, affect retailers who sell online, including eBay and Amazon.

What do you think about the issue? Personally I feel its a bit naive seeing as the economy is already going down and also that Australian 17 year olds are permitted to join the army, which is 10 times as violent than any gory video game.

Remember, feel free to comment. We are happy to respond to any of your views and questions.

Microsoft try to aid new Tony Hawk Ride in the software section

For those of you who are not aware of the revolutionary step forward in gaming, here it is -The Tony Hawk Ride, with a skateboard controller. It will deliver a completely different experience to the conventional Tony Hawk game, which will be available for the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 in the USA.

Surprisingly, the man himself has put a lot of his own input into the project. Here is more from head of Marketing for Activision Publishing, Rob Kostich who said:

“Tony Hawk Ride is a massive step forward for the franchise and the gaming industry as a whole…The skateboard controller will redefine sports games by offering players a true skateboarding experience, hands-free, playing with friends and family at home or online in a variety of different locations.”

Good for United States but bad news for United Kingdom!

Now, back to news which is that Activision’s Tony Hawk Ride could be exclusive to the Xbox 360 in the UK. Though, partner Microsoft have not been able to finalise the deal but are doing everything they can to see the deal go through. But more promisingly, The UK arm of publisher Activision Blizzard has already publically said that the game will exclusive to the UK on Xbox 360. Not good news for a PS3 user living in the UK Lucky America!

Ideally, Microsoft are trying to lift some of the recent bad news put on them such as blocking messenger in certain Eastern countries, especially in the states. Also, this is not the first time Microsoft have helped with gaming exclusivity as when EA’s hyped Rock Band made a deal with the software giants for an UK exclusive but available to US habitants on many other platforms.

However, some good news for us UK workers, is that reports have suggested that it may not even be exclusive as for all we know the game producers could have a breakdown in talks with Microsoft, resulting in the game being released on to multiple platforms.

Are you a UK inhabitant? What are your thoughts on the issue? Feel free to comment below as well as others showing your thoughts on the gaming issue!

Analysts are already playing with possible ideas, so the unexpected console could be here sooner.

This is very promising news, despite the recession; the gaming community are obliged to continue developing technology to make life more enjoyable for us (well, those who take pleasure in gaming).

Wii 2 HD, the independent package?

However, many analysts have conveyed that this could be the only console that will be advanced heavily on the technical side, meaning the current Playstation and Xbox packages will not be improved too much, which is quite disappointing for most gamers but this opens up a wider market for the Wii developers.

Michael Pachter, who is an analyst for Games industry, expressed his feelings towards the issue.

“We do not expect a ‘new’ console in 2010, other than the long-rumoured high definition Wii, which is likely to upgrade the Wii to current console technology,” he said.

“We do not expect the ‘next’ generation to begin before 2013, if at all. We remain convinced that the publishers will resist the introduction of any video game hardware technology that requires a refresh of software, as the publishers have as yet to capitalize on the immense investments made in being competitive in the current cycle.”

“Because R&D costs are likely to flatten out with the benefits of a learning curve, we expect earnings leverage as the publishers are able to exploit R&D investments. In brief, we think that investors have it wrong so far this cycle, and think that investment in video game publishers will bear fruit for many years.”

What can we conclude from this?

It seems likely that you and I will have to wait at least 4-5 years before we have a more developed console on the shelves, as Pachter suggested. The gaming public can still be optimistic, because you never know, the way technology is developing, Wii 2 HD could be here earlier than gaming pundits originally anticipated, most probably for an affordable price too!

Personally, I look forward to see what Nintendo decide to develop in the years to come, because it will certainly change gaming as we know it!