FarmVille developer Zynga’s latest move towards expansion is the founding of a new Japanese studio. Zynga Japan is a joint endeavour between the San Francisco-based studio and Japanese media and communications firm Softbank. Softbank last month invested $147 million in Zynga, and following the completion of this backing the two firms have formed a more active partnership in Tokyo – Zynga’s first move into the Japanese market

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Gameloft has revealed increased second quarter sales of €33.6 million, up 15 per cent on the previous year, due to a significant rise in iPhone and iPad games.

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Sony is to post an operating profit of between 10 and 30 billion yen for the first quarter of its 2010 financial year. That’s according to Japanese business paper Nikkei, translated by Andriasang which suggests that the PlayStation business and mobile sectors were both profitable for the company, along with strong sales of SLR cameras and LCD televisions in Japan and in foreign markets. For the same periods last year Sony recorded an operating loss of ¥25.7 billion, with the PlayStation department accounting for a loss of ¥39.7 billion due to a decline in profitability of the games and Vaio businesses

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Planned Summer discussions as to whether the R18+ game rating should be introduced to Australia have been cancelled, with November being the next mooted date. Australia’s Standing Committee of Attorneys-Generals (SCAG) had planned to meet in July and debate the issue, but upcoming Federal Elections have put paid to that. Website Kotaku reports that the meeting will instead take place in Canberra on November 4-5

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Planned Summer discussions as to whether the R18+ game rating should be introduced to Australia have been cancelled, with November being the next mooted date.

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SouthPeak Interactive is seeking court action as a result of Majesco publishing DS title My Baby 3 & Friends in the US. The troubled publisher had custody of the My Baby franchise – and its 2 million sales – to date, but last month Majesco revealed it would be handling the third in the mothering simulation series instead. While the two publishers argue over distribution rights, IP ownership still remains with series developer Nobilis

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Microsoft has told GamesIndustry.biz that UK sales of the Xbox 360 family of consoles surged last weekend, up over 1000 per cent compared to the previous week. Sales were driven by the release of the Xbox 360 S, along with price cuts on existing models of the Arcade and Elite models, with Xbox EMEA boss Chris Lewis claiming an 84 per cent share of the market

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UTV Ignition Entertainment, which earlier today announced it had rebranded (from Ignition Entertainment) and was pursuing a new focus on digital development and publishing, has appointed former IGN executive Justin Keeling as global strategy and product head. The post will involve responsibility for launching the organisation’s global digital strategy, including “finding, nurturing, and curating the world’s best games industry talent and building sustainable new routes to market on new and emerging digital platforms,” according to a statement obtained by GamesIndustry.biz. “Justin brings over 15 years’ experience of the media and videogames industry to us,” said Hassan Sadiq, chairman of UTV Ignition Entertainment in the statement

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UTV Ignition – formerly Ignition Entertainment – has announced that it has completed its rebranding exercise as it looks to a new strategic direction. The company, under the direction of parent entertainment business UTV Group, will now be focusing on the development and publishing of games for digital platforms, including Xbox Live, the PlayStation Network, Steam, Facebook, Google Games and Apple touch devices. It will also be investing in “direct-to-user marketing” in an attempt to build its own community, as visibility in the sector becomes an increasing problem

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Activision has confirmed it is to publish an original James Bond title this year. While the fate of the next 007 movie remains in doubt due to owner MGM’s ongoing financial troubles, the huge license’s next incarnation will be an Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3 game due “this holiday season.” “James Bond 007: Blood Stone captures the cinematic intensity of a Bond film by immersing players in an intriguing conspiracy that will require them to think and act like James Bond,” said David Pokress, Activision’s head of marketing for Licensed Properties. Read more…

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