Halo programmer Corrinne Yu now developing for Naughty Dog on PS4

343 Industries programmer “excited to develop” for Naughty Dog

The principal engine programmer on the Halo series has Microsoft studio 343 Industries and joined Naughty Dog to work on the new Sony console.

“I miss working with many capable developers on the Halo team, but am also excited to develop for PS4,” said Corrinne Yu on Twitter.

Yu joined 343 Industries more than 5 years ago and prior to that spent two years as studio wide director of technology at Gearbox Software where she programmed Brothers In Arms and Borderlands. Kotaku named her one of the 10 Most Influential Women in Gaming in the Last Decade.

Away from the games industry she has also done work with on the Space Shuttle program at Rockwell International California and won an award for her nuclear physics research.

Naughty Dog is currently working on a new Uncharted title for PS4.

 

3D Realms drops Duke Nukem Forever suit against Gearbox

No money changes hands as companies resolve issue over profits; 3D Realms says a “misunderstanding” led to suit’s filing.

In June, Scott Miller’s Apogee (doing business as 3D Realms) sued Gearbox Entertainment, alleging that the developer had been withholding profits from the sale of Duke Nukem Forever. That case is being dismissed with prejudice, and Miller has released a statement through Gearbox apologizing for the whole affair.

“After reviewing evidence regarding our business affairs, and without any money exchanging hands, we have satisfactorily resolved any and all differences that we perceived against Gearbox,” Miller said. “In all sincerity, we regret the misunderstanding that instigated our lawsuit. Now that we better understand–and appreciate–the actual nature of our business matters, we have voluntarily withdrawn our claims against Gearbox, with genuine apologies to Randy [Pitchford, Gearbox president] for any damage that our lawsuit may have caused to the relationship.”

Duke Nukem Forever was released to critical scorn, but it sold enough copies (after substantial discounting at retailers) to be Gearbox’s best-selling game to that point in the company’s history.

“Everyone wished that 3DR’s game was better received by the market for the benefit of gamers and profit to its creators,” Gearbox said in a statement at the time of the suit’s filing. “While 3DR might not wish the reality that the results make clear, 3DR turned out to be the only beneficiary of the deal. Gearbox Software, meanwhile, experienced damage to its credibility and loss of its money.”

Since Duke Nukem Forever, Gearbox has released the critical and commercial hit Borderlands 2, as well as the less successful Aliens: Colonial Marines.

 

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Sony launches Third Party Production team

Sony Computer Entertainment America has formed a new publishing group called Third Party Production which will be headed up by former LucasArts lead producer Gio Corsi.

“The Third Party Relations team at PlayStation is well known for developing solid relationships across this industry, and this new group will work closely with our publishing partners to bring their beloved IPs to some new places,” Corsi wrote on the PlayStation Blog.

“Our partners who are currently in production will have us as a resource to strengthen their development process, ensuring quality and consistency on all Third Party projects.”

Its first project is the PlayStation Vita version of Borderlands 2 from Iron Galaxy Studios, and through Twitter Corsi reported he had received “literally hundreds of ideas, thousands of tweets,” from gamers suggesting other titles they’d like to see on PlayStation.

Corsi has been at Sony Computer Entertainment America for three months. Prior to that he spent time at LucasArts, Lucasfilm Animation Singapore, Nexon Publishing North America and Propaganda Games.

 

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Sony And Gearbox Are Bringing Borderlands 2 To The Vita

A year ago, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford mentioned that he was interested in bringing Borderlands to the PlayStation Vita. Today, on the stage of Sony’s Gamescom 2013 press conference, that dream became a little more real.

With the help of Divekick developers Iron Galaxy Studios, 2012’s Borderlands 2 will be miniaturized and released on Sony’s portable in 2014. Sony will be handling the publishing duties, making this an interesting collaboration.

No word yet on which additional content (if any) will be included, but we’ll be sure to prod Gearbox about it when we see them for their PAX panel.

PlayStation Vita price cut to $199, €199 Memory Cards will see lower prices as well

Memory card prices will also see “significant reduction” in North America and Europe beginning tomorrow.

With the PlayStation 4 on the way, Sony is looking to goose demand for the PlayStation Vita by cutting the price of the portable in Europe and North America. During its Gamescom press conference, Sony confirmed that starting tomorrow, the suggested retail price for the Vita will drop in those regions to €199 or $199, respectively.

The hardware isn’t the only thing getting cheaper. Sony has also heard complaints about the price of memory cards for the system, promising to make “significant reductions in the price” of those accessories in both regions. Currently, the 32GB cards retail for $100 in North America, and €90 in Europe.

In addition to the price cut, Sony showed off some new software for the Vita. The company confirmed that games like Borderlands 2, Fez, and Starbound would be receiving Vita ports, and showed off new titles including the concert promoter sim Big Fest and Ovosonico’s debut title, Murasaki Baby.

 

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