Gaming News Round-Up: January 28th, 2005

Today's round-up includes news of a new game-related conference and exhibition from DiGRA, as well as new information on Japanese distribution deals from Atlus and Konami. - The Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA) will host the Point of View Alternate Games Exhibition at its upcoming conference, "Changing Views: Worlds in Play." The PoV exhibit focuses on games designed as alternatives to existing genres and styles. Events included in the PoV will be a juried exhibit of the games and interactive art on display, an online catalogue of works, and an exhibition space tailored to invite play and discussion of the games displayed. The curatorial committee for the Point of View Exhibition includes Rebecca Cannon, Celia Pearce, Mary Flanagan, Mimi Ito, Ian Bogost, Zeljko Blace, and Cindy Poremba. - Atlus' Japanese branch, which has been indirectly owned by Konami ever since the Japanese software giant bought out Atlus' parent company Takara, will relinquish game publishing and distribution duties to Konami on April 1st. Atlus of Japan began publishing its own games in October 2001, but the shrinking Japanese games industry has made it difficult to continue publishing the titles it develops. The company hopes that Konami's more far-reaching distribution network will bolster the sales of Atlus games. No information has been released yet on whether or not the move will affect Atlus USA's publishing arrangements.