News (Page 3852)

Electronic Arts has announced that work on The Sims 2, the sequel to the best-selling PC game of all time, has been completed at the firm's Maxis studio, with the eagerly awaited title set to arrive at retail in the middle of next month.

Independent developer trade body TIGA has announced that its mobile group is to host a one day conference exploring the issues facing mobile gaming as part of the European Developer's Forum conference next week.

id Software's PC first-person shooter Doom 3 is still at number one in the UK this week, despite a strong challenge for the top from Sony's Athens 2004, which climbs one place to number two on the back of a 55 per cent sales increase.

The relationship between publisher Midway and media empire Viacom is the subject of speculation again today, after Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone stated that Midway is seen as an acquisition candidate or potential licensee.

Magazine publisher Future Network has acquired Dennis Publishing's remaining videogames magazines, Computer & Video Games and PC Zone, in a UKP 2.5 million deal that sees Dennis exiting the game magazine market.

Microsoft has backed out of the highly competitive US sports genre, cutting its NFL Fever, NHL Rivals and Inside Drive teams and laying off 76 staff in the process.

id Software's chief executive admits that the Xbox port of highly anticipated first-person shooter Doom III is now unlikely to make it out before the end of 2004.

Major US videogames retailer Electronics Boutique has announced its results for the quarter ended July 31, revealing a rise in revenue of almost 20 per cent and a profit figure which more than doubled over last year.

Publisher Konami has taken the wraps off its recently-announced collaboration with UK developer Kuju - with the title in question being The Regiment, a team-based FPS title based on the British SAS special forces unit.

Konami's World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 has held the top of Japan's software charts for a second week, but Nintendo's latest batch of Famicom Mini (NES Classics) titles has proved to be its most successful yet.

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has told investors that he doesn't believe that the PSP will launch in North America until Q2 2005, prompting fresh fears that the arrival of Sony's forthcoming handheld console will slip once again.

A new report based on interviews with key videogames industry executives has called for further price cuts to the Xbox and PS2 ahead of the Christmas sales season, in the hope of "jump starting" sales of software.

Leading US videogame retailer GameStop has announced its financials for the second quarter, ended July 31, revealing strong growth in sales and revenue but cautioning of ongoing hardware shortages of PS2 and Xbox.

A patent granted to Nintendo earlier this month, describing a device that would add hard disc, online and TV functions to a console, has sparked rumours about the company's plans - but is actually related the ill-fated 64DD peripheral.