News (Page 3863)

Rental chain Blockbuster is to be separated from parent company Viacom in a split-off exchange financial deal which will see the media giant relinquishing its 81.5 per cent stake in the group of stores.

Microsoft Japan has demonstrated the Xbox Live Video Chat system, revealing that the system will support up to five simultaneous users and will launch in the Far East at the end of the year - with no US or European date mentioned as yet.

Sammy's Pachinko Slot! Fist of the North Star title topped the Japanese charts once again last week as the market continued to decline into the start of summer - but software sales remain higher than the same period last year.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair may host a reception for key games industry figures during the European Games Network trade show this September, according to reports which have emerged this morning.

The latest publishing deal to be signed by Electronic Arts' EA Partners division will see the company handling the release of Oddworld Inhabitants' next game, tentatively named Stranger, on Xbox and PS2 next year.

British publisher Eidos has warned that it now expects to post either a break even or a small loss for the full year to June 30th, after the company decided to move its final major title of the financial year back to September.

French publisher Ubisoft has announced its results for the 2003/04 financial year, showing that sales rose by some 22.5 per cent to top the half billion Euro mark, with strong growth also predicted for the coming year.

The Austin Game Conference has announced details of its 2004 event, which takes place this September, revealing that Sony and Microsoft are to share the stage to present a keynote address on massively multiplayer console gaming.

Japanese console giant Nintendo isn't currently interested in acquiring new development assets or industry competitors despite the firm's huge cash reserves, according to company president Satoru Iwata.

Chez Molyneux, Lionhead Studios, has confirmed that Blizzard power duo Ron and Chris Millar are onside as the developer prepares for meteoric ascendancy.

New versions of Sony's multi-function games console, digital video recorder and DVD burning device, the PSX, are set to arrive in Japan at the start of next month - with a host of software changes to add extra functionality to the device.

Publisher Majesco has announced record financial results for its fiscal second quarter, with the company's line-up of Game Boy Advance products highlighted as the key factor in its success this year to date.

Three major game publishers - Electronic Arts, Vivendi Universal Games and Atari - have filed a lawsuit against 321 Studios, creator of the Games X Copy application, accusing the company of violating American copyright laws.

Japanese developer Game Republic, which is headed up by former Capcom director Yoshiki Okamoto, has presented a project to Microsoft Japan - and hopes to be given a green light to develop the new title shortly.

The PlayStation 2 has surged back to the top of the hardware sales rankings in the USA following its price cut to $149, announced last month at E3, with sales in the month after the cut more than doubling.

Neither Pandora Tomorrow nor Red Dead Revolver could unseat Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban at the top of the UK software chart, as EA made it three weeks in a row at number one with its fifth chart topper of the calendar.

US publisher Midway, currently the subject of a takeover by Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone, has appointed Ken Cron as chairman - replacing outgoing chair Neil Nicastro, who resigned after Redstone became the majority shareholder in the firm.

British developer Climax has announced the appointment of WildTangent and Midway veteran David Schwartz as president of its recently founded Los Angeles studio, which was created by the company last May.

Comments made in a Japanese newspaper by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata indicate that the company is planning to continue to sell the GameCube hardware well into the lifespan of its next-generation console, codenamed "Revolution."

Leading British independent developer Kuju Entertainment has announced the latest in a series of development deals with key publishers, with the firm's new Brighton-based studio working on a game prototype for SCEE.