News (Page 3866)

NPD figures for April show that Microsoft enjoyed a period of dominance in the US market this year, scooping up 51 per cent market share, largely thanks to a recent price cut.

Nintendo GameCube sales have risen above Microsoft Xbox in the UK for the first time this year according to the latest figures from Chart-Track, while PS2 sales have slumped.

A new scheme being championed by Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment boss Jason Hall would see publishers whose games are reviewed poorly being penalised by higher royalty payments to the license holder.

Microsoft is looking at a ten-year strategy for success in Japan for its Xbox platform, key Xbox executive Peter Moore has told the official Xbox Japan website, with new strategies for the market set to be announced in six to nine months.

Televisions featuring Sony's Cell networked processor will be on the market by 2006, according to Sony CEO Nobuyuki Idei, who suggested that the next-generation TVs could offer functionality similar to a personal computer.

British technology firm Imagination is preparing to deliver a new arcade system to Sega at the start of next year, according to the company's financial statements, which will be based on the firm's next-generation graphics system.

Electronic Arts' UEFA Euro 2004 is the top selling game in the UK once again, with the chart largely unchanged from the previous week as Sony's Singstar and Microsoft's Rallisport Challenge 2 both failed to dent the top ten.

British studio Rare is not working on titles for the Nintendo DS, according to a statement from Microsoft denying reports which surfaced at E3 that the Microsoft Game Studios subsidiary had games in the pipeline for the forthcoming system.

Strong performance in both the arcade and home console sectors have given Namco extremely strong performance in FY2004, with the company reporting rising sales and a major climb in profitability for the full year.

Japanese publisher Square Enix has announced its first full-year results since its formation in a merger, with sales of some 63.2 billion Yen (469 million Euro) leading to profits of 10.9 billion Yen (81 million Euro).

A report in the British trade press has indicated that the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS consoles may launch in the same week in Europe - with a March 18th date apparently pencilled in for both systems.

Key US retailer Electronics Boutique has announced a 23 per cent climb in revenues in the first quarter of FY2005, with the company continuing to grow its market share in North America and predicting a strong growth year for the industry.

Following the sale of some 350,000 shares of his stock in Midway by the publisher's president and CEO David Zucker last week, Zucker has issued a statement reaffirming his confidence in the firm and explaining his reasons for the sale.

Despite a official denial that any takeover talks are in progress, speculation has once again emerged today that Eidos may be the target of a buyout bid, after its share price collapsed by almost a third in the space of a few hours yesterday.

The Japanese software market has entered into a traditionally quiet period after the Golden Week national holidays at the beginning of May, with the top ranked title being a Pachinko game which sold only 81,000 units.

Sony Computer Entertainment boss Ken Kutaragi is set to take top roles at Sony's home electronics and semiconductor divisions in addition to his current role at the videogames division, effective from late next month.

British publisher Eidos has issued a short trading update warning that unit sales of the recently launched Hitman: Contracts have been below expectations, and confirming that it is not currently in takeover talks despite City rumours.

Japanese publisher Namco has announced plans to commemorate its fiftieth year of operation next year, with a special 50-year logo to be used on a variety of promotional campaigns and advertisements.

Both Electronic Arts and the NFL Players Association have moved to deny reports that they are working towards a major exclusive deal for player rights licensing, with the Sports Business Journal retracting its original story.