Paul Loughrey (Page 6)

Organisers of the Game Convention Developer Conference (GCDC) have announced the initial list of confirmed speakers for the August event, which takes place in Leipzig, Germany.

UK Trade & Investment is organising a trade mission to Shanghai next month in a bid to promote the British games industry in China.

The Association of Electronic Interactive Marketers has announced the appointment of Microsoft's games boss Peter Moore, who will serve as chairman for the professional trade organisation.

Codemasters Online Gaming has announced a new partnership with payment solutions provider Click & Buy, designed to facilitate the growth of the publisher's MMORPG audience in the US and Europe.

SCEA exec Jack Tretton has dismissed the threat from its biggest competitor, arguing that first year unit sales do not determine market success and playing down the loss of GTA platform exclusivity.

France Telecom's videogames publishing arm, GOA, has revealed the first three titles to appear on its European free-to-play games portal, which is scheduled to launch in the second half of the year.

PC software publisher Merscom has announced the imminent US retail release of Rag Doll Kung Fu, the acclaimed game from former Lionhead Studios designer and Media Molecule co-founder, Mark Healey.

Louisiana's controversial videogames law has been blocked by the District Court, Judge James Brady issuing a temporary injunction preventing the law from taking effect until the ESA's lawsuit can be heard.

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime is set to provide the keynote address at the Montreal International Game Summit in November, just prior to the anticipated launch of Wii.

Hot on the heels of the controversial new games law passed in Louisiana, Governor Blanco has a new bill to consider, this time with the full support of the Entertainment Software Association.

This week's top ten listing is a chart of two-halves, football just taking the lead as <i>FIFA World Cup Germany 2006</i> holds its position at the top of the group yet again.

Japanese electronics manufacturer NEC Corp has forecast a YEN 5 billion operating profit for fiscal 2007, boosted by increased demand for its semiconductors in products including the Nintendo Wii.

Sega has announced a celebrity vocal line-up for the forthcoming western adaptation of its acclaimed Yakuza videogame, including veteran actors Michael Madsen and Mark Hamill.

Infogrames, the parent company of struggling US publisher Atari, has revealed its year-end financial results, posting a net loss of EURO 149.8 million despite positive earnings in European and Asian markets.

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has signed into law a bill drafted by anti-videogames campaigner Jack Thompson, preventing the sale or rental of violent videogames to minors.

Majesco Entertainment will be publishing the first wrestling game for the Nintendo DS in North America and Europe, having secured the videogame rights to Jack Black's latest feel-good comedy movie, Nacho Libre.

Microsoft has announced what is arguably its most significant managerial restructuring as chairman, chief software architect and company co-founder Bill Gates enters a two-year transition to step down from his full time role.

Organisers of the Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival have revealed the first batch of companies signed up as an official 'Friend' for the two-day event, which takes place in the heart of Scotland's capital city this August.

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has stated that nondisclosure of game content could soon result in fines of up to USD 1m for publishers, defending its position before a subcommittee at Capital Hill.

Atari has posted its fourth quarter and fiscal 2006 financial results, revealing an annual loss of USD 67 million and once again casting doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern.

Ignition Entertainment has confirmed a September release for its latest PSP title, Mercury Meltdown, development on the sequel to Archer Maclean's Mercury apparently unaffected by the resignation of its creative director.

THQ has confirmed that it plans to release a version of Tetris for the Xbox 360 in North America and Europe later this year, having settled its long-running legal dispute with The Tetris Company.

Microsoft has released a new update for the Xbox 360 console, providing support for an additional 21 Xbox titles and reinforcing Peter Moore's comments that backwards compatibility is important to the firm.

US industry trade organisation the Entertainment Software Association has confirmed its intention to launch a new legal challenge to overturn the latest videogames legislation effort in the state of Oklahoma.

Global coreSports has announced the imminent launch of coreFootball, a massively multiplayer online football simulation with gambling elements, supported by a GBP 5 million global promotional campaign.