Rob Fahey (Page 125)

Japanese publisher Square Enix has adjusted its projected financial figures for the year ended March 31st, with net profit estimates rising 7.4 per cent while the expected figure for consolidated revenues is up 12.5 per cent.

Internet reports suggest that Microsoft is set to acquire Canadian RPG development studio Bioware, with the company planning to announce this latest addition to its developer line-up at the E3 trade show next month.

Square Enix' PS2 remake of SNES classic Dragon Warrior V has retained its position at the top of the Japanese sales charts for a third week running, but it dominates a market which is at rock bottom after a fortnight-long release drought.

Microsoft's Xbox Live online console service will be shut down for 24 hours later this week in order to allow the company's engineers time to install the new Xbox Live 3.0 functionality, codenamed "Tsunami".

A new system for providing information about videogames is set to be introduced in Japan shortly, with the Computer Entertainment Rating Organisation creating nine new ratings covering a wide range of mature or objectionable content.

Shares in US publisher Midway have performed strongly over the past couple of days following an SEC filing from the company's largest shareholder, Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone, which suggested that he may buy the firm outright.

Developer Factor 5, which was responsible for the Rogue Leader and Rebel Strike titles for the GameCube, will not be developing any further software for the Nintendo console and has started work on other platforms.

Publisher Take Two has seen its share price fall sharply after chief executive Jeffery Lapin announced his resignation from the company, following the announcement that the firm is facing a surprise loss in the second quarter.

Publisher Interplay has announced a return to operating profitability in its full year figures, but the company still has significant cashflow difficulties which are affecting its ability to meet lease and payroll obligations.

British developer Mobius has been bought out by US publisher Take Two, with the studio - previously responsible for the GBA version of Max Payne - being renamed to Rockstar Leeds but retaining its focus on handheld platforms.

As Nokia takes the wraps off its second generation N-Gage hardware this morning, <i>GamesIndustry.biz</i> spoke exclusively with the company's VP in charge of games, Ilkka Raiskinen, about his plans for the future - and lessons learned from the past.

Mobile communications giant Nokia has taken the wraps off the new version of its N-Gage game platform, N-Gage QD, revealing a substantially redesigned and cheaper device which will begin appearing on retail shelves next month.

The latest annual league tables for software publishers in Japan show that Nintendo built a comfortable lead on its competition during the past year, despite the fact that sales of Pokemon titles are not included in its figures.

Publisher Activision is working with advertising industry specialists Nielsen to promote in-game advertising, with the two companies planning to supply new tools to advertisers to help them measure the impact of the new medium.

The DS handheld will not be the only new hardware on show at Nintendo's E3 conference, according to a Japanese newspaper which this week reported that the company has a new Cube peripheral to unveil.

Media giant Warner Bros is to launch its recently formed Interactive Entertainment division as a fully fledged publisher - with forthcoming massively multiplayer title The Matrix Online set to be its first title on the market.

Square Enix' latest instalment in the Dragon Warrior franchise, a PS2 remake of the SNES classic Dragon Warrior V, has held the top spot in the Japanese chart for a second week and continues to sell strongly, passing 1.3 million units overall.