Rob Fahey (Page 132)

Sega's Sonic Heroes has taken the top spot across all console platforms in the UK for a second week running, as the small selection of new releases last Friday failed to dent the Full Price Top 40.

Publisher Take Two Interactive has restated five years worth of financial figures, dating back to 1999, in a move which could mean that the toughest parts of a probe into the company by the SEC are now over.

Japanese publisher Sega has announced that Sammy CEO Hajime Satomi is to take over the role of chairman at the company, replacing current chairman Hideki Sato, following Sammy's purchase of the top shareholding in Sega last year.

Japanese publisher Namco has announced its results for the quarter ended December 31st, with strong sales and profits reported overall despite disappointing sales in North America over the Christmas period.

The latest data from the UK Audit Bureau of Circulation shows that while single-console magazines increased their circulation slightly in the second half of last year, sales of PC and multiformat titles continue to decline.

A court in California has handed down a hefty jail sentence to a man who is described as one of the leaders of infamous game piracy group Razor1911, which was one of the best-known online providers of cracked game software.

Electronic Arts' next foray into the James Bond 007 franchise will be based on the 1995 movie GoldenEye, in a move which sees the company returning to the film which inspired one of the most highly regarded console games of the nineties.

British development studio Sports Interactive, responsible for the hugely successful Championship Manager games, has announced the signing of a five year exclusive deal with Sega and details of its next game, Football Manager.

Nintendo has announced that the Game Boy Advance has now sold some 20 million units in the United States, significantly outstripping sales of previous Game Boy systems at a similar point in their lifespans.

Publisher Take Two Interactive has signed a contract with Cartoon Network giving it "first look" rights to create games based on all new Cartoon Network branded properties, with one new title already licensed under the deal.

Embattled publisher BAM! Entertainment has been notified by the NASDAQ stock exchange that its stock is subject to delisting, as the company has failed to comply with basic marketplace rules.

The next home console from Nintendo will be shown off in public at E3 2005, according to comments from senior company executives quoted in a report in Japanese daily newspaper Mainichi Shimbun.

Microsoft is set to sponsor the Big Day Out ski and snowboarding competition in Val D'Isere for a second year running this year, with games including Amped 2, Top Spin and Project Gotham Racing 2 being showcased at the event.

Following the success of Radical Entertainment's The Simpsons: Hit & Run over the Christmas period, Vivendi Universal Games has signed a six-game deal with the developer, including a purchase option.

A number of statements from Nintendo spokespeople today have confirmed that the platform holder plans to continue supporting the Cube for at least two more years before launching a new console, probably in 2006.

Sega's first European release of 2004 has gone straight in at number one in the charts, with Sonic Heroes displacing EA's Need for Speed Underground and taking the top spot across all three console-specific charts for good measure.

Following on from the recent appointment of Kevin Bachus as president, Infinium Labs has announced three new executive hires, along with the opening of an office in Seattle, with a Los Angeles office planned shortly.

French publisher LSP has been bought out by one of its partners, Canadian firm Hip Interactive, in a move which will give Hip access to European markets for its range of games and gaming accessories.

Nintendo's latest GBA Pokemon titles, Leaf Green and Fire Red, have topped the charts in Japan with combined sales of over a million units in their first weekend, despite being remakes of the original GameBoy Pokemon games.

Reports today are suggesting that Nintendo is planning to launch key titles including Metroid Prime 2, Geist and Pokemon Fire Red / Leaf Green in Europe by the end of 2004, with new Zelda and Mario titles also in the works.