Rob Fahey (Page 95)

A new release line-up from Nintendo of America has given a clear picture of the firm's plans for the GBA, Cube and DS in the first half of 2005 - with almost all of its major franchises due for an outing during the period.

Sony's PlayStation 2 has more than quadrupled its sales in Japan following the launch of the new slimline version of the console, while Nintendo's latest GBA Zelda outing, The Minish Cap, has topped the software ranking.

Microsoft corporate VP Peter Moore may have underestimated the first-day sales of Halo 2 in North America, which are reported today to have topped $125 million, while retailers in the UK are celebrating a hugely successful midnight launch for the title.

The next-generation Xbox console may come in three different versions, according to a report today which claims that the firm plans to launch versions with and without a hard drive in 2005, and a fully functional PC / Xbox 2 combination in 2006.

Yorkshire-based game developer alliance Game Republic has announced details of a new scheme aimed at reducing the risks involved in developing game prototypes, with the key platform holders agreeing to approve early-stage concepts for the first time.

The software line-up for the launch of the PlayStation Portable in Japan next month is beginning to take shape, with six titles now confirmed to arrive on day one, a further four arriving four days later, and at least 12 more launching by the end of Decem

The US launch of Halo 2 may have been the single largest media launch in history, if figures cited by Microsoft corporate vice president Peter Moore prove true - with the firm expecting to realise $100 million in retail revenue from the game on day one.

Publisher Vivendi Universal Games has announced its revenue figures for the quarter ended September 30th, revealing that sales declined by some 18 per cent year on year as this year's release schedule failed to impress in comparison to last year's.

Swedish developer Digital Illusions CE has announced financial results for the nine months ended September 30th, revealing a 23 per cent jump in revenues, continued strong sales of the Battlefield franchise, and plans for a next-generation console title.

Japanese publisher Konami has announced that it intends to extend the Winning Eleven brand with a number of new titles, after sales of the most recent game in the series helped to drive operating income up over 45 per cent in the first half of FY 2005.

The development hardware for Microsoft's Xbox 2 is moving closer to the final specification of the console - with key technology partner ATI reported to be ready to roll out the R500 graphics chipset which will power the system.

Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has smashed yet more UK sales records, salling over a million units in just nine days - making it into the fastest selling game, the fastest to hit a million units, and the fourth biggest selling PS2 title ever.

Publisher Midway Games has announced its financial results for the September quarter, revealing a major rise in revenues, and has updated its projections to show a profit in the current quarter - the company's first since late 1999.

Leading publisher Electronic Arts has announced sweeping price cuts across its range of US sports titles, in a move designed to entice casual players this Christmas and combat the success of Sega and Take-Two's cut-price ESPN range of games.

Veteran developer Warren Spector has announced his departure from Austin-based studio Ion Storm, where he oversaw franchises including Deus Ex and Thief, but he will continue to work with parent company Eidos as an IP consultant.

Senior executives from Microsoft's Xbox division have commented on Sony's plans for the PlayStation Portable, with Peter Moore dismissing the console's launch as being similar to a company trying to challenge the Windows operating system.

Electronic Arts plans to aggressively pursue market leadership in new markets such as China and India, according to comments made by CFO Warren Jenson at a Morgan Stanley analyst conference last week in the United States.

This week's launch of Halo 2 is not only Microsoft's most important game launch of the year - it could also drive sufficient software sales to give the firm's Home and Entertainment division its first profitable quarter since the arrival of the Xbox.