Konami profits climb 17.3%
Console videogame business booms due to Metal Gear franchise and Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
Konami has released its financial report for the nine months ended December 31 2008, with profits up 17.3 per cent to JPY 17.8 billion (USD 198 million).
Revenues from the company's videogames arm, the Digital Entertainment division, recorded the overall highest increase in profits of 10.6 per cent, reaching JPY 148.7 billion (USD 1.6 billion) - making it the highest earning section of the business too.
Videogame revenues from outside Japan climbed, with North America growing the most to JPY 35 billion (USD 397 million), Europe to JPY 27 billion (USD 303 million), while the local market declined marginally to JPY 167 billion (USD 1.8 billion).
"Owing to the widespread distribution of game consoles and handheld game devices, the home videogame market continued strong, with a focus in North America and Europe," the company explained in its report.
Konami cited much of its success to the popularity of Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 and Metal Gear Solid 4.
"Digital Entertainment segment saw steady sales in home videogame software for Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, which was sold in Europe for multiple platforms… The Metal Gear series is exhibiting its strength as a brand, steadily increasing the number sold year-to-date to more than 4.5 million units."