News

Week of January 24- January 31, 2000

[Friday, January 28, 2000]

Take Two Launches Linux Games
Take Two Interactive has announced its intention to begin supporting the Linux operating system. Though the company's first Linux product, to be released by recently acquired subsidiary Global Star, is a less than inspiring collection called 100 Greatest Linux Games Vol. 1, the company announced that it is planning several other Linux products for release in 2000. Take Two has also said that it intends to ship at least two original Linux products this year. "We are pleased to be exploring game publishing opportunities for the Linux operating system. Linux has enjoyed a remarkable penetration amongst computer users in the past eighteen months, and our Company is excited to be able to beginning supporting the massive installed base of Linux users with high-quality gaming products," said Take Two's Ryan Brandt.

Clinton Calls For Rating Standards
President Clinton used the vast pulpit of the State of the Union Address to call for a standardized entertainment ratings system that would encompass television, music, movies, and games. The same idea was pitched last month by First Lady Hillary Clinton, and legislation calling for such universal ratings has be drafted by Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman. Proponents of the idea feel that it would make ratings easier to understand, while opponents believe the creation of a single coherent system to be unworkable. The President endorsement of universal ratings is seen a sign that the idea is finally gaining momentum in the Capitol.

Infogrames Loses COO
Stan Roach, chief operating officer for sales, marketing, and product development at Infogrames North America, has left the company. Roach left the company on January 21, for personal and professional reasons. "He chose to leave, to spend more time with his family," said an Infogrames spokesperson. Roach joined Infogrames as part of the company's Accolade purchase, after previously stints with Electronic Arts, Sony Imagesoft and Spectrum Holobyte.

[Thursday, January 27, 2000]

Indie Games Finalists
The Miller Freeman Game Group has announced the finalists of the second annual Independent Games Festival. The nine games chosen to compete in the final round of the event are Blix from Station Blix, Hardwood Hearts from Silver Creek Entertainment, King of Dragon Pass from A Sharp, Moonshine Runners from K D Lab, The Rift from Thrushwave Technonlogy, Rogue Wars from Reallis, Seed from Human Soft, Treadmarks from Longbow Digital Arts, and Quarterion from Spin Studios. The games chosen for final round judging four states, Canada, Hungary, and Russia. "The IGF supports the industry by nurturing new ideas and developer talent. Last year a group of college students took home the grand prize," said Indie Games Chairman Alex Dunne. The finalists will display their entries and compete for the $10,000 prize at the Game Developer Conference, March 10-12 in San Jose. The Miller Freeman Game Group is the publisher of Gamastra as well as organizing the Indie Games Festival and Game Developer Conference.

Monolith Founds Lithtech Inc.
Monolith Productions has announced the founding of a technology spin-off, to be called Lithtech, Inc., dedicated to the creation of real time 3D development and networked multimedia operating systems. The company will become the caretaker of Monolith's Lithtech 3D engine technology licensing program, and has named 19-year Microsoft veteran Gregory Whitten as it chief software architect. "Lithtech Inc.'s ability to attract someone of Dr. Whitten's calibre confirms our belief that our technology implementation is state of the art," said Monolith Productions CEO Jason Hall.

3DO Third Quarter
Revenues for the third quarter reached record highs for the 3DO Company. Led by the release of ten new titles and the continue strength of series like Army Men and Might and Magic, third quarter revenues totaled $42.1 million. The results mark a 300 percent increase form 3DO's $10.3 million in revenue for the third quarter last year. The company reported a net income of $1.4 million in the third quarter, an improvement on 3DO $5.7 million in losses in the same period a year ago. "As we experienced in fiscal 1999 when 3DO outpaced industry growth by 15 times, in fiscal 2000, we expect to continue to significantly exceed industry growth by approximately 12 times," gloated Trip Hawkins, 3DO chairman and CEO.

Gamescon Cancelled
Gamescon, envisioned as a games for gamers consumer event, has been forced to fold up its tent. The event had been scheduled for San Francisco's Concourse Expo Center in February, but suffered from slow corporate sales and the crushing loss of three major sponsors in a single week. "Someone else will pick up the dream of Gamescon, I have no doubt about that, the opportunity is just too great to be ignored," said Gamescon Chairman Mark Chandler in a statement canceling the event. The expo had reportedly come under pressure from Sony over a rumored unauthorized Playstation 2 game demonstration.

[Wednesday, January 26, 2000]

Sonic Foundry Acquires Jedor
Madison, Wisconsin, based sound and media tool developer Sonic Foundry has entered into a definitive deal to acquire all outstanding shares of Canadian animation technology provider Jedor Inc. Jedor is the developer of Viscosity, a windows based animation and video authoring tool "The acquisition of Jedor represents a tremendous addition of technology to the Sonic Foundry product and service offerings," said Sonic Foundry CEO Rimas Buinevicius, "we expect the Jedor team will contribute immediately to our goal of becoming the pre-eminent media solutions company in the world." The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and terms of the sale were not disclosed.

EA Licenses Q3 Engine
The much admired Quake 3 Arena engine from id software will power a number of future Electronic Arts titles. The first two games to emerge from EA's new engine licensing deal will be American McGee's Alice and EA's first crack at the James Bond property, The World is Not Enough. Both titles will arrive sometime later this year, with additional Quake 3 based games to be announced at a later date.

New AMD COO
AMD has name Hector Ruiz as it's new president and COO. The position had been vacant since last July, when former president Atiq Raza left the company amid increasing financial losses. Ruiz joins AMD from Motorola, where he was president of that company's $7.3 billion semiconductor products division. Ruiz is expected to use his manufacturing background to play a role in ironing out several of AMD production problems. He is also expected to take over the role of CEO at AMD when current chairman W.J. Sanders retires at the end of 2001.

Scooby Dooby THQ
THQ has wrapped up exclusive worldwide Scooby Doo videogame rights. The agreement with Warner Brothers give THQ sole right to feature the meddling dog and his do-gooder friends in games across all platforms until December 2003. "Scooby-Doo has established itself as a worldwide household name for several generations," said THQ licensing VP Gemaine Giola, "[it] lends itself so naturally to a 3D interactive adventure." The first products are scheduled for release in Fall 2000.

Disney Interactive Appointments
Disney Interactive has announced the appointment of two new vice presidents. Steve Gilbert joins the company as vice president of finance and operations after ten years in finance at the Walt Disney Company. Thierry Braille will take the position of vice president and managing director of Disney Interactive Europe. Braille will be responsible for global strategy and for managing business in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

[Tuesday, January 25, 2000]

Graphics Hardware 2000
Graphics Hardware, an internationally established forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience related to computer graphics hardware, is soliciting participants for their 2000 Graphic Hardware Workshop. Entrants are being accepts from industry group to present their latest graphics hardware and from research groups to present high quality original papers on the topic of graphics hardware. The workshop will in Interlaken, Switzerland, on August 21 and 22 in conjunction with Eurographics 2000. There is an April 12 deadline for paper submissions and a July 1 deadline for system abstracts.

3dfx Appoints Sales VP
3dfx Interactive has announced the promotion of U.S. sale Vice President Richard Burns to the post of senior vice president of worldwide sales. Burns will now be responsible for overseeing OEM and retail sales management and coordination in all of North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Burns has twenty-five years of sales experience in the entertainment industry, previously holding positions with companies like Sony, Sega, Mattel, and GT Interactive. "Richard has been instrumental in 3dfx's move from being solely a chip provider, to a retail and OEM product company," said 3dfx CEO Alex Leupp, "We know he will excel in his new position as 3dfx moves into new regions."

EA Earnings Jump
Despite slower than anticipated growth in Playstation game sales, Electronic Arts racked up a 28 percent increase in quarterly earnings. The world's largest videogame publisher reported an increase in net income to $93 million from $73 million in the same period last year, revenues increased from $520 million a year ago to $601 million for the quarter this year. EA Chairman Larry Probst said that company expects the company to continue to post gains as they gear up for Playstation 2 and the expected summer launch of it co-branded AOL games channel.

Dreamcast Camera
Sega Managing Director Hidekazu Yukawa has unveiled plans for a Dreamcast digital camera to be released in the spring of 2000. The camera, about the size of a packet of cigarette, will be able to send both still and motion pictures form one Dreamcast to another over the Internet. The device can be used as a stand alone camera and will also support voice data by using a microphone equipped with a game pad. Sega plans to introduce games integrating the camera in the near future.

[Monday, January 24, 2000]

Comp USA Sold
Mexican retailer Grupo Sanborns has agreed to purchase leading computer retailer Comp USA for slightly more than $790 million. Grupo Sanborns will pay $10.10 for each outstanding common share of Comp USA, a premium of 50% on Comp USA's Friday closing price of 6 ¾. Grupo Sanborn's Carlos Helu identified increasing the Internet presence of Comp USA as the new owners top priority.

Bitboys Open Texas Office
Finland's Bitboys, developers of 3D graphics processors, have announced the expansion of operations to include a new Texas office. The company will open an office in Dallas to better coordinate it sales and promotional operations, and has named former STB Vice President of Sales Shane Long as president and CEO of the new operation. Long will be responsible for the company's overall management and strategic development.

Take Two Grows
Take Two Interactive is letting investors know that its results for the first quarter of 2000, the three month period ending January 31, will exceed analyst predictions. The company is reporting that the results, to be released in the middle of next month, will show net income and revenues that will meet or exceed estimates. The company is reporting gains for both its publishing and its distribution businesses. "We are very pleased with our company's operating performance thus far in fiscal 2000," said Take Two's Ryan Brandt, "Additionally, we expect to continue to explore all avenues of potential for increasing shareholder value."

1999's Top PC Top Ten
PC Data's top ten for all of 1999 holds few surprises, with Roller Coaster Tycoon taking the overall top spot after holding the weekly crown for more weeks than anyone cares to remember.

1. Roller Coaster Tycoon, Hasbro Interactive
2. SimCity 3000, Electronic Arts
3. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Disney
4. Age Of Empires II: Age Of Kings, Microsoft
5. Starcraft, Havas Interactive
6. Half-Life, Havas Interactive
7. Command & Conquer 2: Tiberian Sun, Electronic Arts
8. Microsoft Flight Simulator, Microsoft
9. Frogger, Hasbro Interactive
10. Baldur's Gate, Interplay

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