|
 News
Week
of March 13- March 19, 2000
[Friday,
March 17, 2000]
Acclaim
Warning
Acclaim Entertainment is warning that revenues and earnings for the second
quarter ending February 29 will fall below analysts' expectations. Acclaim
blames the results on a industry wide slowdown in the rate of sales growth
of the main consoles, notably a slowdown in sales of the Nintendo software
that Acclaim has focused on in the past. Combining that sales slump with
a 35 percent increase in next-generation research and development spending,
Acclaim projects a loss for the quarter of nearly $20 million. For the
year, the company projects a net revenues to be 30 percent below last
years result with a net loss of approximately $50 million. Acclaim will
report its full results during the second week of April.
Sumatra
Renamed
Softimage has finally given a name to its next generation 3D animation
package long known as Sumatra. The company has christened the software
Softimage XSI. "After many months of discussions, Sumatra now has a new
name: Softimage XSI," said Softimage VP of Product Marketing Patrick Dumas,
".xsi started as an interactive media file format intended to streamline
the games development process. Hence, the famous software formerly known
as Sumatra will be the first component of this new way of streamlining
the creative process." The XSI initials will become the core of Softimage's
new branding strategy.
Epic
Hire
Legend's Warren Marshall has been lured away to nearby Epic Games. Marshall
has worked on Legend's Unreal engine powered Wheel of Time and
had also worked on the Unreal mission pack Return to Na Pali. Said
Epic's Cliff Bleszinski, "He fits in well with our team and is a great
guy."
[Thursday,
March 16, 2000]
EA
Build Infrastructure
Electronic Arts has selected two companies, Metromedia Fiber and subsidiary
Abovenet Communication, as partners to provide optical Internet infrastructure
for EA's future web plans. Abovenet is in the process of creating an all
optical IP architecture over a dedicated fiber optic network throughout
Europe and North America. EA will co-locate servers at Abovenet's Virginia
and California hubs and will also lease unmeter fiber from Metromedia
to enhance East Coast connectivity.
LucasArts Europe Plans
Trade paper CTW is reporting that Lucas Arts is looking to make a change
in it European distribution. The reports suggest that Lucas Arts has been
unhappy with European sales and brand management over the past two years
while Activision has handled the company's U.K. and Europe distribution.
Lucas Arts is said to be in contact with a number of alternative European
publishing partners, and a decision is expected by the end of the summer.
PC
Data's Top Ten
The first slot of the PC Data's top ten list for the week of February
27-March 4, 2000 is filled by a framilliar title, Who Wants to be a
Millionaire.
1.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Disney
2. The Sims, Electronic Arts
3. MP Roller Coaster Tycoon, Hasbro Interactive
4. Microsoft Age of Empires II: Age Of Kings, Microsoft
5. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Gold Edition, Red Storm
6. MP Roller Coaster Tycoon Corkscrew Follies, Hasbro Interactive
7. Might & Magic VIII: Day Of The Destroyer, 3DO
8. Nox, Electronic Arts
9. Starcraft, Havas Interactive
10. Unreal Tournament, GT Interactive
[Wednesday,
March 15, 2000]
Pumpkin
Shut Down
U.K. developer Pumpkin Studio has ceased operation following the cancellation
of its current product. The studio, developer of Warzone 2100, had picked
up the Playstation Saboteur project from Tigon only to see publisher Eidos
can the project because the perceived immanent demise of the Playstation
market. "As a development team we are extremely proud of what we achieved
," reads a statement on the Pumpkin website, "Pumpkin wasn't shy of taking
on an established market to create a product that was revolutionary in
many ways."
Gama
Nominated
Gamasutra pulled in a nomination for a Webby. Presented by The International
Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, the Webbys are billed as the Oscars
of the web world. Gamasutra garnered a nomination in the awards Game category,
along with Happy Puppy, Game Spy, The Station, and Shockwave. The winners
will be announced at an awards ceremony in San Francisco on May 11. Check
out the rest of the nominees at the Webby awards site.
Big Huge Hire
Brian Reynold's breakaway game studio, Big Huge Games, has lured another
Sid Meier veteran into the fold. Civ II and Alpha Centauri veteran Doug
Kaufman will be joining the upstart developer. "He and I have a special
synergy together that helps create quality games," said Big Huge founder
Brian Reynolds, "He's proven his ability to know what makes a compelling
gaming experience." Big Huge Games has not announced the content of their
first project.
EA
Settles Dispute
Electronic Arts and New World.com have settled their difference over the
use the term Cyberathlete and have dismissed a court date on the matter.
Under the terms of the settlement, EA will no longer use the term cyberathlete
on any new products while not admitting any liability, New World.com will
dismiss the suit without prejudice. New World.com, operators of the Cyberathlete
Professional Gaming league had filed suit against EA asserting trademark
infringement.
Past
News
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
