News

Week of June 12-June 18, 2000

[Friday, June 16, 2000]

Activision Holding
Activision is reinventing itself as a holding company. Under the new structure, Activision as it is currently known will change its name to Activision Publishing and will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Delaware-chartered Activision Holding. Existing shares of Activision stock automatically represent shares of the new holding company. The reorganization, which will not impact Activision's business activities, is designed to increase the company's financial flexibility as it struggles to return to profitability.

[Thursday, June 15, 2000]

AOL TV
America Online is keeping up with Microsoft by inking its own interactive TV deal. AOL is partnering with digital recording and customized television vendor Tivo to create a full-featured interactive television service. AOL is investing as much as $20 million in Tivo as part of a three year deal the will put Tivo's technology for America Online's interactive television venture. Slated to roll out this summer, AOL TV boasts a feature set very similar to Microsoft's Ultimate TV; internet access, email, and digital recording. AOL's system will be available as a standalone set-top box or in a bundle with Direct TV.

Many Game Boys
Nintendo has reached a massive Game Boy milestone. The clever little handheld will pass the 100,000,000 million mark for units shipped on June 16. Since the launch of the original Game Boy way back in 1989, the unit has sold at a rate of 1,000 an hour.

Mobile Activision
Activision is working with Nokia to create a series of mobile games. Activision is one of a number of developers who have joined Nokia's Mobile Entertainment Service standard to create interactive entertainment on the WAP platform. Activision's first foray into mobile gaming will be the creation of WAP versions of a number of classic Infocom text adventure games, including Zork and Planetfall. "Nokia believes there is tremendous potential for mobile entertainment," said Nokia Internet Communication's Entertainment Head Graham Stafford, "Our purpose as a global wireless leader is to bring the necessary tools, technology, and industry expertise to help effectively drive this rapidly emerging market forward."

[Tuesday, June 13, 2000]

Eidos Financials
Eidos is reporting a 9 percent drop in fourth quarter revenues. The company brought in $83.5 million in the fourth quarter, resulting in an operating loss of $23.4. "We continue to experience adverse general market trading conditions and we see no reason to expect circumstances to improve materially before the next generation of gaming platforms have been properly established in the market," said Eidos Chairman Ian Linvingstone, "We currently have ten Play Station 2 titles in development and are working closely with Microsoft and Nintendo to support their new consoles."

X-Box TV
Microsoft is forming interactive television alliances that may find their way to the X-Box. Microsoft is teaming up with Direct TV and Thomson to create an enhanced television system that will integrate digital programming, Internet access, interactive television, and digital video recording. The system will first become available in unit from RCA that includes two satellite tuners, a hard drive for video recording and Microsoft division Web TV's new Ultimate TV service. Though no plans have been announced, it is expected that Microsoft will include interface to the system when it launches the X-Box next year. Microsoft is further developing its alternative platform prospects by announcing the joint development, with Intel, of a roadmap to bring the Bluetooth wireless communication standard to Windows during the first half of 2001.

Pokemon Console
Nintendo is slapping Pikachu onto its N64 console in a bid to boost sales. The company is planning a Pokemon branded console, featuring a relocated cartridge slot and a Pikachu figure whose cheeks light up when the machine is powered up. Nintendo's introduction of N64 consoles in translucent colors provided a tangible boost in sales last year, and the company is expecting similar results with it newest package. The Pikachu 64 will be available in Japan on July 21, and will reach North American shores by the end of the year. Prices will be in line with existing N64 consoles.

[Monday, June 12, 2000]

Pogo Teams with Nokia
Online games provider Pogo.com is entering into a delivery deal with Nokia. The first phase of the deal has Nokia, whose Nokia Ventures venture capital division is a major investor in Pogo.com, delivering Pogo's casual game offerings on its own Nokia.com website. The two companies plan to use this cooperation as stepping-stone to eventually delivering Pogo's game content directly to Nokia cell phone users. "Ultimately, our goal is to provide games for everyone, everywhere," said Pogo CEO Erick Hachenburg, "this initial distribution agreement with Nokia is one step toward that objective."

Climax Acquires Anthill
The Climax Group is adding a new studio to its line-up with the acquisition of Anthill Studios. Joining Climax Fareham and Climax Brighton, Nottingham-based Anthill will continue operations in its hometown in a new, larger office with additional staff and under the new name Climax Nottingham. The studio's first project for Climax is a multiplayer on-line title based on Games Workshop's Warhammer license. "The formation of the Nottingham office will also benefit the current development of the Games Workshop-licensed Warhammer On-line project," said Climax Group President Karl Jeffery, "As Games Workshop's head office is based in Nottingham, it was therefore very beneficial for us to open a studio in the same city."

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