|
 News
Week
of September 4 - September 10, 2000
[Friday,
September 8, 2000]
Poke
Mart
Nintendo is planning to open a number of Pokemon retail stores. The company
hopes to open more than ten locations, with the first outlets appearing
in London and New York early next year. The shops, which will supplement
existing Pokemon merchandise with exclusive products, are part of a Nintendo
plan to increase long-term financial stability and balance the peaks and
valleys of the videogame business. "This is one of many measures
that I have in mind to help Nintendo stay successful for the long term,
even after I leave the company," said Nintendo President Hiroshi
Yamauchi.
EA
Agrees
Electronic Arts is voicing its support of retail sales restrictions for
mature game titles. The world's leading publisher of videogames issued
a statement of support following the announcement of retail controls on
mature content at Kmart and Wal-Mart. "While M-rated games are a
very small percentage of EA's portfolio, we applaud the decision by retailers
to enforce the MSDA rating system," said Electronic Arts CEO Larry
Probst.
[Thursday, September
7, 2000]
Retail
Standards
Kmart and Walmart are joining Toys R Us restricting the sale of mature
games. Kmart has announced that the chain will refuse to sell 'M' rated
mature game titles to anyone under the age of 17. The chain will use a
barcode scanner to remind clerks to check ID. Walmart has announced that
its stores will enact the same policy. "Kmart recognizes its responsibilities
in helping parents monitor the content of video and computer games purchased
for their children," said Kmart COO Andy Giancamilli. Kmart will
enact the new standard on October 15 in all of its 2,164 stores.
IP
Suit Settled
Hasbro is settling more of its classic game intellectual property suits.
The company has come to terms with eGames, MVP Software, and Webfoot Technologies
in a suit concerning the intellectual property rights for a number of
classic Atari game titles. Under the agreement, eGames, MVP, and Webfoot
will acknowledge Hasbro's copyright and discontinue sales of the offending
titles. Hasbro will also receive an undisclosed monetary settlement. "The
protection of our core assets is critical to ensuring Hasbro Interactive
delivers to the marketplace the highest quality, best-playing games possible,"
said Hasbro Interactive President Tom Dusenberry. Hasbro had previously
reached settlements with GT Interactive and Varcon Systems.
[Wednesday, September
6, 2000]
Sony
Court Date
Sony and Connectix have a court date to finally settle their differences.
Judge Charles Legge ahs ordered the case on the legality of Connectix's
Virtual Game Station emulator to go before a jury next March. The judge
had previously dismissed seven of Sony's nine complaints against Connectix;
only the two remaining allegations of unfair competition and trade secret
violations will be tried in March. Sony has a separate patent infringement
suit pending.
Infogrames
of Steel
Infogrames is planning to bring Superman back to the gaming world. The
company is entering into a wide-ranging deal with both DC Comics and Warner
Brothers to create a number of games across multiple platforms based on
both the Superman comic books and the Superman animated series. "The
exciting range of Superman's powers, the richness of his supporting cast,
his colorful rogues gallery and his entire universe give us incredible
material to draw upon," said Infogrames Kerri Orders, "We intend
to use this material to create epic adventures for the Man of Steel that
will leave gamers in awe."
Tangent
Adds Talent
Wild Tangent is adding some experienced game producers to it ranks. Joining
the company are Sanjay Bala-Krishnan, David Schwartz, and Phil Shenk.
Bala-Krishnan, formerly executive producer for strategy games with Dynamix,
will serve Wild Tangent as senior director of product development. Former
Midway Technology Director Schwartz joins Wild Tangent as director of
product development, as does Diablo 2 artist Phil Shenk. "The
addition of these industry experts to our content group will enable Wild
Tangent to produce more of the top-notch entertainment content that our
users and customers have come to expect," said Wild Tangent's Kevin
Gliner.
Sony
Promotions
Sony Computer Entertainment America is making some changes in the head
office. The company is promoting two long serving executives to the title
of senior vice president. Andrew House, who's past accomplishments include
the marketing program that made Playstation a household name, will handle
the day to day management of SCEA's third party program, including licensee
relations, product planning, and strategic relationships. Jack Tretton,
a founding member of SCEA, will look after sales and distribution as well
as merchandising and channel marketing. "As we prepare to launch
the long-anticipated PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, we understand
the importance of further strengthening our management team so that our
valued retail and third party partners are supported by seasoned executives
that can ensure the broadest continuing support for the platform,"
said SCEA President Kaz Hirai.
No
New Laws
A report from the Federal Trade Commission attacking the marketing of
violent entertainment doesn't ask for new regulations. Variety
is reporting that the report stops short of recommending specific legislation
regulating the entertainment industry, but Senator John McCain still intends
to make the FTC's findings a key part of a Senate Commerce Committee hearing
on the matter.
Shockwave
Goes Game
Shockwave.com will return its focus to games as it nears an IPO. The company
had been spending millions to attract Hollywood talent to create original
programming, but is backing away from that strategy in a move to cut costs.
Projects from the likes of Tim Burton and David Lynch will be completed
and showcased on the site, but interactive games will once become Shockwave.com's
main focus.
[Tuesday, September
5, 2000]
THQ
Buys Volition
Champaign, Illinois, based Volition is now a part of THQ. The publisher
bought the Parallax Software spin off in exchange for stock and assumed
$500,000 in net liabilities. "Volition is a strategic addition to
THQ's business,'' said THQ CEO Brian Farrell, "Their technological
capability and creative talent have brought about some of the most original,
innovative gameplay in the industry." The deal, which also includes
Volition's Parallax Online game matching service, was finalized on August
31. Volition is currently working on Summoner and Red Faction
for PC and PS2.
More
THQ
The Volition buy is not THQ's only new move. The company is also reaching
to the wireless market by signing a deal to provide game content for Siemens
mobile devices ranging from WAP phones to Internet appliances. The first
game under the new agreement, Pocket Golf, will appear on a variety
of platforms in 2001. In the more traditional handheld market, THQ is
bolstering its offerings by picking up the publishing and distribution
rights to a number of Lucas Arts Star Wars and Indiana Jones titles. THQ
will distribute Lucas Arts developed Gameboy and Gameboy Advance versions
of Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine and Obi-Wan Adventures,
as well as four future titles.
Past
News
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
