|
|
by
Daniel Huebner and Jennifer Olsen
Want
to submit news stories for the Gamasutra Newswire?
Send them to us.
|
|
Industry News:
Week of November 6- November 12, 2000
[Thursday,
November 9, 2000]
Nintendo
Trademark Win
The United Nations trademark and copyright protection agency is handing
Nintendo a victory. A panel of independent arbitrators appointed by the
UN's World Intellectual Property Organization ordered a Tennessee man
to surrender the domain name pokemon-center to Nintendo, agreeing with
Nintendo's claim the site could be confused with a Nintendo product.
Playstation
2 Bonanza
Sony's Playstation 2 racked up an estimated $165 million dollars in U.S.
retail sales during its first three days on the market. According to an
NPD Group report, the console's launch weekend helped to generate a 117
percent increase in videogame hardware, software, and accessory sales
versus the previous weekend. "We are expecting double digit growth
this holiday season as the public attention is again focused on the video
game industry,'' NPD's Ilene Haase.
Infogrames
Appointments
Infogrames is moving two senior European executives to North America.
Rob Watson, Infogrames' senior vice president for worldwide licensing,
will move to the company's Los Angeles office where he will oversee the
Infogrames' Los Angeles based I-Stars label operations as well as continuing
with his current duties. Jean-Philippe Agati, head of European publishing
and production in France, will travel to Infogrames' San Jose headquarter
to take on the role of senior vice president and general manager at the
company's San Jose label.
GDC
Reel
The Game Developers Conference is looking for game art animation to be
part of its GDC Reel 2001. The chosen entries will be viewed by the more
than 10,000 developers, publishers and mebers of the press attending the
annual conference. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2001. More
details are available at the GDC's
website. The Game Developers Conference is produced the CMP Game Media
Group, publishers of Gamasutra.
[Tuesday,
November 7, 2000]
Chicago
Vote Delay
The Chicago City Council is tabling a violent game ordinance. The council's
finance committee agreed to delay action on an Indianapolis-style ban
pending further study and discussion with industry leaders. Representatives
of the coin-op game industry gave testimony about the coin-op industry's
parental advisory system and discussed the possibility of protracted and
costly litigation if the council went ahead with the measure. The bill
is likely to be revived, and possibly expanded to cover home game sales
and rentals. "We have a lot of educational work to do, informing
lawmakers about the difference between the home and coin-op game markets,"
said AAMA President Mike Rudowicz.
Seagate
Drives
Hard disk maker Seagate Technology has won the contract to supply hard
drives for Microsoft's Xbox. The contract has Seagate supplying the Xbox
drives from June 2001 through mid-year 2003. "This is an opportunity
for volume growth in disc drive shipments as the Xbox attracts a large
portion of this audience," said Seagate's Brian Dexheimer.
[Monday,
November 6, 2000]
Kodiak
Appointments
Kodiak Interactive Software Studios is making moves to strengthen its
management team. Jonathan Slager, a co-founder of the company as well
as its COO and CFO, will step into the postion of chief executive officer
and will assume responsibility for the Kodiak's day to day operations.
Jon Dean, currently serving as the company's vice president of product
development, will become Kodiak's president. "These appointments
mark a significant milestone in Kodiak's growth. The fact that we have
such strong managers as Slager and Dean give me incredible confidence
to make these promotions and affords me the luxury to focus my time more
on strategic matters to help the company," said Kodiak Chairman George
Metos.
PC
Data Top Ten
PC Data's list of the best selling PC games for the week of October 15
-21, 2000.
1. The Sims,
Electronic Arts
2. The Sims Livin Large Expansion Pack, Electronic Arts
3. Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator, Microsoft
4. MP Roller Coaster Tycoon, Hasbro Interactive
5. Microsoft Age Of Empires II: Conquerors Exp., Microsoft
6. Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows Of Amn, Interplay
7. Barbie Pet Rescue, Mattel Interactive
8. Diablo 2, Havas Interactive
9. MP Roller Coaster Tycoon Loopy Landscapes, Hasbro Interactive
10. Microsoft Age Of Empires II: Age Of Kings, Microsoft
Past
News
|
