News

Week of December 4- December 10, 2000

[Friday, December 8, 2000]

Nintendo U.K Distribution Changes
Nintendo is taking control of its U.K. distribution. The company will establish a new office in Surrey to handle the sales, marketing and distribution of its own catalog. Previous distributor John Menzies Plc will close its THE Games division, the unit responsible for Nintendo distribution. "The establishment of the branch office in the U.K. is part of an overall strategy by Nintendo to take control of key European markets and centralize distribution out of its European distribution center in Grossostheim, Germany," said Nintendo of Europe's David Gosen.

PC Data's Top Ten
PC Data's top ten PC games for the week of November 19 tp 25 doesn't hold any surprises, with every game on the list a making regular appearances in the top ranks.

1. The Sims, Electronic Arts
2. MP Roller Coaster Tycoon, Hasbro Interactive
3. The Sims Livin Large Expansion Pack, Electronic Arts
4. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, Electronic Arts
5. Barbie Pet Rescue, Mattel Interactive
6. Roller Coaster Tycoon Loopy Landscapes, Hasbro Interactive
7. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire 2nd Edition, Disney
8. Sim City 3000, Electronic Arts
9. MS Flight Simulator Classic, Microsoft
10. Diablo 2, Havas Interactive

[Thursday, December 7, 2000]

Infogrames Drop
Infogrames stock price is taking hit in the wake of the Hasbro Interactive buyout. Stock in the newly enlarged game publisher fell more than 10 percent on news of the company's latest acquisition, a purchase that struck many analysts as coming too closely on the heels of Infogrames' acquisition of troubled GT Interactive. Bruno Bonnell, however, feels the company will not be bothered by Hasbro's red ink. "We expect the impact to be minimal taking account of the restructuring plan for Hasbro Interactive. We will use the same strategy as for GT Interactive, which means it should take a year to break even," said Bonnell.

Alice Movie
American McGee's Alice is heading for the silver screen. McGee himself has confirmed that the game's twisted version of Wonderland will be developed into a feature film by Dimension Films. Though no stars have been connected to the project, Wes Craven is set to direct. A script is expected to be ready early next year.

[Wednesday, December 6, 2000]

Infogrames Grabs Hasbro
Infogrames in acquiring Hasbro Interactive. Infogrames is purchasing 100 percent of Hasbro Interactive's common stock, and as part of the purchase gains Hasbro's Games.com web portal and a long-term exclusive license to develop and publish games based on Hasbro properties. Infogrames' license on the Hasbro brands will run for 15 years, with an option for an additional five years based on performance. Among the properties changing hands as part of the deal are best selling game franchises like Roller Coaster Tycoon and Civilization as well as successful toy brands like Monopoly. The purchase price totals $100 million, $95 million in Infogrames SA share and $5 million in cash. Subject to shareholder approval, both side expect to wrap up the deal by the first quarter of 2001.

Sega.com Announces Family Wonder Acquisition
Sega's online games arm is announcing its purchase of family entertainment media firm Family Wonder. Jonathan Kaplan, Family Wonder's founder, will take on the role of president and CEO of Sega.com. The Family Wonder purchase is expected to help Sega.com by providing the company with stronger management as well as broadening its audience beyond its current gaming focus. Terms of the deal were not announced, and additional details relating to the combined company's operations are planned for a later date.

[Tuesday, December 5, 2000]

Microsoft Acquires Digital Anvil; Roberts Leaving
Adding to its stable of game development talent, Microsoft announced this morning that it will acquire Austin, TX-based Digital Anvil. Details about the terms of the deal are scarce, but what has been revealed is that Microsoft will gain rights to select DA titles including FreeLancer as well as a yet-to-be-announced Xbox title. Digital Anvil will continue to operate out of its Austin headquarters. Concurrent with the acquisition announcement, Digital Anvil's founder and CEO, Chris Roberts, said that he will depart the company when FreeLancer is finished to pursue "other creative endeavors". Digital Anvil's president, Martin Davies, is moving to internet consultancy Sapient as vice president for games. Davies will work with the former Human Code studio in Austin, where he will provide strategy and implementation for next-generation game development.

Duke Nukem Deal
Take-Two is acquiring the Duke Nukem franchise. The deal, negotiated with current rights holder Infogrames, includes the Duke Nukem back catalog in addition to titles in production and sequels. Take-Two plans to ship Duke Nukem Forever on PC through its Gathering of Developers label while console versions will be handled by the Rockstar Games imprint. "The acquisition of the Duke Nukem franchise of products reflects Take-Two's and Gathering's ability to attract and develop excellent relationships with the very best talent in the industry," said Gathering's Mike Wilson.

Videogame Buyback
A suburban Chicago police officer is looking to get violent videogames off the streets. Modeled after police gun buyback programs, Wilmette, Ill., police officer Dan Huck has convinced local merchants to offer discounts or raffle tickets in exchange for each violent videogame turned in to police. The same local merchants, not the Wilmette police, are funding the buyback. Games surrendered during the program's six-day run will not be returned to circulation, "We're simply going to destroy them," said Huck.

IRA Game Scheme
A terrorist group is cashing in on the PS2 buying frenzy. Northern Ireland's Royal Ulster Constabulary police force is investing charges that an IRA splinter group is funding itself with bootleg Playstation games. The group, known as the real IRA, is suspected to make upwards of $30,000 a week selling pirated videogames manufactured at a factory in Armagh.

[Monday, December 4, 2000]

PS2 Scam
Canadian authorities are investigating a Playstation 2 web scam. Police began investigating the company that runs ps2storecanada.com and ps2storeusa.com after hundreds of costumers in both the United States and Canada complained of paying for but not receiving Playstation 2 consoles. "If I was a fraud, would I be trying to clear my name? I'd be long gone," said Scott Byers, operator of the sites, in an interview with Cnet. Sony, for its part, says that the websites are not authorized Playstation 2 vendors. The U.S. and Canadian branches of the Better Business Bureau have both issued warning about website falsely advertising PS2 availability.

Steed Joins Wild Tangent
Paul Steed has hooked up with Wild Tangent. The id Software artist is joining the web games company as a producer. Steed will work on a number of original titles using Wild Tangent's Web Driver technology, including a first person shooter. "It's very exciting to be able to realize a game concept in 3-4 months," said Steed, "Wild Tangent's technology allows me to produce a game within a shorter time span."

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