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Report: Video Game Console Sales Down Nearly 50% in 2004

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2004 - 4:15am.
Scottsdale, Ariz. -- The video game console market is at the back end of its current cycle, with shipments and prices now expected to decline until the release of the next generation of consoles, according to a report from Arizona-based market research firm In-Stat/MDR. Worldwide shipments of consoles this year are predicted to reach 19.3 million, down almost half from the 35 million shipped in 2003. The first next-generation console should hit the market in the fourth quarter of 2005 with the introduction of Microsoft's Xbox 2. Sony is expected to launch its PS3 console by mid-2006, with Nintendo to release its next console either before, or simultaneously with Sony. In-Stat projects that Sony will ship the most next-generation consoles through 2008; the company reported shipping its 70 millionth PlayStation 2 in January.
tags: Reports | Sales | Video Games | Down |

Sony Releases Hard Drive-Based Walkman Portable Music Player

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2004 - 4:14am.
Amsterdam -- Japanese consumer electronics firm Sony on Tuesday introduced its first Walkman portable music player to feature a hard drive and support for the ubiquitous MP3 format. The 20GB player will go on sale in the U.K. and Japan next month for $462, nearly $40 more than Apple's comparable 20GB model iPod. The device, which comes in five colors, will be released in the rest of Europe early next year. The Walkman will not play songs purchased from Apple's iTunes Store; likewise, the iPod cannot play songs purchased from Sony's Connect online music store. Sony contends that the Walkman can hold up to twice as many songs as an iPod, though, if songs are formatted using its proprietary ATRAC3plus compression.
tags: Sony | Walkman | Releases | Music Player | Drive-Based |

Animation Production Company Wild Brain Raises $30 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2004 - 4:12am.
San Francisco -- Wild Brain, a producer of animated entertainment, announced on Tuesday that it has raised $30 million in a round of funding led by Valence Capital Management. Previous investors including Syntek Capital AG also participated. San Francisco-based Wild Brain recently announced a deal to co-finance and co-produce 3D CGI animated films with Miramax Films and Dimension Films. Their first joint production will be "Opus," which is adapted from an idea by illustrator Berkeley Breathed. Wild Brain said it will use the proceeds to further accelerate and support its production of feature film, commercial advertising and television properties.
tags: VC | Animation | Wild Brain |

Game Developer Valve Wins Contract Dispute with Vivendi Over Cybercafes

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2004 - 4:12am.
Kirkland, Wash. -- Video game developer Valve Software announced that the U.S. District Court in Seattle has ruled that publishing partner Vivendi Universal Games breached its contract with the company when it distributed Valve's PC games in cybercafés around the world. The court did not rule on what, if any, damages to award Valve. "We're happy the court has affirmed the meaning of our publishing contract," said Valve CEO Gabe Newell. "This is good news for Valve and its cybercafé partners around the world." Valve and Vivendi have several other lawsuits pending, including a charge from Vivendi that Valve violated its publishing agreement with Vivendi by distributing its "Half-Life 2" game through an online system in addition to in stores, where Vivendi would share in profits.
tags: Games | Vivendi | Contract | Valve | Cybercafes |

Midway Games Acquires "Mortal Kombat" Developer Paradox Development

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2004 - 4:11am.
Chicago -- Video game publisher Midway Games said on Tuesday that it has acquired Moorpark, Calif.-based Paradox Development, which is developing Midway's upcoming "Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks" title. Midway tendered 333,334 shares for Paradox; the company's shares closed up slightly on Tuesday at $10.84. Midway said the "Mortal Kombat" franchise has generated over $1 billion in games, movies, music, toys and other merchandise since launching in 1992. The acquisition is Chicago-based Midway's third in recent months. The company also bought Austin-based Inevitable Entertainment, developer of its "Area 51" title, and Seattle-based Surreal Software, which created Midway's "The Suffering."
tags: Midway Games | Mortal Kombat | Paradox |

Chinese Online Game Operator Shanda Buys Stake in Korean Developer Actoz

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2004 - 4:10am.
Shanghai, China -- Chinese online game operator Shanda Interactive Entertainment announced on Tuesday that it has purchased a 29% controlling stake in Korean online game developer Actoz Soft for $97.1 million in cash. Actoz is co-owner of the copyright for "The Legend of Mir II," currently the most popular online game in China. Shanda operates "Mir II" in China, as well as other titles including "BNB," currently the most popular casual online game in China. Shanghai-based Shanda said the strategic investment secures an alliance with its leading supplier of online game content.
tags: Games | Internet | Shanda | Chinese | Korean | Actoz |

Ampex to Get $40 Million in Sony Settlement

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2004 - 4:07am.
Redwood City, Calif. -- Ampex, a developer of audio-visual technologies, said on Monday that it will receive $40 million in a settlement of its patent infringement suit against Sony. The suit, filed in July, revolved around technology relating to digital still cameras manufactured and sold by Sony. Under the settlement, Sony will be permitted to use Ampex patents in any of its products through April 2006. Ampex also recently announced patent license agreements with Canon and Sanyo Electric Company.
tags: Sony | Settlement | Ampex |

E-Book Systems Lands $3 Million as Part of Asian Joint Venture

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2004 - 4:01am.
Santa Clara, Calif. -- E-Book Systems, developer of a 3-D page-flipping interface, has announced that it will receive a $3 million investment from Japan's Softbank Media & Marketing as part of a joint venture between the two companies. Specifically, the investment will go to E-Book Systems' Singapore-based unit, which holds a number of patents for e-publishing technologies. The new joint venture company, E-Book Systems Kabushiki Kaisha (KK), will direct the establishment of electronic publishing in Japan and Korea. E-Book Systems KK anticipates turning a profit by 2006. Currently, 273 magazine titles worldwide use the company's technology, which delivers multimedia content in the form of a virtual book.
tags: E-Book | Joint Venture | Asian |