Kristan Reed (Page 2)

Vivendi Universal Games is expected to formally announce a November 26th release date for Half-Life 2 in Europe shortly, along with a US release three days earlier, after informing UK retail partners of the date this week.

ELSPA director general Roger Bennett expressed his pleasure at the success of Game Stars Live and EGN yesterday, but admitted resolution was needed to avoid a repeat of the EGN vs. ECTS debacle.

Activision has clocked up its fourth week at the top of the UK games chart, as Spider-Man 2 held off Driv3r and Shrek 2 to claim the number one spot in a chart which showed very little movement over last week.

Neither Pandora Tomorrow nor Red Dead Revolver could unseat Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban at the top of the UK software chart, as EA made it three weeks in a row at number one with its fifth chart topper of the calendar.

A disagreement between UK games distributors Gem and 20:20 has come to legal blows, it emerged this week, after 20:20 reacted to allegations that it plans to open a chain of videogames stores.

VU Games' improving market position hasn't helped the divisions' financial fortunes in the first quarter of FY 04/05 as its operating losses increase by almost 61 per cent compared to the same period last year.

VUG reveals nine new titles for its concerted assault on the pre-Christmas High Street spend, with new Crash and Spyro titles, but still no confirmed date for Half-Life 2 or Starcraft: Ghost

Nintendo's net profits have been hit by a massive 51 per cent, the company revealed today, largely due to currency fluctuations, but it expects profits to double in FY 04/05.

Nintendo has revealed that its next major home console platform will be showcased at next year's Electronic Entertainment Expo.

NPD figures for April show that Microsoft enjoyed a period of dominance in the US market this year, scooping up 51 per cent market share, largely thanks to a recent price cut.

Nintendo GameCube sales have risen above Microsoft Xbox in the UK for the first time this year according to the latest figures from Chart-Track, while PS2 sales have slumped.

"Our revolution is well underway" was Satoru Iwata's triumphant E3 message, as the Nintendo chief outlined the company's plan to make its next home console take gaming forward in a new and innovative direction.

Ubisoft has cemented the success of the Splinter Cell series with an Easter number one spot for Pandora Tomorrow in the UK, marking a third week at the top for the title, while Sega's Sonic Heroes has climbed back up the charts to number two.

Ubisoft enjoyed another seven days at the top of the UK games chart today as Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow enjoyed held off Everything Or Nothing to claim its second week at the top, with a little help from the release of the PC version.

Games industry veteran Nick Alexander is to lend his considerable experience to the Nokia N-Gage cause, according to sources close to the mobile handset giant.

After remaining silent on the topic at GDC, Microsoft is to finally unveil the next incarnation of Xbox this summer, according to a senior development source.

Speaking yesterday to our sister site Eurogamer.net, Microsoft Europe has issued a surprise statement that categorically denies the rumoured unveiling of Xbox 2 at the Games Developers Conference next week.

007 reigned supreme at the top of the UK games charts for the third straight week as Everything Or Nothing prevented Codemasters from chalking up a number one with its console football management sim LMA Manager 2004.

Codemasters celebrated record financials yesterday by announcing that it is embarking on an aggressive global acquisition programme to swell its product roster.

Sales of the three main console remained static year on year during February in the UK, with increased sales of the Xbox and Gamecube making up for a decline in sales of the still-dominant PlayStation 2.

Nintendo’s forthcoming Dual Screen handheld console set to feature short range, Bluetooth style wireless connectivity, according to comments made by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata just prior to the DS announcement.