Matt Martin (Page 205)

Vivendi Universal has announced a 12.1 per cent increase in profits for the second quarter of 2006, thanks in part to the continued success of Blizzard’s World of Warcraft

Microsoft’s top Xbox executive in Australia has expressed doubts about whether the PlayStation 3 will launch in PAL territories during March.

All three next-generation format holders are expected to have an equal footing in the next-generation console battle, according to publisher Electronic Arts.

Eurocom, developer of titles based on Batman, Harry Potter and James Bond, has slated poor quality licensed titles that fail to take advantage of the source material.

Joss Ellis has joined Nival Interactive, taking on the role of head of studios, to help the Russian-based developer understand the global market more thoroughly.

Infogrames has had its shares on the French stock market in Paris suspended.

Microsoft will release Project Gotham Racing 4 on Xbox 360 towards the end of 2007 or in the first half of 2008, according to car manufacturer Peugeot.

Detractors may have accused Sony of arrogance with its marketing of the PlayStation 3, but Ken Kutaragi has recently responded rather humbly when discussing the hardware problems that have beset the electronics giant.

Publisher Grove Games has formed Bedlam, a new development studio focusing on the creation of original IP for triple-A games.

The Xbox 360 won’t benefit from a price cut this Christmas - but instead a HD-DVD and Premium console package is due - spearheading a marketing drive of console bundles available from November.

PopCap Games will be taking its casual games titles to Japan, under a new distribution deal inked with Square Enix.

Microsoft will once again attempt to make headway in the Japanese market, with the release of the Xbox 360 Core system on November 2nd.

Nintendo has confirmed that it has begun receiving the internal CPUs, dubbed ‘Broadway’, for its Wii console.

While Sony has revised its shipment figures for the launch of the PlayStation 3, Nintendo of America has reiterated its intention to ship six million units of its Wii console.

Electronic Arts has reiterated its support for the PS3, as shares in a number of leading publishing companies dipped on the NASDAQ on Wednesday, following Sony’s announcement of a delay to the European launch of the console.

Microsoft is set to take full advantage of the lack of Sony competition at retail this Christmas, but UK specialists are warning that the PS3 is still likely to clean up come March 2007.

Sony has shelved its GBP 40 million advertising campaign for Europe in the wake of the PlayStation 3’s delay.

Sony is to ship only two million PlayStation 3 consoles to the US and Japan by the end of 2006, halving its original forecast.

Sony’s head of platform development in Japan, Izumi Kawanishi, has revealed the upcoming PSP download service will operate via WiFi-enabled PCs as well as the PS3, and is due this November.

A new US development outfit has emerged entitled Green Monster Games, claiming it will 'burst onto the scene in epic and remarkable fashion'

Sony Japan is set to reduce the price of its PlayStation 2 console in the region, in preparation for the launch of the PlayStation 3 later this year.

Square-Enix is being sued by Soft-World International, a video game and magazine publisher based in Taiwan, for US$3.78 million.

Atari has appointed David Pierce as its new president and chief executive officer with immediate effect.

Becomes second fastest-selling Xbox 360 title

The Game Developers Conference Russia has announced its advisory board, which includes George Bain, developer support manager for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, and Serge Hascoet, chief creative officer at Ubisoft.