Infogrames shows heavy sales slide in US

Atari-owner Infogrames has reported an overall 32 per cent drop in sales for the year ending March 31 2006, with performance in the US being hardest hit.

The struggling company's sales dropped from â'¬577.2 million to â'¬391.2 million in the past year, with fourth quarter US revenue plummeting 17 per cent.

Asian and European sales help up for the publisher, showing an increase of 10 per cent in the final quarter.

Although overall sales have suffered in the past 12 months, fourth quarter releases of Driver: Parallel Lines, MMO Dungeons & Dragons: Stormreach — published by Codemasters in Europe — and Mark Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under pressure formed a suitable safety net.

Atari's E3 will see Test Drive Unlimited shown for Xbox 360, PS2, PC and PSP, with Neverwinter Nights 2 adding much-needed big-name gusto for the publisher. PSP looks to be a focus for the coming year, with a remake of classic Battlezone, mini-game hopeful HOT PXL and a Dungeons & Dragons game all on display at the LA Convention Center this week.

Infogrames declined to release any profit or loss data for fiscal 2006.