News (Page 3876)

Sony Computer Entertainment has begun recruiting specialists in the field of emulation, including experts in compiler development and CPU micro-architecture, to work on a forthcoming project at the company.

Rockstar Games may be planning to sidestep its exclusivity deal with Sony and bring the multi-million selling Grand Theft Auto: Vice City to the Xbox as soon as this Christmas, according to a news report today.

Sources close to the memory manufacturers working on cutting-edge technology for the PlayStation 3 have apparently leaked information about the specs of the console, and interesting hints about early shipment volumes.

Dutch publisher and developer Playlogic International has acquired a 49 per cent interest in specialist handheld developer Engine Software, along with a 2.5 year deal to co-operate on the production of GBA titles.

Publisher Atari has announced its financial results for the year ended March 31, showing a large jump in revenues and a healthy profit figure which turns around a net loss in the previous reporting period.

Eidos development director and Core Design managing director Jeremy Heath-Smith has announced that he is to resign from the boards of both companies with immediate effect.

Lara Croft's first PS2 outing continues to sell well, racking up a second week at number one last week, while Sony's quirky Eye Toy is also proving a hit with consumers and holds on at number two.

Bungie's critically acclaimed first person shooter has hit another sales milestone this week, with the announcement that it has broken the three million barrier.

Konami's Silent Hill 3 has topped the Japanese charts this week, selling some 58,000 units in its first three days on sale - but it's the only major new release for the week, and the market has slowed down significantly again.

Details of this years Tokyo Games Show have emerged from organisers CESA, with Nintendo the only major Japanese publisher not exhibiting once again - but Nintendo chairman Satoru Iwata will deliver the keynote address at the show.

A major shake-up in the videogame magazine publishing market is on the way, with Highbury House set to purchase Paragon Publishing in a move which will create one of the UK's largest consumer magazine publishers.

More information about the rather publicity-shy Phantom console has been unveiled, revealing that the system is indeed a Windows PC designed to download PC games securely over a broadband connection.

In its first major business strategy conference since the company was formed out of a merger earlier this year, Square Enix has announced ambitious plans to double its sales within a timescale of three to four years.

A late 2005 launch date for the PlayStation 3 looks increasingly likely today, with confirmation from Elpida that it will be beginning production of memory chips for the console early that year.

Japanese software and hardware sales figures for the first half of the year have been released today, showing Nintendo still leading the pack in terms of software sales despite a strong challenge from Square Enix.

Magazine publisher Future Network has issued a trading update for the first five months of 2003, showing continued growth in most aspects of the company's business both in the UK and abroad.

Nintendo is preparing for the launch of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire later this month with a "summer tour" of UK locations for the eagerly anticipated title, in association with soft drink Vimto.

Two new colour variations of the Game Boy Advance SP are set to launch in Europe in late October, celebrating the shipment of over a million SP consoles in the region since its launch on March 28.