Electronic Arts started shipping Xbox version of SSX Tricky, company announced Tues. Versions for PlayStation 2 and GameCube already were available.

TiVo has been granted additional U.S. patents for its PVR technology and service, San Jose company said. One patent covers functions of digital recording devices while 2nd applies to networking of multiple streaming media devices in home. TiVo said TrickPlay patent (6,327,418) describes method of controlling streaming media in digital device, such as ability to pause live TV and perform other disc transport functions. Storing, editing and manipulating video also are among 64 claims in patent. Company earlier this year received patent (6,233,389) for Time Warp technology that enables simultaneous recording and playback. Other new patent (6,310,886) is for home networking that permits TiVo PVR and other streaming media devices to be linked in home - - application that TiVo said will proliferate in future.

3DO said it completed $15 million private placement, saying new financing “clears the air” and “settles any concerns about our balance sheet and cash resources,” CEO William (Trip) Hawkins said. Company said it would use proceeds for development of titles for next-generation platforms and working capital to finance inventory.

SonicBlue said it was in negotiations with rival TiVo on possible licensing agreement for patent it received last week for portion of personal video recorder (PVR) technology.

Oct. DTV dollar shipments to dealers rose 87.2% at same time analog set shipments fell 23.7% and total TV sales were down 3.5%, CEA said. DTV shipments reached $341.75 million in Oct. vs. $182.61 million in same 2000 month, while total TV shipments fell to $969.39 million from $1.005 billion. DTV accounted for 35.3% of total dollar value of Oct. TV shipments vs. 18.2% in same month year earlier. For year’s first 43 weeks, DTV shipments rose 91.6% to $1.94 billion, while total TV shipments fell 6.7% to $7.35 billion, and analog set shipments were down 21.3% to $5.41 billion. DTV represented 26.4% of total dollar shipments for 43 weeks vs. 12.9% share in same year-earlier period.

AOL Time Warner (ATW) and Microsoft executives offered upbeat forecast for digital media in online arena Tues. in keynotes at joint Streaming Media East/Internet World conference in N.Y.C. Meanwhile, Microsoft unveiled 3rd generation streaming platform technologies that will be included in next version of its Windows Media Technologies, code-named “Corona.” Technologies will allow for Web delivery of 5.1 channel surround sound with 24 bit/96 kHz sampling and HDTV-like video quality at file sizes half that of DVDs for playback on PC.

Midway Games announced its fantasy-style role-playing game, Shadow Hearts, would ship today in N. America for PlayStation 2. Title moved in Japan June 28.

House panel plans today to review report by Copyright Office on effect of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) anticircumvention provisions and growth of e-commerce on copyright law. Oversight hearing by Judiciary Subcommittee on Internet and Intellectual Property will begin at 2 p.m. Wed. in Rm. 2141, Rayburn Bldg., and continue Thurs. at 10 a.m., spokesman for subcommittee Chmn. Coble (R-N.C. ) said. DMCA Sec. 104 report, originally due in May, was submitted to Congress in late Aug. Witnesses on Wed. panel are: (1) Marybeth Peters, Register of Copyrights. (2) Carey Ramos, representing National Music Publishers Assn. (3) Cary Sherman, RIAA senior exec. vp- gen. counsel. (4) Emery Simon, attorney for Business Software Alliance. Peters returns for Thurs. session, along with: (1) Marvin Berenson, senior vp-gen. counsel, Broadcast Music Inc. (2) Jonathan Potter, exec. dir., Digital Media Assn. (3) Gary Klein, CEA attorney.

Movie Gallery Pres.-Co-Founder Harrison Parrish will resign post effective Jan. 4 and filed with SEC to sell 800,000 shares (21%) of his total holdings. Chmn.-CEO Joseph Malugen, who will assume Parrish’s title, also filed to sell 400,000 shares (10%) of his holdings.

Online comparison shopping Web site Best Web Buys opened Electronic Buys store -- www.bestelectronicbuys.com -- featuring cameras, DVD players, game consoles, handheld devices, MP3 players, other electronic hardware. Site searches across 13 online stores for best prices on hundreds of CE items from more than 24 manufacturers. Sites searched include Amazon.com, Computer4sure.com, Wal-Mart. Manufacturers represented include Handspring, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Nikon, Palm, Sony. Noting that its online search indicated prices on Canon EOS Rebel 200 camera ranged from $560 to $334.95, Best Web Buys said consumer could save $225 on that item alone. Company’s 4 other product specific sites are Best Bike Buys, Best Book Buys, Best Music Buys, Best Video Buys. Altadena, Cal.-based Best Web Buys was started in 1997 by former Jet Propulsion Laboratory computer scientist Steve Loyola.