New online ad campaign was begun by Activision and its ad agency, Ignited Minds. Campaign promotes game maker’s new Xbox exclusive action driving title, Wreckers: The Yakuza Missions. Companies said game was first to take advantage of GameSpy’s new streaming video ad programs at latter’s Web sites -- www.GameSpy.com and www.FilePlanet.com. GameSpy CEO Mark Surfas said 70% of his company’s Web site users had broadband connection, which made new video ads “ideal platform for advertisers.”
N.Y.C. retailer J&R Music World if offering free shipping by standard ground service on all Sony products through year-end.
Stereo system with hard drive and Memory Stick storage is available in Japan from Pioneer. System can transfer music from CDs to hard drive and then onto Sony Memory Stick for portable and autosound systems, Japan press report said. Hard Disk Digital Jukebox X-HD1 sells for $833 and has 6 GB hard drive, space equivalent to 100 CDs. Data transfer speed is 5X real time, meaning 60 min. CD can be copied in 12 min. Drive also has titles and artists for 80,000 prerecorded, for display when users plays registered CD.
EDigital and Musical Electronics said their first product created under multiyear licensing agreement -- Classic XP3 jukebox device -- was available now at Circuit City. Device offers ability to encode music directly from CD player into MP3 files, bypassing need for PC to perform digital compression. It has 10 GB capacity hard disc drive.
NPD Intelect launched previously-announced NPDTechworld service. Port Washington, N.Y.-based NPD described new service as “first online market information service to combine consumer electronics and information technology market information collected at the point-of-sale and from consumers.” NPDTechworld provides point-of-sale data -- previously provided by NPD Intelect Market Tracking -- and consumer information collected from NPD’s Online Panel. Company said information collected would provide “representative view of market trends across all consumer segments and all channels of distribution.
Audio long remained “stepchild” of interactive gaming, even after better video and 3D graphics became norm for PC and console titles, panelists told Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention in N.Y.C. Mon. But advent of next-generation consoles has changed audio’s standing among game developers and enthusiasts community, helped by arrival of more sophisticated processors and mainstreaming of home theater.
Zight Technologies and Displaytech have undergone major restructuring as microdisplay companies struggle in face of slowdown in sales. Zight, formerly Colorado MicroDisplay, cut 20 jobs at Boulder, Colo., facility last month. reducing work force to 50. Zight also had trimmed 20 positions in July. Displaytech, meanwhile, has undergone restructuring, although details weren’t available by our deadline Mon. Among departures at Displaytech was Senior Field Operations Vp Anthony Artigliere.
If, in future, TV viewers get everything they want, whenever they want it, as some predict, cable’s rights and responsibilities may become much more complicated, panelists said at Western Cable Show in Anaheim.
While other Japanese companies pursue layoffs and employee buyouts, Hitachi is planning to add workers over and above original expansion plans -- another 900 new staffers by March 2003, in addition to 3,000 new hirings it plans. New employees will be added in sales and engineering, Japan press report said.
Point Roberts, Wash., entertainment and toy company Wild Heart Ranch launched Internet game The Armadillo Cowboy Club. Company said game was part of initial brand debut for Armadillo Cowboy line and was based on original story about 3 Armadillo deputies who captured coyotes with slingshots firing bees and lassos. Producer Russell Naftal created all of game’s original artwork, character design, backgrounds, themes. Game was designed by Makai Media, Web design company that specializes in creation of flash-based games and other interactive content. Latter’s clients have included Atlantic Records, Disney Interactive, Dreamworks SKG, Jerry Bruckheimer Productions, Mandalay Pictures, Universal Music Group.