Majesco said its first multiplatform game for next- generation and PC platforms would be BloodRayne. Game is being developed by Terminal Reality and is to ship in 4th quarter next year for GameCube, PC, PS2, Xbox. Title will use Terminal Reality’s new Infernal Engine, Edison, N.J.-based Majesco said.
U.K. retailer Dixons bought 24% share of UniEuro, Italian CE-appliance retailer with 2nd largest local market share in $91 million cash deal. Dixons said it had option to acquire balance of chain. Cost to acquire balance is $375 million and option can be exercised at Dixons’ discretion until July 2, 2003. UniEuro has 61 superstores in Italy and is most profitable retailer there, Dixons said. Its revenue in 2000 was $333.3 million -- up 33% over 1999 -- and operating profit was $35.5 million. Move to acquire UniEuro continues Dixons expansion from base in U.K. to throughout Europe. Chain now has 1,250 outlets in region.
SpatiaLight signed agreements with Chinese TV makers Hisense and Irico to develop rear-projection sets based on its liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) technology. SpatiaLight, which signed similar accord with China Electronics Corp. earlier this month, will deliver prototype 52” rear-projection sets based on its 0.77” display to Hisense and Irico within 45 days. Companies then will begin 6-month preproduction phase. Agreement calls for Hisense and Irico to buy 12,000 displays from SpatiaLight next year, potentially generating $19.2 million revenue. Microdisplays are priced at $1,600, with finished products containing them retailing for $3,500, SpatiaLight spokeswoman said. SpatiaLight has developed 0.77” in widescreen and standard versions with resolutions of 1,280x1,024 and 1,280x768, respectively. Contrast ratio is 350:1.
Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) started shipping T-rated Twisted Metal Small Brawl for PlayStation and PS one. Game was developed by Incog Entertainment and designed and produced by SCEA, Santa Monica.
Electronic Arts (EA) is shipping E- (Everyone) rated game SSX Tricky for GameCube at $49.95. Title, being released under EA Sports Big brand, is sequel to PS2 game SSX. Version of new game already has shipped for PS2 and EA said Xbox version would follow “later this year.”
Mobile entertainment service provider JAMDAT Mobile said it had worked with Intel to improve performance of entertainment applications on wireless handsets. L.A.-based JAMDAT said Intel’s Flash Data Integrator technology loaded into Motorola’s Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) handset using JAMDAT’s J2ME Golf application had created 500% improvement in write performance and 300% improvement in read performance. JAMDAT said increased data transfer rates within handset’s memory chips translated into faster gameplay in form of quicker scrolling and speedier plays. Company created wireless game Gladiator, which JAMDAT said had attracted more than one million unique users and generated more than 14 million min. of air time since Oct. 2000 rollout.
Consumer intentions on buying TV sets rose in Nov. from Oct., even though overall consumer confidence fell for 5th straight month, according to preliminary data in Conference Board monthly survey. Of 5,000 households polled, 7.7% said they plan to buy TV set in next 6 months, vs. 6.8% in Oct., 7.5% in Sept., 6.2% in Nov. 2000. Consumer Confidence Index fell 3 points in Nov., marking 2nd significant decline in as many months, Conference Board said: “Rising unemployment and continuing layoff announcements are dampening confidence. Pessimistically, it said that turnaround in consumer confidence isn’t likely before year-end, “nor are retailers likely to enjoy a blockbuster holiday season.”
EMusic.com signed licensing and digital distribution agreement with Matador Records that makes hundreds of MP3 recordings from Matador artists available for download at www.emusic.com, including Belle & Sebastian, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo. Companies said additional Matador catalog and new releases would be made available to EMusic subscribers “over the next several months.” EMusic said it now offered members more than 200,000 MP3s. Company is offering free 30-day trial of its service.
Square Electronic Arts (SEA) said it would start shipping “limited quantities” of T- (Teen) rated PS2 game Final Fantasy X ($50) to retail stores throughout U.S. Dec. 26 instead of Jan. 2002 as scheduled. Title was released in Japan July 19 and sold through 90% of 2.14 million units shipped in first 4 days, company said, calling game “first PlayStation 2 title to reach the 2 million-unit mark.” SEA Pres. Jun Iwasaki said “all efforts were put into bringing the title out earlier than expected” in U.S. SEA, exclusive publisher of all Squaresoft games in N. America, said it would hold one-day event Dec. 15 offering gamers chance to demonstrate title before its release. “Consumer Demo Day” will be in PlayStation store in San Francisco, where gamers also will have opportunity to win prizes and get free promotional item while supplies last. Title is being released in DVD format and is compatible with Dualshock 2 analog controller, SEA said. Company said Final Fantasy game series had sold more than 35 million units worldwide to date. But popularity of series in game arena hasn’t been duplicated in movie theaters. Failure of computer-animated feature film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was cited by parent company Square Co. Mon. as primary reason why it reported largest-ever loss in its history (CED Nov 27 p5).
Top-selling DVD at Sam Goody stores over Thanksgiving weekend was How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Best Buy subsidiary said. Rounding out top 5 were 2001 version of Planet of the Apes, Shrek, Tomb Raider, Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace.