Microsoft late last week once again said it was on track to ship 1-1.5 million Xbox videogame consoles in N. America by year end. But Calabasas, Cal., game maker THQ predicted installed base of Xbox by year end instead actually would wind up being less than million.
Our evaluation of Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system (OS) in advance of its Oct. 25 debut discovered much to like -- and little cause for complaint. Following frank and open briefings by Microsoft, we test-drove new O/S for week and found features such as System Restore, printing options, program compatibility options and Remote Assistance to be useful.
Thomson will enter videogame peripherals market in 2002’s first quarter with wired and wireless controllers and other accessories for Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2). Bill Brown, product planning mgr. in Thomson’s Accessories & Components Div., Deptford, N.J., said his company also was looking at adding Nintendo Game Boy Advance products to line that eventually could number 40 SKUs by end of 3rd quarter. “It will be a soft introduction,” Brown stressed: “We won’t have a full line at introduction. It will start in Q1 and continue through the year.”
Latest DVD-Audio supporter in U.S. is EMI Music, which will issue first 3 pop titles in Dec. Label already has shipped 9 titles in Europe, all classical. Like those, pop titles for U.S. are remastered for surround sound from original analog multitrack recordings for stereo, EMI spokeswoman told us Fri. Titles are Al Green -- Greatest Hits, Leon Russell -- Retrospective and Dave Koz -- The Dance. Spokeswoman said titles were mixed and mastered by Capitol Studios, authored by Henninger and would be replicated by Panasonic Disc Services Corp. That company’s parent, Matsushita Electric, is providing other support that industry sources characterized as subsidy to EMI for releasing DVD-Audio titles. EMI wouldn’t comment on nature of Matsushita’s support. Matsushita spokesman gave us following statement but declined further comment: “Matsushita Electric is offering the music industry technical support such as authoring services, marketing support such as hardware/software joint promotions, and also promotion of DVD-Audio in general.”
As first DVD+RW recorders ship to stores from Philips, DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corp. (DVD FLLC)has posted advisory distancing itself and DVD Forum’s DVD-RAM and DVD-RW standards from proprietary DVD+RW recording system.
Jakks Pacific reported $10.9 million profit (56? per diluted share) for 3rd quarter ended Sept. 30, up from $9.8 million profit (48?) year ago. Revenue inched up to $92.8 million from $91.8 million. CEO-Chmn. Jack Friedman said: “In light of recent world events and the slowdown that is affecting virtually all segments of the economy including retail, we are well satisfied” with results. Malibu, Cal., company makes videogames and toys. Friedman said his company’s key videogame franchise -- World Wrestling Federation (shared with game maker THQ) -- would spawn 3 new titles in 4th quarter, including SKUs for Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, Xbox: “As the installed base for the new hardware systems increases, it bodes extremely well for sales of our World Wrestling Federation videogames for the 4th quarter, fiscal 2002 and beyond.”
Best Buy customers who buy cable modem and sign up for Comcast Internet service through Nov. 15 can qualify for Comcast promotional incentives through year-end, companies announced Thurs. In expansion of partnership agreement, customers at more than 60 Best Buy stores in Comcast’s service area can use kiosks to check service broadband availability to their home and sign up for service. Best Buy customers in N.J. and Pa. can order Comcast digital cable TV service in stores’ DTV display areas. Latter will be available in 12 stores at start, but will be expanded in broader rollout in coming months, companies said.
Bruce Stein, ex-Sony Interactive Entertainment, elected to MindArrow Systems board.
Game maker Activision is confident 2001 will be strongest year in industry to date for rollout of new hardware platforms. But it still offered conservative take this week on how many GameCube and Xbox consoles would sell through to U.S. consumers this holiday season.
Toshiba-Matsushita joint venture for buying CRT components and materials will consist at outset of 10 employees and will start with purchasing glass, company said. Venture, expected to debut in April, will handle 40% of companies’ combined procurement needs for CRTs, estimated at $1.6 billion annually, company said. Each company has 6 factories that will work with joint venture, which is expected to focus on Japan market at start.