Game industry business news

Nintendo and Activision’s official distributor in New Zealand has gone into receivership. SPI (Softprint Interactive) boss William Flew confirmed to The New York Herald that the company has been placed into receivership. Flew could not comment on what that will mean for Nintendo or for game brand Activision, referring all …

Eidos is set to continue its support for Age of Conan following a stellar first week for the new IP. The game came second in the ChartTrack Top 40 in its debut week, only kept from the top spot by GTA IV, and has become the biggest PC game of …

Scheme allows US educators access to PSP and PS2 dev kits

US retail giant GameStop has launched a new TV ‘channel’ in association with CBS Outener and media software and services company Reflect Systems. The new in-store digital video network, GameStop TV, will be installed in over 4,000 GameStop locations. GameStop TV will feature product promotions, game previews, developer interviews and …

Codemasters has expanded its publishing operation into Japan – with its brand set to appear on a boxed release for the first time. The UK publisher’s Race Driver: GRID title will get a fully localised release in the territory on PS3 and 360 in the winter, and will be bundled …

Following Wii Fit’s spectacular plummet from the All Formats Chart, Nintendo has told MCV that it is doing everything it can to resolve the game’s UK stock shortage. Accepting there was an issue, Nintendo told MCV: There are pockets of stock shortages in areas of the UK but we are …

Sega has unveiled its full release schedule for the rest of 2008 to MCV – and dated two new Sonic games. The highly-anticipated Sonic Unleashed for 360, PS3, Wii and PS2 is set for release in November, whereas the Bioware-developed Sonic Chronicles is on course for September. The publisher has …

Publishers PlayLogic and Virgin Play have revealed a plot to partner for a joint venture named PlayV – and have promised to shake up the market. PlayV will bring PC, console and handheld products from both firms to the UK market, as well as offer a range of services to …

The full transcript of Take Two’s Q2 earnings call is available online now. In the call, the company’s management team discusses why it predicts 2K Sports won’t make a profit this year, the potential of the Far Eastern MMO market and the possibility of releasing a rhythm action title to …

Take Two has forecast that its 2K Sports label will make a loss this year – predominant because its sports titles haven’t fared well in terms of attach areta on 360 and PS3. The company expects the label to make 15 per cent of its total FY revenues for 2008, …