Publishing

Data from research and analysis firm Nielsen claims that North America gamers spent more time playing Sony’s PS2 than any other console in 2008. The stats show that the PS2 accounted for 31.7 per cent of the US’ total game time. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 claimed the second spot with 17.2 …

Future Publishing’s preliminary annual results made for pretty special reading last month – complete with a year-on-year profits rise and a ten per cent reduction in debt. But how did CEO Stevie Spring and her team manage it? And, more to the point, how has her company managed to rebuff …

New figures from the British Video Association show that hi-def disc format Blu-ray enjoyed a bumper Christmas in the UK, with sales climbing significantly compared to the same period last year. The BVA claims that 1.5 million Blu-ray movies were sold in the UK in December – a number that’s …

Video games publishers and developers could be able to use Popeye the Sailorman’s image for free from this week. The copyright expired on the spinach-munching character yesterday, becoming public domain in Britain under an EU law that restricts the rights of authors to 70 years after their death. Elzie Segar, …

Entertainment retailer Zavvi has fallen into administration following the collapse of EUK, auditor Ernst and Young has confirmed. The High Street chain – formally known at Virgin Megastores – has 114 UK stores and employs over 3,000 members of staff. Ernst and Young will now act as administrator for Zavvi …

Were your surprised by your win?I really was. I’ve only been writing my column for just over a year now, and it isn’t the most noticeable section in The Scotsman, sitting buried under the weekend crossword and next to a ‘funny internet links’ info panel. I never once thought that …

Rising Star Games has revealed a new marketing push set to make it as iconic for Japanese content as the likes of graphic novel and animation specialists Tokyopop and Manga. At its recent trade conference in London, the company presented plans for 2009, including an initial product line-up and the …

Game Domain International has launched the public beta of its digital distribution platform AWOMO. The service, which boasts the ability to let players run triple-A PC titles direct from a web browser rather than having to wait to download them, has opened to the public with a free games offer. …

The Hut has received 5 million after winning Bank Of Scotland’s Entrepreneur Of The Year award. The annual award winner also receives mentoring from the UK’s top businessmen and entrepreneurs. CEO Matthew Moulding said: Winning the award feels very special. Starting from an idea on a piece of paper and …

How has 2008 been for HMV in terms of sales and customer satisfaction? As our results over the past six months show, our trading has been decent considering everything going on with the economy, and we’ve been holding our own against the competition. Games have helped drive this trading performance. …