Retail

Leading casual mobile and portable games publisher Gameloft has announced Q3 2008 sales of €26.2 million – numbers that are eight per cent up on the same period from 2007. Mobile titles accounted for 98 per cent of the firm’s sales, with the combined output for DS, WiiWare and Xbox …

The UK trade is familiar with the arguments surrounding the knock-on effects of the rampant trade-in market on the UK High Street – but Belgium authorities have decided to instead clamp down on game rentals in an effort to help the games industry. Kotaku reports that stockists in Belgium have …

An anxious UK trade is holding its collective breath over fears that some retailers might sell two of 2008’s biggest games early next week. On Wednesday November 5th Sony’s landmark PlayStation 3 release LittleBigPlanet, distributed by Centresoft, will hit shelves. Two days later on Friday (November 7th), Microsoft’s Xbox 360-exclusive …

Tesco has extended the time it takes to pay entertainment suppliers by 30 days in the run-up to the Christmas season. The supermarket has written to suppliers to tell them it has changed its payment terms from 30 days to 60 days as of December 1st, 2008. The Financial Times …

HMV has left publishers fearing for revenues on new and catalogue stock with the introduction of its pre-owned offering. In a canny move that further cements its position as a specialist games retailer, HMV’s new Re/Play initiative will pile further pressure on publishers and rival retailers as the pivotal Christmas …

Microsoft has finally dated its highly anticipated SingStar-rival, Lips, which will be released in Europe on November 21st and cost 49.99. For the money punters will pick up a copy of the game and a set of two wireless motion-sending microphones. The game’s on-disc track listing has also been revealed, …

HMV has confirmed its entry into the pre-owned games market under the Re/Play brand. It will be officially launched on Friday 24th October with an extensive marketing campaign featuring national and consumer press. MCV was first to reveal HMV’s plans in the pre-owned space back in June after the appointment …

EA’s FIFA 09 holds onto the No.1 position in this week’s ELSPA/Chart-Track’s official UK All Formats Top 40 – despite sales being down 47 per cent. The football title – which has been garnering exceptional reviews – holds off the stern challenge of Lego Batman, which takes second spot in …

HMV has acquired Gamerbase in a move that will see many more of the firm’s multiplayer gaming offerings rolled out in conjunction with the High Street giant. Gamerbase first opened its doors within HMV’s Trocadero store in London last December on a concession basis, and has since flourished. HMV now …

GameStop’s acquisition of French market leader Micromania hasn’t affected GAME Group’s ambitions in Europe, insists GAME CEO Lisa Morgan. GameStop’s acquisition saw the balance of power in European games retail shift as the US giant snapped up an extra 332 outlets in France, increasing its European store count to 1,077. …