Independent online game company NCsoft said special version of its CD-ROM game Lineage: The Blood Pledge was available now at more than 600 Electronics Boutique (EB) stores in U.S. and Canada at $2.99. Spokesman for Austin, Tex., company told us title previously had been available only via online download or mail order. Company said it had attracted more than 3 million subscribers and 250,000 concurrent users for game as of Fri. Gamers who download title receive free 30-day free trial, but company said EB customers who bought game would receive extra 15 days of free game time. After trial period, players are charged $15 per month or $11.25 per month if they buy 4-month block. Word that game was available at retail arrived only week after Electronic Arts started selling CD-ROM version of its online game Majestic at stores in attempt to expand number of subscribers.
InViso is said to have abandoned product plans in favor of finding licensees for microdisplay technology. Cal.-based company was to have shipped eGlasses head-mount display with Three-Five Systems’ 0.47” microdisplay in 2nd quarter, but plans came to halt as funding dried up, sources said. Indeed, Three- Five Systems, in quarter ended Sept. 30, wrote off $3.8 million investment in company after determining it was “impaired,” according to SEC filing. “InViso has been unable to raise funds to operate its business in a very difficult venture capital market,” Three-Five said. InViso most recently completed $16.6 million 2nd round of funding in June 2000 that attracted investors Chevron Corp., Cypress Semiconductor, Mitsui, Qualcomm. Mitsui is distributor for Three-Five in Japan. InViso officials weren’t available for comment. Company was one-time National Semiconductor group that struck agreement in 1998 with Three- Five, which is now said to be interested in licensing its technology.
Several dozen CEOs of consumer electronics and other high- tech companies wrote Congress Fri. backing HR-2341 by House Internet Caucus Co-Chmn. Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Boucher (D-Va.) in effort to forestall what they called “a dramatic increase in frivolous class action lawsuits.” HR-2341, with 33 co-sponsors, aims to block frivolous lawsuits “without erecting barriers to the plaintiffs’ legitimate claims,” group said, backed by U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Bill would require judicial scrutiny of coupon settlements to ensure they were fair for class members while at same time requiring that notices “be written in plain English,” executives said, as well as allowing cases in different states to be consolidated in federal court. Among signatories were Intel CEO Craig Barrett, Hewlett-Packard Vp-Govt. & Public Affairs Gary Fazzino, Compaq Vp-Deputy Counsel Daniel McCarthy, eBay Senior Vp-Legal Affairs Michael Jacobson, Westell Technologies CEO Van Cullens and CEA. Pres. Gary Shapiro.
DivX compression for Internet video is coming to Broadway. Web portal BroadwayOnline.com, owned by Broadway TV Network, is licensing MPEG-4-based codec from DivXNetworks to begin video-on- demand delivery of stage events through broadband. Companies said secure, high-resolution downloads from www.broadwayonline.com would cost $5.95 for 5-day rental and would include Broadway hits Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical and Smokey Joe’s Caf?: The Songs of Lieber and Stoller. DivX compression creates efficient AV file that can be transmitted quickly over Internet. DivXNetworks said system used “progressive download” technology that enabled recipient to begin viewing shortly after download had begun.
Gold upgrade version of videogame Operation Flashpoint will be sold as boxed product late this month at $14.99, Codemasters said. Included are 64-page Prima strategy guide and Red Hammer: The Soviet Campaign segment. Game maker said it also would publish gold edition of game in Feb. at $39.99 that would include latest multiplayer and code enhancements.
Columbia Records set Nov. 27 release date for 2-CD set adapted from The Concert for New York City, which aired live Oct. 20 for 6 hours on VH-1. Proceeds from recording, which will list for $24.98, will go to Robin Hood Relief Fund benefitting victims of Sept. 11 attacks. DVD and VHS versions of concert will follow later.
Palm reportedly is weighing splitting into 2 publicly traded companies while continuing plan to create subsidiary for operating system (OS). Separation process, expected to begin in Jan., could take form of spinoff to shareholders, IPO or investment by 3rd party, said Palm Acting CEO Eric Benhamou, who last week replaced Carl Yankowski. Plan is for Palm to be split into 2 companies, each with own stock ticker symbol and investors, Benhamou told CNET News.com Wholly owned subsidiary based on Palm’s operating could be established by year-end, he said. Separation of companies is one of several measures that Palm has taken in response to problems encountered earlier this year including sharp rise in inventory and corresponding plunge in hardware prices. While changes could have been made sooner, Palm board preferred slower approach that involved bringing in David Nagle from AT&T and former Gateway Exec. Todd Bradley to head up new Solutions Group that will be responsible for OS business. Meanwhile, Palm was expected to begin new TV and online ad campaign designed in part to focus on uses of expansion slots embedded in m500, m505 and m125 handheld PCs that allow users to plug in digital camera, memory and other modules. Along those lines, Palm m500, m505 and m125 will be packaged with mail- in program offering consumers free 16 MB Panasonic secure digital (SD) expansion card and $250 worth of coupons for expansion products. Promotion runs through Jan. 7. Three TV ads, which were created by San Francisco-based AKQA, are expected to run so 75% of target market will see commercials average of 7.5 times throughput span of campaign. Ads are Palm’s first TV appearance since its $100 million “Simply Palm” campaign in late 2000.
DVD Forum canceled conference scheduled for Dec. 5 in Marina Del Rey, Cal. Group said that was owing to travel restrictions at many member companies in wake of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and ensuing security threats. DVD Conference USA will be rescheduled for May, in conjunction with DVD Forum’s Steering Committee meeting. Date and location haven’t been decided -- 310-967-2980.
Apex DVD player is price leader already with less than 2 weeks to go before “Black Friday” Thanksgiving weekend kickoff to holiday selling season. Circuit City’s holiday catalog lists Apex Digital AD-1500 player at $89.99. Next lowest price for DVD in catalog is Sharp DV740U at $149.99. N.Y.C. retailer J&R Music World is using Apex as price leader, offering Model AD-500B at $89.99 last weekend. Sources have told us Apex entry-level models can be sold profitably at that price, and might dip to $79.99 for promotions.
Sony Computer Entertainment will be increasing monthly PlayStation 2 production to 2 million units from 1.8 million, reports said. Further details were unavailable, including when ramp-up in production would take place. Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) spokeswoman hadn’t commented by our deadline.