Nuwave Technologies expanded distribution for its Video Game Enhancer (VGE) via deal with Petra Industries. Latter is national wholesale distributor, manufacturer and importer of CE accessories that markets its products mainly to independent retailers and chains through its 500-page catalogs distributed twice annually to more than 80,000 U.S. dealers. Nuwave National Sales Mgr. Leonard Langsner said agreement with Petra “complements and widens our channels of distribution by bridging the gap between independent retailers and retail chains.” VGE is now available at more than 2,900 retail outlets in U.S. and U.K., including Electronics Boutique, Gamestop/Babbage’s, J&R Music World and Toysrus.com, Nuwave said. VGE is Nuwave’s proprietary videogame console hardware accessory that company says improves graphics of games for all major systems.
EchoStar executive said Congress members had “been quite positive actually” about company’s proposed merger with DirecTV. David Goodfriend, EchoStar dir.-legal and business affairs, said elected officials “get it” and understand merger would create efficiencies allowing DBS to compete more effectively with cable. Comments came at Schwab conference in Washington Tues. Goodfriend said “there aren’t really plans” for merged company to become programmer, so he expressed interest in FCC’s extending its rules that prohibit exclusive contracts between cable companies and affiliated programmers.
Infogrames CEO Bruno Bonnell echoed recent comments by executives of competing videogame makers when he said after our Tues. deadline that “we remain bullish about the potential success” of his company’s lineup of software titles this holiday season despite economic uncertainty: “The gaming sector has typically prevailed in tough economic times, and so far this season appears to be bearing that out. The sector remains vibrant, customer demand is strong and the upcoming launches of new consoles can only create more interest and drive more traffic to retail outlets… We expect that this will be the first of several consecutive profitable quarters for us.”
EchoStar is confident merger with DirecTV will pass regulatory muster, CEO Charles Ergen told reporters Wed., and he expects Commission and Dept. of Justice (DoJ), which will handle antitrust review, to analyze facts thoroughly before making decision (CED Oct 30 p1). He praised action by FCC Chmn. Powell to set up committee to examine regulatory issues: “The Commission is doing the right thing to look at the deal and give it a lot of scrutiny. There is a difference” between facts and “the spin people who lost out on this deal are putting on this deal.”
FCC should require cable operators to stop blocking fully functional navigation devices for DTV, CEA said in semiannual report on cable-DTV compatibility. Nov. 6 report, following report by National Cable & Telecom Assn. (NCTA) that was filed by Oct. 31 deadline (CED Nov 1 p5), drew heated response from NCTA. CEA said lack of agreement on DTV-cable compatibility “not only suffocates the market” for DTV cable set-tops, but “also stalls the crucial transitional market for DTV receivers.”
Activision will have 24 titles available this holiday season across all platforms, Santa Monica, Cal., game maker said. Slate includes Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 for PS2, GameCube, Game Boy Color, PlayStation.
Taiwan-based First International Computer (FIC) shifted to Microsoft’s Pocket PC operating system from Linux. FIC said decision was prompted by increasing number of driver programs and applications that are supporting Microsoft’s OS for handheld PCS. At same time, FIC said it reached agreement with Microsoft to develop and build products based on tablet PC platform. FIC, supplier of desktop PCS to Hewlett-Packard, is scheduled to begin mass production of tablet PCs in 3rd quarter 2002. Fellow Taiwanese manufacturer Acer also has licensing pact with Microsoft for tablet PCS.
Sony’s newest Aibo robot targeted at 24-45-year-old males is making break from Lotte models of past. ERS-220 ($1,500) has sensors on back that make it look like remote, with digital camera in head to deliver JPEG photo, and continues use of Memory Stick to expand voice commands to 75 words from 50. It also has wireless LAN capability to allow it to be controlled through PC at distances up to 300’ and will have additional tails, heads and wheels to allow user to create other robots. Also available is optional Aibo Life 2 software ($90) that enables user to choreograph robot to music.
Taco Bell and Microsoft said more than 6,700 U.S. consumers had won Xbox console, game controller and videogame as part of “Win It Before You Can Buy It” sweepstakes. Companies said more than 2 million consumers entered contest in first 10 days. Taco Bell is giving public additional chances to win Xbox console via “Scratch ‘Til You Win” instant game running through Nov. 25.