Suit filed Wed. by major entertainment companies seeking to block SonicBlue from shipping ReplayTV 4000 personal video recorder (PVR) is likely to raise many of same issues that followed advent of VCR and later DAT, officials said. Among PVR’s features that are at issue in suit is ability to skip through commercials using same technology licensed from Arthur D. Little that first brought features to VCRs several years ago. ReplayTV device also allows user to e-mail recorded programs to other ReplayTV PVR owners, although feature requires broadband connection. ReplayTV 4000 is being sold only through sonicblue.com Web site at start, and SonicBlue is seeking to license PVR technology to cable operators.
PS2 version of Activision’s E-rated game Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 began shipping at $49.99. PlayStation version of title shipped earlier at $39.99 and Santa Monica game maker said it would move version of game for GameCube in time for Nintendo system’s rollout Nov. 18.
THQ and Nokia are collaborating on national promotion in U.S. for upcoming PS2/Xbox videogame Dark Summit, due to ship in first quarter 2002. Title will be Calabasas Hills, Cal., game maker THQ’s first game for Xbox, Mktg. Vp Peter Dille said. As part of promotion, Instant Win Game will give consumers chance to win $5,000 grand prize, Nokia 3300 series mobile phones, Dark Summit gear including hats and T-shirts. “Decoder” game piece is available at more than 2,000 retail locations, THQ said, and more than 2 million game pieces will be distributed nationwide. Consumers must visit www.darksummit.net to decode secret messages from game pieces to see whether they are instant winners. Game, running through Dec. 31, is being supported by THQ via print ads and with point-of-purchase materials including posters.
RadioShack will implement new strategy in early 2002 that tailors merchandise mix of stores to individual markets, marking major break with cookie-cutter approach that has been chain’s hallmark.
Rent-a-Center (RAC) tentatively agreed to pay $12.2 million to 4,600 female employees as part of proposed settlement of sex discrimination suit filed year ago. Margaret Bunch had filed suit in Dec. 2000 in U.S. Dist. Court, Kansas City, alleging sex discrimination began shortly after Renter’s Choice purchased RAC from Thorn Americas in 1998. RC later changed name to RAC. Settlement covers female workers employed between April 19, 1998, and Oct. 1. Second suit on similar grounds, filed by Claudine Wilfold in Aug. 2000, still is pending in U.S. Dist. Court, St. Louis. Wilfold and 18 other plaintiffs are seeking $410 million in damages. RAC Pres. Mitchell Fadel said proposed settlement was in “best interests” of company “given the costs and uncertainty of litigation.” Gene Graham, attorney for Bunch and others, termed agreement “a fair and favorable resolution of claims that have been vigorously contested.” In addition to monetary settlement, RAC must: (1) Adopt policy against gender discrimination and provide employee training on subject. (2) Eliminate weight lifting requirements. (3) Modify internal procedures for reporting gender discrimination. (4) Add “more comprehensive” recordkeeping for employment applications and promotions.
Electronic Arts said its T-rated (Teen) PS2 game James Bond 007 in… Agent Under Fire went gold and was “on schedule to ship to stores everywhere” Nov. 13 at $49.99.
MicrosoftSF technology showcase/retail store in San Francisco’s Metreon center closed Thurs. Landlord is Sony and closing comes 2 weeks before rollout of Microsoft’s Xbox videogame system. One of Microsoft’s main competitors on game console front, of course, is Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation 2. But closing of store coming so close to rollout of game system is just coincidence, Microsoft said. MicrosoftSF store opened in Metreon entertainment and shopping complex with much fanfare June 16, 1999. Microsoft spokeswoman told us Thurs.: “We were open to a retail partnership with Sony in a new space they were developing in [San Francisco]. We viewed this as an opportunity to explore this unique setup for us to sell directly to consumers. While we've been happy with the response to the store, we've decided we'd rather focus on our core business of developing… software and selling it via our current sales and distributions channels. The decision to close the store was mutual and our relationship with Sony remains very strong. In fact, we continue to collaborate with Sony on other projects, most notably, the recently announced PC for Life program.”
Codemasters secured global publishing rights to game IGI 2, sequel to Project IGI: I'm Going In. New game is to ship in 2nd quarter next year for PC and is being developed by Oslo-based team Innerloop Studios As -- same group that made first title.
New joint venture Xsido was formed by Sega, Japanese Web investor Softbank and Taiwan PC manufacturer Acer to distribute games via high-speed Internet networks, Tokyo report said Thurs. New company will offer Sega Dreamcast games and other entertainment content by companies including Namco and Avex to Internet service providers (ISPs), along with device that makes software available to users regardless of specifications of their PC or videogame console. ISPs then will sell games and entertainment content to consumers. Business has been capitalized at ?534 million ($4.4 million) and is targeting ISPs in Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan. Investors SK Global and Winstron each holds 14.6% stake in company. Latter is Acer subsidiary that will be making software device. Sega also has 14.6% stake in company, while Softbank invested 30%.