“Xbox Unleashed” 48-hour continuous play marathon is planned by Microsoft in L.A. and N.Y.C. Nov. 2-3. At event, gamers will be able to compete against one another in head-to-head Xbox videogame competition. Event also will enable consumers to get their first hands on Xbox console and games before system rolls out in N. America Nov. 15 at $299. Prizes will be given to winners at event. Grand prize will be Ford Explorer Sport Trac with Pioneer stereo and integrated Xbox system. Second-place winners will get Xbox console and games, along with spring break trip for 4 to Mexico. Third-place winners will get Xbox console and games plus year’s supply of food from Taco Bell and beverages from SoBe. Event kicks off at 12:01 a.m. local time at each location Nov. 2 and ends at 11:59 p.m. Nov. 3.
Electronics Boutique (EB) acquired “substantially all” assets of Kempten, Germany’s, Game it!, W. Chester, Pa., videogame retail chain said Tues. EB said Game it! ranked among leading Web entertainment software retailers in Germany. Terms weren’t disclosed. Commenting on acquisition, EB CEO Jeffrey Griffiths said: “Europe represents a significantly large potential market for expansion opportunities. The Game it! acquisition is a unique opportunity to accelerate our growth overseas through an existing retail distribution and fulfillment infrastructure.” He said EB intended to retain existing management of Game it! and “most of its key employees.”
As Bender/Helper Impact celebrates 15th anniversary, L.A.- based PR company said it was divided into 4 separate business units: Consumer Products, Digital Entertainment, Home Entertainment, Interactive Entertainment. Last division’s primary client base consists of game publishers and developers. Clients include Bethesda Softworks, Codemasters, Konami of America, Ubi Soft Entertainment, Universal Interactive.
Broadband video-on-demand using MPEG-4 DivX Open Video compression will be unveiled to news media 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 30 at Westin Bonaventure Hotel in L.A., developer DivXNetworks said -- www.divxnetworks.com.
Universal Electronics signed licensing and supply agreements with Recoton and DirecTV, respectively, gaining 2 new customers amid slowdown in its cable business. Recoton has licensed Universal’s infrared code database, which will be including in new line of Jensen branded remote controls that will ship in 2nd quarter, Recoton Pres. Robert Borchardt said. Universal will receive royalty based on sales of remotes.
Kopin said 3rd quarter net loss swelled to $9.2 million, reversing year-earlier $4.2 million profit, as revenue fell to $12.3 million from $23.8 million. Sharp slide in revenue was largely result of slowing sales of heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBT) that are used as power amplifiers in wireless phones, it said. HBT sales fell to $5.6 million from $17.9 million year ago, but were up from $3.8 million in 2nd quarter. Earnings also were hit by impairment charge, offset by $680,000 gain on sale of 200,000 shares of Microcell Telecommunications stock, CFO Richard Sneider said. Partly offsetting revenue decline was Kopin’s CyberDisplay microdisplay business, which reported sales gain to $6.4 million from $5.3 million year ago, $5.2 million in 2nd quarter. JVC, Matsushita and Samsung each accounted for more than 10% of Kopin’s overall revenue in replacing CRT-based camcorder viewfinders with CyberDisplays. Sanyo also recently signed agreement to build CyberDisplay into 2 wireless phones capable of displaying video. Cyberdisplays for phone applications are priced in $40-$50 range vs. $10-$12 for camcorder viewfinders, Chmn.-CEO John Fan told analysts in conference call. CyberDisplay has 20% share of camcorder viewfinder market and production is running 200,000 units per month, he said. CyberDisplay business can achieve break-even with monthly production of 300,000 units and revenue of $9 million, Sneider said. HBT business has 20% installed base in wireless phones, replacing, in some cases, silicon power amplifiers. HBTs, which have average selling price of $600, could gain sales in future with debut of 3G wireless service, which requires separate power amplifier for each of 3 frequencies -- 800, 1800 and 1900 MHz, Sneider said.
Nintendo GameCube “should have a significant advantage in the console wars, specifically because of its $100 price advantage,” said new report, Ready to Rumble: The Video Game Console Market. It added: “To cost-conscious parents and gamers, a $199 console may prove to be more appealing than a $299 console, particularly in current market conditions.” Both PlayStation 2 from Sony and Xbox from Microsoft are priced $100 higher than GameCube.
CEA Pres. Gary Shapiro offered to testify at now-postponed hearing on copyright protection standards in CE devices but was turned down by Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Hollings (D-S.C.). We incorrectly reported that Shapiro declined to testify (CED Oct 17 p2).
EchoStar had record-breaking 3rd quarter and is prepared for future regardless of whether merger with DirecTV takes place, CEO Charles Ergen told investors in conference call Tues. He was tight-lipped about discussions with DirecTV parent GM and offer to purchase Hughes Electronics unit, but said company was pushing forward to close deal: “We're serious” about acquisition, but we're well-positioned as a company regardless of the outcome. If it doesn’t happen, we're still a solid financial company.” Tough economic conditions that had hampered performance of other high- tech and satellite companies didn’t affect EchoStar because of financial “discipline,” Ergen said: “This is the kind of environment I personally like best. When everything is tight, the cream rises to the top. We are going to shine” because of our policies.
Alan McGlade, ex-MTV, named pres.-CEO, MusicNet… Scott Mercer, ex-Dell, rejoins Western Digital as interim CFO, replacing Terry Hopp, resigned… W.S. Wen, HannStar exec. vp, advanced to gen. mgr. of new LCD panel business div… John Foster, Bender/Helper Impact dir., promoted to vp.