Rental stores play harder

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6329564.html?nid=2705
Plans include expanding game sections for PS3 and Xbox 360
By Susanne Ault 4/28/2006
APRIL 28 Video rental stores are shooting to become bigger players in the game business in time to profit from the introductions of new videogame consoles and high-definition DVD formats.
As the current-generation game systems have aged, software pricing has dropped to levels favoring sell-through over rental activity. But rentailers are betting that the relatively steep $50 to $60 pricing on new and upcoming Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 software will encourage heavy sampling through rental.
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Unconfirmed: PS3 to Launch in Early November for $399

Unconfirmed: PS3 to Launch in Early November for $399 There's been a lot of talk about the PlayStation 3 costing consumers an arm and a leg at possibly $500 or more. However, a report in PSM claims that the system will match the Xbox 360's current price of $399. [Update: We speak with PSM EIC Chris Slate]
Unfortunately it seems like there was a bit of misinterpretation as the information in PSM made its way to the Internet. Essentially, the magazine has no new inside source on this and the $399 price is speculation.
http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=12524

Analyst: PS2 Price Cut Coming Soon

by James Brightman

Is the PlayStation 2 about to get its price slashed? According to one analyst the answer is yes. In fact, the PS2 may get a price drop in advance of E3. And it's also possible that Microsoft could cut the price of the Xbox soon after.
Colin Sebastian, Senior Research Analyst, Internet and Interactive Entertainment, at Lazard Capital Markets has sent out a memo stating that industry checks suggest that a price cut on Sony's PlayStation 2 console is likely to occur within the next few weeks.
http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=12397

HD DVD set to launch quietly

Toshiba to ship between 10,000 to 15,000 players
By Jennifer Netherby and Susanne Ault 4/13/2006
APRIL 13 If all goes as planned, HD DVD is set for a low-key launch Tuesday with five movies out from Warner Home Video and Universal Studios Home Entertainment and players from Toshiba coming the same day or shortly after.
http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6324750.html?nid=2705

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Aria charts digital tracks

By Staff writers, iTnews 10 April 2006 14:19 AEST Breaking News
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has launched the Motorola ARIA Digital Track Chart.
The chart aggregates sales from online music providers, which Aria releases as a weekly guide on the highest selling tracks.
The guide is calculated from sales data submitted by online music providers such as Apple's iTunes, BigPond Music, Destra Music, ninemsn Music and Soundbuzz, as well as key retailers such as Ripit, Leading Edge and JB HiFi.
http://www.itnews.com.au/newsstory.aspx?CIaNID=31554&eid=3&edate=20060410

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MovieBeam Proves a Novelty With Lukewarm Reception

MovieBeam Proves a Novelty With Lukewarm Reception
By Rob Pegoraro
Sunday, April 9, 2006; Page F07
Between cable and satellite TV's premium channels, Blockbuster and Hollywood's stores and Netflix and other DVD-by-mail services' envelopes, it's not exactly difficult to get a steady supply of commercial-free movies to watch at home. So MovieBeam Inc., is setting itself up for a real challenge in competing with all those sources.

This Burbank, Calif., company ( http://www.moviebeam.com/ ) doesn't use a wire, a dish, a checkout counter or the U.S. Postal Service to deliver its releases; instead, it sends them over the usual TV airwaves in compressed, encoded form, using capacity rented from public television stations in 29 U.S. cities. They're picked up and stored by a silver box in your home -- a separate, upfront purchase -- and then made available for instant, 24-hour rentals at prices ranging from $1.99 to $4.99.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/08/AR2006040800147.html?referrer=email

Bravo Among First To Offer PayPal Mobile

David A. UtterStaff Writer Published: 2006-04-06
The new service from PayPal where users of mobile phones can pay for goods with a text message or phone call will be able to try out the service during Bravo's "Top Chef" series. When the Bravo TV show "Top Chef" debuts its new series on April 12th, an online store will also launch on the site. To purchase items online, Bravo will offer, among its payment options, PayPal Mobile, which launched in late March.
http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/topnews/wpn-60-20060406BravoAmongFirstToOfferPayPalMobile.html

Netflix Calls ‘Cut’ On Blockbuster Online

Netflix Calls ‘Cut’ On Blockbuster Online
Jason Lee MillerStaff Writer Published: 2006-04-05
Home video rental chain Blockbuster got its own block busted by Netflix yesterday after the online rental company slapped it with a patent infringement lawsuit over Blockbuster Online. I'm guessing the paperwork was prepared in advance, the suit was filed the same day Netflix was awarded its business model patent. Netflix filing calls for an injunction to shut down its rival's online rental service and damages paid for the infringement. The patent mentioned in the suit covers the method in which customers choose DVD's to rent, the number of DVD's allowed at a time, and the amount of time given for their return - basically Netflix whole business model.
http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/topnews/wpn-60-20060405NetflixCallsCutOnBlockbusterOnline.html

PS3 to Cost 500-600 Euros, says SCEE VP The President of Sony Computer Entertainment France has reportedly discussed the price of the PlayStation 3 with a European radio station, Europe 1. George Fornay, who is also an SCEE VP, says that the console could be as much as 600 Euros or about $735. Ouch.
http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=12329

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Mobile Poker Dominates Phone Decks
New information from mobile research company Telephia reveals that poker titles are commanding much of the top deck slots across major U.S. carriers. This data was revealed through Telephia's new Deck Monitoring Report service, which it also announced today.
http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=12305

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Hollywood to Sell Digital Films Online

Hollywood to Sell Digital Films Online
By GARY GENTILEThe Associated PressMonday, April 3, 2006; 6:02 PM
LOS ANGELES -- Hollywood studios will start selling digital versions of films such as "Brokeback Mountain" and "King Kong" on the Internet this week, the first time major movies have been available online to own.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040300188.html?referrer=email

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Report: Halo 3 to Launch in March '07
Anonymous Microsoft sources have reportedly leaked that Master Chief's next adventure will begin in March 2007, meaning that Halo 3 will not be released this year to counter the PlayStation 3 or to take advantage of the holiday shopping season.
http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=12289

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Video/DVD Industry News - Monday

Xbox 360 sales breaks records
By Lilia Guan, CRN 30 March 2006 12:33 AEST Breaking News
The Xbox 360 posted record week-one console sales in Australia, according to industry analysts GfK.
The analyst group stated that 30,421 Xbox 360 consoles had been sold in Australia during the four days between its Thursday March 23 launch and Sunday March 26.
The results came from GfK’s tracking of data from major gaming retail stores across the country.
http://www.itnews.com.au/newsstory.aspx?CIaNID=31281&eid=3&edate=20060330

Video games may be good for some eyes
By Staff writers, TechWeb 29 March 2006 08:40 AEST Research/Trends
Video games may have a new and unexpected use -- correcting lazy eye.Recently published findings in Eye Journal suggest that 3D video games may actually work faster than traditional therapy for amblyopia. The Virtual Reality Applications Research Team from the University at Nottingham in the United Kingdom recently finished trials on patients using virtual reality games to exercise and strengthen weak eyes.
http://www.itnews.com.au/newsstory.aspx?CIaNID=31225

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Video/DVD Industry News

Be Savage for Free
Full Savage 2 game can be downloaded for free. S2 Games(http://www.s2games.com/) today announced that Savage 2: A Tortured Soul will be made available to download to PCs for free. The game will have all the gameplay elements intact, with the option to play the game's tutorial or against others over LAN. Those that wish to play online and build a persistent character must purchase a $29.99 account from S2 Games.
http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/news/?id=12255

Top Game Rentals Week Ending Mar. 27, 2006
Chart posted on Monday, March 27, 2006

1. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Xbox 360)
2. The Godfather: The Game (PS2)
3. The Godfather: The Game (Xbox)
4. Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII (Xbox 360)
5. Outfit (Xbox 360)
6. Black (PS2)
7. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (2 disc game) (PS2)
8. Black (Xbox)
9. Fight Night: Round 3 (Xbox 360)
10. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (Xbox 360)