Sci-Fi & Gaming News Archive - May 10, 2006
The video game industry, which supported 144,000 full-time jobs and accounted for more than $8 billion in game sales in 2004, had an $18 billion impact on the U.S. economy that year, according to a new study to be released on Wednesday.
Microsoft Corp. is working to lengthen its lead in not-yet-profitable online console gaming to reel in new gamers and revenue as rivals just begin to lay out their plans to challenge the software giant.
Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates visited the world's largest video game expo on Tuesday to sell a new vision of "anywhere" gaming that would link video game consoles, cell phones and computers.
Nintendo Co. Ltd. said on Tuesday its next-generation video game console, called Wii, will be available in the fourth quarter, fighting for gamers' wallets in the year-end shopping season with rivals Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp.
While much of the attention at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo is focused on new hardware such as Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Co. Ltd's Wii, the success of the next generation of video game consoles will likely be determined by their game lineups.
Sony Corp. has revealed little about its upcoming PlayStation 3 online service to rival Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox Live, but an upcoming offering from the Japanese giant's online game division may hint at its direction.
