Sony Computer Entertainment has decided it's better to work with Connectix, a developer of software that helps PlayStation games run on PCs, than to fight the company.
Published:
16 March 2001 y., Friday
The companies announced Thursday a joint technology agreement under which they will work together on advanced "emulation" products that will allow PlayStation software to run on other systems. In addition, all legal issues surrounding San Mateo, Calif.-based Connectix's Virtual Game Station software have been resolved.
Sony filed a copyright and patent infringement suit against Connectix in early 1999. Sony argued that because Virtual Game Station allowed PlayStation games to be played on PCs, it was harmful to game publishers, developers, creators and ultimately consumers.
Sony makes a majority of its PlayStation-related revenue from licensing and royalty fees for PlayStation software; the actual consoles are sold at a loss. The same is true of other game manufacturers. But sales of peripherals such as controllers and memory cards help make up a significant revenue stream, and that may be part of the reason Sony has been so adamant about the suit against Connectix according to Gartner analyst P.J. McNealy.
Under the agreement, Sony will acquire Connectix assets related to Virtual Game Station, but Connectix will continue to sell the software for Macintosh and Windows until the end of June. The companies will continue to develop emulation technology.
Competition in the gaming industry is expected to get fierce this year as new consoles from Microsoft and Nintendo are released. However, Sony's PlayStation 2 will have a considerable head start. The consumer electronics giant said it expects to sell 3 million units in the United States by the end of the year and 9 million worldwide.
Šaltinis:
CNET News.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Mr. Olli Rehn, European Union Commissioner, and Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following joint statement on Greece.
more »
The offering of shares of the new issue will commence on 03-05-2010.
more »
The World Bank today approved a $12 million IDA credit to Bhutan, designed to improve infrastructure services in parts of the capital city of Thimphu where no formal services are currently available.
more »
Fisheries ministers and stakeholders alike will be discussing the future shape of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy at two major events in Spain over the next days. On 2 and 3 May, in La Coruña, the Commission and the Spanish Presidency are organising a large stakeholder conference on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.
more »
Asia is leading the global recovery and the region’s contribution to global growth will continue to exceed that of other regions in the next two years, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said today in its latest Regional Economic Outlook (REO) for Asia and the Pacific.
more »
The EBRD is supporting the modernization of the electricity distribution network and the development of renewable energy sources in Poland with a PLN 800 million loan (equivalent to approximately €205 million) to the Energa energy group in order to help the company strengthen its power grid.
more »
At the beginning of the summer this year, Vilnius will become the capital of the Baltic Sea region. On 1-2 June 2010, the city will host the Baltic Sea States Summit and the Baltic Development Forum (BDF) Summit.
more »
Visitors of the World Expo 2010, which will open in the Chinese city of Shanghai on May 1st under the slogan “Better City, Better Life” and will last for 184 days until the end of October, are kindly invited to get into a hot air balloon at the Lithuanian Pavilion.
more »
According to preliminary data, unaudited net loss sustained over the first quarter of the year 2010 by SEB Bank is LTL 59,4 million (EUR 17,2 million) and that by SEB Bank Group is LTL 80,3 million (EUR 23,3 million).
more »
European Globalisation Adjustment fund (EGF) aid must be delivered faster and more simply to unemployed workers hit by the financial crisis or globalisation, concluded the Budgets and Employment committees after evaluating the fund on Wednesday.
more »