Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : eidos--maker of Tomb Raider -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jeff Lins who wrote (1236)	8/14/1998 12:21:00 PM
From: Andrew C.R. Biddle	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1773

Story on Sarah: psmonline.com From fgnonline: >> Smith Talks Lara 64 Multi: Core chief Jeremy Smith has been talking about the possibility of Lara Croft appearing on Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast within the next two years. Core's PlayStation exclusivity deal for Lara-based games expires at the end of next year. He told FGNOnline: "When we signed the deal Sony had tremendous belief in what we were doing with the Tomb Raider franchise and with Tomb Raider II, and we took that decision. I think come 2000 it's maybe a new period in the group's [Eidos] life. We can't write out Nintendo and I think we'd be naive to write out Sega." The full interview with Jeremy Smith will be on Next Generation Online tonight.<< Andrew

To: Jeff Lins who wrote (1236)	8/16/1998 10:06:00 PM
From: Bleeker	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1773

FFVII is ranked #1 at COMPUSA stores nationwide in August up from #3 in July. GT Interactive's Unreal is ranked #4 and Microprosee's Mech Commander is #2. The FFVII rebates are no longer being offered. EIDOS saw its US market share increase to #11 in June from #17 in May. This was the biggest jump among its competitors, according to PC DATA. The release of FFVII in the last week of June was the reason why. PC DATA has two series on market share. One is dollar-based sales the other is # of units sold. The top three companies with the biggest market share in order are Cendant, GT Interactive and Electronic Arts. Interestingly, when comparing the two series ($-based sales vs. units sold) for EIDOS and GT during FYQ1, it becomes evident that EIDOS is more successful at selling higher priced games while GT is better at selling more units at a lower price. In the case of EIDOS, its $-based market share was consistently higher each month in FYQ1 than its unit based market share: EIDOS $-based market share in US vs. game units sold: April: 2.2% vs. 1.8% May: 2% vs. 1.6% June: 4.1% vs. 2.6% (does not take into account mail-in rebates.) GT Interactive: April: 8.7% vs. 13.2% May: ? vs. ? June: 10.9% vs. 13% The PC DATA numbers also don't take into account FFVII returns because of the technical snafu. Jeff reported that there is now a patch for it and there is, but the French are still angry. A post on Usernet from Friday suggests that there are Belgians working at EIDOS tech. support (no offense to Thierry on the SI board. In fact, Belgo's in London was one of my favorite restaurants for mussels and chips). But this Frenchman is still weathering snafus: another reason why EIDOS has looked like the Titanic even if the COMPUSA ranking suggests that FFVII is doing o.k. Here is the link to the mad (irked) Frenchman: ww2.altavista.digital.com@32067@fr%2erec%2ejeux%2evideo%26eidos SIDE DISH: I know some are not totally fond of Electronic Arts. But both ERTS and THQI have the highest valuations in the sector. Is it coincidence that they both have zero debt? I think their valuations can in part be explained by their strong balance sheet, ability to control cost and strong earnings growth. I still think Commandos can be big. Bleeker