Main Stories
o Report: Market for Online Games to Double Over Next Four Years
o Polish Police Bust Pirate Group That Hacked Academic Servers to Store Files
o Software Allows Automatic Recording of Satellite Radio Broadcasts
o Webcast Metrics Launches to Measure Internet Radio Audiences
o Microsoft "Plays for Sure" Campaign to Tout Support for Devices, Services
o Mobile Game Publisher Mforma Acquires U.K. Developer Blue Beck

o Briefly Noted: SoundExchange, Nokia - Vodafone, Sinclair Broadcast Group - free HDTV PSAs, Archos Gmini400, Microsoft TV - Bluewin, Electronic Arts - Black Eyed Peas, Midway Games - Hollywood voice talent, Namco - "Taiko: Drum Master" soundtrack, Sega - "Amazing Island," Zone4Play - Bluestreak
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Dublin -- The total market for online games, including both massively multiplayer titles and casual games like online poker, will double over the next four years from $1 billion in 2004 to over $2 billion by 2007, according to a report from Dublin-based Research and Markets. Massively multiplayer online games will foster the market, with Europe becoming the biggest growth market for such titles as the U.S. reaches saturation point, the firm noted. Also contributing to growth will pay-per-play browser gaming, which generated $137 million in 2003 but is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 40% through 2007 and become the second-largest online gaming sector. Resumed growth of advertising within online games, casual games service subscriptions and broadband games-on-demand services are also expected to spur the online games market.
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c4305  
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o Polish Police Bust Pirate Group That Hacked Academic Servers to Store Files

Warsaw -- A group of over 100 hackers who used academic computer networks to store games, movies and music they sold on the pirate market has been busted by Polish police, Reuters reported. In addition to storing their pirated wares on the university servers, the group of mainly twenty-something hackers may have also lifted and sold academic theses they found stored there. "They broke into the biggest systems they could find and set up 'warehouses' to store pirated games, films and music," police spokeswoman Agata Salatka told Reuters. "They distributed the goods through the Internet, and also supplied bazaars with the latest hits -- even before their official premieres."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?H21C35529 
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o Software Allows Automatic Recording of Satellite Radio Broadcasts

New York -- A Canadian programmer has begun selling a program called TimeTrax that automatically records broadcasts from satellite radio services like XM and Sirius, adds artist information and converts them to MP3 files for storage on a PC, Reuters reported. TimeTrax allows users to create a library of songs played over satellite radio, with more than 2,400 users already having downloaded a free version or a $29.95 full version of the software. Both the satellite services and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) said they don't approve of the software, and are seeking a means of preventing its distribution. Lawyers for XM Satellite Radio have sent a letter to programmer Scott MacLean asking him to discontinue sales and provide the company with a list of purchasers. "It's our expectation they will be shut down," XM vice president of corporate affairs Chance Patterson told Reuters. "We're also researching any potential legal violations." RIAA spokesman Jonathan Lamy told Reuters his group "remain(s) concerned about any devices or software that permit listeners to transform a broadcast into a music library."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?K1BB31529 
http://www.nerosoft.com/timetrax 
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o Webcast Metrics Launches to Measure Internet Radio Audiences

Denver -- Two online radio advertising sales firms have announced the launch of Webcast Metrics, a new independent platform that will measure Internet radio audiences. Net Radio Sales and Ando Media launched the new measurement firm this week to fill the gap left by broadcast radio ratings firm Arbitron and now-defunct providers like MeasureCast. "We intend to use this tool to quantify the size of Internet Radio audiences and offer highly reliable, accountable data to the advertiser.: said Jennifer Lane, president of Net Radio Sales. "The technology also enables delivery of real time reports to advertisers that provide the kind of accountability that advertisers want today. Reporting capabilities can include daily gross impressions by station or advertisement."
http://www.netradiosales.com 
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o Microsoft "Plays for Sure" Campaign to Tout Support for Devices, Services

San Francisco -- Microsoft plans to launch a branding campaign that touts the ability of portable devices running its software to operate with a range of different online services and other devices, CNET News.com reported. A line of portable devices that play audio and video and run Microsoft's Portable Media Center software, from manufacturers including Creative Labs and iRiver, are due for release in the fall. The company will stick a "Plays for sure" logo on such devices and promote the slogan on services that offer downloads of media in its proprietary Windows Media format. The campaign is intended to differentiate the company's products from those of rivals Apple and Sony, which have largely closed off their respective portable devices and online services from rivals.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?K55A31529 
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o Mobile Game Publisher Mforma Acquires U.K. Developer Blue Beck

Bellevue, Wash. -- Mobile entertainment publisher Mforma, which last week raised $40 million in venture capital and acquired developer Fingertwitch, announced on Thursday the purchase of another mobile game developer, U.K.-based Blue Beck. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2001, Blue Beck has created console and mobile titles for Electronic Arts, THQ, Jamdat and Mforma. Bellevue, Wash.-based Mforma said the acquisition of Blue Beck will allow it to tighten its production schedule and increase output.
http://www.bluebeck.com 
http://www.mforma.com 

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(Washington) SoundExchange, the record industry entity set up to collect royalties paid to stream music online and distribute them to artists and record labels, announced that it recently distributed $3 million in sound recording performance royalties to artists and copyright owners. The organization said it has now distributed a total of $16 million in royalty payments since the fall of 2001. The recent payout included for the first time royalties from satellite services like XM and Sirius, as well as Muzak, Music Choice and DMX.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?G11B21529

(London) Cell phone maker Nokia and European wireless carrier Vodafone have announced a joint initiative aimed at simplifying mobile Java programming language standards. A new set of specifications will be created that the companies say will allow developers to create games and other software for cell phones that is easily portable from one Java-based handset model to another. Nokia and Vodafone said they expect the first implementations of their new technology to be deployed in 2005.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040826/nyth065_1.html

(Baltimore, Md.) Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of 62 TV stations in 39 U.S. markets, announced on Thursday that it plans to air a series of public service announcements that promote free over-the-air high definition television (HDTV). The campaign coincides with the upcoming release of fifth-generation digital receivers that provide HDTV reception using simple indoor antennas, with no need for cable or satellite connections. "We believe that the public is largely uninformed about the availability of free HDTV programming from their local TV stations," said Sinclair vice president for new technology Nat Ostroff. "Sinclair wants to raise awareness among consumers and retailers that they don't need expensive cable or satellite hookups to watch the Super Bowl, World Series, or the latest network drama or comedy in HDTV."
http://www.myfreehdtv.org

(Irvine, Calif.) Consumer electronics firm Archos on Thursday shipped its Gmini400, a hard drive-based digital audio player with a color screen, and video and picture playback capabilities. The $399 device features a 20GB hard drive and 2.2-inch color LCD screen, enabling video playback, viewing of digital pictures, and a range of games developed by Morphun.
http://www.archos.com/products/prw_500637.html

(Redmond, Wash.) Microsoft announced that it will begin testing its IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) software with Swiss telco Swisscom's Bluewin service in Switzerland. If successful, the trial in 600 homes may be expanded to Bluewin's 200,000 broadband customers.
http://www.microsoft.com/tv 
http://www.bluewin.ch

(Redwood City, Calif.) Video game developer Electronic Arts announced on Thursday that it has signed hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas to produce the soundtrack for its upcoming title "The Urbz: Sims in the City." The game will feature nine tracks from the group's upcoming album, "Monkey Business," which have vocal tracks remixed in "Simlish," the gibberish language featured in the video game. The Black Eyed Peas will also appear as four digital characters within the title. Redwood City, Calif.-based Electronic Arts has of late signed similar game scoring deals with Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh and DJ Paul Oakenfold.
http://urbzsims.ea.com

(Chicago) Game developer Midway Games on Thursday announced that it has signed David Duchovny, Powers Boothe, and Marilyn Manson to provide voice-overs for its "AREA 51" title for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, due for release in the first half of 2005. The company also added actor Bill Bellamy to the voice talent featured in its PlayStation and Xbox title "NARC," which will ship in early 2005. In addition, Chicago-based Midway announced the development of "L.A. Rush," a PlayStation 2 and Xbox racing title based on its "Rush" franchise, which will feature input from Rides magazine and West Coast Customs. Finally, the company said it plans to release a version of its "Mortal Kombat: Deception" title for Nintendo GameCube in the first half of 2005. The game will ship on Oct. 4 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040826/265014_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040826/265013_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040826/265008_1.html
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040826/265007_1.html 
http://www.midway.com

(San Jose, Calif.) Japanese game developer Namco has announced the song list that will be featured in its upcoming "Taiko: Drum Master" rhythmic skills drumming game for PlayStation 2. The title will feature tracks from artists including Britney Spears, The Jackson 5, Queen, Madonna, The Knack, KC and the Sunshine Band and Chumbawumba, in addition to classical pieces from Beethoven, Bizet and Rossini and original tracks from classic Namco game titles.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?R19B26529

(San Francisco) Japanese games firm Sega said it has shipped its "Amazing Island" title for Nintendo GameCube to retailers. The "monster-creation" game features a number of different Game Boy Advance connectivity features.
http://www.sega.com/corporate/corporate.php?item=pr_082404

(Wilmington, Del.) Zone4Play, a developer of games for wireless and interactive TV, announced on Thursday that it signed an agreement with Bluestreak Technology, developer of an interactive TV platform for cable TV providers. Under the deal, Bluestreak will offer Zone4Play's interactive TV games to cable operators using its system, including Time Warner Cable.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040826/ukth006_1.html
http://www.bluestreaknetwork.com 
http://www.zone4play.com 
 
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