Play on TV
We finally have a 24-hour games TV channel: Game Network started broadcasting to the UK on Tuesday, and it is available on satellite channel number 223 of Sky Digital's Electronic Programme Guide. However, it is already well known in parts of Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The channel was started in Italy in 1999, and is already available in more than 40 countries. The large number of people who don't have access to Sky can get a glimpse of the channel from its streaming webcast as www.game-network.net
Bill's big catch
Not surprisingly, Microsoft has bought Ensemble Studios Inc, the games developer behind its bestselling, award-winning Age of Empires. The series has shifted almost 9m units. The studio will stay in Dallas, Texas, rather than move to Microsoft's headquarters in Seattle.
Ensemble adds to the string of developers Microsoft has picked up recently, including FASA Interactive (MechWarrior), Access Software (Links), Digital Anvil (StarLancer) and Bungie (Oni, Halo). But unlike Sony, Microsoft has not yet taken over any UK-based developers.
Board silly
Nor surprisingly, Activision is hard at work preparing the launch of the third version of its Tony Hawk's skateboarding game. Pro Skater 3 will appear on six platforms including Microsoft's Xbox console and Nintendo's Game Boy Advance. The new version lets you skate through "realistic urban settings com plete with pedestrians, cars, traffic accidents, natural disasters and changing weather conditions." Pro Skater 2 was in the PlayStation top 10 for 24 weeks and has sold more than 250,000 copies in the UK alone.
Rocky rides
Britain's Kuju Entertainment - which is developing a train simulator for Microsoft - has produced a golf game for Nokia's Wap-based Mobile Entertainment Service. The game has two 18-hole courses and one 9-hole course. SCi, best known for Carmageddon, is also developing games for mobile phones: in this case, they are based on the Thunderbirds series.
Finally, Rage, in Liverpool, has signed a licensing deal to produce games based on Sylvester Stallone's five Rocky films. The first in the series has just celebrated its 25th anniversary.
