Good move to get everyone involves in MSFT's gaming! And good timing too cos Sony launching PS3 this November ... keeping market share now!
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Microsoft Invites the World to Create Its Own Xbox 360 Console Games for the First Time
More than 10 esteemed universities to add XNA Game Studio Express and Xbox 360 game development into their curricula starting this fall.
Last Update: 12:02 AM ET Aug 14, 2006
During his keynote presentation today at Gamefest 2006, a Microsoft(R) game developer event hosted by Microsoft in Seattle, Chris Satchell, general manager of the Game Developer Group at Microsoft, announced details of the new technology, which will be broadly available this holiday season. XNA Game Studio Express will be available for free to anyone with a Windows(R) XP-based PC and will provide them with Microsoft's next-generation platform for game development. By joining a "creators club" for an annual subscription fee of $99 (U.S.), users will be able to build, test and share their games on Xbox 360(TM) and access a wealth of materials to help speed the game development progress. This represents the first significant opportunity for novice developers to make a console game without a significant investment in resources.
During his keynote, Satchell talked about academic institutions that are lining up to include XNA Game Studio Express in their course offerings. Also showcased was the work of key XNA supporters Autodesk Inc. and GarageGames. Through the Microsoft XNA relationship with Autodesk, the leading provider of 3-D authoring software, game developers and enthusiasts can now more easily incorporate content into XNA Game Studio Express via Autodesk's FBX file exchange format. Joining Satchell on stage was Mark Frohnmayer, president of GarageGames, who showcased ports of its next-generation Torque tools and technology over to the XNA Game Studio Express platform.
Dell reporting its Q2 '07 earning this Thursday in US ... What a timing!!! Hope its positive though ... Heehee!!
But, beware that the bankers may have bought into CSM, Utac and StatschP shares during their lows last two weeks ... then the surprised 360 deg report of good semi market now. Fishy burger?
Yes... seems like CSM, statschip are doing fine.. maybe really is due to the semicon sentiment by all the analysts...
MSFT to open their mouth.. i like the way you say.. ya... either they open their mouth on increased prod or at least open their mouth to talk BIG on something like Xbox360 going to hit X millions this xmas.... wow.. CSM confirm FLY liao...
me don knw abt DELL. but actually i do feel abit pessimistic on PC market. seems like flat after booming last year. BUT if DELL going to say somethng on their coming reports, like AMD very gd and cheap... haha... CSM may cheong le..
Yup, I think so, ralphguy ... I am confused too for a while. CSM doing great today - again!
Now just waiting for MSFT to open their mounth on increased Xbox 360 production for Christmas soon - with just a tiny mention of CSM is enough to boost CSM stocks again.
And also from AMD too to produce chips for Dell, IBM, etc ...
Tink the annoucements will be made after US summer holidays?
you posted Production is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2007,
i thought this XBOX360 that is already launched is already using Chartered's fab. only thing it mentioned 1Q 2007 is for the 65nm. now current version is 90nm.
so if it is true, if Xbox 360 ramp, chartered revenue also ramp.
LOS ANGELES, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Sales of U.S. video games rose 22 percent in July and hardware sales rose 46 percent, getting a boost from Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s (7974.OS: Quote, NEWS, Research) DS hand-held players, market research group NPD said on Friday.
Hardware sales, including consoles and hand-held systems such as the DS and Sony Corp. (6758.T: Quote, NEWS, Research) PlayStation Portable (PSP), rose to $214.7 million in July from a year ago.
July is typically a slow month for U.S. video game companies, which get about half of their annual sales during the holiday season. The industry last year had estimated sales of nearly $13 billion, rivaling Hollywood box office receipts, but sales are slumping this year amid a move to new gaming consoles.
NPD analyst Anita Frazier said the July results, which come on the heels of surprisingly strong sales in June, continue to exceed expectations.
"I've been pretty optimistic about the industry turnaround for a couple of months now, and definitely believed it to be over its slump, but since July is a typically slow month for the industry, this was truly outstanding performance," she said.
Sales of video games for consoles and hand-held players were up 22 percent from a year ago to $386.4 million, said NPD, which measures roughly 60 percent of U.S. video game retail sales and makes projections on the remainder of the market.
July's best-selling games included Electronic Arts Inc.'s (ERTS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) "NCAA Football 07" and Nintendo's "New Super Mario Bros.," "Brain Age," and "Big Brain Academy."
NPD said unit sales of Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) next-generation Xbox 360 console hit 207,000 in July. The software giant released the Xbox 360 in November and expects to have sold 13 million to 15 million units by June 2007.
Nintendo and console leader Sony are expected to have their new machines on store shelves in time for the holidays.
"We still think that industry sentiment has bottomed and will continue to improve as we get closer to the new hardware launches from Nintendo and Sony," UBS Investment Research analyst Michael Wallace wrote in a note to clients.
NPD said Nintendo sold 377,000 of its DS and new DS Lite devices while Sony moved 162,000 PSPs.
Shares of Electronic Arts closed up almost 3 percent to $49.88 on the Nasdaq.
Below from CSM's website. Maybe this is why CSM so quiet now .... Ahh, gotta wait Q1 of 2007. Boring!
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MILPITAS, Calif. and SINGAPORE - April 20, 2006 - Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing (Nasdaq: CHRT and SGX-ST: Chartered), one of the world's top dedicated semiconductor foundries, has signed an agreement with Microsoft for the manufacturing of CPU products-using 65-nanometer (nm) Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) semiconductor technology -for Microsoft's Xbox 360 game consoles. Production is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2007, and will support the Xbox 360's growing demand and expanding market reach. The announcement follows Chartered's successful manufacturing of 90nm SOI CPU products for the Xbox 360 console's launch, through an agreement with IBM.
So, it boils down to who's making what type of chips now ... communication products.
UMC sees positive Q3 ... comms chips
While TSMC, SMI and CSM see a flat Q3 .... PC chips.
Wonder if game consoles like Xbox 360 will stir up CSM soon, since owning one is more affordable than PC? Tink gaming & handphone about same price hor. Just a thought ...
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Wednesday August 2, 6:50 PM
UMC Q2 profit surges, sees uptick in Q3 shipments
By Baker Li
TAIPEI, Aug 2 (Reuters) - UMC the world's number-two contract maker of microchips, beat estimates on Wednesday with a 20-fold jump in quarterly profit due to a share sale and strong demand for mobile phones and other consumer gadgets.
While sector leader TSMC last week forecast a sequential dip in sales, United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC) predicted its third-quarter wafer shipments would rise by up to 2 percent from the previous three months.
By churning out more chips with advanced technology for higher-margin communications and consumer products, UMC also expected average selling prices (ASP) to rise 6 to 8 percent sequentially in the third quarter.
That would help boost UMC's operating margin to about 10 percent in the current quarter from the second quarter's 6.3 percent, in contrast with TSMC's forecast of a 2-4 percentage point dip to between 39-41 percent in the third quarter.
"That's because UMC is gaining a bigger market share in the handset sector," said BNP Paribas analyst Eric Chen.
In the second quarter, 56 percent of UMC's sales came from chips for communications products like cellphones, up from first quarter's 51 percent. Chips for PCs made up just 19 percent and 14 percent in the first and second quarter, respectively.
"We anticipate steady growth in revenues and profitability for Q3," UMC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jackson Hu told an investor conference.
UMC posted a net profit of T$6.05 billion (US$185 million) for the quarter ended June, up from T$299 million a year ago. The bulk of the gains came from non-operating income -- it booked T$4.37 billion from the sale of shares in Mediatek Inc. .
The quarterly result beat the T$3.77 billion consensus forecast compiled by Reuters Estimates.
Operating income totalled T$1.63 billion, reversing a year-earlier loss of T$3.34 billion, while revenue climbed 32 percent to T$25.8 billion.
UMC earned a net profit of T$12.29 billion in the first quarter, when stake sales in its affiliates helped boost the bottom line.
For more earnings details, see the company's Web site at: http://www.umc.com/english/investors/Q206.asp
"It's positive for us to see more customers," Hu said, adding that his company had started shipping a small amount of chips with advanced 65 nanometre technology to clients in the second quarter to keep its capacity utilisation rate stable at 80 percent.
While both TSMC and UMC are moving up the technology ladder to reduce costs, TSMC enjoys much higher profit margins than UMC due mainly to larger economies of scale.
RIVAL CAUTIOUS
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC) said last week that an inventory overhang could persist through the end of the year, which analysts say could hurt wafer prices.
But UMC did not see a severe inventory problem.
"We have seen clear signs of higher inventory levels from some of our customers," Hu said. "However, inventory levels vary significantly by application."
The inventory level of major brand-name handset makers was normal in the second quarter, while there was an inventory buildup at second-tier and non-brand cellphone firms as well as for chips used in flat-screen TVs, he said.
TSMC, which reported an 85 percent jump in second-quarter profit, has a bigger exposure to the personal computer sector, which has been plagued by high inventories recently. Thirty percent of TSMC's total sales are from chips for computers.
"I would buy UMC in the short term because of their improvement in the mobile phone sector, but TSMC is still a long-term buy if you take a look at its solid fundamentals," BNP's Chen said.
Glut fears and possible weaker chip prices sent TSMC's Taipei-listed shares to their lowest close in eight months on July 24.
UMC's results came after the market closed in Taipei on Wednesday, when its shares rose 2.03 percent to T$17.60, outperforming a 0.47 percent gain on the main TAIEX . TSMC shares dropped 0.36 percent to T$54.90.
Shares in UMC fell 5.4 percent and TSMC dropped 6.3 percent in the second quarter, while the big board gained 1.4 percent. Both firms count Texas Instruments Inc. , the world's top supplier of cellphone chips, as one of major clients.
Smaller rivals Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. in China and Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd. in Singapore also pointed to a weaker third quarter.
For 2006, TSMC is expected to earn a net profit of T$127.70 billion, up 36 percent from T$93.58 billion in 2005, according to Reuters Estimates. UMC is seen making a profit of T$25.84 billion in 2006, more than tripling last year's T$7.03 billion. (US$=T$32.9) (Additional reporting by Richard Dobson)
Microsoft Nears Xbox Profitability By Bill Snyder TheStreet.com Senior Writer 7/27/2006 5:57 PM EDT
REDMOND, Wash. -- Microsoft's (MSFT - commentary - Cramer's Take) money-losing Xbox 360 will become profitable next year, says the company's entertainment czar.
Moreover, the entire Entertainment & Devices Division is headed for "sustained profitability" in the same time frame, Robbie Bach, the unit's president, said at the company's analyst day on Thursday.
That profit will have been a long time coming. The Xbox 360 and its predecessor have consistently lost money on a per-unit basis, and game software sales have not been strong enough to pull the group into the black. In the fourth quarter, for example, the Home and Entertainment group, responsible for the Xbox 360, grew revenue strongly, to $1.14 billion from $587 million the year before. But the unit also doubled its loss to $414 million.
Bach also made it clear that despite persistent rumors to the contrary, the company is not planning to cut the price of the Xbox. "We're comfortable" with the current pricing, he said. Industry sources say that Sony (SNE - commentary - Cramer's Take), maker of the upcoming Playstation 3, faces manufacturing problems that will likely keep the new version of console in short supply when it debuts later in the year.
Given that, Microsoft would rather keep the margin then cut prices to build share.
Bach disappointed many of the people attending the event here by failing to give many more details of the Zune, Microsoft's answer to Apple's (AAPL - commentary - Cramer's Take) popular iPod.
He did say that the Zune, expected to debut by the end of the year, will not be profitable for the next few years, and he indicated that marketing will be a major expense.
"With sales hitting 5 million units in the six months of its release, Microsoft is targeting to sell 13 - 15 million Xbox 360 units by June 2007.
But whether this target can be achieved remains to be seen as Nintendo & Sony are releasing their new consoles by year-end. However, the Xbox 360 will have the advantage of being cheaper than Sony's PS3 and will have a bigger game library than Nintendo's Wii."
Xbox Europe head of marketing, Richard Teversham, discusses the launch of PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii with UK publication MCV.
As the tension builds for the upcoming release of the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, message boards across the internet have been buzzing about which console will come out on top this holiday season. While online forums are grounds for any fan to say whatever they please, it seems as though this console cycle has already seen its far share of executive mug slinging. We've seen Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft executives complementing and lambasting the competition.
In a recent interview with MCV, Microsoft's Richard Teversham, head of marketing for Xbox Europe, has verbally confronted Nintendo and Sony concerning the launch of the Wii and PlayStation 3 in Europe. Both Sony and Nintendo have stated that their respective consoles will launch worldwide this year, but Teversham is skeptical as to whether or not either company will have proper launch quantities. According to MCV, Teversham is also claiming that Sony is abusing its fanbase by releasing the PS3 at such a high price.
"Sony has got great loyalty and they are going to seriously use that loyalty to ensure that they sell a console," said Teversham. "On day one they will have pre-sold most of what they've got. But the question is, will they actually be able to launch in Europe and if they do, what are the tiny quantities going to be in Europe."
In regards to the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft has had kind words for the consumer-friendly console. Teversham clearly showed more favoritism toward Nintendo than Sony during his MCV interview, but he still had a few words for Mario and company.
"...although Wii is almost a GameCube with a DVD drive, is Nintendo going to have enough quantity to satisfy the demand?"
Yesterday we reported on the rumored price drop of the Xbox 360 this holiday season. When question about this topic, Teversham denied any potential price drop, but hinted that Microsoft may have other plans to combat the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii.
"The question is: When [is Sony] going to drop the price? I think a lot of gamers out there are going to be saying 'I'll wait for the price to drop,' or even better they'll buy a 360." Teversham continued by saying, "I don't want to reveal any plans at the moment because we want to keep a number of surprises up our sleeve. We will ensure we are good value and we'll do that through having a variety of pricing on games, a variety of pricing on console offers."
Microsoft is certainly in a good position when it comes to the battle between the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3. With first mover advantage and a lower price than the PlayStation 3, Nintendo and Sony will be hard-pressed to compete with the American company. It should be interesting to see what cards Microsoft is keeping secret and how they will affect the launch plans for Nintendo and Sony.
Sony's new console will not affect Xbox prices: MicrosoftBLOOMBERG Thursday, Jul 27, 2006,Page 11
Microsoft Corp, the world's largest software maker, will not adjust prices of its Xbox 360 game console this year in response to the scheduled release of Sony Corp's PlayStation 3 in November.
Microsoft plans to cut the price of its most expensive Xbox 360 from US$399 to US$299, DigiTimes reported yesterday, citing unidentified Taiwanese suppliers. Microsoft denied the report, the Taipei-based newspaper said.
No plans
"We have no plans to cut the price of Xbox 360 before the end of this year," Freda Lee (李秀芬), a public relations manager for Microsoft in Taiwan, said in a telephone interview. "There's no schedule yet" for cutting prices.
"We have no plans to cut the price of Xbox 360 before the end of this year," Freda Lee (李秀芬), a public relations manager for Microsoft in Taiwan, said in a telephone interview. "There's no schedule yet" for cutting prices.
Chairman Bill Gates said on May 9 that the company, based in Redmond, Washington, will sell 10 million of its next-generation consoles before Sony's PS3 goes on sale. The company sold 5 million of the game machines by the end of June, Microsoft said in a presentation to investors on July 20.
Sony's price
Sony, based in Tokyo, will release its PS3 in Japan on Nov. 11 and in the US and Europe on Nov. 17 at US$499 for the cheapest version, compared with US$299 for the least expensive Xbox 360.
Sony, based in Tokyo, will release its PS3 in Japan on Nov. 11 and in the US and Europe on Nov. 17 at US$499 for the cheapest version, compared with US$299 for the least expensive Xbox 360.
The Japanese company had 64 percent of the market for the previous generation of game consoles, according to a May 2 research note from Merrill Lynch & Co. Sales of gaming consoles, software and accessories totaled US$10.5 billion last year, according to Port Washington, New York-based research firm NPD Group. This story has been viewed 1931 times.
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