Show listeners will remember that we reported on Infinium Labs recently, and their new financial problems. Problems, meaning they'll need about $22 million to fund their plans over the next year. Problems, meaning they have only about $21,000 on hand. Oops. Personally, I think they shouldn't have sponsored that Indy car, seeing as they're not exactly cheap, but whatever. The point is that this financial hurt is making a difference.
Remember a few months ago, when Infinium sued HardOCP over an article pointing out how stupid the Phantom is? Yeah, they lost that suit after they gave up the fight due to the rising costs of the legal proceedings. In the end, HardOCP spent over $200,000 in legal fees. But Infinium spent, too, and that's money they won't be getting back.
If you've been following the entire Ubisoft/EA drama, then you'll be interested to hear the latest gossip. Word round the campfire has it that Vivendi Universal was talking with Ubisoft about a possible merger. Of course, Vivendi played off, saying such a thing was never discussed. I have a suspicion this is all about a French newspaper cashing in on recent attention EA has drawn. Perhaps not.
It's all very dramatic, you know: The big, bad American corporation EA coming in and making hostile moves on a French game maker. In response, France itself prepares to step in to protect Ubisoft. But then, out of the blue, word gets out that another company might have its sights set on the same target. What next? Does Jesse Jackson step in for a peace conference?
