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Last week, Apple made a tiny debit from their enormous cash reserves to buy small semi conductor design firm PA Semi.  At approximately $278m, the deal barely shifts the multi billion dollar cash account on the balance sheet; still it has left many analysts, watchers and writers asking questions.  The first and most obvious is “why?” Why did a company that favors buying companies in the early stages of development buy a company with an established customer list? And why given Apples’ focus and success with consumer-focused products choose to invest in the challenging and cyclical semiconductor industry?

Another more macro set of questions (in a companion post to this article) query whether the deal represents a possible shift in Apple’s acquisition policies.  Was this the start of a more acquisition friendly Apple; one interested in taking advantage of weaknesses in the current financial markets to fortify underlying tech assets?

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Nintendo dominated March gaming sales in the US retail market.  According to NPD numbers, they had the best selling console (the Wii) , the best selling portable (the DS) and even the months top selling software title.  Given that across the board strength, and following months of industry leading sales, it’s no surprise, the financials for the past few months were looking good too.  The question some are asking is: can it keep up and what’s next.

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How hot is the domestic video game market?  According to NPD’s monthly gaming round up, which was released Thursday, as hot as ever.  It fact, it may be nearing molten.

Overall, for March, total sales, including hardware, software and accessories rose 57 percent versus a year ago hitting $1.7 billion.  The number was also up month to month besting the $1.33 billion in total sales registered in February. 

Software sales, in particular, were outstanding with a monthly return of $945.6 billion, a 63 percent annual gain and well ahead of both January and February results.  Some comparative numbers shows just how staggering the number is. According to data from Home Media Retailing, combined movie rentals for the top ten movie titles in March generated approximately $270 million at the registers.  Domestic film box offices grosses for the same period were $567.2m (via Box office Mojo).  The $945.6m in video game software sales beat the two combined.

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The revolving doors of corporate suites are always turning. New hires coming in, new executives restocking teams with teams of their own choosing, people moving to new challenges or to pasture.  It’s a constant.  This past week, however, has seen enough executive staff shifting to keep any HR team busy.  From Motorola to AMD, from the BBC to NBC and CBS, from the Washington Post to the Wall Street Journal, the corporate trees got a good shake.  Here’s the recap of who’s in and who’s out: Click to Read More

When you talk about video game consoles the first topics are usually the quality of play and the graphics; it’s the fun factor not the technology.  But beneath the surface of shiny plastic cases and glowing LED’s, these remain powerful devices with impressive technical credentials.  The consoles can do a lot more than gaming and their innovations are carrying into entirely unrelated sectors.

•••Wii Warfare•••
Nintendo’s motion activated controller has proven to be a huge hit with consumers.  The simple, but effective interface, has completely changed the nature of video game play.  It’s expanding audiences, increasing accessibility and just simply: fun.   It’s also turning out to be a lot more powerful.

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It’s often said that the entertainment industry, movies in particular, are recession resistant.  When the economy gets bad and people start feeling their wallets grow thinner they seek comfort and escape in the movies. They also gravitate toward the lower cost, lower key form of entertainment.  With the movies and gaming industry converging, I guess it’s no surprise to see early indicators that the gaming industry may be similarly resistant to a weakening economy (whether recession or not).   

Thursday retail tracking firm NPD released their monthly U.S. gaming sales roundup.  The numbers, as is becoming all too common, were good.  So far, the economy isn’t affecting the gaming industry at the register.

Overall, total sales, including hardware, software and accessories rose 34 percent versus a year ago hitting $1.33 billion.  The number was also up month to month besting the $1.18b in total sales registered in January.

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Earnings are down but forecasts are up.  The pipeline is good but some big shareholders are selling. Some small shareholders are suing. There are new severance packages but nothing to fear.  “All is well” is the tagline. 

Such is the ongoing saga of Take Two Interactive as they sort through their own issues with the added monkey of Electronic Arts’ $2 billion takeover offer on their backs.  It’s a story with more twists and turns than an installment of their popular Grand Theft Auto gaming franchise.   Here’s the plot summary for the latest news:

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