Sci Entertainment Share Discussion Threads

[the crypt] 05/8/2008 06:44

I am far to depressed to carry on posting on here - bye bye guys. It was great knowing you all and being "one of the SEG gang" I am too depressed.......to tell you all how i am feeling. Considering taking huge loss and getting out of these. Seen my lifetime saving ruined!!! I AM RUINED!!

[the crypt] 04/8/2008 13:19

once again

[bethany3] 04/8/2008 10:16

Sp rose from about 27p to about 36/38p and volume mirrored that of others in the current market - credit crunch and bad sentiment.Also, big games not out till november or before X'mas. As for a bid none would resurface unless the BIG holders were sounded out 1st and gained approval - don't think any of them would accept anything less than 200p a share sort of their average after funding. Any potential bidder remotely likely to offer this price? No, unless Tomb Raider's out and a MASSIVE success. Then, share price probably north of 200p - so still plenty time to buy.Also,Seg is competing with other stocks in a buyer's market.

[the crypt] 04/8/2008 09:41

I AM WONDERING IF THESE ARE GOING UP THE SWANNY OR NOT - The lack of interest - the constant mark downs - doesn't show any beleif or future in SEG. I wonder why now one has make any bids for it - or why- the major holders haven't bought up more stock. It seems no one will touch this.... that is a major worry for me.

[the crypt] 04/8/2008 06:38

question - did all the shares sell on the rights? mor, were some left with the underwriters??

[togglebrush] 02/8/2008 14:12

Extracts from UBISofts Press Release 24th July 08

They show European Video Game company having increased sales 26% roughly in proportion to US reports. They also show an increasing attention to DS sales. Extracts from their press release are shown below.

Ubisoft reports first-quarter 2008-09 sales

Sales
Sales for the first quarter of 2008-09 came to €169 million, up 25.8%, or 33.0% at constant exchange rates, compared with the €134 million recorded for the same period of 2007-08.

Guidance raised for 2008-09 full-year sales Ubisoft is raising its guidance for full-year 2008-09 sales to approximately €1.02 billion from the previously-announced €1 billion as a result of the following factors: favorable market conditions for the video games industry, the Group's solid first-quarter sales performance (particularly by the Games For Everyone range), and the positive reception given to the games resented at E3.

Sales by Platform for Q1
0809____________________0708

37%_Nintendo DS™_______16%
14%_PC__________________6%
_3%_PlayStation®2______11%
21%_PLAYSTATION®3______19%
_4%_PSP™_______________11%
11%_Wii™_______________14%
_9%_XBOX 360™__________17%
_____Other______________6%


For Comparison with SCi Entertainment

Using exchange rate €1.00 = £0.80
Quarterly earnings for UBIsoft were circa £135m v estimated £30m for SEG. SEG game new release program was at the end of the period. My estimate for SEG in this quarter is £40m and Oct to Dec £80m.

The release pattern, allowing for different sizes of companies, is similar. That is they are targeting similar customers

New Releases for second quarter July Sept 08 v those for SEG in similar period
UBIsoft_____________________SEG
16_Nintendo DS™_____________7
_6_PC_______________________3
___PlayStation®2____________1
_3_PLAYSTATION®3____________0 (games due October on)
_1_PSP™_____________________1
_5_Wii™ ____________________2
_3_XBOX 360™ _______________2


Edit:- SEG are in a GROWTH market using the sales figures for 3 US and 1 European. The new SEG releases are on the GROWTH platforms using UBIsoft data.
SEG appears to be on the path for GROWTH.

[togglebrush] 02/8/2008 05:11

Recent Sales Growth and Industry background is covered in this report by the Los Angeles Times on quarterly results of 3 Big US Video Game Companies.

Activision Blizzard's quarterly profit doubles
Sales rise 32% for the Santa Monica-based video game maker. Rivals THQ and Electronic Arts post losses.

By Alex Pham, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 1, 2008

Activision Blizzard Inc. reported a strong profit for its fiscal first quarter Thursday, in contrast to losses posted earlier this week by its video game industry rivals THQ Inc. and Electronic Arts Inc.

Santa Monica-based Activision said net income doubled to $59 million, or 18 cents a share. Sales rose 32% to $654.2 million on the strength of its Kung Fu Panda game and two new titles based on its Guitar Hero franchise.

Activision merged with Vivendi Games on July 9, but the reported financial results applied only to Activision because the quarter ended June 30.

Calabasas-based THQ, known for its WWE wrestling games, also saw sales rise 32%, to $137.6 million, in its fiscal first quarter reported Wednesday, but it posted a loss of $27.2 million, or 41 cents a share. That was wider than the loss of $9.3 million, or 14 cents a share, a year earlier.

Redwood City, Calif.-based EA said revenue more than doubled to $804 million, but it still recorded a loss of $95 million, or 30 cents a share. EA also disclosed that advance customer orders for its upcoming Madden Football game, a key franchise, had been lower than last year.

All three game companies projected losses for the current quarter, even though game software sales are poised to grow 24% this year, according to projections from Wedbush Morgan Securities.

If the video game business is doing so well, then why isn't everyone swimming in profits?

"It's a seasonal business," said Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan.

As much as three-quarters of the industry's sales occur during the holidays. But companies still must pay overhead costs during quarters when they're not releasing as many games, he said.

Activision's projected loss this quarter will be exacerbated by the cost of consolidating with Vivendi's game business. The combined company's shares gained 20 cents in regular trading to $35.98 but fell 73 cents to $35.25 in after-hours trading after the earnings release.

In subsequent quarters, however, Activision expects to benefit from World of Warcraft, a Vivendi title with more than 10.9 million subscribers who pay monthly fees to play the online game.

"World of Warcraft has a steady revenue stream that will help smooth out earnings for Activision," Pachter said.

The title will get a big boost this year when Vivendi's Blizzard Entertainment releases World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King.

Mike Morhaime, Blizzard's chief executive, said the Irvine developer was working on a brand-new online game, as well as fresh installments of its Diablo and Starcraft franchises.

[the crypt] 01/8/2008 17:47

Lets reinvent this board

[togglebrush] 01/8/2008 14:47

Sales are GROWING fast in this industry... extracts from recent quarterly reports from Los Angeles Times (reported in full above)

Redwood City, Calif.-based EA said revenue more than doubled... to $804 million

Santa Monica-based Activision said net income doubled to $59 million, or 18 cents a share. Sales rose 32% to $654.2 million

Calabasas-based THQ, known for its WWE wrestling games, also saw sales rise 32%, to $137.6 million, in its fiscal first quarter reported Wednesday

[the crypt] 01/8/2008 14:45

Togglebrush - on a serious note - why do you hold SEG shares? Do you think SEG will get there?

[togglebrush] 01/8/2008 14:33

Activision Blizzard's quarterly profit doubles

Sales rise 32% for the Santa Monica-based video game maker. Rivals THQ and Electronic Arts post losses.

By Alex Pham, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 1, 2008

Activision Blizzard Inc. reported a strong profit for its fiscal first quarter Thursday, in contrast to losses posted earlier this week by its video game industry rivals THQ Inc. and Electronic Arts Inc.

Santa Monica-based Activision said net income doubled to $59 million, or 18 cents a share. Sales rose 32% to $654.2 million on the strength of its Kung Fu Panda game and two new titles based on its Guitar Hero franchise.


Activision merged with Vivendi Games on July 9, but the reported financial results applied only to Activision because the quarter ended June 30.

Calabasas-based THQ, known for its WWE wrestling games, also saw sales rise 32%, to $137.6 million, in its fiscal first quarter reported Wednesday, but it posted a loss of $27.2 million, or 41 cents a share. That was wider than the loss of $9.3 million, or 14 cents a share, a year earlier.

Redwood City, Calif.-based EA said revenue more than doubled to $804 million, but it still recorded a loss of $95 million, or 30 cents a share. EA also disclosed that advance customer orders for its upcoming Madden Football game, a key franchise, had been lower than last year.

All three game companies projected losses for the current quarter, even though game software sales are poised to grow 24% this year, according to projections from Wedbush Morgan Securities.

If the video game business is doing so well, then why isn't everyone swimming in profits?

"It's a seasonal business," said Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan.

As much as three-quarters of the industry's sales occur during the holidays. But companies still must pay overhead costs during quarters when they're not releasing as many games, he said.

Activision's projected loss this quarter will be exacerbated by the cost of consolidating with Vivendi's game business. The combined company's shares gained 20 cents in regular trading to $35.98 but fell 73 cents to $35.25 in after-hours trading after the earnings release.

In subsequent quarters, however, Activision expects to benefit from World of Warcraft, a Vivendi title with more than 10.9 million subscribers who pay monthly fees to play the online game.

"World of Warcraft has a steady revenue stream that will help smooth out earnings for Activision," Pachter said.

The title will get a big boost this year when Vivendi's Blizzard Entertainment releases World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King.

Mike Morhaime, Blizzard's chief executive, said the Irvine developer was working on a brand-new online game, as well as fresh installments of its Diablo and Starcraft franchises.

[the crypt] 01/8/2008 14:30

MIGHTY be the lols of doom....

[dealy] 01/8/2008 08:59

Infogrammes shares were up 40% this week.

[the crypt] 01/8/2008 08:42

who owns all the merchandizing rights and ip rights for tombraider?

[the crypt] 01/8/2008 07:49

thanks dealy.

[dealy] 01/8/2008 07:32

259m shares. Market cap £88m, less net cash of £28m gives £60m enterprise value.

£60m seems very very cheap to me.

[the crypt] 01/8/2008 07:00

who's developing baTMAN GAME?

[the crypt] 01/8/2008 06:58

how many shares in issue now?

[the winchester club] 31/7/2008 22:47

What is NEEDED is the Blair Witch of the gaming world. That's to say an inherently simple, low cost game that rakes a massive margin.

[togglebrush] 31/7/2008 15:52

EA sales doubled in a quarter. The market is growing fast but so is the need to develop video games to meet the demand. It is the old growth problem, demand is there, cost to meet demand is high, and profit comes later.

SEG is growing their catalogue fast as I posted earlier. But new these games will have to SELL. Cost reductions, headcount, closures etc were year in last years bad news. I expect they hope to bury the BAD news of last year on 15th Sept before releasing details of this years GOOD sales.

I have heard a rumour that the "Wacky Races: Crash and Dash" is doing well (released last month)

[the crypt] 31/7/2008 15:08

gosh................. how many unit need to be sold to make a profit- what the expected operating costs of seg?

[the crypt] 31/7/2008 14:52

this is just so depressing - watching this fall day in day out.

[dope007] 31/7/2008 14:43

SEG still lloks high risk at this price. Until they make some money or look to be able to there is little point in buying this stock imho.